Chapter 63

Chapter 63: This Son-in-Law is Truly Not Simple (4000 words, two chapters combined)

In the forest on a high mountain within the First Military Fort.

Strands of Sword Qi carved lines into the surrounding trees.

Whenever a leaf fell from the tree, before it even touched the ground, it would be neatly sliced in half.

[You practiced the Ice Yang Sword Technique for an hour. Sword Qi +30, Sword Intent +15, Ice Yang Sword Technique proficiency +12.]

Looking at the string of text in his mind, Ming took a deep breath.

Every day after finishing training, Ming would come to this peak alone to practice swordsmanship.

Fist techniques are a means to strengthen oneself, but Ming didn’t want to neglect sword techniques either.

Ming hadn’t thought about staying in the Blood Floating Pagoda forever.

In a few years, when there’s nothing left for him to learn in the Blood Floating Pagoda, the improvement in his fist techniques will have to rely solely on himself. At that time, Ming will leave the Blood Floating Pagoda and then go to study sword techniques.

At that time, he’ll see if he should join a sect or what else.

As for why Ming didn’t first join a sect to learn sword techniques and then go to the Blood Floating Pagoda to learn fist techniques, the reason was simple.

Because anyone who has trained in other sects cannot enter the Blood Floating Pagoda of Wu Kingdom. Although there are other decent Fist Sects in the world,

The Blood Floating Pagoda of Wu Kingdom is the most famous one known to Ming, and many Martial Artists even consider it the Holy Land of Martial Cultivation. Countless Martial Artists want to enter the Blood Floating Pagoda but have no way in.

Naturally, Ming wouldn’t give up such a good resource right next to him.

Feeling that it was getting late, Ming put away the Peachwood Sword, took a bath in a waterfall pool not far away, and then used the Sky Ascending Step by stepping his left foot on his right and his right foot on his left to “fly” down the mountain.

When he reached the Cavern Realm, he could cultivate normal flight spells, and he wouldn’t have to use the clumsy Sky Ascending Step anymore.

This isn’t flying; it’s like a hen flapping its wings.

The only advantage is that the Sky Ascending Step consumes mostly Spiritual Energy, not physical strength, so he wouldn’t sweat.

After descending the mountain, Ming stopped using the Sky Ascending Step and switched to fast walking.

And just as Ming arrived at the martial arts training ground, he saw someone practicing on a fist post in the quiet training ground.

Upon closer inspection, it was his “dorm mate” — Yin.

Since entering the military camp nine months ago, Ming’s first impression of Yin was that he was introverted and timid.

Yin, this little boy, was two years older than Ming.

He spoke and acted very softly and fearfully, always worried about making mistakes.

One day, on a mountain in the First Military Fort, a poor tiger ran down and was continuously teased by the men in the fort, like playing with a cat, but Yin was so scared that he kept hiding.

Come on, you’re a Martial Artist at the peak of the Mercury Mirror realm! You can beat a tiger to death!

Forget about the tiger.

One day, a snake crawled into the tent, and Yin screamed and jumped out, scaring Ming and the others half to death.

Later, that unfortunate snake was roasted by their tent as a midnight snack, and it smelled pretty good.

After that, Yin couldn’t sleep soundly for a whole month and mistook every rope’s shadow for a snake.

It was a completely real-life version of seeing snakes in a cup.

To be honest, not just Ming, everyone was curious.

How could such a timid person join the army? The Wu Kingdom had no mandatory conscription; all enlistments were voluntary.

What was even more puzzling was how he managed to enter the Blood Floating Pagoda?

With the strict selection process of the Blood Floating Pagoda, no one knew how he passed.

If Ming and the others hadn’t gone to the bathhouse together with Yin and confirmed that he indeed had male parts,

Otherwise, they really would have suspected that Yin was a woman.

After all, even Yanhan, who was prettier than women, was manlier than Yin.

“So late, still practicing?” Ming approached and greeted him.

Ming found his timidity strange but didn’t mock him.

“Ahhh!” Yin was startled, screamed, shivered, turned around, and sighed in relief upon seeing Ming.

“Why are you shouting so loudly? You scared me.” Ming said helplessly.

“I-I thought it was a ghost…” Yin scratched his head awkwardly.

Ming chuckled, “Ghost? What level of ghost would dare come to the Blood Floating Pagoda camp with such strong blood energy?”

After Ming said that, Yin became even more embarrassed.

Ming glanced at the fist post beside Yin and changed the topic, “Are you practicing the Pagoda Fist?”

The fist posts in the military fort weren’t ordinary wood. The wood used for practicing the Pagoda Fist was called Blood Insect Wood, which could absorb blood energy. The Pagoda Fist was extremely powerful in enhancing blood energy.

Therefore, practicing the Pagoda Fist not only stimulated your potential but also prevented you from overtraining, leading to excessive blood energy and spiritual deviation.

“Yeah,” Yin nodded, “I couldn’t sleep, so I came to practice…”

Ming: “Don’t you usually sleep sounder than anyone else?”

Yin: “…”

Ming shook his head, “You’d better go back and rest. We have to train early tomorrow morning. If it affects tomorrow’s training, it won’t be worth it.”

“Xu-Xu Brother, please go back and rest first. I… I’ll practice a bit more, and then I’ll go back.” Yin said timidly, as if he would abandon his persistence immediately if Xu Ming pressured him a bit.

Ming looked at Yin, thought for a moment, “Are you worried about the selection in three months?”

Yin was stunned for a moment after being seen through, then nodded, “I’m not as talented as Brother Xu and Brother Wu. When the instructor teaches, you guys understand it in one try, and Brother Li also quickly grasps it, but I need to practice many times.

Half of the people will definitely be eliminated in the selection in three months. I… I want to make a final effort.”

Ming: “Actually, Guangyin, have you ever thought that your personality might not be suitable for being a soldier? Even if you pass the selection, you will need to carry out various tasks in the future, and those tasks involve life and death. What will you do then?”

Ming also felt that saying this to him wasn’t too good, but Ming sincerely hoped he would think about it.

By the time he passes the selection, he will truly be risking his life daily.

Listening to Ming’s words, Guangyin’s face and eyes were quite hesitant. To be honest, Ming already saw his intention to withdraw.

However, after a long while, Guangyin looked up and smiled honestly, “Brother Xu, I know, but I still want to try.”

“…”

Ming looked at Guangyin. Guangyin just honestly scratched the back of his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.

“Alright, since it’s your choice, I won’t say much.”

Ming stepped forward and faced the fist post.

“Brother Xu?” Guangyin asked curiously.

“Just now, I noticed some issues with your Pagoda Fist techniques. Let me demonstrate them for you.” Ming rolled up his sleeves.

“Brother Xu, there’s really no need to trouble yourself…” Guangyin waved his hands.

“No problem, pay attention,” Ming said, and struck the fist post repeatedly with the Pagoda Fist techniques. Intense blood energy erupted and was absorbed by the post.

Guangyin wanted to say something, but seeing how seriously Brother Xu was teaching him, he could only silently remember this favor and carefully observe.

Every night after practicing the sword, Ming would teach Guangyin for half an hour at the training ground.

Guangyin improved every day, and significantly so, not as incapable as he claimed.

And for some unknown reason, whenever Ming watched Guangyin punch, he always had a strange, indescribable feeling.

To repay Ming, Guangyin washed Ming’s clothes and served tea and water every day.

Although these were trivial things, Guangyin was repaying the favor in his own way.

Others gradually learned about Ming teaching Guangyin boxing but didn’t say anything.

They all shared the same thought as Ming: even if Guangyin passed the exam, what difference would it make? In the future, the missions assigned by the Blood Floating Pagoda would all involve great risks. With his timid character, he would easily die.

Before they knew it, three months had passed, and the new recruit evaluation of the Blood Floating Pagoda began.

There were exactly one thousand new recruits.

Out of the one thousand new recruits, half would certainly be eliminated, possibly even more, but never fewer.

Those who were eliminated could either go home or join other armies. If they performed exceptionally well in the future, they might be promoted again.

That morning, with Wang Meng loudly banging on the gong, everyone in the Four Eight Four tent immediately got up from bed.

“Brats, today is your first evaluation since coming to the Blood Floating Pagoda! It might also be your last evaluation here!

Today’s evaluation content is simple.

Soon, there will be ten examiners located in ten wooden houses.

You will draw lots, and whichever wooden house you draw, you will go there and spar with the examiner.

Then the examiner will tell you whether you pass or fail.

That’s it, draw lots!”

Wang Meng took out a bamboo tube.

Ming and others each drew a bamboo stick from the tube.

Ming drew number five, Yanhan also drew number five, Haizhi and Guangyin drew number three, and Han and others drew numbers one and two.

Ming entered room five, and it turned out to be a female martial artist.

The female martial artist beckoned Ming with her finger, “Come on, brat, let Auntie see how well you’ve been practicing.”

“Please guide me, Examiner.”

Ming bowed politely.

Just as Ming straightened up, in an instant, Ming took a step forward, and the floor beneath his feet exploded. A gust of wind rushed towards him.

The female examiner was surprised and unexpectedly impressed, not expecting this kid to move so fast.

Ming threw a punch at the examiner’s face, and she blocked it with her hand. Martial True Qi and the blood energy of the Pagoda Fist collided and dispersed where they met! Just as the examiner was about to grab Ming’s right fist, Ming delivered a high horizontal kick to her waist.

The examiner decided to dodge, but unexpectedly, Ming’s right fist struck forcefully. This time, the examiner didn’t dodge, wanting to feel his power.

Ming’s punch landed heavily on her ribcage.

“Clang!”

Ming’s punch sounded like hitting a bronze statue, producing a dull sound.

With a roar, Ming threw another punch aimed at her head.

The fast punch grazed past the examiner’s head, spun lightly, and Ming turned his entire body, striking simultaneously with both palms as he leaped into the air.

Ming’s stomach almost received a wound.

“Kid, interesting, let’s go again,” the female examiner laughed and waved Ming over.

“That examiner, be ready.”

Ming’s feet moved with alternating high leaps and low steps, closing the distance instantly, delivering a powerful strike.

This was just the first punch.

Ming threw another punch.

Then another.

Although each punch was easily blocked by the examiner without moving her an inch, Ming continued to rain punches like rain.

“The drumming style of the Wang Family’s Heaven Opening Fist?” The female examiner was slightly surprised inside, then a smile curved her lips.

Interesting.

Let’s see how many punches this child can throw.

A divine drumbeat, growing louder with each sound, each punch heavier than the last, until the end, either the opponent dies or the self becomes exhausted, truly a one-way journey.

“Bang!”

Ming didn’t know how many punches he had thrown.

This punch extended, and Ming’s fist glowed with a faint golden light. This strike carried the momentum of thunder, aiming for the opponent’s chest, intending to shake her liver and gallbladder apart.

Originally, the female examiner intended to take the hit, but at the last moment, she dodged.

The moment the examiner dodged, she herself was startled. This was purely a reaction of bodily instinct.

This punch made her sense danger!

The examiner moved lightly as the wind, evading gracefully like a dragon playing with water. Her fists danced like butterflies among flowers, skillfully weaving through the opponent’s attacks, searching for weaknesses.

“Slap! Slap! Slap!” The sound of fists hitting flesh rang out densely, the speed so fast it dazzled the eyes.

Ming’s fists transformed into a streak of cold light, directly aiming for the opponent’s throat.

However, the opponent’s figure flickered, like ripples on water, gently avoiding this fatal blow.

“Be careful.”

The woman smirked, her aura suddenly rising. Each punch was like a heavy hammer, striking Ming’s chest and producing a dull sound.

In an instant, the woman’s fists were like swords piercing through air resistance, accurately landing on Ming’s abdomen.

“Plop!” Ming flew backward like a broken kite, crashing heavily onto the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

As Ming just got up, the female examiner kicked him in the chest again.

Ming was sent flying out the door.

Following that, a wooden plaque fell onto Ming’s chest, with the words “Passed” written on it.

Inside the wooden house, the female instructor squeezed her fists, unable to close them tightly, trembling slightly:

“This son-in-law is indeed not simple.”

[These past two days, I’ve been so busy with overtime work. I originally wanted to take a break, but since it’s the new book period, I can’t take a break, so I had to force myself to write. I’ve only slept four hours in the past two days. By the time I wrote the later part, I was almost falling asleep. This chapter feels a bit watered down, and the quality isn’t great. Please forgive me, everyone. Starting tomorrow, I really need to stock up on drafts; otherwise, if something happens, it’s too troublesome.]