Secret Martial Arts Mastery

"Finally, we're out!"

Following the well, they swam to the Chishui River. After swimming for a while, they could see dense forests on both banks.

They had set out at dawn, and now it was already the afternoon of the second day.

After resting for a while, the two set off for Taiping City.

"The person who ambushed us... must be very strong. At least Third Grade..."

"Why did he ambush us?"

On the road, Shen Qingchan couldn't make heads or tails of it.

Mu Ye had a few guesses, but they were based on what he knew about Demon Sealers.

"Also, that hand blade the man used to ambush us..." Shen Qingchan said. "I saw your wound. That hand blade is a secret martial art called the Entangling Silk Hand. It trains the palm until it's as sharp as a steel blade or a piercing sword."

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

"After it pierces the body, a force called Entangling Silk Force keeps tugging at the whole body until it withers away and dies."

As someone born into a reputable orthodox school, Shen Qingchan had a fair bit of insight into Martial Arts.

"Where did this secret martial art come from?" Mu Ye asked.

Shen Qingchan shook her head.

"It's a lost secret martial art. They say only the Martial King Pavilion in the imperial palace has any records of it..."

"Most of those who can enter the Martial King Pavilion are members of the imperial family..."

"But this Divine Aperture Secret Martial Art is difficult to cultivate. To have also cultivated Entangling Silk Force and reached Third Grade, the man must have powerful backing."

Then it all made sense.

As far as Mu Ye could tell, there was a good chance the ambusher was from the Feng Household.

If that was true, the Feng Household had likely been plotting against the Shen Mansion for more than just a day or two.

The two leaped through the mountain forest, moving swiftly.

But halfway there, Mu Ye began to feel he couldn't keep going. The main problem was that his wound hadn't healed yet.

Using Divine Aperture power to leap through the forest was fast, but it consumed far too much energy.

"Your injury hasn't healed. I'll carry you," Shen Qingchan said.

"Huh?" Mu Ye froze. Looking at the scene, he thought, This doesn't seem right.

"Don't dawdle," Shen Qingchan said. "Since that person ambushed us, he might intercept us on the way. We'd better get back to Taiping City as soon as possible."

"Is it possible the ambusher thinks we're dead?" Mu Ye said.

Normally, if someone fell into a well, the attacker only had to block the opening. With nowhere to escape and the water so deep, the chance of survival was slim.

Especially when one of them had suffered a fatal injury.

"Hmm... That's possible too." Shen Qingchan nodded. "But you're..."

As she spoke, Shen Qingchan gave Mu Ye no chance to respond. She scooped him up and strode off at a rapid pace.

The wind howled. Mu Ye was blown into a daze.

He'd been picked up—uh... carried bridal-style, no less.

This Little Heroine was so decisive and generous... Mu Ye eyed her suspiciously.

Because of the way she held him, all he could see were two gently quivering peaks. Through the gap between them, he spotted her flushed face.

"..." Mu Ye.

So she was only putting on a brave face.

Mu Ye wanted to laugh. Of course. How could a young girl who hadn't even come of age calmly do something so improper between a man and a woman?

Since that was the case, Mu Ye settled in and enjoyed it.

He was bigger than Shen Qingchan, but as a Third Grade Martial Warrior—and one who wielded a sword—she was plenty strong.

Secret martial arts related to weapons almost always required the Divine Apertures in both arms to have been opened already.

Honestly, if they fought for real and he didn't use his player abilities, his character might not be able to beat Shen Qingchan.

He might not even be able to hold his own.

The Crimson Flame Fist and Vajra Leg were both body-based secret martial arts, and neither was among the most formidable.

But the sword technique Shen Qingchan used was no ordinary art. It was a first-rate secret martial art from a reputable orthodox school.

Only by combining that fist and kick into one and learning the Innate Qi Technique could he attain a truly top-tier secret martial art.

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

The towering mountains reached into the clouds, rising and falling without end. The sky seemed bluer here, and the scenery was like a painting. If only there were a photo system, he could record it.

Before long, they arrived in Taiping City.

"Thank you. Your face is so red... You must be pretty tired, right?" Mu Ye said, cupping his hands in thanks.

Shen Qingchan touched her flushed cheek with her palm.

Actually, she didn't feel tired at all... If anything, she felt full of energy.

It was strange. She'd never experienced this kind of feeling before. It was a little like...

"That's right. I am a little tired." Shen Qingchan lied for the first time.

"Then let's part ways here! Miss Shen, go back and rest." Mu Ye planned to head back to the martial hall first.

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

"Is something the matter?"

"You should get some rest too."

Mu Ye nodded and headed straight for the martial hall. He found a quiet patch of ground and took out the Blood Lingzhi.

Even after splitting half of it with Shen Qingchan, plenty remained.

"If this Blood Lingzhi were in the Cultivation World, it'd be a Spirit Medicine with at least a hundred years of growth..."

"In this game world, it's a Natural Treasure. Selling it for a hundred Spirit Stones or more in the Cultivation World wouldn't be difficult..."

Too bad the game's resources couldn't be taken out.

On the way, Shen Qingchan had said that consuming it directly would be most effective.

It had no side effects. The energy inside could directly help a Martial Warrior break through several Divine Apertures while cultivating secret martial arts.

Its potent vitality could also improve a martial artist's aptitude.

It was exceedingly rare.

Since that was the case, there was no need to overthink it. He'd consume it directly and quickly raise both secret martial arts to the tenth layer.

That would bring him close to Fourth Grade, at least.

"I'll probably be able to crush the next stage."

"And I'll have a safety net for the Shen Mansion quest."

With that thought, Mu Ye ate half of the Blood Lingzhi. The thing was indeed rather large, about half the size of a head, and the Lingzhi was shaped like a broad, layered fan.

After swallowing it, the character entered a special state.

[ Lingzhi Body Nourishment: You consumed a hundred-year Blood Lingzhi. Your qi and blood are brimming, your vitality surges, and your secret martial arts cultivation speed increases by 300% (thirty days)]

"The effect is impressive."

After eating it, Mu Ye immediately began practicing both secret martial arts.

His proficiency rose at a dizzying speed, not much slower than in the Cultivation World.

The effects of Natural Treasures were unparalleled. Even an ordinary person who consumed one could get at least a month or two of hard training's worth of progress in a single day.

Over thirty days, that would amount to at least a year or two...

No wonder ordinary people could take off in no time after eating a Natural Treasure. Master Yan was the perfect example.

"Maybe in half a month... I'll be able to cultivate both secret martial arts to the tenth layer..."

He wondered how far Master Yan had gotten in analyzing the two Divine Aperture Diagrams, and when he'd learn where the Innate Qi Technique was hidden.

Feeling the Divine Apertures in his legs break through one after another, the incredible leaps in strength made Mu Ye cry out in delight.

His proficiency was rising right before his eyes.

Mu Ye didn't even want to log off.

Time flew by.

Fifteen days later.

Inside the training ground of the Divine Fist Martial Hall.

Mu Ye stood bare-chested, gazing at his arms, which seemed forged in flames. They were red as jade, every muscle perfectly defined. He could faintly feel surges of powerful energy flowing through the bones beneath his skin, gushing forth without end.

[Crimson Flame Fist: 1000/1000 (Ten Layers)]

He had truly reached ten layers of mastery.

Closing his eyes, he felt the Divine Apertures in both arms circulate, power flowing through them like water and linking them into one.

He spread his feet slightly and tapped the ground with his toes. The marble floor cracked in a clear, regular pattern.

If he rolled up his trouser legs, he would clearly see a faint golden light gleaming across both legs, radiating from within. They looked indestructible, and their sharp, blade-like presence was unmistakable.

[Vajra Leg: 1000/1000 (Ten Layers)]

It had also reached ten layers, but Vajra Leg opened the Divine Apertures in both legs, a total of two hundred.

Crimson Flame Fist had opened only a hundred Divine Apertures, bringing his total to three hundred.

In the terms of the Cultivation World, this should put him at the middle stage of Third Grade...

There were no middle stages here. Third Grade meant between one hundred and five hundred Divine Apertures. They were all Third Grade.

Only after opening more than five hundred Divine Apertures could one count as Fourth Grade.

"It took two and a half months in total..."

"I've reached perfection."