Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique

Chen Lan stared at the scene before her.

Her younger brother had joined the Tianqing Martial Hall?!

In her eyes, these were words that had absolutely nothing to do with one another, yet at this moment, they had somehow come together.

Her eyes grew moist, shimmering under the flickering candlelight. A cold draft swept into the room, bending the candle flame, and only then did she snap out of her trance.

"Xiao Mo, did you really... join the martial hall to study martial arts?"

Chen Mo nodded. "Yes, let's go inside to talk."

He reattached the door panel. As the night wind whistled through the holes in the wood, Chen Lan stuffed them with rags.

The two sat down.

Chen Mo briefly recounted how he had passed Master Yin's examination, though he omitted any mention of the Thousand Hammer Refinement and Mountain and Water Cultivation.

"From now on, we won't have to pay the grain tax. If I'm lucky and can find a post or some odd job, I'll be able to earn some silver."

As Chen Lan listened, she dug her fingernails into her palms, feeling the sharp sting to confirm she wasn't dreaming.

For the impoverished, if one could enter a martial hall to train, even if they didn't truly step onto the path of martial arts, they could at least secure a livelihood and avoid starvation.

If one could cross the threshold of martial arts, they wouldn't necessarily become a phoenix soaring above the branches, but they would at least escape the very bottom of society.

And if one were gifted enough to become a Martial Scholar—to put it bluntly—it would be a case of one person attaining the Dao and their entire family ascending to heaven.

Chen Mo said earnestly, "Sister, you won't have to work odd jobs from dawn till dusk anymore. Just take on some light work."

Chen Lan nodded. "Yes, I'll listen to you. I really only do what I can manage anyway."

In this world, without a specialized skill, one could only perform menial tasks; the work was heavy, and the pay was meager.

After they spoke for a while longer, Chen Mo returned to his "room" to practice his punches.

The next morning.

Chen Mo arrived at the martial hall and saw several senior disciples already circling the stakes, practicing their punches with rhythmic shouts.

The tall disciple from yesterday walked up to him. "You're Chen Mo, right? Master told me to brief you on the hall's affairs. My name is Ji Chang; you can call me Third Senior Brother."

As he spoke, he tried his best to maintain a calm expression, but the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily. After all, just last night he had been adamant that this kid couldn't pass the test, and yet here he was, his junior brother this morning.

Chen Mo nodded in acknowledgment.

Ji Chang took out a martial arts manual. "This is the Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique. Master said it pairs perfectly with your Fuhu Fist. You can study it on your own first. If you have questions, you can ask me, or if Master is in the hall, you can ask him directly."

Chen Mo took the ochre-colored manual, his heart stirring. Mountain and Water Cultivation could refine the Fuhu Fist, so it would surely be able to refine the Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique as well.

Ji Chang continued, "Disciples who haven't reached Ming Jin are usually taught by senior disciples who have already attained it. Only after breaking through to Ming Jin will Master provide personal guidance."

Even upon entering the martial hall, there was a clear hierarchy, though it didn't affect Chen Mo much.

Next, Ji Chang briefly explained the divisions of martial arts realms, as well as common knowledge regarding techniques and skills.

The realms accessible to ordinary people, from lowest to highest, were Ming Jin, Dark Jin, and Hua Jin. Only by stepping into Ming Jin could one be called a true martial artist and qualify to participate in the Anyang County Martial Examination.

Reaching Hua Jin meant becoming a top-tier expert in Anyang County, the kind who guarded entire factions or clans.

As for cultivation methods and martial techniques, the former were the foundation of martial arts and determined one's realm, while the latter were defensive skills used in combat.

For instance, no matter how much Chen Mo comprehended the Fuhu Fist, without the Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique, he would never be able to break through to Ming Jin.

"I've noted it, Senior Brother," Chen Mo said seriously.

It seemed the road ahead was long and steep; he would need to forge ahead with determination.

"You can go over there to collect a training uniform, and then there are two porridge meals, one in the morning and one in the evening."

Ji Chang smiled as he said this. "Though the side dishes are plain—only salted vegetables."

Chen Mo smiled back.

Ji Chang went off to practice, muttering to himself before circling the stakes: "I heard this junior brother has great Comprehension, but I wonder just how great..."

Chen Mo changed into the training uniform, which was actually a gray short-sleeved outfit; the material was more comfortable than his own hemp clothes.

He opened the Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique and, without pausing, flipped quickly to the end.

At this moment, golden, radiant text surfaced in his mind:

[Thousand Hammer Refinement, Mountain and Water Cultivation]

[Successfully bound to Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique. Required Mountain Essence and Water Soul for refinement: Crude Iron]

[Refining this material will unlock its inherent potential and increase your martial arts Comprehension]

Crude Iron again? he thought to himself. Perhaps the Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique and the Fuhu Fist are indeed a perfect match, which is why they require the same refinement material?

He set the manual aside and began to practice his punches.

The hall was equipped with punching stakes, Plum Blossom Stakes, and standard weapons. Chen Mo stepped onto the Plum Blossom Stakes and assumed the stance for the Stone-Crushing Strike. As his feet moved across the stakes, his body swayed unsteadily, and when he threw a punch, he nearly tumbled off.

The stakes were much harder than the ground, but he didn't stop. He practiced over and over again until his training uniform was soon soaked through.

Every ten punches yielded a sliver of insight, which was then integrated into his fist force. Though each gain was small, daily progress ensured no effort was wasted, just as tiny streams eventually form a mighty river.

One hundred times... two hundred times... three hundred times...

After finishing his practice, Chen Mo jumped down from the Plum Blossom Stakes, ate some porridge with pickled vegetables, and then left the martial hall, hurrying toward the Iron Furnace Room.

Before long, he arrived at the Iron Furnace Room and began to stoke the fire. Amidst the low roar of the bellows, the Crude Iron in the furnace burned bright red, its impurities being extracted.

Chen Mo wiped the sweat from his face, leaving streaks of black soot on his skin like a tabby cat.

Half an hour later, two foremen returned from drinking, stumbling into the furnace room reeking of alcohol, their rough voices booming out:

"Black River Town hasn't been peaceful lately. The Black Tiger Hall has spent a hell of a lot of effort to keep the town safe, so none of you brats better drag your feet on handing over the tribute grain!"

"And don't you dare slack off on your work!"

"Among all of you, besides Master Wu, there's that kid who just joined the Tianqing Martial Hall, what's his name again..."

The foreman tapped his head, "Right, right, Chen Mo. You two don't need to pay the tribute grain, but everyone else will pay an extra twenty copper coins every month! I'm telling you all now so I don't have to go door-to-door!"

Chen Mo remained expressionless, continuing to tend the fire.

The others nearby wore bitter, worried expressions while glancing at Chen Mo, their hearts filled with not just surprise, but a complex mix of emotions.

Usually, everyone huddled in the same leaking corner, wearing thin clothes and shrinking into their collars, but today, you are the only one holding an oil-paper umbrella...

After finishing their lecture, the foremen left.

Master Wu patted Chen Mo on the shoulder, "I didn't expect you to succeed so quickly. You are the most talented young man I have ever seen; make sure you seize this opportunity."

Chen Mo nodded and thanked Master Wu.

Zhang Cai, who was not far from Chen Mo, hesitated for a moment before finally walking over, "A-Mo, when... when did this happen?"

"It happened just yesterday."

Zhang Cai's expression was a bit unnatural. Chen Mo was his good friend, and he should have been happy, but at this moment, he subconsciously avoided looking Chen Mo in the eye.

After a short while, Zhang Cai forced a smile, "Congratulations. You can finally escape this sea of misery."

Chen Mo simply replied, "It's hard to say for now. Everything is still an unknown."

Zhang Cai returned to his spot, while Chen Mo continued to burn the iron...

The fire in the furnace was fierce, scorching his cheeks, but he stood motionless, as steady as a pine tree.

He did not know how much time had passed when a golden light suddenly flashed in his mind:

[Thousand Hammer Refinement, Mountain and Water Cultivation]

[Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique: Basic stake technique, trains leg foundation below, trains fist force above]

[Comprehension: 1/50 (Not yet initiated)]