Thus, Zhao Ya settled down in the Song family, and after receiving his waist tag and clothes the next day, he officially became a guard of the Song family.
As Tan Ziwang had said, Zhao Ya’s position was quite leisurely, but the benefits were quite good.
Since Zhao Ya was a Second Realm Martial Artist, his monthly salary was fifteen taels of silver, which was much higher than what he earned as an Escort Master at the Changlong Escort Agency.
But the biggest perk was not the salary, but the free supply of Cured Bamboo Meat every month.
According to Zhao Ya’s current level, he could receive five taels of Cured Bamboo Meat every month.
If calculated at the Ghost Market prices, that would amount to a full fifty taels of silver!
However, Zhao Ya also understood that the external prices were not a valid reference, since the Cured Green Bamboo Snake was cultivated by the Song family, and its actual cost should not be too high.
Thus, the Song family could provide every Second Realm Martial Artist under them with free Cured Green Bamboo Snake.
This condition alone was enough to attract many martial artists.
What’s more, every martial artist also had a quota to purchase some Exotic Beast Dried Meat at a very favorable price each month.
The combination of the two greatly alleviated the blood and flesh shortage Zhao Ya faced.
Holding the position of a guard, Zhao Ya had plenty of free time when not accompanying important figures.
So Zhao Ya cast aside all distractions and focused wholeheartedly on his cultivation.
In the blink of an eye, autumn turned to winter, and two months passed.
That evening, Zhao Ya stood in the courtyard practicing the Eight Vajra Skills.
Every action Zhao Ya performed was very slow, and moreover, some details of the movements had changed compared to before.
They had become more suitable for Zhao Ya himself.
After all, since everyone’s physique was different, entry-level practice could use a unified method, but advanced practice required fine-tuning based on individual conditions.
And now, Zhao Ya had reached this stage.
When the last movement was completed, Zhao Ya suddenly had a feeling, so he stood still, slowly regulating his breathing.
Suddenly, a prompt appeared before his eyes.
[Heart Unlock Progress: 100%]
[Heart Unlock Successful, Talent Acquired: Heart Devotion and Red Transformation]
In an instant, Zhao Ya felt his heart in his chest become extremely hot, like a pulsating sun.
With each beat, it pumped powerful Qi Blood, washing through every corner of his body.
Zhao Ya could feel the fascia deep in his organs and muscles was being refined little by little by the Qi Blood.
Once everything was refined, Zhao Ya would advance to the Third Realm, becoming a Membrane Forging Martial Artist.
A thought occurred to Zhao Ya, and he immediately took out the last two portions of Blood Replenishing Powder and swallowed them.
Unlike the slow replenishment of Exotic Beast Flesh, Blood Replenishing Powder replenished Qi Blood much faster and more aggressively.
Only someone like Zhao Ya, possessing the Water Valley Essence Talent, would dare to consume such a potion.
At this moment, with the ingestion of the two portions of Blood Replenishing Powder, the Water Valley Essence Talent was activated, and the Qi Blood essence was absorbed, then carried by the blood to the heart.
The newly acquired Heart Devotion and Red Transformation Talent also activated, the intense Heart Yang transforming each drop of Qi Blood, this is the Red Transformation.
After the Red Transformation, the searing and vigorous Qi Blood was circulated by the powerful pumping action of the heart to every part of the body.
The deeply hidden fascia was refined bit by bit...
Suddenly!
Zhao Ya’s entire body trembled, feeling all his fascia beginning to vibrate rhythmically, then the fascia united as a single entity, like the completion of a skyscraper’s framework.
Whoosh!
Zhao Ya exhaled a deep breath, feeling the Qi Blood flow through his body unimpeded, power thriving, even a gentle clench of his fist would produce a terrifying resonance.
Is this the sensation of mastering Membrane Forging?
Zhao Ya silently savored the feeling, then performed a set of Five Tiger Fist.
Upon practicing this set, Zhao Ya found that the ordinary Five Tiger Fist in his hands seemed to possess the power to transform the mundane into the extraordinary.
Many details previously overlooked were now clearly visible, bringing new insights.
After completing a set of Five Tiger Fist, his proficiency increased by fifty points.
Zhao Ya didn’t stop, he immediately drew his saber and began practicing the Gale Saber Technique, experiencing an enlightening clarity, and then proceeded with his Lightweight Body Technique...
In conclusion, except for not practicing the Great Stone-Throwing Hand due to its excessive noise, Zhao Ya rehearsed all the martial arts he knew.
The sensation was like a precious blade being reforged, though only a short time had passed, Zhao Ya felt a quantum leap in his capabilities.
After practicing, a slight sweat appeared on Zhao Ya’s forehead, but he felt entirely comfortable.
A thought came to his mind, and he opened the attribute panel.
Name: Zhao Ya. Age: 17 years. Remaining Life: 52 (+32 days) years
Skills: Eight Vajra Skills (Refined Skill 1891/5000)
Five Tiger Fist (Refined Skill 2567/5000)
Gale Saber Technique (Refined Skill 1471/5000)
Lightweight Grasshopper Skill (Refined Skill 764/5000)
Swallow’s Three Dips (Refined Skill 675/5000)
Concealing Breath Technique (Mastery 12/2000)
Great Stone-Throwing Hand (Novice Practice 8/100)
[Heart Unlock Progress: 100%]
Every martial arts skill had improved significantly.
Upon opening the Human Body Outline Map, the mist over the heart area completely vanished, leaving a burning flame occupying the spot.
Suddenly, there was a subtle change in the liver area, a tiny glimmer appeared there.
[Liver Unlocking Activation, Current Progress: 0%]
It’s actually the liver!
But what will the unlocked talent be, I wonder?
Burst Liver?
Zhao Ya pondered for a moment and couldn’t help but smile.
No matter what, now he truly had gained a foothold.
At least in Wuxiang City, a Third Realm Martial Artist was not to be underestimated anywhere.
Yet it was still not enough!
The power of the people at Cyan Bamboo Ridge was too strong, even the Village Chiefs were at the Third Realm, the Great Village Chief was surely at least a Fourth Realm Martial Artist.
Not to mention the Hong family, which had occupied Wuxiang City for many years, their strength and heritage were surely even more terrifying.
Zhao Ya calculated silently, not discouraged but with growing resolve.
The next day, in a very secluded corner of the Song Family Garden, Zhao Ya looked at the shattered stone in front of him, his eyes filled with joy.
He came here to test the power of the Great Stone-Throwing Hand after advancing to the Third Realm.
The results did not disappoint him.
Although it was merely at the Novice Practice level, the displayed power was astounding.
A stone the size of a table was shattered with a single blow, one could imagine the effect if struck on a person.
Zhao Ya threw the fragments into a nearby pond, focusing on practicing the Great Stone-Throwing Hand.
This corner was discovered by Zhao Ya unintentionally, with a rockery blocking the front and dense bamboo forest behind, no one usually came here, making it extremely hidden.
Therefore, Zhao Ya often came here to practice martial arts.