C8 The Five Stages of Martial Arts

After giving Hwa Xin his instructions and a sufficient supply of evolution beads, Mu Chenyu left the rest in Hwa Xin's hands and resumed his own cultivation.

The aroma of meat wafted through the spacious cafeteria, where several pots bubbled away. The scent reached every nook and cranny, making the survivors who hadn't come salivate with longing. Yet, the fear of zombies and the ever-present threat of death kept them at bay, forcing them to stay hidden.

Eventually, everyone had their fill. Those who hadn't undergone evolution couldn't eat much anyway—a few pieces of meat each was more than enough.

Despite this, nearly two hundred pounds of beast meat had been halved by the meal's end, leaving less than half remaining. The stock of evolution beads was also dwindling. Mu Chenyu needed them for his own advancement, but sacrifices had to be made for progress.

Mu Chenyu could sense that tonight was the night for his breakthrough. He was currently at the Bright Strength threshold, and without breaking the physical shackles binding him, he couldn't hope to advance.

Only by shattering these bodily limits and casting off his constraints could he amplify his strength and become more formidable.

By evening, Mu Chenyu's assessment of his injuries suggested that his meridians and muscles were nearly healed. The state of his bones wouldn't significantly impact his early Bright Strength breakthrough.

In fact, he could use his body's regenerative feedback to accelerate the mending of any fractures.

Bright Strength was about conditioning the skin and flesh, fortifying the sinews and bones. In the initial phase, it toughened the skin, with the force stimulating the muscles and the blood and Qi enriching the flesh, enhancing the skin to the point of being impenetrable.

In the intermediate phase, the force suffused the muscles, rendering them extraordinarily supple, akin to elastic bands, allowing for effortless and fluid movement.

In the final phase, the force infused the bones, repeatedly hammering and reinforcing them until they were as durable as refined steel.

Thus, advancing into Bright Strength was essential for further improvement. Lacking any other cultivation methods to indirectly boost his power, Mu Chenyu had maximized his foundational practice with the Horse Stance. Now, the only way forward was to break through into Bright Strength.

With his exceptional aptitude defying the heavens, Mu Chenyu's grasp of the foundational cultivation method, the Horse Stance, was on par with masters who had honed their skills for decades.

Cultivation methods and martial arts are typically categorized into five realms:

The first realm, Initial Insight: This marks the beginning of understanding a cultivation method or martial art, allowing one to start practicing it.

The second realm, Mastery: At this stage, one delves deeper into the method or art. By adhering to the secret manual's guidelines, one can achieve proficiency with excellent results.

The third realm, Perfection: Complete comprehension of the secret manual's cultivation method is achieved, enabling flawless practice and use, signifying the pinnacle of this stage.

The fourth realm, Transcendence: No longer confined by the original cultivation method, practitioners infuse their own insights, applying the technique freely. Upon reaching this realm, limitations or grades of the method cease to matter, and the effects are exponentially enhanced—a truly heaven-defying feat.

The fifth realm, Return to Origin: This elusive level is shrouded in mystery, barely comprehensible. Legend has it that reaching this realm brings one to the brink of martial enlightenment, endowed with enigmatic and profound abilities.

In the martial arts world, most practitioners can only aspire to the third realm, dedicating a lifetime to barely touch its peak.

The fourth realm is the domain of those rare prodigies with innate martial prowess. Attaining this level transforms the secret manual into something beyond its original form, birthing a new martial art, a self-created cultivation method, establishing a unique school, and earning the title of Grandmaster.

The fifth realm is reached by only a select few, with the most renowned being Shaolin's Patriarch Bodhidharma and Wudang's Zhang Sanfeng.

Details on other records remain obscure.

Currently, Mu Chenyu's comprehension of the Horse Stance has ascended to the third realm, allowing him to apply the cultivation method flawlessly. Thus, despite the method's modest grade, it serves as the cornerstone of all inner boxing, paving the way to Bright Strength without hindrance.

Mu Chenyu's sole focus was to reach the pinnacle of physical and mental unity, undisturbed by external forces. Once the group returned in the evening with enough evolution beads, he planned to make his breakthrough.

Two hours later, Hwa Xin, with over fifty new recruits in tow, left the cafeteria to hunt zombies. Despite the school's student population being under a thousand, the surrounding residential areas were densely populated, ensuring an abundance of zombies to contend with. Hwa Xin wasn't concerned about a shortage of zombies to eliminate. As Hwa Xin and his group departed, Mu Chenyu, in the midst of his cultivation practice, briefly opened his eyes before closing them again, choosing not to pay further attention. Given his current injuries and limited mobility, he had no choice but to depend on Hwa Xin.

Fortunately, Fatty, who had followed Mu Chenyu for several days, had no trouble dispatching ordinary zombies. However, if they encountered mutated beasts or advanced zombies, they would have to leave their fate to the heavens. In this post-apocalyptic world, nowhere was truly safe.

With the departure of the group, the vast cafeteria seemed even more expansive. The remaining survivors, preoccupied with their own survival, lacked the energy for idle chatter. Gone were the days before the apocalypse when people had energy to spare; now, they scarcely had the strength to speak.

Beside Mu Chenyu, Lin Qingyu was also engaged in her own cultivation. The two practiced in silence, not disturbing one another, creating a serene and harmonious atmosphere. Lin Qingyu, with her limited abilities, couldn't sustain long periods of cultivation and would take breaks to rest. During these moments, she would gaze into the distance, occasionally stealing glances at Mu Chenyu, her smile gentle and affectionate.

Cultivation had enhanced her beauty; her once dry skin was now soft and supple, her eyes sparkled with vitality, and her hair had regained its luster. Dressed in clean clothes from the night before, she sat quietly, her black attire making her appear like a tranquil, elegant night elf, a sight to stir the heart.

Yet, this enchanting scene went unnoticed by Mu Chenyu, who remained absorbed in his cultivation. Even if he were aware, he might not have the courage to openly admire it.

Time flew by, and before we knew it, a whole day had vanished. The three factions that had ventured out gradually returned, each member wearing a look of joy—clearly, they had reaped considerable rewards. Yet, during the communal meal, a tinge of sorrow surfaced when they noticed the absence of their comrades. It was fleeting, though, for they had grown accustomed to loss with so many having perished in recent days.

Beyond the transient sadness, there was little else to dwell on. After all, any one of them could be the next to vanish.

The faction leaders, upon noticing the reduced numbers in the dining hall, inquired and learned that Mu Chenyu had taken them in. They were unfazed; resources were scarce, and these people lacked significant combat prowess. It was more prudent to invest in their own forces than to squander what little they had.

However, they couldn't help but marvel at Mu Chenyu's boldness when they heard he was freely distributing cultivation methods—a practice traditionally guarded with the utmost strictness. Such liberality was unheard of, but it wasn't their concern, nor did anyone intend to intervene. The only response was a sense of helplessness at the envy etched on their own subordinates' faces.

Wang Hu and the others lacked Mu Chenyu's audacity to disregard the value of cultivation methods. They couldn't afford to be so generous, opting instead to teach just a few techniques before disengaging.

To them, self-preservation was paramount. As long as they grew stronger, they had no fear of a shortage of followers.

After finishing their simple meals, everyone dispersed.

At eight in the evening, Hwa Xin entered the canteen, his body smeared with the gore of zombies, followed by a group similarly stained. They made a beeline for Mu Chenyu. Hwa Xin handed over a parcel and then produced two blue books from his inner pocket.

Mu Chenyu didn't bother inspecting the items. His gaze fixed on Hwa Xin, he inquired, "How did it go? Any injuries?"

"No, boss," Hwa Xin replied. "We all took cover in the stairwell, striking as a group, so we're good. Thanks for your concern, boss."

"We've secured a total of three hundred evolution beads. After each of us took our share, there are still around one hundred and fifty left. Plus, we acquired these two secret manuals from slaying zombies," Hwa Xin promptly responded to his leader's inquiry.

"Have you committed the secret manuals to memory?" Mu Chenyu inquired.

"I have, Boss. I've got it down, and a few others have seen it too," Hwa Xin replied, his voice tinged with apprehension. He glanced at Mu Chenyu, wary of a potential outburst.

In ancient times, unauthorized viewing of martial arts manuals was a grave offense. Even in the present day, while the cultivation methods weren't Mu Chenyu's personal property, they were now in his care, leaving the decision of their use to him.

"No worries. Since you've memorized them, later on, pass the knowledge to the others for their cultivation. But keep it within our group of fifty or so—no leaking the information," Mu Chenyu said, seemingly unconcerned.

"Otherwise, you'll be responsible for the consequences."

Mu Chenyu had only given the secret manuals—a Monkey Fist and a Six Joint Spear Technique—a cursory look. Both were incomplete upper-level techniques, and both were of low-grade Human Rank. They were neither complete nor of high quality, so Mu Chenyu didn't dwell on them, merely cautioning against their dissemination.

Even if they weren't crucial, it was important not to let such advantages fall into the wrong hands.

"Understood, Boss," Hwa Xin said, visibly relieved at Mu Chenyu's reasonable stance. He nodded in agreement.

"Alright, off you go. Time to grab some food. After you've eaten, come see me; I've got plans to discuss," Mu Chenyu instructed, dismissing him with a wave of his hand.

Hwa Xin led the group to their midday meal spot, setting up the pot to cook meat. After a tense day, it was time for a well-deserved break.

As they ate, the air was filled with exclamations and recollections of the day's events, with some still showing traces of fear on their faces, clearly not at ease.

Yet, there was a noticeable change in them. They now exuded a palpable aura of fierceness, their fear of zombies significantly diminished.

This was their metamorphosis; this was their growth.

Mu Chenyu, for his part, tucked the secret manual into his pocket. In reality, it had been absorbed by the Heavenly Tome.

Consequently, two additional pages filled with writing appeared in the Heavenly Tome. The sphere of light within his mind grew by roughly four centimeters, now measuring about 1.4 meters in diameter.

Simultaneously, his thoughts became sharper and more focused.