Peak martial arts were the best existences among the secular martial arts!
Below transcendent martial arts, no other martial arts could compare.
If Ling Xiao wished to advance and become even stronger, it was impossible without peak martial arts.
Now, he had discovered that <Bull Demon Technique> was not an internal core merit law nor a martial skill; it was more like a supplementary martial art.
He could improve the grade and power of other martial arts.
To continue evolving <Bull Demon Technique> and acquire more attacking means, his best method was to learn higher grade martial arts and devour them.
For instance, his basic martial art <Barbarian Bull Strength> could now display the might of an advanced martial art.
After the devouring of the intermediate martial art <Meteorite Fist>, it had become twice as powerful as an ordinary advanced martial art. Although it had yet to reach the level of a peak martial art, it was quite powerful.
If a peak martial art were devoured, what kind of change would happen?
Would <Bull Demon Technique> evolve further?
Ling Xiao eagerly anticipated it.
Therefore, fighting for the top three was his current objective.
Thinking this, Ling Xiao returned home.
When he arrived at his entrance, he suddenly heard bustling inside. After entering the house, he discovered a group surrounding and congratulating his grandfather Hong Qi.
“Old Gentleman Hong, your grandson is amazing!”
“Yes, ranked first in the Elite Hall! Moreover, already condensing gang qi… With this aptitude, the clan will surely prioritize him in the future!”
“As I see it, it’s not limited to just that. Perhaps, Ling Xiao will get a good ranking in the finals too.”
“He amazed the world with a single brilliant feat!”
Ling Xiao didn’t recognize these people because in their previous small, broken house, they had never received guests.
However, he didn’t have any aversion toward them.
This was reality!
When you are weak, others would take no notice of you. In fact, you would be lucky to avoid humiliation.
But when you are strong, they will curry favor with you.
He had chosen the right path. Becoming strong was the only way to receive respect!
Ling Xiao was not an arrogant and unapproachable person. Although he didn’t like this situation, he still accompanied his grandfather in personally sending off these people.
In the hall were various gifts.
Some were even quite valuable.
“I never thought… Ah, good boy! In such a short time, you actually advanced to such an extent! This grandpa almost thought that he had hallucinated”
Originally, Hong Qi had already expected great things of him.
Nevertheless, he still hadn’t expected such great progress. Advancing from Rank One Martial Vein to Peak Rank Three Martial Vein and almost completely converting gang qi in his three martial veins, this kind of progress could only be described as defying the heavens.
“Grandpa, I will become even stronger. Other people will never bully you again.”
Ling Xiao clenched his fists.
Although his improvement was rapid, his strength was still insufficient. Running into Ling Shisan, a Rank Five Martial Vein expert, would still end misery .
Therefore, he had to work hard!
“It’s good to work hard, but don’t exhaust yourself. Among the gifts they brought are many packages of clothes and food. I’m thinking of giving most of it to the brothers in the beggars’ union. Do you agree?”
Although his current days were pleasant, he hadn’t forgotten the people who had begged in the streets with him.
“Of course, I agree! Without their protection, I would have been beaten a lot more. Why don’t we go together?”
Ling Xiao replied.
He had not seen those brothers in a long time; it would be good to meet them.
“Don’t worry. The finals are right around the corner. You should focus on improving your strength. After the finals, this grandpa will take you.”
Hong Qi shook his head.
Ling Xiao hesitated before reluctantly agreeing. After several days of fighting, his gains were not small. He needed to meditate and comprehend them; he had no time to waste.
“That’s fine. Hire a carriage tomorrow.”
Ling Xiao stuffed 100 taels of silver in Hong Qi’s hand.
Although there were no other rewards from the elimination rounds, those who entered the top 1000 would receive silver according to their rank.
Since Ling Xiao had taken first place, his rewards had naturally exceeded the others, receiving 10,000 taels of silver.
This much money could last them a while.
Ling Xiao then locked himself in the training room. He closed his eyes and recalled his recent fights.
At this moment, the Landscape Painting replayed all the scenes as if the previous few days’ matches were being rewound.
Like this, he could carefully observe every aspect of his battles against Ling Yihang and Ling Yixue.
There was no doubt that these two people had more battle techniques than he, allowing them to deal with more situations. He wanted to study them for practical applications.
He seriously lacked combat experience, so it was very useful to learn from other people’s battle instincts to improve his own.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes and hastily swallowed another gang qi pill.
Unexpectedly, he didn’t meditate to make a breakthrough.
Instead, he extended his hands and trained his own martial arts.
From <Barbarian Bull Strength> to <Meteorite Fist> to <Hundred Steps Flying Sword Technique> to finally <Soaring Cloud Steps>!
During this process, he didn’t suppress his gang qi, incorporating it into all his martial arts.
He immersed himself in a peculiar atmosphere.
Obviously, he was alone, but he felt like he was fighting an opponent.
In his Landscape Painting several figures continuously dueled him.
First, it was Ling Yixue, then Ling Yihang for a while, then Ling Shisan, and finally Ling Jiu.
His opponents grew getting stronger and stronger, and the pressure he faced accordingly increased.
Ha——!
He roared.
His voice was like a clap of thunder!
He punched out with great strength!
The scenes within the Landscape Painting disappeared.
Ling Xiao stopped fighting and sat cross-legged on the ground.
“Break for me!”
The last shackle broke under his terrifying willpower.
His formerly dull gang qi became agile and smooth. The true qi within his body had completely converted into gang qi!
He had broken through to Rank Four Martial Vein!
At present, his gang qi had also filled 20% of his fourth martial vein.
Although the amount of his gang qi had not greatly increased, this was absolutely a qualitative leap.
He no longer had any impure true qi within his body. Even <Return Qi Formula> restored gang qi now.
As long as he didn’t seriously deplete it, his gang qi would gradually recover during a fight.
At the same time, his fourth martial vein further improved his body. Now, his strength exceeded 10,000 pounds.
Rank Three Martial Vein to Rank Four Martial Vein, although they were separated by only one rank, were actually worlds apart.
Rank Three Martial Vein marked the limits of a Martial Pupil who cultivated true qi and was known as the awakening stage.
However, starting with Rank Four Martial Vein, one would be a Martial Disciple, cultivating gang qi in the gang qi stage.
This was a real qualitative change, like a carp leaping over the dragon’s gate.
In the past, possessing gang qi had been Ling Xiao’s extravagant hope.
Now, as a martial artist with complete gang qi, he would be welcomed by any power of Northern Han Country.
After all, in Northern Han Country, countless were stuck in Peak Rank Three Martial Vein, unable to ever make a breakthrough.
Although it was a single step, it was a huge gap in truth.
