chsdbacks Chapter 116 Title
Chapter 116 Title
Lin Yan flipped back to the third page of the hundred-page book and stared at the list of titles.
His gaze fell on the topmost line.
[Martial Arts Skills Initially Accomplished (Not Activated) (8/10)]
He has mastered eight martial arts techniques.
Lin Yan turned back to the second page, pointing to the lines of skill records as he read on.
[Micro-Dust Step (Mastery)], [Firewood Cleaver (Mastery)], [Mysterious Blade Technique (Mastery)], [Wandering Body Palm (Mastery)], [Black Tiger Fist Technique (Basic Proficiency)], [Basic Body Tempering (Mastery)], [Yan King's Heart Sutra (Basic Proficiency)], [Dragon Elephant Body Tempering Technique (Beginner)]
These are the eight gates.
The incomplete Berserk state was not included.
Only two more doors are needed to activate the title.
After activating [Martial Arts Initial Success], the progress of learning martial arts techniques will increase by 5%. This effect may not seem like much, but if he can get an additional 5% increase in proficiency in his current cultivation of "Dragon Elephant Body Forging Technique" and "Yan King's Heart Sutra", he can learn "Dragon Elephant Body Forging Technique" to the second level faster and fulfill his bet with the Pavilion Master of Wenyuan Pavilion.
However, since even martial arts techniques like the "Micro-Dust Step" and the "Twig-Splitting Slash" count, he only needs to find two more complete introductory-level martial arts techniques to activate the title of "Martial Arts Proficiency".
After making up his mind, Lin Yan went straight out and walked into a small alley.
It is said that this place specializes in selling supplies for bodyguards and independent cultivators. Although the quality is not high, it has everything from pills and weapons to cultivation techniques. It is also said that there are many scions of impoverished families selling their ancestral martial arts manuals.
The alley was narrow, lined with stalls on both sides. Some stall owners were sitting and dozing off, while others were shouting their wares at the top of their lungs.
"A fragment of the Qingyang Fist Technique! An excellent introductory fist technique! Once mastered, your fists can shatter a three-inch-thick stone slab! Ten taels of silver per copy!"
"Sir, take a look at this book, 'Flying Flower Steps,' a lightness skill. Once you reach a minor level of mastery, you can walk on water. It's only eight taels!"
Lin Yan walked and looked around.
Most of the martial arts manuals sold at these stalls are incomplete or simplified versions, and they can hardly be considered complete skills. Although they are only used to complete the "initial martial arts" level, they should at least be genuine; incomplete versions will not do.
When Lin Yan reached the middle of the alley, he stopped in front of an inconspicuous stall.
The stall owner was a man in his thirties, who was dozing off on a small stool.
Lin Yan squatted down, picked up the top book, and flipped through it.
The "Stone-Shattering Hand" consists of nine moves, which is barely a beginner-level palm technique for martial artists.
The ink on the paper varies in shade, clearly indicating it is a handwritten copy, but the content is complete.
"How much is this book?"
The man opened one eye, glanced at Lin Yan, and said, "Three taels."
Lin Yan picked up another book.
"Iron Wire Fist" is also a beginner-level martial arts manual. The handwriting is very messy, but the content is fine.
"What about this one?"
"Three taels, or five taels if you take both."
Lin Yan took out a small piece of silver from his pocket and handed it to the man, then picked up two booklets and got up to return to his residence.
Back at the Lin residence, Lin Yan opened the first page of "The Crusher of Steles".
The Nine Palm Techniques each have a simple energy flow route and key points for exerting force.
This palm technique uses the heel of the palm to generate power, and after the true energy is poured in, it is instantly released, delivering a penetrating force.
He picked up "Iron Wire Fist" again.
This book is thinner, containing only seven forms. The boxing style is straightforward, emphasizing the formation of a twisting force within the body before unleashing a powerful punch.
Both techniques are very basic, without any complicated variations or profound internal energy circulation. For Lin Yan now, he can understand about 70-80% of them at a glance.
Let's start with "The Stone Breaker".
To begin the first movement, step forward half a step with your left foot, and let your true energy flow along the Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian of the hand, passing through Waiguan and Yangchi, and converging at the base of your palm.
Lin Yan thrust out his palm, and a loud bang echoed in the air.
It was successful on the first try.
【Skill: Stone Crusher (Beginner) (1/200)】
Next up is "Iron Wire Fist".
The difficulty of Iron Wire Fist lies in that twisting motion. Lin Yan tried five times, but his true energy was all depleted at the Quchi acupoint, resulting in a weak and feeble punch.
With the sixth punch, the true energy twisted suddenly at the Quchi acupoint, flowing down the forearm and into the fist.
Successful.
He practiced the seven forms of Iron Wire Fist three more times, then stopped and stood still, feeling a slight warmth in his dantian.
Lin Yan immediately summoned the Book of a Hundred Arts and turned to the third page.
The small print at the top of the title list is changing.
【武道初成（8/10）】那行字闪烁着金光，数字从8跳到9，最后变成了10。
[Martial Arts Proficiency (10/10) (Activated)]
Success! Two introductory martial arts techniques, costing only five taels of silver and half a day, filled the gap in the [Initial Martial Arts] stage.
He planned to test the effects of the "Elementary Martial Arts Skill".
Lin Yan performed the [Stone-Shattering Hand] technique a full twenty times before stopping.
【Skill: Stone Crusher (Beginner) (22/200)】
Sure enough, the progress in learning martial arts techniques increased by five percent.
At this rate of increase, as long as he has enough silver, Lin Yan is confident that he can advance the "Dragon Elephant Body Forging Technique" to the second level within three months.
He then looked at the titles below. [Spiritual Awakening] was still missing eight spiritual cultivation techniques to activate, [Weapon Refining Apprentice] was missing nine, and [Introduction to Alchemy] was also missing nine.
The activation conditions for these other titles are increasingly outrageous, and they are unlikely to be available anytime soon.
Without thinking too much, he put away the book of arts and crafts, walked to the corner of the wall, lifted the cloth covering the bathtub, and took out a new dose of medicine, poured it into the pot and started boiling it.
The medicinal soup in the pot bubbled and simmered, and the pungent smell of medicine quickly filled the entire room.
Lin Yan poured the scalding hot medicinal soup into the bathtub, added cold water, tested the temperature with his hand, and then sat down inside.
He gritted his teeth and endured the burning sensation. After an incense stick's time, he picked up the iron hammer and began to pound his arm.
This hammer has been used for almost a month. The wooden handle is dented with his fingerprints, and the iron filings on the hammerhead are polished to a shine.
The medicine was pushed deep into the skin, one stroke at a time, and then slowly absorbed.
Two hours later, Lin Yan had finished washing off the medicinal soup and got up to go to the blacksmith's shop.
When Shen Tieshan saw Lin Yan arrive, he grinned and said, "You're here early today."
"I came over as soon as I finished my work. Where's Shen Zhi?"
"Oh, she's in the inner room. Go in and find her."
Lin Yan followed Shen Tieshan into the inner room, where Shen Zhi was squatting in front of the furnace, adjusting the heat.
"Shen Zhi, I've been assigned a task by my superiors. I might not be able to come every day for a while. It's hard to say how long this task will take to complete. It could be as quick as ten days to two weeks, or as slow as..."
Lin Yan did not explicitly tell the Crown Prince that he had forbidden him from going to the blacksmith shop every day. He only said that he had been given a task and that he knew that if he continued to visit the blacksmith shop frequently, the Crown Prince might take action against the Shen father and daughter. He could not harm them.
Shen Zhi's face remained expressionless as she continued to throw firewood into the stove until all of it was gone before she stood up.
"So you've come today to say goodbye?"
"I suppose so." Lin Yan took out a few silver notes and placed them on the table. "Thank you all for your help this past month."
Shen Tieshan looked at his daughter and then at Lin Yan, and finally sighed, "Lin Yan, you are a capable cultivator, unlike us rough men who have spent our lives forging iron. We understand that you have important matters to attend to."
Shen Zhi ignored her father's words and turned to walk into another room.
Lin Yan thought she didn't want to talk to anyone anymore, and was about to exchange a few more pleasantries with Shen Tieshan before leaving when the curtain was lifted and Shen Zhi came out again, carrying a cloth bag in her hand.
She shoved the cloth bag into Lin Yan's arms.
"Take it."