Outside Holy Soul Village.
The deep, secluded forest was so quiet that a falling pin could be heard.
Whoosh!
A young figure skimmed low through the air, his steps as light as down, stirring only a faint breeze. The gray sparrow noticed nothing and kept its head down, pecking at the little insects on the tree.
Just as the sparrow buried itself in its meal, completely off guard, the boy abruptly checked his movement. Like a drifting cloud, he approached close against the tree and silently climbed several feet in an instant.
His five fingers spread slightly, stirring not the slightest sound of wind, moving so fast that only a faint afterimage remained.
Swish!
In the blink of an eye, before the sparrow pecking at the insects could even react, a strong little hand had firmly seized both its wings.
The sparrow began to struggle desperately, but no matter how it fought, it could not break free in the slightest. It could only let out faint, frightened chirps.
The entire sequence flowed like clouds and water, without a single wasted movement.
Han Qiu gently closed his fingers, steadily cradling the trembling little gray sparrow in his palm. A faint smile flickered in his eyes.
Twenty-six days ago, catching a sparrow in midair would have been out of the question. Even running fast for a short while would have left him gasping for breath.
But now, after several bouts of body tempering at his limits and the Qi-State Origin-Flow washing his essence and cleansing his marrow day and night, his coordination and reaction speed were no longer what they had been.
A breeze brushed through the forest behind Han Qiu, gently swaying the branches and leaves. What he did not know was that, not far away, a pair of eyes was watching him quietly.
Tang San stood by the forge, his Purple Demon Eye active, taking in the distant scene. Once again, stormy waves rose in his heart.
He had skimmed silently past the trees and caught a bird in an instant.
That movement technique was already no weaker than his own, despite his years of painstaking practice in the Tang Sect's footwork!
Tang San's brows drew together slightly, the sense of danger in his heart growing stronger. After awakening his Martial Soul, could he really beat Han Qiu?
After twenty-seven days of cultivation, Han Qiu could clearly feel that his body still had room to improve, but the Qi in his body had already reached a bottleneck.
He gently tapped the little gray sparrow, now docile in his palm, and the corners of his mouth lifted in a slight smile.
Very good. His skin, flesh, tendons, and bones were all resilient. After more than twenty days of uninterrupted body tempering at his limits, the effects of the Muscle-Tendon Changing Classic had fully manifested. His physical foundation was growing deeper and more solid, but Han Qiu knew his body still harbored boundless potential and was far from reaching its true limits.
It looks like the Qi in my body is Soul Power. I suppose my situation is much the same as Tang San's right now. If I want to take that Qi any further, I'll have to awaken my Martial Soul and obtain a Soul Ring, Han Qiu thought to himself.
Han Qiu smiled faintly, then released the little gray sparrow from his hand.
"Chirp, chirp, chirp~"
"Be careful, little fellow. If you land in my hands again, it won't be this simple."
Han Qiu glanced at the sparrow and pushed off lightly with his foot, vanishing from where he stood. Before long, he appeared on the branch of a large tree in the distance.
"Going by the time, that guy Tang San should be about to learn the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer from his dad, shouldn't he?"
"With my current physical strength, breaking through again probably won't be easy. The chances of old Tang teaching me the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer are awfully slim too. Maybe I should go see if I can steal the technique?"
[Host's desire to steal a technique detected. Choice system activated.] [Choice one: tell Tang San loudly that even a dog wouldn't learn the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer. Reward: Dog-Beating Stick Technique. Note: you are extremely likely to be beaten to death by Tang San and Tang Hao as a result.] [Choice two: tell Tang San loudly that anyone with hands can work a forge. Reward: mastery of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer.] [Choice three: secretly tell Tang Hao, "Uncle Hao, you wouldn't want Little San to find out your password, would you?" Reward: Spirit Binding and General Dispatch, one of the Eight Extraordinary Skills. Note: 99.9% chance of being silenced by Tang Hao on the spot.]
Han Qiu stood high on the thick branch, his eyes quickly sweeping over the three options that had popped up. The corner of his mouth could not help twitching violently.
Was this system even proper?
Why did it feel like something dirty had gotten mixed in?
How much difference was there between 99.9% and 100%?
Pass on option three.
Who was Tang Hao?
He was the Clear Sky Douluo who had once shaken the Douluo Continent with his might, a top-tier ruthless man at the titled level. He had lived in dejected seclusion for years, but he was fiercely protective of his own.
If Han Qiu dared joke about his sore spot, forget the Spirit Binding and General Dispatch-he would probably meet his end in Holy Soul Village today, without even getting a chance at Martial Soul Awakening.
There was no need to say much about option one either. That was also courting death. Facing the wrath of Tang Hao and his son head-on would be like having water in his brain.
Of the three choices, two were high-risk. The remaining answer went without saying.
Han Qiu's gaze grew firm, and he said silently, I choose two.
Having made his choice, Han Qiu walked toward the forge where Tang San was.
At that moment, Tang San was working the forge as his father had taught him.
A breeze swept fine iron filings past Holy Soul Village's crude smithy.
The crackling fire blazed fiercely, scarlet flames licking the dark anvil. The entire piece of refined iron glowed red-hot, and waves of scorching heat spread a dazzling orange-red halo.
Tang San's forearms were bare as he meticulously swung the small smithing hammer in his hand.
He kept Tang Hao's instructions firmly in mind, casting aside all distracting thoughts. Every hammer blow fell steady and strong, with even force.
But he was still young, after all, and his physical strength was limited. The rhythm of his hammering was a little unpracticed, and he could only just touch on some of the core secrets of stacking force in the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer. He was still a long way from proficiency.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sounds of hammering rose one after another, accompanied by tiny sparks flying in all directions, especially clear at the quiet village entrance.
Not far away, Tang Hao leaned against the wooden doorway in his worn clothes, a jar of cheap liquor in his hand. His eyes were lazily narrowed, and his murky gaze seemed unfocused, but in truth, he was taking in every move Tang San made.
Though his teaching looked perfunctory, he had never eased up on honing Tang San.
Han Qiu walked over slowly. Tang Hao glanced at him casually, then turned his gaze back to Tang San.
Sure enough, Tang San was still just a beginner at this point. He had not yet been taught the true Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer and had only just touched its threshold.
"Han Qiu, what brings you here?" Tang San stopped hammering and asked.
"I heard you were learning smithing from Uncle Hao, so I came to take a look."
"Oh? Did you see anything?"
Hearing Tang San's question, Han Qiu hesitated no longer. He spoke up loudly, just enough for the father and son in the smithy to hear him clearly:
"It's just smithing. Swing the hammer back and forth to build up force, stacking it layer by layer. When you get down to it, can't anyone with hands do it?"
The instant his words fell, a system notification suddenly exploded in his mind!
[Host has fulfilled the choice condition!] [Choice two task completed!] [Congratulations! Host has received the reward: Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer (mastery)!]
Comprehension of the technique flooded into Han Qiu's mind in an instant, and muscle memory formed at the same time. How to stack force, how to build it through vibrations-the secrets of all eighty-one hammer strikes filled his mind!
Hum!
A vast, domineering martial insight instantly swept through Han Qiu's limbs, bones, and internal organs!
The Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer was both a smithing technique and a means of attack.
Countless ingenious methods of exerting force, rhythms for vibrating his muscles and bones, and the profound principles of stacking power layer upon layer took root in his mind and body, as though engraved upon his very soul.
Each hammer strike laid the foundation for the next, each successive blow adding to the last. One strike was heavier than the one before, their force rippling in an unbroken chain. When all eighty-one strikes fell, their might could crush ten thousand jun!