The Number One Martial Disciple

Feng Jun struggled to his feet. He swayed as if to say something, but the moment he opened his mouth, he spewed out a great mouthful of blood with a "bleugh" and crashed straight back to the ground.

"Jun'er! Quickly, take him to the quiet room in the rear courtyard!"

A figure flashed in front of Feng Jun. After swiftly shoving a pill into his mouth, he shouted orders in a flustered voice.

It was Feng Lengchan.

Only then did the other disciples of Tianlu Martial Hall snap out of it. They hurried over to help Feng Jun up.

But everyone else remained stunned.

The shock of Shi Mu's Crushing Stone Fist reaching mastery was several times greater than that of the Wind-Galloping Blade Technique's Seven Slashes in One Breath!

After all, the Seven Slashes in One Breath was only somewhere between the minor and major mastery stages. Under normal circumstances, it took only two or three months to learn a Martial Disciple-level technique well enough to use it. But reaching the proficient minor mastery stage required at least one or two years. As for attaining the perfect, major mastery stage, it took three or four times longer still. It was hardly unusual for especially difficult Martial Disciple-level techniques to take more than ten years to master.

And to cultivate a Martial Disciple-level technique to its final, complete mastery was beyond the reach of those with poor aptitude, even if they devoted their whole lives to it.

Houtian-level techniques were far more difficult to cultivate than Martial Disciple-level ones, and took even longer. That was why so many Houtian Martial Artists who seemed to possess true qi still relied on Houtian-level techniques that had only reached minor mastery when fighting their opponents.

Li Canghai had given up on cultivating Houtian-level techniques altogether. He had spent more than a decade focusing exclusively on the Martial Disciple-level Wind-Galloping Blade Technique and Crushing Stone Fist, yet had only just managed to bring both to major mastery. Even so, that was enough to rank him among the top instructors of the Four Great Martial Halls.

And now Shi Mu had reached major mastery in Crushing Stone Fist without even having true qi. How could anyone not be left gaping in astonishment?

Did this mean that Shi Mu was a true cultivation genius, the kind seen only once in a century?

After his expression shifted several times, Li Canghai suddenly cleared his throat and said, "Ahem, I think there's been a misunderstanding. Shi Mu hasn't actually cultivated Crushing Stone Fist to major mastery. He's simply born with tremendous strength, which is why he can produce power comparable to the major mastery stage."

"Exactly. If Crushing Stone Fist had reached major mastery, both hands would be gleaming white, and every punch that struck a solid object would ring faintly like metal striking metal." The red-faced man suddenly saw the light.

"I knew it. If this monster had really mastered Crushing Stone Fist in his teens, how could he have stayed unknown all this time? He'd have made a name for himself across all of Quanzhou by now."

"Even so, that boy's strength is nothing to scoff at. If he keeps cultivating Crushing Stone Fist, he'll easily crush Martial Disciples of the same rank. And given his age, if he can grasp the sensation of qi, entering Kaiyuan Martial Academy should be a piece of cake. He might even become a formidable Houtian Martial Artist."

Li Canghai and the red-faced man's words brought the other martial hall instructors around to their way of thinking. They began discussing it among themselves, though quite a few still looked at Shi Mu as if he were a rare treasure.

"Shi Mu has won again. Is anyone else willing to challenge him? If not, Flowing Wind Martial Hall will take first place in this contest." The official overseeing the match climbed back onto the platform and announced loudly. His gaze toward Shi Mu had grown increasingly warm.

At his words, silence fell beneath the platform.

From the Feihong Martial Hall's side, Tie Dong's eyes flashed with menace, and he was about to push through the crowd when the long-bearded elder once again pressed a hand against his shoulder with a sharp slap. Tie Dong's body instantly became as heavy as a mountain, and he could not move a step. At the same time, the elder's barely audible voice reached his ear.

"Even if you go up there, you might not be able to withstand his Crushing Stone Fist, which is comparable to major mastery. Besides, offending someone with limitless prospects over a single contest is hardly in our hall's best interests."

The dark, lean youth listened, his face full of unwillingness.

Half a day later, news that Flowing Wind Martial Hall had taken first place in the contest—and that the title of Feng City's Number One Martial Disciple had changed hands—spread throughout the city.

Feng City's several great clans and a number of medium and small factions soon received detailed accounts of the contest, along with information about Shi Mu.

"Shi Mu became the Number One Martial Disciple?"

In the residence where Aunt Zhen lived, Shi Yuhuan stared wide-eyed at the note she had just received, unable to believe what she was seeing.

Beside her, Aunt Zhen wore a thoughtful expression.

Jin Mansion.

A middle-aged man, his face dark, spoke to a long-faced youth who looked much like him.

"Tian'er, I know you're getting ready to join a few of your cousins and go after Shi Mu. Stop right now. This is an order from your grandfather himself. You have to obey, whether you like it or not! The title of Feng City's Number One Martial Disciple carries real weight."

The youth named Jin Tian was still full of resentment, but all he could do was nod in agreement.

At the Wu Family, the three Wu brothers had gathered together and were talking about Shi Mu once more.

At the Feng City Governor's residence, the official who had overseen the contest earlier was respectfully reporting something to an old man in embroidered robes.

In a secret chamber at Jingang Martial Hall.

"Tianhao, tell me the truth. Have you already awakened your bloodline power?" Uncle Xu pressed Wang Tianhao anxiously.

"Uncle Xu, you've asked me that so many times already. I'll answer you once more: I don't know whether I've awakened my bloodline power. I was practicing the Fang Fire Spear Technique that day when I suddenly felt hot all over, and the Fang Fire Flame just appeared on its own." Wang Tianhao lowered his head to look at a blue-covered spear manual. At Uncle Xu's question, he rolled his eyes and replied.

"Ha, ha! Then there's no doubt about it. Your father sent you to me to learn the Fang Fire Spear Technique precisely because this technique can stimulate the Violent Flame Bloodline of your Wang Family and, to a certain extent, speed up its manifestation." Uncle Xu was overjoyed.

"So it wasn't because I, Young Master Wang, am exceptionally talented and can use a Houtian-level technique at the Martial Disciple stage. It was the power of my ancestors' bloodline at work." Hearing Uncle Xu explain it, Wang Tianhao felt a little deflated.

"You fool. The fact that you can awaken your bloodline power proves that you're exceptionally gifted. The Wang Family is a famous bloodline clan, but out of its several hundred members, only three or four have ever awakened the bloodline of your ancestor. You're the first in your generation. Doesn't that say it all? Starting tomorrow, I'll personally teach you the second half of the Fang Fire Spear Technique, so you can crush all the Martial Disciples in the province at the Kaiyuan Martial Academy trials." Uncle Xu smiled.

"Uncle Xu, are you saying that if I learn the second half of the spear technique, I'll be able to beat that Shi Mu?" Wang Tianhao looked unconvinced.

"Haha, unless that boy is also a Bloodline Martial Artist, there won't be any problem." Uncle Xu laughed.

"With strength like his, how do you know he isn't a Bloodline Martial Artist?" Wang Tianhao blinked, then suddenly asked.

"Uh..." Uncle Xu's laughter cut off abruptly, and he couldn't help feeling a little suspicious himself.

"Heh heh, I'm just as curious about that."

At that moment, a third person's voice suddenly sounded in the chamber, though no one had come in.

(When I arrived at Xuzhou Airport by plane today, it was already pitch-dark. After another hour or so in the car, I got home at eight or nine. Still, Wang Yu has finally made it home and can get a good night's sleep. I should be able to update normally tomorrow.)