My martial arts skill bar can be infinitely merged.

32. A lucky charm, genius!

The atmosphere at the meeting became increasingly harmonious. Lu Feng sat to Ke Xing's left, with a small wooden table in front of him displaying exquisite snacks.

Watching this dance, which can be described as art, and listening to the music, my body gradually relaxed.

Now he also has time to see what talents his disciples lack.

He looked at them one by one, shaking his head repeatedly. They were all low-grade, not a single one of the mid-grade ones he had hoped for. He did see two more protective techniques, but they were useless.

The original methods of protection were sufficient.

"Come on!" Ke Xing beamed, raising his glass, his voice instantly dominating the room: "To celebrate our little gathering! To celebrate Junior Sister Mingning's safe return!"

He was the most skilled cultivator there, and also the leader of this small group. As soon as he spoke, the atmosphere immediately became lively.

Ji Rousu, whose Taoist name is Mingning, is the girl that Ke Xing wants to match with Lu Feng.

He raised his cup in response, saying generously, "Mingning thanks you for your concern, Senior Brother."

After saying that, he took a sip of fruit wine.

The others then spoke up.

"Congratulations!"

...

Congratulations!

As he spoke, he raised his glass and took a big gulp. Lu Feng also took a sip of the sweet and sour wine. To be honest, it tasted alright.

The next step was to wait for the dancers to leave before the group began to talk.

A man directly opposite them spoke. His Taoist name was Mingshan. He had an ordinary appearance, but the fabric of his clothes was of the same high quality.

"I see chaos starting to break out outside the city. Ming Ning almost got into trouble this time just by completing the mission alone. Judging from the situation, even if he has reached the Body Condensation stage, it is no longer suitable for him to travel far."

This statement resonated with many people, and some followed suit.

"Don't let our high and mighty position fool you. On the path of cultivation, talent is predetermined. To be honest, I've been in the Dao Academy for over three years, but I'm still quite dull-witted. Reaching the Body Condensation stage is my limit; Qi Gathering is beyond my reach!"

Then someone else spoke up.

"Indeed, what more can one ask for in the Great Dao? Only Senior Brother Mingxuan has reached the peak of the Blood Fusion Realm and can attempt to break through at any time. For mediocre talents like us, it's extremely difficult!"

The three words "difficult" seem to fully express the bitterness in this person's heart.

Lu Feng was taken aback upon hearing this.

No?

So, what I thought was a very poor, low-grade aptitude was actually quite bad.

Has it become the coveted prize you all talk about?

Lu Feng was taken aback, never expecting that he had been labeled a little genius.

Ji Rousu spoke up at the right moment: "Everyone, the task of doing good deeds is indeed not simple, but if you want cultivation resources, you have to take a gamble."

Ke Xing also spoke up: "What you say is true, everyone. The Great Dao is like rowing against the current. You admire my talent, but have you ever thought about those senior brothers and sisters who have already achieved enlightenment? Compared to them, I am just a tiny star."

"Well said."

The disciple to Lu Feng's right spoke up, "I think we've eaten enough. How about we have a friendly spar and win some prizes?"

Upon hearing this, many disciples' eyes lit up. They knew that the gathering wasn't just about eating, drinking, and having fun; seeking good fortune was also an essential part of the experience.

Everyone makes their own contribution, and then they win based on their own abilities. However, it's not the kind where one person gets to eat their fill and everyone gets everything; instead, it's more segmented.

Ke Xing nodded in agreement: "Okay!"

The remaining people, except for Lu Feng, all responded.

"good!"

The same person who had made the suggestion earlier stood up, his gaze fixed on Ji Rousu, and after a pause, he spoke.

"Mingning, today I challenge you!"

As he spoke, you could almost detect a different emotion in his voice, as if he were there to seek revenge.

Ji Rousu readily agreed, then asked, "Have you prepared any prizes?"

"An eighty-year-old medicinal herb can barely be exchanged for two points of good karma."

Hearing this, Ji Rousu smiled, her face becoming even more gentle: "Then I'll contribute three points of merit. Senior Brother Mingqing, please!"

The words had barely left his lips.

The next moment, the two disappeared from their original seats. In the middle of the spacious private room, a carpet was laid out, and the two figures suddenly appeared.

One in white, one in blue, beneath the hanging candlelight, shadows flickered, the fitted dress and cloud-patterned skirt creating two distinct scenes.

The two exchanged blows very quickly, exchanging more than ten blows with their hands in the blink of an eye, their arms clashing and responding to each other's moves without much fanfare.

Lu Feng looked at them and found that they were not in the same state as when he had unleashed his power, which puzzled him.

I couldn't help but wonder if I had gone astray in my practice?

Ming Qing drew closer and closer, and finally unleashed a powerful strike from behind, gathering strength in his shoulder, elbow, and wrist, concentrating his body's power together. His hand moved like lightning, striking out and leaving a blur in the distance.

Ke Xingshi explained to Lu Feng, who was watching the game.

"This is a talisman-based fighting method, but Ming Qing has not yet broken through to the minor mastery level; he is only proficient at it and can barely use it."

The conversation lasted only a short time before the venue changed again.

After Mingqing used the protective fighting technique, Ji Rousu's figure immediately changed. Without any other movements, she simply swung her fist, extending her right arm and pressing her clean-looking fist against Mingqing's fist.

The changes were dramatic.

When Mingqing met this punch, his protective fighting style was immediately broken, and his remaining strength was simply insufficient to resist the remaining power.

He stumbled back a few steps, forcibly pressing his body down to barely keep from falling, then looked at the other person with a shocked expression and blurted out.

"You've broken through to a higher realm?"

Ji Rousu had long since dropped her airs, revealing a girlish smile as she stretched out her small hand: "That's right, what a coincidence! I just broke through after returning, and I've reached the Qi Gathering stage this time. What a stroke of luck!"

Ming Qing shook his head with a wry smile. He had thought that once he mastered the protective fighting style, he could decide the outcome with a single blow and reclaim the prize from last time. Who would have thought that his opponent would directly overwhelm him with their cultivation level this time?

The loss was not unjust.

She walked to her seat without hesitation, picked up the small bundle she had placed there beforehand, a look of pain flashed in her eyes, she gritted her teeth, and threw the bundle toward Ji Rousu.

Ji Rousu raised her hand, and the bundle landed precisely in her grasp.

Ke Xing then whispered again, his voice tinged with regret: "Oh no, oh no, Cousin Su Su has become stronger. Junior brother, you're in trouble. If you don't train hard, you'll become a laughingstock if you can't beat her."

Just then, Ji Rousu seemed to have heard something and looked over, meeting Lu Feng's gaze.

Their eyes met; one was calm, the other lively. Ji Rousu simply revealed a radiant smile, which made her even more beautiful.

Lu Feng remained seated calmly, replying to Ke Xing, "Senior brother, please stop talking. People are already looking over here."

"I understand, I'm shy, senior brother, I won't say anymore." Ke Xing chuckled twice.

Lu Feng opened his mouth as if to say something, but after thinking about it, he decided against it and didn't bother to speak.

To be honest, he didn't understand the exchange just now. Both of them were at the level of Body Condensation or above, which was definitely stronger than him, who was not yet at the Body Condensation stage.

You can't tell the difference with the naked eye; you only know the difference in strength after a fight. But if the difference in skill level is too great, going up there is just like sending someone to their doom, so it's not very meaningful.

"Senior brother, I'll take on the challenge..."

......

"...I lost, it's yours!"

Two more battles followed, but after several rounds, no one challenged Ke Xing, who was drinking a refreshing sweet soup, seemingly acknowledging his status as the strongest person in the area.

Just as the boxing match was about to end, a sudden and untimely voice rang out.

"Junior Brother Mingxu, you're new to the academy, and I'd like to offer you some guidance. Would you be willing?"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was obvious that the atmosphere at the scene changed.

Ke Xing picked up a handkerchief from the table and wiped his mouth. He knew who the person was just by hearing their voice.

Mingyu, this is the person who just said that he reached the limit of the Body Condensation stage after three years in the Dao Academy.

This person was also one of Ji Rousu's suitors, but Ji Rousu clearly had no feelings for him. Despite being rejected multiple times, he persisted. Out of consideration for their small group, Ke Xing didn't say much.

But now he's so blatantly looking for a newcomer who's just entered the Taoist academy and started practicing standing meditation, and this is the kind of newcomer he wanted to introduce to his cousin.

Ke Xing smiled and was about to speak.

Mingyu spoke first: "Six merits, just for a friendly spar, the winner gets them all."

These words made Ke Xing's eyes widen, while the others were all petrified, not understanding what Ming Yu was going to do.

"put..."

Before Ke Xing could finish speaking, Lu Feng interrupted him.

"I accept!"

He had just witnessed the fight between these people and made a rough estimate: they were very fast and their strength seemed small, but when they collided, they were very powerful and definitely not weak.

But even so, he felt he could give it a try.

After all, it's the top of this guy's head.

[Talent Replication: Low-Grade Root Bone]

[Required Martial Arts Points: 5]

Without exaggeration, this was the lowest level of breakthrough Lu Feng had ever seen. He could actually try to take advantage of this kind of shoddy breakthrough.

Now it was Ke Xing's turn to be dumbfounded, and he couldn't think of a single word for a long time.

Reason told him that he should stop this farce, but judging from Lu Feng's behavior, this man never did anything he wasn't sure of.

then.

Lu Feng slowly stood up, and a bloody smell seemed to emanate from him.

Mingyu became somewhat wary.

Is this kid really a genius?

Have you achieved the condensation of the physical body?

For a moment, he regretted it, but the words were already out, and if he took them back, he would be completely out of the group.

As for why they approached Lu Feng, the reason was very simple, so simple that there was no excuse.

I just don't like this kid, and I'll find any excuse to beat him up.

Does he really think he's deaf? The two of them were talking for ages and he couldn't hear them, especially since this kid was ignoring Ji Rousu.

Damn it! I can't stand it!

"Come!"

Lu Feng stepped on the spot, leaping over the small table in front of him. With one arm like a spear, he thrust out like a thorn, leaving a trail of whistling sounds.

Seeing this move, Mingyu finally felt relieved. He couldn't even control his strength; he was indeed a newbie!

He took quick steps and threw short punches, employing a common, fast-paced fighting style, aiming a direct hit at Lu Feng.

After an initial period of probing, the two began exchanging punches wildly, their fists booming and afterimages flashing as they struck each other repeatedly, filling the air with the sound of their blows.

Ji Rousu frowned, sighing inwardly at the battle between the two. She only felt slightly relieved when she saw Ke Xing looking ready to step in at any moment.

Her impression of Lu Feng also worsened. He was clearly weak, yet he was impulsive and it seemed unlikely that he would achieve anything great in the future.

Looking at the field again, Ming Yu was initially surprised. It was already quite a genius that someone who hadn't even reached the Nascent Soul stage could withstand his attacks for so long.

Only after refining the three techniques and being close to a breakthrough can one contend with a disciple like myself who has reached the Body Condensation stage.

But then, you met me!

Accept your first failure!

As Lu Feng felt his flesh begin to ache, he knew that he couldn't defeat his opponent in this form. One thing he was certain of was that if his opponent tried to escape, he would definitely not be able to catch up.

But in a friendly competition, running away is useless.

With three great talents at their disposal, they are now completely unleashed.

Using bones as a framework, the first and second moves exploded, causing the body to change explosively, instantly growing several times larger.

This time, my leg muscles were exceptionally strong!

Lu Feng's transformation drew a change in everyone's gaze. Ke Xing even stood up, muttering, "A perfect physical body? It's actually a perfect physical body! A perfect physical body that can only be triggered by an extremely close fit to the condensed body!!!"

Once this physical body is activated, it's a mark of genius capable of fighting beyond one's limits. It's formed using the second technique of reverse attack, and yet it's such a subpar formed body—it's practically...

No wonder, no wonder Junior Brother is so confident. Junior Brother Mingxu, you really know how to hide your abilities. You even fooled your senior brother.

On the field.

The gap widened completely the moment Lu Feng began to change.

power.

The ultimate power is manifested in every muscle.

With a single punch, Ming Yu had no way to block it, and his arm immediately began to ache. Looking at the muscular figure that was several times wider than himself, for a moment, he regretted it.

boom!

Another clash.

Mingyu stopped fighting; he couldn't beat him in terms of strength, and continuing would only result in defeat.

But the speed...

He also discovered Lu Feng's weakness and was about to take further action when he sensed a pressure coming towards him.

Following the source, one could see Ke Xing's serene eyes.

After struggling for a while, he finally gave up and managed to say with difficulty, "I...I lost. Here, take these six merit points!"

As he spoke, he also threw out a little joke, which Lu Feng accepted quite naturally.

The result of this battle surprised everyone. Everyone was stunned, especially Ji Rousu, whose face turned red. Of course, it wasn't because of her admiration, but because she had been proven wrong by her previous careless judgment.

Seeing this scene, Mingyu felt as if his heart was being torn apart. Not only had he lost, but he had also become someone else's background, and the woman he admired was even further away from him.

Lu Feng then deactivated his muscle form and returned to his position.

To be honest, he went all out just now, really intending to fight the other party to the death, but he didn't expect it to end so quickly, and he still had a lot of strength left unused.

Similarly, the opponent still has most of their strength remaining.

There will definitely be more fights, but the final result will not be determined for a long time. With the opponent admitting defeat, the sparring ended with Lu Feng winning the prize.

After this incident, today's get-together is definitely not going to happen.

Ke Xing said a few more polite words, and then the group of fellow disciples finished their drinks of fruit wine, bringing the small gathering to a complete end.

Mingyu was the first to leave. He basically rushed out of the private room as soon as he finished drinking, as if he wanted to escape this place that made him feel ashamed.

Lu Feng also left the place. Before leaving, Ke Xing said something to him: go to the main hall where his master is tomorrow, and he will wait for him there and tell his master about his condition.

According to Ke Xing, Lu Feng, who has displayed a perfect physical body, can be seen by his master and his teacher can decide on his future cultivation path.

To be honest, he didn't expect that his muscles, a result of his natural talent, would attract so much attention, even that his master would inquire about them.