Chapter 4 Half Martial Physique
A delicate-looking youth sat cross-legged in bed with his upper body exposed. Both of his palms lied flat in front of his abdomen, eyes closed, and a look of concentration filled his face. White smoke could barely be seen rising from his silky black hair as if he was bathing in steam—it was an incredibly strange sight.
An hour later, the youth slowly opened his eyes, received his hands and jumped out of bed.
Just then, the sounds of knocking came from the door.
Ling Xiao’s father, Ling Zhan, entered the room still holding a wine jug in his hand—it was almost as if the jug has never left his side. He had a rather excited expression as he looked at his son.
“I heard from your mother that you beat Ling Rui’s two lapdogs?” Ling Zhan looked for a chair and asked as he sat down.
Ling Xiao nodded his head. “Yes, father.”
Ling Zhan’s brow rose as he asked with a bit of excitement, “Can you cultivate xuan strength?”
Ling Xiao shook his head. “Not yet, but…it won’t be long before I can cultivate again.” If internal strength is called xuan strength on this continent, then I’ll just call it xuan strength from now on!
“Is this true?!” Ling Zhan stood up and asked excitedly. However, his expression quickly dimmed again as he forced a smile and said. “Only a fifth-grade heaven-defying medicine dan will have a slim chance of repairing terminated meridians, otherwise…Come on Xiao’er, both of us are just lying to ourselves!” Having said that, Ling Zhan took a drink and attempted to numb himself with the alcohol.
Ling Xiao clenched his fists as he watched his father before loosening up and said. “Do not lose heart, dad. As the saying goes, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. As long as we are willing to work for it, we will be able to regain control of our destiny.
Ling Zhan lifted his head to glance at his son, sighed softly, and then turned to exit the room, leaving Ling Xiao by himself.
“Don’t worry father. Things are very different now for your son.”
……
Inside the Fifth Elder’s residence.
In front of the west wing courtyard, an eighteen years old youth wearing a green gown was practicing various sword forms.
“Day Piercing Green Rainbow!” The young man shouted as his whole person leaped forward like a northern goshawk. The long sword in hand whirled just like a sun, closely followed by a thrust to the front, producing a half meter long sword energy burst forth with a cold ardent breath.
The young man dropped to the ground and received his sword intent. All it took was one look at the smile on his face and his eyes with single-eyelid to know that this person is not broad-minded.
He is the Fifth Elder’s grandson and the treasurer Ling Chong’s second son, Ling Rui.
Just as Ling Rui received his sword intent, a pretty maid immediately put a water basin to his side, stepping in front of Ling Rui and said, “Wash your face Young Master!”
Ling Rui smiled as he reached out and caressed the maid’s adorable face. “Xiao Mei, you’re really thoughtful.”
“Young Master, you’re really bad,” Xiao Mei lightly scolded with a displeased voice.
“Haha, Young Master had always been a bad man. You don’t need to lock your doors tonight; tonight I must do some bad things.” Ling Rui took a towel out from inside the basin, washing his face as he spoke.
A pink blush rose on Xiao Mei’s face all the way to her ears before softly answering. “Yes, Young Master.”
After washing his face, Ling Rui seemed to think of something and asked Xiao Mei. “Pock and Dog Nose haven’t returned yet?”
“I have not seen them come back.” Xiao Mei answered.
“Those two idiots can’t even handle something so simple.” Ling Rui scolded as he threw the towel back in the basin.
Just at this moment, two men came stumbling through the door from outside. Are they not precisely Pock and Dog Nose?
Watching the two of them—one person clutching his nose, the other bowed over clutching his crotch. As soon as they saw Ling Rui, they rushed forward and fell on their knees in front of Ling Rui and cried, “Young Master, please help your servant administer justice…”
“What’s going on?” Ling Rui asked in confusion.
Pock’s nose hurt and wasn’t able to speak coherently. In the end, Dog Nose was able to explain what happened earlier in intermittent spurts.
Ling Rui kicked both Pock and Dog Nose, yelling, “Idiot, both of you are fourth-rank martial apprentices, yet you couldn’t even handle a single cripple. You’ve made me lose a lot of face.”
Dog Nose quivered as he said, “Young Master, He…he was too fast. We weren’t even able to see him move and the next thing we know, we became like this.”
Pock nodded his head in agreement.
“Bastard, do you mean to tell me that he was able to cultivate xuan strength? You’re an idiot.” Ling Rui’s face twisted as he cursed.
He had initially provoked Ling Xiao a few days ago with the hope that this Ling Family’s laughingstock will just withdraw from the world. Who would have thought that after falling for his scheme, the kid not only did not die but dare to act so arrogant towards him? How could he not get angry? A cripple dared to look down on him? Having thought up until this point, he started having misgivings. Was the kid not crippled? How could his two dogs get beaten up without being able to fight back? Can the kid cultivate xuan strength?
It’s impossible; the kid’s meridians were terminated. Even Elder Taishang has concluded that he cannot cultivate xuan strength. This has to be a coincidence.
“Young Master, everything we said is true. The kid is an expert at underhanded tactics; he broke Pock’s nose and also…also kicked my groin. He even snatched away all of our coins in the end.” Dog Nose scowled miserably.
“Both of you have lost me face. Xiao Mei, give them ten gold coins each to get treatment, and get the hell out of my sight.” Ling Rui shouted irritably. A hint of worry emerged in his heart.
Xiao Mei complied and then brought the other two to leave the courtyard.
Ling Rui grabbed his long sword, and with a shout, swung the sword with all his strength toward the two men tall tree in the courtyard.
The sword received, the tree fell.
“Well, even if you can cultivate xuan strength again, so what? The family test will begin in two months. If you show up, I’ll make sure you disappear from this world once and for all.” Ling Rui sneered through clenched teeth.
The night was cool, the moon hung high in the sky, and the trees’ silhouette danced in the gentle wind.
It has been more than half a month since Ling Xiao broke through the first meridian.
At the moment, Ling Xiao is preparing to break through the sixth meridian.
Previously, he thought that breaking through all twelve meridians would require three months, but he had been making breakthroughs every two to three days. Ling Xiao was ecstatic. He realized that the Three Parts Return Vital Energy was truly incredible; it had afforded cultivation speeds that were several times faster than ordinary internal skills. Ling Xiao was still perplexed despite giving much thought, ultimately speculating that it may have something to do with simultaneously cultivating Sky Frost Qi, Cloud Parting Strenth, and Wind God Skill. He can’t help but feel reverence toward San Jue the Elder for creating this one of a kind cultivation method.
After breaking through five meridians, Ling Xiao’s body was full of vitality. The formerly thin and morbid body gradually became robust and healthy, and his skin also regained a healthy glow. His whole person appears more lively, bright, and handsome.
“If not now, when?” Ling Xiao emptied his mind and turned both his hands palm-down. Two warm streams welled up outside the yong quan acupuncture point, divided into five surging streams of energy before converging again to form a thumb-sized, almost tangible energy orb that rushed toward the occlusion.
Rumbling sounds were heard as the energy mass rushed toward the occluded meridian.
“Ah.” Kong Xiao could not help but scream from the heart-boring pain, biting his lips until they bled.
The first attempt failed!
Ling Xiao had already expected this to happen. He knew it was impossible to break through the meridian on the first try. Instead, xuan strength needs to continuously build up and repeatedly batter the occlusion, just like the sieges in ancient times when soldiers attack the iron gates with battering ram until the gate could withstand no more and break open.
Having learned from his earlier mistakes, Ling Xiao did not get frustrated. His xuan strength condensed once again and rushed toward the occluded meridian.
“Bang.”
“Boom.”
After more than ten attempts, he finally broke through the meridian.
“Haha.” Ling Xiao jumped down from the bed and dropped directly into the tub of water he had prepared earlier, revealing a satisfied smile on his face.
With six meridians currently opened, this can be regarded as a Half Martial Physique.
Ordinarily, people with obstructed meridians are fated to be incapable of cultivating xuan strength. Conversely, those people whose twelve primary meridians were opened are destined to a lifetime of achievements on the road of cultivation.
But the twelve primary meridians could be classified as either big or small. Small meridians meant slow cultivation, which naturally meant it would take a long time to advance through the ranks, so warriors with small meridians are certain to experience limited success. On the other hand, large meridians can accelerate xuan strength cultivation, can accumulate a larger reserve of xuan strength, and thereby exhibit greater fighting prowess during battle. Those with large meridians are referred to as natural born warriors and lauded as geniuses. This type of person is exceedingly rare no matter where it is.
Ling Xiao’s meridians can currently be counted among those innately large meridians. Although his meridians were originally terminated, this did not affect the meridians’ size. With only six meridians now opened, there is still quite a distance from opening all twelve primary meridians, hence the name Half Martial Physique.
The so-called Half Martial Physique can only be regarded as better than ordinary people. If he is unable to break through the other six meridians, Ling Xiao’s martial strength will only stop at martial apprentice and will never be able to reach xuan practitioner.
For that reason, Ling Xiao still has a long way to go.
Fortunately, Three Parts Return Vital Energy is too incredible, and breaking through the twelve meridians is only a matter of time.
The moon disappeared, and the sun rose, announcing the beginning of the day.
After practicing “Phantom Cloud Step” and Cloud Parting Palm’s second form for an hour, Ling Xiao did not continue cultivating. Instead, he made sure to make himself presentable and prepared to go to the market for a stroll.
This is the first time Ling Xiao left home after transmigrating.