Chapter 17: Innate and Acquired Martial Bodies

As the days passed, Lu Yan gradually became part of the Scarlet Guards. The greatest benefit of joining their ranks was that people treated him with utmost respect; even Wang Cui walked with a straighter back, her face always adorned with a smile.

On the fifth day after joining, Lu Yan tasted the martial meal of the Scarlet Guards. The portion was similar to what was served at Martial Guest House—about a pound or so. The flavor was equally exquisite. After all, both the martial chefs of the Scarlet Guards and Martial Guest House belonged to the Liu family; perhaps they were even the same person.

Over these five days, Lu Yan came to understand the rules: a first-level martial artist received a martial meal every five days, second-level every four, third-level every three, and by the fifth level, one could enjoy a martial meal daily.

Lu Yan's training in the Six-Harmony Legs was progressing rapidly. Having already mastered the Iron Wire Fist to a level of near perfection, he found that despite the vast difference between fists and legs, his broadened perspective made training lesser martial arts much easier.

On the eighth day, he achieved basic proficiency in the Six-Harmony Legs. As soon as he reached this level, his martial tome once more condensed a clone—the Six-Harmony Legs clone—displaying progress just as with the others.

That day, Lu Yan consumed three pounds of meat; while martial meals were scarce among the Scarlet Guards, ordinary meat was plentiful.

He refrained from practicing his fist technique, and the progress of Six-Harmony Legs advanced to thirty percent in basic proficiency.

The following day, he broke through to the minor achievement stage.

On the third day, when Lu Yan ate his martial meal again, he chose to channel its energy into the Iron Wire Fist clone rather than the Six-Harmony Legs clone. The reason was simple: at his level, ordinary meat had become useless for the Iron Wire Fist, but it still benefited the Six-Harmony Legs. Using martial meals for the latter would simply be wasteful.

Lu Yan did not frequent Martial Guest House every day, but rather once every three days. At ten taels of silver per serving, few in the entire Changfeng City could afford to dine there daily, the two great clans aside. Even going every three days was ostentatious, liable to draw attention, so Lu Yan always disguised himself, altering his appearance and physique.

In the blink of an eye, three months had passed since Lu Yan joined the Scarlet Guards.

It was a peaceful and uneventful three months; nothing major occurred. Lu Yan’s daily routine was composed of patrols and martial training.

During these three months, the progress of Six-Harmony Legs soared. Even though his fist training diverted half the energy from his meals, with over ten pounds of meat consumed daily, Six-Harmony Legs reached near perfection, unlocking 288 subsidiary meridians in both legs.

Combined with the 288 subsidiary meridians in his arms, Lu Yan had unlocked a total of 576 meridians.

His rate of accumulating vital energy had doubled.

The more subsidiary meridians opened, the faster the accumulation of vital energy, and the deeper the refinement of the body.

Though the daily intake of food was limited, opening more meridians improved the conversion rate of food energy.

The martial tome’s absorption of food energy was especially efficient.

The energy absorbed during fist training, however, had its limits: some went to bodily nutrition, some to vital energy, but most was simply wasted.

Yet, more opened meridians meant higher conversion rates, and thus quicker accumulation of vital energy.

Lu Yan also discovered that as his martial arts advanced and his vital energy increased, his digestive capacity improved as well.

This was easy to understand: enhanced vital energy led to a stronger body, and though the refinement of internal organs was limited, it did increase.

Previously, consuming twelve pounds of meat daily was his stomach’s limit.

Now, with further strengthening, he could manage fifteen pounds before feeling discomfort.

It was said that the most powerful martial artists could devour an entire cow in a day, and it was no exaggeration.

With visits to Martial Guest House every three days and martial meals from the Scarlet Guards, the progress of Iron Wire Fist reached eighty percent toward perfection.

Of course, his silver quickly dwindled.

One day, as they returned from patrol, they saw five fine horses standing outside the Scarlet Guard residence. One in particular caught the eye: it was entirely blood-red, without a single blemish, its back towering over two meters—a truly magnificent beast.

Lu Yan recognized it immediately. This was a Blood-Red Horse, capable of traveling three thousand miles in a day, worth its weight in gold. In all of Changfeng City, those who owned such a horse could be counted on one hand.

Beside the horses stood two stablemen, tall and robust, their eyes bright with vigor—undoubtedly martial experts. Not merely first or second-level.

“That is the mount of Young Master Liu Xingchao. He’s here for another martial challenge. Hurry up, Lu Yan, today promises a good show,” Wang Lin exclaimed, his spirits rising at the sight of the Blood-Red Horse.

“Liu Xingchao? The one called the Little Overlord?” Lu Yan’s eyes lit up.

After three months with the Scarlet Guards, he had heard much about Changfeng City’s notable figures.

Liu Xingchao, direct descendant of the Liu clan, a martial prodigy reputed as the most talented in Liu history.

With that, the two hurried inside.

The martial arena was crowded to the brim.

Of the hundred members of the Scarlet Guards, most were present.

Bang!

In the center of the arena stood a youth, bare-chested, his muscles layered and iron-like, vital energy radiating from him. With a single punch, he sent a third-level Scarlet Guard flying, blood spurting from his mouth.

“Incredible. They say Young Master Liu is only thirteen, at the peak of second-level martial training, yet he easily defeats third-level experts,” Lu Yan couldn’t help but praise.

“This is nothing. The real spectacle is yet to come,” Wang Lin replied.

“Boring, boring. Send more. You three, come at me together,” Liu Xingchao called out, pointing to three Scarlet Guards.

The three stepped forward; Lu Yan recognized them as third-level experts.

“Fight well, and you’ll be rewarded,” Liu Xingchao declared, his eyes gleaming with excitement, like a ferocious beast.

“Young Master Liu, we beg your pardon,” the three saluted, then charged forward.

One specialized in leg techniques, rushing like the wind, his leg whipping toward Liu Xingchao’s head like a steel rod.

Another, master of fist techniques, unleashed a howling punch toward Liu Xingchao’s chest.

The third wielded a steel blade, slashing at Liu Xingchao’s throat like a bolt of lightning.

Their teamwork was flawless, their attacks lethal—enough to make even a fourth-level master wary.

Yet Liu Xingchao did not dodge. His excitement only intensified. With a roar, his vital energy surged like a furnace, his hands and forearms turning crimson, scales emerging to cover them.

“The Liu clan’s first-class martial art, Crimson Scale Palm,” Lu Yan murmured, his gaze unwavering.

In all Changfeng City, there were only two first-class martial arts, belonging to the Liu and Wu clans. Lu Yan had heard of them, but this was his first time witnessing one.

Liu Xingchao struck with his palm, meeting the steel blade head-on. A metallic clang rang out as palm clashed with blade; the steel vibrated, rebounding and forcing its wielder to retreat eight steps before the force dissipated.

At the same time, Liu Xingchao’s other palm struck the incoming leg. With a thud, the supposedly indestructible leg was thrown aside, crashing into the fist master.

With just two simple strikes, Liu Xingchao neutralized the combined assault of three experts, then launched a swift counterattack.

“Hah!” Liu Xingchao shouted, his muscles bulging, both palms lashing out in succession. Though only at the second level, he displayed an unmatched aura.

All three third-level Scarlet Guards were struck, sent flying, unable to withstand even a single exchange.

“Such power! Is this the might of a first-class martial art?” Lu Yan was stunned, unable to hide his amazement.

The vital energy cultivated through first-class martial arts was more concentrated, higher in quality, and stronger in effect. Yet he hadn’t expected the disparity to be so great.

It was known that while first-class martial arts were powerful, they were also difficult to master. Those three Scarlet Guards, though practitioners of third-class arts, had trained for decades, reaching a level of consummate skill, perhaps even perfection.

Liu Xingchao, at merely thirteen, though a martial prodigy, could not have reached such heights. At best, he had achieved mastery.

First-class martial arts at a low level might not even surpass third-class ones in power.

After all, the opponent had no martial tome.

“It’s not only due to first-class martial arts. Young Master Liu possesses an innate martial body,” Wang Lin whispered.

“Innate martial body?”

“Yes. You know that for most people, once they reach a state of overflowing vital energy at the same breakthrough level, their total vital energy is roughly equal.”

Lu Yan nodded.

The body is like a water jar, its capacity nearly the same. At the same level, the amount of vital energy it can hold is similar. Even if there are differences, they aren’t significant. Only by breaking through can one increase the jar’s size and contain more vital energy.

“But there are a rare few who are born with extraordinary strength, their bodies naturally powerful, their vital energy thick. At the same level, their total vital energy far exceeds the norm. Such people are called innate martial bodies.”

“Young Master Liu is one of them. At the same level, his vital energy is twice that of ordinary people,” Wang Lin said, full of envy.

Lu Yan was inwardly astounded; to say he wasn’t jealous would be a lie.

Comparisons are odious. Not only was the other’s background superior, never lacking martial meals from childhood, practicing first-class martial arts, but also possessing an innate martial body. How could anyone compete?

“But I heard that besides innate martial bodies, there are acquired martial bodies.”

“They say that if one can train a martial art to the level of 'unity of man and martial art,' integrating the art into the body, one receives the blessing of heaven and earth, undergoes rebirth, and gains a powerful physique and thick vital energy—comparable to an innate martial body,” Wang Lin said.

“What?” Lu Yan was dumbfounded, then filled with elation.