With a dose of Dragon Tiger Powder, Yan Chuan arduously refines it.
From noon to night, Yan Chuan continuously practices boxing, eventually refining the first surge of the most ferocious medicinal power.
"Next, I should use Pile Skill and water-milling techniques to completely refine the remaining medicinal power hidden in every secret corner of the body, fully unlocking the value of the Dragon Tiger Powder."
The Dragon Tiger Powder, worth eight taels of silver, is so costly that not a single bit of its medicinal power should be wasted.
Night has fallen.
Rustling sound.
Under the cool night sky, Yan Chuan stands in Pile Skill, quietly experiencing the surging sound of Qi-Blood, feeling every ounce of strength, every inch of muscle and bone, every slight change in muscle, fully immersed.
[Your 'Horse Stance Pile Skill' has been improved, Skill Level +1]
[Task Two: Inspiration +2]
From July 18 to today, July 24, in seven days, the inspiration progress of [Task Two: Six Harmonies Eight Techniques Fist] has reached 74 points.
It must be said, the 'Ren★' task difficulty is indeed high, with an inspiration accumulation rate much more difficult than the 'Tiger Crane Double Forms'.
The current 74 progress is still based on Yan Chuan gaining 22 points during his intense battle with Lu Qing. Without practicing Six Harmonies Fist with Lu Qing just happening to be there, this task's progress would have struggled to even reach halfway.
Ren Level!
Too difficult!
However, the greater the difficulty, the more Yan Chuan looks forward to the final martial art developed.
A skill like 'Tiger Crane Double Forms' already made him a Grandmaster in the old times. In the New Faction, in Guangling Academy, the current Yan Chuan is also a figure among the second or third batches, with his strength leaping, growing madly.
And after developing the 'Six Harmonies Eight Techniques Fist'—
"At that time."
"I maybe won't be inferior to the 'Guangling Ten Outstanding', able to meet the leaders of the major Boxing Clubs of Guangling Academy."
"The eight-year gap will be caught up."
Yan Chuan concluded his practice, glancing at the 75-point increase in [Task Two], eagerly anticipating the arrival of that day.
Suddenly.
Just at the moment of concluding—
Bang!
A loud bang, a fierce wind attacks.
The night is pitch black!
Killing intent appears!
...
As night falls.
Outside the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall, Du Hanfeng crouches like a cat. Once deep night falls, he skillfully jumps over the courtyard wall, enters the Hall, secretly spying on Yan Chuan standing in Pile Skill—
"Dragon roar tiger roar!"
"Qi and blood vigorous!"
"Vitality exuberant!"
Du Hanfeng recognizes, guessing the person's identity: "It's not Cheng Fengxiao, should be Yan Chuan, the senior disciple who defeated Lu Qing of the Six Harmonies Fist Club two days ago."
Du Hanfeng restrains his killing intent, even his gaze drifts, never staring for long, only constantly monitoring Yan Chuan's Pile Skill progress, thus inferring Yan Chuan's strength level: "Stronger than Lu Qing, but not by much."
This person, easy to kill!
"While Cheng Fengxiao is absent, first kill Yan Chuan, then kill the only three Practitioners left in the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall, so when Cheng Fengxiao returns, he'll be left as a lone commander, and the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall cannot be run anymore."
"I will eliminate the Old School for the New Faction!"
"Perhaps I can live a little longer."
Du Hanfeng's rationality does not last long, very soon his eyes turn blood-red, ferocity taking over. At this moment, Yan Chuan finishes his Pile Skill, precisely at his most exhausted, most relaxed, and most unguarded point.
In an instant—
"Kill!"
...
Bang!
A black shadow flashes before him, a palm strikes, Yan Chuan doesn't even have time to react, being hit squarely in the chest, with an 'ah', he is knocked backward flying.
This strike came so suddenly, with such force, according to logic, even Cheng Fengxiao would either die or be crippled from this palm.
But Yan Chuan seems unscathed, in the moment of falling upside down he props himself with his hands, steps down once under his foot, the whole person flips over.
"Spiteful coward!"
He curses loudly, ignoring the enemy before him, in a moment leaps back several steps, pulling back into the house.
"Huh?"
Du Hanfeng sees that Yan Chuan is still vigorous and lively, uttering a sound of doubt. Based on Yan Chuan's strength, he should not have been able to withstand that palm, he frowns, recalling the feel of that palm just now—
"Could it be—"
One thought arises.
A flash of joy.
"It ought to be my luck!"
Du Hanfeng isn't slow to react, stepping straight after him.
Yet at the instant of entering the house—
Puff!
In the darkness, a sound of something breaking through the air comes.
Du Hanfeng uses Sound Positioning to discern: "A spear—"
His eyes glowing scarlet, neither dodging nor avoiding, raises both palms to meet. Looking at his palms, they are fiery red and scorching, evidently showing his power being driven to the extreme.
Snap!
Both palms block the oncoming spear, a rub and a twist attempt to grind the spear into powder, removing its weapon status.
Yet once again, things are unexpected—
Puff hiss!
The spear moves like a dragon, a vibrate and a shake, actually breaking through Du Hanfeng's Iron Palms in an instant, piercing through his chest.
"Ugh—"
"This spear of yours—"
Du Hanfeng looks bewildered, gazing at his chest, then at the Red Tassel Spear embedded within. Blood fountains from his mouth, vitality rapidly fading.
In his final moments, as if murmuring two words—
...
"Die here!"
Yan Chuan pulls the spear out, the long spear like a whip, regardless of whether this person is dead or alive, delivers a horizontal force—
Bang!
The spear explodes the head!
Brains splatter all around!
Stab, stab, stab!
Following that he inserts a few holes in this person's vital points.
"Huff huff!"
Only then stopping, taking deep breaths—
"So lucky!"
Yan Chuan collapses seated holding the spear, looking at the corpse before him, he tears away the outer garment, revealing inside a 'Golden Silk Silkworm Armor'—
[Miracle Item·Golden Silk Silkworm Armor (Level 4): Woven from silkworm silk, hair, and golden silk monkey hair, it effectively prevents damage from sharp weapons like knives and swords, effectively reduces damage from blunt impacts, such as staffs, fists, and heavy hammers. (Traits: Tenacity, Resistance.)]
"Miracle Item!"
"Golden Silk Silkworm Armor!"
"Fortunately, I always wear it!"
Yan Chuan touches the reddish handprint on his chest, feeling a burst of gratitude.
This treasure was something he recovered from a fugitive's body when capturing fugitives years ago, often worn on himself, after awakening the 'Purple Mist Palace', he nourished it with 'Spiritual', achieving a Miracle Item, possessing 'Tenacity', 'Resistance' two traits, among which the 'Resistance' trait further strengthens the armor's defense against blunt impacts, fists, and heavy hammer strikes.
Just now—
"That Iron Sand Palm, if not for the 'Golden Silk Silkworm Armor' dispersing and blocking the force, I would have died on the spot!"
This 'Golden Silk Silkworm Armor' at least dispersed seven or eight-tenths of the strength, the remaining strength spread and thinned over the front and back body muscles and bones, dispersed so that he remains unharmed.
Looking at the handprint on his chest, Yan Chuan feels a wave of gratitude.
What's even more fortunate is, he doesn't just have a 'Miracle Item', but also holds a 'Red Tassel Spear'—
[Miracle Item·Red Tassel Spear (Level 7): The shaft made of white wax wood and the spearhead made of fine iron, the total length is seven feet, the spear shaft is slender, named for the red tassel affixed below the spearhead. (Traits: Armor-Piercing, Sharpness, Qi-breaking.)]
Since awakening the 'Purple Mist Palace', Yan Chuan has altogether developed fourteen 'One-Star Martial Arts', four 'Two-Star Martial Arts', and one 'Five-Star Martial Art', accumulating 380 points of Spiritual.
Originally, Yan Chuan spent 100 Spiritual each to enhance the 'Red Tassel Spear' and 'Golden Silk Silkworm Armor', upgrading both items to Level 4, becoming 'Miracle Items'.
Leaving 180 points for adaptability.
...