Becoming a Saint Starting with the Chasing Wind Leg Technique

Chapter 136 Breaking Through the Mid-Stage, the Storm Rises Again

The courtyard in the T-shaped area became Song Jing's solitary place of asceticism.

The other three disciples in the same academy, after witnessing the fiercer competition within the Pingtian Sect, chose a more conservative cultivation method, rarely pushing themselves to the limit like Song Jing did, almost to the point of self-torture.

Every day at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), before dawn, Song Jing would take his first Qi and Blood Pill.

The medicinal effects took hold, and his blood and qi surged like a river. In this small courtyard, he began practicing the Wind-Chasing Leg Technique.

His legs swung around with lightning speed, leaving blurry afterimages in the air, and the sound of the wind breaking was sharp and piercing.

He pushed the Perfected Wind Chasing Leg Technique to its limit, not merely pursuing speed, but also focusing on the explosive power at the moment of forging.

The high-frequency changes in direction, and the perfect transition between "movement" and "stillness".

Sweat flowed like a stream, dripping onto the bluestone slab, only to be quickly evaporated by the heat emanating from him.

After his morning exercise, he took a short break to adjust his breathing before beginning to practice the Nine Shadow Steps.

Once you've mastered the top-tier movement technique of the Mad Wind Martial Arts School, advancing to the next level is as difficult as ascending to heaven.

But Song Jing, with his talent of "heaven rewards diligence", slowly improved his understanding of "illusion" and "change" through repeated tedious repetition, failures and adjustments.

In the courtyard, his figure sometimes split into three, and sometimes appeared at unpredictable angles like a ghost. The time his afterimage lingered was extended from one breath to one and a half breaths.

This level of precise control over Qi and blood, and the mobilization of every muscle in the body, is beyond comprehension.

After the New Year, it will be time for the "Prairie Fire" spear technique.

The Crimson Wildfire Spear was in my hand, heavy yet easy to handle.

Instead of rushing to master more advanced killing techniques, he repeatedly honed the three fundamental and interconnected techniques—"Sparkling Spark," "Fire Rises with the Wind," and "Wildfire"—thousands upon thousands of times. With each thrust, he strived to unleash the full power of his body, merging his qi and blood with the intent of the spear.

The wind howled through the guns, carrying a faint sense of heat—a sign that the "wildfire" concept was beginning to emerge.

He was trying to incorporate the speed of the Wind Chasing Leg Technique into the thrusting of the spear technique, and the unpredictability of the Nine Shadow Steps into the angle changes of the spear technique.

Although it was difficult, each successful integration made him feel that his marksmanship had become more powerful.

In the evening, they practiced the Wind and Thunder Leg Technique and the Golden Bell Cover.

The Wind and Thunder Leg Technique is fierce and violent. Driven by the blood and qi of the Body Refining Realm, the legs strike like thunder, accompanied by howling wind, making it a terrifying weapon for frontal assault.

And the Golden Bell Cover technique was an indispensable part of his daily routine. He would sit quietly and regulate his breathing, guiding the remaining medicinal power to wash, beat, and nourish his skin, muscles, and bones again and again.

The pale golden sheen became even more subtle beneath the skin, yet it also made it appear more resilient.

He could feel that his defenses were steadily moving towards a more solid threshold.

I take three Qi and Blood Pills every day without fail.

He absorbed and transformed the massive amount of medicinal power in the most efficient way, supporting this extreme training.

The body's Qi and blood become more abundant day by day, muscles and bones become stronger day by day, and understanding of various exercises becomes more profound day by day.

A month passed quickly in this tedious, painful, yet incredibly fulfilling ascetic practice.

Finally, one night at the end of the month...

After Song Jing had completely refined the medicinal power of the last Qi and Blood Pill and completed one cycle of the Golden Bell Shield, he suddenly felt a slight tremor within his body.

It's not a sign of a breakthrough, but rather an extreme sense of fullness, like water about to overflow or a bowstring being fully drawn.

The body's Qi and blood seemed to have accumulated to a peak, and the speed at which they flowed through the meridians seemed to have slowed down slightly, but that was not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of becoming more condensed and heavier.

Every muscle is brimming with explosive power, as if it could crush fine iron with a gentle squeeze.

His five senses were sharper than ever before; he could clearly hear even the faintest sounds of insects crawling across the grass several feet away from the courtyard.

Full of energy and with clear thinking.

"The bottleneck—has arrived." Song Jing slowly opened his eyes, a hint of understanding and anticipation flashing in them.

He could clearly feel that the invisible barrier separating the early and middle stages of the Flesh Refining Realm had become as thin as a cicada's wing.

The power accumulated within his body had reached its current limit, like a flood held back by a dam, only needing that final surge to break through and step into a completely new world.

"Strength, speed, defense—an all-round improvement." Song Jing clenched his fist, feeling the immense power about to burst forth, and his heart was filled with confidence.

"Tomorrow—tomorrow should be the time to break through to the mid-stage."

Just as Song Jing was diligently cultivating and touching the threshold of breakthrough, two major events within the inner city were like dark clouds looming over the hearts of the relevant forces, with undercurrents surging.

The first issue, naturally, is the dispute between Qingyun Martial Arts School and Jinglei Martial Arts School over "mysterious iron ore," which has escalated further.

The news spread like wildfire throughout the inner city.

Everyone knows that Thunderclap Martial Arts Academy is determined to reshape the market this time. The reason is simple: they have too much confidence!

Lei Zhen, the most dazzling genius of this generation of Jing Lei Martial Arts School, overwhelmed all others in the recently concluded martial arts competition and achieved a terrifying fifth place!

His performance on the court at that time, relying solely on his powerful attacking style, surprised everyone.

According to the usual practice of Pingtianmen, with this ranking, entering the outer gate of Pingtianmen is almost a certainty!

Once you become a formal outer disciple of the Pingtian Sect, your status will be completely different. It is almost foreseeable that you will break through the Flesh Refining Realm and step into the higher "Third Realm - Bone Forging Realm" to become a master in your own right.

It can be said that Lei Zhen's future is bright and his potential is enormous.

On the other hand, Bai Yunfei of Qingyun Martial Arts School, although he also made it into the top twenty, only ranked eleventh.

The gap between him and Lei Zhen, who came in second place, is obvious.

In the eyes of many, Lei Zhen is now undoubtedly the number one among the younger generation in the inner city, second only to the "Four Heroes of the Inner City"!

He is the strongest among the top disciples of the four major families in the inner city!

This stark contrast has boosted the confidence of everyone at Jing Lei Martial Arts School, who believe that the balance of power among the younger generation has completely shifted.

They were unwilling to continue guarding that barren southern mining area, only taking a mere 30% of the black iron output.

You should know that the black iron mine is incredibly valuable; the high-quality black iron it produces each year is worth no less than tens of thousands of taels of silver!

Even if it's only 30%, it's still worth 40,000 to 50,000 taels. And in the rich mining area in the north, which is exclusively owned by Qingyun Martial Arts School, 70% of the output is worth more than 100,000 taels!

This is just the fixed annual income. Not to mention that Xuan Iron is the core strategic material for refining superior or even top-tier blood weapons, and the resource allocation, connections, and future potential behind it are immeasurable.

The enormous profits, coupled with absolute confidence in their strength, made Thunderclap Martial Arts School fearless.

They have already announced that the competition between the new disciples, scheduled for the "Beginning of Autumn" two months from now, is inevitable.

Even inside the martial arts school, celebrations had already begun, as if half or more of the northern mining area's share had already fallen into their pockets.

The atmosphere inside the venue was one of confidence and eager anticipation.

The Qingyun Martial Arts Academy, on the other hand, was shrouded in gloom and despair.

Although Bai Yunfei was personally taught by the sect leader and possessed extraordinary talent, no one was confident in facing Lei Zhen, who was at the height of his power and whose strength was unfathomable.

The museum owner and several elders discussed the matter day and night, but could not come up with any reliable solutions.

Li Ling Shuang has also lost a lot of weight these days, and there is an unyielding worry between her brows.

She felt deeply for her sect in trouble, yet was powerless to help.

The second matter is that the internal contest between the eldest and second branches of the Nie family, which has been dragging on for months, is finally about to come to a conclusion.

The time is set for three days from now!

Upon hearing the news, the entire second branch of the family was filled with anxiety and felt like they were sitting on pins and needles.

As the current pillar of the second wife's household, Nie Shuli's hair has turned white with worry these days.

He cultivated diligently every day, but his progress was limited. Facing someone who had already reached the peak of the early stage of the Flesh Refining Realm, and whose Gale Blade Technique was unparalleled...

Nie Feng, whose strength rivals that of the Eight Inner City's elite, knows he has no chance of winning.

"Could it be that the lineage of my second branch is truly going to end here? That the first branch will swallow up all the assets and kick us out?" Nie Shuli sat alone in his room, looking at the dim starlight outside the window, his heart filled with resentment and despair. His father, Nie Yundi, also seemed to have aged ten years overnight, sighing all day long.

The morale of the second son's family members was even lower, and some opportunists had even begun to secretly curry favor with the first son's family.

Beset by internal and external troubles, like two towering mountains, it was hard to breathe.

All of this seems to be inextricably linked to the young man who is currently undergoing arduous training at the Pingtianmen branch and is about to break through.

Just three days before the Nie family's competition, the Qingyun Martial Arts School was filled with anxiety.

In the simple courtyard of the Pingtianmen branch, in the Dingzi area.

Song Jing, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation, suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

After a night of meditation, I adjusted my state to its most perfect peak.

When the first ray of pure yang energy pierced through the clouds and fell into the courtyard, the surging qi and blood in his body, which had been accumulated to the extreme, seemed to be drawn by something and suddenly boiled!

"Now is the time!"

Song Jing silently roared in his heart, no longer suppressing his anger. He circulated his internal energy, guiding the torrent of hot, powerful blood and qi, like molten lava, to launch a final and most violent attack on the invisible barrier within his body, which was already as thin as a cicada's wing!

"BOOM!!!"

It was as if a thunderbolt had exploded in my mind! Or as if a dormant volcano within me had suddenly erupted!

The violent roar did not come from the outside, but from every inch of his bones, every muscle, and every blood vessel!

The terrifying medicinal power accumulated over a month and the gains from arduous cultivation were transformed into the purest and most domineering power to break through the barrier with overwhelming force!

"Click, click, click—"

A continuous series of popping sounds, like popping beans or snapping bowstrings, rang out from all over his body! It was his bones and muscles transforming, his muscles reorganizing, and his fascia stretching and strengthening!

"Ho—!"

Song Jing couldn't help but let out a low roar, like a wild dragon awakening.

He suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with a sharp light that seemed almost tangible, causing the air several feet in front of him to ripple slightly!

He slowly stood up.

"Crackling sounds" echoed through his body again, but the sounds were more frequent and powerful than before.

The changes are visible to the naked eye!

His originally well-proportioned and upright figure seemed to have grown taller and expanded the moment he stood up! His height suddenly exceeded two meters, and standing there, he was like a small iron tower, full of oppressive power.

His shoulders were broader and thicker, his chest was like a steel plate, and the muscles in his arms and thighs were as if they had been carved by an axe, with clear lines and an explosive sense of power and beauty, stretching his gray cloth shorts tightly as if they were about to tear at any moment.

Her skin was still fair, but upon closer inspection, it had a strange texture that was warm and smooth like jade, yet indestructible. The pale golden luster of the bell was completely concealed, blending seamlessly with her skin.

With every gesture, one could feel the terrifying power hidden beneath his muscles, a power that seemed capable of easily tearing apart tigers and leopards, and shattering mountains with his fists.

The five senses took another leap forward.

As far as the eye can see, the antennae of ants in the cracks of the courtyard wall are clearly visible; one can hear the faint breathing of fellow villagers in the next courtyard, and even vaguely distinguish the subtle differences in the frequency of the flapping wings of different insects; one can smell the complex scent of soil, grass, morning dew, and the purer, more vigorous blood emanating from oneself.

My spirit is more vibrant and clear than ever before, my thinking speed is faster, and my control over my own power has reached a new level.

The panel flashing proficiency has increased to [Flesh Refining Realm 340/1000].

"This is—the mid-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm!" Song Jing exhaled a breath of turbid air, which condensed and did not dissipate. It shot out three feet away like a white arrow of air before slowly dissipating.

He tried to clench his fist gently.

"Bang!"

The air was crushed in his palm with a muffled thud, and the force of his punch surged.

"Strength—at least three times that of the initial stage!" A look of surprise flashed in Song Jing's eyes. This was not just an increase in quantity, but a qualitative leap! The strength, resilience, and explosive power of the muscle fibers had all undergone earth-shattering changes.

With a slight thought, he unleashed his perfected Chasing Wind Leg Technique, combined with his partially mastered Nine Shadow Steps.

"Whoosh!"

Only a faint, fading afterimage remained in place before the real body appeared three zhang away by the courtyard wall, moving at a speed as fast as teleportation!

Moreover, the movements were incredibly light, and the landing was completely silent.

"Speed—when unleashed at full power, it's probably already comparable to a typical late-stage Body Refinement Realm martial artist!" Song Jing assessed.

With the support of the powerful blood and qi of the mid-stage Flesh Refining Realm, the perfected state of the Chasing Wind Leg Technique finally revealed its terrifying side.

The Nine Shadow Steps further enhance his unpredictable short-range changes of direction and evasion.

He then silently activated the Golden Bell Shield.

A faint golden sheen flashed across the skin's surface, then disappeared.

But a sense of profound weight and indestructibility arose spontaneously.

"Defense—With the dual enhancement of the mid-stage Body Refining Realm's Qi and Blood and the perfected Golden Bell Shield, it should be able to withstand the full force of a late-stage Body Refining Realm martial artist without much trouble."

"Even against a normal attack from a Perfected Body Refinement Realm expert, I can withstand a bit of it!" Song Jing felt even more confident. The formidable power of his external martial arts was on full display at this moment.

"Mid-stage Flesh Refining Realm—a qualitative leap in strength, speed, and defense!" Song Jing felt the surging power within his body, his heart filled with boundless pride.

"Now, my strength has firmly established me in the top tier of the inner city! No longer just comparable to the top of the second tier!" His gaze was sharp, as if piercing through the courtyard walls and seeing the influential figures of the inner city. "Qian Rushan, Lei Zhen, Zhao Yuanqing, Li Qingmei—now, I finally have the qualifications to truly compete with you on the same stage!"

"As for Lei Ba, who is rumored to be close to the peak of the Flesh Refining Realm—" Song Jing's eyes blazed with fighting spirit, "If they were to face each other now, the outcome would be uncertain!"

The surge in strength brought with it unparalleled confidence.

"Pingtian Gate Outer Gate — Prefecture City —" Song Jing gazed into the depths of the branch, at that higher, more spiritually denser area, his goal crystal clear. "I'm one step closer! With my current strength, I can already go to the Mission Hall and take on missions that offer higher contribution points, but are also relatively more dangerous. Relying solely on the basic quota isn't fast enough for my cultivation speed!"

You can never have too many resources.

The stronger you are, the more resources you can acquire, creating a virtuous cycle.

"The turmoil in the inner city—" He thought of the predicament of Qingyun Martial Arts School and the crisis of the second branch of the Nie family. His eyes narrowed slightly. "It seems that it is time for me to have the ability to take care of things."

Life is looking bright, and the road ahead is clear.

But Song Jing knew that this was just a new beginning.

At Pingtianmen, in the inner city, and even in the wider prefectural city, more challenges, stronger opponents, and more precious opportunities await him.

"First, stabilize your realm and adapt to the surge in power. Then—" Song Jing clenched his fist, his knuckles making a crisp sound, "It's time to go out and stretch my muscles."

Take Nie Feng from the Nie family, for example. He was just one place ahead of me, and he became the first touchstone for me to test my skills after my breakthrough!

Moreover, the Nie family's Star-Patterned Iron Essence is a necessary material for upgrading my divine weapon, the Crimson-Patterned Wildfire Spear, which will greatly enhance my strength!