Task

Cultivation in the Tendon Opening Realm is not as intuitive as the physical tempering of the Skin Refining Realm.

It involves intricate techniques for circulating meridians and moving qi and blood, all paired with specific medicinal powders.

Without personal guidance from Master Hong Yuan, relying solely on one's own exploration would not only yield half the results for double the effort, but also carry the risk of misaligning meridians and sustaining hidden injuries.

He needed Hong Yuan's instruction, and demonstrating the corresponding talent and realm was the prerequisite for receiving it.

With his mind made up, Lin Qing stopped deliberately suppressing his qi, blood, and force during the next two days of training.

On this day, Hong Yuan stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back as usual, his gaze sweeping over the disciples practicing.

When his eyes passed over Lin Qing, they lingered for a moment longer than usual.

Lin Qing moved with agility, the iron rings on his arms clanging rhythmically.

His punches whistled through the air, fierce and domineering.

With every move, one could clearly see the tendons in his arms, shoulders, back, and even his waist and legs, tensed and coiled like writhing dragons.

The speed and power erupting from his body far exceeded that of the Skin Refining Realm.

He performed the basic Iron Wire Fist with such a stern, imposing air that it seemed to carry the momentum of wind and thunder.

Hong Yuan raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.

He walked slowly over to Lin Qing and raised a hand to signal him to stop.

"Your breath is steady and deep, and your tendons hum faintly..."

"It seems you have already broken through the second barrier?"

Hong Yuan's voice was calm, revealing little emotion.

Lin Qing finished his stance and stood still, his breathing even, and replied respectfully: "Reporting to Master, this disciple had a sudden realization some time ago and was fortunate enough to break through."

Hong Yuan looked him up and down, his gaze sweeping over his well-proportioned, sturdy frame, before finally nodding with a hint of understanding.

"Hmm, not bad. It seems that having your own pharmacy does provide an advantage in resources."

His words sounded casual, but Lin Qing could hear the underlying implication.

Hong Yuan clearly attributed his rapid breakthrough to the abundant medicinal resources provided by the Benevolent World Hall, assuming he had simply piled on the medicine to reach this level.

After all, disciples who break through using external aids often have foundations less solid than those who rely on their own grueling training, and their future potential is often considered limited.

Even so, a disciple who could step into the Tendon Opening Realm at only eighteen years old was worthy of attention regardless.

Therefore, the way Hong Yuan looked at Lin Qing was no longer that of an ordinary, persistent peripheral disciple.

He had truly brought him into the fold of those worth cultivating.

After a moment of contemplation, Hong Yuan said to Lin Qing: "Follow me."

He led Lin Qing to a quiet spot to the side and personally began to explain the keys to practicing the Iron Wire Fist in the Tendon Opening Realm.

"The Tendon Opening Realm places importance on the word 'flexibility'."

"You must use specific stances to guide your qi and blood to flush and stretch the major tendons in your body, especially the primary ones in your hands, feet, waist, and back..."

As he spoke, Hong Yuan lightly tapped and pressed on several key meridian points on Lin Qing's body, allowing him to intuitively feel the path of qi and blood circulation and the sensation of tendon activation.

"These are the Eight Tendon Opening Forms. Memorize them carefully."

After finishing, Hong Yuan demonstrated the Eight Tendon Opening Forms for him several times and taught him the accompanying chants.

About an hour and a half later, Lin Qing had fully mastered them.

His experience with the Iron Wire Fist also surged by several hundred points as a result.

Seeing that Lin Qing performed the moves with great proficiency, Hong Yuan nodded, believing that Lin Qing's comprehension was indeed excellent, far better than the other disciples.

"Furthermore, external medicinal assistance is indispensable."

Hong Yuan continued: "My Hong Family Martial Arts Hall has a secret medicinal powder called Tendon Clearing Powder, which can effectively nourish the meridians, relieve soreness and fatigue after training, and accelerate the strengthening of the tendons."

"However, this medicine is not cheap; it costs more than three times as much as Blood Nourishing Powder. If you have sufficient resources, you should take it regularly; it will be of great benefit to your cultivation."

As he spoke, Hong Yuan produced three packets of the powder.

Lin Qing listened intently, engraving everything Hong Yuan taught into his heart.

At the same time, he purchased three packets of Tendon Clearing Powder, analyzing the ingredients by scent and secretly comparing them to the Tendon Strengthening Powder he was currently using.

He discovered that the effect of the Tendon Clearing Powder provided by Hong Yuan was similar to his own, but its medicinal properties were milder, and its potency was likely not as aggressive or direct as the Tendon Strengthening Powder he formulated himself.

Yet, the price was genuinely more than three times the cost of his own powder.

Lin Qing tucked the medicine away calmly and cupped his hands.

"Many thanks for your guidance, Master. This disciple will certainly train diligently and not fail your expectations, striving to carry forward the Iron Wire Fist and bring glory to our school as soon as possible!"

Lin Qing's tone was filled with gratitude.

Hong Yuan nodded slightly, noncommittal toward these polite formalities, and simply waved his hand: "Go now, train well. If there is anything you do not understand, you may come and ask me."

The news of Lin Qing breaking through the second barrier soon spread among the circle of disciples who were close to him.

For a time, many senior brothers and sisters who were previously only familiar faces, with whom he had no deep friendship and were even somewhat distant, all took the initiative to come forward to chat and offer their congratulations.

Their words carried a newfound warmth and respect, even faintly hinting at a desire to build a connection.

Within the martial arts hall, strength is supreme.

The elevation of one's realm brings about a quiet shift in status.

Lin Qing could intuitively feel the difference in the gazes around him.

To this, he responded only with humility, never becoming arrogant because of it.

After Zhang Shun heard the news, he came directly to find him, patted his shoulder firmly, and wore a face full of sincere smiles: "Good lad, you really did it! How long has it been? I truly didn't misjudge you."

"Come, today this senior brother is treating; we must celebrate this properly for you!"

That evening, in a private booth at a small tavern on Yongning Street, after a few cups of wine, Zhang Shun's face turned slightly red as he lowered his voice to say to Lin Qing:

"Junior Brother Lin, now that you have opened your tendons, you have truly stepped over the threshold of the martial path. I happen to have a business opportunity here; I wonder if you might be interested?"

Lin Qing's heart stirred as he set down his wine cup: "The business you speak of, is it related to the Ge Pao Society?"

Zhang Shun nodded, his expression becoming a bit more serious: "Correct, but rest assured, this is not a head-on clash with those local bullies from the White Horse Gang, nor is it some dirty business of robbing merchants."

"The target is a local wealthy tyrant outside the city who bullies men and oppresses women, plaguing the countryside. It is said he keeps a few guards who have some martial strength, but at most, they are only in the Skin Refining Realm. With the strength of the two of us, it is more than enough to handle."

"Consider it acting on behalf of heaven to punish evil and eliminate the wicked—clean, efficient, and low risk."

Zhang Shun paused, then added: "Moreover, the reward is quite generous, enough for you to buy plenty of Tendon Clearing Powder. Don't you also need to do tasks for the society every month? This will settle that all at once."

Lin Qing pondered.

He truly needed actual combat to hone the power of the Tendon Opening Realm, consolidate his cultivation, and simultaneously accumulate experience in fighting different opponents.

Although Zhang Shun had a bit of a rough, underworld air about him, he still had a bottom line in how he did things.

Since he said the target was an evildoer and the risk was manageable, the credibility should be quite high.

Furthermore, just as Zhang Shun had said.

This was indeed an opportunity for him to complete the monthly commission for the Ge Lao Society.

Weighing his current strength in the Tendon Opening Realm against his need to accumulate combat experience, Lin Qing quickly reached a decision.

He raised his head and looked at Zhang Shun: "Since Senior Brother has invited me, and it is a matter of punishing evil and promoting good, this junior brother will go along."

"Good, straightforward!"

Zhang Shun was overjoyed, raised his cup, and said: "Then it's settled! We'll meet at the Land God Temple at Ten Mile Slope outside the city at dusk three days from now to discuss the plan of action in detail!"

"Clink."

The two wine cups touched lightly in the air, emitting a crisp sound.

It also finalized the unknown journey three days hence.