Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 12: Chapter 11: The Martial Artist Threshold

The mission was set for Tuesday morning.

That gave Wan Ze less than two days, all told, to prepare.

A series of data frames appeared in his vision.

...

[Illustrated Guide 1: Basic Swordsmanship] (High Level Mastered)

[Skill Special Level Condition: Defeat a total of 10 opponents using Basic Swordsmanship] (6/10)

...

[Illustrated Guide 2: Squatting Horse Stance] (High Level Mastered)

[Skill Special Level Condition: ...Cumulative duration of 100 hours] (88/100)

...

[Illustrated Guide 3: Iron Mountain Fist] (High Level Mastered)

[Skill Special Level Condition: Cumulative fist practice time of 1000 hours (203/1000), and defeat 10 people with Iron Mountain Fist (2/10)]

...

[Illustrated Guide 4: Thunderbolt Breathing Technique]

[Skill Special Level Condition: Breathe 100,000 times (20,300/100,000), and enter Deep Meditation once (0/1)]

...

These were the Core Skills he had mastered so far.

All four Skills had a strengthening Effect on his body, which was why in just one short month, Wan Ze had shed his formerly frail and delicate appearance.

He raised his hand.

The muscles on his arm were clearly defined.

But despite that, he was still so hungry. So hungry every day... It was a sign that his body was in desperate need of more nutrition.

His gaze swept over his personal Attributes:

[Physical Strength: 0.74]

[Intelligence: 0.79]

[Agility: 0.69]

[Endurance: 0.69]

[Power: 0.72]

[Coordination: 0.69]

’Besides the buffs from my Skill Effects, my daily training also provides an extra boost to my physical stats...’

’All six of my Attributes are already higher than my peers... I just don’t know how big the gap is between me and Brother Lei’s group.’

Wan Ze took a deep breath, feeling a sense of urgency.

Two days... It really wasn’t much time at all.

’Except for Iron Mountain Fist, I have a chance to raise the other three to the Special Level. Their strengthening Effect will be even more potent.’

Wan Ze was lost in thought.

The evening sun cast its glow on him. His shoulders seemed a little broader than before, no longer so thin, but... it was still far from enough!

But his contemplation drew a complaint from Sun Fan.

”What’s gotten into you? You’ve been spacing out all afternoon.”

”Sorry, I was just thinking about something.”

Wan Ze asked subconsciously, ”Sister Fan, have you ever heard of Deep Meditation?”

”Deep Meditation?” Sun Fan raised an eyebrow. ”That’s something that only happens when one’s Breathing Technique Cultivation reaches a very profound Realm. It’s said that in Deep Meditation, you can see things that are normally impossible to perceive.”

”Like what?” Wan Ze asked.

”That, I don’t know. As far as I know, no one has succeeded in the last thirty years.” Sun Fan shook her head. She wasn’t one for lofty, unrealistic goals, preferring to focus on the path right in front of her. She only treated such ethereal concepts as something to hear about and nothing more.

Wan Ze’s heart sank.

Not even anyone in Sun Fan’s circle could achieve it.

’Doesn’t that mean this mission of his is impossible to complete?’

”Why did you suddenly think to ask about this?” Sun Fan asked.

Wan Ze snapped out of it and blamed it on Lei Ming. ”I was talking with Brother Lei today and heard him mention it. I was too embarrassed to ask for more details.”

Seeing this, Sun Fan didn’t press the issue, only remarking casually, ”Brother Lei has already completed his Qi and Blood Refining. For him, Deep Meditation is certainly an attractive prospect, but achieving it is incredibly difficult...”

Noticing Wan Ze’s gaze, she continued, ”I once heard an old master at the martial arts hall say that Deep Meditation is a serendipitous opportunity—one you can only stumble upon, not actively seek. The more desperate you are, the less likely you are to attain it.”

Wan Ze understood she was trying to advise him, but since he couldn’t explain his situation, he simply nodded and dropped the subject.

The two quickly began sparring again.

Their figures crossed and weaved.

An unknown amount of time passed.

A warm current suddenly burst forth from the muscles in his legs, dispelling nearly half of his fatigue. Wan Ze seemed to sense something and glanced at his personal Attribute panel.

Sure enough, his Agility, Endurance, and Coordination had all increased by 0.01... he had successfully broken the 0.7 barrier!

’If 0.6 represents the level of an ordinary person, then 0.7 should mean I’m approaching the level of a Martial Artist. Or maybe this is already the Martial Artist domain...’

’No, that’s not right. I haven’t gone through Qi and Blood Refining... so I’m not a Martial Artist yet... Perhaps the threshold is 0.75.’

Wan Ze mused to himself.

Across from him, however, a storm was already raging in Sun Fan’s heart.

In just two short days, Wan Ze had changed more than she could have ever imagined.

At first, she had still held a clear upper hand, but now, on the second day, she felt that a single careless move could lead to her defeat at his hands.

How was this possible!

She had been training for over two years longer than Wan Ze, and she had never slacked off during that entire time.

”Be honest with me, did you get held back a year?”

”...”

Wan Ze had already explained this multiple times, and his mouth felt dry. He grew wary... He had done his best to control his power, but in the instant his physical stats spiked, the strength he revealed had still been noticed by Miss Sun... ’Such sharp perception.’

Fortunately, before he could explain, Sun Fan had already come to terms with it herself. She waved her hand. ”Forget it. I guess my mental fortitude just isn’t strong enough. Anyway, where do you live? I’ll give you a ride.”

”No, that’s okay. I can get back on my own.” Wan Ze was taken aback for a moment and politely declined.

’In his line of work, the last thing you wanted was to form unnecessary attachments to a client.’

’Besides, he really did have things to do tonight.’

”Cut the crap. Get changed and wait for me. I have something to tell you on the way.” Sun Fan’s tone left no room for argument as she strode away.

Wan Ze pulled his gaze away, replaying their spar in his mind. ’I could have varied my attacks a bit more... Especially when I coordinate my punches with the Breathing Technique, it has a kind of thunderous Momentum. I just didn’t use it against Sun Fan.’

’No wonder Brother Lei said Iron Mountain Fist must be used in conjunction with the Breathing Technique.’

After rinsing off in the shower, Wan Ze changed, stuffed his training uniform into his bag, and left quickly.

A very expensive-looking car was parked in front of the Dragon Eagle Martial Arts Hall. In this day and age, anyone whose family owned a car was either rich or influential.

”Come on, get in.”

Sun Fan’s voice came from right behind him.

Wan Ze was stunned. ”This is your car? I had no idea you were secretly a tycoon.”

”It’s my dad’s, not mine,” Sun Fan corrected.

Wan Ze: ”...”

’What’s the difference, Miss?’

The driver was a middle-aged man. He addressed Sun Fan as ”Miss,” opened the car door for her, and then his gaze shifted impassively to Wan Ze. When he saw Wan Ze looking back, he gave a polite nod.

With nothing to hesitate about, Wan Ze got into the car and sat down next to Sun Fan. He heard her ask, ”We’ll drop you off first. Where to?”

”Xihuayuan,” Wan Ze replied.

Sun Fan called out to the middle-aged driver in the front seat, ”Uncle Li, take my friend to Xihuayuan first.”

”Yes, Miss.”

After replying, the middle-aged driver said no more and drove on in silence.

However, he knew exactly what kind of place Xihuayuan was, so he subtly glanced at Wan Ze in the rearview mirror.

’The young miss and a poor boy... He’d heard this story countless times. It was one thing to hear about it, but if the boss were to find out for real... the consequences would be unthinkable.’

Sun Fan pulled her gaze back and saw Wan Ze staring at her. She smiled and said, ”Tell me the truth, are you on the verge of Qi and Blood Refining?”

Wan Ze hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Sun Fan’s expression said, ’I knew it.’ ”I thought so. Sparring with you these past two days, I could feel your qi and blood surging, but it always felt like it was missing that final push.”

”Yeah.” Wan Ze did feel that way. It felt like he was just one step away.

”Brother Lei probably told you this morning, right? If you want to take that final step, replenishing your qi and blood is the most crucial part,” Sun Fan said with a knowing smile.

Wan Ze nodded. That was indeed the case. ”So, Sister Fan, what you’re saying is...?”