Chapter 87 - 86: Practicing Martial Arts in the Mountains! Advancing to Hidden Strength! (Please follow)

It all started with a demand for money, merely to lower Yao Wenbai’s guard. The questions that followed were his true purpose. Four in the Bone Forging Realm, twenty in the Skin Grinding Realm. At the top, even Nie Xianzun of the Refining Internal Realm could be contacted. The strength of the Yao Family was far more terrifying than he had imagined. However, that was their limit. Once his Martial Arts Realm advanced again, as long as Nie Xianzun didn’t make a move or he wasn’t caught in an encirclement, the Yao Family could no longer pose a threat to him. Ultimately, it was still a matter of insufficient strength.If I were in the Refining Internal Realm right now, it wouldn’t be this troublesome. Jiang Shu walked out of Skylark Square unhurriedly, having done all that was necessary. Unless something unexpected happened, Yao Wenbai’s body wouldn’t be discovered until the next morning. By then, he would have long escaped Pingling County. Even if the Yao Family remained the dominant power, they would absolutely not be able to find the real murderer! And when I return, if the Yao Family continues to pester me relentlessly, it won’t be as simple as just killing one profligate son. 「The small courtyard.」 After merely napping briefly, Jiang Shu got up and repeatedly practiced the seventy-two forms of the Innate Guiding Skill. At this time, he possessed Bright Force and was in the Late Stage of the Skin Grinding Realm. If he continued to train in the Martial Arts of the Da Jing Dynasty, he still needed to practice the complete version of the Famished Tiger Roar Mountain Strength to small success, which would take considerable time. As for the Martial Arts of the Xia Country, he only needed to realize Dark Force. If it hadn’t been for the battle with Shang Jibei, without thoroughly experiencing the advancement process from Bright Force to Dark Force, he would have continued as before, making an entry-level start with the Martial Arts of the Da Jing Dynasty. Although it might be time-consuming, it was safer. But now... the muscles and bones must be relaxed, the skin and fascia must be engaged. Each joint connected, with emptiness and spirit at the core.He had already initially grasped these sixteen characters.The most important understanding was resolved. The accumulation was sufficient as well.Advancing to Dark Force is naturally just a matter of time! Only a slight opportunity is missing. The waning moon sank in the west. The sky was cloudless. A ray of sunlight shone over Pingling County. Jiang Shu disguised himself and, like an ordinary person, walked out of the inner city of Pingling County. Only when his figure was no longer visible did several loud shouts suddenly erupt in the inner city. A few constables quickly rushed out from the county government office: "The County Magistrate’s command! Seal all intersections at Skylark Square!" "The County Magistrate’s command! Close the city gates!" "The County Magistrate’s command! Conduct thorough searches of all residences!" "The County Magistrate’s command! Martial hall masters, gather all martial arts practitioners and Martial Artists within the county!" 「Sanling Town.」 Climbing up a familiar mountain path, Jiang Shu’s figure was agile, his steps as swift as the wind. His Snake Step, having reached Perfection, made his footsteps in the grass as light and subtle as a long snake slithering. Without stopping, he rushed directly to an old tree he had once climbed and took out his binoculars to look. In his view, the cold pool was deep and vast, no longer shrouded in the mist of the past. A Mutant Beast, entirely black and resembling a jackal, lay by its edge. In front of it, huge python bones were scattered in several places. Compared to the giant python of the past, this Mutant Beast was clearly much weaker. Several miles away, other Mutant Beasts still lurked, apparently also wanting to rush over and seize the cold pool. Indeed, the python’s meat was long devoured. This jackal-like Mutant Beast must have been the strongest victor in the struggle and occupied the cold pool. But other Fierce Beasts were not to be outdone. Overall, this mountain range is far less dangerous than it was then. Once I reach the Peak of the Bone Forging Realm, I should be able to cross this mountain and head to the Prefecture City, he thought. Every part of a snake is a treasure. Although the flesh is gone, the python bones are still there; they might be of some use for Martial Arts. When the time comes, I’ll see if I can bring some back. No rush for now. With these thoughts, Jiang Shu silently retreated. He knew he was still too weak. Under siege by a group of Mutant Beasts, escaping with his life would be extremely difficult. He wandered through the mountains, familiarizing himself with the environment, and fought with Mutant Beasts from time to time. Some were easy victories; others were hard-won battles where he barely managed to turn the tables. He summarized his experiences, documenting and analyzing every Mutant Beast he encountered: its meat’s taste, the enhancement it provided to his qi and blood, its greatest strengths in combat, and its weaknesses. When tired, he would return to Jiangnan Academy for a few days of rest, eat some good meals, learn about the Martial Arts policies of the Xia Country, and catch up with friends. Various small-scale Martial Arts competitions gradually unfolded in second-tier cities. Already, Martial Artists with Bright Force had shone in these competitions, gaining fame comparable to second and third-tier celebrities. Meanwhile, some of the geniuses who had participated in the University Martial Arts Talent Competition had vanished to immerse themselves in training, while others had started live streaming, capitalizing on the popularity to make a fortune, thus choosing a different path. High schools officially started offering Martial Arts classes. Anyone aged sixteen or older could transfer to become a Martial Arts student and begin training. However, next year’s college entrance exam would not rely solely on one’s Martial Arts Realm, as it had this year. Scores in humanities and science subjects would also be counted; one’s Martial Arts Realm would only serve to lower the admission score threshold. Shang Jibei was still in the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm, with no news of him. Ye Zhenzhen had declined many filming invitations; she practiced Martial Arts daily and occasionally live-streamed to chat with her fans. Wu Zhiming trained diligently every day, claiming he had progressed again, learned a new boxing style, and had sent Jiang Shu multiple challenges for a rematch. As for his home, the renovation was still ongoing. His father, Jiang Yongyi, had sent several computer-generated renderings for him to choose from. His father monitored the progress in the morning and then drove out to fish in the afternoon, occasionally showing off his catch of a few pounds on social media. His mother, Xu Lizhi, had been busy for most of her life. Now, with free time, she felt restless and considered opening another shop, not for profit, but just to keep herself occupied with a business. His sister, Jiang Yanyue, continued to perform consistently. After entering high school, her academic performance remained among the top in her class. Barring any accidents, she was virtually guaranteed a spot in an academy. She also persisted in her Martial Arts training. Thanks to the Blood Flower Pig meat, her physical condition was excellent, and she even needed less sleep. By her own estimation, she felt she was on the verge of sensing her qi and blood. He had video calls with all his family members. After these interactions, Jiang Shu finished his period of adjustment and returned to the mountain range. Practicing Martial Arts day and night! Fighting bloody battles! Jiang Shu’s killing intent grew stronger. His combat experience also became richer. His control over his body improved day by day. Finally, on a rainy day, beneath his feet lay the corpse of a red-furred, rabbit-shaped Mutant Beast. A sudden inspiration struck Jiang Shu, and he seemed to have an epiphany. He repeatedly practiced the seventy-two forms of the Innate Guiding Skill. In his mind, the moment of Shang Jibei’s breakthrough replayed like scenes from a film. Rain fell on his body, soaking his clothes, but he paid it no mind. Tight on the outside, relaxed on the inside. Lead wrapped around mercury. Just as he executed the seventy-second form again, his pores contracted, and his power erupted! A droplet of rain was fiercely repelled by his power. Dark Force! Achieved.