Ambush, Part One

Ever since his techniques had fused, Jiang Jingnian's strength had advanced by leaps and bounds.

Whether it was the Copper-Mirror Iron Garment Technique or the Taiji Vajra Art, neither had ever been an ordinary martial art.

The fused Transforming Splendor Ultimate Bronze Scripture possessed the mysteries of both.

It could even take the essence and discard the dross. The original Mirror Reflection Insight alone had improved by an unknown amount.

Jiang Jingnian was confident that if he faced his master again, he definitely would not be so easily seen through and have his moves dismantled.

Now, it was no longer easy for him to find escort masters of the same level in the escort agency to spar with.

Ordinary Blood Tempering Stage and Bone Tempering Stage Martial Masters could not even make him use his full strength. He did not dare use even thirty percent of his power, lest he accidentally cripple them.

Only escort masters at the Marrow Tempering Stage could still catch his eye.

Yet let alone Marrow Tempering Stage escort masters, even Bone Tempering Stage escort masters were mostly extremely busy. They were either out escorting shipments or heading somewhere to lend a hand in a fight.

Jiang Jingnian naturally had assignments to lend a hand as well.

But over the past few days, after breakfast, he had taken several runners to rotate between the Su Family's two shops and stand guard there.

Yet he had sat there until five or six in the afternoon every day without seeing anyone from Garden Celebration Hall come looking for trouble again.

However, as long as the other side had not sent anyone to negotiate a settlement, this assignment would not end.

At the very least, it could not end until his master returned.

And starting yesterday, Jiang Jingnian had learned how to slack off.

He simply did not go in the mornings, instead having two runners each bring several apprentices to sit at the Su Family's two shops.

So long as anything happened, they only needed to stall them first, then come to the escort agency to report it.

Looking at the specially made wooden post before him, now battered and broken beyond recognition, Jiang Jingnian slowly withdrew his hands after practicing his fists for an entire morning.

As his blood and qi settled, the bronze gleam contained within his arms swiftly faded as well.

The Transforming Splendor Ultimate Bronze Scripture truly deserved to be called a fused hard-body secret art. The fist and kicking techniques within it were even more extraordinary.

Even without activating his Blood Core, the normal toughness of his skin, membranes, tendons, and flesh was only twenty to thirty percent weaker than when he had previously activated it.

If he activated the Blood Core's blood and qi and covered his entire body with it for protection, his defensive power would increase by more than thirty percent beyond its previous peak.

With that degree of improvement, even if he faced Huo Qi's slash again, blazing and surging like a scorching tidal wave, it likely would not even inflict a light injury. At most, it would break his skin.

[Name: Jiang Jingnian]

[Traits: Taotie, Psychic Whip (Dream)]

[Technique: Transforming Splendor Ultimate Bronze Scripture (Beginner)]

[Archetype: Martial Master (Blood Tempering 73%)]

"Soon, soon."

"After advancing to a Bone Tempering Stage Martial Master, my Blood Core will disperse into my limbs, using that to nourish and strengthen my bones."

Watching the number rise every day, Jiang Jingnian's heart was filled with anticipation.

For an ordinary martial artist to advance into a Blood Tempering Stage Martial Master, they had to nourish and refine the concentration of blood and qi throughout their body, thereby breaking open the Blood Tempering Aperture at their dantian and condensing a Blood Core as solid as stone.

As for advancing from the Blood Tempering Stage to the Bone Tempering Stage—

One had to raise the Blood Core's density and volume to the utmost limit their body could attain through daily cultivation, then polish it bit by bit and remove every impurity within.

Finally, they had to open the apertures in their limbs, allowing the Blood Core's power to disperse into them and gradually seep into the bones throughout their body.

This process was even more meticulous, and even slower.

Most Martial Masters would be stuck at this stage for many years. Some would be unable to break through for their entire lives.

Yet Jiang Jingnian had not even advanced to the Blood Tempering Stage for a month, and now the Bone Tempering Stage was already within sight.

There had not been the slightest luck involved in this cultivation process. It all relied on his own hard work shopping on the streets.

Chai Li walked over from nearby. Looking at the specially made wooden post before Jiang Jingnian, now battered and broken beyond recognition, surprise appeared on her face. "Brother Jiang, is the Copper-Mirror Iron Garment Technique really this strong? This is a wooden post mixed with special ironstone!"

"It was only replaced a few days ago, and now this wooden post needs replacing again."

Even the Bone Tempering Stage escort masters could not turn it into this state by practicing their fists on it, could they? It was covered everywhere in pitted fist marks and footprints, enough to make one's scalp tingle.

It was hard to imagine what would become of an ordinary martial artist if such force landed on them.

No wonder that young hall master of Garden Celebration Hall—

Had both his arms snapped directly when Escort Master Jiang rammed into him.

"Maybe my skin, membranes, tendons, and flesh are naturally thicker and sturdier than other people's!"

Jiang Jingnian waved his hand without offering much explanation, merely turning to look at Chai Li beside him. "Do you need me to give you some pointers again today?"

Although he no longer sparred with the escort masters and runners, there was no problem with giving a colleague some guidance.

"No need, Brother Jiang. Thank you for your kindness!"

Chai Li waved her hands repeatedly. After yesterday morning's training, Jiang Jingnian's guidance had left her completely speechless.

The gap between people was simply too great.

There was no need to go looking for suffering.

Though she was a sturdy woman in her twenties, she still addressed Jiang Jingnian, who was much younger than her, as "Brother Jiang."

It was a form of respect for the strong, not something determined by age.

At this point, Chai Li hurriedly changed the subject. "Brother Jiang, after lunch, which shop are we going to sit at first?"

"Let's go to the silk and cloth shop first, stay there for a few hours, then switch to the other one."

Jiang Jingnian considered it briefly before answering.

"The silk and cloth shop? All right."

Chai Li nodded, then teased him somewhat. "Brother Jiang, that Su Family young lady from the silk and cloth shop seems quite interested in you..."

A brave and powerful young martial artist.

A gentle and lovely young lady from a wealthy household.

In the storybooks sold on the streets, such a pairing would definitely come with plenty of descriptions of romance.

"Back when I pulled rickshaws, Miss Su was one of my regular customers. It's nothing. She may simply be curious about how my identity changed."

Jiang Jingnian glanced at Chai Li beside him, his expression utterly unmoved.

He merely spoke calmly of the days when he had still been a rickshaw puller.

That was not some shameful black mark or scandal.

It was merely the road he had traveled to get here.

As for Su Wanzhi, she was not the type he liked. It could be said that he did not have the slightest other thought toward her.

Seeing Jiang Jingnian's utterly calm expression, Chai Li quickly swallowed the joke she had been about to make. "I see."

He was only an eighteen-year-old youth, yet he could speak so lightly of the days when he had been downcast and embarrassed.

And before his colleagues, he did not avoid those matters in the slightest.

Such a state of mind—

Made Chai Li instinctively regard him with solemn respect.

He did not merely possess extraordinary talent; even his temperament was the same.

After chatting for a while longer about matters within the escort agency, the two headed together to the dining hall on the other side for lunch.