Overwhelming Others with Force

"Do you want to become a force-transforming martial artist?" Zhang Yu asked Yan Dao.

Yan Dao looked bewildered, not understanding what Zhang Yu meant. He answered weakly, "I do!"

"Work with Wen Hua to merge the two gangs. Settle the shares of medicinal herbs and the arrangements for the medicinal slaves. In one year, I guarantee you'll become a force-transforming martial artist," Zhang Yu said.

"You won't kill me?" Yan Dao was an old hand in the martial world and did not believe a single word Zhang Yu said. He only cared whether Zhang Yu intended to kill him.

Zhang Yu did not answer. Instead, he said with an unfathomable look, "When you practice the saber, do you always feel like there's a layer of film between you and it? Like viewing flowers through fog—you know that once you shatter that layer, heaven and earth will turn upside down, yet no matter how hard you think, you can't figure it out?"

"Eh? How did you know?" Yan Dao was instantly shocked. He had never told anyone about this issue with his saber practice.

"You practiced fist techniques before, and palm techniques too, but your progress was always slow. Only after taking up the saber did you realize your cultivation advanced quickly. But after reaching the peak of hidden force, no matter how hard you tried, you couldn't break through. Am I right?" Zhang Yu continued.

"Mm-hm! Mm-hm!" Yan Dao nodded repeatedly. He was completely stunned, his eyes wide as saucers, as though he had seen a ghost.

"I won't kill you because I can help you become a force-transforming martial artist, a Saber King of the true qi realm, or even a Saber Emperor of the upper three realms." Zhang Yu spoke blandly. "Don't ask why. I could have spared myself this nonsense and cut you down with a single stroke."

Yan Dao lowered his head without speaking. He was thinking.

Zhang Yu did not urge him. He simply sipped his tea at leisure.

After about the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, Yan Dao raised his head, then knelt before Zhang Yu and slammed his forehead to the floor three times.

"If, one year from now, Gang Leader Zhang can make me a force-transforming martial artist, Yan Dao is willing to die in service of Gang Leader Zhang. Should I violate this oath, may heaven punish me and earth destroy me." Yan Dao raised a hand and swore.

"I don't need your oath. I can help you become a force-transforming martial artist, a Saber King of the true qi realm, and I also have the ability to scatter your soul to the winds should you betray me." Zhang Yu's voice was icy.

Yan Dao's matter was settled just like that. Afterward, he followed Wen Hua in consolidating the two gangs and managing Boundless City's medicinal-herb shares and medicinal slaves.

The next morning, Mo Old Ghost, the leader of the Ghost Alliance, sent someone with an invitation, asking Zhang Yu to dine at Full Fragrance Tower.

Mo Old Ghost had not slept all night. Iron Bear was evenly matched with him, yet he had not been Niu Mancang's opponent. How could Mo Old Ghost possibly sleep?

The Ghost Alliance had only two force-transforming martial artists: himself and Iron Bear. If war truly broke out, they might not be able to hold the line.

Zhang Yu looked at the invitation and said to the messenger, "Go back and tell your alliance leader that I'll be there on time."

After wiping out the Broadsword Gang, he did not want to go to war with the Ghost Alliance again. It was not that he could not defeat them; the time simply had not come yet.

Sooner or later, Zhang Yu would bring Boundless City under his control. But he needed time to grow, because Boundless City stood in the shadows of the Ye Family of Great Qi, the Cui Family of Great Xia, and the Sima Family of Great Chu. Those three families took eighty percent of Boundless City's profits.

What he needed now was a peaceful period in which to develop. Mo Old Ghost's invitation had come at precisely the right time.

That evening, Zhang Yu entered a private room in Full Fragrance Tower with Wen Hua and Niu Mancang.

Mo Old Ghost and Iron Bear hurriedly rose and clasped their fists. "Gang Leader Zhang, we have long admired you!"

"I've long admired you as well." Zhang Yu returned the gesture.

Everyone took their seats.

"Gang Leader Zhang has become the Black Tiger Gang's new leader, and this old man has yet to offer his congratulations..." Mo Old Ghost took the initiative, exchanging empty pleasantries.

Zhang Yu was not particularly good at dealing with such matters. He casually replied with a few words, then gave Wen Hua a look.

Wen Hua immediately said, "Alliance Leader Mo, shouldn't the Black Tiger Gang's original ten percent share of medicinal herbs and five thousand medicinal slaves be returned to us?"

His words were stiff and utterly lacking in courtesy, leaving Mo Old Ghost deeply displeased. He glanced at Zhang Yu, who looked at his nose, then at his heart, wearing an indifferent expression.

Mo Old Ghost then looked toward Niu Mancang. At that moment, Niu Mancang glared at Iron Bear and said in a deep, muffled voice, "Bear blind man, let's fight another three hundred rounds."

Hearing Niu Mancang call him bear blind man, Iron Bear flew into a rage. Still, he only raged and did not make a move. "Black charcoal head, then come on. Who's afraid of who?" He could not lose in momentum.

Niu Mancang stood up and began rolling up his sleeves.

Zhang Yu remained calm, showing no sign of stopping them.

Iron Bear looked at Mo Old Ghost, his gaze complicated. He absolutely did not want to fight Niu Mancang again.

When he hit Niu Mancang, Niu Mancang was fine as rain. But when Niu Mancang's fists landed on him, he could not take it. How was he supposed to fight that kind of battle?

It was suffocating!

Iron Bear gave Mo Old Ghost a pleading look, as though saying, Just agree already. Inviting them to dinner was us showing weakness in the first place, so what face are you still trying to save? If you refuse and they start fighting later, you can deal with it yourself. I'm turning tail and running.

Mo Old Ghost and Iron Bear silently conversed with their eyes. Mo Old Ghost dearly wished to slap Iron Bear dead, but in the end, he helplessly said to Zhang Yu, "Gang Leader Zhang, I invited you here today precisely to return the Black Tiger Gang's medicinal-herb shares and medicinal slaves."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu raised his head and glanced at Mo Old Ghost. "Alliance Leader Mo, I think Boundless City's shares of medicinal herbs and demonic beasts should be redistributed."

Mo Old Ghost's heart skipped a beat. Today, he had lowered his head and made the greatest concession possible, yet Zhang Yu was still dissatisfied. A surge of anger rose in his heart.

"How does Gang Leader Zhang think they should be divided?" His voice carried a trace of anger.

"The Ghost Alliance has always taken ninety percent of the demonic beast meat. That's highly unreasonable. The Black Tiger Gang does not want much—fifty-fifty."

"And if I refuse?" Mo Old Ghost's expression turned ferocious.

Zhang Yu gave him a glance and said blandly, "Alliance Leader Mo, try taking one punch from me. If you can take it, pretend I never said any of this."

Having said that, he did not care whether the other side agreed. Still seated, he casually threw a plain punch at Mo Old Ghost.

Mo Old Ghost looked as if he had seen a ghost. He cried out, "True Intent of Martial Arts!"

Zhang Yu's utterly ordinary punch, without even a trace of wind, made Mo Old Ghost feel as though his soul were about to shatter. His soul trembled.

This was the soul pressure of the True Intent of Martial Arts.

"Gang Leader Zhang, stop! We can talk this out!" Mo Old Ghost shouted. The ferocity on his face turned into fear.

At last, he understood why rumors claimed Zhang Yu had once killed a force-transforming martial artist with a single punch.

Zhang Yu's fist stopped one foot from Mo Old Ghost's body.

Huff...

Only when the tearing sensation in his soul vanished did Mo Old Ghost let out a deep breath. His back had been drenched in sweat just now.

"Gang Leader Zhang, how about this? Let Vermilion Bird Street serve as the boundary. The area to the left belongs to your Black Tiger Gang, while the area to the right belongs to our Ghost Alliance. From now on, hunting demonic beasts and gathering herbs will only be permitted within our own territories," Mo Old Ghost said.

Zhang Yu thought it over, then nodded. "Fine. But I have one condition."

Mo Old Ghost had just relaxed upon hearing the word fine, only for Zhang Yu to mention a condition. His heart immediately rose back into his throat.

At this point, he absolutely did not want any conflict with Zhang Yu.

He could not withstand the True Intent of Martial Arts.

"What condition?" Mo Old Ghost was extremely nervous.

"Alliance Leader Mo, don't worry. It's only a small request. I'd like Hall Master Iron Bear to spar with my disciple Niu Mancang for one hour every day," Zhang Yu said.

When Niu Mancang and Iron Bear had fought yesterday, Niu Mancang's Feral Ox Physique had developed faster. It had also brought Zhang Yu a great amount of Iron Shirt proficiency.

Upon hearing that this was the request, Mo Old Ghost's expression immediately relaxed. "Certainly. Sparring will benefit Iron Bear as well. I agree."

Iron Bear, however, was a thousand times unwilling.

"Alliance Leader..." Iron Bear stood up. He did not want to spar with Niu Mancang.

"Hall Master Iron Bear, sparring with Mancang benefits both of your martial paths. You don't intend to refuse, do you?" Zhang Yu looked at Iron Bear.

"I..." Iron Bear looked at Zhang Yu. Though he had stood to the side earlier, he had still faintly felt the sensation of his soul being torn apart. "I have no objections!"

Zhang Yu used force to overwhelm them. In the end, the meal was quite enjoyable—at least for him. Mo Old Ghost and Iron Bear were not enjoying themselves at all.

Zhang Yu left the remaining matters to Wen Hua. He focused on teaching Niu Mancang the Tiger Roar Art, training his internal organs, and helping him enter the force-transforming realm as quickly as possible.

All resources were once again concentrated on Niu Mancang. Aside from Blood-Nourishing Pills, body-tempering paste, and medicinal bath soup specially made for Iron Shirt, Zhang Yu purchased large quantities of five-hundred-year blood ginseng for Niu Mancang to consume, allowing him to strengthen his internal organs as quickly as possible.

Wen Hua and the others received one bowl of Blood-Nourishing Soup each day, one Blood-Nourishing Pill every ten days, and one box of body-tempering paste every month.

Niu Mancang, meanwhile, received one Blood-Nourishing Pill every day and one box of body-tempering paste every three days. Most of the gang's earnings were poured into him.

Niu Mancang was under immense pressure, so he cultivated even more desperately. Out of the twelve hours in a day, he trained for ten.

Under such frenzied cultivation, coupled with one hour of sparring against Iron Bear each day, Niu Mancang's strength visibly increased.

One day, three months later.

Niu Mancang, who had been cultivating, suddenly released a tiger roar that shot into the heavens and rang through all of Boundless City.

Then he spat out a mouthful of foul-smelling black blood. In the next instant, some barrier within him shattered, and a powerful warm current began circulating through his five viscera and six bowels.

His strength climbed steadily, and the golden light around his body grew increasingly brilliant.

Zhang Yu, who had been dozing in a reclining chair, suddenly stood. He looked at Niu Mancang, then immediately brought up the system panel.

[Disciple: Niu Mancang]

[Realm: Force Transformation]

[Technique: Tiger Roar Iron Shirt—Mastery]

[Feral Ox Physique Development: 56%]

After Niu Mancang learned the Tiger Roar Art, his Iron Shirt had become the second-rate technique Tiger Roar Iron Shirt.

"Niu Mancang has broken through to force transformation!" Zhang Yu was overjoyed.

The next moment, he coughed and spat out a mouthful of black blood himself. In an instant, his internal organs felt far clearer and more comfortable.

That mouthful of black blood contained harmful substances that had accumulated in his internal organs for more than a decade.

Crack!

A crack sounded within Zhang Yu's body. The third shackle of the human body opened without the slightest resistance, and a powerful warm current began nourishing his five viscera and six bowels.

At the same time, a black light radiated from his body.

"Eh? Why is it black light?" Zhang Yu wondered inwardly, looking at his system panel again.

[Name: Zhang Yu]

[Realm: Force Transformation]

[Technique One: Iron Shirt, Second Limit Break (True Intent of Martial Arts: Iron Soul)]

[Iron Soul: Can reinforce a specific part of the body, instantly increasing its defense tenfold. Can prevent true qi from penetrating the body.]

Hiss...

Awesome!

Zhang Yu was overjoyed!

His Iron Shirt's defense had already been monstrous after breaking its limits twice. He had not expected to comprehend Iron Soul, the True Intent of Martial Arts for Iron Shirt. It could instantly increase localized defense tenfold and prevent true qi from entering the body.

Did this mean attacks from the true qi realm would no longer work against him?

A third-rate Iron Shirt had been forcefully cultivated by Zhang Yu to a transcendent, otherworldly realm beyond further cultivation.

Once the surging power in his body settled, Zhang Yu began planning his future cultivation direction. "Next, I need to focus on cultivating Wen Hua and Li Yue, pushing Clear Wind Stance and Clearwind Palm to the transcendent realm."

"Now that I'm in force transformation, I should be able to take more disciples, right?"

Sure enough, the disciple line on the system panel had changed as well. His disciple slots had increased from three to six.

[Disciples: 3/6]

"I can take another three disciples. Excellent." A satisfied smile appeared on Zhang Yu's face.

"That hook I left in Hidden Cloud City still hasn't reeled Xu Yang in after all this time. Looks like there's no hope."

"My Frostbound Myriad-Sword Physique!"

"Forget it. There's still Yan Dao. His Mad Saber Battle Physique, the Earthly Baleful Physique, ranks thirty-eighth—higher than Niu Mancang's Feral Ox Physique. It should be formidable."

Zhang Yu planned to give one of the three extra disciple slots to Yan Dao and temporarily reserve one for Xu Yang.

If he took in geniuses and monsters, his proficiency would soar.

"Who should get the last slot?"

Zhang Yu frowned slightly. Chu Qingwen's figure appeared in his mind. The Chu Family had invested a great deal in him, nearly pouring all the resources the main branch could mobilize into him.

[Name: Chu Qingwen]

[Cultivation Aptitude: Poor]

[Comprehension: Excellent]

[Fate: Soul Enlightenment from Birth]

With excellent comprehension and the fate Soul Enlightenment from Birth, Chu Qingwen possessed an innately powerful and sensitive soul.

"Not bad. I'll give the third slot to her." Zhang Yu finally made up his mind.

I really am kind-hearted!

If Zhang Yu had pursued only profit and cultivation speed, he would not have given the final slot to Chu Qingwen. After all, her cultivation aptitude was poor.

"Where can I get a soul technique? Perhaps Chu Qingwen could cultivate a soul technique with twice the result for half the effort." Zhang Yu pondered secretly.

Just as he was thinking, booming collisions sounded from the front courtyard.

Niu Mancang, who had just broken through to force transformation, was sparring with Iron Bear. At this moment, Niu Mancang did not fight back at all. He simply stood there and let Iron Bear strike him.

Iron Bear's right arm swelled to twice its size, then he drove a vicious punch into Niu Mancang's chest.

Boom!

The tremendous force sent rippling waves through the surrounding air.

This was Iron Bear's strongest punch.

Golden light flared brilliantly around Niu Mancang. He took only half a step back, dusted off his clothes, and was fine as rain.

"Again!"

"Fine!"

Boom! Boom! Boom...

Iron Bear threw another ten punches before finally giving up.

"I'm done, I'm done. You're becoming more and more freakish. You actually cultivated a third-rate Iron Shirt to force transformation. Damn it, is there any justice left in this world?" Iron Bear's martial heart had completely shattered, and he began muttering endlessly.

Before Niu Mancang broke through to force transformation, Iron Bear could still knock him back and make him feel pain. But after the breakthrough, the ease on Niu Mancang's face left Iron Bear feeling utterly powerless.

Five days later, after Niu Mancang had stabilized his realm, he came to find Zhang Yu.

Thud!

He knelt before Zhang Yu and said, "Master, this disciple wishes to return home for a while."

Zhang Yu had naturally heard of Niu Mancang's past. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Mm. Go early and return early. Let me give you one sentence: follow your heart in all things."

"This disciple will remember it. Master, take care. This disciple will return as soon as possible."

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Niu Mancang kowtowed three times, then left Boundless City with a bundle on his back.

He was going to take revenge. He had learned martial arts for revenge. Every night, he dreamed of the days when his family had been together, happy and joyful.