Chapter 8: Taiji Fist Levels Up!

Jiangcheng Martial Arts School, the top school in Jiangcheng.

With Zhou Wen leading the way, the security guard at the gate merely glanced at him before letting them pass.

Free senior sisters…

Hmm, this was Jiang Changkong’s first thought upon entering the school.

The school was vast, with a massive training ground right at the entrance.

On either side stood three tall buildings—the school dormitories.

The so-called “free senior sisters” and “senior brothers” only meant one-on-one instruction during teaching sessions.

This left Jiang Changkong somewhat disappointed. So, this was what they meant by free senior sisters.

What a scam!

Zhou Wen had no idea what he was thinking. She led him past the dormitories toward the cafeteria.

The Star Demons were to be slaughtered at the cafeteria entrance, where there was a large open space.

Following Zhou Wen, Jiang Changkong noticed some beautiful small houses behind the tall buildings and asked curiously, “Who lives there?”

“Top students and senior sisters.”

Zhou Wen replied with a hint of envy, “If they take a liking to you, you can live together with them and receive better guidance.”

Jiang Changkong shook his head and said nothing more.

The two arrived at the cafeteria entrance, where the spacious open area was already crowded with people.

Zhou Wen directly led him to squeeze through to the front.

Ten large blades were placed in the open space, with a water channel beneath them leading directly into the cafeteria.

The ground was clean, with no sign of Star Demons. It hadn’t started yet.

“Zhou Wen, who completed two years of the college entrance exams.”

Many people recognized Zhou Wen and made such remarks.

Then, many looked at her with admiration.

A faint smile appeared on Zhou Wen’s face, and she winked at Jiang Changkong.

Jiang Changkong immediately returned a look of admiration.

The five-year college entrance exams included Star Demon-slaying tasks every year.

Completing two years meant she had fulfilled the tasks for two full years.

Most of those watching the Star Demon slaughter here likely hadn’t even passed the simulation exams.

Someone like Zhou Wen, who had completed two years of the exams, wouldn’t have come here if not for bringing Jiang Changkong.

Clank, clank…

The sound of chains echoed.

“They’re here.”

An exclamation rang out.

An unusual aura emanated from the direction of the cafeteria.

Jiang Changkong quickly turned his gaze toward it.

Ten middle-aged men were dragging chains in their hands.

The chains were wrapped around green-faced, fanged monsters, bound tightly—especially their mouths, which were sealed without gaps.

Their limbs were firmly tied to their abdomens, and their tails were forcibly pierced by the chains.

One of them had bulging eyes, resembling a Malevolent Ghost.

Others had five legs or three eyes.

All were hideous.

“These are all Star Qi Level Star Demons, edible and non-toxic,” Zhou Wen explained.

Jiang Changkong nodded. Over the past three days, he had asked Ji Ziling many questions.

Some Star Demons contained deadly toxins and were inedible.

Some were humanoid. Although edible, they were rarely eaten as their meat was sour.

The Star Demons being slaughtered today had delicious meat.

The ten middle-aged men dragged the Star Demons to the large blades.

They directly lifted the blades, which shimmered with golden or blue light, each different.

Thud!

Ten blades fell simultaneously, severing the Star Demons’ massive heads. Blood gushed out, flowing into the water channel.

Essence +10, +10, +10, +10…

Essence surged wildly. Jiang Changkong suppressed his excitement, staring intently, appearing fully focused.

Ten at once gave him an additional 100 points, with more dissipating afterward.

After the ten men finished, people emerged from the cafeteria to drag the corpses away.

Others brought ten more corpses for them to slaughter.

These Star Demons were ingredients for the students, so many had to be slaughtered.

Zhou Wen told him it would last at least until noon.

Ten Star Demons came up, were killed again, and Jiang Changkong once more gained Essence.

Many students watched for a while but soon lost interest.

Zhou Wen stayed with him for two hours, but finding it too boring, she left first.

The crowd began to thin, yet the Star Demons continued to be slain.

Jiang Changkong kept watching until the crowd dispersed completely, leaving him alone.

It wasn’t until noon, after the last Star Demon was killed, that he finally decided to leave.

The cafeteria staff glanced at him but paid no further attention.

There had been people like him who stayed until the end before, but they didn’t come anymore.

Essence: 12,050!

This time he struck it rich. He’d have to properly thank Zhou Wen later.

He sent her a message saying he was heading back.

Instead of going to the clinic, he went straight home.

After locking the door, he began to enhance the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique.

Essence rapidly drained as the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique grew stronger.

The flow of Qi inside his body increased swiftly, waves of power repeatedly tempering his physique.

His bones resonated in unison, his blood and Qi surged like a torrent.

The scorching, masculine aura grew increasingly profound.

Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique: Minor Achievement 1/2000

Mid-stage Stellar Qi!

He continued to enhance.

The internal Qi flow became robust, like a flowing stream.

His blood and Qi circulated with a faint, rustling sound.

His five senses sharpened accordingly; he could clearly hear the footsteps of passersby outside.

Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique: Major Achievement 1/8000

Late-stage Stellar Qi!

“Eight thousand?”

Jiang Changkong was stunned. He had thought 12,000 points was already plenty.

He never expected it still wouldn’t be enough.

Gritting his teeth, he chose to enhance anyway.

Boom!

His body shuddered as if struck by lightning.

The rhythmic pounding of his bones vibrated like thunder.

Swoosh—

His blood and Qi flowed like surging waves.

His entire being resembled a massive furnace, with wisps of Essence-like white smoke rising from his head.

Jiang Changkong closed his eyes, sensing numerous golden specks appearing throughout his body.

These specks spread across his entire form, now interconnecting to form a faint golden thread as fine as a hair.

A Power Rune!

This was cultivated through the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique. Upon reaching perfection, when the body was tempered to a certain degree, Power Runes would form.

A single Power Rune was equivalent to Peak Stellar Qi.

Checking his panel again:

Jiang Changkong: Peak Stellar Qi

Low-grade Lower Tier Martial Art: Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique: Perfection 1/32,000

Essence: 1,760

The Stellar Qi within him surged like a stream, his blood was dense as mercury, his bones like iron, his skin like bronze!

Casually throwing a punch, the air seemed to explode with a bang.

“The remaining Essence can be used to learn another martial art for combat.”

Jiang Changkong turned on his computer, his gaze falling on those basic martial arts.

Having mastered the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique, he now possessed formidable defense and strength but lacked offensive techniques.

For him, the quality of martial arts no longer mattered much.

He could upgrade them!

Xingyi Fist, Bagua Palm, Taiji Fist…

He settled on Taiji Fist.

Taiji Fist was renowned for its health-preserving and body-strengthening effects. Paired with the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique, it would bring him tremendous benefits.

The Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique cultivated only rigid strength, while Taiji Fist combined supreme softness and hardness, blending firmness with flexibility.

As he studied Taiji Fist, his panel changed accordingly.

Jiang Changkong: Peak Stellar Qi

Low-grade Lower Tier Martial Art: Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique: Perfection 1/32,000

Basic Martial Art: Taiji Fist: Novice 0/10

Essence: 1,760

Once decided, he directly invested in it.

Taiji Fist rapidly improved, and fragments of insight flashed through his mind.

A trickle of power surged from within, transforming his body, making it more supple.

Spending 550 points, he elevated Taiji Fist to perfection and began the upgrade.

Low-grade martial art: Tai Chi Fist Scripture!

In his mind, numerous movements and an additional circulation pathway emerged, and the Star Qi within his body increased once more.

Though not by much, it was a tangible increase.

He cultivated the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique to gain a portion of Star Qi—did cultivating the Tai Chi Fist Scripture also yield some?

Combining the two, how much more profound would it become?

Like the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique, he spent another 500 points to upgrade again.

His strength grew once more, but the blazing, masculine aura that had enveloped him like a furnace began to turn inward.

The bulging temples gradually receded, returning to a normal appearance.

This wasn’t a loss but an inward refinement—a return to simplicity and purity.

“The Tai Chi Fist Scripture actually has such miraculous effects.” Jiang Changkong stood up and moved casually.

He performed soft, fluid movements with effortless ease.

In his mind, the newly acquired movements surfaced one by one—still Taiji Fist, yet with subtle differences.

Paired with the circulation pathway, his strength could now be perfectly unleashed.

Moreover, the Star Qi cultivated from both martial arts had merged into one, accessible through either discipline at will.

However, the Tai Chi Fist Scripture was still too weak, allowing him to mobilize only a portion of it.

Jiang Changkong: Peak Stellar Qi

Low-grade martial arts: Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique: Perfection 1/32000

Tai Chi Fist Scripture: Minor Achievement 1/2000

Essence: 709

“My Taiji Fist feels different. I’ll test it in the courtyard.”

Jiang Changkong opened the door and stepped outside.