34: Chapter 34 Minor Success in Body Technique

Liu Yunfeng returned to the Liu Family estate and relayed Lin Tian's conditions. Patriarch Liu pondered for only a moment before gritting his teeth and taking a palm-sized jade box from the inner treasury, handing it solemnly to his son: "Tell him, the hope of the Liu Family is entrusted to him. If he can win this battle, our Liu Family will have a great reward!"

That night, Liu Yunfeng delivered the jade box to Lin Tian at Sifang Pavilion.

The jade box felt cool to the touch, but upon opening it, a rich and scorching medicinal scent of qi-blood powder wafted out.

Inside the box, lined with red velvet, lay a small pinch of dark red medicinal powder that emitted a strange metallic luster and faint heat. This was the "qi-blood powder."

Lin Tian closed the jade box, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.

With this item, his plan, which he had previously thought impossible to complete in time, now had the capital to be attempted.

He looked inward, and the "proficiency" visible only to him in his mind appeared clearly:

Wind-Chasing Footwork (Entry Level 142/300)

To reach the "Minor Achievement" Realm, he still needed 158 complete practices. Based on his previous training intensity, even without practicing other martial arts, twenty repetitions a day was his limit. Finishing them would leave him with depleted qi-blood and sore muscles, requiring medicinal soup and long periods of rest to recover.

Breaking through within five days was impossible.

But with the qi-blood powder in his hand, it was different.

The pure qi-blood contained within this item was enough to support him in training far beyond his usual limits, rapidly replenishing his consumption and even stimulating his body's potential.

"One day... thirty repetitions!" Lin Tian set his goal. Although it remained difficult and placed a huge burden on his body, with the qi-blood powder as a foundation, it was worth a shot.

For the next four days, the courtyard of Lin Tian at Sifang Pavilion was filled with oppressive and rapid wind-breaking sounds from dawn till dusk.

His figure was like lightning, moving rapidly within the narrow courtyard. His footsteps struck the ground, creating dense, rhythmic thuds. Sweat rarely dried; his clothes grew damp and dried repeatedly, forming salt crystals.

After every seven or eight repetitions, Lin Tian had to stop, his face pale, gasping for air like an ox, his muscles trembling uncontrollably—a sign that his qi-blood and physical strength were nearing exhaustion.

At this point, he would carefully pinch a grain-sized amount of qi-blood powder from the jade box, place it in his mouth, and swallow it with warm water.

The powder entered his stomach, initially feeling like swallowing hot coals; a scorching sensation erupted instantly, then transformed into a rolling hot current that surged through his limbs and bones. His sore, weak muscles greedily absorbed this heat.

His nearly dried-up qi-blood rapidly regenerated and filled up. About half an hour later, all fatigue vanished, replaced by an overabundance of energy and a feverish sensation.

Lin Tian would then leap back into the courtyard, his figure flickering as he continued the tedious yet meticulous practice of the "Wind-Chasing Footwork."

One day, thirty repetitions. Not one less.

In his mind, the proficiency number, supported by the qi-blood powder and his self-torturous hard work, jumped upward slowly but firmly.

The news that the Liu Family and the Ding Family would resolve their grievances through a "fist fight" spread like wildfire through the lower city markets and related trades.

Although the two families were not top-tier powers, they each occupied several streets and supported many Martial Artists. This public life-and-death struggle naturally attracted much attention.

Many wandering Martial Artists, and even spies from other Family factions, planned to go to the "Life-and-Death Ring" arena five days later to watch the spectacle.

Inside the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, the news also spread.

"Did you hear? The Liu Family is going to have a fist fight with the Ding Family!"

"Life-and-Death Ring? Playing for such high stakes? Who did the Liu Family hire?"

"I don't know. A few days ago, I saw that kid Liu Yunfeng anxiously looking for several Senior Brothers, but it seems they all refused."

"I heard... he finally managed to convince someone."

"Who? Which Senior Brother in the hall is bold enough to take a Life-and-Death Ring job?"

Several newcomers familiar with Liu Yunfeng were surrounded and questioned. Liu Yunfeng, having no choice, mumbled vaguely: "It... it is Junior Brother Lin Tian who agreed to help."

"Lin Tian? Which Lin Tian?"

"That newcomer who was praised by Master Huang..."

"What?! Him? A newcomer who has been here for less than two months?" The old Disciple asking the question looked ready to pop his eyes out. "Liu Yunfeng, are you crazy, or is your Family crazy? A fist fight isn't child's play! The person the Ding Family hired is definitely a ruthless character! Sending that kid is just suicide!"

The surrounding Disciples were in an uproar, then shook their heads one after another, finding it unbelievable, even absurd.

"Is the Liu Family so desperate that they're grasping at straws?"

"I think they just have too many Spirit Stones and are looking for an excuse to send someone to their death on the arena."

"That Lin Tian... he probably thinks he has some talent and has become arrogant. Tsk, what a pity."

Hearing these comments, Liu Yunfeng's face looked terrible, but he could only bite the bullet and say: "Junior Brother Lin... he should know what he's doing."

"Know what he's doing, my ass!" a senior Disciple sneered. "I think he got carried away after being praised a few times by Master Huang and thinks he's someone special. Junior Brother Liu, your Family is going to suffer a double loss this time."

The news soon reached Du Fei's ears.

He was drinking with a few cronies. Upon hearing this, he was stunned for a moment, then sneered and drained his cup: "What a reckless fool. He has a little bit of shallow skill and dares to step onto the Life-and-Death Ring? Good, that saves me from having to look at him.

Five days later, everyone come with me to the 'Life-and-Death Ring' to see how our 'Genius' Junior Brother makes a fool of himself on the stage."

"Senior Brother Du is right. Such an ignorant bumpkin deserves this fate." Everyone echoed his sentiments, their tones full of gloating.

People love a spectacle, especially when it's watching a newcomer who stole the spotlight meet with misfortune. For a time, many Disciples in the martial arts hall decided to go to the "Life-and-Death Ring" to watch the battle in five days.

Ding Family, secret room.

"Have you checked clearly? The person the Liu Family hired is a newcomer Disciple from the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall named Lin Tian, under twenty years old, and has been enrolled for less than two months?" Master Ding Kui stroked the short beard on his chin, a look of incredulous amusement on his face.

The trusted steward below confirmed: "It is absolutely true. That kid from the Liu Family was running around the martial arts hall a few days ago looking for people, but they all refused. Somehow, he managed to convince this greenhorn named Lin Tian.

According to news from inside the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, this kid has some talent in footwork and was praised in public by one of their instructors, so he doesn't know his own worth."

"Hahaha!" Master Ding Kui finally couldn't help but burst into laughter, his voice shaking the roof tiles. "Old Dog Liu, oh Old Dog Liu, are you so desperate that you've lost your mind, or do you want your son to die early, sending a wet-behind-the-ears kid to his death? Fine, that saves me some effort!"

He turned to a fierce-looking man sitting on a grand armchair, who had been closing his eyes to rest. This man was about thirty years old, with large, coarse knuckles and palms that faintly glowed with an unnatural dark red.

This was exactly the Martial Artist he had hired with a large sum of money from the "Liehuo Martial Arts Hall," Master Wu Zhe.

"Master Wu, you heard it. The Liu Family hired a baby," Master Ding Kui said with a smile, his tone relaxed.

Master Wu Zhe slowly opened his eyes, a flash of fire seemingly passing through them. His voice was hoarse: "Master Ding, rest assured. Since I have accepted your money, I will handle the matter for your Ding Family.

No matter who the opponent is, once they step onto the Life-and-Death Ring, there is only one outcome: to be carried off." He lightly flexed his fingers, and a subtle scorching sensation permeated the air.

He had cultivated the "Fire Sand Palm" to the Middle Stage of the First Grade. His palm force was fierce and scorching; splitting monuments and cracking stones was trivial to him. Dealing with an uninitiated kid, he really couldn't muster much interest.

Master Ding Kui nodded with satisfaction: "With those words from Master Wu, I can sleep soundly! After it is done, there will be a generous reward!"

Five days passed in a flash.

The street where the "Life-and-Death Ring" was located began to teem with people from early morning.

There were idlers just there for the spectacle, gamblers who had placed bets, eyes and ears of various factions, and "spectators" like Du Fei and other Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall Disciples who harbored ulterior motives. The noisy roar almost lifted the roof.

Sifang Pavilion, inside the small courtyard.

The final repetition of "Wind-Chasing Footwork" came to an end.

Lin Tian stood alone in the courtyard, steam rising from his body, his clothes soaked through, but his eyes were startlingly bright, showing no signs of fatigue. Five consecutive days of sleepless, crazy hard training had exhausted the qi-blood powder, but the results were extremely significant.

He focused his mind, and that familiar panel appeared clearly:

Wind-Chasing Footwork (Minor Achievement 2/500)

A brand new, more precise sense of control over his footwork flowed through his limbs and bones. The transition of his steps, the application of force, and the grasp of timing were all completely different from five days ago.

If the Entry Level was just a glimpse of the door, capable of being used in actual combat, then the Minor Achievement was stepping into the hall, with movements following his heart; his speed, agility, and unpredictability had all improved by a level.