Gao Wu Da Ming: Starting as a military household and ascending to the rank of Martial Saint

In the bedroom of the Yu residence at Yaomaodun, Yu Shaowu sat cross-legged on the bed, his hands forming a mudra, his eyes slightly closed, his chest rising and falling gently with his steady, long breaths.

At this moment, he is undergoing a crucial training exercise—breaking through to a higher realm.

A martial artist's cultivation is generally divided into three stages: Body Tempering Realm, Meridian Opening Realm, and Qi Cultivation Realm.

If passing the imperial examination is a symbol of a scholar's leap to success, then the Body Tempering Realm holds the same status for martial artists.

Entering the Body Tempering Realm doesn't actually cause a significant change in a martial artist's basic physique, but it will reshape a person's physical structure, making them qualitatively different from ordinary people.

Extraordinary beings exist in this world, and Qi is the most fundamental energy of these beings. Qi exists between heaven and earth; it is present in plants, animals, and even in the air.

However, ordinary people find it difficult to control Qi. The fundamental reason is that ordinary people's blood vessels cannot store this extraordinary energy. Even if they absorb Qi from some elixirs, it will be quickly expelled from their bodies.

However, once the body is reshaped and reaches the Body Tempering Realm, everything changes completely. The blood vessels in the body are greatly strengthened, and the dantian and lungs become a warm bed for nourishing qi.

Once you enter the Body Tempering Realm, even if you do nothing all day, you can passively absorb Qi from food and air.

Of course, this absorption is very weak, but over time, it will still create a huge gap between them and ordinary people.

Breaking through the Body Tempering Realm is the true starting point for a martial artist's training. The shaping of the body after breaking through will directly affect the upper limit of martial arts in the future.

For this reason, Yu Shaowu attaches great importance to breaking through to the next level. He has completely suspended his practice of boxing routines for the past two days to conserve his energy and prepare for the breakthrough.

Not only that, he also specifically took the Body Tempering Pill given to him by Commander Li Zhencai. One pill a day would greatly increase his chances of successfully breaking through to the next realm.

Normally, breaking through to a higher realm requires the support of others. But for now, Yu Shaowu can only have Wan Shi sit in front of the door to guard it, so that he can be notified in advance if anyone comes.

He has been meditating for two days, and today seems to be his best day.

He could clearly feel a faint yet pure warmth slowly rising from the depths of his dantian. This warmth seemed to have transformed into a seed that had been suppressed for a long time, now quietly sprouting with the help of the remaining medicinal power of the Body Tempering Pill and his own accumulated essence.

This warmth initially lingered only in the dantian, but then spread rapidly like ink dropped into clear water, penetrating the internal organs.

Upon keenly noticing this change, Yu Shaowu was immediately struck by a jolt. The breakthrough must have officially begun.

He focused his mind, not daring to slacken in the slightest. He subtly adjusted the hand seals at his fingertips, guiding the wisp of internal energy to slowly spread throughout his meridians.

During this time, the warmth gradually expanded, spreading from the dantian to the limbs and bones, even warming the depths of the bones.

This process appears to have lasted a very long time.

He could feel his body undergoing a tremendous transformation: his meridians were widening, his dantian was filling up, and all the bones in his body were vibrating and throbbing.

A refreshing breath circulates within the lungs, making the previously somewhat heavy breathing become longer and lighter. With each inhale, one can feel the breath of heaven and earth flowing into the body like fine sand, through the mouth, nose, and skin, and being absorbed and stored by the blood vessels.

Yu Shaowu slowly opened his eyes, a glint of luster flashing in them—a phenomenon resulting from the nourishment of Qi. After a moment, he returned to normal.

He slowly stood up, and with just a simple clench of his fist, he could feel the resonance of his muscles and bones and the echo of the newborn Qi in his blood.

A few lines of information appeared in my mind at just the right time:

[Realm Advancement: Body Tempering Realm (Level Two)]

[Mastering the Ultimate Technique: Guiding Qi Back to its Flow]

Upon seeing these two lines of information, Yu Shaowu couldn't help but smile. Most martial artists, after breaking through a realm, start from the first level and gradually progress. The vast majority of people spend their entire lives without ever reaching the next stage.

The fact that I started at level two shows that I have laid a very solid foundation in the past few days.

As for this newly acquired skill, like "seeing through fire," it is a passive skill that accelerates the body's absorption and accumulation of Qi.

In this way, one's starting point is higher than that of others.

At this moment, he was extremely satisfied with the progress he had made in the past few days. In just a few days, he had reached a level that others would take years or even decades to achieve.

This is certainly due in part to the system, but it is also inseparable from my own hard work day and night.

To better prepare for his breakthrough, he had always been naked. Now, he put on shorts and casually draped a garment over his shoulders. Stepping out of the room, he saw Wan sitting on the threshold, propping her chin on her hand, dozing off.

During her breakthrough, she silently protected him, and she has been working very hard these past few days.

Yu Shaowu bent down and gently embraced Wan Shi, intending to carry her inside. She awoke with a start, then looked at him with delight and asked, "Husband, did it work?"

Yu Shaowu kissed her cheek passionately and said, "Mission accomplished! From now on, your husband is a true martial artist!"

Madam Wan gently stroked Yu Shaowu's cheek, filled with admiration and joy. She returned his kiss and said, "Husband, you are truly an amazing person."

"Then, while we're still happy, let's celebrate properly. My wife, you can also take a good look at what other delightful changes I've undergone."

As Yu Shaowu was carrying Wan Shi back into the house, he suddenly heard rustling footsteps outside the door. Then, he heard two bird calls.

Upon hearing the voice, Yu Shaowu knew that Yang Xin had arrived; this was their secret signal.

Helpless, Yu Shaowu had no choice but to put Wan Shi down and let her into the house. Then he walked out of the courtyard and came to the small grove where he had practiced archery before.

In the darkness, Yang Xin was indeed waiting there. Upon seeing Yu Shaowu arrive, he immediately knelt on the ground and said, "This humble one, Yang Xin, greets my master."

As a modern person, Yu Shaowu felt that the word "master" sounded jarring. He was about to say that it was unnecessary to use such a term when he suddenly realized that this was how it should be in this era.

The man in front of him, Yang Xin, was clearly a coward who feared power but not morality. This way of addressing him was just what he needed to know about respect and hierarchy.

So he acquiesced to the form of address, nodded slightly, and asked, "Has that matter been investigated thoroughly?"

"I am incompetent and unable to find out what exactly happened in the Lüliang Mountains," Yang Xin said. "However, I have learned that the officials of the prefecture have ordered another group to enter the mountains on August 16th. Just like last time, they say they are exterminating wolves, but in reality, they are feeding wolves. Once they enter the mountains, their chances of survival are slim."

Yu Shaowu asked, "Whom did the government select to go into the mountains this time?"

"They're everywhere," Yang Xin replied. "The able-bodied men from each village, the military households from the thousand-household garrison, and one more person—anyone from the Juyi Martial Arts School—must participate in this wolf-hunting expedition into the mountains."

really....

Yu Shaowu silently realized that Ji Shouyi's previous refusal to let him join the martial arts school was indeed due to his intention to protect himself.

This fellow is indeed kind and righteous.

Yang Xin continued, "And... there's one of the military households in the thousand-household garrison, and you are one of them. They seem to want to lure you into the mountains, use the wolves as bait to kill you, and that way they can avoid a lot of trouble."

Yu Shaowu's heart skipped a beat, and he said, "You did very well this time. If you perform well in the future, I might help you completely cure the poison. I will treat you with sincerity."

Hearing Yu Shaowu's confirmation, Yang Xin immediately felt relieved. Fearing that Yu Shaowu might rashly enter the mountains and miss the antidote, he quickly said, "Master, you absolutely mustn't go into the mountains. Besides the wolves, there might be other things there. Entering rashly would be a near certain death."

"Don't make a fuss," Yu Shaowu said. "Just do your job."

"Yes, Master." Yang Xin had no choice but to ask, "Then what should I do next?"

Yu Shaowu did not answer immediately, but asked, "Chang Qi, what is the strength of Zhao Daikui and Master Wang?"

Upon hearing this question, Yang Xin felt a chill run down his spine. Could it be that Yu Shaowu actually dared to make a move against these three people?

Although he was afraid, he could only answer honestly, "According to them, Deputy Commander Chang Qi is at the fourth level of Body Tempering Realm, and Battalion Commander Zhao Daikui is at the fifth level of Body Tempering Realm. As for that clerk Wang, he has never shown his strength, so we have no way of knowing."

"Oh." Yu Shaowu pondered for a moment and said, "Next, continue to keep an eye on those three people and investigate their movements in detail."

"Yes, Master." Yang Xin nodded in agreement, bowed, and left.

Yu Shaowu also turned and left, silently making plans in his mind.

He had already killed a giant wolf before, yet the other party was still trying to lure him into the mountains. This suggested that something even more terrifying than a giant wolf existed there. Yang Xin's words made some sense; he absolutely couldn't risk his life.

Since the other side has already decided to kill, then of course I won't be polite either.

Although Chang Qi and Zhao Daikui were of higher cultivation levels than him, he possessed unique skills and might not be unable to defeat them. However, he didn't know much about that clerk Wang, and since he was from the prefect's faction, he dared not act rashly.

With seven or eight days left until August 16th, whoever survives to the end will be proven by their skills.