Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Vigorous life force radiated from every single one of the bones inside the body. During the days of progressing to the Martial Master realm, the practice was to ‘channel Qi into the bones’. However, the vital Qi that was channeled into the bones half a year ago was like a seed that had been planted into the ground. Nourished by the sun and rain, it had begun to germinate, bringing about a whole new change to Yan Liqiang’s body.
After the vital Qi entered the bone, it began to nourish the bone marrow in the bones. The Qi and bone merged while the bone marrow was the real essence of the body’s Qi and blood. Therefore, strengthening the bone marrow would surely strengthen the Qi and blood throughout the entire body. Strong Qi and blood would produce an abundance of vital Qi to the dantian and the vital Qi from the dantian would once again return back to the bone to nourish the bone marrow. This would hence complete the circulation within the body and enable a person to progress from the Martial Master to Martial Grandmaster realm.
How ‘grand’ was that?
His physical strength, stamina, and the power in the hand and leg movements were significantly increased. His overall physical aspects were also brought to a whole new level. The bones were now as strong as steel while the Qi and blood coursed throughout the entire body. The powerful vital force formed from the bone marrow circulated endlessly in the body. Teeth that had fallen out could be regrown, bones that were broken could be regenerated, and even a person’s height could possibly be extended to make them taller. This was the realm of Martial Grandmaster.
Yan Liqiang undid his clothing and lay on the stone bed inside the secret chamber with his chest exposed. He closed his eyes while sensing the gratifying changes within the bones of his body. He gently massaged the Zhongwan Acupoint above his belly button with the palm of his right hand to harmonize the vital Qi and blood inside his body.
The simple-looking motions were the secret to progressing from a Martial Master to a Martial Grandmaster found in the ‘Ten Dragons Ten Elephants Divine Technique’.
A clockwise massage would be for refilling while an anticlockwise massage would be for expelling. The blood, bone, and vital Qi intersected with each other. The strengths and weaknesses of each type of Qi were different, depending on the individual. Therefore, it had to be carefully reconditioned using the massage technique to transfer the Qi from the lungs and liver in order to complement each other. This could then construct the inner body circulation needed in order to complete the progression into the Martial Grandmaster realm.
Yan Liqiang had already been massaging for one whole night inside the cave. When morning came, the dantian in his abdomen suddenly produced sounds that resembled thunderclaps. They only ceased after a good while. After Yan Liqiang exhaled a long breath, he quietly got up from the bed. He got dressed and exited to the naturally-formed valley outside the cave.
It was already noon and the sun was already high up in the sky. Inside the small valley, flowers bloomed and birds were chirping. A few orioles were chirping and singing on a trumpet vine nearby.
Yan Liqiang closed his eyes to take in the fragrance of the flowers in the valley. He felt the warm sunshine on his body that made him feel refreshed.
Time passed by very quickly; it was already summer. It was the fifth lunar month and it had been almost three months since Yan Liqiang stayed with the Great Moon Tribe. During the past three months, the Great Moon Tribe had carefully prepared for the Shatu soldiers who might once again trudge through the depths of Mount Jade Dragon. However, the Shatu people never came and neither did the Dark Wood Tribe nor the other Shatu tribes. It had been peaceful on Mount Jade Dragon. It was almost as if the battle with the two thousand soldiers led by Morbeto three months ago never happened and had been completely forgotten.
Of course, Yan Liqiang had not been fooling around within these three months either. Although he was staying with the Great Moon Tribe, he had once again re-entered the painstaking state of cultivation for about three whole months.
The place he chose to cultivate now was a deserted little valley about ten li away from the Great Moon Tribe’s settlement. There were a lot of caves on both sides of the valley and this was where the elders of the Great Moon Tribe cultivated in seclusion. It was a restricted area in the Great Moon Tribe and a convenient place for Yan Liqiang to come to the rescue of the Great Moon Tribe at any given time. It was quiet as no one would disturb him as the place was off-limits to everyone, except for the chief and elders.
Hard work eventually paid off. After six months of continuous cultivation on Mount Jade Dragon, it was no surprise that Yan Liqiang progressed into a Martial Grandmaster today, bringing his strength to the next level.
“It’s been six months, so it’s almost time to go back!” Yan Liqiang looked at the lush flowers and plants beside him, then mumbled to himself, “Since six months have passed already, the project in Liuhe Town should be half-complete by now. The field for the archery academy should be there and Lei Sitong should have taken all the salt pans!”
When he left home half a year ago, it was still winter. By now, flowers were already blooming everywhere. While he was cultivating on Mount Jade Dragon, there were a lot of matters waiting for him to resolve in Pingxi Prefecture, and it was about time for him to go back.
“Brother Long…” A voice came from afar. Yan Liqiang turned his head and saw Selena in a beautiful floral dress standing at the entrance of the valley looking at him. She waved her hands and ran toward him excitedly.
Selena was now one of the elders of the Great Moon Tribe. Thus, she had access to this place. It had been five days since Yan Liqiang last saw her. Selena was here to deliver food to Yan Liqiang and also to provide ‘comfort’ to Yan Liqiang who had been painstakingly cultivating so that his days in the valley were not so depressing.
“Selena, why are you here?” According to the agreement, Selena would only deliver food to Yan Liqiang once a week. It had only been five days and Selena had come again. However, looking at Selena’s expression, it seemed that nothing bad had happened. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be smiling.
“Brother Long, the Shatu people started fighting…” Selena shouted before she even got close to Yan Liqiang. “We just got the news that the Dark Razor Tribe and Dark Wood Tribe have started fighting in the Gulang Plains!”
Yan Liqiang was slightly taken aback first before bursting into laughter. It seemed that the hatred and distrust he had planted in the Shatu people had finally started to brew. Prior to this, Yan Liqiang had only tried his best and didn’t expect it to really succeed. When he heard the news, Yan Liqiang felt that God was on his side. The Dark Razor Tribe and Dark Wood Tribe had been old foes within the Shatu Seven Tribes, and they were finally clashing against each other.
“What happened? Take your time to explain…” Yan Liqiang hugged Selena who ran toward him, “Where did you hear the news from?”
“Elder Ghan and his people caught a few Shatu people who came into Mount Jade Dragon to gather herbs. After interrogating those Shatu people, we found out that the two sons of the Dark Razor Tribe’s chief were ambushed and killed out of the blue by the Dark Wood Tribe when they were hunting in the Gulang Plains a few days ago. This instantly caused a huge stir. A battle instantly broke out between the Dark Razor Tribe and the Dark Wood Tribe, resulting in a lot of fatalities. The Shatu Seven Tribes are now in chaos. As soon as my mother heard this news, she asked me to quickly come and inform you!” After she finished her sentences, Selena suddenly noticed that there was something unusual with Yan Liqiang, “Ah, Brother Long, it’s only been a few days since I last saw you, but why do I feel that you’ve suddenly become taller? Look! Even your sleeves are much shorter now…”
