Vajra Divine Fist

"This is a fist art of the Zen Sect, called the Vajra Divine Fist. It is one of the finest methods in the Body Tempering Realm for tempering the flesh. However, its fist force is fierce and brutal, its exertion heavy and forceful, making it ill-suited for women to cultivate..."

Su Lanyue trailed off. There were two reasons why the Vajra Divine Fist was not well-suited for women. First, this fist art had never been widely spread, and she herself had only obtained it through a fortunate coincidence. Second, very few women were willing to cultivate it.

Women were innately several levels weaker than men in physical endurance and strength. This was an indisputable fact. For fist arts as incomparably fierce and domineering as the Vajra Divine Fist, women often had to expend several times the effort of men to achieve the same results.

The effort required was enough to make the vast majority of women recoil at the sight of it.

Body-tempering techniques suitable for women were not uncommon. Rather than expend such enormous effort, it was better to seek another technique. Most people preferred taking shortcuts.

Yet from another perspective, this sort of fist art was also one of the few techniques that could level the innate gap between men and women while still in the Body Tempering Realm.

Its merits and flaws depended entirely on one's own understanding.

After hesitating for a while, Su Lanyue did not further dissect the advantages and disadvantages of this fist art for Shi Lan. Who knew how long Shi Lan's enthusiasm for martial arts would last? Perhaps she would give up in a few days. There was no need to discuss such matters.

Shi Lan accepted the brocade box and opened it.

Inside lay a thread-bound booklet with a gray cover.

Vajra Divine Fist...

Shi Lan took out the booklet and opened to the first page.

The first page depicted a Zen Sect Vajra clad in heavy armor and holding a ritual implement. Its brows stood upright, its eyes were wide and round, and its expression was imposing.

The moment Shi Lan saw that Vajra, a figure appeared in her mind and began demonstrating one fist move after another.

The fist art was simple and direct, its moves swift, fierce, and decisive.

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining Vajra Divine Fist. Current proficiency: Not Initiated]

Hearing the system prompt, Shi Lan snapped back to her senses with a trace of surprise.

"This fist art was written by an expert of the Zen Sect. It contains a trace of Martial Intent that can aid cultivation and yield twice the result with half the effort." Seeing the surprise on Shi Lan's face, Su Lanyue explained.

"Thank you, Mother!"

Shi Lan put the booklet back into the brocade box, rose to her feet, and bowed.

"Keep this fist art safe. You must not lose it," Su Lanyue instructed.

"Your child will remember."

Shi Lan replied, bowed once more, and prepared to take her leave.

"Martial cultivation is unlike ordinary times. It consumes one's vital blood and essence greatly. Later, I'll have someone send over some medicinal meals to replenish you. Remember to finish them. If there is anything you do not understand in your cultivation, come ask me."

Su Lanyue gave a few more instructions before rising and seeing Shi Lan out of the courtyard residence.

Watching Shi Lan's departing figure, Su Lanyue slowly furrowed her brows. Why had Shi Lan suddenly become interested in martial arts?

After pondering briefly, Su Lanyue summoned Zique.

"From today onward, help me keep an eye on the Eldest Young Master's movements. If he leaves the estate, follow him. If nothing is amiss, do not disturb him. Do you understand?"

Zique froze for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Clutching the brocade box, Shi Lan returned to her residence. She already had a rough impression of each move of the Vajra Divine Fist in her mind.

After taking out the booklet and reading it from beginning to end to reinforce her memory, Shi Lan went to the courtyard and took her first step onto the martial path.

Following the memories in her mind, Shi Lan slowly assumed the stance and began practicing move by move. The heavy, vigorous fist art gradually flowed forth.

Before she had even completed half a set of the Vajra Divine Fist, Shi Lan looked as though she had been fished out of water. Sweat drenched her body, every muscle trembling faintly as a tide-like ache flooded her from head to toe.

In the end, Shi Lan failed to complete the entire set before collapsing to the ground from exhaustion.

The Vajra Divine Fist placed too great a burden on the body. Shi Lan had no foundation in martial arts before this; being able to complete over half a set already showed extraordinary perseverance.

Shi Feng stood silently in a corner of the rooftop. When he saw Shi Lan collapse from exhaustion, he instinctively wanted to go over and help her up, but for various reasons, he suppressed the thought.

Shi Feng felt rather unsettled. He had only been away for half a month. What exactly had happened during that time? Shi Lan, who had never liked martial arts, had actually begun practicing—and such a hard, unyielding fist art at that.

Shi Lan lay on the ground, unable to stop gasping for breath. Before the soreness in her muscles had subsided, an even more intense pain suddenly erupted in her lower abdomen.

"Hiss..."

Shi Lan sucked in a cold breath. Her face, flushed from practicing the fist art, instantly turned pale. Clutching her lower abdomen, she curled into a ball.

What is happening?!

The figure hidden deep within Shi Lan's mind could not help clutching its own lower abdomen as well. How did this hurt even more than being stabbed?

The agony grew increasingly severe. Shi Lan felt as though she were running out of oxygen, and even her consciousness began to blur.

In the instant before she lost consciousness, Shi Lan saw a pair of thick-soled blue cloth boots land before her.

Shi Feng anxiously scooped Shi Lan up in one motion, strode to the door, and kicked it open.

After laying Shi Lan flat on the bed, Shi Feng looked at her clothes, soaked through with sweat. He hesitated briefly, then thick true qi surged from within him. In the blink of an eye, it evaporated all the moisture.

After checking Shi Lan's pulse, Shi Feng helped her sit up and sent strand after strand of true qi into her body, circulating it through her channels and blood to invigorate her vital energy.

Only after Shi Lan's face regained some color did Shi Feng let out a slight sigh of relief. He gently brushed the dirt and dust from her body, removed her boots, helped her lie down again, and tucked the blanket around her.

Shi Feng stood by the bed, staring at Shi Lan for a long while before leaving the room. He shut the door tightly and used true qi to secure the lock.

"Eldest Young Master? Eldest Young Master!"

Amid the calls, Shi Lan slowly opened her eyes.

Remembering what she had seen before losing consciousness, Shi Lan's expression changed. She sat up and checked herself over. Only after finding no signs that her clothes had been disturbed did she breathe a sigh of relief. Having her identity exposed was no trivial matter.

Someone had just saved her? Who was it? Before Shi Lan could think further, another knock came from the door.

"Eldest Young Master, are you there?"

Shi Lan gathered her thoughts, got out of bed, and had only taken two steps when she suddenly realized that she felt better than ever before. The intense pain in her lower abdomen and the soreness in her muscles had vanished without a trace.

Not only that, even her strength had increased considerably.

Shi Lan opened the door. Zique stood outside, carrying a food box in her hands.

"Eldest Young Master, I thought you had gone out. This is medicinal food that the Mistress ordered the kitchen to prepare and asked me to bring you..."

Shi Lan took the food box with one hand and waved the other. "I understand. You can go back first."

The words filling Zique's stomach were blocked before they could leave her mouth, and she could only depart helplessly.

Shi Lan could tell that Zique had some feelings for her. That was only natural, but Shi Lan now had the heart without the strength. It was better to cut off Zique's hopes sooner rather than later.