Martial Maniac

Fang Han was well-off now, with over a hundred taels of silver in hand, so he naturally became more generous with his spending.

He bought another three bottles of Blood-Qi Pills from Wei Zixiong.

After finishing his daily boxing practice and leaving the martial hall, he went to the butcher shop on Poplar Street in Eight Treasures Ward and bought two catties of bear meat to nourish himself.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

During the day, he wolfed down Blood-Qi Pills, and at night, he feasted on boiled bear meat slices.

For three straight days, Fang Han furiously trained in the Gale-Breaking Fist, pouring nearly all his energy into this boxing art.

Over those three days—

He gained roughly four hundred proficiency points a day on average, for more than twelve hundred points in three days of relentless practice!

Even he had not expected such progress.

Fortunately, with the Blood-Qi Pills and bear meat replenishing him, Fang Han did not feel tired.

He remained full of stamina and vigor.

The only problem was that training the same fist technique over and over was far too dull, with only those few moves and stances.

Again and again, in an endless cycle.

Had he not lived two lives and possessed an iron will, he likely would have found it difficult to persist.

At dusk, aboard a shabby little fishing boat by the river.

Fang Han sat at the bow, feeling the river breeze brush against him.

His gaze was solemn. With a slight thought, a panel appeared before his eyes:

[Forged to Excel]

[Name: Fang Han]

[Age: Twenty-Three]

[Bone Constitution: Lower-grade (Cultivable)]

[Comprehension: 132]

[Realm: Body Tempering First Layer (Skin Tempering)]

[Martial Art: Gale-Breaking Fist (Mortal Grade)]

[Proficiency: 2212/5000, Great Mastery]

[Martial Art: Nine Flood Dragon Palms (Mortal Grade)]

[Proficiency: 986/10000, Perfection]

[Talents: Unyielding Practice (Never Regress), Rising Talent (Increased Comprehension)]

Fang Han looked over the data on the panel and smiled faintly, deeply satisfied.

Three days of relentless practice had finally brought this fist technique's proficiency close to halfway.

At this pace, after another seven or eight days of relentless practice—

He could max out the Gale-Breaking Fist's proficiency and break through to a level beyond Great Mastery!

By then, he would truly have mastered the Gale-Breaking Fist.

But on second thought, Fang Han let out a muted laugh.

Given his current physical condition, even with pills and meat supplementing his body, restoring its losses, and continuously supplying him with stamina—

His body would reach its limit after at most five more days of such relentless practice!

At that point, he would have to stop and rest.

Otherwise, he would leave hidden injuries in his muscles and bones. The loss would outweigh the gain.

"If I reached the Body Tempering Third Layer, with my muscles, bones, and skin all strengthened by Blood Qi, not to mention training the Gale-Breaking Fist relentlessly for five days—even seven or ten days would be no problem for my body."

Fang Han watched the rippling river water and pondered silently.

The Body Tempering Third Layer was the first dividing line between Martial Artists and ordinary people!

Those below the Body Tempering Third Layer had not yet fully tempered their muscles, bones, and skin.

But upon reaching the Body Tempering Third Layer, one's muscles, bones, and skin would all be tempered once by Blood Qi, greatly enhancing the body's capabilities. Only then could one barely be considered a Martial Artist—or rather, a half-step Martial Artist.

Once one at the Body Tempering Third Layer condensed abundant Blood Qi, they could challenge Manifest Force and transform Blood Qi into Internal Force. That was the second dividing line.

As for the difference between Manifest Force and Dark Strength, aside from their differing forces—

One being Internal Force and the other External Force, there was essentially no difference in the nature of martial arts.

Manifest Force cultivated the outward release of Internal Force, while Dark Strength cultivated the minute control of force.

Though their paths differed, they ultimately led to the same destination...

Fang Han calmed his mind and stopped dwelling on it.

Cultivation had to proceed one step at a time. It could not be rushed.

The next day, at the martial hall.

The moment Fang Han entered the Outer Court, he saw Zhao Jing and several others on the training grounds.

They were surrounded by a crowd of apprentices, like stars circling the moon.

Fang Han was somewhat puzzled.

He had assumed that the joint Demon-Hunting Trial between the two halls would take at least five to seven days to yield results. He had not expected it to end after only three days.

It seemed this trial had not been as complicated—or as dangerous—as he had imagined.

Fang Han merely glanced over before withdrawing his gaze. As usual, he found a less crowded corner, took his stance, and began practicing his fist technique.

There was only one thing on his mind now.

He wanted to train the Gale-Breaking Fist to Perfection as soon as possible, then condense ten strands of Blood Qi and challenge the Body Tempering Second Layer, Sinew Tempering.

After three consecutive days of nourishing himself with bear meat, let alone condensing another strand of Blood Qi, he could no longer even sense it.

Clearly.

His body had also developed a tolerance to bear meat. Eating it could no longer help him condense new Blood Qi as it had before.

Fang Han silently calculated that once the Gale-Breaking Fist reached Perfection, he would need to find something better to nourish himself with.

On the training grounds.

Zhao Jing and Su Yuheng were surrounded by the crowd.

Zhao Jing wore a smug, arrogant expression, his chin slightly raised and his gaze disdainful.

Every gesture displayed the pretentious air of a young master from an influential family.

Even Su Yuheng, who had always been modest and gentle, had changed somewhat.

The three days of demon hunting had made him more confident.

Clearly, this trial had allowed both of them to grow rapidly.

Just then.

A son of an Outer City family acquainted with Zhao Jing glanced at Fang Han, who was practicing in the corner, and sneered in a mocking tone:

"Brother Zhao, you have no idea. While you were gone these past few days, Fang Han has been training his fists like a madman, as though his life depended on it.

Everyone has given him a nickname now: Martial Maniac.

With only a Lower-grade Bone Constitution, no matter how hard he trains, he will never be able to compare to you, Brother Zhao."

Though these words sounded like mockery toward Fang Han, they were actually meant to flatter Zhao Jing.

As soon as he said this, several others chimed in.

Their words were mostly dismissive of Fang Han's efforts or filled with cold mockery.

Zhao Jing raised his chin slightly and swept an arrogant glance toward Fang Han in the corner before quickly looking away.

That contemptuous, disdainful look was as though he were looking at a stray dog by the roadside.

Yet in response to the flattery of those around him—

Zhao Jing sneered inwardly and did not think much of them either.

In his eyes, these children of minor Outer City families were nothing more than a pack of opportunists.

Apart from Su Yuheng beside him, the only other person worthy of his notice was Cao Xuan.

But Cao Xuan, that mud-legged peasant from the Outer City, was at most fit to be his lackey.

He could run errands and handle tasks for him, but joining his circle was impossible.

The only people who could stand on equal footing with him now were the few true disciples of the Inner Court.

When he thought of how he and Su Yuheng had joined forces in the outskirts of the Transverse Mountains to kill a Red-Eyed Silver Wolf comparable to a Body Tempering Second Layer cultivator—

Zhao Jing felt that he was now someone who had seen blood.

He was completely incomparable to the rabble of the Outer Court.

Standing among them was simply beneath him.

"Yes, with a Lower-grade Bone Constitution, even if he gets lucky and successfully challenges Manifest Force, that will be the end of his road. He is destined to be recruited as some family's retainer and spend his entire life at others' beck and call."

Zhao Jing spoke in a calm, certain tone, delivering a final verdict on Fang Han's future.

Then, as if remembering something—

The corner of his mouth curled up. In an even more arrogant tone, he announced to everyone:

"During this Demon-Hunting Trial, I awakened another strand of Blood Qi!"

"Once I receive the hall master's Blood-Gathering Pill reward, it will not be long before I condense another seven strands of Blood Qi and challenge the Body Tempering Second Layer!"

Hearing his confident words, the people around him erupted in surprise.

"Another strand of Blood Qi? Brother Zhao is progressing far too quickly!"

"As expected of an Upper-grade Bone Constitution. His cultivation speed is simply astounding!"

"At this rate, Brother Zhao may become the fastest person in our Outer Court to challenge the Body Tempering Second Layer!"

Praise and flattery rose one after another without end.

As Zhao Jing listened, the smile on his lips deepened, and his eyes brimmed with pride.