Testing Moves

Several matters intertwined in Chen Mo's mind.

First was the conflict between the Black Tiger Hall and the Hansha Gang following the death of Huang E.

Next was the information pried from the mouth of the man in black who had attempted to assassinate him: the deputy leader of the Hansha Gang took orders from Zhao Huayuan.

Then there was the fact that the Black Tiger Hall had been frequently abducting people for live sacrifices recently.

Finally, there was the accidental conversation Zhang Cai had overheard yesterday between the leader of the Black Tiger Hall and Zhao Huayuan.

Chen Mo harbored a suspicion that perhaps Zhao Huayuan was the true leader of the Hansha Gang.

The death of a mere Huang E was not enough to cause two gangs to fight; rather, the Black Tiger Hall must have demanded the Hansha Gang's cooperation in a certain matter, and when the latter refused, the conflict erupted.

Yesterday, pressured by the Black Tiger Hall's influence, Zhao Huayuan had no choice but to agree to their demands; as for what that matter was, it likely had something to do with the live sacrifices.

Chen Mo had long been suspicious, as live sacrifices meant a loss of labor, which offered no benefit to the Black Tiger Hall.

He secretly mused that the Black Tiger Hall must have had an ulterior motive.

However, as long as it did not affect his participation in the Martial Examination, such matters had nothing to do with him.

"I understand, A-Cai. The conspiracies of such big shots are still far beyond my reach."

Chen Mo said calmly.

Zhang Cai nodded as if he had realized something. "That's true, just be careful yourself."

Chen Mo nodded in agreement, bid the two farewell, and returned to the Wu Family Blacksmith Room to continue honing his Mountain and Water Cultivation.

Once immersed, time slipped away until dusk.

He calmed his breath and focused his mind, calling up the illusory interface of the Mountain and Water Cultivation:

[Thousand Hammer Refinement, Mountain and Water Cultivation]

[Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique: Basic stake technique, trains the legs below and fist strength above]

[Comprehension: 72/100 (Minor Success)]

[Fuhu Fist: Fists contain the roar of a tiger, imbued with power]

[Comprehension: 82/100 (Minor Success)]

[Luo Smoke Steps: Steps create smoke, leaving no trace behind]

[Comprehension: 24/50 (Minor Success)]

He had now begun practicing the fifth form of Fuhu Fist, Snake Coiling Hand, and the sixth form, Swallow Return Strike.

The former was cunning and strange when throwing a punch, with a trajectory that wound and twisted like a snake, making it the best at bypassing an enemy's defense.

The latter was actually a set of counter-whip strikes, advancing by retreating, feigning a retreat to launch a real attack, leaving enemies behind him unable to defend.

The addition of these two moves undoubtedly increased Chen Mo's combat power by a significant margin.

He secretly felt fortunate.

Without the Mountain and Water Cultivation method, given his original talent, he would never have been able to comprehend the subtleties within the Fuhu Fist manual.

Practicing until today.

Even Yin Tianqing would not dare to claim that his understanding of every move and form of the Fuhu Fist surpassed Chen Mo's.

Moreover, he had not yet reached Minor Success; what would it be like once he reached Great Success in the future?

Chen Mo reined in his drifting thoughts.

He focused on the present.

Only by reaching the peak of Ming Jin as soon as possible, or even breaking through to Dark Jin, would he have any hope on the Martial Examination stage, which was crowded with experts.

Time flew, and another fifteen sunrises and sunsets passed.

During this period, Chen Mo escorted the Wu Family caravan twice, encountering no danger, and his status in the eyes of the caravan grew higher with each passing day.

Whenever the iron billets in the Blacksmith Room ran out, Wu Zhiai would immediately order people to replenish them, never letting Chen Mo be delayed for even a moment.

As for the Tianqing Martial Hall, after Luo Heng was defeated by Chen Mo, his mindset suffered a fracture. He had been dispirited ever since and left the Tianqing Martial Hall two days ago; perhaps he would never have a chance at Dark Jin again.

On this morning, the dew had not yet dried.

Chen Mo finished his tenth round of the Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique, exhaled a breath of stale air, and his eyes flashed with brilliance.

After half a month of stake training, his realm was not only firmly stabilized at the late stage of Ming Jin, but he had also faintly touched the threshold of the peak of Ming Jin.

He finished his breakfast and headed to the Tianqing Martial Hall.

As soon as he stepped into the hall, he learned a piece of news from Li Xuan:

"Tomorrow, there will be a competition between several factions in Black River Town to warm up for the upcoming Martial Examination."

This event had taken place in previous years as well.

It not only provided training in actual combat but also allowed everyone to understand each other; by observing a small part, one could glimpse the whole, giving them a rough expectation of their opponents' strength for this year's competition.

However, at this moment...

Yin Tianqing stepped out from the inner chamber. His sharp gaze swept across the room, and his voice boomed like a spring thunderclap: "The three of you, come in one by one to spar with me. I want to test your hand-to-hand combat skills."

After speaking, he turned his back and walked into the inner chamber, saying, "Yue Lun, you go first."

Yue Lun was slightly stunned and muttered in a low voice, "We never had this in previous years..."

Chen Mo, however, appeared somewhat calm. He knew this meant Yin Tianqing did not have much confidence in the three of them and wanted to impart some practical combat experience on the fly.

Thinking of this, he silently retreated to the wooden stake and focused on practicing the Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique.

Li Xuan, on the other hand, seemed a bit restless. A look of nervousness appeared on his face, and his eyes glanced toward the inner chamber from time to time.

Growing impatient, he walked over to Chen Mo and asked, "Junior Brother Chen, how much of his strength do you think Master will use against us?"

Chen Mo stopped and shook his head.

Just as Li Xuan was about to speak again.

"Creak—"

The door to the inner chamber opened. Yue Lun walked out, panting. As he reached Chen Mo and Li Xuan, he warned, "Junior Brother Li, it's your turn. He's only testing our techniques, not our internal force. It goes until you lose."

Li Xuan realized this, and his expression immediately turned to one of surprise.

If it was only a test of technique, Yue Lun was among the best of all the disciples in mastering the essentials of moves, yet from the time he went in until he came out, it hadn't even been half a cup of tea's time...

He took a deep breath and walked into the inner chamber.

In a short while, before Chen Mo had even finished half a set of the Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique, Li Xuan came out shaking his head, his face looking rather grim.

"Junior Brother Chen, it's your turn. Master's examination... is very strict."

Hearing this, Chen Mo nodded slightly, then walked into the inner chamber and closed the door.

The few people familiar with Chen Mo, including Ji Chang, Yin Shanshan, Yue Lun, and Li Xuan, all cast their gazes toward the room.

Yue Lun had lasted for half a cup of tea, while Li Xuan had lasted for about a quarter of a cup. As for Chen Mo...

It should be even faster.

The difference in understanding of techniques between a Hua Jin master and a Ming Jin martial artist could be described as heaven and earth!

However, everyone waited for a while, but they never saw that slightly lean figure emerge.

Half a cup of tea.

One cup of tea.

Two cups of tea.

"Junior Brother Chen..." Li Xuan frowned deeply, "Could it be that he is receiving private instruction from Master?"

Yue Lun's expression grew slightly solemn, "If Master is considering that Junior Brother Chen started late and is teaching him more of the essentials of the techniques, it would be within reason."

Even Ji Chang and Yin Shanshan, who had witnessed many of Chen Mo's wonders, could not figure it out at this moment.

"This makes no sense!" Ji Chang shouted aloud.

After about five cups of tea had passed, the wooden door of the inner chamber was finally pushed open slowly.

Yin Tianqing and Chen Mo walked out side by side, the former appearing to have a faint smile on his face.

"Thud!"

Yin Tianqing landed a heavy palm on Chen Mo's shoulder, "You kid are something else. I still underestimated you; you actually managed to keep me from winning within fifty moves."

"It is Master who went easy on this disciple," Chen Mo bowed slightly and said.

Hearing this, the few people nearby were all shocked to the core.

Yin Tianqing's understanding of fist techniques was among the best in all of Anyang County. How could Chen Mo, a mere Ming Jin practitioner, have such capability?

Chen Mo inadvertently looked up and saw that the gloom on Yin Tianqing's face seemed to have dissipated quite a bit.