Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 34: Chapter 32: Deep Sleep, Special Level Completed

It was a bright and sunny afternoon. The faint, hurried chirps of a few birds came from outside the window before they vanished between the buildings in the blink of an eye.

This was the first time he had fought a Blood Tempering Second Transformation Martial Artist.

It was also the first time he had felt death so close at hand.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t scared, but Wan Ze also understood... given the circumstances and timing, he’d had no other choice.

He sat cross-legged in the training room.

Everything grew quiet around him.

He focused his mind, and with steady, rhythmic breathing, he carefully reviewed the morning’s battle.

He had gained significant insights from Tang Yuling, Zhong Tie, and even that powerful, mysterious man with the crew cut.

Especially with his Intelligence as high as 0.82, his mind was sharp enough to notice subtle details during his review of the fight.

As he was deep in thought, he suddenly felt a heavy sensation, as if the ground beneath him was no longer solid. A cool stream of energy abruptly burst from his mind.

For an instant, Wan Ze wanted to fight it and regain control, but he held back.

He let the sensation spread.

BOOM!

A loud bang echoed in his mind.

An indescribable, numbing stupor washed over him, as if he could no longer feel his own limbs.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

In the eerie silence, he finally heard the sound of his own heart, beat after steady beat.

With every beat, he slowly became aware of his own being. Strangely, he felt as if he were submerged in a pool of water, hot on his left side and cold on his right.

The two vastly different temperatures intertwined, yet remained distinct, beginning to flow rapidly like a delicate helix.

Finally, he ”saw” a great mountain. Before he could enter it, he was suddenly engulfed in flames—a raging inferno that blotted out the sky, obscuring everything from view.

’This is... Heart Fire?’

Wan Ze had an instinct that if he could just push through this sea of fire, he would discover a whole new world on the other side.

But unfortunately,

as the thought formed in his mind, the sea of fire churned violently, growing ever more ferocious, and the entire space felt as if it were collapsing.

In an instant,

Wan Ze’s consciousness snapped back.

His eyes flew open.

He had been feeling a little tired before, but now all his fatigue was gone. His gaze immediately locked onto the data panel.

...

[Illustrated Guide: Thunderbolt Breathing Technique] (Special Level, Mastered)

[Effect 1: Sharp Perception]

[Effect 2: Enhances the fierce power of Iron Mountain Fist.]

[Effect 3: Concentrating Breath and Spirit (All Attributes +0.02)]

[Requirement for Skill Ultimate Form: Stealing Celestial Secret x1]

...

Almost instantly, a series of crisp cracks echoed from Wan Ze’s bones, like a string of firecrackers going off.

His vitality surged.

After absorbing this new surge of power, he immediately checked his personal Attributes.

...

[Physical Strength: 0.85]

[Intelligence: 0.84]

[Agility: 0.77]

[Endurance: 0.77]

[Power: 0.80]

[Coordination: 0.77]

...

CRACK.

Wan Ze slowly stretched his body. The first thing he did was walk out into the Inner Courtyard. He went up to the 200-pound punching bag and took a deep breath.

BAM!

The punching bag flew high into the air.

A dull boom echoed as the rope groaned under the strain. When the bag swung back, Wan Ze caught it effortlessly with a single hand. SMACK.

’My Power only increased by 0.02, but the force of my punch has reached a whole new level.’

’This is the true benefit of an increase to All Attributes!’

’The Attributes increase synergistically... If I train hard in the short term, I can improve my physical condition even more!’

Wan Ze’s dark eyes shone with newfound brightness.

He then took a black notebook from his pocket. It was the one he had taken from Lu Zhao of Tie Shizhe. It detailed the Body Technique Lu Zhao had cultivated, as well as numerous insights on his training.

This Body Technique was exactly what he was looking for.

...

[Illustrated Guide: Mysterious Shadow Step]

[Requirement for Skill Beginner Level: Walk 20 meters.]

...

Wan Ze froze for a moment.

Then he smiled.

「Two hours later.」

While Wan Ze was still training hard at the martial arts hall, Lei Ming came to find him.

”I’ve found a lead.”

Wan Ze grabbed a fresh towel to wipe the sweat from his face and looked up. ”What did you find?”

”They’re from a gang called Tie Shizhe,” Lei Ming said with a smile. ”We still don’t know why they were after the Ling Family’s Rain Bell, but if we follow this lead, we should have an answer soon.”

It wasn’t a strong enemy he was afraid of; it was having no leads at all.

”Tie Shizhe?” Wan Ze paused, slightly taken aback.

If he remembered correctly, the thugs he’d taken care of before were also from Tie Shizhe. Who would have thought there’d be another connection.

Lei Ming, unaware of Wan Ze’s previous run-in, explained, ”The gang hasn’t been around for long. The leader’s name is Tie Qingyang. According to the intel Old Zhao dug up, he used to be a bandit from Guandong with a lot of ruthless men under him. He probably offended someone important, because his crew got crushed. He fled all the way here to Holy City and laid low for a few years before forming Tie Shizhe. This is the latest we’ve found.”

Lei Ming handed him the file. ”Take a look.”

Wan Ze took the pages, which were still warm from the printer. The first thing he saw was Tie Qingyang’s profile: Male, 46, from Guandong, Blood Tempering Third Transformation (formerly Refining Viscera at his peak).

When Wan Ze turned to the second page, Lei Ming continued, ”Tie Qingyang has four top fighters, his so-called ’Four Great Enforcers.’ They are Zhang Song, Lu Zhao, Zhao You, and Tie Feiyang. Zhang Song and Lu Zhao are at the Blood Tempering Second Transformation... Lu Zhao is the one you killed this morning. Zhao You and Tie Feiyang are both at the Blood Tempering First Transformation, though from what I hear, Zhao You is close to a breakthrough. As for Tie Feiyang, he’s Tie Qingyang’s adopted son. He’s only twenty, but he’s known for being vicious.”

Wan Ze read through the profiles of all four men. ”That’s a whole gang, a lot of members. Taking them on will be a huge pain... Senior Brother, what’s your plan?”

Lei Ming sighed. ”If it were up to me, we’d launch a night raid, assassinate Tie Qingyang and his three remaining enforcers, and the whole gang would be finished.”

Wan Ze couldn’t help but stare at him. ”Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!”

Lei Ming cleared his throat. ”I was just thinking out loud. Besides, Old Zhao and Zhong Tie are injured, and the stakes here are more complicated than just the two of us can handle.”

In other words, before they had helped Miss Ling out of a sense of duty, and later they investigated for their own sakes. But now... there was much more to consider.

”So what are you suggesting, Senior Brother?” Wan Ze asked, raising an eyebrow.

”We need to think this through,” Lei Ming said gravely.

But Wan Ze shook his head, thinking his senior brother was being naive. ”Time is not on our side. We can’t be sure if they know who we are yet, but they’ve definitely discovered that Lu Zhao and his men are dead. You really think they’re just going to sit back and do nothing, Senior Brother?”

Lei Ming fell silent.

What gave him a headache was the enemy’s lineup: three at Blood Tempering Second Transformation, one at Blood Tempering First Transformation... and a Blood Tempering Third Transformation who had fallen from the Refining Viscera realm. On their side, only he and Wan Ze were fit to fight. Going over now would be suicide; he couldn’t see any other outcome.

Seeing his troubled expression, Wan Ze decided to spell it out. ”Senior Brother, have you forgotten who we are?”

Lei Ming looked up.

Wan Ze said, enunciating each word, ”Disciples of the Dragon Eagle were ambushed on the street. They have to answer for that!”

Lei Ming’s eyes lit up as he finally understood. He burst out laughing. ”Ah Ze, you’re the sharp one! HAHAHAHA! I’ll take care of it. Fucking hell, they dare mess with the Dragon Eagle? Just watch how I’m gonna sort them out this time!”

He had been fixated on it being Miss Ling’s problem, so he hadn’t considered this angle. Wan Ze’s words were like a splash of cold water, snapping him out of his stupor.

’Those old bastards from the Secret Palace are a world away, so whatever. But Tie Shizhe? You’re squatting right here in Holy City and you still dare to challenge me?’

Damn it!

’I’ve been so damn stupid!!!’