C4 Dao Pattern Master

No sooner had Woo Chenghao's words fallen than the cronies who'd accompanied him swiftly encircled Woo Yang. It was clear that without delivering a severe beating today, the dispute would remain unresolved.

"Why go to such lengths? What's the point?"

With a heavy sigh, Woo Yang's eyes hardened, and he lunged forward like a cannonball toward an individual directly ahead. Cornered with no escape, his only chance at survival was to take down his assailants.

His movements were lightning-fast. As he leapt, fists plummeting like shooting stars, the spectral image of a Violent Ape shimmered into view behind him.

"What in the world is that? A martial skill?"

Woo Chenghao was taken aback. He was well aware of Woo Yang's supposed lack of talent. The idea of him mastering martial arts was preposterous; the so-called waste hadn't even advanced past the second level in years. The family had written him off long ago, and even the least skilled warriors viewed him as a disgrace. And yet, this 'trash' was displaying martial prowess?

"You're not mistaken; it's a martial skill."

Woo Yang, unfazed by their astonishment, cracked a slight smile. His body shook with the force of a mountain, his sinews snapping crisply. In a flash, an explosive strength burst forth from within him.

That was... Layer Three of the Qi Stage!

Boom!

Woo Yang's punch whipped up a fierce gale, instantly scattering the menacing presence of Woo Chenghao's lackeys. The once spineless Woo Yang now fought like a war deity, relentlessly pursuing his opponents.

To the onlookers, Woo Yang seemed possessed by the spirit of a primal ape, effortlessly flinging aside a second-level Qi Stage warrior with a mere flick of his wrist.

The warrior grunted, blood spilling from his lips, his insides wracked as though trampled by a wild elephant, his cries of agony piercing the air.

"Second brother!"

"Be careful, Brother Hao!"

Xiaosi and Woo Tong went ashen. Among them, Woo Chenghao was the most formidable, having reached the third level of the Qi Stage six months prior. Yet Woo Yang's strike had clearly surpassed that level, leaving them fraught with concern.

"Don't worry. Today, I'll beat Woo Yang, that piece of trash, into a dead dog to get revenge for you all."

Woo Chenghao's face darkened with a sudden shift as he charged at Woo Yang, his eyes glinting with a thick, murderous intent.

He was intent on killing Woo Yang!

"Second brother, what are you doing?!"

Xiaosi and Woo Tong could clearly see that Woo Chenghao was out for blood. Even though Woo Yang was considered useless, he was still part of their family. They were young and had previously spoken in anger, but now, faced with the prospect of fratricide, they couldn't help but feel terrified and timid.

"Killing this waste will remove the stain on our Woo family's honor!" Woo Chenghao responded with an icy tone.

His arms, swift and precise like a striking snake, slipped past Woo Yang's defenses. His fists, packed with concentrated force, hammered viciously into Woo Yang's chest.

"Huh?" Woo Yang let out a sound of bewildered surprise.

Time seemed to freeze in that instant.

Woo Chenghao's powerful strike landed on Woo Yang's chest, yet Woo Yang only felt a tingling numbness, no real harm done. Woo Chenghao's eyes bulged in astonishment. Such a move would have gravely wounded any other martial artist in their family, causing at least internal injuries, if not organ rupture. But Woo Yang... seemed utterly unaffected.

"Is this the formidable result of rebuilding my bones and muscles?"

Woo Yang pondered, frowning.

A moment later, he shook off his surprise and, with a vicious smirk tugging at his lips, he yanked the still-reeling Woo Chenghao close.

"Think you can cripple me? Take a good look; I'm not the same Woo Yang I used to be!"

Bang!

The very next second, Woo Yang seized Woo Chenghao's wrist and mercilessly slammed him to the ground. Dust and debris flew up in the small, dilapidated courtyard that had been Woo Yang's home for years, as Woo Chenghao coughed up blood, his teeth spattering out mixed with the crimson.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Woo Chenghao, once considered somewhat formidable in the outer sect, was now at Woo Yang's mercy, utterly defenseless. After several brutal throws, he began to sob pitifully.

Woo Yang was relentless, his tactics growing more ferocious by the moment. Eventually, he mounted Woo Chenghao's back as he lay prone on the ground and pummeled him without mercy.

The assault mirrored the one on Woo Tong, with Woo Chenghao being ground into the dirt. But this time, the grinding was so severe it nearly shattered his bones.

Woo Chenghao's cronies initially thought to intervene, but the sight of Woo Yang's savagery froze them in their tracks.

"Thought you could take me down? Had to go for the kill, huh? Feeling good about it now?" Woo Yang taunted as he finally ceased his attack, drained of energy.

Woo Chenghao was left a broken mess, his body sprawled like a lump of shapeless mud, devoid of any defiance.

"Anyone else feeling stiff and in need of loosening up? Come on, then." Woo Yang kicked Woo Chenghao aside and fearlessly challenged the quivering Woo Tong and Xiaosi.

"I live by a simple rule: don't provoke me, and I won't provoke you. I truly didn't want to fight, but Woo Chenghao left me no choice. Let this be a lesson to all of you. If you're thinking of troubling me again, better weigh up whether you can take the heat."

"You..." Woo Chenghao managed through his pain, but his words trailed off as he slumped over, unconscious but alive.

Despite being a student highly regarded by the Martial Master, Woo Chenghao had been humiliated, beaten by someone the family deemed worthless, and made an example of. The beating might not have killed him, but the shame very well could.

"Did you not hear me?" Woo Yang bellowed, sending Xiaosi, Woo Tong, and the rest into a shudder, nodding like Wooden Birds.

"Take this piece of trash with you and get out!" With that, Woo Yang turned and retreated to his modest dwelling, shutting the door behind him.

He only allowed himself to slide down against the door once he saw Xiaosi and Woo Tong carrying Woo Chenghao away through the crack in the door.

A sense of foreboding washed over him; he could sense a storm brewing on the horizon.

With Woo Tong and Woo Chenghao having influential supporters within the family, today's beatings wouldn't be easily forgotten. Woo Yang stood alone. He could handle one, maybe even two, but what about a whole group?

He had summoned all his courage and strength to utter those words just now.

Yet Woo Yang was acutely aware that despite his growing power, his mindset was still in its infancy. In the past, he had clung to life by casting aside his dignity.

Now, even if he were to forsake his dignity and cling to life, it likely wouldn't be enough to keep him alive.

He had stirred up trouble and would inevitably face the consequences. It appeared that only by compelling his adversaries, those who had always seen him as an easy target, and perhaps even his entire family, to acknowledge his strength, could he ensure his survival.

"Defeat a Layer Three Qi Stage warrior to secure a place among the top ten thousand in the Invincible Manual, and you shall be rewarded with a path of auxiliary cultivation:

One: Alchemist;

Two: Weapon Refiner;

Three: Beast Tamer;

Four: Array Pattern Master;

Five: Dao Pattern Master. Master, this is your reward. You may also choose to decline, and the manual will not initiate any punitive measures."

The words of the Invincible Manual made Woo Yang's eyes gleam with excitement. This reward held even greater value than the act of cultivating itself.

The four professions mentioned by the Invincible Manual were exceedingly rare across the entire Mystic Devil Continent. Embarking on the path of such a scarce profession not only demanded a steep price but also the survivors were one in ten thousand. Now that the manual was offering it directly, how could he refuse?

Woo Yang had never heard of a Dao Pattern Master before, and the title sounded impressively formidable. The Array Pattern Master also had its appeal, leaving Woo Yang torn between the choices.

"All the aforementioned reward professions are available during the remainder of your cultivation period, provided that you surpass the achievements of all previous Invincible Manual masters."

"You mentioned earlier that it cost me seven years of my lifespan just to break into the top 10,000?"

"Yes, Master. Given your talents, the fact that you've earned this reward has exceeded my expectations. In other words, it's nothing short of a miracle that you've received it."

"What are you implying? I am your master, after all. Can't you show me a little respect?"

"Respect is something one must earn, Master. To speak plainly, you are quite unskilled."

"You!"

Woo Yang was infuriated by the manual. It had not only been a constant source of deception but also spoke with such insolence. However, Woo Yang was patient by nature. After all, the Golden Book was an inanimate object, and there was no point in getting angry with something devoid of life.

"Given the circumstances, I'll opt for the Dao Pattern Master. After all, I can always pursue the other professions later on."

"Master, if I may speak frankly, with your aptitude, you might not live to see the second reward."

While the Invincible Manual teased him mercilessly, it began to present Woo Yang with the intricacies of Dao Pattern Master cultivation.

"The Dao Pattern Master is an ancient occupation. Dao Patterns bear resemblance to array patterns, yet their intricacies differ. A Dao Pattern Master must possess not only a formidable soul force but also a steadfast spirit to successfully cultivate the introductory Dao Flame.

"Infusing the Dao Flame into the Dao Pattern allows for integration with both the martial artist's body and weapon."

In the brief time it took to finish a pot of tea, Woo Yang had absorbed all the information about the Dao Pattern Master, including the esoteric secrets of cultivation, all thanks to the comprehensive briefing from the Invincible Manual.

Upon reopening his eyes, Woo Yang couldn't help but exclaim in frustration, "Freaks!"

Cultivating as a Dao Pattern Master demanded copious Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to fortify the body, enabling it to endure the requisite soul force. Moreover, the enhancement of both soul force and spirit largely depended on the foundation laid in the Qi Stage, necessitating external support.

Put simply, the Dao Pattern Master was a profession that drained your coffers!

"The support profession is now unlocked. You have half a month to advance to Rank One of the Dao Pattern Master. Fail to achieve this, and your soul will be forcibly seized!"

Woo Yang's eyes widened in disbelief. "What the heck? There's a time limit for the support profession too?"

"Cultivation always comes with a time constraint and set rules. Fail to meet the required level, and your soul will be taken by force.

"Did you think my former masters met any other fate?"

"Damn, you're not content with having ensnared them, now you're after me too?" Woo Yang was heartbroken. The Invincible Manual could have given him a heads-up. Had he known earlier, he would never have chosen this perilous path of cultivation. This wasn't training; it was a death-defying gamble.

"Life Reaping Manual, why is my life filled with such hardship?" Woo Yang lamented, sitting on a stone at his doorstep, his expression one of deep sorrow. Strands of white hair fell across his face, adding to his air of forlornness and grief.

"In martial arts cultivation, the rule is that one must reach the Fourth Layer of the Qi Stage within seven days. However, considering the master's need to achieve a breakthrough to Rank Three within a set timeframe, this particular cultivation period may be extended to twelve days!"

"Enough, I need some peace and quiet..."