'Unity of Man and Martial Arts' was accomplishing an Acquired Martial Body with the gifts from heaven and earth.
This was a truly unexpected delight.
His 'Iron Thread Fist' was not far from reaching 'Unity of Man and Martial Arts'.
Seeing the anticipation on Lu Yan's face, Wang Lin couldn't help but admonish, "Don't get your hopes up. The cultivation to reach 'Unity of Man and Martial Arts' is as difficult as climbing to the heavens. Even for third-rate martial arts, it's exceptionally challenging. Those who are able to attain it are very few, each one a prodigy of martial arts. At least in Changfeng City, I've never heard of anyone cultivating a martial art to the stage of 'Unity of Man and Martial Arts'."
"Brother Wang, you're right. I was overambitious."
Lu Yan nodded.
Wang Lin is right. For ordinary people, it is almost impossible to cultivate a martial art to the level of 'Unity of Man and Martial Arts'.
For a martial artist of average talent, to attain perfection in a third-rate martial art requires thirty years of hard labor.
Attaining a level beyond that and reaching 'transcendence' doesn't just require hard work. Talent and guidance from a master are also necessary.
For 'Unity of Man and Martial Arts', even with talent and guidance, it would be a feat done by only one in a million.
As for second-rate, first-rate martial arts, the difficulty is naturally higher.
But Lu Yan didn't have these obstacles—all he needed were enough resources to stack his way to the top.
In the martial arts practice ground, Liu Xingchao, not satisfied after defeating three third-breakthrough Red-clad Guards, challenged a fourth-breakthrough one.
Breaking through four times was much stronger than three times.
It was not just that the overall amount of Qi-blood bubbling within was more, but the quality was also greater.
Because, to reach a fourth breakthrough, one must cultivate a second-rate martial art—a third-rate martial art would not suffice.
But Liu Xingchao fought like a beast out of its cage, his combat power astonishing, actually managing to hold his own against the fourth-breakthrough Red-clad Guard for dozens of moves.
Lu Yan could tell that, with Liu Xingchao's age and mastery, if he was older and had mastered the 'Tian Gang Red Scale Palm' to perfection or even reaching the peak of perfection, how strong would he be?
Combining a first-rate martial art and an Innate Martial Body was like a tiger sprouting wings.
After battling with a fourth-breakthrough Red-clad guard, Liu Xingchao was finally satisfied. He declared that he would return for another bout after his own third breakthrough and then left with his people.
However, Lu Yan's heart remained restless.
He yearned intensely for 'Unity of Man and Martial Arts'.
Previously, not knowing about the 'Acquired Martial Body', he could have slowly accumulated strength and broken through when naturally ready.
But now that he knew, he was restless, wishing he could immediately raise the 'Iron Thread Fist' to 'Unity of Man and Martial Arts' and witness the effect of an Acquired Martial Body.
"It seems I'll have to buy dried martial food."
Lu Yan pondered.
Not all martial food was served fresh; it could also be made into dried martial food, not unlike jerky.
This way, the shelf life of martial food could be greatly extended.
However, because the preparation process was complex and the food could be stored for a longer period and was easy to carry, its price was naturally higher.
Usually, two catties of fresh martial food could be made into one catty of dried martial food, and the effect was similar.
However, one catty of the dried variant cost thirty silver taels.
Two catties of fresh martial food only cost twenty taels—in other words, the price for the same effect was fifty percent higher.
So, unless necessary, like going on an adventure or spending a long time outside, one might carry dried martial food. Otherwise, not many people bought it.
Lu Yan hadn't considered it before.
But now, he planned to buy some and try to raise 'Iron Thread Fist' to 'Unity of Man and Martial Arts' as soon as possible.
After finishing his afternoon shift, Lu Yan went home, disguised himself, and then visited the Linglan Chamber of Commerce.
As the Chamber of Commerce established by Jun City's Wei Family of Grandmaster Level, the Linglan Chamber naturally sold dried martial food.
Lu Yan bought ten catties of dried martial food in one breath, spending three hundred silver taels.
The silver he had on hand shrunk to less than three hundred taels. It was thanks to his monthly salary that he wasn't in a worse situation.
The taste of the dried martial food, although not as good as freshly cooked food, wasn't bad. It was actually much tastier than the beef jerky from his past life.
As soon as he got back, Lu Yan consumed half a catty.
Half a catty of dried martial food was the equivalent of one catty of fresh martial food. Lu Yan didn't practice for physical strength, but let most of the energy from the dried martial food be absorbed by the Dao Book.
The avatar of Iron Thread Fist began to practice. In the end, his progress increased by 1.25%.
In the next two days, Lu Yan consumed another eight catties of dried martial food. The progress of Iron Thread Fist was soon touching hundred percent or the transcendent level.
In the practice room, Lu Yan concentrated intensely on the avatar of Iron Thread Fist.
Suddenly, the progress above the avatar's head jumped to 100% and then changed again.
Avatar, Iron Thread Fist, Unity of Man and Martial Arts.
A special insight arose in Lu Yan's mind, and he immediately started practicing his moves.
"So heavy."
As he threw his punches, it felt like an unknown force was empowering his fists. It felt as if he was pushing a massive boulder every time he punched.
But every punch seemed to drive a special energy between heaven and earth, guiding it towards him and infusing it into his body.
A tingling feeling seeped into his body, becoming more and more intense, spreading from his muscles to his bones, and even his organs.
Lu Yan endured the pain and continued punching. He knew it was a critical moment. This tingling was a sign of being reborn.
If he were to stop, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity might slip away.
Lu Yan continued to punch, the tingling becoming more and more intense, finally evolving into an excruciating pain.
This process lasted for three hours before it disappeared.
And when Lu Yan was throwing punches, he no longer felt the heavy-as-a-mountain sensation.
He knew that the gift from heaven and earth had ended.
Phew!
Lu Yan stopped boxing, sweat was pouring all over his body, and a layer of sticky black liquid was covering his skin, which was quite disgusting.
"Is this the impurity in my body? It's similar to the novels I've read before."
Lu Yan murmured, and then he went to the yard to wash himself with water. After rinsing himself, he began to feel relaxed and full of strength.
Snap!
With a punch, the sound of a crack through the air was heard.
"My body has greatly enhanced its strength, at least an increase of 50 percent."
"And there has been a 30 percent increase in the amount of my Qi-blood."
Lu Yan circulated his Qi-blood, finding it much denser than before.
This surprised him.
He had previously thought that the Acquired Martial Body would only increase its "capacity". He didn't realise that the density of his Qi-blood would also increase.
This wasn't transformed from food, nor was it the release of the body's potential after the Limit Breaking, it was as if it came out of nowhere.
Maybe, this was also due to the gift from heaven and earth.
Otherwise, with the increase in the "capacity" of Qi-blood, it would probably overflows.
Lu Yan estimated that his capacity for Qi-blood had increased by about 50 percent.
That is to say, when his Qi-blood is full, his Qi-blood at the same level will be 50 percent denser than that of others.
Although it can't compare with Liu Xingchao, Lu Yan was already quite satisfied.
"I wonder if I can have another Acquired Martial Body with the gift of heaven and earth when I reach the Unity of Man and Martial Arts in Liuhe Kick."
When Lu Yan thought of this, he felt thrilled.
What could he achieve if he had each and every one for a dozen or two martial arts?
Even if they were all Third-rate martial arts, he could easily crush the First-rate martial arts.
Of course, having an Acquired Martial Body has many advantages, but also has drawbacks.
The total amount of Qi-blood was increased, so he wanted to reach Qi-blood fullness, and he needed to accumulate more Qi-blood.
After a short rest and consumed half a pound of Dried Martial Food, Lu Yan began to cultivate.
This time, he didn't give all the energy to the Dao Book, but instead divided it in half like before, half for accumulating Qi-blood.
The 'Unity of Man and Martial Arts' in Iron Thread Fist opened up 576 branches of meridians, combined with the meridians opened up by Liuhe Kick, the number had reached 864, the speed of accumulating Qi-blood had accelerated again.
Soon, the remaining Dried Martial Food was all consumed by Lu Yan.
Lu Yan did not continue to buy Dried Martial Food, mainly because he didn't have much Silver Tael left, it wasn't worth buying Dried Martial Food, better to eat fresh Martial Food slowly.
In a blink of an eye, another two months had passed.
Lu Yan had been cultivating following the routine, and Liuhe Kick had reached 20 percent of the Transcendent state, while his Qi-blood was gradually drawing towards fullness.
With the support of Martial Food and the huge increase in the number of meridians opened, it wouldn't take long before he could reach Qi-blood fullness and sense the Third Sealed Door.
These few days, the Red-clad Guard had a beaming smile, because it was time for them to have extra income.
The responsibilities of the Red-clad Guard are not only to patrol the streets and catch criminals but also to deal with Escort Agencies, Chambers of Commerce, Martial Arts Schools, and Gangs.
This involves a lot of grey areas.
For instance, gangs, they primarily run gambling houses and brothels.
The Feudal Lords don't do these things not because they can't, but because they allow the Gangs to do it. They need Gangs to do one thing, that is, to collect protection fees.
Every shop has to pay.
The money collected, most of it had to be handed over to the Feudal Lords.
In recent years, the world has become more chaotic, Feudal Lords are fighting with each other, military expenses are also increasing, naturally, they need a lot of silver.
Since it is difficult to expand their own businesses, they can only exploit those at the cities.
But it would not be good for the Feudal Lords to do this themselves, it would spoil their reputation and public opinion, and the Gangs would be a good cover.
Otherwise, the Feudal Lords would not allow the existence of Gangs.
Every once in a while, Gangs have to hand over a sum of "income", and the Red-clad Guard will collect it on their behalf. Meanwhile, they naturally also get a good share of the benefits.
On this day, Lu Yan and Wang Lin followed a squad leader Meng Qi of the Seventh Brigade to collect the "income" from the Green Bamboo Gang.
"Leader Meng, good to see you again, please have a seat and drink tea."
The Gang Leader of the Green Bamboo Gang, Fang Xiong, greeted them with a smile. A servant served tea and poured water for them.
In front of the three of them, the Gang Leader, who is feared by the common people, is polite and courteous.
"Leader Fang, you know why we are here, let's not beat around the bush," Meng Qi said indifferently.
"Of course!"
Fang Xiong waved his hand, and someone carried two wooden boxes, one big and one small.
Opening the wooden boxes, they were full of silver tickets and silver ingots.
But Lu Yan didn't even look at them. His attention was always on Fang Xiong.
Because when he first saw Fang Xiong, the Dao Book in his mind had reacted.
The reaction of craving "to eat".
On Fang Xiong, there was something similar to that round bead.