Chapter 52: Chapter 48: Upper Grade

The back courtyard.

As soon as he stepped into the back courtyard, the strong, pungent smell of medicine assaulted his nostrils.

Chen Qing walked to the door of the training hall, clasped his hands, and said, “Master.”

“Come in.”

Zhou Liang’s voice came from inside.

Chen Qing pushed the door open and entered. The training hall was filled with all sorts of equipment: sandbags, weapon racks, and more.

Zhou Liang, dressed in a white short-sleeved training uniform, was wiping the sweat from his forehead with a towel.

He looked at Chen Qing with approval in his eyes. “Not bad. To pass the Martial Arts Examination and become a Martial Scholar on your first try this year… Your Long Arm Fist must have reached the Great Success stage, correct?”

Chen Qing cupped his fist. “Master is perceptive. I indeed broke through to Great Success a short while ago.”

“Excellent.”

Zhou Liang nodded in satisfaction.

Although this disciple before him had a somewhat poor Root Bone, his comprehension was far beyond that of an ordinary person.

He then checked Chen Qing’s progress in tempering his Dark Force.

Zhou Liang said in a deep voice, “The Military Examination is still a year and a half away. Your next step is to refine your qi and blood, allowing your Dark Force to permeate your entire body. Pay special attention to the Baihui and Yongquan Acupoints; those two are the most difficult to open. The sooner you reach Dark Force Perfection, the easier it will be to achieve the Unity of Light and Dark Forces, and it will also increase your chances of breaking through to Transmutation Force.”

At this point, Zhou Liang spoke with great earnestness, “The essence of my Long Arm Fist lies in Manifest Force, Dark Force, and Transmutation Force. And of these, Transmutation Force is the most difficult.”

Manifest Force is considered the entry-level of Martial Arts. With it, one can make a living in the county.

Dark Force is already extraordinary. In a major power, one could become a minor leader, and in the eyes of ordinary people, they are already a cut above.

As for Transmutation Force, those who reach it can be called the top experts of Gaolin County. Even powers like the Five Great Noble Families and the Two Major Gangs would treat them as honored guests and do their utmost to win them over.

Chen Qing seized the opportunity to ask, “Master, I’m a bit slow. I don’t understand how Manifest and Dark forces merge. What exactly is the wonder of Transmutation Force?”

It was a perfect chance, so he naturally voiced the questions in his heart.

’Learning a skill means you have to take the initiative to learn.’

’After all, plenty of people have to resort to stealing techniques.’

“Manifest Force is hard and fierce, overwhelming with its momentum. Dark Force is soft and gentle, yet it can penetrate to the internal organs. Transmutation Force takes the essence of both, merging them completely. It emphasizes perfect unity, allowing you to release and retract your power at will.”

Zhou Liang took a deep breath, his gaze suddenly sharpening. “Watch closely!”

Before his voice had even faded, he flicked his wrist and threw a punch through the air at a wooden post about ten feet away.

The punch was silent, yet it instantly made the hair on Chen Qing’s arms stand on end. A biting chill pierced him to the bone.

He saw that the surface of the wooden post was completely undamaged, but its interior had been shattered inch by inch, reduced to dust.

’Shattering wood from a distance!’

Chen Qing’s pupils contracted, his heart filled with shock.

’Such a technique is indeed far more sophisticated than the brute force of Manifest Force or the insidious nature of Dark Force.’

“Transmutation Force is complex, with many subtleties. If you get the chance to reach that realm, you will understand it yourself.”

Zhou Liang glanced at Chen Qing and reminded him, “Right now, your most important task is to temper your Dark Force to Perfection.”

“Yes, I will remember,” Chen Qing replied solemnly.

Zhou Liang turned, took a dark-colored cowhide scroll from a nearby cabinet, and handed it over. “Keep this safe. If you have any difficulties, you can come and ask me at any time.”

“This is…?” Chen Qing took it with both hands. It felt slightly heavy.

“The Basic Strength Diagram for Long Arm Fist.”

Zhou Liang said slowly, “It details the fundamentals of how power flows and changes within the Fist Technique, as well as the unique secrets to tempering that power.”

Chen Qing’s heart stirred upon hearing this.

Zhou Liang hadn’t said much, but Chen Qing understood perfectly the importance of this Basic Strength Diagram.

The diagram recorded the essence of power transformation between moves, which would have unimaginable benefits in actual combat.

’Those few moves I didn’t understand during practice… now that I think about it, they must be closely related to the Fundamental Diagram.’

’It’s just as I expected!’

Chen Qing had long suspected that Zhou Liang was holding something back, a secret treasure saved for the right moment.

’Did he really think he could learn the True Inheritance just by paying a few silver for tuition each month?’

“By comprehending this diagram, although my Long Arm Fist is not an Upper-Grade Martial Art, it is enough to be ranked among Middle-Grade Martial Arts,” Zhou Liang said with a trace of pride.

Chen Qing seized the chance to ask, “Master, if I may ask, what constitutes an Upper-Grade Martial Art?”

“Upper-Grade Martial Arts…”

Zhou Liang’s eyes narrowed, a look of longing in them. “Their principles are extremely profound and subtle, their power is extraordinary, and they even involve the path of ’Inner Cultivation.’ This is a skill beyond Transmutation Force. For an ordinary person without a family legacy, the only way to learn an Inner Cultivation Technique is to pass the Military Examination and enter a Sect.”

At the mention of “Inner Cultivation,” Zhou Liang’s expression became complex and difficult to read.

’Pass the Military Examination and enter a Sect!?’

Chen Qing’s heart burned with excitement at the thought.

He had heard a thing or two about this Inner Cultivation before. It was said to be incredibly profound, capable of nourishing the body and extending one’s lifespan. Only then could one be considered to have touched upon the true mysteries of Martial Arts.

“Master, Master Sima from Qingnang Hall is here.”

Just as Chen Qing was about to ask for more details about Inner Cultivation, the voice of the disciple Sun Shun came from outside the door.

Zhou Liang waved his hand. “You should head back for now. Study this Basic Strength Diagram. The sooner you reach Dark Force Perfection, the greater your chance will be on your third attempt.”

Chen Qing clasped his hands and took his leave.

As he exited the room, he saw Sun Shun leading an old man in a black robe, carrying a zitan wood medicine box, hurrying into the back courtyard. Zhou Liang had already rushed forward to greet him and respectfully invited him into the room.

’Qingnang Hall?’

’The most prestigious medical hall in Gaolin County.’

’It seems Master is truly sparing no expense to save Qin Lie.’

Chen Qing returned to the front courtyard with a blank expression and continued his training.

He had to seize every possible moment to cultivate and reach Transmutation Force as soon as possible.

Evening.

The disciples in the courtyard gradually dispersed.

Chen Qing wiped the sweat from his body, left the Zhou Family Martial Arts Institute, and headed for the River Department.

The River Bureau Office was deserted, with only a few figures scattered about.

“Old Li, what happened?”

Chen Qing stopped the hurried Elder Li.

“Sigh, something big happened during the Martial Arts Examination!”

Old Li glanced around and lowered his voice. “Ning Stone, the leader of the Chai Bang, died suddenly! And a major shipment from the Wangyuan Escort Agency was hijacked. The casualties were heavy, a huge blow to their vitality!”

He leaned in closer, his voice barely a whisper. “Before the Lord Captain returned injured, Gang Leader Ning and Chief Liu of the Wangyuan Escort Agency were among his most devoted supporters…”

’The Captain gets injured, and then his subordinates’ factions are eliminated.’

’The connection is obvious.’

’Such a swift and interconnected series of moves… within Gaolin County, you can count the number of people capable of this on one hand.’

’Let them fight. As long as it doesn’t affect me, it’s fine.’

Chen Qing thought to himself, then asked, “Where’s the chief?”

“Mr. Cheng?”

Old Li shook his head. “Haven’t seen him for days. No idea what he’s busy with.”

…

Inside the side room.

The heavy scent of medicine was so thick it was almost tangible, acrid and unbearable.

Qin Lie lay on the bed, his face as pale as paper. Dark red spots seeped through the bandages wrapped around his body.

Zhou Liang pushed open the door and entered. “Mr. Sima has left,” he said in a low voice. “He wrote a prescription. He said there’s hope…”

“Hope?”

Qin Lie tried to sit up in his excitement, but a wave of excruciating pain washed over him. His forehead was instantly covered in cold sweat, but he endured it, gripping Zhou Liang’s sleeve tightly. “Master! I want to get better! I want to stand up! I want to practice Martial Arts again! Master, you must have a way, you have to think of something! I can’t be crippled… I can’t!”

“Your injuries are too severe. For now, just rest and recuperate peacefully.”

Zhou Liang held him down and said gravely, “Take your medicine on time. The chances of recovery… are not low.”

“Chances?”

Qin Lie’s eyes were shot with blood, his voice cracking. “Master, look at me! Look at this wretched state I’m in! I’m just a piece of trash lying here waiting to die!”

He stared intently at Zhou Liang as if grasping at his last straw. “Master, I’m your hope for vindication! I’m your only hope! I’m begging you, save me! No matter what method! No matter how much money it costs! No matter who you have to find! As long as I can get better, as long as I can make a fist again, I’ll do anything! Master… I’m begging you!!”

These heart-wrenching, blood-soaked pleas struck Zhou Liang’s heart like a heavy hammer, making it hard for him to breathe.

“Rest assured!”

Zhou Liang gripped Qin Lie’s hand tightly, his eyes firm. “As your master, I will do everything in my power. This medicine is that sliver of hope. Even if there’s only a trace of it, I will never give up.”

Qin Lie looked at the determination in his master’s eyes and nodded heavily. “Okay… Master, I’ll drink it! I will get better… I will!”

…

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