bookpub Chapter 11 Cousin
Chapter 11 Cousin
As the intent of the fist flows, wherever the mind goes, the muscles, bones and joints of the whole body seem to be repeatedly forged, stretched and squeezed by an invisible giant hammer!
The subtle yet dense crackling sounds, like popping beans, echoed throughout my body, or like muffled thunder rumbling deep within my bone marrow.
This is the spontaneous tempering and transformation of muscles and bones under the pressure of powerful qi and blood and the intent of the fist!
Muscle fibers become denser, bone density seems to increase imperceptibly, and a sense of power originating from deep within the body is quietly growing and strengthening.
The skin membrane is as taut as a drumhead!
The surging blood and qi penetrate to the surface of the body, and the fascia network under the skin seems to be tightened and strengthened by an invisible force.
Zhang Yuan could even feel that his thin skin was undergoing a strange tempering, becoming more resilient and more sensitive to the outside world.
Even the slightest breeze seems to carry a clear trajectory.
This is an initial improvement in defensive capabilities, and the foundation of the physical body is being strengthened.
This comprehensive, inside-out training, a mixture of pain and pleasure, is like being in an invisible furnace!
Every surge of blood and qi, every crack of bones and muscles, lays an unprecedentedly solid foundation for this young yet hard-won body!
This foundation is the source of power and the cornerstone for climbing to higher realms of martial arts in the future!
Zhang Yuan was completely immersed in this profound realization.
The swaying of the oxcart became a rhythm that helped him feel the vibrations in his muscles and bones, while the coolness of the evening breeze made the burning sensation of his blood rushing through his veins even more pronounced.
He greedily absorbed and digested this hard-won insight, deeply engraving every detail and every artistic conception of the "Raging Bull Fist" at the advanced level into his instincts.
Zhang Gu talked for a long time, but the young master still kept his eyes closed and didn't say anything. However, his face had a strange glow. Sometimes his brows furrowed as if he was under some kind of pressure, and sometimes they relaxed to show an indescribable satisfaction.
The old servant understood, knowing that the young master must be processing today's insights, or perhaps savoring that miraculous strike.
He dared not disturb them any longer, but his smile deepened. He gently flicked the whip, urging the old ox along, and in the twilight, steadily made its way towards the gradually brightening lights of Fengming County.
The oxcart creaked, carrying the young man meditating with his eyes closed and the old servant filled with satisfaction, as well as the good name of "Young Master Qingyang, benevolent and courageous," and blended into the night as he returned to the city.
Within Zhang Yuan's body, a transformation concerning power and life was quietly taking place, accompanied by the deep roar of the raging bull.
As dusk settled, the ancient eaves of the Zhang family's old house were tinged with a deep purple.
The oxcart creaked into the courtyard gate, and Zhang Yuan leaped down lightly, landing silently, as if he were shedding not his own weight, but the clamor that had enveloped him all day.
He clenched his fist slightly, feeling the surging power within him, a world apart from the child who was barely breathing in the dilapidated house just half a month ago.
The changes brought about by slaughtering a cow in the village to absorb its abundant blood and energy, coupled with the unexpected breakthrough of the Wild Bull Fist to the Great Perfection realm, are earth-shattering.
Qi and blood flow like mercury, strength flows through both arms.
The blood and qi in his body were no longer a gentle stream, but rather viscous and scalding lead and mercury, surging and gushing through meridians that were several times stronger and wider, emitting a deep hum.
Each heartbeat is like a drumbeat, propelling an overwhelming force throughout the body.
Although the muscles in his arms were not exaggeratedly bulging, they contained explosive power; with a light grip, the joints would make a slight popping sound.
Now he has the strength of nearly 350 pounds with one arm, and with the combined strength of both arms, he can easily shake a 500-pound stone lock!
This is the mark of a mid-stage Acquired Realm cultivator achieving minor success in skin refining.
His skin is much tougher than that of ordinary people, his blood and qi are abundant, and his arms have the strength of three to five hundred pounds.
Moreover, the essence of the Wild Bull Fist, once perfected, has penetrated deep into his bones and muscles, continuously tempering his strength and resilience.
When exerting force, the spine rises and falls like a great dragon, and the sound of muscles and bones resonating can be clearly heard, as if muffled thunder is rolling within the body.
Its entire body is covered in a taut membrane, like several layers of tough cowhide. Ordinary blows with sticks would probably only leave faint red marks, greatly increasing its defensive capabilities.
With every gesture, there is a profound and weighty aura; his steps are firmly planted on the ground, and his body is as stable as a rock.
Moreover, his vital energy was abundant at this time, nourishing his five senses. His eyesight was much clearer in the dim light, and he could catch even the faintest sounds of wind and insects.
In combat, the ability to anticipate enemy movements and control one's own body is elevated to a new level.
Feeling his own power, Zhang Yuan's understanding of the path of martial arts became increasingly clear:
The three realms of transcendence are the foundational path of martial arts, aiming to shed the mortal body and solidify an unparalleled foundation.
The acquired stage involves refining the skin, polishing the skin membrane, and replenishing qi and blood.
In the early stages, the strength in both arms is 300 jin; in the middle stages, it is 500 jin; and at its peak, the strength reaches 1,000 jin!
He moves like a galloping horse, with strong muscles and bones, and is already considered a "master" in the eyes of the world.
The innate realm forges bones, tempers and refines the skeletal structure, and unleashes power throughout the entire body.
His bones were stronger than refined iron, his strength exceeded a thousand catties, his breath was long and deep, and he began to sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, with the rudimentary form of true energy beginning to grow.
The Grandmaster realm involves the transformation of tendons and marrow, and the condensation of powerful energy.
By opening up the meridians throughout the body and releasing internal energy, one can possess various supernatural abilities, such as injuring people from a distance or walking on water.
At the peak of this realm, the physical body is no longer ordinary, and the true "transformation from the mundane" begins.
After transcending the mortal realm comes the illusory realm.
The Three Realms of Profound Insight allow one to peer into the heavens and earth. This is the threshold to transcend the mortal realm and touch the laws of heaven and earth, possessing the power to destroy cities and mountains!
Based on the information Zhang Yuan has currently gathered, this being is like a celestial being on land.
The Vajra Realm's physical body is immaculate, indestructible, and possesses immense strength, capable of directly confronting magical treasures.
Those in the Dragon-Elephant Realm possess the immense strength of dragons and elephants. Their true essence can be transformed into liquid, allowing them to manipulate the earth's veins and water. Their true essence, when released, can easily destroy metal and shatter stone.
When powerful beings in this realm clash, the aftershocks can trigger natural disasters!
Those who attain the Insightful Realm can perceive the mysteries of heaven and earth, and their supernatural powers arise spontaneously. They live for five hundred years, establish their own sects, and are thus true "Land Immortals".
Having truly acquired power, Zhang Yuan yearned even more for the path of cultivation.
However, the euphoria of increased power was quickly dampened by the cold reality.
The transformation brought about by mastering the Wild Bull Fist is undoubtedly powerful, but it also clearly reveals the difficulty of subsequent cultivation.
The Acquired Realm of refining skin and forging bones is a slow and painstaking process, and also an expensive undertaking!
Each time you hammer and train your muscles, bones, skin, and membranes, you need to consume a huge amount of qi and blood energy.
Relying solely on ordinary food is inefficient and insufficient.
What he needs are treasures that can quickly replenish and strengthen his original vital energy and blood, such as spiritual medicines, blood foods, and pills!
What is the current state of the Zhang family?
The fertile fields outside the city were all destroyed, yielding no harvest and no hope of rent.
After purchasing ten bushels of unpolished rice and a cow yesterday, the family's meager remaining savings are likely almost gone.
The assistance from Zhang Gu's old comrades in the army, who were so sentimental about the past, was probably sporadic and insufficient to solve his immediate crisis.
As for selling off ancestral property?
That was the final step.
Regardless of whether anyone will take over the flooded land, selling off ancestral property will shake the Zhang family's foundation and attract controversy.
In martial arts training, the resources required become astronomical as you progress further.
A good medicinal bath recipe for strengthening bones and muscles may require tens or even hundreds of taels of silver.
Even a low-grade elixir that can strengthen the body's foundation and nourish its vital energy is quite valuable.
Given the Zhang family's current predicament of "only taking in and not giving out," they are simply unable to support his continued cultivation.
For the first time, Zhang Yuan deeply understood the weighty significance of the phrase "poor scholar, rich warrior."
Just as Zhang Yuan was pondering his predicament and stepped into the courtyard, a figure was already waiting under the eaves.
The man was in his early thirties, short and stout, wearing a brand-new brocade robe, with a warm smile on his face.
Upon seeing Zhang Yuan, he immediately strode forward to greet him, his voice booming with exaggerated intimacy:
"Oh my! My nephew Qingyang! You're finally back!"
"Uncle, I heard you went to the estate today, so I rushed over to see you! Let your uncle take a look!"
As he spoke, a pair of thick, fleshy hands enthusiastically reached out and grabbed Zhang Yuan's hand.
Zhang Yuan frowned almost imperceptibly, and his wrist slightly retracted, only to let the other person tug at his sleeve.
Zhang Gu's voice came in a very low voice: "Young Master, this is your cousin, Mr. Wang Quanfu, who does business in the south of the city."
Zhang Yuan remained calm and nodded slightly: "Greetings, Uncle."
Wang Quanfu seemed completely unconcerned by Zhang Yuan's aloofness, still tugging at his sleeve as he affectionately led him towards the main hall. He leaned closer, lowering his voice, his tone filled with heartfelt regret and pain:
"Nephew Qingyang, your uncle has heard about your trip to the estate! Visiting the villagers and winning their hearts is a good thing! Your uncle supports it! However..."
He changed the subject, a shrewd calculation on his face.
"Ten bushels of coarse rice! That's too much! My dear nephew, you're young and don't understand the minds of farmers. You look honest and simple, but you're shrewd as a nut!"
"Don't overfeed them, or they'll forget your kindness! Let them be a little hungry, so they'll appreciate your generosity!"
He paused, glancing at the silent Zhang Gu beside him, his tone slightly reproachful: "And that ox! Nephew Qingyang, you don't know the cost of firewood and rice when you're not in charge of the household, and Brother Gu, didn't you even give me a heads-up?"
"A healthy ox would cost at least five thousand coins, wouldn't it? Five thousand coins!"
He held up his five chubby fingers and waved them in front of Zhang Yuan's eyes, his tone becoming more serious, "How many steamed buns can five thousand coins buy? How many things can it accomplish? Ever since your father... alas, died for his country, this house has only been spending money and not earning any; our circumstances have been dire!"
"If it weren't for the fact that your uncle has managed to build up some wealth over the years and has often helped out, this house probably wouldn't even be able to maintain the most basic social interactions!"
Zhang Gu's face twitched, but he didn't say anything.
Wang Quanfu wasn't entirely lying.
That amount of brown rice and beef is indeed the limit that the Zhang family can offer right now.
Zhang Yuan paused, stopped in his tracks, and looked at Wang Quanfu with a calm and unwavering gaze.
Wang Quanfu was slightly taken aback by his gaze, his smile froze for a moment, then he forced an even more "sincere" smile and said earnestly, "Oh dear, nephew Qingyang, your uncle isn't blaming you, absolutely not!"
"But... things are different now. You need to keep a clear account of all the household expenses, from income to expenditure! You're still young; you don't understand that without money, a person has no courage!"
He patted his round belly, as if to prove the saying "money gives you courage".
Zhang Yuan listened quietly, his face showing neither embarrassment nor anger at being lectured. He simply asked, "Is there anything else, Uncle?"
Wang Quanfu was taken aback by the blunt question. He opened his mouth, seemingly not expecting Zhang Yuan's calm reaction.
He chuckled dryly twice and waved his hand, saying, "It's nothing, nothing! I was just happy to hear you were back safe and sound, so I came to see you and let you know where you are!"
As he spoke, he waved behind him.
Two servants quickly stepped forward, carrying several beautifully decorated brocade boxes.
Wang Quanfu pointed to the brocade box, beaming, "Come, come, your uncle brought you some little things. This is a fine Huzhou brush and Huizhou ink, useful for reading and writing; this is old ginseng, to nourish your body; and this box contains rare fruits from the south... Just a little something, just a little something!"
After setting down the gift, Wang Quanfu leaned closer, adopting a sincere and open manner, lowering his voice even further, and deliberately glancing at Zhang Gu beside him: "Nephew Qingyang, remember, in Fengming County, if you encounter any difficulties, just tell your uncle! Your uncle is your closest relative!"
"Outsiders... Hmph, there's always a layer between them."
He glanced briefly at Zhang Gu not far away, his words carrying a hidden meaning.
Zhang Yuan looked at his seemingly concerned face, nodded, and followed up, saying, "Uncle is right. I am indeed in a difficult situation right now, and I was just about to ask you for help."