Divine Bone

The next day.

An uninvited guest arrived at the entrance to Cheng Yang's courtyard.

"I heard a Skin Tempering martial artist had emerged on Old Kui Street. Seeing you today, you truly cut a fine figure."

"And you are?" Cheng Yang sized up the burly man before him, not understanding his purpose.

"Forgot to introduce myself. I am Han Dezhu, second-in-command of the Golden Tiger Gang."

"So it is Second Master Han. Please, come in." Lin Xia forced a relaxed smile onto her face, though a layer of cold sweat had already broken out across her back.

She unconsciously glanced at Cheng Yang's face, and only then did she gain a little more confidence.

"No need to sit." Han Dezhu raised a hand in refusal, his gaze settling darkly on Cheng Yang. "I came today merely to ask Little Brother Cheng a few questions."

"Please ask, Gang Leader Han." Cheng Yang remained composed, without the slightest sign of timidity.

"Little Brother Cheng is now a prized disciple of the Chen Clan Martial Hall. Han here ventures to ask: where did you get the money for your apprenticeship fee?"

"I borrowed it from someone." Cheng Yang casually made up an excuse. "As for who exactly, forgive me for not being able to say."

Han Dezhu naturally did not believe him, but neither did he press the matter. Instead, he threw out a second question. "Were you home the night before last?"

"Of course I was." Cheng Yang smiled. "Does Gang Leader Han have any other questions?"

"No."

Han Dezhu's lips curled into an ambiguous arc, his tone carrying a trace of mockery. "Little Brother, you had better make something of yourself at the Chen Clan Martial Hall. Otherwise, all that silver will have been spent for nothing.

"It certainly wasn't easy to save up that much silver."

"Of course. There is no need for Gang Leader Han to concern himself with it."

Cheng Yang understood the hidden meaning in his words. I know you killed them, but we'll let the matter rest here. The Golden Tiger Gang has no intention of pursuing it further.

It was both a warning and a concession.

"Han takes his leave."

"Take care. I won't see you out."

Cheng Yang stood where he was, watching Han Dezhu's back vanish around the alley corner, his eyes as cold as tempered ice.

Until the Golden Tiger Gang was removed, he would never be at ease.

Chen Clan Martial Hall.

Cheng Yang found his master, Chen Feiyi, and got straight to the point. "Master, my Rock-Still Stance has broken through to the next level. I ask Master to teach me the subsequent method."

"Hm?" Chen Feiyi's formerly narrowed eyes flew open. He then stroked his beard, forcing himself to remain calm. "Good. Very good."

He was merely almost two months faster than Chen Feiyi had been back then.

"Both stance arts have entered the Skin Tempering Realm. How does your body feel?" Chen Feiyi did his best to calm the surging emotions in his heart.

"My physical qualities have improved by more than double."

Chen Feiyi examined Cheng Yang closely. In just one night, his frame had clearly grown a full size, and the lines of his muscles had become increasingly distinct.

This was superior natural talent. This was top-tier comprehension... He had originally planned to inspect Cheng Yang's Rock-Still Stance progress in seven days. Now, it seemed, what need was there for seven days?

In just one day, this disciple of his had given him a heaven-shaking surprise.

"Cheng Yang, with your talent, achieving Silver Bone should be more than within reach."

"Master, what is Silver Bone?" Cheng Yang pressed.

"Silver Bone is the Bone Tempering Realm achieved with three stance arts at Perfection as its foundation." Chen Feiyi patiently explained, "Above Silver Bone is Gold Bone. To cultivate Gold Bone, at least five stance arts must reach Perfection. It is exceedingly difficult, consuming both time and effort. Without a top-tier genius, one must not force it."

"What lies above Gold Bone?" Cheng Yang continued probing.

"There is such a thing... but I fear it is only a rumor."

Chen Feiyi paused, and his gaze grew distant. "It is said among the common folk that five hundred years ago, the reason Qin Wudi was invincible beneath heaven and gained the recognition of the eight Heavenly Dao Divine Weapons was because he used dozens of stance arts as his foundation and forged the legendary 'Supreme Divine Bone.'

"From then on, he was invincible among those of the same realm and fought all under heaven without defeat. But rumors are rumors, after all, and cannot be taken as truth... Dozens of stance arts—what kind of monstrous genius would that require?"

"It is only a pity that after Qin Wudi vanished without a trace, the Great Qin Empire fell apart." Chen Feiyi sighed. "Had he not disappeared, there would be no Great Jin or Great Xuan today."

Cheng Yang listened silently, but he had already formed a plan. Cultivating dozens of stance arts might be a fantasy for others, but with Peerless Bearing at his side, it might not be impossible for him.

The difficult part was where to gather so many stance arts.

"Master, does the martial hall have any other stance art methods?"

"Yes. Besides the Rock-Still Stance, your master also knows a Wild Bull Stance."

"Please teach me, Master!" Cheng Yang said at once.

"I had planned to teach you the Chen Clan Martial Hall's martial techniques today, but now you want to learn the Rock-Still Stance's later stages and the Wild Bull Stance as well... The martial techniques can only be postponed until tomorrow." Chen Feiyi felt somewhat helpless.

"It's fine, Master. Teach me all of it together. I can remember it."

"If it were anyone else, I would only advise them that haste makes waste." Chen Feiyi paused and looked at Cheng Yang's confident expression. "But you... truly can save quite a bit of time."

Even so, Chen Feiyi felt an inexplicable pressure in his heart. Being a genius's master truly was not easy.

Without further ado, the teaching began at once.

An hour later, Cheng Yang had memorized all three things.

[Rock-Still Stance Minor Accomplishment (4/500)]

[Vajra Fist Beginner (3/100)]

[Wild Bull Stance Beginner (4/100)]

"Is there any movement you have not mastered, or anything you do not understand? Your master will explain it once more." Chen Feiyi confirmed again.

"Master, you have worked hard. I have already mastered the stance arts and martial technique you taught. There is no need to waste any more words." Cheng Yang declined.

"Uh... You have a bit of your master's bearing from back then... Fine, your talent truly is just a tiny bit stronger than your master's was." Chen Feiyi solemnly tried to salvage his dignity.

He cleared his throat, and his expression suddenly turned serious. "Cheng Yang, your master wishes to ask you something."

"Please speak, Master." Cheng Yang answered instinctively.

"Are you willing to become the seventh core disciple under my tutelage?"

"Of course I am." Cheng Yang did not hesitate.

"Good! Good! Good!" Chen Feiyi beamed, and even the wrinkles on his face spread open with his smile.

Seven truly was his lucky number. In the martial hall's seventh year, he had taken in his seventh core disciple—and one whose talent far surpassed the previous six. Truly, sevens upon sevens brought great fortune.

At the same time, elsewhere.

Qian Biao had already investigated Cheng Yang's background thoroughly and was reporting to Cai Qingwen.

"Brother Wen, that Cheng Yang is nothing more than a mud-legged peasant living on Old Kui Street. His only wealthy relative married into the Guo Household, but the two sides rarely have contact."

"A mud-legged peasant?" A smug smile curved Cai Qingwen's lips. "Then this will be easy."

As they spoke, a broad man with a leopard's head and ringed eyes strode over.

Cai Qingwen immediately reined in his expression and showed respect. "Third Senior Brother."

The newcomer was Yang Zheng, the martial hall's third senior brother. His Copper Bone had achieved Minor Accomplishment, and he was about to represent the Chen Clan Martial Hall in this year's Dragon-Ascending Martial Examination.

He was also Cai Qingwen's staunchest support within the martial hall.

Yang Zheng made no attempt to hide the contempt on his face. The first word out of his mouth was, "Trash!"

Cai Qingwen's face instantly flushed red, and he looked utterly bewildered. "Third Senior Brother, what happened?"

"The position of seventh core disciple that you have been thinking of day and night has already been snatched away by someone else." Yang Zheng said heavily. "Now gather in the front courtyard with me. Let us go meet my Seventh Junior Brother."

Cai Qingwen froze where he stood, feeling as though the sky itself had collapsed.