Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Martial Arts Fusion

"Fierce Ape Splits the Mountain!"

With a low shout, Su Yu’s Seven Fiends Thunder Collapse Step erupted beneath his feet. A shockwave rippled out across the bluestone ground as he shot forward several yards in an instant. His left arm extended like a great tree trunk, smashing down viciously!

This strike was meant to shatter an enemy’s defense!

Immediately after, his right fist whistled through the air, accompanied by the resounding chorus of his muscles and bones. Like a great axe splitting a mountain, it was a direct and decisive blow!

"Third Form, Wind-Tearing, Armor-Splitting!"

"Fourth Form, Mountain-Toppling Annihilation!"

...

BOOM!

Su Yu threw a ferocious straight punch from a lowered shoulder. The violent gust from his fist, carrying astonishing Ming Jin, actually bent the branches of the old locust tree in the corner of the courtyard from afar. The branches then snapped back like springs, rustling wildly.

[Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist Skill Level +16]

[Martial Arts]: Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist (Entry-level 17/5000)

Watching the inky text light up before his eyes, Su Yu’s chest rose and fell sharply as he exhaled a long, hot breath.

’Only 16 points for a single run-through. This Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist is really difficult. No wonder Master looked like he was just waiting for a show to start.’

’And that’s with my Divine Martial Aptitude. Without the doubled Skill Level gain, a single practice session would only give me 8 points.’

’With my current Root Bone, which should be at least Upper-Middle Grade, maybe even the highest grade, this is what I get. If I still had my previous Lower-Grade Root Bone, I’d probably only gain 1 Skill Level point per run-through...’

Su Yu assessed the consumption of his Qi and Blood and the fatigue in his muscles, and his brow furrowed again. ’This Fist Technique consumes a tremendous amount of energy.’

’Even though it only has four moves, each one drains more energy than several moves of the White Ape Fist!’

"I’ll try again!"

Su Yu once again fell into a stance and resumed his practice.

Observing from the side, Qin Fangqiong saw that his incredibly talented disciple showed no signs of slacking off, and he couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion.

’He’s so talented, yet he works so hard. Anyone training Martial Arts with this kid would be completely crushed by the pressure.’

He chuckled to himself. ’At this rate, it won’t be long before he easily surpasses Madman Xu and Lin Girl.’

’Ahem, no, this won’t do. My disciple’s comprehension is too high. If I don’t step in and lend a hand, won’t it make me look like a useless decoration of a master?’

"Your Qi and Blood circulation is wrong! Use your head! Don’t let all the Qi and Blood stagnate in your chest. Draw the energy up from the soles of your feet..."

"Splitting the mountain! The Demon Ape splits mountains with momentum! Don’t just use the brute force of your arms. Unleash that ferocious power you have—the kind that could topple a mountain—and smash it out!"

With Qin Fangqiong’s meticulous guidance, Su Yu’s movements grew increasingly precise.

[Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist Skill Level +18]

...

[Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist Skill Level +19]

「Soon, two hours had passed.」

Su Yu had practiced the Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist a full ten times and finally couldn’t continue. His muscles ached all over, and he could no longer muster even a shred of Qi and Blood.

He glanced at his panel, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

[Martial Arts]: Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist (Entry-level 189/5000)

’It increased by about 190. If my movements get more precise, I might be able to gain two hundred Skill Level points per day. With a total of 5000 points needed, that means I can reach the Skillful Realm in just 25 days.’

’Based on my experience from the Skin Tempering Realm, the Skillful Realm should mean I’ve broken through to the mid-stage Flesh Refining Realm! Minor Achievement should be the late stage, Major Achievement would be Refining Flesh Perfection, and the Perfection Realm will mean breaking through the Flesh Refining Realm to reach the Muscle Forging Realm!’

’Breaking through to the mid-stage Flesh Refining Realm in just 25 days... that speed definitely puts me in the ranks of top-tier geniuses! Forget the likes of Chen Fan; even Cui Wanhe can’t compare to me!’

As far as Su Yu knew, Cui Wanhe was only at the mid-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm, and it had taken him a full three months to get there!

However, that wasn’t what surprised Su Yu. Instead, it was another change to the White Ape Fist on his panel.

[Martial Arts]: White Ape Long Arm Fist (Perfection)

[Note]: The White Ape Fist has evolved into the White Ape Long Arm Fist. This Fist Technique and the Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist share the same origin. If both reach Perfection, they can be fused to create a new Fist Technique.

’The White Ape Fist evolved into the White Ape Long Arm Fist, the "first layer" notification is gone, and they can be fused?’ Su Yu pondered for a moment, his thoughts immediately jumping to the "first layer" notification he had seen for his Black Stone Body Forging Skill.

’As far as I know, the Black Stone Body Forging Skill was split off from a more powerful Cultivation Technique. Maybe it’s a similar situation to the White Ape Fist!’

He approached his master, cupped his fist respectfully, and said, "Master, I have a question about my practice with the Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist."

"Hm? Hit a bottleneck? Let’s hear it." Qin Fangqiong opened his mouth and, with a sharp PWTOO, expertly spat a chicken bone from his mouth into the bushes ten yards away before leisurely picking up his teacup.

"This Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist and the White Ape Fist I learned before... they don’t just share the same origin, they also seem to complement each other. I have a bold guess... were these two Fist Techniques split from the same supreme ancient scroll?"

"COUGH, COUGH..."

The tea Qin Fangqiong had just started to swallow went down the wrong pipe, and he began to choke, his old face turning beet red. He quickly slammed the teacup down, sighing inwardly.

’Good thing I already spat out that chicken bone, otherwise this disciple would have made me choke to death.’

’Is this brat’s intuition for Martial Arts just monstrous, or is he the reincarnation of some great power? A mere martial apprentice who just broke through the Skin Tempering Realm, who hasn’t even begun to grasp Hidden Force, can actually perceive the true essence of a martial art?’

"Ahem... you’re quite perceptive. Teachable, indeed." Qin Fangqiong stood up and clasped his hands behind his back, looking rather pleased. "When I, your master, first began to practice this technique, I was just like you. I saw through its mysteries at a single glance."

His tone then grew serious. "You guessed correctly. I obtained these two Fist Techniques in my youth through a fortunate encounter with a great personage. Strictly speaking, they were originally a single, true, High-Grade Xuan-tier Technique! But because it was too profound and domineering, that great power forcibly broke it down into three separate sets, each corresponding to one of the three realms: Skin Tempering, Flesh Refining, and Muscle Forging."

"However, don’t get ahead of yourself, kid. If you want to witness the entirety of such a Xuan-tier Technique, you’ll have to wait until you’ve reached the peak of the Muscle Forging Realm at the very least!"

A High-Grade Xuan-tier Technique!

’To think the White Ape Fist has such an incredible origin!’

’And to think, the highest-grade technique I possess right now is just the Lower-Grade Xuan Black Stone Body Forging Skill!’

’A High-Grade Xuan-tier Technique... forget Black Stone City, even in Jian’an Prefecture, that would be considered a top-tier, foundational Cultivation Technique!’

’Then my guess was correct. Any Cultivation Technique marked as "first layer" must have a more advanced, related technique that follows it.’

He checked his panel again.

’The Spiritual Ape Demon-Slaying Saber is also marked as "first layer," so it must have a follow-up technique as well. According to Master, that was his signature saber art, so he probably got it from that same great personage.’

’The Black Stone Body Forging Skill was a reward from the Black Stone Army. The reward mentioned the "first three scrolls," so it looks like I only have the first one.’

’Once I master it to Perfection, perhaps I can seek out the Black Stone Army to obtain the rest.’

’And then there’s the Bibo Fish Dragon Skill, which was a pleasant surprise. This underwater Cultivation Technique is also just the "first layer"!’

’Does the Qian Family know about this?’

Speaking of the Qian Family, Su Yu was reminded of the promise he’d made to Qian Qinghong. After he made a name for himself at the Yuan Lantern Festival, he had received another congratulatory gift from the Qian Family.

Qian Wenhao had passed on a message from Qian Qinghong at the time, saying she was busy handling the Qian Family’s internal affairs but would soon be heading into the depths of the Black Water River.

’Maybe I should pay the Qian Family a visit. I’m about to master this Cultivation Technique to Perfection, so I can ask her about its subsequent parts then.’

...

「The next day, at the first glimmer of dawn.」

「Su Mansion, front courtyard Martial Arts Arena.」

Su Yu had risen early and, braving the cold dew of early spring, had spent a satisfying two hours grinding the Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist.

[Martial Arts]: Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist (Entry-level 390/5000)

’Next, I’ll max out my Breakthrough Points and see what Traits I get from Breaking the Limit of the White Ape Fist!’

Su Yu took out a blue lotus seed and ate it.

[Breakthrough Point Progress +10%]

[Breakthrough Point Progress +10%]

...

[Breakthrough Points]: 0 (Progress 80%)

’This lotus seed’s energy was a bit lacking. It only added 27% to my Breakthrough Point progress.’

Su Yu shook his head, speechless.

He took out the last lotus seed and swallowed it.

[Breakthrough Point Progress +10%]

[Breakthrough Point Progress +10%]

...

[Breakthrough Points]: 1 (Progress 10%)

’This lotus seed is a good one. It added 30% to my Breakthrough Point progress.’

Seeing that he once again had 1 Breakthrough Point, Su Yu felt a surge of joy, his gaze sweeping to the "+" sign that had appeared after White Ape Long Arm Fist.

He gently tapped it.

[White Ape Long Arm Fist Limit Break successful. 1 Breakthrough Point consumed.]

[Awakened Limit Break Trait: Ape Shadow Gale]