novel-bin Chapter 32 3 points
Chapter 32 3 points
Five days later, Jiang Lan's internal and external injuries were finally completely healed.
He left the martial arts school before dawn and walked alone for nearly two miles to the abandoned mountain god temple outside the city.
This place is deserted, so even if there's a big commotion, it won't alert anyone.
Jiang Lan sat cross-legged on the dry grass, her fingertips caressing the small porcelain bottle she had kept close to her body the whole way.
After returning, he secretly asked the old doctor at the pharmacy to examine it and found out that it contained a Dragon Tiger Pill—one of which cost a full ten taels of silver and was a top-grade tonic that could help a martial artist with two acupoints break through to the third acupoint and open up the acupoints!
Compared to the blood-replenishing pills Jiang Lan had taken before, this Dragon-Tiger Pill was a completely different level of precious medicine. The gray-robed man casually gave him one, suggesting he must be a prominent figure in the city; it was surprising that such a person needed Jiang Lan's escort...
The waters in the prefectural city are indeed deeper than those in the outer city!
Jiang Lan shook his head. The most important thing right now was to take the Dragon Tiger Pill and break through to the third acupoint.
He poured out the pill, a dark red one lying in his palm. Its fragrance was slightly bitter; just smelling it caused a subtle surge of qi and blood in his dantian. Jiang Lan tilted his head back, put the pill in his mouth, and slowly swallowed.
The moment the medicine entered my stomach, it was like a ball of scalding fire suddenly exploding inside!
The scorching heat surged wildly through his limbs and meridians, like thousands of red-hot iron snakes. Wherever it passed, his meridians were pierced with needles and burned with intense pain. Sweat instantly soaked through his short-sleeved shirt, and even the stone wall on his back was dampened.
He gritted his teeth and, relying on the extreme composure he had honed through practicing the Mountain-Crushing Fist, precisely aimed the rampaging medicinal power at the barrier of the third acupoint.
Jiang Lan mobilized all her qi and blood, and with the help of the medicine, she repeatedly attacked the gates of the acupoints.
The barrier, like a rammed earth wall softened by water, gradually loosened and crumbled under the relentless impact.
After an unknown amount of time, the sky outside the temple was already bright.
"boom--"
A loud bang, audible only to him, exploded in his mind!
The gate of the third acupoint was completely opened, and the surging blood and qi rushed in like a flood breaking through a dam, instantly filling the once-dry acupoint space.
This time, it was a deep-seated sense of fulfillment—even my five senses became incredibly sharp, and I could clearly hear the chirping of insects a hundred meters away from the temple and the sound of the wind blowing through the grass.
Jiang Lan slowly opened her eyes, panting heavily. Sweat dripped down her jawline and onto the dry grass, leaving a small wet patch.
In my mind, the words on the golden panel kept flashing:
The third acupoint has been opened.
[Body Structure: Average → Above Average]
[Innate Talent: Unawakened. Once Innate Talent reaches Superior level, an exclusive martial arts talent will be unlocked!]
Jiang Lan was stunned.
Can one really improve their physical constitution by stimulating acupoints?
He previously thought that rising from the lower middle to the middle was just a stroke of good luck.
He looked at the words "Superior Root Bone Unlocks Exclusive Traits" on the panel, and his eyes lit up.
What does it feel like to have superior physical constitution? What are unique martial arts characteristics? He didn't know. But he knew he had to reach that threshold.
……
Inside the martial arts school, the morning classes were still in progress.
On the training ground, the sounds of fists cutting through the air rose and fell. Liu Changqing stood in the center of the field, holding a roster in his hand, his sharp eyes sweeping over each disciple practicing their fists.
Jiang Lan didn't go to the training ground, but went straight to the main house entrance, stood at the bottom of the steps, and waited quietly.
Liu Changqing spotted him immediately, paused for a moment, handed the roster to his eldest disciple, strode over, and scanned him from head to toe: "Fully healed?"
"Alright." Jiang Lan clasped his hands and bowed, his voice steady. "Thank you for your concern, Master."
"Hmm." Liu Changqing nodded, his gaze holding a hint of inquiry. "Did you need something?"
"This disciple would like to ask Master for guidance on how my practice of the Mountain-Crushing Fist has progressed during this period."
Liu Changqing glanced at him, said nothing, and simply stepped aside half a step: "Let's put on a show in the courtyard."
Jiang Lan retreated to the open space in the center of the courtyard, his feet shoulder-width apart, and slowly began to unleash the starting stance of the Mountain-Crushing Fist.
Tiger's Ben, Tiger's Swing, Tiger's Pounce.
He unleashed three basic moves in quick succession. Though lacking the powerful, sweeping strikes of his predecessors, each punch carried a gust of wind, the sound of air being torn apart more than twice as deep. The force of his punches penetrated his body, sending fallen leaves swirling and flying. After completing the set, he stood still, his breathing steady, not even a drop of sweat on his forehead.
Liu Changqing stared at him for a long time, his eyes growing brighter and brighter. He strode over, reached out and squeezed Jiang Lan's shoulder and arm, then placed two fingers on his pulse. His fingertips paused slightly, his brows furrowing before completely relaxing, even his voice carrying a hint of disbelief:
"The third acupoint, is it open?"
"Yes." Jiang Lan nodded. "It was just flushed out this morning."
Liu Changqing remained silent for a while, then suddenly chuckled softly, his tone full of admiration: "In just half a year, you've gone from knowing absolutely nothing to having all three acupoints opened. Jiang Lan, you're no less capable than your cousin Jiang Hao back then, and perhaps even better."
Jiang Lan lowered her eyes and didn't reply. Talent is never a lifesaver; only the strength you hold in your own hands is.
"From today onwards, you no longer need to practice your stances and boxing at the public training ground." Liu Changqing turned around and walked towards the small courtyard behind the main house. "Come with me."
Jiang Lan followed silently.
Behind the main house is a row of separate small courtyards, which had been empty before. Now, the innermost one has been cleaned up and is spotless.
Pushing open the door, the space inside is not large, but it is fully equipped: hard wooden stakes for practicing boxing stand against the wall, precise footprints for stance training are drawn on the ground with white lime, a medicine stove for boiling medicine and a wooden tub for soaking are placed in the corner, and even the windows are soundproofed. When the door is closed, it is a training space that is completely undisturbed.
"This is your private training room," Liu Changqing said. "You can train here without being disturbed."
Jiang Lan was taken aback for a moment, then quickly said, "Master, this is against the rules, I..."
"Stop dawdling with me." Liu Changqing waved his hand, interrupting him, and then pulled a heavy coarse cloth bag from his pocket, stuffing it directly into his hand. "Inside are this month's blood-tonifying pills, and three prepared medicinal bath prescriptions. From now on, you can come directly to me to collect your monthly allowance; you don't need to go to the accounting office and queue with other people."
Jiang Lan clutched the cloth bag, feeling the cold touch of the porcelain bottle inside, and felt as if something was blocking her throat.
He wanted to thank his master, but all the words he wanted to say came out as, "Master, why... are you so good to me?"
"Why?" Liu Changqing continued, looking at him intently. "Because you're worth it. Opening three acupoints in half a year, mastering the Crushing Mountain Fist to a minor level, surviving an ambush by the Black Tiger Gang, and even managing to break free from the death row thrown by the Zhao family. If I didn't cultivate such a talent, would I be blind?"
He paused, his tone softening, less stern than usual, and more filled with genuine expectation: "Moreover, you know how to find a way to survive in dire straits, how to be patient, and how to know when to advance and when to retreat. This is far more important than talent."
Jiang Lan's heart skipped a beat. He clasped his hands and bowed deeply, saying, "This disciple will certainly live up to Master's expectations. I will master the Mountain-Crushing Fist and not bring shame to the martial arts school or to you."
Liu Changqing waved his hand, gesturing for him to stand up. As he walked to the door, he suddenly remembered something and turned back to add, "By the way, a new junior brother has joined the school, named Shen Qing. You haven't met him yet, have you?"
"I've never seen it before."
"Let's go get to know him." Liu Changqing gestured with his chin toward the training ground. "He practices on the wooden stakes on the east side. Don't let his late entry fool you; he has superior natural talent and incredible strength. He's a rare gem."
Superior physical constitution!
After Jiang Lan responded, she turned and walked towards the training ground.
Sure enough, a boy was standing in front of the wooden stakes on the east side of the training ground.
He looked a year or two younger than Jiang Lan, wearing a coarse cloth shirt that clung tightly to his body, revealing well-defined muscles.
He was practicing the most basic introductory long fist technique at the martial arts school. His moves were still quite unfamiliar and even a bit stiff, but every punch he threw at the solid wooden stake produced a dull, thunderous sound. The stake, as thick as a bowl, shook violently as if it would be uprooted at any moment.
Jiang Lan stood not far away and watched quietly for a few moments.
After Shen Qing finished her set of punches, she turned around and immediately saw him. She paused for a moment, wiped the sweat from her forehead, looked him up and down, her gaze lingering on the thick calluses on his knuckles for a second, and asked, "You're Jiang Lan?"
"Yes." Jiang Lan nodded.
"Shen Qing." The young man clasped his hands in a fist salute, his tone neither humble nor arrogant, "My master often mentions you, saying that you are good at boxing."
"Master, you flatter me." Jiang Lan said calmly, "You continue practicing, I'm just passing by to take a look."
Shen Qing didn't say anything more, turned around, and assumed a boxing stance again. The wind howled as he punched, and the wooden stakes thumped. Each punch was more powerful than the last.
Jiang Lan stood there, watching his back, a hint of seriousness flashing in her eyes.
He was born with superior physical attributes and superhuman strength.
He toiled for half a year to improve his physical attributes from below average to above average, but some people were born to stand at the finish line that he had struggled so hard to reach. On the road to the martial arts examination, there are countless other exceptionally talented opponents like Shen Qing.
He didn't look any further, turned around and went back to his training room, closing the door behind him.
The room fell silent instantly, shutting out all outside noise. Jiang Lan took off his outer robe, stood shirtless in front of the wooden stake, and slowly began to unleash the power of the Mountain-Crushing Fist.
Jiang Lan took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
Eighty days, two acupoints. It's very difficult to achieve this by simply punching one punch at a time.
But in the face of life and death, what the body remembers is deeper than what is learned a thousand times!
……