At Last, Through the Gates of Martial Dao

Yang City, Zhang Family.

Known as "Zhang Half-City," in the vast Yang City, nearly half the people had ties to the Zhang Family, tangled together by a thousand threads.

Some worked for the Zhang Family, some worked for them indirectly, while others could not separate the Zhang Family from their daily food, clothing, shelter, and travel.

And so on and so forth—the Zhang Family was bound up with every commoner of Yang City, fully deserving of the "Half-City" title.

And the Zhang Family estate, bearing the "Half-City" title—

It too lived up to that name. Enormous beyond measure, it covered a vast area, its courtyards stretching nearly a thousand meters in length and width, enough to leave one tongue-tied.

It contained countless rooms, several hundred servants, artificial hills, small lakes, gardens—everything one could ask for.

Around the estate stood tall, solid walls of blue brick.

Scarlet tile roofs, carved redwood doors and windows, and gates set with bronze beast-head knockers all displayed the bearing of "Half-City."

Such a grand estate would rank among the finest even in the Prefecture City of Xinhe Commandery.

Yet it stood within little Yang City, making its exceptional status all the more apparent.

At this moment.

In the estate's rear kitchen.

Roast duck, roast spring chicken, roast gosling, braised pork, braised duck, soy-sauce chicken, cured meat, and an entire spread besides.

In this ancient feudal society, delicacies that only wealthy, powerful households could afford were brought one after another before Zhang Ming by the family cooks.

"You can all leave first. I'll eat by myself."

After dismissing everyone, leaving himself alone in the rear kitchen.

Zhang Ming did not waste time. He picked up a fragrant chicken leg dripping with sizzling fat and began chewing in great mouthfuls, quickly replenishing his starving body.

There were many delicacies on the table, seven or eight substantial dishes—far more than one person could possibly finish.

Zhang Ming had never possessed such wasteful habits before.

But after obtaining [Ignite Comprehension] and attaining Grand Completion in [Mighty Bull Strength].

Zhang Ming had already found the path to comprehending Vital Energy.

The path was simple, yet exceedingly effective.

It was to eat in great quantities, then expend it rapidly.

That sounded like nonsense.

Yet true teachings came in a single sentence, while false teachings filled ten thousand scrolls.

Combined with the Martial Dao experience of Grand Completion [Mighty Bull Strength], and applied through a few small tricks.

Zhang Ming could control his body to rapidly digest food and replenish his Vital Energy.

With energy accumulated from vast amounts of food, together with sufficient and correct training, Grand Completion-level experience made comprehending Vital Energy as easy as turning over one's hand!

Thus.

After filling his stomach and wiping the grease from the corners of his mouth, Zhang Ming skillfully trained according to every crucial point within [Mighty Bull Strength].

Punch by punch, kick by kick, his body and footwork moved like a dragon, producing waves of dull, whistling force.

In an instant, it was as though a high-speed blower had appeared in the room, making the curtains flap and howl.

Hearing sounds like a tiger's roar and dragon's chant from outside, the kitchen maids wanted to enter and investigate, but were restrained by the Zhang Family's rules.

They could only crane their necks and peer inside curiously, wanting to see what exactly was happening in the room.

"Could Young Master truly be an immortal descended to the mortal world?"

"I think he must be an immortal descended to the mortal world. Otherwise, how could Young Master be so clever? How could he come up with so many ideas?"

"Once Young Master finishes eating, I'll take his dishes home so my son can soak up some immortal aura. Maybe he'll open his mind too."

Zhang Ming knew nothing of the kitchen maids' whispered chatter.

At this moment.

He only felt incomparably refreshed. Every punch, every kick, every movement was wonderfully smooth, as the sinews, bones, and meridians throughout his body were stretched and trained.

It was nothing like before, when practicing [Mighty Bull Strength] had relied entirely on willpower. Now, the more he fought, the more comfortable he felt; the more he fought, the more effortless and invigorating it became.

A moment later.

After finishing a set of punches, Zhang Ming drew in his technique. White vapor shot from his mouth like a sword, flying several meters.

"Hu—"

"So this is [Mighty Bull Strength] with Grand Completion experience?"

Zhang Ming admitted that he had underestimated the experience granted by a Grand Completion technique.

"This feeling... it's like a PhD working on an elementary school assignment..."

At a loss for words, Zhang Ming found it difficult to describe such smoothness.

Things that had once required painstaking effort and gritted teeth now came easily and pleasantly, without the slightest strain.

The contrast before and after was simply too immense, too immense to describe.

"Hu—"

Taking a deep breath and suppressing the excitement in his heart, Zhang Ming's gaze fell upon the abundant food within arm's reach.

"Keep going. I can feel it—after a few more rounds, I'll definitely comprehend Vital Energy and cross the first threshold between mortals and the extraordinary."

"Before, practicing [Mighty Bull Strength] once or twice a day would leave my body unable to bear it. But with Grand Completion-level experience, I can unconsciously correct the many minor mistakes in my previous movements.

"Now, five or six times definitely won't be a problem."

With that thought, Zhang Ming collected himself and began devouring the food with abandon.

The hunger in his belly vanished, and his energy was replenished.

The room once more rang with whistling sounds.

Thus.

After completing another set of [Mighty Bull Strength], hunger reached its limit in his stomach. Once he replenished himself, he continued again.

Over and over.

Until, after several rounds.

Pop—

A soft sound rang out, as though something had exploded from the depths of his soul.

Within his body, soaked through with sweat, a warm current suddenly emerged. It flowed through every meridian, bone, and muscle, bringing incomparable comfort.

"Success!"

Not caring that sweat had long since obscured his vision, Zhang Ming felt the warm current moving through his body and was overwhelmed with excitement.

"Success, success—I finally succeeded!"

"Twelve years of martial training, and I finally succeeded!"

Zhang Ming knew.

The Martial Dao in this world was difficult.

The first hurdle alone could block ninety-nine percent of martial practitioners to death.

Yang City and the nearby villages had a population of well over a hundred thousand, yet only a little more than a hundred had successfully comprehended Vital Energy and stepped into the Martial Dao.

One could imagine how arduous the first step of the Martial Dao was.

This also meant.

That Zhang Ming, who had only just comprehended Vital Energy, had already entered the forefront among the more than one hundred thousand people of Yang City and its surrounding regions, in terms of life level.

"Hu—Calm down, calm down. I've merely comprehended Vital Energy. I cultivated [Mighty Bull Strength] to Grand Completion; even among Postnatal Martial Artists, I count as a talent in my own right."

After using [Ignite Comprehension], strengthened by a hundredfold comprehension, Zhang Ming had gained Martial Dao experience of [Mighty Bull Strength] at the Grand Completion level.

Saying that he had once cultivated it to Grand Completion and become a Postnatal Martial Artist was not a lie in the slightest.

A moment later.

After calming down, Zhang Ming took a deep breath and sighed softly.

"Twelve years just to comprehend Vital Energy. My Martial Dao aptitude truly is dreadful."

"My younger brothers and sisters comprehended Vital Energy successfully within a year and were accepted as disciples by great sects."

Shaking his head, Zhang Ming said.

"So what if my aptitude is poor? With [Ignite Comprehension], so-called aptitude is no longer a shackle that can restrain me."

Zhang Ming was full of confidence, fire gleaming in his eyes.

"Now that I have entered the Martial Dao, after cultivating a little longer, it is time to return to the Mighty Bull Martial Arts School."

Knowing that Demons, strange evils, and Martial Dao sects existed in this world, how could Zhang Ming not seek out a master?

It was merely that twelve years ago, the Zhang Family had only just risen to prominence and had not had many choices. Thus, Zhang Ming could only choose a newly opened Martial Arts Hall in Yang City and become a disciple there.

After successfully taking a master and obtaining a Martial Dao cultivation technique, he had smoothly begun practicing martial arts at the hall.

But Zhang Ming's Martial Dao aptitude had been too poor. After learning [Mighty Bull Strength], staying at the hall to train was no different from practicing by himself at home.

Therefore, toward his master, Zhang Ming only paid visits during holidays and festivals, sent gifts on ordinary days, and maintained their relationship.

Now, things were different.

He had finally entered the Martial Dao, even though it had taken far too long.

But entry was entry.

As long as he had entered, Zhang Ming could become one of the martial arts hall's core disciples, and its various martial arts would likewise open themselves to him.

"Mm, after a few days, once I stabilize my realm and push my Vital Energy strength a small step forward, I'll visit the martial arts hall and see Master."

The corners of Zhang Ming's mouth lifted, as though he could already see the surprised delight in his master's eyes.

After a brief fantasy.

Zhang Ming returned to his senses.

"Keep cultivating. Work hard!"

Having only just entered, Zhang Ming was brimming with drive.

The Martial Dao was finally no longer a torment to him, no longer perseverance with no end in sight.

Instead, it was a path where effort would bring rewards, and where a bright future lay ahead.