chsdbacks Chapter 13: The Bull-like Beast Pattern is Fully Developed, Divine Power—
Chapter 13: The Bull-like Beast Pattern is Fully Developed, Divine Power—
The lingering heat of late summer has dissipated, and the unbearable heat has finally subsided.
On the training ground, taking advantage of the rare afternoon coolness, there were more people than usual. Sweat splattered onto the bluestone slabs, shattering into pieces.
"That's Zhang Ping? He looks quite ordinary." Fu Huiying's voice carried a hint of languor as her gaze casually swept across the room.
Chongxin was in a good mood, and it was rare for his wife to stand beside him under the eaves watching their disciple practice martial arts. He followed his wife's gaze and looked at the young man carrying a huge stone slab on his back, doing push-ups in an odd posture: "His life has been a bit bumpy, and his physical attributes are average. But he has some natural strength, and he's hardworking. If he comes with me to run escort services in the future, it shouldn't be difficult for him to support his family."
As summer passed, Zhang Ping's dark back gleamed, beads of sweat forming streams that trickled down his taut muscles, splashing onto the already soaked ground and leaving dark rings. The other disciples, practicing fist and staff techniques, kept their distance, occasionally casting glances at him with a mixture of incomprehension and slight awe.
Fu Huiying's gaze seemed to linger only briefly on that sweaty, undulating young body, her fingertips unconsciously twirling the thin fabric of her sleeve. "He's quite a prospect. With some effort, he might become a loyal disciple in the future." Her tone was no different from when she commented on other disciples, only with a touch of the warmth typical of a martial arts school matriarch.
Chongxin smiled and didn't think much of it: "A nominal disciple? No need. This kid just broke through to the Skin Tempering Realm three days ago, so it's perfect for the 'Autumn Darts' to take him along for some training."
"Autumn Escort?" Fu Huiying's eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly, her fingertips pausing. "He's only been with the academy for a few months; his skills haven't even been fully developed yet. Isn't it a bit too early for him to be involved in escort missions?"
Chongxin's gaze remained fixed on the stubborn yet silent figure in the distance. He shook his head: "Don't underestimate him just because he just broke through to the next realm. Even those in the late stage of the Skin Tempering realm might not be able to easily defeat him." He paused, then added, "He's very clever and knows how to hide his strength. Taking him out for a run is enough."
There were some things he didn't say—this escort mission was no small matter, and it required someone like Zhang Ping: not a core disciple, but possessing the strength of the Skin Tempering Realm, easy to deploy, and also easy to...leave no trace. Such a person was hard to find.
Hearing this, Fu Huiying fell silent. Excessive concern could easily arouse suspicion.
It wasn't until the sun was setting and the training ground was nearly deserted that Zhang Ping finally removed the stone slab and dragged his aching, heavy body back to his secluded courtyard.
Zhang Ping
Age: 20
[Realm: Early Stage of Skin Tempering]
【烙印：驴鞭纹（91％）牛力纹（满）马腿纹（48％）狗鼻纹（26％）牛皮纹（25％）地龙再生（2％）鹰眼纹（9％）】
[Donkey whip marks: Significantly increase the volume and strength of the lower limbs.]
[Divine Power - Ox Strength Pattern: Increases physical strength and improves physique.]
[Horse leg lines: Improve leg strength and increase flexibility.]
[Dog nose print: Enhances the sense of smell, enabling the ability to distinguish, remember, and track different scents.]
[Stretch marks: Improve skin suppleness and enhance resistance to impact.]
[Earth Dragon Regeneration: Enhances the body's vital essence, significantly improving the ability to regenerate severed limbs]
[Eagle Eye Pattern: Enhances visual distance and improves the ability to capture moving objects]
"The bull-manipulated beast pattern is complete!"
A surge of scalding heat suddenly erupted from three inches above his navel, instantly coursing through his limbs and bones. Zhang Ping roared inwardly; the bull-like beast markings he had dared not reveal during the day under the intense pressure of the martial arts arena were now burning hot like a branding iron. He looked down and saw the ferocious bull's head pattern suddenly appear on his chest and abdomen, radiating an eerie dark red aura.
"Divine power!"
A silent roar seemed to explode deep within his brain! His bones creaked with a teeth-grinding sound, and his muscle fibers tore and expanded wildly! In a short instant, Zhang Ping's body, like an inflated sack, suddenly grew from an ordinary 1.7-meter-tall young man to a colossal figure nearly three meters tall!
On his broad chest, covered with bulging muscles, the huge bull's head pattern was clearly visible, almost as if it was about to break free from the skin's restraints!
The rooftop barely grazed his scalp. Zhang Ping looked down at his large, veiny hands, which were like fans, and slowly clenched them. An overwhelming force surged and roared between his muscles, as if the air itself was being crushed!
"This power..." The enormous head swayed slightly, its copper bell-like eyes filled with horror. This was definitely not the power one should have at the Skin Tempering Realm! The brute force that was already far beyond that of others of the same level had now increased more than tenfold.
The strength of his muscles, bones, skin, and membranes, as well as the sharpness of his reactions, have far surpassed the Skin Tempering Realm and are infinitely approaching the next realm—the Flesh Refining Realm!
"The beast pattern is perfected! It's truly miraculous!" Overjoyed, he was instantly blinded by elation. All his exploration of this mysterious panel and beast patterns since his transmigration had finally yielded a substantial reward!
"With this divine power..." Zhang Ping's eyes suddenly flashed with a fierce light that had been suppressed for a long time!
Life at the martial arts school was peaceful. Every day, I could clearly feel the joy of becoming stronger, and when it got boring, I could find solace in the gentle comfort of Madam Fu's warm and soft body.
But how can a voluntary prison be the same as an invisible shackle around the neck?!
He could stay in this small space of Sitong Martial Arts School for a year, five years, or even ten years. But he must have the confidence to leave whenever he wants and to live with his head held high even after leaving this place!
The six realms of body refinement are: skin tempering, flesh refinement, viscera refinement, bone forging, essence and blood refinement, and marrow refinement. For an ordinary person, reaching the skin tempering stage after three years of arduous effort is already considered extremely difficult. Even top-tier martial arts schools in the Lingchuan region, like the Sitong Martial Arts Academy, only accept disciples who have reached the skin tempering stage to earn a place in the world. As for the flesh refinement stage, which surpasses skin tempering? Without the aid of precious medicinal herbs, an ordinary person might spend ten years and still not even glimpse its beginnings; those with slightly inferior aptitude have no hope at all.
In Lingchuan, a cultivator at the Body Refining Realm is already a figure of considerable importance, worthy of being a distinguished guest of all the major families. The An family, which covets his position, has a patriarch named An Qing, whose true strength is rumored to be only at the late Body Refining stage!
With divine power bestowed upon him, he had already touched the edge of that level. He might not be a match for An Qing, but the An family... could they really send a Body Refining Realm expert just to capture a mere Skin Tempering cultivator like him?!
"Tomorrow, I can go out!" With a thought, his body, which had swelled up like a demon god, rapidly shrank back to its original size. He felt no weakness or discomfort. Zhang Ping's eyes gleamed.
Confined to the museum these past few days, he had already tried out most of the common birds and beasts in his memory, but there were too few suitable animal patterns to imprint on them. His gaze had already turned to the unique beasts of this world!
"A strange beast..." Zhang Ping licked his slightly chapped lips, the image of the magnificent, scaly horse with a single horn flashing through his mind. That dragon steed possessed astonishing stamina, ran like the wind, and was said to be intelligent enough to rival ordinary humans! Its speed alone far surpassed that of ordinary horses. If he could use a strange beast as material to brand his markings...
This idea grew wildly, like weeds.
But then, a more forbidden and alluring thought, chillingly sharp, pierced his heart: "What about demons? Demons... aren't they living beings? What if their uncanny abilities could also be branded..."
A chill instantly shot from his tailbone to the top of his head! Zhang Ping shivered violently. The filth and malevolence of demonic energy were common knowledge. If he were truly imprinted with demonic power, what would he exude when wielding it… would it be the fiery, masculine energy of blood, or the demonic energy that everyone wanted to kill? At that point, would he be human… or a demon? If the Demon Extermination Bureau found out about this…
Zhang Ping took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning thoughts and that hidden desire.
Thinking too much is useless; taking this step is the real test.
"Coo-coo—coo-coo—" A few familiar bird calls came from the small window in the backyard, interrupting his thoughts. Zhang Ping quickly went over and pushed open the window. A grayish messenger bird nimbly darted in and landed precisely in his palm.
"Changed locations today?" Zhang Ping's lips curled into a knowing smile as he skillfully untied a small section of red string from its leg ring.