Chapter 37: Entering The City
Song Qi nearly tugged at his beard, eyes wide open, unable to recover for a long time.
In just a few days, how had this kid achieved Great Accomplishment in Stance Training?
In his steps, the Stance Training was integrated into his body, form and intent united. Although not yet fully restrained, it was clearly Golden Ape Stance Training at Great Accomplishment.
Originally, he had wanted to offer a few pointers, but now what was there to point out? He himself had only achieved Great Accomplishment in Green Sheep Stance Training.
Don’t talk about that nonsense of mastering one method leading to all methods. This kid was far from that level. With the same level of comprehension, what was there to instruct?
“Old man, I luckily broke through and temporarily can’t restrain my aura yet. I’m not proficient enough.”
Su Yan said it lightly, but Song Qi, this old fellow, sneered coldly: “Keep pretending. Your Monkey Fist wouldn’t have also reached Great Accomplishment, would it?”
Who knew Su Yan would grin: “It just happened to reach Great Accomplishment while fighting wild beasts in the mountains.”
Song Qi yanked out a beard hair, pointing at Su Yan and “you”-ing for a long time, ultimately not knowing what to say.
Recovering his senses, his eyes burned intensely: “Impossible. With your Black Bear and Vicious Tiger, nothing could stop you. Even if you went specifically to fight wild beasts and brush up on Stance Training, your progress couldn’t be this fast.”
Indeed, before Stance Method Great Accomplishment, Su Yan had already been able to combat Vicious Tigers. So what if he now killed a blind bear?
Could it possibly be more ferocious than a Vicious Tiger?
Su Yan no longer held back at this point: “I used Red Skin Powder and other supplements for Stance Training, and progress was fast, but right before breakthrough, it slowed down.”
“Normal. Realm breakthroughs make supplements effective, but sometimes they don’t fully work.”
“I remember Yang Zhangdao and you, old man, both said not to practice dead stances.”
Su Yan continued: “Combining fist and stance I have gradually mastered, and walking while hiding stance I have also learned mostly. So I thought there was another method of practicing live stances I hadn’t tried.”
“Your comprehension…”
Hearing this, Song Qi already understood in his heart. He sighed: “Right, to reach Great Accomplishment, there’s still a way to go: striking stances and killing stances. Martial Arts is originally a heaven-reaching art, and even more a killing art. If you learn a body of martial skills but dare not fight and kill, then you’ve wasted half of it.”
Su Yan had self-realized that combat Cultivation Practice was the final stretch, and he put it into practice directly, entering the mountains.
Back in the day, he had been thrown into the mountains by the old shopkeeper, chased by blind bears, and only then gradually comprehended it.
And this kid…
“I luckily killed a Bronze Fox Ape, and then broke through.”
“Bronze Fox Ape, an Early First Order feral beast. Even among the Desolate Mountains, it’s a ferocious thing at the same realm.”
Song Qi, just from Su Yan’s description, named last night’s Fierce Ape.
“Bronze Fox Ape? Apt name. I saw it combat a Wolf Pack, which led me to find Blood Tendon Flower in the wolf den.”
“Don’t hold back on the Bronze Fox Ape. Right after breakthrough, your body foundation needs solidifying. Eat as much as you can. Take two Blood Tendon Flowers; I only need three. In a bit, get one Dan Zhi Mushroom from Bai Shan and put it on my tab.”
Song Qi pondered, like dispensing medicine: “Take half a tael each of Earth Blood Vine, Dan Zhi Mushroom, and Blood Essence Yellow. Simmer with Bronze Fox Ape bone and flesh, drink it all. This will temper your Skin Membrane, store medicinal potency, and start nourishing Muscle and Bone, allowing you to break through Muscle and Bone Realm faster.”
Su Yan memorized this prescription and nodded: “Thanks, old man. Tomorrow I’ll send some Bronze Fox Ape flesh and blood your way too.”
Song Qi chuckled: “What do I need Early First Order feral beast flesh and blood for? Once you become an Inner Disciple, achieve Muscle and Bone Realm, and enter the Desolate Mountains, you’ll know how many feral beasts are there. Each family’s core strength is holed up in those mountains, and the great contention is there.”
After speaking, Song Qi added: “Your family is just you. Stay here these days. Tomorrow I’ll take you into the city to meet some old friends and introduce you. Once you’re in Golden Ape Martial Arts School Inner Sect, you’ll have to move around the city often.”
Song Qi was a bit nagging, but the smile on his face never faded.
“Go rest first. If you need anything, call Bai Shan.”
“Alright.”
Su Yan agreed and then left the courtyard gate.
“This old man has lived for decades and can’t even instruct a kid. Lived in vain.”
Song Qi showed annoyance and thought: “Hundred Herbs Hall’s martial arts are hard to teach. Looks like I can only shamelessly ask a few old guys to teach a move or two. Just relying on Golden Ape Martial Arts School skills leaves too big a shortcoming.”
At this thought, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes. Back then, he had lost by half a move because of his shortcoming.
“Gu Changfeng!”
……
Morning mist rose, chill piercing in the mountains. Su Yan endured the cold and got up early to practice Stance Training in the courtyard.
Even with Stance Training at Great Accomplishment, above Great Accomplishment there was still Transformation Realm.
Two Insect Yuans entered his body. Su Yan’s form was casual, yet Stance Training and Movement Technique were completely integrated with it.
Strands of Qi and Blood were continuously refined from his body, like countless tiny streams in the mountains gradually converging into a surging river.
‘Great Accomplishment Stance Training not only refines more Qi and Blood, but it’s also stronger, and the intensity of tempering the body is even greater.’
While standing in stance, Su Yan sensed how this Great Accomplishment Stance Training was completely different from Minor Accomplishment before.
The even stronger Stance Training not only refined stronger, more surging Qi and Blood to temper the body, but also enhanced his ability to digest external Essence.
In the same time and state, his absorption and digestion of medicinal potency was also strengthening.
The two aspects complemented each other. With sufficient resources, the speed of getting stronger was imaginable.
Su Yan stood for over an hour, exhausting the two Insect Yuans. He exhaled a breath of turbid air, then practiced Monkey Fist.
Eight Forms of Monkey Fist flowed as desired, punches instinctive, power full, lively and savage like that day’s Bronze Fox Ape, yet with a touch of agility.
“Good!”
Song Qi had woken by now, dressed in a dark long robe, full of vigor, and shouted praise.
Su Yan stopped. Song Qi walked over and said: “Eat something, then come with me into the city to see someone.”
Su Yan nodded in agreement, thinking to himself: “The person the old man wants to see at this time is probably related to Blood Tendon Flower.”
The two ate, took fine horses from the shop, and rode out of Mountain Market.
Little Mountain Association’s informants watched wide-eyed.
“What to do? That kid is sticking with Steward Song, no chance at all.”
“Go find Gu Tou. He has to handle this.”
The few Little Mountain Association underlings tailing them gathered in a street corner. They had watched all night.
They thought once the kid left Hundred Herbs Hall, they could find a chance to take him and send him to Gu Hong.
But who would have thought it would turn out like this.
“Gu Tou entered the city last night. How to find him?”
The few exchanged glances, unable to think of a method for the moment. But rushing straight to Hundred Herbs Hall, even without Song Qi, they didn’t dare.
Thinking it over, they could only withdraw for now.
For the moment, Mountain Market was calm as ever.
Meanwhile, Su Yan and Song Qi rode fast on fine horses and soon entered Yun Cang Town.
Upon entering, Song Qi didn’t head straight to Hundred Herbs Hall, but went to Cang Liu Alley.
Cang Liu Alley was where Yun Cang Town’s wealthy households resided. Streets were wide, rows of willows lined up, long branches swaying prettily in the breeze.
Past this alley were all grand courtyards and large courtyards. Without vast wealth, one couldn’t buy a good courtyard here.
The two rode in and arrived at a residence at the alley’s end.
Dismounting and tying the horses to willow roots, Song Qi strode forward and banged on the gate.
“Who is it?”
A servant opened the door. Seeing it was Song Qi, he bowed apologetically: “Steward Song, didn’t know it was you. My offense.”
“Make way.”
Song Qi pushed aside the servant, bringing Su Yan striding in: “Take good care of the horses.”
As he walked, he called loudly: “Old Xu Er, this old man is back! Come welcome me!”
