Chapter 314: Chapter 191: Old Liang, your apprentice has made something of himself! _2
Taking a deep breath, he finally spoke:
“It was my fault, Brother Yuan. I’m mostly worried that Brother Qin isn’t the same as before. Although he grew up in Old Factory Street like us, he has made a name for himself now, not only moving to the Tai’an Metropolitan Area but also accessing the Central City as he pleases.
You don’t know, back when I was little, my dad worked at the factory in logistics. Our neighbors and relatives often called him Brother Xie. But after he was laid off, fewer people came by and started calling him Old Xie.”
Xie Yucheng smoked rapidly; in the blink of an eye, only a stub was left. He smoothed his slick hair, and the gleeful face turned serious.
“I just thought Brother Qin might not want to associate with us now, so I tried to impress him. I was wrong; Brother Qin is still the same as before.”
Li Yuan patted Xie Yucheng’s shoulder, a smile forming on his lips:
“When Ah Shi reaches the Central City and becomes known throughout Heng Province, everyone will recognize Old Factory Street. It’s not just about delinquents here; we have martial arts prodigies shining bright as the Scorching Sun!”
Qin Shi pushed open the dormitory door, setting down the nutritional supplements he carried, and smiled:
Old Liang, who was brewing medicine, was not surprised; he sensed Qin Shi climbing the stairs.
“Why bother bringing things when you visit? I’m an old loner at this age, why would I need Rehmannia Qi Replenishing Pills or Six-Flavor Bone-Strengthening Powder?”
“The pharmacy downstairs had discounts, buying these also meant getting eggs. So, I brought you two baskets.”
Old Liang shook his head, for someone who had traversed the Specialized Domain in martial arts, what use were nutritional supplements?
Nothing beats a few days of meditation and practicing some fist techniques and stances.
“Come here, let me check you.”
Adjusting the coal stove’s flame, Old Liang beckoned Qin Shi over:
“Nanhuang Daoist School told me you broke through the Specialized Domain barrier and defeated Zhou Yuanchen. I was skeptical until Master Zhang confirmed it. Have you broken the Fourth Major Limit? Bone Barrier?”
Qin Shi moved closer, taking off his shirt to reveal his muscles.
Using his Breathing Technique, his chest subtly rose and fell in a smooth rhythm.
Unlike before, where it sounded like a bellows being pulled, huffing and puffing.
Soon after, his bone marrow pumped scorching blood, coursing swiftly throughout his body, filling him with hot energy.
The dark, dragon-like tendons stretched like springs, gradually covering every inch of muscle, weaving into a large net.
With the rapid rise in body temperature, beads of sweat trickled down Qin Shi’s forehead, rolling down, only to be shaken off gently.
“Tendons, bones, skin, all perfected.”
Old Liang’s eyes showed gratification, the tendon barrier exerting force, the bone barrier nourishing blood, the skin barrier mitigating impact.
These three steps saw Qin Shi progressing quickly and completing them exceptionally well.
“Your bones are dense and solid, tendons resilient yet flexible, and skin smooth like silk, you’ve grasped the subtle essence of ’emptiness’ and ‘spirit’.”
Supporting his crippled leg, Old Liang, much like when he first met Qin Shi, brought two fingers together and inspected from his shoulder to his waist and hips, like a steel rasp scraping.
Carefully “checking” Qin Shi’s physical condition.
The Old Martial Sect’s training often left hidden injuries.
Old Liang was concerned, fearing his disciple might progress too rapidly and make a mistake.
The more he examined, the more pleased he was, even becoming somewhat enthralled, akin to an artist admiring a masterpiece.
His fingers pressing against bones felt akin to hitting steel pillars, nearly breaking;
Dragging across tendons felt like pulling strong springs, difficult to stretch without force;
Probing the skin, sometimes it felt like sinking into cotton, finding no support, and other times it felt like striking taut leather, impenetrable.
“If your master sees this, he’d probably smile till his mouth can’t close. Throughout Hong Sheng’s history, countless generations, very few have achieved perfection in tendons, bones, skin, and membrane.”
Old Liang praised relentlessly, sighing:
“I’ve seldom had good fortune, accepting you as a disciple is certainly a blessing from heaven.”
Qin Shi, like a student submitting homework for review, silently put on his shirt after receiving a perfect score.
“Thanks to Master Liang for guiding me, helping me avoid detours.”
Struggling to squat, Old Liang tinkered with the coal stove, continuing to brew the medicine:
“I am just an average teacher with no remarkable skills, they are everywhere. It’s rare to have a prodigious, Scorching Sun-worthy disciple like you.
Luckily, I let you enter Nanhuang Daoist School, otherwise, I would have held you back. Now, there’s not much I can teach you.”
Qin Shi squatted down as well, inhaling the medicinal scent wafting from the pot, saying:
“I still have many things to learn from Master Liang. Of the Hundred Aspects Refining Stance, I’ve only understood ‘swift as the wind’ and begun ‘aggressive as fire.’ I’m still far off.”
“If my master heard that, he’d probably be infuriated. He barely grasped three stances by forty and integrated them together. You, while diversely training with Nanhuang Daoist School’s heritage, mastering He Lanchan’s Void Meditation Technique, haven’t neglected the Hundred Aspects Refining Stance.
You are nothing short of being exceptionally talented!”
Qin Shi felt embarrassed, considering his accelerated progress due to many supportive traits.
He pulled out half a “Blood Flower” obtained from Bronze Demon Mountain, and handed it to Old Liang:
“Master Liang, I heard from Old Zhou that this can heal Dao injuries! I managed to bring this for you, take it while it’s fresh, see if it works!”
Qin Shi’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Despite never witnessing Old Liang’s full strength, based on his current knowledge, he believed Old Liang should be at least at the Fourth Rank in the Specialized Level, perhaps restoring to Second Rank if not for his lame leg.
Old Liang was taken aback, staring at the half Blood Flower seemingly split by a blade, his lips quivering.
After a long time, he detached from his complex emotions, slowly turning away:
“I can’t use it. My Dao injuries have lingered too long, causing irreversible damage to my body. Even if my leg heals, it’s unlikely my strength could be restored.
Using such a precious item just to let a cripple walk is too extravagant, too wasteful! You keep it to increase your chances of breaking through the Specialized Domain!”
As if anticipating Old Liang’s response, Qin Shi raised an eyebrow, his gaze fierce:
“Master Liang, you underestimate me too much! For someone like me, a peerless genius, needing external help? Give me two months, I guarantee to enter the Specialized Domain, catch up with Zhou Yuanchen, and defeat him again!”
This was the first time Qin Shi made such a bold statement.
He seldom displayed the audacity fitting of a “young genius” and “Heng Province’s top student,” disregarding others.
If Kang Yun’Er saw this, she’d certainly write a feature.
“Ah Shi, listen carefully to me.”
Old Liang’s eyes stung as though irritated by coal smoke, blinking forcefully.
“I’ve become crippled and accustomed to living like one…”
Qin Shi’s expression turned serious, adopting an educational tone:
“Master Liang, hear me out. Your disciple is at least Tai’an Metropolitan Area’s Supernova, Heng Province’s top in the Hundred Strong Martial Tournament, and a future leading figure among the World’s Top Ten!
To be frank, Kang Yun’Er, the editor-in-chief of Lookout Magazine, is conducting an interview with me, aiming to make me a role model in the Four Alliances Region!
Your disciple accomplished so much, yet, if the master is known as a lame sports teacher, how would that look?
People say illustrious teachers produce outstanding pupils; a master’s image directly affects others’ perception of me as the disciple!”
Qin Shi’s words hit like legendary hidden weapons, the rapid Fire Rain Needles, overwhelming Old Liang unexpectedly.
Seeing his disciple’s stern face, Old Liang felt uncertain, seemingly shrinking in stature as he hesitantly asked: The source of this content ɪs novel⦿fire.net
“Will that really… happen?”
Qin Shi’s eyes were resolute, his tone firm:
“Public prejudice is a mighty mountain, Master Liang. For my future, please bear the inconvenience, listen obediently, and consume this item.
Whether it works or not is secondary! If you refuse and later the Central City Education Department mobilizes internet trolls to claim that Tai’an Metropolitan Area’s Supernova was taught by a lame sports teacher, defaming me… Sigh, it might shatter my invincible Dao Heart, leading to decline!”
Old Liang felt dizzy, struggling to lift his hand, accepting the half Blood Flower from Qin Shi.
Opening his mouth, wanting to say more, his disciple cut him short with a slap:
“Stop being petty and spare me the words, Master Liang!”
Immediately, the half Blood Flower entered his mouth, transforming into strands of blood essence, flowing into his body.
Old Liang’s skin trembled intensely, his tendons, bones, skin, and membranes quivering.
Like a dragon shaking its scales, stirring the river waters!
An immensely terrifying aura broke through some sort of barrier, suddenly unleashed!
As if a flood forcing open a sturdy gate, bursting forth!
Qin Shi’s gaze tightened, his Holy Embryo Prototype reflecting Old Liang consuming the Blood Flower, unexpectedly revealing a gigantic brass spirit standing tall and vast!