Martial Warrior

Biodata

Power Progression

Martial System

Martial Warriors cultivate both an internal art and an external combat art. Internal cultivation nourishes qi and blood, while external techniques turn that strength into killing power 5.

• Internal cultivation — Stance exercises build qi, blood, endurance, and bodily strength. The Zheng Family Martial Arts Hall uses the Coiling Python Stance Technique 5 6.
• External cultivation — Fist, saber, sword, and other combat techniques are used to defeat opponents 5.
• Technique stages — Martial arts normally progress through Initiation, Minor Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment, and Perfection 5.
• Force Realm — A rare stage above Perfection available only to certain supreme arts. It unlocks an exclusive secret technique; the Wild Bull Fist’s Force Realm technique is Wild Bull Force, which can strike an opponent from a distance 5.

Capabilities

Enhanced Physique

Martial cultivation strengthens the body through qi and blood, allowing Martial Warriors to surpass ordinary people in speed, force, endurance, and durability 4 5.

• Skin Tempering can make a practitioner’s body resilient to ordinary impacts and scrapes 12.
• Exceptional First-Rank practitioners may attain Copper Skin, greatly increasing skin toughness and physical strength 17.
• Copper Skin can potentially be refined toward Golden Skin with sufficient resources 17.
• Martial Warriors require adequate food, medicinal supplements, and sleep to maintain qi and blood; cultivation without nourishment can damage the body 5 17.

Combat Ability

Martial arts are explicitly taught as skills for killing and surviving conflict rather than ceremonial practice 5.

• Real combat doctrine emphasizes concealment, surprise attacks, decisive strikes, and retreating from unwinnable fights 13 14.
• Strong enough practitioners can immobilize ordinary people with a touch or overwhelm them so completely that resistance is futile 4.
• First-Rank Martial Artists can intimidate or destroy low-grade Mist Monsters through vigorous qi and blood and direct attacks 12.
• A Wild Bull Fist user who reaches the Force Realm can use Wild Bull Force to harm enemies from roughly a meter away 5.

Resistance to Mist Monsters

Martial Warriors are the primary human defense against threats emerging from the Black Mist 1 12.

• Mist Monsters are classified as low, middle, and high grade, corresponding to the three ranks of Martial Warriors 12.
• Low-grade Echoing Wraiths can lure victims outside by copying familiar voices and dreams; a Martial Warrior’s qi and blood can deter them 11 12.
• High-grade Mist Monsters are dangerous enough that even Old Zheng would choose escape over confrontation 12.

Limitations

• Realm Barriers can halt advancement permanently after repeated failures 5.
• Bone aptitude and constitution strongly influence training speed and long-term potential 4 6 16.
• Miasma Poison from contaminated food can obstruct meridians and acupoints, impair qi-and-blood circulation, and prevent future breakthroughs 5.
• Martial training is resource-intensive: quality meat, nourishing soups, medicine, and cultivation time are essential advantages usually controlled by wealthy families 7 15 18.

Status and Society

Martial Warriors occupy a position of major social authority in Black City. Their status can protect both themselves and their relatives from gangs, exploitative employers, and everyday violence 1 8 12.

• A martial-hall disciple’s token alone can deter street thugs, though lasting safety depends on becoming an actual Martial Warrior 4 8.
• Families of Martial Warriors receive increased respect and preferential treatment; Zhao Laosi is moved to safer work after his son becomes a Martial Warrior 12.
• First-Rank Martial Artists may find work as guards, stewards, fishery managers, or retainers of wealthy households 12 17.
• Poor disciples often regard becoming a Martial Warrior as their only path out of exhausting labor, servitude, and gang exploitation 1 15.
• Inner City Martial Warriors possess superior resources and may legally use heavy armor and repeating crossbows, equipment forbidden to Outer City residents under collective punishment 12.

Known Practitioners

• Old Zheng — Master of the Zheng Family Martial Arts Hall; a Third-Rank Martial Artist who has reached the Force Realm of Wild Bull Fist 5.
• Lian Taoze — Zhou Chen’s senior brother; a Second-Rank Martial Artist who attained Copper Skin before his breakthrough 5 17.
• Zhou Chen — Reaches First-Rank Skin Tempering at Minor Accomplishment with Copper Skin 17 18.
• Ma Pengcheng — Ordinary Disciple and First-Rank Martial Artist at Major Accomplishment, with Iron Skin and Minor Accomplishment in his fist art 17 18.
• Zhang Shaojiu — Talented disciple who becomes a First-Rank Martial Artist in less than half a month and reaches Minor Accomplishment in Wild Bull Fist within a month 13.