Distinctions of Realms, Ways to Make Money

"Realms? That makes sense. With your cultivation speed, Junior Brother, you'll stabilize the Iron Line sooner or later. Once that happens, you'll be able to enter the Practice Strength Realm."

Li Mo froze for a moment, instinctively wanting to warn Su Chen not to aim too high.

But on second thought, Su Chen had already sensed the Blood Line. Stabilizing it was merely a matter of time.

"The Practice Strength Realm?"

Su Chen mulled it over carefully. Thinking back on his process of "cultivating" the Iron Wire Fist, he had indeed felt his strength increasing.

Li Mo nodded. "Mm, Junior Brother, you may think that practicing strength means practicing physical power.

"But in truth, it cultivates attack power and defensive power. While it does improve one's physical strength, the main thing is still offensive and defensive force.

"You might not have noticed it yet, but after cultivating for longer, you'll be able to feel the changes in yourself more clearly.

"Especially since you cultivate the Iron Wire Fist. Your attack power will greatly increase when the time comes.

"Of course, your defense and physical strength will improve as well, but comparatively speaking, they won't improve as much as your attack power.

"After all, the Iron Wire Fist is an offensive fist art."

Li Mo said a great deal in one breath, then looked at Su Chen. Seeing him silent, he paid it no mind.

He knew Su Chen needed time to digest it.

"During this period, aside from my physical strength increasing, my attack power has indeed risen greatly. After all, I know a fist art now."

"However, because I cultivated the Iron Sand Palm, the defense of my palms seems to have grown stronger too."

Comparing Li Mo's words with his own cultivation over this period, Su Chen found there was not much discrepancy.

"Then, Senior Brother, how exactly is Practice Strength divided?" Su Chen raised his head and asked.

Hearing this, Li Mo fell silent for a moment before replying, "There isn't really a precise division.

"I only know that Practice Strength has four stages in total: entry, minor accomplishment, major accomplishment, and perfection. They correspond respectively to the four stages of the Iron Wire Fist.

"But I remember Master once saying that different Martial Arts have different Practice Strength characteristics. The Iron Wire Fist, for instance, is judged by Iron Lines.

"The Red Falcon Fist, Red Line Fist, and Through-the-Back Fist are similar to ours.

"But other fist and leg arts differ. Some are judged through markings, while others are judged through the color of the skin membrane..."

After listening to Li Mo's explanation, Su Chen had already formed an initial judgment of his own realm.

"My Iron Wire Fist has now just entered Perfection. In terms of the Practice Strength Realm, I should have just entered Practice Strength Perfection. But my Iron Sand Palm has reached Perfection as well. Strictly speaking, I should be somewhat stronger than those who have just entered Practice Strength Perfection."

After pondering for a moment, Su Chen had another question. "Then, Senior Brother, what realm comes after Practice Strength?"

"You sure have a lot of questions!"

Li Mo chuckled, but did not mind. Perhaps because of the closeness Su Chen displayed, he was also willing to spend time with him.

"I did hear Master mention it before. The realm after Practice Strength is Practice Force, but I don't know its specific manifestations.

"Still, Master once said that ten warriors at Major Accomplishment of Strength Training would not be a match for a single Practice Force Warrior.

"Practice Force Warriors are true powerhouses. In all of White Stone City, there are fewer than ten warriors who have truly entered Practice Force.

"Every one of them is a prominent figure in White Stone City!"

As he spoke of Practice Force Warriors, traces of envy and reverence appeared on Li Mo's face.

"Is Practice Force difficult?" Su Chen asked.

"Very difficult!"

Li Mo's expression turned solemn.

"You have to understand that ordinary people without talent or resources may cultivate for an entire lifetime and still fail to reach the Practice Force Realm.

"Forget Practice Force—even reaching the Strength Training Apex requires an enormous expenditure of time, effort, and wealth.

"Someone like me has poured nearly all his family assets into cultivation, yet I still haven't reached major accomplishment.

"To achieve major accomplishment, who knows how much more time and resources I'll have to spend?"

Upon hearing this, Su Chen was silent for a moment. He thought of himself.

"Sure enough, the panel is the real deal. That's why I can cultivate so quickly. Of course, it also has something to do with my diligent spending!"

After that, Su Chen asked several more questions.

He learned that even Hong Ming had not yet entered Practice Force, giving him an even deeper understanding of the realm.

He had originally wanted to keep asking, but Li Mo did not know much about matters related to Practice Force.

So he gave up.

That afternoon, Li Mo took Su Chen out of the Martial Hall.

The two chatted as they walked. Along the way, they ran into Qin Hao, who was drunk as a lord. After exchanging greetings, they went their separate ways.

"Su Chen, aren't you short on money? Well, this is the fastest way Senior Brother could think of to make some."

Hearing that, Su Chen's face darkened. He had not expected the thick-browed, big-eyed Li Mo to joke around with him too.

The two were currently standing beneath a raised platform, with a crowd packed all around them.

On the platform, four large characters were written: "Martial Arts Marriage Challenge."

"Haha, Junior Brother, the family holding the Martial Arts Marriage Challenge today is one of the wealthy merchants of the Outer City. They have money beyond measure. If you win their daughter's favor, you'll have more than enough money for the rest of your life!"

Seeing Su Chen's darkened expression, Li Mo could not help teasing him.

"Senior Brother, are there any other ways to make money?" Su Chen asked helplessly, ignoring Li Mo's unseriousness.

"What a pity. If I were as young as you, I might have given it a try."

Li Mo shook his head and sighed softly, quickly wiping the smile from his face.

"Come on. I'll take you to a place where you can really make money."

Half an hour later, the two arrived outside the Yamen. Su Chen looked at Li Mo in confusion.

"This is the Wanted List."

Li Mo pointed at a portrait and said.

Su Chen looked up.

"Name: Liu Tong. Has repeatedly committed crimes of slaughter, with dozens of lives under his hand. Suspected to be at Practice Strength Perfection. Bounty: fifty taels, dead or alive."

His eyes immediately lit up, filled with nothing but those fifty taels.

"Junior Brother, if you were stronger, you could serve the authorities as a Blade Catcher. But right now, I'm afraid you can't."

Li Mo patted Su Chen on the shoulder.

Su Chen nodded.

Capturing wanted criminals was nowhere near as simple as it sounded.

This Liu Tong had committed seven or eight cases and killed dozens of people.

Yet even now, he had not been caught. That alone showed how formidable he was.

These wanted criminals were all men who licked blood off their blades. If one lacked sufficient strength, who killed whom was anyone's guess.

After sweeping his gaze around, Su Chen withdrew it and fell into thought.

Seeing his manner, Li Mo hurriedly said, "Junior Brother, don't tell me you're thinking of taking on a job."

Su Chen shook his head. "Taking a job with my current strength would just be courting death."

"That's good. Let's go. Besides these, you can also make money by escorting shipments, working as a guard, affiliating yourself with gangs or shops, and so on. But all that will have to wait until you stabilize the Blood Line."

Afterward, Li Mo explained several ways for warriors to earn money.

Su Chen had not yet completely stabilized the Blood Line, and his reputation had not spread either. Others would neither dare nor be willing to hire him.

He would only truly gain access to those methods after formally taking a master and making a name for himself.

That evening, Li Mo invited Su Chen to a meal, and Su Chen did not refuse.

After eating, Su Chen returned home in satisfaction.

From Li Mo, he had already learned the ways of making money that suited him.