Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 59: Chapter 57: Special Level Achievement, Invitation from a Distinguished Guest

After the whole story was told, Zhai Jia and Lei Ming were both speechless.

”They wanted to negotiate, but they’re also arrogant. The key thing is they didn’t dare come to the dojo. They were probably afraid Master would kill them on the spot...”

”Of all the people to mess with, they just had to pick Ah Ze. He was asking to die,” Lei Ming muttered under his breath.

They didn’t bother Situ Bai with this matter.

The key thing was that Zhai Jia’s family was very powerful, and an operation to clean up Holy City was put on the agenda.

”Junior Brother, don’t worry about this. Just relax and enjoy yourself!”

...

「Nightfall.」

On a small path in a park by the river embankment, Wan Ze had changed back into a set of loose-fitting clothes and was jogging along the riverbank.

Even though he had just been in a major fight, it didn’t hinder his determination to complete his tasks.

A wind rose, and the river slapped against the embankment, the water rushing past.

He passed under a streetlight.

He rolled up his sleeve and saw that the red mark left on his wrist where the man in the trench coat had grabbed him was already fading away.

The Thunderbolt Breathing Technique had been perfected, and its effects were extraordinary.

The High Level mission for Iron Mountain Fist would, barring any surprises, be completed this week.

The High Level mission for the Taming the Tiger Vajra Skill, however, was still short by over a hundred instances of Qi and Blood Convergence.

The High Level mission for the Mystic Round Innate Qi Cultivation Technique also required one more Deep Meditation... It seemed simple, but in reality, it was the hardest.

And the Special Level mission for Mysterious Shadow Step was three hundred kilometers... That would also take time.

He let out a long breath.

’You have to eat your meal one bite at a time, or you’ll choke.’

Leaving the park, Wan Ze continued running along the long street.

At the street corner, an old man in a worn-out felt hat was struggling to pedal a tricycle up a slope. The tricycle was piled high with folded cardboard boxes. A boy of about twelve or thirteen jumped off and ran to the rear to try and push, but he didn’t have enough strength.

Just then, a hand suddenly braced the tricycle. With a gentle push, the vehicle’s backward momentum vanished, and it began to surge forward.

The old man quickly looked back.

Wan Ze smiled and said, ”Sir, keep pedaling. Once you’re over the slope up ahead, it’ll be an easy ride.”

”Thank you, thank you so much. There are still so many kind people in the world.”

After the tricycle made it smoothly up the slope, the grandfather and grandson thanked him profusely.

Wan Ze continued to run off into the night. Most of the shops on both sides of the road were already closed, and only a few staggering pedestrians could be seen once in a while.

The scene of his earlier fight with the man in the trench coat suddenly replayed in his mind.

’I’ve gotten stronger...’

’But it’s not enough.’

Wan Ze took a deep breath, thinking over the details of the fight. ’In the past, speed was my biggest weakness. Now that I’ve cultivated Mysterious Shadow Step, my speed has improved significantly. Combined with Iron Mountain Fist, Dragon Eagle Secret Martial Arts, and the Thunderbolt Breathing Technique... at the end of the day, the Illustrated Guide is my real trump card.’

’Tiger and Wolf Momentum will crush opponents during a burst of qi and blood. It can increase my own presence while also psychologically intimidating the enemy... but it eventually disappears. I need more Stealing Celestial Secret.’

’As for Stealing Celestial Secret...’

Wan Ze felt like he was onto something, but the feeling wasn’t clear. He could only wait and hope to come across more old artifacts in the future; perhaps there would be another pleasant surprise.

Wan Ze ran in the direction of his home while summarizing his experience.

He returned home.

His parents were already asleep.

He tiptoed to wash up, then sat on his bed to practice the Qi Nourishing Technique, gradually drifting off to sleep.

...

「Morning.」

The clock in the living room began to chime, seven times in total.

His younger sister, Xiaoyu, was fiddling with her hair. She took the glass of milk her mother handed her, and her eyes lit up the moment she saw Wan Ze come out. ”Big Brother!”

Wan Ze ruffled her hair and sat down in his seat.

On the sofa nearby, Father Wan shook out his newspaper and, tilting his head up, asked, ”Xiaozhe, has there been any news about that incident with your dojo’s car in the West Suburb? The rumors outside are... saying something about a terrorist... organization? Is that true?”

”It’s fake, probably? Just an accident. No one was hurt,” Wan Ze said casually, not wanting his family to think he was involved in any dangerous activities.

”As long as it’s nothing... The media just spouts nonsense these days. They’re even saying the Slavic Kingdom discovered a deity. A goddamn deity.”

Father Wan went back to reading his newspaper, soon starting to mumble about the international situation.

After breakfast.

Wan Ze took his sister on the school bus.

The shops on both sides of the road were already open, and steam wafted from the breakfast carts.

The school bus sped along a tree-lined road toward a stone bridge up ahead. After crossing the bridge and continuing straight down the main central road for another ten-odd minutes, the landmark building of Saint City Noble Academy would come into view.

The next few days were exceptionally calm.

Ever since the man in the trench coat died, the Secret Palace in Holy City seemed to have vanished without a trace, no longer coming to bother Wan Ze.

Naturally, Wan Ze was happy with the peace and quiet.

Two days later, Mysterious Shadow Step was finally upgraded to Special Level.

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

[Effect 1: Agility +0.01]

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

[Effect 3: Instant Flash (All Attributes +0.01, Agility Attribute extra +0.02)]

[Skill Ultimate Form Requirement: Travel 1,000,000 meters]

...

’The third effect is Instant Flash?’

Wan Ze’s eyes lit up.

He moved slightly, and with no warning whatsoever, he looked back and found that he had actually teleported.

Although the teleportation distance was only sixty centimeters.

But that was enough!

In a close-quarters battle, even ten centimeters could be enough to achieve a surprising victory!

The practical combat application of this trump card was absurdly powerful!

And with the increase in his attribute values.

Wan Ze could also clearly feel his internal qi and blood surge and rapidly grow stronger.

[Physical Strength: 0.9]

[Intelligence: 0.85]

[Agility: 0.83]

[Endurance: 0.83]

[Power: 0.85]

[Coordination: 0.85]

...

His Physical Strength broke past the 0.9 mark. Almost instantly, Wan Ze felt an astonishing power surge within him, as if his entire being was brimming with limitless vitality.

’My strength has increased again!’

He let out a soft breath, sighing in relief inwardly.

’By my calculations, the upgrades for the Secret Martial Arts and Iron Mountain Fist should happen in the next day or two!’

’This way, even if I run into another assassin from the Secret Palace... I won’t be in such a sorry state.’

After school, Zhou Xianchuan had his arm around Wan Ze’s shoulder, constantly making gestures of martial arts moves and chattering nonstop, ”...I feel like my training during this period has really boosted my qi and blood a lot. Maybe I’ll be able to reach the Blood Tempering First Transformation by early spring next year. Ah Ze, will you have time to practice with me later?”

”Sure,” Wan Ze agreed without hesitation.

Zhou Xianchuan was pleasantly surprised, but then he hesitated. ”Will it get in the way of your Cultivation?”

Wan Ze flipped him the bird. ”Get in the way of what? Why are you spouting such bullshit between brothers?”

”I knew you loved me best.”

”Piss off. Be serious.”

”Hehehe.”

As the two of them joked around on their way to the bus stop, they happened to run into Ke Yuan and Fang Xiaoxi. The two were wrapped around each other, looking like they wished they could just merge into one person.

Ke Yuan looked at them, raised an eyebrow, and then, as if to show off, gave Fang Xiaoxi a hard squeeze. It made her cry out and her face flush red, not daring to look up at all.

Ke Yuan laughed loudly and got on his motorcycle.

Zhou Xianchuan was dumbfounded. ”Holy crap, when did those two hook up?”

Wan Ze calmly averted his gaze.

He hadn’t paid much attention to Ke Yuan. Instead, he was staring at a luxury import car not far away. A man from the car was already jogging over, bowing his head respectfully as he spoke:

”Mr. Wan, President Tie would like to invite you to his home for a visit.”

Wan Ze’s expression was calm.

But Zhou Xianchuan, standing beside him, was so shocked his jaw dropped. If he weren’t afraid of embarrassing himself, he would have already grabbed Wan Ze’s leg and started screaming.

President Tie from Tie Shizhe????

Holy shit!!!! Ah Ze!!!! And you said you weren’t a big deal?

You’re fucking awesome! This is insane! Okay?!!!!!!!