Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 82: Chapter 75: Heaven-Reaching Connections, Skyrocketing Attributes

The tearoom was quite large. The entire corridor was adorned with simple, elegant landscape paintings. A left turn and a walk of no more than three to five meters led to the tearoom. The door was open, revealing a simple yet elegant space of at least one or two hundred square meters.

A young woman in a qipao sat primly at the tea table, quietly brewing tea.

Nearby, Zhai Jia was leaning back in an executive chair with his eyes closed, a facial mask plastered on his face.

”President Zhai, Mr. Wan is here,” the woman who had led him said gently after knocking.

The executive chair under Zhai Jia swiveled fifteen degrees as he immediately stood up. ”Ah Ze, come have a seat.”

”Senior Brother, this place of yours isn’t bad at all. A tranquil oasis in the middle of the bustle, a world of its own,” Wan Ze said with an admiring smile.

Zhai Jia let out a hearty laugh. ”Haha, you’ve got a good eye. The rest of you may leave.”

The woman who had been brewing tea poured it, then gave a slight bow and left.

Once the door closed, only Wan Ze and Zhai Jia remained.

Zhai Jia didn’t mention the Jie Family at all, as if it were completely unimportant. But Wan Ze had come specifically because of them.

He placed a leather briefcase on the table.

It was heavy.

He opened it to reveal rolls upon rolls of cash.

Zhai Jia froze for a moment, then looked up. ”What’s this about?”

Wan Ze explained the whole story from beginning to end.

Zhai Jia’s expression turned playful. ”This Tie Qingyang... I know of him. Xiaoming told me about him before. To be honest, in the past, I would’ve just taken some men and wiped him out. He’s lucky he knew his place... But since he’s the one paying, I’ll gladly accept it. Take a cut for yourself, don’t be a stranger about it.”

After speaking, he added with a light chuckle, ”I never expected Wang Buzhan would die by your hand, though.”

”Senior Brother, you knew him?” Wan Ze was a little surprised.

Zhai Jia waved his hand. ”It’s not that I went looking for information. I just heard Ren mention him at a gathering once. This Wang Buzhan was just a big swindler who got incredibly lucky and actually learned a few Swordsmanship techniques... But instead of focusing on his Cultivation, the guy spent money everywhere on publicity. Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought he was some kind of modern-day terrestrial immortal.”

Wan Ze: ”...”

Zhai Jia laughed. ”That guy was never going to amount to anything, so killing him is no big deal. And don’t worry about the Jie Family. The men Jie Bufan brought with him were executed on the spot for disobeying orders. What a coincidence... His father is a genuine traitor to the country. By my calculations, he won’t live past next year... But seriously, you’ve had some bad luck lately. How about I take you to True Monarch Mountain to pray? I hear it’s super effective.”

Wan Ze: ”...I probably should go pray. Let’s wait a bit. School holidays aren’t too far off.”

Zhai Jia froze, suddenly remembering his junior brother was just a high school student. He opened his mouth, a sense of unreality washing over him.

’What kind of high school student dares to beat up some old geezer from the martial underworld...?’

...

The fall of the Jie Family happened overnight.

When Wan Ze got home that evening, Father Wan was sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper. ”This bastard finally fell!” he exclaimed as he read.

”Who are you talking about?” Mrs. Wan asked, poking her head in from the balcony.

”That guy with the surname Jie. Back during the demolitions... wasn’t it your aunt’s family he threatened? What goes around comes around...”

His parents clapped their hands in approval.

Wan Ze put down his schoolbag. His younger sister spotted the calligraphy scroll in his hand and immediately trotted over. ”Bro, is that the gift you’re giving me?”

”Go cool off somewhere.”

”Bro, you still owe me a gift, remember?”

”Since when?”

”From when you were going to buy Mom that gold... Bro!” Xiaoyu didn’t even get to finish before Wan Ze turned and walked away, making her rush over to wheedle him.

”Bro, I’m your favorite, favorite sister... Bro, all I want is a princess castle. Is that gift so hard to get?”

Wan Ze ignored her completely. As he walked past with the scroll, Father Wan stood up and examined it curiously. ”Is this... aged, gold-flecked Xuan paper? Remarkable.”

Wan Ze smiled. ”Dad, you know about this stuff?”

”I know a thing or two. Which master’s work is this?” Father Wan asked, a bit curious.

Wan Ze smiled. ”It’s a piece by Senior Zhou Jian.”

He said as he handed it over.

Father Wan paused, thoughtful, but couldn’t recall the name.

He took it, unrolled a small section, and upon seeing the single character for ”Martial,” he understood. ”Someone from your Martial Dao Circle?”

”Yes, an old senior.”

”This calligraphy has great spirit. It’s extraordinary.”

The father and son chatted for a while before Mrs. Wan hurried them to wash their hands for dinner. All the while, his sister Xiaoyu clung to Wan Ze. At first, she was still trying to talk to him, but later she grew exasperated and just glared at him, her cheeks puffed out in a pout.

Wan Ze was amused. ”If you act cute now, I’ll give you a small gift.”

”Is it a princess castle?”

”Maybe in your next life.”

”Then I only want a princess castle!”

”...”

Wan Ze averted his gaze and said bluntly, ”Finish eating and go to sleep. You can have anything you want in your dreams.”

”Bro, when you become a billionaire in the future, can you buy me a big castle then? Bro... just promise me first, okay?”

”Fine, fine, I promise.”

”Mwah! Hehe, you’re the best, bro.”

Wan Ze disgustedly wiped the saliva off his face. ”Hurry up and eat!”

”Hehe. Mom, bro owes me lots and lots of money now. If you hit me again, I’ll tell him not to give you any money to spend! See if you still dare!” Wan Xiaoyu immediately put her hands on her hips.

Father Wan was stunned into silence.

Mrs. Wan slowly put down her chopsticks and looked at Wan Ze.

Wan Ze’s expression was calm. ”She still doesn’t know who’s boss. Mother Dearest, please feel free to intensify your efforts.”

For the next week, Wan Xiaoyu was much better behaved and stopped bothering Wan Ze.

During that week, Wan Ze was busy with his Cultivation and didn’t have time for much else. His gains were substantial.

First, the Tiger Cannon Fist successfully advanced to High Level.

...

[Illustrated Guide: Tiger Cannon Fist] (High Level Mastered)

[Effect 1: Significant Power Increase (Power +0.03)]

[Effect 2: Explosive Strength Increase (Physical Strength +0.03; Power +0.03; Endurance +0.03)]

[Skill Special Level Requirement: Perform Tiger Stance for 1,000 hours] (12/1000)

...

The Horizontal Training Technique successfully advanced to Special Level.

[Illustrated Guide: Horizontal Training Technique] (Special Level Mastered)

[Effect 1: Minor Increase in Physical Power]

[Effect 2: Iron Hide (Physical Strength +0.02; Endurance +0.02)]

[Effect 3: Iron Skin Evolution—Iron Armor (Endurance +0.04)]

[Effect 4: Steel Bones (Endurance +0.05; Power +0.02)]

[Effect 5: Energy Absorption and Rebound (All Attributes +0.05)]

[Skill Ultimate Form Requirement: Rub body with sandpaper 10,000 times (20/10,000), and withstand 50 blows (2/50)]

...

After performing Qi and Blood Convergence 10,000 times, his Taming the Tiger Vajra Skill successfully reached Special Level!

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

[Effect 1: Physical Strength +0.02; Endurance +0.02; Power +0.02]

[Effect 2: Overawing Hundred Evils (All Attributes +0.05)]

[Effect 3: Vigorous Energy (All Attributes +0.05)]

[Skill Ultimate Form Requirement: Qi and Blood Convergence 100,000 times]

...

His Iron Mountain Fist also successfully unlocked its Ultimate Form after he delved deep into gang territories under the cover of night, working around the clock to punish evil and promote good.

[Illustrated Guide: Iron Mountain Fist] (Ultimate Mastered)

[Effect 1: Enhance Qi and Blood]

[Effect 2: Strengthened Fist Force (Power +0.02)]

[Effect 3: Beng Jin (All Attributes +0.01, additional Strength Attribute +0.02)]

[Effect 4: Divine Fist (All Attributes +0.02, additional Strength Attribute +0.04)]

...

As of now, only the Mystic Round Innate Qi Cultivation Technique, Dragon Eagle Secret Martial Arts, and Mysterious Shadow Step remained incomplete.

’The Mystic Round Innate Qi Cultivation Technique requires one hour of Deep Meditation, but I can only last for thirty minutes at most.’

’The Dragon Eagle Secret Martial Arts requires a burst of ultimate power... I can’t reach that level without a life-or-death battle.’

’As for the Mysterious Shadow Step... I still have another 365,000 meters to go...’

’The road is long and the burden is heavy.’

Wan Ze slowly retracted his gaze and glanced at his personal attributes.

[Physical Strength: 1.13]

[Intelligence: 1.04]

[Agility: 1.02]

[Endurance: 1.09]

[Power: 1.15]

[Coordination: 1.04]

With this, all of his attribute values had successfully broken the ”1” point barrier!

He could feel the power surging within his body.

His energy felt limitless.

Wan Ze lowered his gaze and slowly extended a single finger. Without using much force at all, he gently tapped the three-hundred-pound sandbag.

The instant the force gathered.

”BANG!”

The sandbag exploded on the spot without any warning. It didn’t even swing; it was simply crushed and blown apart by a force of ultimate purity.

Wan Ze stared at his finger, slightly dazed.

’I’ve gotten this strong without even realizing it?’

’Is this the power of the Blood Tempering Third Transformation?’

’Then wouldn’t Refining Viscera, the stage above Blood Tempering, be even stronger?’

’And after Refining Viscera...?’

’When will I ever be as strong as Master!’

BUZZ BUZZ!

Just then, his communicator suddenly vibrated.

”Brother Lei, what have you been up to? You haven’t come looking for me,” Wan Ze said with a smile.

But unexpectedly, the hurried voice that came through was Zhao Qilong’s: ”Is... is this Wan Ze? Are you Wan Ze? Dammit, why are you the one this guy has saved as ’Awesome Backup’? Shit, never mind that... Wan Ze! Can you hear me right now? Hurry and ask a senior brother from your martial arts hall for help... Old Lei has been cornered... They’re at Number 44, Fushun Road...”