C1 Stealing Martial Arts!

In the Great Qian Empire, within the esteemed Zhang Family's compound in Canglan City, the courtyard was already bustling with activity as the first rays of dawn graced the sky. The Zhang Family's young disciples had commenced their daily training regimen.

The courtyard echoed with the constant sounds of grunts and shouts, as gusts of wind accompanied the extension of punches and kicks. Over the courtyard wall, one could glimpse a group of the Zhang Family's disciples, clad in sturdy attire, diligently practicing the Great Strength Bull Demon Fist under the tutelage of Chief Instructor Zhang Xiao.

Each disciple moved with agile grace, their punches stirring the air with formidable force, a testament to their lethal prowess.

Unbeknownst to all, a head stealthily surfaced above the distant wall, surreptitiously observing the Chief Instructor's martial arts techniques.

Zhang Chen was well aware that what he was witnessing was the Zhang Family's foundational martial art, the Great Strength Bull Demon Fist. Despite its basic nature, mastering it required the strength of nine bulls and two tigers. Chief Instructor Zhang Xiao had honed this technique to an impressive degree.

With eyes narrowed, Zhang Chen meticulously scrutinized every motion of Chief Instructor Zhang Xiao, committing even the subtlest of movements to memory.

At just sixteen or seventeen, Zhang Chen, a gaunt and lowly servant, audaciously risked his life to covertly learn martial arts. Discovery would mean certain death.

Born into servitude, Zhang Chen's lineage had served the Zhang Family for generations. His fate as a servant was sealed from birth.

"I'm destined to be a servant my entire life. If these Zhang Family disciples take out their frustrations on me, I could end up a mere punching bag. Instead of being beaten to death, I'd rather take a desperate chance. If I can just learn a bit of martial arts and seize an opportunity to flee Canglan City, the Zhang Family surely won't waste resources hunting down a mere servant like me."

Zhang Chen's sole ambition was to acquire enough martial skill to defend himself and escape the Zhang Family, forever leaving behind the shackles of servitude.

His father had loyally served the current head of the Zhang Family from a young age. At ten, Zhang Chen had witnessed the family patriarch use his father as a living target for martial arts practice, beating him to death.

Before his death, Zhang Chen's father imparted to him a powerful maxim: "Better to be a vengeful spirit than a servant!"

He believed it was better to die on one's feet than live on one's knees.

"To master martial arts, one must train their sinews, bones, skin, and marrow to perfection. Only then can you harness the power of every muscle in your body. When you punch, the force should slice through the air like a blade!"

Bang!

Before he could finish, a loud bang echoed. Just seven to eight meters behind Zhang Xiao, a thick osmanthus tree was snapped by his fist. In an instant, Zhang Xiao was back in his original spot, leaving the surrounding Zhang Family disciples in awe.

As the Chief Instructor of the Zhang Family, Zhang Xiao had long entered the Martial Master Stage. His ability to strike from a distance and return in a blink was no surprise.

"Though a Martial Disciple Stage practitioner can exert the force of a thousand kilograms, their power isn't well-channeled. It's no match for the Martial Warrior Stage, where one learns to contract their muscles and bones for more ferocious bursts of power. At the Martial Master Stage, you refine your craft to strengthen your internal organs. Then, like me, you can eliminate enemies within thirty steps!"

After demonstrating such skill, Zhang Xiao commanded even greater respect from the family's disciples.

"Don't lose heart. Once you've perfected the Great Strength Bull Demon Fist and possess the strength of nine bulls and two tigers, you'll ascend to the Master Stage. At that point, your bones, muscles, skin, and internal organs will be in perfect harmony, just like the Patriarch and the Eldest Miss!"

The disciples of the Zhang Family nodded in agreement, inspired by Zhang Xiao's words.

"I've heard from my father that above the Master Stage is the Energy Master Stage. But what lies beyond that?" asked one of the Zhang Family disciples, his curiosity piqued.

At this question, Zhang Xiao's eyes narrowed, and his pupils constricted, causing the inquiring disciple to involuntarily step back.

"Even the most formidable at the Energy Master Stage rely on sheer strength. An Energy Master Stage Expert, however, transforms that strength into Qi, capable of harming an enemy from a distance. Yet, even they can be wounded if caught off guard. Only by progressing further, to the Diamond Stage, can one avoid such fates!"

"Diamond Stage?"

Upon hearing Zhang Xiao's explanation, the Zhang Family disciples immediately held their breath and listened intently, eager to absorb the teaching.

"The concept is straightforward: to train one's body to be as resilient as copper and iron, impervious to sneak attacks, blades, spears, and resistant to the elements of water and fire. Only then can one be regarded as a true master. At this point, you're not even at the stage of taking your first steps."

There was a collective gasp from the crowd as Zhang Xiao spoke.

For Zhang Chen, this was his first encounter with such a concept.

Merely a lowly servant in the Zhang Family, he was familiar with the Martial Disciple, Martial Warrior, Martial Master, and Grandmaster stages, but this was his first time hearing of a realm beyond the Energy Master—the Diamond Stage.

Having committed the techniques and energy flow of the "Great Strength Bull Demon Fist" to memory, Zhang Chen stealthily descended from the wall. On his day off, he intended to find a secluded spot to practice the moves he had surreptitiously observed, knowing that repetition would engrain them deeper in his memory.

"Stop right there!"

But before Zhang Chen could take more than a few steps, a stern voice suddenly rang out beside him, sending shivers down his spine.

The voice belonged to none other than Zhang Che, the eldest son of the Zhang Family head.

"You audacious cur, daring to spy on the Chief Instructor's training!" Zhang Che looked down at Zhang Chen, his voice filled with reproach.

Zhang Che's voice was subdued, not enough to alert anyone in the inner courtyard, yet it was enough to fill Zhang Chen with dread.

The family rules of Zhang Mansion were clear: a servant caught learning martial arts in secret would be punished by whipping, potentially to death.

"Please, Young Master, have mercy! I merely glanced out of curiosity and would never dare to learn the martial arts in secret. I am looking forward to the day when you succeed as the head of the family, so that I may serve you!" Without hesitation, Zhang Chen pleaded for his life, fawning over Zhang Che in hopes of sparing himself from a grim fate.

Sure enough, Zhang Che's expression softened into a smug smile upon hearing Zhang Chen's groveling flattery.

"If you don't want the Chief Instructor to find out, come with me!"

With those words, Zhang Che turned and made his way to a small courtyard nearby, stopping in front of a disused well.

"You have a way with words, but the role of Patriarch isn't up for grabs by me. My sister has already reached the Master Stage and is a registered disciple of the Ten-thousand Elephants Palace. I bet when she returns this afternoon, Father will declare her the successor to the Patriarch." Zhang Che stood before the well, hands clasped behind his back, speaking in a measured tone.

Mentioning his sister, there was not a trace of sibling warmth in Zhang Che's eyes, only a deep-seated resentment.

Logically, he was the prime candidate to take over as Patriarch of the Zhang Family, being the eldest son and having attained the Martial Master Stage, with prospects of achieving Grandmaster status. However, his sister's prodigious talent overshadowed his claim. As a child, she had a serendipitous encounter and was taken in as a registered disciple by a sage of the Ten-thousand Elephants Palace, who imparted to her superior martial skills. She achieved the pinnacle of the Master Stage before her twentieth year, putting Zhang Che's position as heir to the Patriarch in jeopardy.

"You're a first-time offender, so I might be inclined to show leniency, but you'll need to do something for me in return," Zhang Che suddenly turned, fixing his gaze on the quivering Zhang Chen.

At Zhang Che's words, a wave of relief washed over Zhang Chen. "Please, Young Master, what would you have me do?"

Zhang Che didn't rush to answer; instead, he produced a porcelain bottle from his sleeve.

Zhang Chen's heart clenched at the sight of the inscription on the bottle — Blood Dissolving Powder!

"This afternoon, when Zhang Yuner returns, Father will surely have us siblings offer her a toast. That will be your chance to slip this Blood Dissolving Powder into her wine..."