Secret Martial Art Perfection

"Finally out!"

Following the well, he swam into the Chishui River. After swimming for a while, the dense forests on both banks came into view.

Setting off at dawn, it was now the afternoon of the second day.

After resting and regrouping, the two set off toward Tianping City.

"That person who ambushed us... their strength must be formidable, at least Third Rank..."

"Why would they ambush us?"

On the road, Shen Qingchan was deeply puzzled.

Mu Ye had a few guesses in his heart, but these were based on his experiences as a Demon Sealer.

"Also, the hand blade that person used to ambush us..." Shen Qingchan said, "I examined your wound. This kind of hand blade is a Divine Aperture Secret Martial Art called Entangling Silk Hand. It trains the palm to be as sharp and piercing as a steel blade or a sword."

"It can easily slit an enemy's throat or pierce through their heart."

"After piercing the body, the entire frame is pulled by a force of Entangling Silk Force until the body withers and dies from exhaustion."

Coming from a prestigious orthodox sect, Shen Qingchan had quite a bit of insight into martial arts.

"Where does this secret martial art originate from?" Mu Ye asked.

Shen Qingchan shook her head and said:

"It is a lost secret martial art. It is said that only the Martial King Pavilion in the Imperial Palace has records of it..."

"Those who can enter the Martial King Pavilion are mostly royalty or imperial relatives..."

"However, this Divine Aperture Secret Martial Art is also highly difficult to cultivate. To be able to cultivate Entangling Silk Force and reach the Third Rank, this person must certainly have backing."

That came as no surprise.

In Mu Ye's view, the person who ambushed them was, nine times out of ten, likely from the Feng family.

If that were truly the case, then the Feng family's plotting against the Shen Mansion had likely been going on for more than a day or two.

The two figures leaped through the mountain forest, moving at high speed.

However, halfway there, Mu Ye felt he couldn't hold on any longer; his primary injuries had not yet healed.

Using the power of the Divine Aperture to leap through the forest was fast, but the consumption was too great.

"Your injuries haven't healed. I'll carry you," Shen Qingchan said.

"Huh?" Mu Ye was stunned. Looking at the scene, he thought to himself that this didn't feel quite right.

"Stop being so wishy-washy," Shen Qingchan said. "Since that person ambushed us, there's no telling if they'll intercept us on the road. It's best we return to Taiping City as quickly as possible."

"Is it possible that the person who ambushed us thinks we're dead?" Mu Ye asked.

Under normal circumstances, if someone fell into a well and the other party sealed the opening, there would be no way out. The water was extremely deep, and the probability of survival was very low.

Especially since one of them had sustained a fatal injury.

"Hmm... that's possible, too," Shen Qingchan nodded. "But you are currently..."

Before she finished speaking, Shen Qingchan didn't give Mu Ye a chance to respond. She scooped him up in her arms and began to move at high speed.

The wind howled, and Mu Ye was left disheveled in the gale.

He was being carried... uh... in a bridal carry, no less.

This young heroine was so decisive and generous... Mu Ye cast a suspicious glance at her.

Because of the angle, he could only see two slightly trembling peaks. Through the gap between them, Mu Ye caught sight of a bright red face.

"..." Mu Ye.

So she was just pretending to be calm.

Mu Ye wanted to laugh. It made sense; how could an underage girl be so calm while doing something that violated the social norms between men and women?

Since that was the case, Mu Ye decided to just relax and enjoy it.

Although his physique was larger than Shen Qingchan's, she was a third-rank martial artist who specialized in swordsmanship, so her strength was not to be underestimated.

As long as it involved weapon-based secret martial arts, the Divine Apertures in both arms were generally already opened.

In truth, if they were to have a serious fight without using his player abilities, he might not necessarily win against Shen Qingchan based on his character stats alone.

In fact... he might even lose.

His Crimson Flame Fist and Vajra Leg were both physical secret martial arts, and neither could be considered top-tier.

However, the sword technique this girl practiced was exceptionally strong—a first-class secret martial art from a prestigious sect.

Only by combining the fist and the leg into one and mastering the Innate Qi Technique could he truly claim to possess a top-tier secret martial art.

Mu Ye lay quietly in her arms, enjoying the scenery.

The high mountains reached into the clouds, rising and falling. The sky he saw from this angle seemed bluer, a scene as beautiful as a painting. If there were a photo system, he might have been able to record it.

Before long, they arrived at Taiping City.

"Many thanks. Seeing your cheeks so flushed... you must be quite tired, right?" Mu Ye cupped his hands in gratitude.

Shen Qingchan touched her flushed cheeks with her palms.

In truth, she didn't feel particularly tired... on the contrary, she felt brimming with strength.

It was a strange sensation, one she had never experienced before. It was almost like...

"That's right, I am indeed a bit tired." For the first time, Shen Qingchan told a lie.

"Then let us part ways here! Miss Shen should head back and get some rest." Mu Ye planned to return to the martial arts hall first.

"Um..." Shen Qingchan opened her mouth.

"Is there something else?"

"You should take care to rest as well."

Mu Ye nodded and headed straight for the martial arts hall. Finding a quiet, empty spot, he took out the Blood Lingzhi.

Even after giving half to Shen Qingchan, there was still quite a bit left.

"If this Blood Lingzhi were in the cultivation world, it would likely be a spiritual herb with a hundred years of age..."

"In this game world, it counts as a heaven-sent treasure. Selling it for a hundred Spirit Stones in the cultivation world wouldn't be difficult..."

It was a pity that resources from the game couldn't be brought out.

Shen Qingchan had mentioned along the way that the best way to consume it was directly.

It had no side effects, and the energy contained within could directly help a martial artist break through multiple Divine Apertures while practicing secret martial arts.

Its powerful vitality could also help a martial artist improve their aptitude.

It was extremely rare.

Since that was the case, there was no need to hesitate. He would consume it directly and quickly push his two secret martial arts to the tenth level.

That way, he would at least be nearing the fourth rank.

"I should be able to slaughter my way through the next level."

"The Shen Mansion quest will also have a follow-up guarantee."

Thinking of this, Mu Ye ate half of the Blood Lingzhi first. This thing was indeed quite large, about the size of half a head, and the lingzhi was shaped in layers.

After consuming it, the character status displayed that he had entered a special state.

Lingzhi Body Nourishment: You have consumed a hundred-year-old Blood Lingzhi. Your blood and qi are full, your vitality is immense, and your secret martial arts cultivation speed is +300% (30 days).

"The effect is remarkable."

After consuming it, Mu Ye quickly practiced the two secret martial arts.

The proficiency rose rapidly, not much worse than it was in the world of immortal cultivation.

The effects brought by heavenly treasures were unparalleled; even if consumed by an ordinary person, a single day's effort would be worth at least one or two months of hard training.

Over thirty days, that would equal at least one or two years...

It was no wonder that ordinary people could take off in a short time after eating heavenly treasures; Master Yan was a prime example.

Perhaps in half a month... I will be able to cultivate both secret martial arts to the tenth level...

He wondered to what extent Master Yan had analyzed the two Divine Aperture diagrams, and when he would finally know the hidden location of the Innate Qi Technique.

Feeling his leg Divine Apertures breaking through one after another, the sheer speed of that leap in progress made Mu Ye feel incredibly satisfied.

The proficiency was rising at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Mu Ye was so engrossed in his training that he didn't even want to log off.

Time passed quickly.

Fifteen days later.

In the training grounds of the Divine Fist Martial Hall.

Mu Ye was shirtless, looking at his arms, which seemed to have been forged in raging fire. They were as red as jade, every muscle perfectly defined, and he could vaguely feel surges of tyrannical power flowing slowly through the bones beneath his skin, gushing out endlessly.

[Crimson Flame Fist: 1000/1000 (Tenth Level)]

True, absolute perfection at the tenth level.

Closing his eyes, the Divine Apertures in his arms circulated, the power connecting the apertures like flowing water, forming a single entity.

He spread his feet slightly and tapped his toes; the marble floor beneath him cracked with clear, patterned fissures.

If he were to roll up his pant legs, one could clearly see his legs glowing with a faint golden light, radiating from the inside out, giving off an impression of being indestructible and as sharp as a broadsword.

[Vajra Leg: 1000/1000 (Tenth Level)]

Also at the tenth level, the Vajra Leg had opened the Divine Apertures in his legs, totaling two hundred.

The Crimson Flame Fist had only opened one hundred Divine Apertures, adding up to three hundred in total.

If one were to use the terminology of the world of immortal cultivation, this should be mid-stage third-grade...

There was no such thing as "mid-stage" here; third-grade was defined as anything between one hundred and five hundred Divine Apertures.

Only after opening more than five hundred Divine Apertures could one be considered fourth-grade.

"A total duration of two and a half months..."

"I've reached perfection."