The three martial realms and their perils (1 / 2)

The Ning Family owned a fairly spacious courtyard residence in the residential district of South Street. After Zhao Da married Ning Mu, he continued to live with the Ning Family.

Zhao Er received no cold shoulder when he arrived. Not only did Zhao Da and Ning Mu hurry over at once, but even the Mistress of the Ning Family came to see him and ask how her in-laws were doing.

"Da, Mu, make sure you take good care of our guest. I have some matters to attend to, so I'll leave you to it. Later, I'll have someone bring over a few gifts for our nephew to take home to our in-laws, as a small token of affection from us."

After a brief chat, the Mistress of the Ning Family left them with a few instructions before departing. She was gracious and proper throughout, without the slightest trace of disdain in her eyes when she looked at Zhao Er. She truly treated him like a nephew of her own.

Zhao Er and Zhao Da rose to see the Mistress of the Ning Family off, then returned to the hall.

"You brothers take your time catching up. I'll have someone prepare some food."

After seeing her mother off, Ning Mu said this to the two of them, then left the Zhao brothers alone.

"Little brother, how are Father and Mother doing? How has Shan’er been lately?"

"Father and Mother are the same as always. We've been eating much better lately, and Shan’er has grown a little taller. She's becoming more sensible, too."

"That's good. A few days ago, I reached a crucial point in my martial training. I'd meant to go home for a visit, but I really couldn't get away."

"Big brother, you've started practicing martial arts?"

The brothers chatted freely, and only then did Zhao Er learn that his elder brother had also begun martial training.

He looked his brother over again and suddenly realized that Zhao Da's eyes now shone with vitality. His build had become considerably more muscular, his bearing steadier, and even his voice rang out strong and clear.

"Heh, I started training after I got married. A few days ago, I was fortunate enough to successfully condense my qi and blood. I'm a true martial artist now."

At the mention of this, a smile broke through Zhao Da's otherwise composed expression.

"Congratulations, big brother. Father and Mother will be thrilled when they hear."

Zhao Er smiled as well, though he knew his elder brother's success in becoming a martial artist must have owed much to the Ning Family's support.

After all, training a martial artist was no small expense. For his elder brother to have broken through so quickly, the Ning Family must have spared no effort in nurturing him. Of course, his elder brother's own hard work had surely played its part.

Now that Zhao Da had become a martial artist, the Ning Family would certainly value him even more, and their parents would no longer need to worry that their eldest son was being mistreated.

"Oh, right, little brother. Take this."

Once martial training came up, Zhao Da first glanced toward the doorway, then drew a porcelain bottle from inside his robe and held it out to Zhao Er.

"The Poison Sand Palm you practice is an unorthodox art. It does your body no good. These are Detoxification Pills. Take them when you get home to clear the Heavenly Dragon Toxin from your body, and stop practicing Poison Sand Palm."

"Don't be impatient. Once my cultivation is advanced enough, I'll persuade the Ning Family to provide the resources to help you become a martial artist, too."

Looking at the pills before him, Zhao Er was deeply moved. He had never expected that his elder brother had already made plans for him and had never forgotten him.

But the more moved he felt, the less willing Zhao Er was to hold his elder brother back. Besides, he had the Settlement Panel. The toxin in his body posed no hidden danger at all, and there was no way he would simply go home and wait.

"Big brother, keep the medicine. My constitution is unusual. The Heavenly Dragon Toxin in my body can't harm me at all."

Zhao Er pushed the porcelain bottle back toward him. Afraid his brother would not believe him, he also opened his palm and held it out before Zhao Da as he continued explaining:

"Look, I've already brought Poison Sand Palm to perfection. By all rights, my palms should be covered in thick calluses and black as ink. But look at them now. They're only slightly darkened. It's nothing serious."

"You brought Poison Sand Palm to perfection in less than two months?"

Startled, Zhao Da hurriedly took Zhao Er's hand and examined it. Only after seeing that the skin of his palm was tough, with just a faint dark tinge beneath it, did he truly confirm it.

"How is that possible!"

Yet inwardly, he was utterly stunned. He practiced the Ning Family's hereditary cultivation method, an orthodox martial art. After tempering his physique, he had broken through on his very first attempt to condense his qi and blood, but even that had taken him nearly four months.

Now Zhao Er had brought Poison Sand Palm to perfection in less than two months—roughly fifty days, to be precise. Such speed was almost beyond belief.

Granted, the Poison Sand Palm Zhao Er practiced was only the most rudimentary of unorthodox arts. Since its training focused on the arms, progress was indeed somewhat faster.

But the Ning Family had spared no effort in nurturing Zhao Da, spending well over sixty taels of silver on him in those four months. From what he knew of his family's circumstances, his younger brother probably had spent hardly any silver at all.

Could my little brother truly be a prodigy at cultivating poison arts?

The proof was right before his eyes. Zhao Da had no choice but to believe it.

"Big brother, the main reason I came today was to ask about cultivation methods. After all, I'm already on the verge of a breakthrough."

Seeing his elder brother staring blankly, Zhao Er stopped beating around the bush and explained why he had come.

"I'd originally wanted you to wait a while, but now it seems... give me a moment."

Looking at his younger brother, Zhao Da finally shook his head and offered no further persuasion. He rose and left the room, returning shortly afterward with a booklet.

"Little brother, the Poison Sand Palm you practice is too rudimentary. This Five Poisons Art is its complete version. Take it home and practice it carefully. With your foundation in Poison Sand Palm, you should be able to grasp the basics quickly and attempt to condense your qi and blood."

Zhao Da first placed the manual in Zhao Er's hands, then handed him the porcelain bottle from the table as well.

"Take these Detoxification Pills, too. Five Poisons Art is unlike other cultivation methods. Practicing it is exceptionally dangerous. The early stages of martial cultivation are divided into three realms: Blood Condensation, Bone Tempering, and Sinew Transformation. These three realms are the three hurdles of the Martial Path!"

"The first realm, Blood Condensation, involves condensing your qi and blood. Once you successfully break through, your qi and blood will increase greatly. Their Blood-Energy Force will toughen your skin and multiply the force of your techniques. It also marks your official entry into the ranks of martial artists."

"The second realm, Bone Tempering, uses the Blood-Energy Force to strengthen your bones. It allows qi and blood to replenish faster, while your physical strength also soars."

"The Third Realm, Sinew Transformation, uses the Blood-Energy Force to reforge your muscles and sinews. When you complete it, your entire body will be reborn."

Zhao Da first explained the martial realms to Zhao Er. Seeing how attentively he listened, Zhao Da continued to the crucial point:

"For martial artists, these three realms are three trials. Every successful breakthrough brings a leap in strength, but failure comes with danger.

"If Blood Condensation fails, a mild case disrupts your qi and requires rest to recover. A severe case means tempering your physique all over again.

"If Bone Tempering fails, a mild case leaves your bones cracked. A severe case leaves you paralyzed."

"If Sinew Transformation fails, a mild case damages your internal organs. A severe case kills you outright."

"And those are the risks of practicing orthodox martial arts. If you practice Five Poisons Art, every failed breakthrough also carries the risk of the toxins absorbed into your body running out of control. Practitioners often suffer ruptured guts and rotting flesh, dying without even an intact corpse."

"These Detoxification Pills can reduce the danger at a critical moment and save your life."