9: Chapter 9 Overlapping Wave Fist

Overlapping Wave Fist (Fragment)

Side note: Yellow Rank Medium Grade (Suspected to be higher originally, severely incomplete, power drastically reduced, difficult to practice and easy to injure oneself, choose with caution).

A fragment? Difficult to practice and easy to injure oneself?

Ye Tian picked up the Jade Slip and immersed his consciousness into it.

A thought flooded into his mind: Strength surges like overlapping waves, each surge more powerful than the last.

Upon reaching Major Achievement, the triple overlapping force could shatter metal and break stone.

However, it places an immense burden on the Meridians; those with an unstable Physical Body will harm themselves before they can injure the enemy.

The mental imprint also included three fist techniques. They weren't complex, but the method of exerting force was extremely peculiar, requiring multiple bursts of strength in an instant, layered one upon another.

The requirements for the Meridians and Physical Body were nothing short of harsh.

No wonder no one was interested in it.

But Ye Tian's eyes lit up.

Physical Body burden?

He might be lacking in other areas, but having just endured the inhuman torture of the stone bead and red sun grass, his body had one thing if nothing else—it was resilient and tough enough to take a beating!

This Overlapping Wave Fist was practically tailor-made for him right now!

This is the one!

Carrying the black Jade Slip, he walked over to the clan Elder guarding the pavilion to register.

The clan Elder looked up at the Jade Slip, then at him, his graying eyebrows furrowing: "Overlapping Wave Fist? Kid, aiming too high isn't a good thing. More than one person has ruined themselves practicing this."

"Thank you for the warning, Elder. This Disciple would like to try," Ye Tian said calmly.

The clan Elder shook his head and didn't try to persuade him further. After registering, he handed the Jade Slip back: "Return it within a month. No copying allowed."

"Yes."

Ye Tian took the Jade Slip, walked quickly back to his small hut, and locked the door.

He couldn't wait to immerse his consciousness into it.

The three fist techniques and the secrets of exerting force flowed through his mind over and over again.

He stood up, assumed the stance of the first style, and tried to mobilize his strength, exerting force according to that peculiar method.

The strength dissipated as soon as it surged into his Meridians. Let alone overlapping, even the first layer of force was weak and powerless.

Instead, it caused a slight, sharp pain as it pulled at his Meridians.

It really is difficult to practice.

Undeterred, he tried again.

Failure.

Try again.

Still a failure.

He repeated it time and again until the bit of strength in his body was exhausted, leaving him limp and sore all over.

Rest, recover, continue.

For three whole days, without sleep or rest, he struggled with this first layer of force.

Progress was negligible.

The technique for exerting force was too tricky, requiring extremely high control over one's strength.

On the night of the fourth day, he failed again and punched the wall in frustration.

Amidst the muffled thud, the stone bead in his bosom suddenly grew slightly warm, and a familiar hot current surged out, flowing into the Meridians of his arm.

Almost instinctively following the path of the stone bead's hot current, he once again triggered the force-exertion method of the Overlapping Wave Fist!

The sound of his fist cutting through the air suddenly became heavy and fierce, and a force significantly stronger than usual burst forth from his body!

Although he still couldn't overlap the force, he had found the threshold!

The hot current from the stone bead can assist and guide?

Suppressing his excitement, he caught that fleeting sensation and continued to practice hard.

Seven days later.

In the small courtyard, Ye Tian lowered his waist into a horse stance. Facing an old tree stump used for fist practice, he exhaled sharply and threw a punch!

The punch came out like a wave, faintly carrying the sound of overlapping force!

The tree stump shook violently, leaving a clear fist print on the surface. The wood in the indentation was shattered, and the mark was deeper than ever before!

The first layer of overlapping wave force—success!

Although it was only one layer, its power already far exceeded ordinary Yellow Rank Low Grade fist techniques!

Panting, he looked at his fist, a sharp light flickering in his eyes.

It's not enough.

This is only the beginning.

He returned to his room, his gaze sweeping over the crack in the wall.

What secrets do that ring and stone bead actually hide?

He shook his head, suppressing his curiosity.

For now, practice the fist technique first.

Having achieved initial success with the Overlapping Wave Fist, Ye Tian practiced even harder.

Every day, besides going to the Ancestral Hall, he huddled in the small courtyard, pummeling the old tree stump.

Punch after punch, he experienced the sensation of the instantaneous burst of overlapping force.

Progress was slow; the first layer of force worked only sporadically, and his Meridians often throbbed with pain from the backlash.

His resources hit rock bottom again.

Only one and a half stalks of red sun grass remained, and he was reluctant to use them.

The pittance of monthly Spirit Stones was like trying to put out a bonfire with a cup of water.

One day, while he was practicing in the courtyard, the gate was pushed open.

It was his mother. Her face was somewhat pale, and she was clutching a coarse money bag.

"Tian'er..." She hesitated, stopping herself from speaking.

Ye Tian stopped. "Mother, what's wrong?"

His mother handed over the money bag, her voice very low. "Just now... someone from the Warehouse came and said... said this month's allowance has been temporarily withheld. The clan's expenses have been high lately..."

Ye Tian took the money bag; it was very light.

Opening it, there were only a few pieces of broken silver, not even half a Low-Grade Spirit Stone.

The allowance for Ye family Disciples should have been three Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

He gripped the money bag tightly.

High expenses?

He had never heard of Ye Hao or Ye Long having their allowances withheld.

"Mother, I understand. It's fine." His tone was calm as he stuffed the money bag back into her hand. "Keep this and buy some food. I'll find a way to get the Spirit Stones."

His mother looked at him, her eyes slightly reddened. In the end, she just sighed and said nothing more.

In the evening, Ye Tian went directly to the Warehouse.

The clan member in charge was sitting with his legs crossed, drinking tea. He didn't even lift an eyelid when he saw him arrive.

"What's going on with the allowance?" Ye Tian got straight to the point.

The manager slowly set down his teacup and glanced at him. "Didn't I already say? The clan's expenses are high, and funds are temporarily tight. When things ease up, we'll naturally make it up to you."

"What about the others?" Ye Tian asked.

The manager's face darkened. "Why do you care about others? You're so troublesome! You're just someone who scrapes by on rewards for sweeping the Ancestral Hall; do you really think you're someone important?"

Ye Tian looked at him. "What is mine cannot be short by a single cent."

The manager sneered, stood up, and walked over to Ye Tian, his finger almost poking his nose. "I withheld it, so what? Go ahead and complain! Let's see if the Second Elder believes me, the manager, or you, this trash!"

Spittle sprayed onto Ye Tian's face.

Ye Tian didn't move; he just stared at him.

The manager felt a bit unnerved by his gaze, which then turned into humiliated rage. "Get out! Say another word, and you won't get next month's either!"

Ye Tian was silent for a moment, then turned and left.

A disdainful snort from the manager came from behind him.

He didn't go home; instead, he detoured to the Ancestral Hall.

As the sky darkened, the Ancestral Hall seemed even more cavernous.

The old servant Ye Zhong wasn't napping on the threshold for once. Instead, he stood in the courtyard, gazing into the pitch-black depths of the hall, lost in thought.

Hearing footsteps, he turned around, his cloudy old eyes glancing at Ye Tian in the dim light.

"You're here."

Ye Tian walked over. "Uncle Zhong."

"Mm," Ye Zhong grunted, turning back to look at the hall. "Suffered some mistreatment?"

Ye Tian didn't say a word.

"It's a trivial matter," Ye Zhong said, his voice raspy. "The Ye family is just like this. Fawning on the influential and trampling on the low—rotten to the core."

Ye Tian clenched his fist.

"If you rely on the clan for your meals, you have to endure it," Ye Zhong said slowly. "If you don't want to endure, you have to go out and find food for yourself."

He paused, as if mentioning it in passing. "There seems to be some activity over at the Black Cloud Stronghold lately. Around this time every year, some 'yin sha grass' always crops up in the Yin Wind Ravine beneath their stronghold. That stuff is vicious and harms the body if touched, but those who practice unorthodox arts or Body Refining are willing to pay a little to collect it."

Ye Tian suddenly looked up.

Ye Zhong, however, acted as if he were just making small talk. Having finished, he leaned on his cane and limped toward the hall, his voice drifting back: "Sweep it clean; you're not done for today yet."

Ye Tian stood where he was.

Yin Wind Ravine... yin sha grass.

He took a deep breath.

Dangerous.

But there's an opportunity.

He turned, picked up the broom leaning against the corner of the wall, and began to sweep the courtyard.

One stroke, then another.

His movements were heavier and steadier than usual.