Joining the Demon-Slaying Team, Heading to Black Triangle

"Dodge."

"The second layer is all about holding back before unleashing. You won't be able to block it."

This scene made even Chen Wang cry out in alarm, warning Lu Yuan.

Although Lu Yuan had just comprehended the first layer of Withered Wood Fist and could trade blows with the second layer of Xiang Cang's Iron Mountain Fist—

—it had already delighted him immensely.

But Xiang Cang had comprehended the second layer of Iron Mountain Fist: Cliff-Charging Fist.

"Boom!!!"

The air itself seemed to be compressed, bursting with a piercing roar.

Xiang Cang threw a punch.

Lu Yuan felt as though a waterfall were crashing toward him—

—as if it were about to swallow him whole.

The qi and blood within Lu Yuan's body surged wildly.

His right fist swelled against the wind, carrying a biting chill and vibrant life force as it met the attack head-on.

"You little brat, do you not want your hand anymore?"

Chen Wang saw Lu Yuan choose to collide head-on.

He cursed furiously in anger.

Yet when he sensed the power of Lu Yuan's punch—

—he froze.

"The second layer of Withered Wood Fist: Cold Wood Concealing Sprout."

"This brat actually comprehended the second layer of Withered Wood Fist in such a short time?"

Chen Wang was so shocked that he had nearly gone numb.

Cold wood gathered frost without withering, quietly storing an inch of life.

This punch was not merely defensive. It compressed all its power into a single point, then erupted the instant it made contact.

"Boom!"

The two fists collided viciously, producing a thunderous blast.

Violent waves of air swept out from the two of them, kicking up dust that filled the sky.

When the dust settled, both men had retreated five steps and stood firm.

Neither gained the upper hand!

The entire hall fell deathly silent.

Xiang Cang looked at his slightly numb right fist, a trace of complexity flashing through his eyes.

He knew that if they continued to wear each other down, his abundant qi and blood as a Second-Rank Lower Realm martial artist would certainly exhaust Lu Yuan's strength and drag him down.

But he did not do so.

He, Xiang Cang, was a proud Second-Grade Martial Artist. If he defeated a novice at the First-Rank Lower Realm through sheer attrition, it would be more humiliating than losing.

His pride would not allow him to continue fighting.

"You won."

Xiang Cang withdrew his stance, gave Lu Yuan a deep look, and spoke in a muffled voice.

"But the next time we meet, I'll go all out, no matter what realm you're in."

With that, he turned and strode out through the gates of Withered Wood Fist Hall.

Without the slightest hesitation.

"What are you doing? Get back here!"

Seeing this, Tu Zhenyue's face turned green with rage. He hopped about and cursed frantically.

But Xiang Cang ignored him completely and vanished straight down the street.

With Xiang Cang gone, how could Tu Zhenyue still have the face to remain?

"Let's go."

Tu Zhenyue shot Chen Wang a vicious glare, then led the bedraggled members of Mountain-Calming Martial Hall away from Withered Wood Fist Hall with their tails between their legs.

"Hahaha!"

Watching Tu Zhenyue's miserable retreating figure, Chen Wang finally threw back his head and laughed.

"Hall Master Tu, don't forget the month's worth of meat for our Withered Wood Fist Hall!"

He even called out a final reminder.

The disciples of Withered Wood Fist Hall erupted into earth-shaking cheers across the training ground.

Su Yu looked at the lean yet upright figure in the arena, his eyes filled with shock and complicated emotions.

"Good lad, you've truly brought this old man glory! But..."

Chen Wang walked forward, nodding repeatedly in satisfaction, his eyes full of praise.

"When I watched you fight just now, it seemed you possessed not only our Withered Wood Fist Hall's Withered Wood Fist, but also the support of other body-tempering arts. There are traces of several techniques layered upon your body, aren't there?"

Chen Wang frowned.

Ordinarily, this was a disciple's private matter, and he should not interfere.

But the talent Lu Yuan had displayed—

—made him unable to resist offering a reminder.

"Reporting to Master Chen, this disciple happened to acquire several cultivation arts outside before. I practice rather a lot of body-tempering arts."

It was not really something that needed to be concealed.

"You possess extraordinary talent, which is a good thing. But remember: bite off more than you can chew, and you will not digest it. Techniques lie in refinement, not quantity. On the martial path, the most important thing is still raising your realm."

"If you learn too many miscellaneous arts, it may instead hinder your breakthrough."

Chen Wang spoke earnestly.

A person's energy was limited.

There were body-tempering arts, martial techniques, primary weapon cultivation, alchemy, formations, and all manner of different paths.

Yet ordinary martial artists would generally choose only one Dao Path and study one or two martial arts as secondary disciplines.

Only after thoroughly mastering those martial arts would they choose others.

For example, once Withered Wood Fist was mastered thoroughly—

—it could also carry one to the Third-Rank Sinew Tempering Realm.

Only afterward would one select other martial arts.

Once one's realm rose, one's understanding of martial arts would naturally stand high and see far.

With a different perspective, one could draw inferences from one instance and naturally cultivate more martial arts.

"This disciple will remember Master Chen's teachings."

Lu Yuan replied.

But for Lu Yuan—

—the more martial arts he knew, the more beneficial it was.

He could directly use experience points to raise these martial arts.

Then, through those martial arts, he could deepen his understanding of every realm.

For instance, First-Rank Martial Artists tempered skin, Second-Grade Martial Artists tempered flesh, Third-Rank Martial Artists tempered tendons, Fourth-Grade Martial Artists tempered bones, and Fifth Rank martial artists tempered organs.

After Fifth Rank, one drew the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the body.

How were skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and organs tempered?

After upgrading martial arts—

—Lu Yuan could comprehend and draw lessons from them.

For example, the cultivation arts and martial skills he possessed: Blood-Baleful Demon-Slaying Saber, Wild Bull Force, Carefree Steps, Ironhide Body-Tempering Art, and Withered Wood Fist.

Once each of them was upgraded to its peak—

—they could improve his understanding of the two major realms of Skin Tempering and Flesh Tempering.

And these were only low-grade martial arts. If they were mid-grade martial arts, they might contain methods for Tendon Tempering.

Lu Yuan was using martial arts and cultivation arts to nourish his realm in return.

After the martial hall sparring match—

—Lu Yuan took the opportunity to make a request to Chen Wang to join the Demon-Slaying Team.

Hearing this, Chen Wang earnestly advised him, "The Demon-Slaying Team is exceptionally dangerous. Though you possess extraordinary talent, you are ultimately only at the First-Rank Lower Realm. It would be better to continue building your foundation in the fist hall for a while, then go once your realm is more stable."

"Master Chen, rest assured. This disciple knows his limits."

Lu Yuan's attitude was firm.

What a joke.

To him, those savage demon beasts were not death warrants at all. They were clearly walking bundles of experience.

How could he possibly let them go?

Seeing that Lu Yuan had made up his mind, Chen Wang no longer insisted, only repeatedly reminding him to be careful in all things.

Early the next morning.

After Lu Yuan instructed his younger brother, Lu An, to cultivate diligently at the fist hall—

—he set off with the Monster-Hunting Squad.

This time, You Tai, the senior disciple who had originally remained at the fist hall to manage its affairs—

—seemed to have been stirred by Lu Yuan's stunning performance in the arena.

He went along as well.

Along the way, Chen Wang explained to the two of them the patterns behind the appearance of demons.

These demons were exceedingly cunning. The places where they appeared were usually populous villages and towns not far from Azure Cloud Mountain.

This allowed them to feast freely on flesh and blood, then swiftly retreat deep into Azure Cloud Mountain before the powerful martial artists of the authorities could encircle and suppress them.

And the demon-hunting territory of Withered Wood Fist Hall—

—was a chaotic region a hundred li southeast of Pingyang County, known as Black Triangle.

This place was mostly a gathering ground for low-level martial artists to rest and trade, and even for mercenaries to hunt demon beasts.

There were comparatively few ordinary civilians.

As far as the eye could see, every figure was a wandering martial artist bearing sabers and swords.