Chapter 133 – Will Like a Blade, Ten Days of Improvement

A servant immediately came up with a basin of water and a clean towel.

Lu Yuan wiped the sweat from his body. His solid, muscular build made the girl holding the basin blush, and she stole a few glances at him.

“Aunt Zhuang, I’ll head back now.”

After wiping off, Lu Yuan greeted Zhuang Xiujie and turned to leave the courtyard, which had been temporarily used as a martial arts arena.

Today’s sparring with Zhuang Xiujie was a spur-of-the-moment decision; otherwise, it should have taken place in the martial arts arena.

“Take care, Little Senior Brother.”

Zhuang Xiujie observed the proper etiquette.

She watched Lu Yuan leave until his figure disappeared from the courtyard.

Zhuang Xiujie glanced at the mess in the courtyard and was about to leave as well.

However, she stopped just as she stepped out of the courtyard gate, seeing a middle-aged man with black hair standing not far away, quietly observing her.

Her eyes flickered, and she called out, “Second Senior Brother.”

The middle-aged man nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping past Zhuang Xiujie, seemingly looking towards the direction of the courtyard behind her.

“What do you think of him?”

Zhuang Xiujie naturally knew who the middle-aged man was referring to. She took a deep breath and replied earnestly, “He’s even more impressive than we expected. I taught him the Crane Step, and he mastered it in a single day. His comprehension and talent are unmatched, except for Eighth Senior Brother in the past. Not to mention, he also possesses the Palace of Flesh…”

The middle-aged man nodded and said lightly, “My feelings are similar.

The teacher’s selection of a True Disciple… was certainly not mistaken.”

Zhuang Xiujie hesitated for a moment and then suddenly asked, “Second Senior Brother, are you… still planning to compete?”

The middle-aged man glanced at her and said, “I never thought of competing for anything. Before, when the teacher wanted someone to inherit the crane style, I stepped up. Everything I did was to earn your respect. Now that the teacher has a better choice, I will naturally do my best to assist… Do you understand what I mean?”

Zhuang Xiujie couldn’t discern any emotion from the middle-aged man’s face and didn’t know what to say, so she just murmured, “Yes.”

“And Junior Brother Lin?”

The middle-aged man asked again.

Zhuang Xiujie replied, “He went back to Jiaoyan. Momo’s surgery, she’s probably already on her way to Xiabang.”

The middle-aged man fell silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice, “The teacher wants me to hand over the Baihe business to Junior Brother Lin…”

Hearing this, Zhuang Xiujie’s eyes brightened, revealing a trace of excitement on her face. Quickly, it turned into a wave of emotion as she glanced back at the courtyard.

“It seems the teacher is truly pleased with this True Disciple…”

Lu Yuan walked to the door of his resting room, followed closely by the girl who had brought him the basin of water.

“You can go now. If I need anything, I’ll call you.”

Lu Yuan stopped at the door and said to the girl.

“Okay.”

The girl responded, but her body language showed reluctance to leave.

The servants at Linghexuan were all highly paid hires from professional housekeeping companies. They were not only well-trained but also attractive, regardless of gender.

The girl who had brought Lu Yuan the basin looked a few years older than him, with a pure and lovely appearance. Her figure was also impressive, with a loose Chinese uniform barely concealing her ample chest.

Holding the basin, the girl looked back at Lu Yuan several times, her eyes carrying a hint of subtle resentment.

Lu Yuan knew what she wanted.

Linghexuan was a grand estate, and anyone could see that those living in this manor were either wealthy or noble. For someone like her, having the chance to “marry up” was worth striving for at all costs.

Especially since Lu Yuan was not only “high-status” but also had a robust physique and a top-tier handsome face. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that if Lu Yuan showed even the slightest interest…

In a minute, the girl with the basin would willingly strip naked and lie on his bed.

“Creak”

Pushing the door open, the first thing that came into view was a large character for “Crane.”

“Actually, it’s not that difficult,” Lu Yuan thought.

He was certain that if it were his previous life, he would never have missed such an opportunity. But over the past few days, he had easily refused many similar chances.

It wasn’t for any lofty reason.

It was simply because…

He really didn’t want to.

The pure physical desire between men and women had become very insignificant in his eyes. Or rather, it could be easily suppressed by other, stronger desires within him.

“Is it because my intelligence points have increased, and thus my willpower has unknowingly become much stronger…? With a clear goal, my will has become like a sharp blade. If I want to refuse something, I can cut it off cleanly with one stroke… The meaningless hesitation and worries have also become fewer and fewer.”

Lu Yuan analyzed himself.

He casually sat on the cushion in the center of the room, facing the character for “Crane” on the wall.

The room was spacious, empty, and tidy. It was cleaned three times a day, and the incense burner on the table always had calming sandalwood incense burning around the clock.

If he wanted to eat or drink something, or had any other needs, he only needed to inform Liu Si on his mobile phone. Within five minutes, someone would deliver it immediately.

Lu Yuan had been living here for ten days, enjoying ten days of pampered life. Sometimes, he even felt an illusion, as if he had transmigrated once more and become a “young master” in a wealthy family.

Lu Yuan sat quietly on the cushion for a while, adjusting himself to a good state. Then he got up, took a small reddish-brown sandalwood box from the bedside table drawer, and opened it. Inside was a red pill, looking somewhat like a hawthorn roll.

He picked it up and casually tossed it into his mouth, chewing.

A few seconds later, Lu Yuan’s breathing became slightly heavier. A faint red color appeared under his fair skin and grew deeper. Soon, wisps of heat began to rise from his body, turning him as red and hot as a boiled shrimp.

Spirit Crane Body!

Without delay, Lu Yuan assumed the posture for the Spirit Crane Body. He began with the first move and continued through to the one hundred twenty-sixth move.

The set of body training techniques for the Spirit Crane Body that Lin Zhiqin had taught him was now fully mastered by Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan continuously repeated the entire set of movements, occasionally interspersing them with boxing, kicking, and grasping techniques.

The heat emanating from his body increased, almost forming visible white steam. The room echoed with the sound of bones cracking.

Initially, the noise was subtle, but it grew clearer, sounding like numerous jade pieces clashing inside a container, creating a somewhat pleasant melody.

Until…

The bright red color on Lu Yuan’s body completely faded away.

“Crack, crack, crack.”

Accompanied by a series of crisp pops, Lu Yuan relaxed his body, letting his arms hang naturally, standing still.

With a calm expression, he pulled up his professional panel.

[Name: Lu Yuan]

[Age: 17]

[Strength Points: 16]

[Agility Points: 16]

[Constitution Points: 17]

[Intelligence Points: 17]

…

[Profession: Martial Artist lv7 (1490/6400)]

[Basic Professional Skills: Basic Palm Techniques lv5 (Max)]

[Basic Finger Techniques lv5 (Max)]

[Basic Professional Skill: Advanced Leg Techniques lv4 (588/800)]

[Advanced Boxing Techniques lv4 (657/800)]

[Footwork lv4 (12/800)]

[Intermediate Professional Skill: Crane Stance lv5 (Max Level)]

[Advanced Professional Skill: Spirit Crane Body lv3 (379/400)]

[Crane Boxing lv3 (68/400)]

[Crane Step lv2 (156/200)]

[Crane Grasp lv2 (121/200)]

[Crane Power lv2 (189/200)]

Compared to ten days ago, his strength points and intelligence points had each increased by one. These two attribute points came from finally maxing out his Basic Palm Techniques and Basic Finger Techniques.

Now, Lu Yuan’s basic boxing power had reached nearly one thousand five hundred kilograms, or one and a half tons. His Mental Power detection range had surged to nearly 30 meters.

It was precisely because his intelligence points were as high as 17 that Lu Yuan’s comprehension of martial arts had advanced by leaps and bounds.

Previously, when Lu Yuan claimed he was a “martial arts prodigy,” he felt a bit insecure. Now, he was incredibly confident.

The Second Direct Disciple, Zhao Qiancheng, taught him the core claw skill of the crane style, Crane Grasp. The Fourth Direct Disciple, Zhuang Xiujie, taught him the core leg skill, Crane Step (technically, it was Lin Zhiqin who taught him crane boxing, also known as Crane Strike).

These two advanced professional skills of the martial artist were almost instantly absorbed by his mind after a single viewing.

With just a few practice sessions, his body naturally followed suit and mastered them.

It was almost enough to make his aunt and uncle’s jaws drop on the spot, but let’s not dwell on that. Lu Yuan himself clearly felt that his martial arts comprehension had significantly improved.

“The hidden bonuses from high intelligence points are just like the firm willpower that allowed me to decisively reject the temptations…”

The more he increased his intelligence points, the more Lu Yuan could sense the various benefits brought by high intelligence.

If a person’s body is a treasure trove of endless treasures, then the brain is undoubtedly the core area of this treasure.

“True Claw Technique Skill and True Leg Technique Skill are already taking shape; natural comprehension is not far off…”

Lu Yuan estimated that once Crane Grasp and Crane Step reached lv3, his martial artist panel would show unlockable skills, representing the corresponding ultimate true skill and killer move skill.

Because after he trained Crane Boxing to lv3, the small note behind [Crane Shadow Float] that read (temporarily unavailable for enhancement) had already disappeared.

Lv3 is a watershed, as always.

“Spirit Crane Body is also about to break through. Once Spirit Crane Body reaches lv4, Bone Training will be considered initially successful, and I will have formally stepped into the Organ Training Level!”

In ten days, Lu Yuan’s experience points for Spirit Crane Body had surged by over three hundred points.

Relying solely on the boost from high intelligence wouldn’t have achieved this; the main reason was the red pill he had just taken, which resembled a hawthorn roll.

That was a secret body training ointment of the crane style, similar to the secret acupuncture ointment he enjoyed during the Skin Training Level.

This secret ointment was called the “Bone-Tempering Pill,” and it was said to be extremely valuable.

The production cost of one Bone-Tempering Pill equaled the annual salary of an average office worker.

Liu Daoyuan, however, gave it to him as a snack, fulfilling his every request without any hesitation.

Compared to the treatment he received when training martial arts with Lin Zhiqin, the difference was like night and day.

Lin Zhiqin had to leave in a hurry. I wanted to secretly allocate some resources from our teacher to help him out, but I never got the chance…

Lu Yuan knew that Lin Zhiqin was short on money.

Initially, he planned to siphon off some resources from Liu Daoyuan to discreetly assist Lin Zhiqin. However, Lin Zhiqin left Weishan on the very day the direct disciple assessment ended.

He mentioned it was an urgent matter. Thinking about Lin Zhiqin’s daughter, Lin Mo, who was lying in the hospital, Lu Yuan understood.

“I’ve mastered the entire set of Spirit Crane Body techniques. While training my bones, I’ve actually started training my organs simultaneously.

Training the organs turned out to be much more complex than I imagined…”

Lu Yuan recalled what Zhuang Xiujie had told him: “Organ Training Level mainly relies on inner strength, while the second rank of Bone Training, Muscle Training, and Skin Training also depends on inner strength. These two aspects complement and nourish each other.

The stronger the Martial Body, the more inner strength it generates, which in turn can further enhance the physical body.

Until the inner strength permeates the entire body, the body training is considered fully accomplished, reaching the pinnacle of the martial artist master level…”

In just ten days, Lu Yuan’s Crane Power had increased from lv1 to lv2 (189/200).

This rapid progress in Bone Training enhanced his physique and increased his vital energy, thereby producing significantly more inner strength.

Now, when Lu Yuan fully exerted his strength, Crane Power could completely envelop a transformed fist.

With Crane Power enveloping his fist, the destructive force of his boxing techniques skyrocketed.

“Of course, there’s also the most important aspect… the development of the Palace of Flesh.”

Lu Yuan stepped into the bathroom within his room.

This bathroom was larger than the bedroom in his home back in Jiaoyan.

He took off his clothes, turned on the shower, and let the cold water cascade over his body.

There was a full-length mirror in the shower.

The reflection showed Lu Yuan standing tall, robust, and muscular.

His originally lean and well-proportioned body had become even more imposing after his strength points reached 16.

He now exuded a considerable sense of pressure.

Lu Yuan stared expressionlessly at his reflection in the mirror, watching as his muscles began to move slowly.

They flowed like mercury, creating distinct grooves…

In just a few breaths.

His robust physique quickly slimmed down, returning to how it was ten days ago.

But it didn’t stop there; it continued.

In the end, Lu Yuan became “skin and bones,” his frame skeletal.

Even his cheeks and eye sockets were deeply sunken, making him look like a homeless man who hadn’t had a decent meal for half a year!

“lv3 [Special Exertion]!”

“Incredible muscle control!”

“When the flesh is full, it resembles a magnificent palace; when it collapses, it looks like withered grass on a barren landscape…”

Lu Yuan spoke slowly to his reflection in the mirror.

His voice had changed too, now sounding like the rasping of blades.