Becoming a Martial Saint: Starting with the Mountain-Breaking Fist

Chapter 96 Transformation of Strength

Spring has arrived.

Although the Shiwan Mountains have entered the spring season in March, as the locals call it, the mountains have been covered by heavy snow for several months.

This year's snowfall is exceptionally heavy, so much so that the grand hunting event jointly organized by major merchants had to be postponed indefinitely.

Countless people in the villages starved to death, and a large number of them barely survived thanks to the relief provided by their neighbors, but they still complained bitterly.

A heavy snowfall destroyed their original opportunities for buying and selling, working, or even hunting in the mountains to fill their stomachs.

Due to the heavy snowfall, roads connecting the county town and major villages were completely blocked.

Duan Xuan's two childhood friends, Zhao Rui and Liu Chunmei, couldn't even come back for the Chinese New Year for their own safety.

Renhetang.

Ren Xiaofei, along with several Ren family disciples, cleaned the area in front of their house until it was spotless.

Inside the hall, in the area where guests were received, Duan Xuan, Ren Yu, Ren Yun, Zhou Wei, and Ren Wanqing sat together, chatting happily.

"Brother Duan, thanks to your demon core, the alchemists of Renhe Hall have made considerable progress."

"Within a month at most, I will be able to produce your first truly authentic replica!"

Ever since Renhetang won that boxing match, it took away all of Baiyutang's business territories in Huangshe County and surrounding counties.

Her tired face, which was always filled with worry, suddenly looked brand new.

Now she looks radiant, like a charming 30-year-old woman.

The purple hairpin in her hair paired perfectly with the purple cotton skirt.

"Xu Song was right!" Duan Xuan thought to himself, nodding repeatedly.

"The domestic league will still need some time."

The blacksmith, taking into account the requirements previously raised by Brother Duan, has been revising the blueprints and redesigning them overnight.

Moreover, the blacksmith even used the demon skin you gave him.

They successfully created a small piece of a new material with similar toughness and almost identical hardness.

However, it is currently still in the experimental stage.

If successful, Brother Duan won't have to worry even if his inner armor is damaged.

Renhetang's materials can fill any gaps for you at any time!

Listening to Ren Wanqing and Ren Yun report on their recent research progress, Duan Xuan felt extremely at ease.

If this demon-imitating pill could be supplied indefinitely, and paired with inner armor, by the time one reaches the Transcendent Realm, there would likely be little danger in the outer counties.

Zhou Wei spoke up at the opportune moment: "Brother Duan, I am truly powerless to help you with the matter of obtaining a high-level cultivation technique for you."

The techniques are indeed numerous, but most of them are of medium to low quality.

To obtain intermediate and higher levels of martial arts skills.

Only by entering the academy can one have the opportunity to witness it.

Duan Xuan frowned. The difficulty of entering the academy was immense; one's innate talent, background, and connections were all indispensable.

Moreover, with Lin Hu and Liu Mingze ahead of him, it would be quite difficult for him to enter smoothly.

"Is there no other way but to get into the academy?"

Ren Yun shook his head, his gaze fixed on the snowflakes falling again outside the window: "Becoming a martial arts graduate and entering the Divine Martial Pavilion of the imperial court will also grant you access to advanced martial arts skills."

In this world, the reason why academies can rise above the imperial court is because they possess many advanced martial arts techniques and breathing methods that aid in the cultivation of these techniques.

The imperial court would naturally not sit idly by and wait for its demise, even though there were precedents of offending the academy and being beheaded by the emperor.

But they still established their own Divine Martial Pavilion!

"The breathing technique is actually a superior internal martial arts skill; no wonder it's so effective! Wait—kill the Emperor?"

Duan Xuan's eyes widened in disbelief. The academy's strength was terrifying; they dared to break into the palace and kill the emperor.

Moreover, according to Ren Yun, the dragon killer seemed to be unharmed.

No wonder the imperial court was willing to risk the emperor's life to establish its own "academy".

"Brother Duan, are you wondering why I don't mention those martial arts families and top forces that have been passed down for hundreds or thousands of years?"

Because these guys are just puppets of the academy, no matter how much real power they have.

For thousands of years, they have been at the mercy of the academy, and they can ignore or disobey the imperial court.

But if you don't listen to the academy, at best your entire sect will be wiped out, and at worst your foundation of thousands of years will be destroyed in an instant!

Because acquiring advanced martial arts techniques is extremely difficult, the martial arts world has always been suppressed by the imperial court.

The imperial court, on the other hand, was suppressed by the academy to the point that it only had the power to rule the dynasty left.

However, the world is vast, and extraordinary people and events are as numerous as carp crossing a river. There are always some powerful figures who dominate a certain era but are unwilling to enter the world and choose to live in seclusion in the mountains and forests.

The techniques they created are not necessarily inferior to the academy's top techniques.

Unfortunately, such opportunities are extremely rare!

Duan Xuan was horrified. The academy was far too authoritative; the enormous imperial court was nothing more than a toy in its presence.

If you want to rebel against me, I'll change the monarch; if you don't obey me, I'll change the dynasty!

"Master, Young Master, the hidden weapon test is complete!" At this moment, the excited voices of the Ren family members came from outside the house.

"Come in and explain in detail!" Ren Wanqing was eagerly anticipating the results of Duan Xuan's hidden weapon project, which was supposed to take three days but was delayed for three months due to the heavy snow.

"This hidden weapon is hundreds of times better than the first version that Brother Duan gave us three months ago!"

According to Brother Duan, this hidden weapon is called the Six-Strike Controllable Sleeve Arrow. It is highly controllable and extremely powerful.

By replacing the arrows with metal ones, they can pierce through heavy armor and shields. Most importantly, it is not just a simple long-range technique.

Instead, it allows you to control the frequency and direction of the projectiles, making it easy for even ordinary people to get the hang of.

However, to unleash its true power...

It requires the assistance of a martial artist's strength.

Master Liu mentioned that this could be improved into a unique spring mechanism, meaning that only people from Renhetang could easily use it!

"Great news! Very good!" Ren Yu and Ren Wanqing cheered at the same time.

"With this, Renhetang will have enough confidence when it launches another attack on the county's forces."

"Brother Duan's kindness is beyond words!" Zhou Wei said gratefully.

"You're welcome. This is just the first batch of improved mechanisms; it's not particularly sophisticated."

A month later, I will be working on developing intricate items such as binding traps and defensive mechanisms!

The group was deeply moved upon hearing this, and they escorted Duan Xuan for a full ten miles from Renhe Hall before reluctantly bidding him farewell.

Duan Xuan returned home laden with two hundred taels of silver notes, six Qi and Blood Pills, and four Vitality Pills given to him by Renhetang.

Back home, Duan Xin, the younger sister, was applying medicine to her mother, Zhou Fang.

"Xuan'er is back?" Duan Xin happily brought over a cup of hot water. Since leaving the old courtyard, she has had a smile on her face all day long.

Now my skin is supple, fair, and delicate, my complexion is rosy, and my figure has gradually become much fuller as I have enough meat.

Duan Xuan reached out from behind his back, and three bright red candied hawthorns appeared in front of Duan Xin.

Duan Xin's pupils contracted to pinpoints, like those of a calico cat.

"Candied hawthorn berries!"

"Yes, even when the mountains are blocked by heavy snow, people still need to eat. Vendors have to wade through waist-deep snow to get out."

Knowing my aunt likes them, I picked out only the big ones!

Duan Xin gently brushed the snowflakes off Duan Xuan's head and walked back into the house with nimble steps, satisfied.

Duan Xuan stopped talking nonsense, changed into a training uniform, and stood in the courtyard, striking a pose.

Humanity rewards diligence, and Heaven rewards those who help themselves.

【Trap: Perfection (1700/2000)】

【Hunting: Perfect (1300/2000)】

[Breaking Mountain Stance Skill: Mastery (2990/3000)]

[Broken Mountain Fist: Dacheng (2300/3000)]

【Hidden Wolf Hunter: Mastery (2026/3000)】

[Nine Yang Breathing Exercise: Beginner (2000/3000)]

"It's time to break through to the Transformation Realm!"