Gou Zai Wudao Shicheng Dao

This day.

The inner courtyard martial arts training ground.

Fang Xia was exchanging blows with Lu Sheng.

He stood facing Lu Sheng.

"drink!"

Lu Sheng roared, channeling his qi and blood into his arms, and unleashed a strike called "Dawn Breaking the Sun" straight at Fang Xia's chest.

The palm strikes were swift and fluid, the movements smooth and graceful.

Fang Xia remained calm and simply sidestepped, dodging the attack while simultaneously unleashing a "Floating Cloud Hand" with his right hand to deflect the fierce assault.

.......

After several exchanges, although Lu Sheng's attacks were fierce, he was still unable to truly threaten Fang Xia.

Fang Xia successfully defused all of Fang Xia's fierce attacks.

Unable to break through after a prolonged attack, he grew increasingly agitated, and a weakness was revealed.

Fang Xia's eyes brightened slightly, and she suddenly changed her move swiftly, delivering a swift intercepting strike like a long sword across the sky, her palm power contained but not released, striking Lu Sheng's right shoulder.

After stumbling back several steps, Lu Sheng had no choice but to bow his head and admit defeat.

"I lost." Lu Sheng clutched his right shoulder, his face full of resentment.

Fang Xia's intercepting strike just now contained power that was not released.

This level of control is not something an ordinary, pedantic disciple possesses.

Fang Xia said modestly, "Junior Brother Lu, you're too kind. I just happened to catch a weakness."

Hiding the thoughtful look on her face, Fang Xia felt a surge of joy.

During their sparring session, he only used the qi and blood from the middle section of his cowhide skin, yet he was already able to easily suppress Lu Sheng.

This shows how profound his martial arts foundation and knowledge are now.

Lu Sheng waved his hand and said sincerely, "Senior Brother Fang, there's no need to be so modest. Your progress is obvious to all."

I am ashamed to admit that I cannot match such diligence and hard work.

"Hmm?" Zhou Cheng, who had been watching closely, had a hint of barely perceptible approval in his eyes.

Fang Xia's moves are very steady, and his practical experience is far beyond what a beginner in the "Bullshit" realm can match. His foundation is already quite solid.

Zhou Cheng nodded inwardly, his face full of satisfaction: "This kid... has a solid stance and refined qi and blood."

This person's foundation is much more solid than many others.

On a high pavilion to the side of the training ground, Ning Tianyang stood with his hands behind his back, taking in everything below.

Fang Xia's palm technique and adaptability during the sparring session impressed him.

Seeing Fang Xia's unpretentious demeanor, Ning Tianyang showed a hint of appreciation.

"This child... possesses excellent comprehension, temperament, and diligence."

With a solid foundation in stance training, one can progress rapidly in palm techniques, even surpassing those with inferior physical constitution.

With such diligence and hard work, coupled with his comprehension and perseverance, even though his physical constitution is a drawback, he can still be considered a piece of "rough jade".

Given time, once you've mastered the inner cultivation stage, you'll surely break through!

Even... there's still a sliver of hope in the Qi Gathering and Meridian Opening Realm...

Thinking of this, an investment idea arose in Ning Tianyang's mind.

However, this thought was immediately suppressed as soon as it arose.

Two figures and the expenditure figures of Sanyangtang flashed through his mind in an instant.

The eldest disciple, Ji Baiyue, passed the martial arts examination a year and a half ago and became a disciple of the Black Mountain Taoist Academy.

They are making a final push for the "Qingyun Gathering" two years from now, which is the ladder to heaven to join a martial arts sect!

I dedicate one-third of my resources to it every month, and I cannot afford to lose any of them!

He also needs one-third of the resources to sustain his own cultivation.

With only one-third of the resources remaining, it's barely enough to keep the martial arts school running, let alone nurture other promising talents.

Lin You, the youngest disciple, is at the middle stage of the Stone Skin Realm. He possesses extraordinary talent and is at the crucial moment of honing his foundation to break through to the Copper Skin Realm!

After getting through the meat hurdle, the consumption increased, and he was even considering temporarily reducing some of his resource supply and making do for a while.

It's not too late to make amends after our eldest disciple, Ji Baiyue, achieves success in the Qingyun Society...

With this in mind, Ning Tianyang's investment idea was completely extinguished.

"Alas... opening up the meridians and gathering qi... how easy is that!"

That level of attainment requires resources as vast as mountains and seas! Even someone with the best innate talent would need to devote all their resources to nurturing it…

Fang Xia's physical constitution is too poor. If he wants to reach the Qi Gathering and Meridian Opening Realm, the resources he needs are probably several times, or even ten times, more than Lin You's!

Even if there were a sliver of hope, the price Sanyangtang simply cannot afford now.

He could only maintain the existing care Xia had received; he couldn't do anything more than that.

"Alas...a gem in the rough...born into a poor family, and now cast into my little pond..."

Ning Tianyang gave Fang Xia a deep look, his eyes filled with a complex and unreadable expression.

The other disciples in the training ground had different reactions to Fang Xia's progress.

Lin You glanced sideways; Fang Xia's precise timing of her entry made his gaze sharpen slightly.

Looking at Fang Xia's tall and straight figure, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Fang Xia's rapid progress made him feel a sense of threat.

Seeing Fang Xia stealing the spotlight, Zhang Yuan was filled with jealousy and hatred, and his face instantly darkened.

He subconsciously looked at Lin You, only to find that Lin You merely glanced at him indifferently and made no comment.

Zhang Yuan could only swallow back the sarcastic remarks that were on the tip of his tongue, turning his head away sullenly, cursing inwardly.

Han Qing, Luo Zhao, Xiao Pingshan, and other scions of prominent families showed a brief moment of surprise, but quickly regained their composure.

They had abundant cultivation resources and had seen many diligent people like Fang Xia, so they were well aware of the limitations of innate talent.

Looking at Fang Xia's figure, Han Qing's lips curled into a smile, carrying a hint of condescending scrutiny.

"Tsk, lower-grade bone structure, middle section of cowhide? You really know how to work hard."

"Diligence can make up for lack of talent? Ha!"

Luo Zhao chuckled and chimed in, "In the path of martial arts, how can diligence and hard work alone fill the bottomless pit that nourishes the blood and qi?"

The four stages of Body Tempering require massive amounts of resources: medicinal ointments, precious flesh, and breathing techniques. Could the Fang family afford to provide all of that?

Xiao Pingshan nodded slightly, his eyes indifferent.

"One's innate constitution is determined by fate. Only one in ten thousand can break free from these shackles."

Either you're born with extraordinary talent like Senior Brother Lin You, or you're born to stand at a high level like us. Someone like him…”

He paused, not continuing, but the unspoken meaning was self-evident.

Struggling at the bottom is futile.

They had seen far too many poor students like Fang Xia trying to change their fate.

But how many people can ultimately break through the shackles of their physical constitution, cultivate internal energy, and even open their meridians and gather qi?

Those who rise to prominence either have a good background or are highly talented.

In short, the differences between people are determined at the moment of birth.

One must be born into the right family...

........

Time flies, and half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

The stench of blood is growing stronger in Heishan County.

The perpetrators became increasingly ruthless and their methods grew even more brutal.

Every day, new news of bloodshed reached Sanyangtang, and the entire county was shrouded in fear.

The Black Tiger Gang had many branches, including seven leaders of the Inner Heavenly Ladder cultivation system, totaling more than thirty people, all of whom were slaughtered by them.

Five Inner Cultivation Heavenly Ladder martial artists were killed at several of the Cao family's strongholds...

The scene was like a hellish landscape.

Panic gripped Heishan County, with many shops closing during the day and even martial artists traveling in groups.

On the training ground.

Fang Xia stood at the edge of the field, his figure like the roots of an old tree, firmly planted in the "Three Yang Stance".

He closed his eyes and focused his mind, feeling the long, deep breaths brought about by the "breathing technique".

With each breath, a wisp of primordial energy from heaven and earth is drawn into the body, nourishing it.

"Have you heard? The third leader of the Black Tiger Gang was found dead in a dilapidated temple outside the city yesterday, his head severed!"

"The second young master of the Cao family went out to buy groceries with his guards, but the entire group was murdered!"

Several inner court disciples who were resting nearby huddled together, their voices low, but they couldn't hide their fear.

The inner disciples' daily topic of discussion is always the murderous maniac.

Fang Xia's ears twitched almost imperceptibly as he quietly activated his Qi Sensing Technique.

"Hiss... This is the eleventh internal cultivation level, right?"

"The Black Tiger Gang leader, the Cao family guards... this ruthless man is really going to fight these two families to the death!" Another disciple's voice trembled.

"It wasn't just a fight to the death; it was a brutal massacre!"

Meng Zhang leaned closer, his face pale. "My second uncle works at the county government office. He secretly said yesterday... the murderer's identity has been confirmed!"

"That's Bai Yujin, the wanted master thief!"

"Bai Yujin?" Someone gasped. "Is he actually a master of the Innate Realm? How could he..."

"I heard he suffered a major setback and his skill level has dropped, but even a starved camel is bigger than a horse!"

Crushing someone like us is no harder than crushing an ant!

Meng Zhang's voice carried a hint of fear, "He seems to have gone mad, seeking revenge against the Black Tiger Gang and the Cao family, his methods are cruel beyond human comprehension..."

What do you think he's after? Is it just for revenge?

Fang Xia's stance training remained stable, but a surge of emotions welled up within him.

It's him! Bai Yujin!

The wanted poster from the county government instantly flashed into my mind.

In the portrait, Bai Yujin has a thin face, high cheekbones, and a sinister look in his eyes.

A fallen master of innate realm poses a far greater threat than the Black Tiger Gang did before.

Why is Bai Yujin so crazy?

Is it merely to retrieve the bronze token and the mysterious beast skin?

Or perhaps... something even more terrifying is hidden behind that token and the animal hide?

What drove Bai Yujin to spare no expense, even to take her anger out on all the forces that might have known about or come into contact with her?

A chill ran from my tailbone straight up to the top of my head.

Fang Xia's vigilance was also raised to the extreme.

.........

From then on, Fang Xia's "Qi Sensing Technique" was always in operation.

Even when cultivating within the Jingyun Residence, one would still dedicate a portion of their spirit to sensing the surrounding activity.

While diligently cultivating, Fang Xia analyzed the information about Bai Yujin.

He discovered that Bai Yujin's methods of revenge were exceptionally cruel.

"What exactly happened to him in the Black Tiger Gang or the Cao family?" Fang Xia wondered to himself.

"If it's just about retrieving the treasure, why go to such bloodshed?"

This unknown reason made Fang Xia even more uneasy.

A highly skilled innate master consumed by obsession is even more dangerous.

Under immense pressure, Fang Xia almost developed "persecution complex".

Even inside Jingyun Residence, he always felt as if a pair of eyes were watching him from the shadows.

He was afraid that Bai Yujin might jump out at any moment, chuckle, and say to him, "Kid, I've finally found you. How do you want to die?"

........

Meanwhile, in front of the Black Tiger Gang's main hall.

A cold wind howled, and dark clouds hung low.

The rain was cold, tapping against the animal-head door knocker.

Bai Yujin, dressed in black, stood with her hands behind her back in front of the gate.

He glanced at the Black Tiger Hall, a fierce glint in his eyes: "How can such a small county hide so many Qi Gathering and Meridian Opening Realm martial artists?"

Black Mountain truly lives up to its reputation as a spur of the Tianji Mountains; it is indeed a place where hidden talents reside.

These words, seemingly spoken to oneself yet also expressing a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of deep emotion or reflection), inadvertently unveiled the hidden veil of the Black Mountain.

Tianji Mountain is one of the most famous mountains in the world, stretching for thousands of miles, and is known for its monstrous creatures.

Not only are there countless demonic beasts dwelling there, but there are also countless rare and precious natural treasures.

It may even harbor demon generals and demon kings above the innate level, making it a forbidden place that humans avoid at all costs!

Black Mountain is one of the remnants extending from this forbidden area.

This is precisely why Heishan County has so many martial artists and hidden secrets.

Bai Yujin shook her head, suppressing her emotions, her eyes growing increasingly fierce.

The humiliation of that month flashed through my mind!

At this moment, all that remained in his chest was a violent fire that desperately needed to be released.

He had previously visited the Cao family mansion, intending to vent his pent-up resentment.

Unfortunately, those old foxes in the Cao family, once they caught a whiff of something, were like startled rabbits.

The once grand mansion was now deserted.

"These powerful and wealthy families are indeed cunning, with multiple escape routes."

Bai Yujin sneered inwardly.

"Since we can't find the Cao family, let's start by taking down the Black Tiger Gang."

A bloodthirsty glint flashed in Bai Yujin's eyes. The humiliation etched deep in his memory needed to be washed away with blood!

As for the Cao family? He has plenty of "patience" to play the cat-and-mouse game slowly.

boom!

The Black Tiger Hall's main gate, along with several gang members blocking its way, was smashed to pieces by an immense force, as if it were made of paper!

Wood chips, gravel, and severed limbs flew everywhere amidst screams.

Bai Yujin moved swiftly and charged straight into the hall.

Wherever it passed, the Black Tiger Gang members were torn apart by the force of its energy and fell into pools of blood before they could react.

Screams echoed throughout the room.