Ye Zimou and Chang Hao were brimming with enthusiasm, their faces alight with eagerness to make a name for themselves.
They cast deliberate, sidelong glances at Chen Mo and Xie Jinyou, hoping that after this bandit-suppression operation, their names would rank higher on the ledger of merits than theirs.
It was only natural.
Chen Mo and Xie Jinyou, meanwhile, were better at hiding their feelings. Their eyes flickered ever so slightly, but they kept their thoughts buried deep.
After bidding each other farewell, Chen Mo returned to his guest room and immersed himself once more in凝火练拳.
That night.
All was still. The only sounds were the rush of Chen Mo's fists cutting through the air and the faint crackle of flickering flames.
He condensed fire with the Lihuo Profound Technique for three hours.
He practiced the Dragon-Capturing Jin stake form for two hours.
He practiced the Fuhu Fist, Luo Smoke Steps, and Tiemang Technique for a total of an hour and a half.
He lowered his eyes slightly and summoned the rows of radiant text:
[Thousand Hammer Refinement, Mountain and Water Cultivation] [Dragon-Capturing Jin: A foundational stake technique; it trains the legs below and fist power above.] [Comprehension: 128/200 (Great Accomplishment)] [Fuhu Fist: The fist holds a tiger's roar, concealing a fearsome force.] [Comprehension: 115/200 (Great Accomplishment)] [Luo Smoke Steps: Smoke rises beneath the feet; the shadow leaves no trace.] [Comprehension: 5/200 (Great Accomplishment)] [Tiemang Technique: Barbs shroud the body, making it like bronze and iron.] [Comprehension: 7/100 (Minor Accomplishment)] [Lihuo Profound Technique: An ancient art of fire control.] [Comprehension: 39/50 (Beginner)]
Compared with before.
The Luo Smoke Steps had reached minor accomplishment. When he now exerted himself fully, he could easily leave afterimages as he moved.
The Tiemang Technique had reached the beginner stage. When he summoned