abnabooks Chapter 46 High Wall
Chapter 46 High Wall
When I got back to the martial arts school, it was only half past noon.
Upon arriving at the lobby, Meng Chen took out some silver and said he needed to pay the outstanding tuition fees.
Du Zhong didn't care about these things; he squinted and pretended to be asleep, acting as if he hadn't seen anything.
"Looks like you really know how to charm women!" Du Ren exclaimed upon seeing the many silver ingots Meng Chen had brought.
"I didn't coax her at all." Meng Chen said helplessly, "Senior brother, do you remember when Madam Di asked me to help her investigate the cloth shop a while ago? Now that she knows it's the Yan family who's targeting her, she's completely lost her composure, as if she's going to squander all her family's wealth."
"You actually told her? Aren't you afraid Yan Zhao will cause you trouble?" Du Ren asked with a smile.
"I did receive a favor from her, and she might not think that a little money is a big deal. But whether she acknowledges it or not, I dare not forget it. It's just that there's nothing I can do to help," Meng Chen said.
Du Zhong, who had been dozing off, finally opened his eyes and glanced at Meng Chen after hearing this.
Du Ren also sighed, "Yes, she's really just a delicate woman. Did you give her any advice?"
"I told her to be patient," Meng Chen said.
"Patience is a retreat, but you can't just keep retreating. You're still too young!" Du Ren shook his head slightly, looking like he had everything under control. "You don't understand the ruthlessness of women, nor do you understand what the Yan family values."
"Senior brother, please teach me," Meng Chen earnestly asked.
"Think about it, what's a barefoot person afraid of someone wearing shoes? You're forcing me to my death, so let's fight to the death!"
Du Ren was very confident. "If I were Di Chunfang, I would wear mourning clothes, walk around the main street of the county town three or five times, then kneel in front of the county government office, crying and complaining about my sister-in-law's abuse, my nephew's indecent behavior, and how she wasn't allowed to fulfill her filial duties to her father-in-law! I would let everyone in Qingshui County know about this! Just think about it, everyone in Qingshui County already talks about Yan Long, and if this happens, won't they talk about it for another ten years or so? Doesn't Yan Long have any shame? Won't people in his hometown gossip about him behind his back? If it gets to the higher-ups, and others use this to make things difficult for Yan Long, won't he be furious? Even if I kill Di Chunfang afterwards, at least I'll disgust you!"
Sure enough, there are always mountains beyond mountains! Meng Chen felt that although this desperate plan would not harm the lives of the Yan family, it would truly disgust them to death!
"Senior brother is amazing!" Meng Chen praised sincerely.
Du Ren smiled smugly, looked at Du Zhong who was feigning sleep, and asked, "Father, is my method good?"
Du Zhong finally opened his eyes and said, "If what you said is true, then there's no room for maneuver. Actually, Yan Long's character isn't bad, so patience is the best course of action."
"A weak woman like you, being bullied so much, there's nothing we can do," Du Ren muttered under his breath, then started discussing the tuition fees. "You came on June 11th and paid two months' tuition. According to market prices, the second stage is fifteen taels per month, the third stage is twenty taels per month, but we'll calculate it at 60% of the cost. If you prepay for two more months, at twenty taels per month, let's keep clear accounts as brothers, so the total is sixty-one taels! How about it?"
"I'll listen to what you say, Senior Brother!" Meng Chen knew that Du Ren was being stingy, but he didn't say anything. Besides, money is money, and kindness is kindness; Meng Chen kept the kindness of the Du family father and son in his heart.
After dividing the money, Du Ren was even happier and said, "Father, Junior Brother Meng is waiting for you to teach him the method to break through to the next realm."
Meng Chen bowed to Du Zhong in a respectful manner.
Du Zhong nodded slightly and smiled, "We've passed the three trials; it's time to press on bravely."
As he spoke, he took out a thin booklet and handed it to Meng Chen.
Meng Chen took the book with both hands and saw that the cover read "Boiling Blood Forging Bone Fist".
"Before you learn this method, let me explain the principles to you."
Du Zhong spoke gently, smiling as he said, "The first stage of body tempering is not about forging oneself into invulnerability to swords and spears, but rather about preventing injury from true qi when it is generated in the second stage."
"How to break through the realm? Actually, it's not that difficult. Once you've passed these three barriers and achieved some internal and external success, you need to rely on powerful and fierce external techniques to temper your body, open up the three barriers, and then your true energy will naturally generate. That's when you've succeeded."
"The Boiling Blood Bone Forging Fist uses corresponding breathing techniques to force the blood and qi to boil like in a furnace, which in turn causes the muscles, bones, and flesh to tremble. It is an extremely yang and powerful external martial art that uses force to break through barriers and nourishes the body with blood."
After Du Zhong finished reciting, he then asked Meng Chen to open the booklet and read it.
After Meng Chen finished reading, Du Zhong explained the Boiling Blood Bone Forging Fist in detail for more than half an hour, and then let Meng Chen try it.
Meng Chen first regulated his breathing, and then began to practice. Before long, his skin turned red and hot, his blood and qi flowed like boiling water, his flesh and bones made faint sounds, and he could even hear the sound of his own blood pulsating, like the booming of a drum.
After finishing his work, Meng Chen's face was flushed and he was sweating profusely. He felt completely exhausted, and couldn't help but think of the donkey that had just been bred!
Du Zhong had Du Ren help Meng Chen sit down, and said with a smile, "This method is extremely helpful for breaking through realms, but it is also most likely to cause injury to muscles and bones, and even exhaustion of qi and blood."
"This method is a technique for fighting and killing. It does not follow a gradual approach, nor does it emphasize the harmony of Yin and Yang. It is extremely taxing on the body, but it can make one stronger in a short period of time."
"Remember this: practice this method three to five times a day, ideally in the early morning when the sun is rising. Do not practice it at night. In particular, do not practice it when you are injured or ill, after intercourse, or during your menstrual period. Of course, you don't have your period yet."
"When you have cultivated to the point where your blood boils like a furnace, your muscles and bones resonate, and your skin and flesh tremble, then you can attempt to break through the barrier."
"But this method has drawbacks. It is best to break through the barrier within one or two years of practicing this method. This is because the more one practices this method, the faster one ages, and the easier it is to leave hidden injuries. Even one's lifespan will be shorter. Only by reaching the second realm as soon as possible and nourishing one's body and spirit with one's own true energy can one eliminate the dangers."
Du Zhong seemed quite satisfied with Meng Chen, and thus spoke more.
Meng Chen then realized why Master Du had instructed him to practice according to the manual instead of demonstrating it himself; it turned out that this method had too many drawbacks.
"Master Du, how long does it usually take for someone who practices this method to break through to the next level?" Meng Chen asked.
"Those lacking aptitude will not pass even after years of hard work. Those with exceptional aptitude, needless to say, will succeed." Du Zhong became serious. "People like us without any connections can only cultivate using this explosive method. Although prestigious sects or aristocratic families may have gentler methods, they will not pass them on to us."
"A bet is a bet, and Yan Long learned this kind of method back then," Du Ren suddenly interjected with a smile.
"That makes some sense. You see, many people don't even have the right to 'gamble.' We only get to the gambling table after we've fought our way to the third stage." Du Zhong continued, "Don't worry too much about speed. The first three stages don't really require much talent; hard work will always pay off. Reaching the fourth stage, that's when talent truly comes into play!"
These were invaluable words of advice, and Meng Chen immediately bowed to thank them.
After that, Meng Chen practiced the Boiling Blood Bone Forging Fist three times every morning, twice every afternoon, and took pills and medicinal baths at night. He continued to cultivate his strength the rest of the time.
But now that he had money, Meng Chen would go out every day to buy some meat to nourish himself.
Four days passed in the blink of an eye, and the sunfish regained its brightness.
Meng Chen was preparing to break through to the next realm. He started practicing the Boiling Blood Bone Forging Fist from early morning. Before noon, he felt weak, dizzy, and his yang fish gradually faded.
After enduring this until mid-afternoon, Meng Chen collapsed from exhaustion.
Previously, when he failed to pass the test, Meng Chen always felt that he was just one step away from success, but this time, he felt as if there was a wall between them.
This was a feeling I'd never had before when trying to overcome obstacles; the wall seemed insurmountable.
Nine days later, the sunfish shone again.
Meng Chen tried to pass the barrier again, but failed again, and the feeling of being trapped by the high wall became even stronger.
It was already late October. Meng rested for a night and then cleared his mind the next day to practice the Gale Blade Technique.
Just after noon, someone came looking for him. It was Yan Zhao who sent someone, saying that he had heard that Meng Chen had failed to break through his cultivation level yesterday, and invited Meng Chen to his home that evening to discuss the changes in martial arts.
Having failed to break through to the next realm twice, Meng Chen genuinely wanted to hear guidance from a master of the second realm, so he agreed.
"Then go. But remember, drink less alcohol, and absolutely avoid women!" Du Zhong advised.