Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 48: Chapter 46: Blood Tempering Second Transformation, With Divine Help

The second floor was an exceptionally spacious hall, laid with a burgundy carpet. In the center of the room was a huge circular ring.

Massive ink wash paintings hung on both sides of the hall. The entire rear wall was a built-in display case, filled with the various Martial Dao tournament awards the Dragon Eagle Martial Arts Hall had won over the years.

In front of the display case was a mahogany table where, besides Situ Bai, two young men in black Martial Dao Uniforms were chatting.

Both of them looked very young, about the same age as Senior Brother Lei Ming. They had ordinary features but appeared slightly fatigued. More importantly, the brothers had very long arms.

When he noticed the two looked as if they were carved from the same mold, Wan Ze knew these were probably the Third and Fourth Senior Brothers Lei Ming had told him about.

”Master, you were looking for me,” Wan Ze said as he approached.

The three men who had been chatting all looked up.

The moment Situ Bai saw Wan Ze, he chuckled and said, ”Ah Ze, these are your Third Senior Brother, Zhai Yu, and your Fourth Senior Brother, Zhai Jia.”

”Greetings, Third Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Brother,” Wan Ze nodded.

”I’ve long heard that Master took on a new, younger brother. You’re every bit as impressive as they say,” Zhai Yu chuckled, rising and extending his hand. ”Junior Brother, you’ve clashed with the Secret Palace... That must have been quite the thrilling experience, eh?”

”It’s a long story,” Wan Ze said with a sigh.

Zhai Yu chuckled.

Zhai Jia, on the other hand, seemed eager for action. ”To make it back alive from an encounter with those Secret Palace thugs right after reaching Blood Tempering—Junior Brother, your skills are truly extraordinary.”

”Everyone, sit,” Situ Bai said with a smile. He was very pleased with the disciples he had accepted, especially Wan Ze.

At only sixteen, his progress in Qi and Blood Tempering was already far beyond that of his peers. Coupled with his understanding of the Dragon Eagle Secret Martial Arts and his Innate Divine Power, his potential was extraordinary.

Moreover, the ruthless decisiveness he’d shown when facing the Secret Palace Assassins alone reminded Situ Bai of his younger self.

He eagerly anticipated what kind of grand path to the heavens his youngest disciple would carve for himself in the future.

”Your junior brother has only just started his training, so don’t you dare bully him,” Situ Bai said with a laugh.

”Master, you’re playing favorites,” Zhai Yu said, crossing his arms. ”But don’t worry, Junior Brother. If there’s anything you don’t understand from now on, just come ask me.”

”In that case, I’m afraid I’ll be bothering you often, Senior Brother,” Wan Ze replied with a smile.

Zhai Jia let out a hearty laugh, squeezing Wan Ze’s shoulder and patting it. ”Junior Brother, these muscles feel solid. Your Secret Martial Arts training must be quite thorough. We’re all brothers from the same school; there’ll be plenty of time to get to know each other. How about we go out for a celebratory meal for our new junior brother tonight?”

Wan Ze’s shoulder was patted with a series of loud THUMPS, but he simply smiled.

He could sense that despite their immense strength, and despite this being their first meeting, his two new senior brothers didn’t look down on him in the slightest. They treated him with the warmth of family.

”I won’t join you. You youngsters go on ahead. Call Lei Ming, too. As his senior brothers, you can take the opportunity to have a good talk with the boy,” Situ Bai said, waving his hand dismissively.

Upon hearing this, Zhai Yu’s voice turned serious. ”Is it about the Tiger Talisman?”

Situ Bai nodded, a hint of helplessness in his voice. ”That foolish boy is blaming it all on himself...”

”Life is never smooth sailing. Don’t worry, Master. I’ll have a good talk with Ah Ming tonight,” Zhai Yu immediately assured him.

Situ Bai rose to his feet. Before leaving, he patted Wan Ze’s shoulder, motioning for him to have a good talk with his senior brothers.

As soon as he left, the atmosphere in the hall grew even more spirited.

Zhai Jia was already getting impatient. ”It’ll be a while before Lei Ming gets here. Junior Brother... how about we have a little sparring match?”

Wan Ze froze.

Zhai Jia grinned. ”Don’t worry, I’ll suppress my strength. We’ll just exchange a few pointers.”

”Alright.”

Wan Ze was nothing if not decisive.

Even though Lei Ming had already told him that both senior brothers were at the Middle to Late Stage of Refining Viscera—a huge gap in power—it was a rare opportunity to face an expert. He was eager to see for himself the difference between the Qi and Blood Refining realm and the Refining Viscera realm.

The two walked to the center of the hall.

Watching his younger brother and their new junior brother, Zhai Yu shook his head in resignation but didn’t intervene.

Wan Ze assumed a ready stance and grinned. ”Fourth Senior Brother, I’m coming.”

”Bring it!” Zhai Jia nodded.

Wan Ze instantly took a large step forward, his fingers forming a fist as he threw an Iron Mountain Fist.

The punch was incredibly swift.

Both its Power and speed were impressive.

”A good strike!”

Zhai Jia nodded in approval. He didn’t use his superior Power and speed to overwhelm Wan Ze. Instead, he used his forearm to deflect the blow, intending to guide Wan Ze and expand his martial thinking.

At the same time, Zhai Jia raised his left hand and swiped from the side, his index finger aiming to tap the back of Wan Ze’s punching hand.

But...

He missed!

”Huh! Junior Brother, your reactions are incredible!” Zhai Jia exclaimed in surprise.

Even Zhai Yu, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn’t help but stand up. ”Xiaojia’s finger strike may be nothing special, but among all the new disciples at the Dragon Eagle Martial Arts Hall, very few could dodge it. I never expected our junior brother to not only evade it but also seize the initiative, cutting off Xiaojia’s next attack... His physical conditioning is far superior to most!”

”Impressive,” Zhai Jia praised.

Wan Ze gave a slight smile and offered a few humble words, but his eyes darted to his status window.

The dodge task for the Mysterious Shadow Step had indeed been completed.

A cool stream of energy surged up from the soles of his feet, making his entire body feel lighter.

The information in his status window updated rapidly:

[Illustrated Guide: Mysterious Shadow Step](High Level, Mastered)

[Effect 1: Agility +0.01]

[Effect 2: Agility +0.02; Coordination +0.03]

[Skill Special Level Requirement: Walk 500,000 meters and successfully dodge three attacks.]

...

Wan Ze’s eyes lit up.

Previously, among all his Attributes, only his Agility Attribute had been stuck below 0.8. Now, with the successful upgrade of his Mysterious Shadow Step, it had broken through the 0.8 barrier in one fell swoop.

At that exact moment, Wan Ze detected a change within his body. He felt a torrent of heat swirling inside his chest as his Qi and Blood began to surge violently.

”Xiaojia, stay back!” Zhai Yu was the first to notice something was wrong with Wan Ze. Moving like a bolt of lightning, he appeared at Zhai Jia’s side and pulled him back.

”What’s happening to our junior brother?” Zhai Jia asked, stunned. He turned to Zhai Yu in alarm. ”Is he... having a breakthrough?”

”Yes.” Zhai Yu nodded, his expression grave.

”Holy shit, that’s possible?” Zhai Jia was dumbfounded. He stared at his own hands, never having imagined he could help someone achieve a breakthrough like this.

Zhai Yu ignored him and went to Wan Ze’s side. His voice grew soft and steady. ”Junior Brother Wan Ze, you are advancing to the Blood Tempering Second Transformation. Clear your mind of all distractions. Focus on the changes in your Qi and Blood and circulate your Breathing Technique. If the Breathing Technique can’t control the surge, try using the Secret Martial Arts.”

”...Alright. Thank you, Senior Brother.”

After a hasty reply, Wan Ze began circulating the Thunderbolt Breathing Technique. Ever since he had raised this Breathing Technique to the Special Level, he could operate it with a mere thought.

The roiling Qi and Blood inside him were easily brought under control. As he circulated the Breathing Technique, he simultaneously assumed the foundational stance of the Dragon Eagle Secret Martial Arts and, to their surprise, entered a state of Deep Meditation.

The brothers, Zhai Yu and Zhai Jia, were left completely dumbfounded.

”Is Junior Brother... having an epiphany???”

...

「Ten minutes later.」

Situ Bai appeared on the second floor. Seeing Wan Ze in a state of Deep Meditation, he said a single word three times in a row: ”Good! Good! Good!”

”What happened today must not be spoken of to anyone outside this room!”