Five Elements Fist Mastery

Chengping Year 1, winter, the seventeenth day of the twelfth month

"Less than half a month until the New Year!" Jiang Liu sighed.

He had apparently been transported here for over nine months already, and had been in the Fallen Blossom Gang for a full three months. Time really flew!

Yesterday's assessment had seen three more gang apprentices, whose realms had only reached minor Flesh Hardening mastery, dragged away. Of the thirty-seven gang apprentices remaining, the weakest had all reached major Flesh Hardening mastery. The strongest, Wang Zhuang and Pan Duan, had both reached Flesh Hardening perfection and had already begun preparing for Bone Tempering.

If things continued like this, would even twenty people remain in the gang's system by the end of the year? Jiang Liu wondered to himself.

With a thought from Jiang Liu, a deep-blue light screen appeared before him.

Auxiliary System:

Name: Jiang Liu

Realm: Body Refinement (Bone Tempering 37.6/206)

Alchemy (Beginner 37/100)

Five Elements Fist (Mastery 141/600)

Wandering Steps (Minor Mastery 66/800)

Looking at the panel's data, Jiang Liu felt that his month and a half of relentless effort had indeed paid off. His Five Elements Fist had been at mastery for some time, and his Wandering Steps had also reached minor mastery. But seeing the proficiency required later made him feel dizzy.

It felt as though even using all twelve shichen in a day for training would not be enough to fit everything in. His Bone Tempering progress was a little slow.

It took five days to temper four bones, and that was only because he had developed the habit of meditating while he slept, giving him this level of efficiency. Otherwise, his progress would have been even slower. At this rate, completing Bone Tempering would take at least seven or eight more months. The thought gave Jiang Liu a headache.

But he could not neglect his other martial skills just for the sake of Bone Tempering. He could only leave things as they were for now! Jiang Liu thought helplessly.

Even so, Jiang Liu was still dissatisfied with this pace. If the other Body Refinement apprentices knew that someone being tortured half to death by Bone Tempering could still complain that this pace was slow, they would absolutely want to skin the man's heart alive. Each bout of Bone Tempering was torture, and the progress was slow on top of that.

The fast ones could complete Bone Tempering in one or two years, while the slow ones took three or four. Some could not endure the pain and simply gave up martial arts altogether.

Thus, Bone Tempering was the slowest and most agonizing stage of the Body Refinement Realm. Once you crossed it, it meant you possessed an unshakable Martial Dao Heart.

Where was there anyone else like Jiang Liu, who had it easy and still complained that it was slow? He truly did not know his blessings. Once Wang Zhuang began Bone Tempering, Jiang Liu would be endlessly grateful that he had the system's help.

Jiang Liu circulated his qi and blood and sensed the more than thirty bones that had already completed Bone Tempering. He could clearly feel that his qi-and-blood circulation was several times faster than before. A small cycle was gradually taking shape, but the connections between the bones that had not undergone Bone Tempering and those that had were still rather awkward.

Jiang Liu paid it no mind and rose to walk toward Apprentice Plaza.

It had snowed heavily again last night, and the weather was growing colder. The snow piled up in Apprentice Plaza had already been cleared away by the servants of Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. The gang apprentices arrived in twos and threes, training diligently in the plaza.

The three eliminated yesterday, along with the two eliminated earlier, had just been sweeping snow here. This made them fully understand that if they did not train hard, that fate was waiting right there for them.

Either serve others, or go serve someone else! And as for daring to owe the Fallen Blossom Gang money and not repay it—were they trying to have their families buried alongside them?

Once again, this drove home the cruelty of reality to the apprentices, leaving them not daring to harbor even the slightest hope of luck. So now they trained very conscientiously, without needing anyone to urge them on, working hard on their own.

As for whether anyone caused trouble? Who had nothing better to do than make trouble? Wouldn't it be more practical to practice one more round of boxing? Even questioning things earned a penalty and a deduction of medicinal soup. Who would dare stick their neck out? Thus, every one of them was now burying their heads in bitter training.

Because Jiang Liu had gotten up a little late today, Wang Zhuang was already drenched in sweat by the time he reached Apprentice Plaza.

"Wang Zhuang, want to spar?" Jiang Liu asked.

"Sure! I feel like I'm about to break through today! Don't hold back!" Wang Zhuang said with complete confidence.

"All right! Take this!" Jiang Liu circulated his qi and blood, sending his strength surging outward.

Wang Zhuang raised his hands into the stance of the Five Elements Fist, activated his Wandering Steps, and charged forward with all his strength.

In an instant, Jiang Liu and Wang Zhuang were trading blows with resounding thuds. Since they had learned the same martial arts, they both knew the techniques and routines. As the fight continued, it became a contest of physical qualities instead, with every punch landing in the flesh—a style that was truly ugly to watch.

But Jiang Liu had been holding back his strength the entire time. After all, he had entered Bone Tempering long ago, while Wang Zhuang had only just reached Flesh Hardening perfection. If he used his full strength, one punch would be enough to blow Wang Zhuang apart.

Wang Zhuang only knew that Jiang Liu was definitely stronger than him, because Jiang Liu had lasted the longest in every assessment. Since he himself had reached Flesh Hardening perfection, Jiang Liu must have reached perfection as well. He might even have begun Bone Tempering already, Wang Zhuang thought.

In the end, the two of them lay utterly exhausted on the plaza. Neither cared about the cold. With their current physical qualities—especially right after training, when their qi and blood were boiling—they paid the snow no mind at all.

"Wang Zhuang, when are you planning to start Bone Tempering?" Jiang Liu asked.

"I've already started preparing. I'll begin once the pills from home arrive. What about you?" Wang Zhuang replied.

"Me? I've already started Bone Tempering!" Jiang Liu answered, his eyes turned toward the sky.