Master and Martial Arts School

Several days flashed by.

Over those days, under Zhang Ming's direction, the Zhang Family quietly extended its commercial reach into livestock farming, slaughterhouses, medicine, and other industries.

They began laying plans for the future.

Thanks to Jiangnan Province's overall prosperity, thriving commerce, abundant water transport, and the Zhang Family's business network spread throughout Xinhe Commandery—

In only a few days, the basic framework of the livestock farm had already been completed. Nearly a hundred cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, and other animals were gradually arriving at a plot of land outside Yang City specially designated for the livestock farm.

At the same time, over the course of several days, the Merchant Guild quietly gathered and stockpiled large quantities of medicinal herbs.

For a time, this even caused the price of medicinal herbs throughout Xinhe Commandery to rise for no apparent reason, leaving others utterly baffled.

Everything on the commercial front was proceeding in an orderly fashion.

On the other hand, Zhang Ming's cultivation and strength were also steadily improving.

Over the past few days, thanks to the power of the [Mighty Bull Strength 0.21] version, Zhang Ming's Vital Energy intensity and physical fitness had improved noticeably.

Compared with when he had first comprehended Vital Energy, he had grown stronger once more.

This day.

In the study.

Just as he had the previous two times, Zhang Ming activated [Ignite Comprehension] again.

The effects of [Ignite Comprehension] were as powerful as ever.

In only a short time, the [Mighty Bull Strength] version received another update.

It reached version 0.33.

However, compared to the fifty-percent increase in power from the second [Ignite Comprehension], the third [Ignite Comprehension] only brought about a thirty-percent increase.

In other words, the current version 0.33 of [Mighty Bull Strength] was eighty percent stronger than the initial version.

At mastery and perfection, a punch could reach eighteen thousand jin of force.

Likewise, the other aspects had also improved slightly.

For instance, Zhang Ming had needed ten months to bring his Vital Energy to completion with version 0.21. Now, with version 0.33, he only needed nine months—a slight reduction.

That aside.

The effects had already declined noticeably after only the third [Ignite Comprehension], forcing Zhang Ming to take certain issues seriously.

"It dropped by forty percent. It only improved by thirty percent."

"It seems that if I don't make some changes, the fourth [Ignite Comprehension] will decline even further. Perhaps it will only be ten percent? Or even less?"

There was no way to predict it, but if this ratio continued, [Ignite Comprehension] would soon touch the "ceiling" of [Mighty Bull Strength].

No—more accurately, Zhang Ming's own "ceiling."

After all, [Ignite Comprehension] only enhanced comprehension; it did not create things from nothing.

From 1+1=2, one could not conjure up the mass-energy equation.

"Phew—"

Drawing a deep breath, Zhang Ming made his decision.

"It's time to return to the martial arts school."

Mighty Bull Martial Arts School was one of the major martial arts schools in Yang City.

It was also the source of Zhang Ming's [Mighty Bull Strength] Cultivation Method.

He had joined at the age of six. Now eighteen, twelve years had passed.

Zhang Ming was still a member of Mighty Bull Martial Arts School.

It was simply that, over the past few years, his progress in martial arts had been nearly nonexistent, and his dealings with Mighty Bull Martial Arts School had inevitably decreased somewhat.

But things were different now.

He had successfully comprehended Vital Energy, even if it had taken him a little longer.

As long as he revealed his identity after comprehending Vital Energy, he would become one of Mighty Bull Martial Arts School's dozen or so Core Disciples.

He would be able to access more of Mighty Bull Martial Arts School's Core Martial Arts, Core Elixirs, and more.

"It's time to make a move."

With that, Zhang Ming rose and left the study.

After changing clothes and washing away the sweat on his body, he felt refreshed. He had the servants prepare gifts, summoned a carriage, and set off at once.

Yang City was a small city.

It was an ordinary small county town under Xinhe Commandery.

Its population was not large, only several tens of thousands. Among the county towns under Xinhe Commandery's jurisdiction, it was utterly unremarkable.

It was only in recent years that a Zhang Family had emerged in Yang City, along with the Zhang Family Merchant Guild.

The presence and operations of the Zhang Family Merchant Guild, combined with Yang City's already favorable geographical advantages—

gradually brought prosperity to Yang City.

The city's residents could clearly feel that life had improved considerably over the past few years. Prices had fallen, and there were far more places hiring workers.

With life becoming easier and spare money in hand, people naturally began spending, which in turn further fueled Yang City's prosperity.

At this moment.

The carriage traveled down a bustling street.

The curtains were half open. The cries of street vendors, the pounding of craftsmen's tools, and the laughter and chatter of passing pedestrians on both sides of the road wove together into an urban symphony.

Fragrant grilled fish, steaming buns, sweet fermented rice wine—countless scents intertwined in the air, enough to make one's mouth water.

Then there were the shops upon shops, all decorated in the same style, their attendants dressed in uniform and greeting customers with smiles. Medicinal herbs, silk, jewelry, calligraphy, paintings, and ink treasures filled the displays, brimming with the rich breath of everyday life.

"Not bad. The employee training wasn't wasted."

His gaze lingered over those shops for a moment, and Zhang Ming nodded in satisfaction.

The Merchant Guild was flourishing. It was most satisfying.

Mighty Bull Martial Arts School, one of Yang City's foremost martial arts schools, held an exalted position.

The school occupied a vast area and contained numerous buildings. There were dozens of training grounds alone, each covering several hundred square meters.

Nearly a hundred apprentices trained at the school year-round.

With nearly a hundred apprentices, more than a dozen martial artists, and a headmaster who was a Postnatal Martial Artist—

this was a force no one in Yang City could afford to underestimate.

The Zhang Family's smooth development might not have been possible without Mighty Bull Martial Arts School lending a hand behind the scenes.

However...

that might not necessarily be a good thing.

The carriage entered the martial arts school without encountering any obstruction.

Led by one of the school's servants, Zhang Ming smoothly met his master.

The headmaster of Mighty Bull Martial Arts School was a Postnatal Martial Artist named Niu Kangsheng.

Below the headmaster were two instructors at the great completion of Vital Energy, martial artists at the very limit who had a chance of becoming Postnatal Martial Artists.

One instructor was named Niu Kangshao, the son of Headmaster Niu Kangsheng.

The other was named Fang Hongbo, Headmaster Niu Kangsheng's eldest disciple.

Instructor Fang Hongbo was Zhang Ming's master.

In a small courtyard within the martial arts school—

Zhang Ming saw his master, Fang Hongbo.

Fang Hongbo was not very old, only around thirty.

Twelve years ago, Fang Hongbo had merely been a young man in his twenties who had just comprehended Vital Energy.

Otherwise, even with the Zhang Family's wealth at the time, they likely would not have been able to directly take him as a master and have him accept Zhang Ming.

"Master."

Zhang Ming lowered his head and bowed respectfully.

"You're here?"

Fang Hongbo smiled faintly and asked curiously.

"You're the sort who never visits the temple without a reason. What is it? Did you run into some trouble again recently?"

Though Zhang Ming's aptitude was poor, he had known his master Fang Hongbo for twelve years.

Moreover, Zhang Ming had been clever, adorable, and sensible as a child. If his martial aptitude had not been truly dreadful, Fang Hongbo had even wanted to take Zhang Ming as his godson.

Thus, Fang Hongbo regarded Zhang Ming as both disciple and son.

"Hahaha, I do have a piece of good news to tell you, Master."

"Good news?"

Fang Hongbo raised an eyebrow.

"You're getting married? Which family's daughter?"

"Uh..."

Zhang Ming froze. But on second thought, in an ancient world, getting married at eighteen was perfectly normal.

He hurriedly shook his head.

"No, it's another piece of great news. If you don't believe me, Master, take a look."

As Fang Hongbo watched in baffled surprise, Zhang Ming quietly mobilized the Vital Energy within his body and gathered it in his right fist. Bathed in the glow of Vital Energy, his fist turned crimson, as though shrouded in a layer of red mist.

Vital Energy.

Vital Energy.

The Vital Energy within a Warrior's body was wondrous beyond measure. Not only could it temper the body and strengthen one's bones, flesh, and skin, it could also be gathered in one place to briefly enhance attack power, defense, bodily functions, and more.

Mobilizing Vital Energy to strengthen a certain part of the body was the simplest and most basic application.

"Vital Energy! Vital Energy!"

"You've successfully sensed Vital Energy!"

Fang Hongbo shot to his feet in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Zhang Ming smiled faintly, lifting his chin and straightening his chest.

"Just luck!"

"Hahaha! Good, good, good, good! After twelve years, you've finally developed Vital Energy!"

Fang Hongbo burst into laughter. Watching the "child" he had raised since young sense Vital Energy filled him with boundless joy.

All the unpleasantness of recent days, caused by certain matters, vanished in an instant.

He stood and gave him a heavy embrace between men.

Patting Zhang Ming on the shoulder, Fang Hongbo's face was full of gratification.

"Good. So long as you've sensed Vital Energy, there's hope for the martial path."

"You came to the Martial Arts Hall this time to obtain some Martial Skills and medicinal supplements, didn't you?"

Zhang Ming nodded. There was no need to hide it from his master.

"Yes, Master. I wonder how much the Martial Arts Hall's Martial Skills and medicinal supplements cost."

Sensing Vital Energy and becoming a Core Disciple did not mean he could enjoy the Martial Arts Hall's resources for free.

He still had to pay a certain amount of money or exchange labor for them.