Peak of Ming Jin (Please Follow)

Chen Mo had heard of the Ningjin Pill; it was one of the most precious medicinal pills for the Ming Jin stage.

A single pill was worth two taels of silver.

Without hesitation or false modesty, he took the bottle and bowed in thanks.

"Thank you, Master!"

Yin Tianqing waved his hand. "There is no need for such formalities between master and disciple. Compared to you, I have given Zhang Chong and Yue Lun many times more than this, but it is a pity..."

As he spoke, a flash of disappointment crossed his eyes, though it vanished quickly.

"For next month's Martial Examination, you... just do your best. If you truly cannot break through to Dark Jin, then it is simply a matter of fate and timing; you need not put too much pressure on yourself."

Chen Mo nodded and replied, "Rest assured, Master, I understand."

"Good, you may go."

Days passed as the sun rose and the moon set.

Chen Mo shut himself inside the Wu Family Blacksmith Room, never stepping out. Only Chen Lan and the maid delivering meals would come by from time to time; he would offer a few perfunctory words before immersing himself once more in stoking the fire and forging.

Taking one Ningjin Pill and several Strength-Increasing Pills every day, he felt the strength within his body flowing endlessly, like a running stream.

Ever since observing the clash between several Dark Jin martial artists and fighting a hearty battle against Luo Hou, Chen Mo had gained new insights into martial arts.

Every day, aside from stoking the fire and forging, he would hone his fist techniques and temper his Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique, converting all his newfound insights into the essence of his moves.

Vaguely, he felt he was only one step away from the peak of Ming Jin.

While tending the fire, he "looked" at the shimmering golden text in his mind:

[Thousand Hammer Refinement, Mountain and Water Cultivation]

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

[Comprehension: 88/100 (Minor Achievement)]

[Fuhu Fist: Fist contains a tiger's roar, imbued with imposing power]

[Comprehension: 95/100 (Minor Achievement)]

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

[Comprehension: 40/50 (Minor Achievement)]

"All my martial arts are only four or five days away from reaching Minor Achievement."

"Once the Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique reaches Minor Achievement, can I directly cross the threshold into Dark Jin?"

He pondered silently.

But he immediately shook his head.

"It shouldn't be that simple, otherwise there wouldn't be so many Ming Jin practitioners who spend their entire lives unable to touch the realm of Dark Jin."

In the world of martial arts, talent was paramount.

Not everyone possessed the means to break through the shackles of their own potential.

That night, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse.

The furnace fire flickered inside the Blacksmith Room.

Chen Mo sat upright before the furnace, eyes closed in meditation. The flames in the furnace seemed to drift out as strands of brilliant text, merging into his mind.

Every half hour, he would rise to practice his stakes and fists, then return to sit and meditate for another half hour.

He repeated this cycle until late at night, when the stars hung low in the azure sky.

When the last flicker of flame in the furnace died out, he fell asleep from exhaustion.

At the break of dawn.

Fragrance from the flowers under the corridor outside drifted in, circling the window lattice several times before slowly seeping into the room and entering Chen Mo's nose.

He woke up smelling the fragrance and stretched his back.

At that moment, he suddenly felt an abundant force within his body, three parts stronger than he had been yesterday.

"Have I reached the peak of Ming Jin?"

"Hoo—"

He exhaled a long, turbid breath, his eyes overflowing with a sharp light.

"Creak—"

Just then, the door to the Blacksmith Room opened. Chen Mo saw Wu Zhiai standing at the entrance in a cyan dress, looking up at him.

"You didn't go back to rest last night?"

She asked in surprise.

Chen Mo scratched his head. "I got too absorbed in my training and fell asleep here. Fortunately, I've reached the peak of Ming Jin."

Wu Zhiai examined Chen Mo's physique with great interest, discovering that he had indeed grown much sturdier since his seclusion, with his arms noticeably thicker than before.

He was no longer that scrawny youth.

Wu Zhiai teased, "It wasn't in vain that I supplied you with meat and fish every day; if you were still as thin and weak as before, I would have truly misjudged you."

Chen Mo also smiled knowingly, "I've eaten more meat in these past few days than in my entire life, and I've already consumed more than half of the Ningjin Pill and strength-enhancing pills."

"If it's not enough, just come to me."

Wu Zhiai patted her chest, "From now on, your dietary and medicinal supplements are on me!"

"Will the eldest and second masters of the Wu Family try to trip me up behind the scenes?" Chen Mo asked suspiciously.

Wu Zhiai shook her head, "Your performance at the Competition Tournament has been spreading like wildfire throughout Black River Town these past few days, and everyone in the Wu Family is talking about you. Even if the eldest and second masters aren't genuinely convinced, they won't dare to target you openly."

"Because of your performance, the Wu Family has also benefited; several Ming Jin martial artists who were previously wavering have already come here seeking to join us."

That logic held up.

Only when you are strong will those who once hindered you vanish like smoke.

Only when you are strong will those who once ignored you favor you.

Wu Zhiai said, "I have changed your status from bodyguard to guest of the Wu Family. Your monthly stipend has been increased to five taels, and you no longer need to escort merchant caravans."

"Then many thanks, Sister Ai," Chen Mo said calmly.

It stood to reason that his current strength at the peak of Ming Jin was certainly enough to serve as a guest of the Wu Family.

At this moment, Wu Zhiai suddenly remembered something; she took a letter from her bosom and handed it to Chen Mo, "Here, a letter from the Zhao Family for you."

"The Zhao Family?"

Chen Mo took the letter; the envelope was intact and had not yet been opened.

He frowned, but since he had nothing to hide, he opened the letter right in front of Wu Zhiai, took out the paper, and laid it out before her to read.

The content of the letter was roughly that the Zhao Family cherished talent and, seeing Chen Mo as a young hero, wanted to recruit him under their banner, offering him the status of a guest with a monthly stipend of ten taels, along with an ample supply of strength-enhancing pills and Yiqi Powder.

Chen Mo read the contents of the letter aloud.

After hearing it, Wu Zhiai furrowed her brows slightly, but she had already guessed the gist of the letter, so she was not overly surprised.

Whether it was the size of the family or the amount of the stipend, the Zhao Family was superior to the Wu Family in every way.

For a Ming Jin martial artist, there was no need to hesitate for even a second over such a matter.

Wu Zhiai waited for his decision.

She had told Chen Mo about granting him the status of a guest first, and then produced the letter, hoping to gain a slight advantage in advance.

However.

Chen Mo did not make any move to choose, but instead...

He tore the letter to shreds, then flicked his finger, tossing the scraps into the stove, where they would surely turn to ash the next time the fire roared.

"You aren't going to the Zhao Family?" Wu Zhiai asked.

Chen Mo saw the situation with perfect clarity; if he agreed to the Zhao Family and became their guest, he would become a fish on the chopping block, waiting to be slaughtered, while the Zhao Family would gain a reputation for being as magnanimous as the sea.

Even if he hesitated before refusing, a rift would still form between him and the Wu Family.

No matter what Chen Mo did, he would fall into their trap.

Therefore, this letter was a poisonous scheme, a way to kill without leaving a trace!

The only thing Chen Mo could do was to tear the letter to shreds without hesitation in front of Wu Zhiai.

He spoke his thoughts aloud with complete sincerity.

Hearing this, Wu Zhiai smiled happily, "Not only is your martial arts talent outstanding, but you are also so clever; I am truly starting to appreciate you."

Having said that, she turned gracefully, her skirt tracing a beautiful arc like a blooming green canopy, full of charm beneath its folds.

She turned and left.