Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 54 - 52: Accumulation Leading to Sudden Growth, Bone Forging Realm!

Chapter 54: Chapter 52: Accumulation Leading to Sudden Growth, Bone Forging Realm!

A spear without foundation is like willow fluff drifting in the sky.

One must stand firm to condense force, hold the spear level, aligning all three points.

The three moves—block, seize, and thrust—must be polished a thousand times, driving power from the waist to the tip, achieving the finesse of ’going like an arrow, returning like a thread.’

These past months, Su Mu devoted himself solely to the fundamentals, not rushing to cultivate the Torrential Rain Spear Technique’s lethal moves, and so on the interface, the progress bar for the Torrential Rain Spear Technique grew slowly.

But in truth, that speed of improvement was still astounding; the Black-armored Strongman Hongshan, Centurion of the Black Mountain Rebel Army, who died at Su Mu’s hands, spent over five years training the spear basics with Rangers before beginning the Torrential Rain Spear Technique. That didn’t even count his time spent on fists prior to learning the spear, let alone touching upon lethal moves afterwards.

Yet now, empowered by terrifying comprehension, Su Mu traversed Hongshan’s five-year spear-training path in less than three months—even surpassing it. If Su Mu wished, the Torrential Rain Spear could break through to Small Success at any moment.

There are many martial artists in Qingyun City; the spear he bought at the market—a white wax wood rod—was more than two meters long, nearly an inch thick, weighing ten jin, its shaft solid and resilient.

In Su Mu’s hands, it moved like a flood dragon surging out to sea. In days of use, where Su Mu gripped the spear, sweat soaked it through, turning the shaft from pristine white jade to a faint yellow in just a short while.

"This should do."

Inside the courtyard, the youth murmured, then drew a deep breath. His bearing shifted, the white wax wood gunstock in his hands gathering energy, ready to be unleashed.

Torrential Rain Spear Technique, First Move: Cloud Surge!

Power erupted from his waist, force penetrating the spear’s tip, piercing through the sky; in that instant, a gale rampaged through the courtyard as the long spear thrust out, like a white flood dragon emerging from the winds.

One spear executed—no pause between killing moves.

Torrential Rain Spear Technique, Second Move: Thunder Shock Break!

Su Mu’s eyes gleamed; his wrist quivered thrice, sending ripples through the spear. The shadow of the spear danced like a flood dragon, lightning and thunder rumbling amidst the trailing spear shadows—two killing moves chained and cycled, his spear raining out densely like a drizzle.

Wind and snow swirled above, yet every flake was intercepted by the spear’s shadows—the spear shaft, over a zhang in length, became an insurmountable barrier.

Snow everywhere, not a flake could pass!

As the two killing moves fired off, his Instant-Insight-level comprehension caught a flash of spiritual light, immediately crystallizing it into reality.

Buzz!

All his acupuncture points and bones hummed, as a familiar warmth wells up from his abdomen, surging swiftly through his body.

Torrential Rain Spear Technique (Small Success 1%)

Comprehension: 24

After breaking through, Su Mu still did not stop wielding his spear. It wasn’t until dawn the next day, when the wind and snow ceased, that he finally let out a slow breath.

Torrential Rain Spear Technique (Small Success 10%)

Three months of laying foundations, plus Instant-Insight-level comprehension, once Su Mu started refining the lethal moves, his progress was astonishing. In one night, the small-success progress of the Torrential Rain Spear Technique leaped to ten percent—a great stride toward Perfection.

With over ten days to Spring Festival, three months without distractions, immersed in martial cultivation, Su Mu, after achieving Transforming Force, experienced an explosive leap from accumulated strength.

Time passed—seven days later.

Bang, bang!

Su Mu threw a punch. After a muffled thump, the second sounded, making the air quiver. Then, incredibly, a third echo thundered.

Bam!

This third echo was louder than the previous two, like a war drum being struck. Even separated by more than a zhang, bare branches of the old locust tree in the yard shuddered. Had there been leaves, they would have rained down in a dazzling shower. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Three echoes of Rock Shattering—Perfection attained!

Rock Shattering Fist (Perfection)

Comprehension: 27

Rock Shattering Fist—the second Grade-Entering Fist Technique mastered by Su Mu. Back when he had yet to enter Bone Forging, he’d used this fist to strike down the Black-armored Strongman and Zhao Xuan, Eighth-Grade Bone Forger Martial Artists. For armored foes, its power was nothing short of terrifying.

Now, with Great Success ascending to Perfection, its might was extraordinary. On top of its original form, it now contained a third instance of Penetrating Force.

Thus, of the three fist techniques Su Mu used during his Transforming Force stage, two had now reached the Realm of Perfection.

The sun and moon cycled—blink, and it was the ninth day.

Earlier, Su Mu had spent fifty taels at the Hundred Elixir Tower for a box of White Jade Barbarian Bone Ointment. Before Transforming Force, one box would last for twenty days.

But afterwards, if Su Mu forged with full effort, the same box would be consumed in less than ten.

Bone Forging requires the martial artist to use his own power to dissolve the medicinal energy; the stronger the power, the more efficient the Bone Forging!

After martial training, it’s best to refine bones. Su Mu wiped away his sweat, stripped down, and skillfully smeared the ointment over his body before circulating his qi and power within.

A tingling, faint stabbing sensation radiated from his fevered bones.

Bone Forging will always cause unavoidable ointment wastage—the reason is simple: the medicine can’t reach the bones directly. Ordinary Bone Forger Martial Artists can achieve only fifty percent effectiveness; that’s considered good.

But in Su Mu’s case, thanks to Five Animals Qigong’s perfect control and surging Transforming Force, the ointment rapidly penetrated skin, flesh, blood, and into the bones, suffering less than ten percent loss in medicinal effect.

Therefore, Su Mu’s utilization rate of Bone-Forger Ointment was nearly double that of other martial artists.

As the ointment was applied, the youth’s bones joyfully digested the medicine, absorbing ample nutrients, slowly growing stronger and more robust.

Most Bone Forger Martial Artists will only apply ointment once per night, as they can’t digest more; extra application merely wastes medicine.

But this problem scarcely existed with Su Mu. After just over an hour, he’d find the effect mostly depleted and needed to reapply for another round.

"Continue."

By dawn, after three rounds of reapplication, Su Mu felt a miraculous sensation emanating from his bones—as though his skeleton was finally satiated.

Clearing his mind, Su Mu regulated his breath and entered a peculiar Introspection state.

Previously, Su Mu couldn’t achieve this. But after his comprehension soared to Instant-Insight, he’d accidentally realized he had mastered Introspection during one cultivation session.

However, ’Introspection’ still came with considerable limitations—for now, he could sense his muscles, bones, organs, and meridians, but not delve deeper. For example, Su Mu could perceive the blackness enveloping his heart beneath his chest, as if shrouded by fog.

He understood it was the toxic blood from Gu Insect corrosion. To probe further into the heart’s structure or see the Gu Insect itself was still beyond him.

Nowadays, Su Mu had started trying medicines prepared by the Pharmacist. With elementary Introspection, each time he used Silver Needle Sealing Meridians to expel toxic blood, or took medicine, he could clearly observe the effects.

In Introspection—

Su Mu could distinctly see each bone had thickened by a layer; with ointment, they became even whiter and tougher. His resistance and explosive power had also doubled!

Focusing, eyes closed, Su Mu tested his punch output.

Through Introspection, he could observe his bone movements, and as the bones struck each other, there was a faint metallic clang within.

Hoooo---------

Su Mu opened his eyes and slowly exhaled, joy flashing across his face.

"First bone forging complete—now I’ve officially entered the Eighth Grade Bone Forging Realm!"

The Bone Forging Realm is much like Refining Force: the first bone forging is the start, and two bone forges lead to Seventh Grade.

The first forge is Iron Bone. Iron Bone—as the name implies—bones as hard as iron, sounding like metal; strike them and they ring with metallic clangor. Iron Bone Small Realm is thus named.

Su Mu rose and stretched, satisfied with three months of progress.

Three rounds of Refining Force and one Bone Forging had almost turned his previous self on its head. Su Mu felt certain that if the Black-armored Strongman and Zhao Xuan came back to life—even combined, they wouldn’t last more than a few rounds against him.

That day, Su Mu casually packed up several sets of clothes and brought his manuals. After closing the door, he left the courtyard.

For the next two days, Su Mu and the Little Doctor were busy shopping for New Year’s goods. They divided up tasks: the Little Doctor picked items, Su Mu hauled them, while the Pharmacist was lost in his pursuit to break the Gu Poison. Each found joy in their own way.

"Never thought my first real use of bone forging... would be carrying New Year’s groceries."

Su Mu laughed to himself, muttering silently.

Life at the clinic was a bit more relaxed. Both the Pharmacist and Little Doctor knew Su Mu was a martial artist, but Su Mu was still cautious—training only a little Five Animals Qigong each day to maintain form. This had become habit.

"Brother Su, can you teach me a few moves?"

"If you wish to learn, of course you can."

Five Animals Qigong comes from Su Mu’s previous world, created by Divine Doctor Hua Tuo. If anyone here wants to learn, Su Mu is happy to pass it on—especially to the Little Doctor, who isn’t just anybody.

As the two cultivated Five Animals Qigong in the yard, they quickly caught the Pharmacist’s attention. During this period, Pharmacist Lin kept himself locked in the pharmacy all day, studying toxic blood. Maybe that’s why both he and the Little Doctor wanted Su Mu to move into the clinic for the New Year.

Come dusk, the Pharmacist ended his research and stepped outside. In the waning winter sunlight, he paused, seeing two figures practicing martial arts.

"Why did Xiaoyue suddenly decide to learn martial arts?"

Curious, the Pharmacist came closer and watched for a while. Instantly, his eyes widened as surprise flickered across his face. As a healer, Pharmacist Lin soon noticed the extraordinary qualities of this fist technique.

Excited, he clapped and cheered, repeating ’good’ three times.

"Good, good, good!"

The Pharmacist strode over, but the Little Doctor was miffed—they had been enjoying quietly practicing, and Brother Su’s technique was brilliant; she was just hitting her groove when Master interrupted her.

"Young friend, does this fist technique have a name, and who created it?"

"Pharmacist, this technique is called ’Five Animals Qigong,’ taught to me by a wandering traveler. As for its creator, I’m afraid I don’t know."

Su Mu casually shifted credit for Five Animals Qigong onto that old wanderer.

The Pharmacist was skeptical but didn’t press further. He said directly: "Young friend, could I borrow you for a word?"

"Very well."

So the two entered the study. The Pharmacist came right to the point: "Young friend, forgive my boldness. Watching you practice, I saw great subtlety in this fist: tiger, deer, bear, ape, and crane—all vividly lifelike. If cultivated long-term, such an art would surely be supremely beneficial—even prolong life."

"It may hold tremendous significance for medical studies as well."

Su Mu was slightly taken aback—truly, Pharmacist Lin deserved his reputation. As a fellow healer, he’d instantly sensed the hidden excellence and potential of Divine Doctor Hua Tuo’s Five Animals Qigong after only a brief look.

"Which is why I must make a presumptuous request. Today, allow me the shamelessness to ask you to teach me this fist technique." As he spoke, Pharmacist Lin considered a moment and retrieved an old, nameless booklet from a hidden cupboard in the study.

"Naturally, I wouldn’t ask you to teach for nothing—please accept this secret manual in exchange."

Su Mu had already guessed the Pharmacist’s intentions. If he was willing to teach the Little Doctor, of course he could teach the Pharmacist—he didn’t care what manual was being offered in trade.

Just at that moment—

A cold wind swept frost and snow through the window of the pharmacy, rustling the yellowed booklet in the Pharmacist’s hands, revealing six elegant characters on the flyleaf, written in delicate flower-script:

’Small Faceless Transformation Technique’!

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