14: Martial Arts Secrets

The manager hesitated for a moment: "Fine, seeing your sincerity, take them all." When the heavy twenty taels of silver were handed over, Third Uncle Wu Wenwu's hands were trembling.

But Wu Guohua felt that this deal was worthwhile—if he could truly achieve something, he would at least have the power to protect himself when facing local tyrants like the Zhao Family in the future.

That night, they stayed in a common room at an ordinary inn. Under the oil lamp, Wu Guohua eagerly opened "martial arts common sense," and Third Uncle also leaned over to watch.

"The Martial Dao is divided into nine Grades: the lower three Grades are Martial Artists, the middle three Grades are Martial Masters, and the upper three Grades are Grandmasters…" Wu Guohua read softly, becoming more and more alarmed as he read.

It turned out that extraordinary powers truly existed in this world; it was just that ordinary people couldn't access them.

The Martial Dao has nine Grades: Grade Nine Skin Refining, Grade Eight Bone Refining, Grade Seven Blood Refining, Grade Six Organ Refining, Grade Five Hidden Strength, Grade Four Overt Strength, Grade Three Grandmaster, Grade Two Great Grandmaster, and Grade One Innate Grandmaster.

It is even rumored that above Grade One Innate Grandmaster, there is an extraordinary Realm called Land Immortal, a legendary figure.

What shocked him most was the record of "Spiritual Objects" in the book: "Heaven and earth possess Spiritual Qi, which gathers in rare plants… Consuming them can aid Martial Dao cultivation…"

"Isn't this…" Wu Guohua's hand unconsciously touched the half-piece of Low Grade Spirit Potato in his in arms, and his heart rate quickened. If it was truly as the book said, then the mutated crops he grew were simply immeasurable in value!

Third Uncle yawned: "What is all this mysterious stuff… Guohua, go to bed early. We still have to travel tomorrow."

After Third Uncle fell asleep, Wu Guohua quietly took out half a Spirit Potato, bit off a small piece, and ate it.

A warm current once again spread through his body. He tried to guide it according to the "Nourishing Qi Art" breathing method from the ""Raging Bull Fist"," and he actually felt that warm current slowly flowing through his Meridians with each breath!

He had a sleepless night. The next morning, Third Uncle was surprised to find Wu Guohua full of energy, with a sparkle in his eyes.

"You little rascal… how do you seem to have grown taller?" Third Uncle rubbed his eyes.

Wu Guohua smiled and did not answer. On the way back to the village, he kept pondering the key points of the ""Raging Bull Fist"," unconsciously gesturing the Moves on his knees.

When the ox cart passed through a patch of woods, he even jumped off the cart and tried a punch at a tree trunk by the roadside—

"Bang!" The tree trunk, as thick as a bowl, actually swayed slightly, and leaves fell. Third Uncle was so startled he almost fell off the cart: "You… you…"

Wu Guohua was also stunned. He looked at his fist; it was only slightly red, with no pain. The effect of ""Raging Bull Fist"" combined with the Spirit Potato was so immediate!

Upon returning to the village, Wu Guohua carefully planted the remaining Low Grade ling potatoes in the jungle, a total of seventy-eight plants.

This was the most secluded corner, naturally shielded by bushes all around, unknown even to his family.

[Planted Low Grade Spirit Potato, Experience +50]

[Watered, Experience +5]

Subsequently, as his experience increased, a golden light flashed before Wu Guohua's eyes, and then his talent panel opened. His talent had leveled up to Level Four.

Name: Wu Guohua

Talent: Farming

Level Four Talent (1/10000): Crop survival rate increased by 400%, growth speed increased by 60%, mutation evolution chance 40%, quality improved by 20%

Realm: None

Martial Art: Mang Niu Fist (Not yet mastered 3/10)

Looking at the prompt information, not only were all his talent abilities enhanced, but also crop quality improvement, as well as sections related to Realm and Martial Arts, were added.

Wu Guohua had an even bolder plan in mind. Since ordinary crops could mutate and evolve into spiritual plants, what about precious medicinal herbs like ginseng and Solomon's Seal? If he could find higher-grade seeds…

In a flash, it was time to go to Li Laotong's house for studies again. The old gentleman was teaching "The Analects" today, but Wu Guohua was clearly distracted, his eyes occasionally glancing out the window.

"Guohua!" The old Laotong's ruler slapped the desk with a "pa," "What's the next line after 'To learn and at due times to repeat what one has learned'?"

Wu Guohua snapped back to reality and blurted out: "Is this not indeed a pleasure? Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters?"

The old Laotong stroked his beard, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes: "Though your mind was elsewhere, you still remembered it well."

He put down the ruler and suddenly lowered his voice: "I heard… you went to the county town and bought a Martial Arts Secret Manual?"

Wu Guohua's heart skipped a beat. There truly were no secrets in the village. "Yes," he admitted honestly, "I bought a copy of '"Raging Bull Fist".'"

The old Laotong narrowed his eyes: "Do you know why I spent my whole life taking imperial examinations, only to end up as a mere Laotong?" Wu Guohua shook his head.

"Because when I was thirty, my right wrist was broken by a Martial Artist scion from the county."

The old Laotong extended his withered right hand; there was a clearly twisted scar on his wrist. "In this world, knowledge alone is not enough; one must also have the ability to protect that knowledge."

On the way home, Wu Guohua detoured to the back mountain. In the Low Grade Spirit Potato field, tender green sprouts had already broken through the soil, glowing with a faint golden light in the setting sun.

In the distance, the smoke from the Wu Family's cooking fires curled upwards, blending with the evening glow. He touched the two Secret Manuals in his in arms and looked at the medicinal field before him, an unprecedented surge of ambition rising in his heart.

Studying, practicing martial arts, planting spiritual plants… One day, he would ensure that the Wu Family would not only be free from worry about food and clothing but also become an existence no one dared to bully!

As dusk deepened, Wu Guohua stood on the hillside, facing the evening wind, and began to practice the first Move of ""Raging Bull Fist"." The sound of his fist whistling through the air startled the birds returning to their nests, carving a free trajectory across the crimson sky.

Morning frost covered the Wu Family courtyard, sparkling with tiny golden specks in the morning sun. Wu Guohua stood shirtless in the center of the courtyard, his exhaled breath condensing into white plumes in the cold air.

His feet were shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, as he assumed the starting stance of ""Raging Bull Fist""—"Mang Niu Headbutt."

"Hmph!" With a low shout, Wu Guohua's fist shot through the air, bringing with it a sharp gust of wind.

In just five days, his stature had grown two centimeters, and the faint outline of muscles was visible on his formerly thin arms. The wind from his punch swept past, causing the scarecrow in the corner of the courtyard to sway slightly.

"Good!" Grandfather Wu Jiulong sat on the doorstep, the fire in his pipe flickering with his excited breathing. "This punch is well-formed!"

Wu Guohua retracted his stance and exhaled, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. The breathing method that accompanied ""Raging Bull Fist"" was called "Nourishing Qi Art"; although it was just the most ordinary breathing method, it was still of great use to Wu Guohua.

A warm current circulated in his Meridians, making him feel no cold at all on this chilly morning; this was accumulated from eating that Spirit Potato earlier.

Unfortunately, the remaining dozen or so ling potatoes had all been planted. If he had enough ling potatoes, Wu Guohua felt he could quickly become a Grade Nine Skin Refining Martial Artist.

"No rush, just practice slowly. I only need to wait four months until those ling potatoes mature. I'll harvest at least nearly four hundred ling potatoes, which will be enough for the whole family's cultivation needs."

Wu Guohua pondered as he practiced his fist. Since ordinary potatoes could mutate and evolve into ling potatoes, would the winter wheat and rice that had already mutated evolve again into spiritual wheat and Spiritual Rice in the near future?

Theoretically, this was entirely possible, and as long as the Wu Family possessed more spiritual objects to aid their martial arts practice, everyone in the future could potentially become a Martial Dao powerhouse.