Martial Dao Tree Blossoms (Second Update)

Building 3, Shihu Garden, 2802.

Li Xianghua was scrolling through her phone at home alone.

A homicide had occurred yesterday on Xishan Road, suspected to have been caused by Void Entities. Su City Police had already dispatched a special task force to investigate and apprehend the culprit. The public was hereby reminded: unless necessary, "do not go out at night; if you must go out, do not take secluded paths." Protect your personal safety.

"Void Entities have appeared again..."

Worried, she hurriedly made a call.

"Chenzhou, when are you coming back? Did you see the news?"

"Mom, I'm already at the door."

Lu Chenzhou pushed open the door. Looking at his worried mother, he said apologetically.

"Sorry, Mom. I'll definitely come home earlier next time."

Li Xianghua said,

"I'll tell your dad not to work overtime either. From now on, no one in our family goes out after dark until that Void Entity is caught. Nothing matters more than safety."

Lu Chenzhou promised,

"Mm. Today, I just went to get familiar with the martial hall and test my Blood Vitality."

"How was it? Did you reach the Entry Stage?"

"First Stage. Blood Vitality value: 1.33."

Li Xianghua revealed a gratified smile.

"I knew you could do it. Training at a martial hall really is different. That money wasn't wasted. I'm telling your dad right now."

After taking a shower, Lu Chenzhou returned to his bedroom and watched the news.

"So it really was a Void Calamity."

On his way here by subway, he had seen people from the police. They were probably tracking that monster throughout the city now, hoping to resolve things as soon as possible. Letting everyone remain on edge was no solution.

Void Calamities had existed for a long time.

In the old jianghu, tales of demons, monsters, ghosts, and goblins had circulated—some true, some false, all terrifying. After New Great Xia was established, the Martial Artists Association and scientists researched for a long time before discovering an unknown world. They called it:

The Void Realm.

The Void Realm might not be any specific planet. It was more like a subspace or inner world parallel to reality. Most of the time, the Void Realm had nothing to do with the real world, but every so often, it intersected with reality and formed nodes.

The existences that emerged from those nodes were "Void Entities." They possessed supernatural powers, and only Martial Artists and specialized technological methods could kill them.

Ordinary people had an extremely low chance of surviving an encounter with Void Entities. Entry Stage experts fared a little better. First, their Blood Vitality was abundant, so ordinary Void Entities would not provoke them. Second, they could run fast...

Void Entities came and went like ghosts. Modern science had only lifted a corner of their mysterious veil. Fortunately, they did not appear often. Compared to Void Entities, what gave the authorities even greater headaches were Black Warriors and cults that used martial force to defy the law. People were far more terrifying than demons and ghosts.

"That's exactly why I need to practice martial arts!"

Lu Chenzhou did not like the feeling of placing his own safety and his family's safety entirely in others' hands. In truth, Great Xia's authorities had already done their utmost to maintain public order.

As far as he knew, some foreign places had backward technology and no powerful Martial Artists. Void Calamities ran rampant there, and their governments had completely given up. That was true misery and suffering. Some countries even concealed Void Calamities from their people, locking down information and whitewashing peace.

Later that night, Lu Guoping returned.

Li Xianghua's voice drifted in from outside.

"Chenzhou reached the Entry Stage. I knew the kid would make it."

"That's great. The money was well spent."

Lu Guoping came to Lu Chenzhou's bedroom.

"Are you asleep?"

"Not yet, Dad. What's up?"

"I bought you something."

He opened the door and placed a box on Lu Chenzhou's bed.

"A martial arts supplement produced by Sixth Factory. I bought it from a specialty store, so use it without worry. A colleague of mine has a son in a martial arts high school, and this is the supplement his school uses."

Lu Chenzhou looked at Lu Guoping standing in the doorway, somewhat weary and carrying the smell of motor oil.

"Thanks, Dad."

"Your dad doesn't have much ability and never gave you good resources. Yet my son reached the Entry Stage through his own hard work. You do have talent. Your mom and I have thought it through. Living in the Inner City isn't necessarily safe either. When the fixed deposit matures, I'll withdraw some money from the bank and renew your Flying Swallow Martial Hall classes. We'll just get an annual package."

"Dad, there's no rush. And don't buy supplements anymore. I've only just reached the Entry Stage, so normal dietary nutrition is enough. Taking them now would be a bit wasteful."

"Got it. Go to sleep early."

"Dad, remember to go to the hospital for a checkup in a few days. Test your Blood Vitality while you're there. At your age, if your Blood Vitality value falls below 0.8, you need to be careful."

"Alright, I'll get it checked."

Seeing his son reach the Entry Stage, Lu Guoping seemed much more spirited.

Li Xianghua said that if he did not take care of his health and refused to quit smoking, he would leave too early. Then he would not see his son become a Martial Artist, much less enjoy a comfortable life alongside him in the latter half of his years.

"Qi-Nourishing No. 1 supplement."

Lu Chenzhou opened the medicine box. Inside were only four thumb-thick blue vials of medicine. He checked the official website. One vial cost three thousand yuan; one box cost twelve thousand.

He looked at the instructions.

"This product is refined from jade ginseng, red astragalus, mountain angelica, white qi herb, seven-flavor fruit... a total of fifty-two precious Chinese medicinal herbs. The formula was researched by the team of Heavenly Physician Saint Hand Li Que from Star River University and certified by the Martial Dao Pharmacists Association."

"Star River University?"

Like Dragon City University of Martial Arts, it belonged to the 24-School Alliance.

It was a top-tier Wuda. Even those with middling bone structure could not be guaranteed admission.

Heavenly Physician Saint Hand Li Que was even more extraordinary.

It was said that he came from a martial arts family and possessed superb medical skills.

He had lived for more than three hundred years. No one knew how many Shackles he had broken, but Martial Artists who broke the First Shackles only had an average lifespan of two jiazi.

The standards for martial arts supplements were extremely strict. Medicine from major factories was definitely reliable.

It recommended one vial per use, preferably for those at the Third Stage or above. Those of lower realms could divide it into two doses, as long as they kept it sealed. After taking it, one could practice several rounds of fist techniques to help the medicine circulate through the limbs and bones and speed up absorption.

"Taking it at yin hour tomorrow morning will yield the best results."

Lu Chenzhou did not want to waste even a little.

Early the next morning.

After drinking the medicine, he went to the rooftop terrace.

Breathing in the vigorous air of the rising sun, he felt refreshed and at ease.

"Many top martial arts universities are built beside famous mountains and great rivers so that students can draw close to heaven and earth, breathe in the fresh spiritual aura of mountains, and absorb the essence of sun and moon."

He did not have those conditions.

If he did not enter a Wuda, living in some mountain ravine would be inconvenient and unsafe.

"First, a round of Basic Fist Art."

Facing the fish-belly white of dawn, Lu Chenzhou's fists flew like the wind and his footwork left no trace. An invisible warm current flowed through his blood as he moved. His body seemed to contain inexhaustible strength, and his mind was more active than usual. In short, he was in excellent condition.

He finished one full round in a single breath, but it was not enough.

Normally, he would definitely have felt somewhat tired.

Now, he seemed to feel nothing at all.

"This is the supplement's effect. Even as it's consumed, it nourishes my body and replenishes nutrients. Whether in quality or efficiency, it's far better than eating."

Lu Chenzhou had once held some reservations about taking medicine.

Now, though, it really was fragrant.

He had to admire the power of technology.

Without rapidly advancing technology, martial arts would not have flourished so vigorously.

Just like that, he practiced fist techniques for an entire hour without stopping. The warm current in his body seemed nearly exhausted, and dual fatigue of body and mind swept over him.

He knew it was time to rest.

Too much was as bad as too little.

He opened the Martial Dao Tree.

Basic Fist Art: Major Accomplishment (5%) → Major Accomplishment (6%)

Black Tiger Fist: Initiation (6%) → Initiation (8%)

"This efficiency is simply too high."

The Martial Dao Tree, the martial hall, martial arts supplements, and Lu Chenzhou's own hard work—compared with before, his cultivation speed had undergone a qualitative transformation.

"It's just too expensive. My family can't support this for much longer. I need to raise my stage quickly, earn money to support myself, and form a virtuous cycle."

Lu Chenzhou already had a plan in mind.

Time flew by.

A month and a half passed.

During this period, Lu Chenzhou attended classes as usual and still went to the sports field before dawn to practice fist techniques. The new fist techniques teacher was a middle-aged man, and he was not as good as Shi Ruyu.

Still, he was competent enough. There were still very few people learning fist techniques, so Lu Chenzhou took the opportunity to spar with the teacher. His Basic Fist Art proficiency rose steadily.

He had also finished the supplements.

Lu Guoping no longer worked much overtime either. He had gotten a physical examination. Fortunately, there were no major problems. His Blood Vitality value was 0.79, and he was only forty this year.

With some adjustment and care, he could recover to above 0.8.

He was also quitting smoking.

For the time being, Lu Chenzhou had not booked any martial hall classes.

Thirty classes would be used up quickly.

In any case, they were valid for one year.

Shi Ruyu suggested that he wait until his Basic Fist Art reached Perfection before going again. At that point, learning some of Ji Xuantong's true skills would be more effective, faster to learn, and would not waste class hours.

When one had no money, one had to count every penny.

That day.

After finishing his fist practice, Lu Chenzhou lay on his bed.

He felt that his Blood Vitality had improved a little again.

He looked at the Martial Dao Tree in his mind.

Basic Fist Art: Major Accomplishment (50%)

He had traveled halfway down the road to Perfection, but what caught his attention more was that beside the green leaf belonging to Basic Fist Art, a white flower bud had grown.

"The Martial Dao Tree has blossomed?"

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