Art of Yin-Yang Cultivation

The sky darkened.

Layers of shadow blanketed the ancient city.

A cold wind came whistling through, making many passersby pull their clothes tighter around themselves.

Wang Sheng leaned against the wall at the bend of a small alley, arranging the equipment on his person.

A sharp dagger, three packets of lime powder scraped from the walls of wealthy households, and a packet of hemostatic powder.

In truth, with his current strength, he could kill an ordinary person in a one-on-one fight.

But just in case, Wang Sheng decided that even when hunting a rabbit, a lion should use its full strength.

Martial arts were merely the last resort when all else failed.

Splat!

The sound of footsteps in the alley gradually approached the bend.

There were puddles on the worn stone slabs, making those lone footsteps even clearer, even lending the place an odd sense of tranquility.

Suddenly,

the footsteps stopped.

"Hmph, I really am stupid. I actually thought it was strangely quiet around here!"

Sun Ping's self-mocking voice rang out.

Then,

the footsteps continued.

This time, he did not hesitate in the slightest. He turned the corner and was about to enter the next alley.

Suddenly,

countless white particles rushed straight at his face.

"Ah! Aaaah!"

Sun Ping cried out in fright, then covered his eyes and screamed miserably.

Wang Sheng stepped forward. The veins on the forearm gripping the dagger bulged as he drove the blade straight into Sun Ping's chest while he staggered backward.

Blood splashed out, and the pain made Sun Ping's body tremble uncontrollably.

"Ah! Help! Spare me!"

Sun Ping let out a shrill scream, then with another splat, crashed heavily into the puddle on the ground.

Crack,

Wang Sheng planted a foot on Sun Ping's head, stopping his cries and struggles so he would listen carefully.

"Sun Ping. I, Wang Sheng, have come to kill you."

If he did not let Sun Ping know who had killed him, Wang Sheng would not be able to put his mind at ease.

Now that he had strength, he naturally had to get rid of such a petty villain as quickly as possible.

"Ah, Wang Sheng, it's you, I'll fuck—"

Before he could finish cursing, Wang Sheng stomped on his mouth.

Before long, the struggling Sun Ping stopped moving.

The blood flowing from his chest had already grown more and more abundant.

Wang Sheng pulled out the dagger and stabbed Sun Ping several more times in the heart and head. Only after taking the dozen or so coins on him did he leave with peace of mind.

When news of Sun Ping's death spread the next day, it did not cause much of a stir.

Sun Ping was a new disciple about to leave the martial arts academy. Zhao Jie could not even be bothered to care about his death.

The yamen merely sent a few constables over to go through the motions.

So long as it was not a large-scale murder case, what day did Ershui City not see a few deaths? If no one died, it would not be Ershui City.

However, when Su Youwen heard that Sun Ping had died, he made some guesses and could not help feeling a trace of fear when he looked at Wang Sheng. His original plan to ask Wang Sheng for guidance on entering the martial path also vanished.

The remaining new disciples all gave up on the final day as well.

Thus, after two months of training by the Zhao Family Martial Arts Academy, only two among this batch of new disciples had successfully entered the martial path.

Because the times were turbulent, the imperial court unstable, a neighboring prefecture in rebellion, and Han Country invading, Zhao Jie decided to purchase more grain and focus on training disciples. For the time being, he had no plans to take in any more newcomers.

Days passed one after another.

Relying on the silver in his hand and the Blood Replenishing Pills, Wang Sheng's cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.

In just over half a month,

the Great Tablet Shattering Hand had reached entry level (96/300).

If all went smoothly and he had sufficient pills, in a little over another month, Wang Sheng would become a Bright Force Martial Artist, leaping past more than a dozen senior brothers still stuck at the entry stage.

Some people in the martial arts academy had entered the martial path last year, yet even this year, they still had not produced Bright Force.

Bright Force, Dark Force, and Transcendent Force were also called the Three Great Passes. One pass was hard to cross; once one was hard, every pass was hard.

Thus, even if someone stood only a single step away from minor mastery of a supreme art, where taking that step would produce Bright Force, that bottleneck alone could trap them for months or even years.

But Wang Sheng had no such obstacle. So long as he cultivated diligently, there would be no martial hurdle he could not cross.

Li Manor.

Fourth Madam's room.

The red gauze curtains rolled like clouds, and alluring words drifted from the bed, making the young maid standing watch some distance away burn from head to toe.

The maid simply could not imagine what Fourth Madam and Wang Sheng had been doing. How could they have started sitting, then stood up!

Half a day later,

Wang Sheng finally emerged from the red gauze curtains with a small ingot of silver in hand and put on his clothes.

"Young sir, you're getting more and more formidable! Practicing martial arts really does make one stronger. This servant has experienced it deeply."

"Young sir, come again in two days!"

Fourth Madam said, no longer rolling her eyes.

Wang Sheng's mouth twitched, and he cursed inwardly.

If Fourth Madam had kept using real blades and real spears, Wang Sheng was young and vigorous, and after practicing martial arts, he would not fear her.

But she actually used that thing. Even an iron mannequin would not be able to endure it.

"No, Madam. Master will inspect our studies in a few days. Let's wait until after this month."

Wang Sheng said after weighing his words.

With that, Wang Sheng left directly.

Fourth Madam fell silent and did not try to keep him.

Only after the young maid had also slipped away to fetch water

did Fourth Madam sit up, her abundant fruits exceptionally eye-catching.

"This little fellow's bearing has become even steadier. I like him so very much."

"Unfortunately, the more I like him, the more I want to devour him!"

"I so look forward to the day he becomes Bright Force, when I can let him properly experience my authentic Art of Yin-Yang Cultivation!"

"But with his aptitude, I fear it will take one or two years. I'm afraid I won't be able to wait that long. Who knows when the cult leader will launch the rebellion? I hope it comes later."

Fourth Madam raised her slender jade-like finger and put the smear at the corner of her mouth into it. Beneath the red gauze curtains, her enchanting face appeared ever more eerie.

Early morning.

Zhao Family Martial Arts Academy.

"Wang Sheng, go fill that water vat."

Just as Wang Sheng was fully focused on practicing the Great Tablet Shattering Hand, someone suddenly slapped his shoulder heavily, nearly disrupting his breath.

Wang Sheng glanced at the man. It was Meng Xu, an old disciple who had entered the martial path over a year ago but had yet to produce Bright Force.

"Master's orders?"

Wang Sheng asked.

"What, can't a senior brother ask a junior brother to help with a little task?"

"Or do you think that just because you've entered the martial path, you no longer put your senior brothers and sisters in your eyes?"

Seeing that Wang Sheng, who had only just entered the martial path, was refusing to obey, Meng Xu immediately grew angry and demanded sharply.

Zhao Jie had a rule: disciples who had just entered the martial path did not need to do any miscellaneous chores. However, disciples who had entered over a year ago without producing Bright Force, yet still wished to remain at the martial arts academy, needed to take care of some of the academy's odd jobs.

Meng Xu was clearly bullying Wang Sheng, having also judged that Wang Sheng's future potential was limited.

Wang Sheng suddenly glanced aside and saw Lin Shu standing at the entrance to the inner courtyard at some unknown time, watching the show.

Meng Xu did not bother hiding it and smiled as he nodded at Lin Shu.

So Lin Shu's retaliation has arrived.

Wang Sheng thought.

Disciples in the martial arts academy generally did not easily offend others. Who knew when someone might suddenly advance greatly in cultivation and soar into the heavens? Besides, everyone was flesh and blood. Once pushed to the brink, even if their realms were not far apart, they could still trade one for one.

For Meng Xu to dare take the lead, Lin Shu had likely prepared for this for some time, paying no small price and making no small promises.

"As it happens, this junior brother gained a slight insight into martial arts just now. I would like to ask Senior Brother for guidance. It won't be too late to carry water afterward."

Wang Sheng said.

He had long noticed that these old disciples devoted themselves wholeheartedly to practicing the Great Tablet Shattering Hand in hopes of breaking through to Bright Force, yet neglected the Stone Stance Technique, leaving their lower stances weak and unsteady.

"You? You haven't even been at the entry level for a month, and you dare fight me?"

Meng Xu was genuinely amused, his brows and eyes filled with mockery.

"He can't even endure a little humiliation or keep his composure. This Wang Sheng won't amount to much!"

"Looks like we thought too highly of Wang Sheng. The moment he entered the martial path, he no longer knew who he was!"

The formal disciples around them all shook their heads.