Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 42: Chapter 40: Secret Martial Arts Breakthrough, Three Women Gather

He spent the previous night at the guest house. Before leaving, Professor Song made sure to settle the agreed-upon fees, paying Wan Ze and Lei Ming five thousand each.

The bounty for the Secret Palace Assassins from that day was also paid out by the police department this morning. Wan Ze’s account was credited with another eight hundred.

The morning light shone through the window, falling on Wan Ze’s bare back and highlighting the sharp definition of his bulging muscles.

He flicked a finger.

With a dull THUD, the 220-pound sandbag went flying.

’It hasn’t even been two days, and my punching power has already increased again. The power unleashed by the Special Level Thunderbolt Breathing Technique combined with the Dragon Eagle Secret Martial Arts is truly extraordinary...’

His gaze fixed on the data panel.

...

[Illustrated Guide: Dragon Eagle Secret Martial Arts] (Intermediate Mastered)

[Effect: Physical Strength+0.01; Endurance+0.01; Power+0.01; Coordination+0.01]

[Skill High Level Satisfying Conditions: Accumulate 500 hours in Martial Arts Posture, and perform one peak burst]

...

*Hiss!*

’This has to be the first time the effect of meeting an Intermediate condition is comparable to an increase in All Attributes. It’s undeniable proof of how powerful the Dragon Eagle Secret Martial Arts is.’

’With my current punching power, 220 pounds is nothing. If I go all out... 350 pounds shouldn’t be difficult.’

Wan Ze stared at the second task for the Dragon Eagle Secret Martial Arts...

’A peak burst?’

’If I take it literally, a peak burst tests not only my understanding of the Dragon Eagle Secret Martial Arts, but also my understanding of myself and everything I’m capable of...’

While pondering, Wan Ze took the opportunity to review his current tasks.

...

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

[Skill Ultimate Form Satisfying Conditions: Accumulate 10,000 hours] (2329/10000)

...

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

[Skill Special Level Satisfying Conditions: Accumulate 1000 hours of fist training (146/1000), and defeat 10 people using Iron Mountain Fist (10/10)]

...

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

[Skill Ultimate Form Satisfying Conditions: Steal Celestial Secret once]

...

[Illustrated Guide: Taming the Tiger Vajra Skill] (Basic Mastered)

[Skill Intermediate Satisfying Conditions: Qi and Blood Convergence 150 times] (109/150)

...

His gaze swept over them one by one.

Wan Ze already had a clear picture.

So far, the Taming the Tiger Vajra Skill was the easiest to complete.

The tasks for Iron Mountain Fist and Squatting Horse Stance weren’t difficult, just time-consuming.

As for the Thunderbolt Breathing Technique’s ”Stealing Celestial Secret,” Wan Ze had no idea what that meant.

His cultivation for the day happened to be finished, and Lei Ming had already left with Professor Song and the others. He got up to leave, planning to make a trip to the library.

But before he left, he’d planned to check on that fatty Zhou Xianchuan’s cultivation progress, but...

The guy didn’t show up again!

’Fine, just fine...’

”Wan Ze...”

Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from not far behind him.

Wan Ze stopped and turned to look.

Sun Fan, whom he hadn’t seen in days, was now wearing the Martial Dao Uniform of an Official Disciple. His eyes lit up, and he smiled. ”Congratulations!”

”Thanks. I followed the method you told me last time to activate my Qi and Blood, and it actually worked... I just didn’t expect it to take until today to succeed.” Sun Fan was a bit annoyed. She had thought she would succeed a couple of days earlier, but it ended up being delayed until the weekend.

”Succeeding at all is great,” Wan Ze said with a smile.

”By the way, which master did you become a disciple of?” Sun Fan asked, her eyes blinking in anticipation.

”The Dojo Master. And you?”

Hearing this, Sun Fan had a moment of realization before answering, ”Master Qin.”

”So it’s Master Qin.” Wan Ze nodded. Just as he was about to say something, Sun Fan spoke again, ”Where are you going? I’ll give you a ride.”

”No need. I’m going to the library, it’s not on your way,” Wan Ze said, shaking his head with a smile.

”It is on the way! I was just about to go to the library to look up some information. Wait for me. I can pick your brain on the way.”

Sun Fan hurried away.

Wan Ze shook his head and chuckled. After a few minutes, Sun Fan returned, having changed into a cinched-waist long dress, her hair tied up. The change added a touch of playful charm to her otherwise heroic aura.

”I’m so lucky today! I thought I’d have to wait a few days to cultivate a Secret Martial Art, but I actually got to see the legendary Dragon Eagle Secret Martial Arts today...”

Sun Fan chattered on, perhaps overjoyed at having finally succeeded in Qi and Blood Refining.

The driver, Old Li, was clearly taken aback for a moment when he saw Wan Ze. He impassively called out, ”Miss,” then nodded at Wan Ze in acknowledgment.

”Uncle Li, to the Saint City Library.”

”Yes, Miss.”

Once in the car, Sun Fan had originally planned to ask for pointers on cultivating Secret Martial Arts, but with the driver, Old Li, present, she felt it wasn’t appropriate to speak. Instead, she changed the subject. ”How has your Qi and Blood Tempering been going recently?”

”It’s been alright. The Breathing Technique is very important. It helps solidify your foundation...” Wan Ze shared his perspective.

The driver, Old Li, couldn’t help but glance over.

’Wan Ze doesn’t look very old—I even heard he’s the young miss’s junior—but he talks like such an old-timer. Anyone who didn’t know better would think his Martial Dao Cultivation was incredibly high.’

He found it amusing but didn’t let it show on his face.

Who would have thought that the young miss was actually treating this kid named Wan Ze like a grandmaster, listening with rapt attention.

As they neared the library, Sun Fan smiled and said, ”Are you here to look for books on psychology?”

Before Wan Ze could answer, she spoke quickly, ”Our Saint City Library doesn’t have many books on that subject. If you want to read some, I can lend you books from my family’s collection.”

Wan Ze smiled. ”Then I’ll have to trouble you.”

”It’s no trouble at all! You helped me speed up my Qi and Blood Refining. Just lending you some books means I’m getting the better end of the deal,” Sun Fan said with a laugh. ”Just tell me what other books you want to read later. I’ll treat you to dinner afterward, too.”

”So formal?” Wan Ze was taken aback.

Sun Fan’s eyes curved into a smile. ”So don’t be formal with me. It’s settled.”

The car came to a stop just then.

Sun Fan called for him to get out, and then she really did go off to find books.

Wan Ze, for his part, found a few ancient texts and tried to find information about ”Stealing Celestial Secret,” but unfortunately, he couldn’t find anything.

So he just browsed randomly.

He had already finished all the psychology books in the Saint City Library long ago.

”Wan Ze, what a coincidence.” A female voice, laced with surprise and a hint of delight, suddenly sounded from in front of his table.

Wan Ze looked up.

The girl wasn’t tall and had a bit of baby fat. Of course, he remembered her... she was the best friend of his class monitor, Liu Yu. Her surname was Fang, but he couldn’t recall her first name. Not that it mattered.

”What a coincidence,” Wan Ze nodded.

”Are you here alone?” the girl chirped.

”Do you need something?” Wan Ze asked in return.

The girl froze, seemingly not processing his response, just as someone else arrived beside her—it was Liu Yu.

Liu Yu’s first glance was at the book in Wan Ze’s hands. Seeing that it was a historical text, she was visibly stunned. ”What a coincidence.”

Wan Ze: ”...”

’Does everyone love making small talk this much?’

”Do you come here often?” the girl asked with a smile, sitting down across from Wan Ze.

Wan Ze cleared his throat. ”We should talk outside. This is a reading room; it’s not a good place to chat.”

The girl froze again.

The smile vanished from her face.

’This Wan Ze guy is completely clueless,’ she thought. ’I’m a pretty girl, for goodness’ sake, and this is the attitude you give me?’

”Wan Ze, who are they?”

Just then, someone walked out from behind a bookshelf. The young woman held a stack of books, her arms were as white as snow, and the eyes beneath her thick lashes were as vibrant as water. Bathed in the sunlight, she looked like a lustrous pearl.

For a moment, both Liu Yu and the girl with the surname Fang felt a sense of inadequacy in comparison.