Chapter 50: Chapter 48: Air Fist Force
’Besides that, there’s the progress of my Tiger Crane Double Form Fist...’
Wei Tu turned his gaze to another line of text engraved on the Golden Purple Destiny Chart.
Tiger Crane Double Form Fist (94/100): Practice seven times a day, mastery in three years.
’Yesterday, the progress of my Tiger Crane Double Form Fist was only at 72%. Today, after my Health Cultivation Technique was perfected and generated Inner Qi, the progress shot straight to 94%—an increase of 22%...’
’This means the time it takes to perfect the Tiger Crane Double Form Fist will also be shortened to less than three years... I can achieve Great Success in just two and a half years,’ Wei Tu thought.
Compared to his Cultivation of the Health Cultivation Technique, the reduction in time for his Tiger Crane Double Form Fist was much more tangible.
The time was cut from three years to two and a half, a reduction of one-sixth.
’Master said that the Inner Qi an External Martial Master generates by cultivating the body is far more potent than the Inner Qi from an Inner Family True Skill. A single wisp of it is worth ten wisps from an inner technique...’
At this thought, Wei Tu again sensed the few wisps of Inner Qi within his meridians. He slowly circulated them, guiding them into the meridians of his hand.
Then, he stared straight ahead, a sharp glint in his eyes, and suddenly clenched his right hand into a fist, punching forward with all his might.
With a loud BOOM!
Dust and dirt billowed up in front of Wei Tu.
A fist print, half an inch deep, was instantly embedded in the courtyard’s earthen wall.
And yet, Wei Tu’s fist was still a full two inches from the wall.
’Is this the Air Palm Force that Jianghu People talk about in legends?’
’And now... I can use it too...’
Wei Tu stared at the scene before him, panting heavily and gulping down fresh air.
Throwing that single punch had drained him of nearly all his strength.
But he was overjoyed, because as simple as that punch seemed, its significance to him was profound.
First, it proved Shan Wuju’s words were correct: the Inner Qi generated by an External Martial Master was indeed far more potent than that of an Inner Cultivation Martial Master.
External Martial Masters were not inferior to anyone!
As far as Wei Tu knew, an Inner Cultivation Martial Master would be utterly incapable of producing this Air Fist Force without at least a decade of dedicated meditation.
Second, this Air Fist Force proved that he had truly stepped onto the Path of Transcendence.
His previous Pile Skill and physical strength were all tangible things. But the Inner Strength now coursing through his body was different; it was the kind of thing ordinary people only spoke of in stories.
’The County Yamen hasn’t received the military order to annihilate Wuyun Tower yet, so there’s still time. I should go to Sanyuan Town first and tell Master about my new Realm...’ Wei Tu mused.
He guessed that Shan Wuju must possess an "Inner Family True Skill" specifically for cultivating the Inner Strength produced by External Martial Masters.
Years ago, his grandmaster, the Golden Saber Hero Shii Ming, had perished after failing to break through to the Innate Realm.
Without a subsequent Cultivation Technique, the Golden Saber Hero Shii Ming would never have been able to even attempt a breakthrough to the Innate Realm.
...
「The next day.」
Early in the morning, Wei Tu requested leave from the Xiang Army Government Office and rode to Sanyuan Town.
He knocked on the main gate of the Shan Mansion, stated his purpose, and was invited by a maid to wait in the parlor of the second courtyard.
Before long, Wei Tu heard the sound of someone coughing outside the door.
He quickly stood up, went outside, and took over from Mrs. Gao of the Shan Family, helping Shan Wuju to the head seat in the parlor.
Surprise showed on Wei Tu’s face. He glanced at Mrs. Gao of the Shan Family, his eyes full of questions.
Just over a month ago, when he had visited Shan Wuju with gifts, his master’s physical condition had declined slightly compared to a few years prior, but he was otherwise no different from any other healthy man his age.
He was certainly not at the point where he needed someone’s support to walk.
"Five days ago, my husband was out for a ride when his old hidden injuries flared up. He fell from his horse and was badly hurt..." Mrs. Gao of the Shan Family explained to Wei Tu, her lips pursed.
"It’s nothing. Just a small problem."
"A few days of rest and some tonic soup to replenish my Qi and Blood will set me right," Shan Wuju said, sitting and leaning on his cane. He waved a hand, signaling for Wei Tu not to worry.
At that moment, Mrs. Gao of the Shan Family came forward and draped a robe over Shan Wuju’s shoulders.
"Brother Wei, what brings you here today?" Shan Wuju asked with a smile after taking a sip of hot tea to wet his throat.
Ordinarily, Wei Tu wouldn’t visit so early. He usually came after noon, and always with a couple of gifts in hand.
For Wei Tu to rush over on horseback so early in the morning and disturb his rest, he must have had something important to discuss.
"About that..." Wei Tu’s voice grew serious as he glanced at Mrs. Gao of the Shan Family and the maids serving in the parlor.
Seeing this, Shan Wuju immediately took the hint. He gave a light cough and dismissed Mrs. Gao of the Shan Family and the maids.
A moment later, only the master and disciple, Wei Tu and Shan Wuju, remained in the parlor.
"Master, I’ve come today because yesterday, during my training, I finally entered the legendary... Qi Sensing Realm..." Wei Tu said.
"What? The Qi Sensing Realm?" Shan Wuju looked up from his tea, astonished. He stared intently at Wei Tu for a few moments. "Are you telling the truth? The Qi Sensing Realm?"
He had practiced Martial Arts for decades and had never managed to achieve the External Cultivation of Inner Qi.
And now, Wei Tu, who had only practiced Martial Arts for five years, was telling him he had entered the Qi Sensing Realm...
How could Shan Wuju not be astonished?
"Master, please watch." Wei Tu wasted no words. He looked at the teacup on the small table beside him and, using the same technique as the night before, threw a punch toward it.
BOOM!
An explosive sound erupted.
The teacup on the table was instantly blasted into smithereens by Wei Tu’s Air Fist Force.
"Air Fist Force..."
"This is Air Fist Force..."
Shan Wuju muttered to himself as he watched Wei Tu’s strike, unable to snap out of his shock for a long time.
After a moment, Shan Wuju composed himself. He looked at Wei Tu with a hint of admiration in his eyes and sighed emotionally, "This Air Fist Force... I’ve only ever seen your grandmaster use it. After thirty-nine years, I never thought I would see it again, and from you of all people..."
"I’ve already guessed the reason for your visit. You want to ask me about the next step on your Martial Arts path, how you should continue your Cultivation?"
Shan Wuju smiled, seeing right through Wei Tu’s urgent purpose in seeking him out.
"You are perceptive, Master."
Wei Tu didn’t deny it, offering a bit of flattery instead.
’When it comes to martial arts, the sooner one starts, the better.’
’Governor Wangg will probably send troops to attack Wuyun Tower within the next month or two. If I don’t seize this time to increase my strength, am I just supposed to wait to be sent to my death on the battlefield?’
’Right now, his control over the Inner Qi in his body was still rudimentary. If he could get guidance from Shan Wuju... his strength would surely increase again in this short time.’
’This much was predictable.’
"Before your grandmaster passed, he did indeed leave me a secret manual for cultivating the Inner Qi that we External Martial Masters produce..."
Shan Wuju stood up with his cane and motioned for Wei Tu to follow.
「A short while later.」
In the living quarters.
Shan Wuju glanced at his late master’s memorial tablet on the altar, lit a stick of incense, and bowed three times. Then, he took the tablet down and snapped it forcefully in two.
Inside the tablet was a thin sheet of silver foil. It was five inches long and two inches wide, engraved with a diagram of the human body’s Circulation Acupoints and various meridians...
