[In the first year, you began cultivating the Eagle Claw Technique.] [In the second year, with your Skin Refining Realm cultivation giving you a bird's-eye view, your practice of the Eagle Claw Technique gradually entered its stride.] [In the third year, your Eagle Claw Technique reached minor mastery.] [In the fifth year, having long since become thoroughly familiar with it, you comprehended Eagle Claw Intent and entered major mastery in one stroke.] [In the sixth year, the Eagle Claw Technique reached perfection. Eagle Claw Intent and its forms fused together seamlessly, reaching the pinnacle.] [In the eighth year, you gained an insight. Your body moved like an eagle as you imitated all manner of pouncing techniques, attempting to circulate the blood and qi within your body.] [In the tenth year, your Skin Refining Realm cultivation rose another level.]
The simulation was complete. Enlightenment flooded his mind!
The moves and artistic conception of the Eagle Claw Technique surged into Jiang Yi's body and sea of consciousness.
He swiftly mastered this martial art, and at the level of great perfection and peak mastery at that.
Jiang Yi kept his eyes tightly shut, digesting it all!
With the support of two martial arts techniques!
His strength swelled once more. His skin membrane rippled, seeming to grow a few degrees thicker.
His eyes slowly opened!
An incomparably piercing sharpness flashed through them, mixed with the ferocity of a bird of prey.
"It's dark!"
Under the dim lamplight!
Jiang Yi watched the two Evil Wolf Gang members guarding the town gate begin to move.
The two had their arms around each other's shoulders!
They discussed something, then laughed together, seemingly having reached some agreement.
The two left together.
Leaving together?
That would... save him some trouble.
Jiang Yi narrowed his eyes, locking onto the pair as his body shot forward.
Like a fierce bird of prey poised to pounce upon its quarry!
Ferocious and swift!
In a secluded alley!
After exchanging glances, the two Evil Wolf Gang men both stopped.
They looked at the thin, ragged figure before them.
The sallow-faced man was the first to fly into a rage, drawing the saber at his waist in one motion.
Cursing, he stepped forward.
"Damn it, where did this beggar come from? You dare block my way?
Watch me chop you alive!"
"Eh, it's you!"
The other man seemed to recognize Jiang Yi, and a trace of surprise appeared in his eyes.
"Fourth Brother, this is one of those filthy beggars from earlier!"
"Oh?"
Hearing that, the sallow-faced man widened his eyes and examined him closely.
"Now that you mention it, it really is! Hahaha!"
The other man also came forward, his expression mocking and faintly teasing.
"Little beggar, why are you the only one left?"
As he spoke, he deliberately reached into his robes and took out the money pouch.
He shook it a few times before Jiang Yi.
"Or... did you sneak out on your own to block our path?
Could it be that you want your money back?
Look here!
It's in my hand now. Do you have the guts to take it...?"
"I do!"
Jiang Yi reached out and snatched the pouch of money straight from the man's hand.
He calmly tucked it into his own robes!
The two Evil Wolf Gang men both froze at the sight!
"Filthy beggar, you're courting death!"
The sallow-faced man was the first to react!
He raised his saber in his right hand and furiously hacked down at Jiang Yi.
Jiang Yi extended his hand, spreading his five fingers as he met the descending saber head-on.
With a CLANG!
Jiang Yi firmly caught the saber. Palm and blade met, yet he remained utterly unscathed.
It truly demonstrated the mysterious wonder of the Skin Refining Realm.
The skin membrane was tough as oxhide; swords and sabers could not harm it in the slightest.
"You..."
"I want the money, and I want your lives too!"
His other hand shot out with lightning speed, its five knuckles slightly bent as his palm became a claw, tearing through the air!
A faint eagle's cry seemed to ring out, shaking the heart and soul!
CRACK!
It was as though an incomparably sharp eagle claw had struck the sallow-faced man's neck!
His throat bone shattered with ease.
The sallow-faced man dropped to his knees with a THUD!
His hands desperately clutched his neck, but he still could not stop blood from gushing out of the corners of his mouth.
In the blink of an eye, his pupils rapidly dilated, and his breath was nearly gone!
[You killed one ordinary enemy and plundered 3 years of his lifespan.]
"Little beggar, you... you're actually a martial artist!"
The other man was dumbstruck. When he met those calm eyes!
A chill ran through his entire body, and he trembled all over.
How could a mere little beggar be so formidable?
Wasn't it obvious?
He had clearly been playing the pig to eat the tiger!
This time, they had kicked an iron plate!
Knowing how terrifying martial artists were, the man instinctively backed away.
Yet he seemed to be forcing down the fear in his heart, putting on a fierce exterior despite his inner weakness!
"Where did this martial artist come from?!
Do you know that we're members of the Evil Wolf Gang?!
You dared kill members of the Evil Wolf Gang—you're dead for sure!
I advise you to get out of Wushui Town at once!
Otherwise, our Evil Wolf Gang leader will never let you off..."
"Too noisy!"
Jiang Yi took a step forward, his body agile as an eagle soaring through the air.
His five fingers formed claws!
They pressed down on the man's head.
SPLAT!!!
His entire head exploded with a bang, red and white fluids mingling as they splattered everywhere.
[You killed one ordinary enemy and plundered 4 years of his lifespan.]
Clap! Clap! Clap!
At that moment, a burst of applause rang out, followed by a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha!"
"Little brother, what impressive skill!"
Jiang Yi turned around!
Several yards away, atop the eaves on the right side of the alley, a gray-robed man had appeared at some unknown time.
He looked to be around thirty!
His face was ordinary!
Yet his figure was rather upright!
Still as a pine, he stood firmly upon an alley eave no wider than an adult's palm.
His gray robes swayed gently in the breeze.
"If I'm not mistaken, little brother, the martial art you cultivate should be the Eagle Claw Technique.
Who would have thought!
An unranked martial art, in little brother's hands, could reach the pinnacle and give rise to its own artistic essence.
Truly a rare sight!"
The gray-robed man looked Jiang Yi up and down!
A trace of amazement showed in his eyes!
At such an age, he had already cultivated a martial art to perfection.
There might not have been another person like him in the entire town!
Could it be that this youth had relied on that to step into the first minor realm of martial arts in one stroke?
If that were truly the case!
Then he was undoubtedly a martial arts prodigy!
At that thought, the gray-robed man's heart grew heated, and he developed a desire to recruit him.
Jiang Yi stared intently at the man, his body instinctively tensing!
The man had appeared behind him without Jiang Yi noticing at all.
Or perhaps!
He had already been standing above them, observing Jiang Yi's every move, before Jiang Yi even acted.
There was no need to guess!
This was absolutely a powerful martial artist!
His cultivation exceeded Jiang Yi's by an unknown amount.
Was he at Flesh Tempering?
Tendon Forging?
Or Bone Cleansing?
Or perhaps an even higher realm!
Jiang Yi could not tell!
Although the gray-robed man showed no hostility, that did not mean Jiang Yi could lower his guard.
Before you continue