Fist Major Accomplishment, Inner Qi Tripled!

After every House Guard contest, the lists of those promoted and those eliminated would be displayed in the courtyard for everyone to see.

On the promotion list, the prefix before "Li Xian" had changed from [Grade-D] to [Grade-C].

It announced that he had become a Grade-C House Guard. Even among the House Guards, he was no longer considered low-ranking.

There were more than three hundred Grade-D House Guards, most between twenty and forty years old.

But among the Grade-C House Guards, the number plummeted to just over forty. Not only were the benefits better, but when sent out on assignments, they also served as squad leaders and could obtain more rewards.

"You have already learned two fist arts. With this promotion, you may choose one basic martial art. I suggest you choose a leg technique."

Li Xian had always been a loner in the manor. Though his status had risen, there was no one with whom he could share his joy. Instead, he took a copy of Clearwind Leg back to his small quarters.

Pang Long's words flashed through his mind.

Pang Long had recommended this leg technique, and had said at the time:

"When martial artists train, they will certainly have things they excel at and things they do not. But that is the concern of old hands. A beginner like you should try more things and not bind yourself too early."

"If you choose another fist art, you may draw inferences from one instance and quickly reach Initiation, perhaps even Proficiency. But in the end, it would merely be gilding the lily."

"If you switch to a leg technique, training will be difficult at first, but the benefits will also be greater."

Li Xian felt that made perfect sense.

Though Clearwind Leg was a basic martial art, it had its own unique merits.

Practicing it would not only strengthen his leg techniques and lower body, but also significantly increase the power of his feet.

"I'm a Grade-C House Guard now."

"My patrol duties have decreased, and I have more time to rest. Seven patrols a day have become four. I suddenly have three extra hours."

"I have plenty of time now. Learning another martial art is just right!"

After briefly reading through Clearwind Leg and memorizing its general contents, Li Xian did not rush to begin practicing.

He first went to the Dining Hall for a Grade-C Meal and enjoyed the benefits of being a Grade-C House Guard.

"Old... Li Xian, congratulations."

Wang Chun had only just heard that Li Xian had advanced, yet they unexpectedly ran into each other outside the Dining Hall. His face was full of awkwardness as he greeted him.

"Mm. Just luck." Li Xian nodded.

Wang Chun lowered his head and went around him, joining Zhao Han, Zhuo Yilie, and the others.

The three of them huddled together and whispered, though Li Xian did not know what they were discussing. He merely gave them a faint glance and did not go over to speak.

"This manor... from top to bottom, is a place where people devour people."

"The three of them once hated and resented me. Now that I've risen to Grade-C, they resent me far less."

Li Xian could clearly sense the shift in their attitudes. It was not just Zhao Han and the other two, but many Grade-D House Guards as well.

The Grade-C Meal included beef and mutton, rich and oily cuts that were excellent for restoring Qi and blood.

Today's dishes consisted of three meat dishes and two vegetable dishes. Martial artists consumed a great deal of Qi and blood through training, so meat was naturally indispensable.

After eating and drinking his fill, he was brimming with strength.

The next day, Li Xian began practicing Clearwind Leg. The first step was to imitate the illustrations in the leg manual, copying the cat to draw the tiger.

According to the technique, he first took a large iron basin and filled it with water. He tied heavy stone bricks to both feet and stood on the edge of the basin.

Keeping his waist still, he used the force of his ankles to rotate the iron basin, causing the water inside to form a small whirlpool.

The whirlpool was not better when larger; on the contrary, the smaller it was, the better. Once he could make the basin spin rapidly while keeping the water inside from forming a whirlpool, he could begin learning how to kick.

"After Clearwind Leg reaches Minor Accomplishment, the legs become like a clear breeze. One can tread on grass without leaving a trace, kick a person without injuring them, yet send the damage through the surface and straight into the body."

"I don't know when I'll be able to touch the Essence Consumption realm that Commander Pang revealed. But this Clay Embryo of mine is already far tougher than before."

Among the many House Guards, plenty practiced overlapping martial arts.

Take Clearwind Leg, for instance. More than twenty Grade-D House Guards knew it, but most had only reached somewhere between Initiation and Proficiency.

As long as one mastered a basic martial art to Minor Accomplishment, one would almost certainly enter Grade-C sooner or later, since House Guard contests were held once every month.

Sometimes, if one's opponent was weaker and one's luck better, one could advance. It only required grinding away with enough time.

"Commander Pang said... Grade-C House Guards are attainable by anyone diligent and self-disciplined. But becoming a Grade-B House Guard requires a measure of talent."

"A martial artist seeks Bone Recasting, to wash away the Clay Embryo. But the process is not easy. If one cannot accumulate Inner Qi to Heavenly Cycle Circulation before the age of twenty-seven or twenty-eight..."

"If Inner Qi cannot nourish the body, Qi and blood will begin leaking away through the cracks."

"And then the body's functions will begin to decline."

"Reaching the Essence Consumption realm would become even more impossible."

"But what exactly is Heavenly Cycle Circulation? Is it when Inner Qi has accumulated to a certain extent?"

Li Xian cast aside his stray thoughts and focused on training his legs.

Two hours passed in a flash. Then, with a splash, Li Xian fell from the iron basin. Water sprayed everywhere, soaking his clothes.

Li Xian became annoyed as well. He took off his shirt, stepped into the iron basin again, and gradually set it spinning with the twisting force of his ankles. As it spun, the whirlpool grew larger and harder to control.

He was just about to fail.

Then inspiration suddenly struck Li Xian. When I used to carry water, I knew how to apply force to stop the water in the buckets from slapping about and save strength.

Could the principles be the same? There's no harm in trying. My clothes are already wet anyway.

He applied the Water Carrying technique to Clearwind Leg. Sure enough, it worked. The whirlpool gradually shrank before vanishing completely.

[You have grasped the training method of Clearwind Leg.]

[Clearwind Leg]

[Proficiency: 1/500 Initiation]

At the prompt from the Heaven Rewards Diligence Fate, Li Xian's mind paused, and he could not help feeling a surge of accomplishment.

[Skill: Weeding], [Skill: Water Carrying], [Skill: Running], [Skill: Eating], [Wild Bull Fist], [Four Directions Fist]...

Now, he had added another [Clearwind Leg].

"Once I refine every martial art I have learned to its limit!"

"Then perhaps I'll be able to carve out even half a place to stand in this world, without having to live under another's roof."

"No matter how good being a House Guard is, one is still a servant. What others can give, they can also take back. Only what is mine cannot be shaken!"

Li Xian thought silently.

House Guard contests were generally held at the end of the month. A couple of days after the contest, it became the beginning of October.

That day,

Li Xian was practicing his fist art.

Though Clearwind Leg had become his new favorite, Four Directions Fist had not fallen out of favor.

As he threw a punch, his entire body trembled lightly. A flush of red spread within him, while a warm current continuously emerged from his limbs and bones.

It surged toward every part of his body. Li Xian's breathing grew scorching hot, and white mist shrouded his entire face.

[Four Directions Fist]

[Proficiency: 1/5000 Major Accomplishment]

[Description: The fist art has reached Major Accomplishment. Qi flows throughout the body, and the body resembles a blazing furnace, bringing endless benefits. Through punch after punch, you have brought the fist art to Major Accomplishment, gradually grasped the true meaning of Four Directions Fist, and witnessed the initial scene of the fist art...]

The hot current in his Dantian was like a raging flood, galloping without end. The scene before his eyes suddenly changed, and he saw a blurry figure.

This was the initial scene of the fist art—who had created it, and why they had created it.

This was a tremendous opportunity. The scenes of such origins often pointed directly to the true meaning of a fist art, surpassing any master's instruction!

Judging by the figure's shape, it seemed to be a woman...

The woman extended her slender fingers and casually gestured through the air. She drew once to the left, once to the right, then once upward and downward.

Then she flicked her sleeve, and that was the end.

Li Xian froze. He had heard Pang Long mention that Four Directions Fist had been created by the "Madam." The figure in this initial scene should undoubtedly have been the Madam herself.

With such casual gestures... she had created an entire fist art?

That was simply astonishing beyond belief.

Just as he was lost in thought, a gust of cold wind suddenly blew over him, making him shudder.

When he came back to his senses and quietly felt within himself, the Inner Qi in his Dantian had tripled!