Mu Ying stared blankly at the steaming Profound Tier fish meat, her eyes turning red as nightmarish memories from her past uncontrollably flooded her mind.
To scrape together the tuition to learn Martial Arts, to make a respectable life for herself in Black Stone City, she had started at the very bottom, working as a fire-stoking girl and a runner in a Martial Arts Hall kitchen.
After years of working from dawn to dusk and pouring everything she had into it, she finally became a head cook and started earning a decent income.
But of the copper plates and Broken Silver she earned, she never spent a single cent on herself. It was all taken by her father’s rough, large hands to support her younger brother’s Martial Arts training.
She had resented it. She had even gritted her teeth in hatred late at night!
Because she knew her own innate talent for Martial Arts was far better than her brother’s! But her father not only stripped her of her opportunity, he even forced her to lie along with him, to indulge her brother’s false dream of being a "Martial Arts genius."
Countless times, late at night, she had peered through the broken lattice of the Martial Arts Hall’s woodshed window, her eyes filled with envy as she watched her brother sweat under the bright moonlight, practicing the very moves she dreamed of learning.
Time and again, she had sworn a vicious oath in her heart: once she saved up enough of her own money, she would escape this blood-sucking family and walk her own path of Martial Arts.
But whenever she steeled her heart, the memory of when they first arrived in Black Stone City as famine refugees would always surface.
Snow was falling heavily that day. Her mother had sold herself for two liters of old rice. Her father, so starved he was just skin and bones, had fought with stray dogs in the street like a mad dog himself, getting bitten and bloodied, just to protect the moldy half of a steamed bun clutched to his chest. When he returned, he broke it in two and, trembling, stuffed the pieces into her and her brother’s hands.
And then there were the times she brought her brother his meals at the Martial Arts Arena, his eyes shining with joy. He would always grab her hand and declare with absolute conviction, "Big Sis! Master said I’m about to break through to a Martial Artist! When I become a real Martial Artist, I’ll definitely earn a lot of money to protect you, and make sure you and Dad can have a good life eating meat every day!"
And then...
That same brother who always promised to protect her went alone into the deep mountains by the Black Water Riverbank to pick a Treasure Medicine that could increase his chances of a breakthrough. He encountered a High-tier Demon Beast, and all that was left of him was a tattered scrap of his clothing.
From then on, her father’s spirit collapsed. He degenerated into a hopeless alcoholic, and their shattered home completely fell apart.
And as for her, although she finally got the opportunity to practice Martial Arts, she herself didn’t know whether she felt joy or pain.
Now, she had only one goal: to break through to the Martial Artist realm.
Perhaps that would change her life completely.
But breaking through to the Martial Artist realm was incredibly difficult. She had been working for so long but hadn’t dared to attempt it because she still hadn’t accumulated enough resources. She was afraid of failure. If she failed, everything would be lost.
Su Yu looked at the silent Mu Ying. Although he didn’t know the specifics of her past, he could roughly guess the reason.
It was just like his own past. In their own struggle to rise up through Martial Arts, hadn’t the Su Family also endured all sorts of hardships?
Now that their paths had crossed, he might as well lend her a hand.
"Alright, let’s all sit down. Eat while it’s hot."
Su Yu sat down and was the first to start eating.
Zhen’Er pulled Mu Ying to a seat, then casually ladled a bowl of fish meat and placed it in front of her.
Mu Ying bit her lip hard, trying not to let her tears fall. She picked up her bowl and tremblingly brought a piece of fish to her mouth.
The moment the fish entered her mouth, Mu Ying’s eyes flew wide open.
There was no need to chew; the texture, like an exquisite white jade, melted instantly on her tongue! Then, as the fish entered her stomach, it transformed into a searing hot current that stimulated her Qi and Blood.
’So this is a Profound Tier treasure fish? Its effects are incredible!’
"Mu Ying, your cooking is truly exceptional! Stew the remaining Black Dragon Fish tomorrow as well," Su Yu praised unreservedly as he feasted.
"Yes! Thank you for your praise, Sir!"
As if waking from a dream, Mu Ying quickly put down her bowl and chopsticks, bowing her head respectfully in acknowledgment.
Su Yu didn’t look at her again, instead focusing all his attention on the basin of Profound Tier meat.
’The energy in this Black Dragon Fish is far more potent than I anticipated!’
As he devoured chunk after chunk of fish, the Qi and Blood in Su Yu’s body surged, and ink-colored text began to appear continuously:
[Breakthrough Point Progress +5%]
[Breakthrough Point Progress +5%]
...
In just a quarter of an hour, the large basin containing over ten pounds of Black Dragon Fish meat had been completely devoured by Su Yu, as if swept away by a whirlwind. He let out a long, hot breath tinged with a faint white mist and summoned his status panel.
[Breakthrough Point]: 0 Points (Progress 92%)
"Damn!"
Su Yu stretched his body, feeling the roiling Qi and Blood within him, his eyes filled with pleasant surprise.
’This Black Dragon Fish is worthy of being a Profound Tier treasure fish. It actually gave me 30% progress toward my next Breakthrough Point, and the boost to my Qi and Blood is astounding.’
He turned his head and glanced at Mu Ying beside him.
Although the cook had only eaten half a small bowl, her face was already flushed crimson, her forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and even her breathing had become heavy and ragged. It was clear her Qi and Blood were roiling, and she was on the verge of being unable to suppress it.
But with Su Yu present, she gritted her teeth and remained seated primly on the stone stool, forcing herself not to make a single sound.
Su Yu stood up, walked over to Mu Ying, and suddenly reached out, grabbing her by the wrist.
Mu Ying’s body stiffened abruptly.
But Su Yu merely sent a wisp of his Qi and Blood to circulate through her meridians. He then released her hand and said with a light chuckle, "Your Qi and Blood are as full as a drawn bow. Now, with the aid of the potent medicinal power from this Profound Tier fish meat, this breakthrough is a sure thing! Don’t hold it back. Hurry to your room and make your attempt!"
Hearing Su Yu’s assessment, an unprecedentedly dazzling light erupted in Mu Ying’s eyes!
’A sure thing!’
’Sir is the number one Martial Arts genius in all of Black Stone City. If he said it, then I really can break through and become a Martial Artist!’
She scrambled to her feet and said respectfully, "Sir, I’ll go attempt my breakthrough right now!"
"Mm, go on."
Su Yu watched as the excited Mu Ying ran toward her room and nodded to himself.
"Brother Su, Sister Mu’s foundation isn’t very strong. Is her breakthrough really a sure thing?" Zhen’Er asked softly, a hint of worry in her voice.
Su Yu’s smile vanished, and he shook his head slightly. "Breaking through to the Martial Artist realm is a fate-defying act; how could it be that easy? Mu Ying started her Martial Arts training far too late and has gone years without the nourishment of Pills. Her Qi and Blood could only be considered barely adequate. Before she ate this fish, her chances of a successful breakthrough were only about forty percent."
"However, this Profound Tier Black Dragon Fish meat is enough to give her another thirty percent chance." Su Yu’s gaze was profound. "Seventy percent is already quite high. By giving her this boost of confidence, I might have added another ten percent. If she still fails, then that is simply her fate."
After listening, Yang Zhen nodded thoughtfully and glanced in the direction of Mu Ying’s room.
’Perhaps meeting Brother Su was already a life-altering, fate-defying event for Mu Ying,’ she thought. ’Her chances of a breakthrough went from forty percent to eighty percent. That’s an opportunity countless people could only beg for and never receive.’
’I wonder how Yang Ai is doing. With the Jade Dew Pill Brother Su gave her, her chances should be very high.’
"Oh, right, Brother Su," Zhen’Er said, snapping out of her thoughts. "This Black Dragon Fish meat’s medicinal effects are so incredible. Should we send some to Yang Ai as well?"
"No need for Yang Ai," Su Yu said with a wave of his hand. "She eats plenty of good things on a daily basis, so her Qi and Blood are already abundant. Forcing such a potent medicine on her would be too much for her body to handle. Her Qi and Blood could easily rush to her head, which would be counterproductive. To break through to the Martial Artist realm, the gentle medicinal power of the Jade Dew Pill is perfect for her."
Su Yu stretched his muscles and bones, then turned and walked toward the front courtyard. "Zhen’Er, I’m heading to the Martial Arts Arena to train. Have Li Da make preparations. I’m going to the Lin Family’s estate first thing tomorrow morning to deliver the Dragon Tendon to my senior sister."
...
「In the front courtyard’s Martial Arts Arena.」
Su Yu was bare-chested, his muscles as sharply defined as if carved by a knife and chiseled by an axe. The still-undigested medicinal power of the Black Dragon Fish raged through his blood vessels like molten lava, surging left and right.
This was the perfect opportunity to advance his Black Stone Body Forging Skill.
"Black Prison Spirit Lock!"
"God-Fiend Mountain Push!"
Su Yu pushed forward with both hands, his feet seemingly rooted deep in the earth. Every shift of his weight left deep footprints in the bluestone pavers. His movements looked extremely slow and heavy, and the very air around him seemed to thicken like mercury, as if he were struggling to push an immense mountain forward.
This extreme slowness and weight crushed the roiling energy of his Qi and Blood, grinding it down and kneading it into every inch of his muscle fibers and membranes.
[Black Stone Body Forging Skill Level +25]
[Black Stone Body Forging Skill Level +25]
...
Soon, as the medicinal power within him was fully digested, the Black Stone Body Forging Skill finally reached the Perfection Realm.
[Martial Arts]: Black Stone Body Forging Skill (Layer 1) (Perfection)
As the Martial Art reached Perfection, the Black Stone Body Forging Skill also began to change.
First was the Profound Silver Flow Armor, which he could now use as if it were an extension of his will. As Su Yu moved about the arena, with every punch he threw, the Profound Silver Flow Armor followed like a shadow to coat his fist.
"Demon Ape Drumbeat!"
His fists, empowered by the ultimate White Ape stance, rained down like a storm. The Profound Silver Flow Armor, which had previously been strained by the Fist Stance and struggled to keep up, now formed over his knuckles with no lag whatsoever.
With each punch that landed, the armor dissipated some of the force, allowing him to punch even faster.
’Very good. As expected of a Xuan-tier Technique. Even though it’s only Low Grade, at the Perfection Realm it can amplify my Qi and Blood by sixty percent! With the added special effect of its force-dissipating defense, it’s enough to crush most opponents at the same level!’
’But, this is still not enough!’
A sharp glint flashed in Su Yu’s eyes. With a flick of his wrist, he retrieved a Middle Grade Treasure Medicine, a Red Sun Ganoderma, from his Storage Ring and quickly ate it.
[Breakthrough Point Progress +2%]
[Breakthrough Point Progress +2%]
...
[Breakthrough Point]: 1 Point (4%)
’I’ve filled up another point. Time for Breaking a Limit!’
Su Yu summoned his panel and looked at the Martial Arts he could now upgrade.
[Martial Arts]: Black Stone Body Forging Skill (Layer 1) (Perfection)
[Martial Arts]: Bibo Fish Dragon Skill (Layer 1) (Perfection)
[Martial Arts]: Seven Fiends Thunder Collapse Step (Perfection)
After a moment of thought, his gaze landed on the Black Stone Body Forging Skill he had just brought to Perfection.
This was the first Xuan-tier Martial Art he had mastered to the Perfection Realm, and it had follow-up Cultivation Techniques, making it well worth a Breaking Limit.
’As for the Bibo Fish Dragon Skill, I won’t be going into the water anytime soon, so I can Break its Limit later.’
’The Seven Fiends Thunder Collapse Step might also be worth Breaking the Limit on. After all, while my speed is high, it’s not as monstrously overpowered as my other attributes.’
’For now, though, I want to try Breaking the Limit on a Xuan-tier Martial Art first—the Black Stone Body Forging Skill!’