True Martial World - Chapter 39: A person’s most painful experience in life

Yi Yun repeatedly performed the twelve movements of the Elephant Swallowing Technique. For an unknown reason, it was extremely energy depleting. In Yi Yun's semi-conscious state, he repeated the moves five times before he felt exhausted!

Yi Yun opened his eyes and felt his abdomen burning, it was as if a fire had lit up!

Large amounts of blood and energy was supplied to his stomach in a surging fashion!

A normal person would have their blood flow to their stomachs after a meal. This was to aid the digestive process.

Yi Yun was in a similar situation, just magnified a hundred times.

Yi Yun felt that if he wished, his entire body's blood could be condensed within his stomach. Even metal nails and glass could be digested!

The bloated feeling from eating the Guanyin clay had completely vanished. Under the strong peristalsis within his stomach, the coagulated Guanyin clay had already been separated.

Yi Yun lifted his head to realize that everyone was looking at him. Zhang Yuxian had a smile on his face. As for the people from the warrior preparation camp, they could only be described as astonished, jealous, and hostile.

At that moment, Lian Chengyu walked over to Yi Yun with a smile.

"Yi Yun, I must give in." Yi Yun looked surprised as Lian Chengyu said that. Lian Chengyu also patted Yi Yun's shoulder saying nicely, "Yi Yun, to be honest, I was wondering if you had passed the preliminaries due to sheer luck. But you have just proven yourself. I hereby apologize to you. I can't believe that you have such great talent!"

Lian Chengyu was not stingy with his praise. "In the past, using you to pick herbs was a waste of talent. From now on, you can enter the warrior preparation camp. The Lian tribal clan will focus on grooming you!"

"It's too bad that the kingdom's selection is in a few weeks. You have to blame me for not noticing your talent, wasting your time. With only this amount of time left to practice martial arts, it's unlikely you can pass the kingdom's selection…"

"But it's alright. If this stupid brother of yours becomes a kingdom warrior, I will definitely help you. I will ensure that you will be able to leave this vast wilderness. When the time comes, you will be able to support our Lian tribal clan, and be glorious. We can even mass migrate into the cities!" Lian Chengyu said earnestly. His eyes did not exhibit the slightest amount of deceit.

If Yi Yun did not know Lian Chengyu well, he would have been fooled!

It is impossible to judge a man's heart from his face. If a person that was good at hiding his true intentions so wished, it would be impossible to tell from his facial expression what he was truly thinking. noveltranslationweb.blogspot.com

Lian Chengyu was exactly doing so.

Yi Yun understood that he was doing it as an act in front of Zhang Yuxian.

The moment Zhang Yuxian left, Lian Chengyu would reveal his true colors.

How could Lian Chengyu tolerate his growth?

Yi Yun sillily smiled, saying to Lian Chengyu, "Thank you Young Master Lian, I will not disappoint you."

Seeing Yi Yun fooled, Lian Chengyu broke into a smile. He did not expect that under the skin of this twelve-year-old was an adult with richer experience than himself.

Lian Chengyu carried on with some words of encouragement before turning towards Zhang Yuxian saying, "Lord Zhang, I'm a dumb student. My perceptivity is not as good as my younger brother, Yi Yun. I still haven't mastered the Elephant Swallowing Technique, could Lord Zhang please demonstrate it again for us students?"

Since he had decided to settle scores later, Lian Chengyu showed humility on the surface. But for Zhao Tiezhu and company to hear those words, they began choking.

"Young Master Lian…"

Zhao Tiezhu was worried. How could Lian Chengyu think so highly of Yi Yun? How could he say those words…

"Shut up. All of you are good for nothings. All the tribe's rations and meat were provided to you, but you can't even learn this Elephant Swallowing Technique today. It's so humiliating. If you don't practice it well, do you really want to die with your stomachs ruptured from eating Guanyin clay?"

The moment Lian Chengyu said "die", Zhao Tiezhu and company suddenly changed their expressions. Right, this isn't a joke. If they didn't learn it well, they would have to live with the consequences!

Seeing Lian Chengyu appropriate handling of matters, and his good choice of words, Zhang Yuxian nodded. Lian Chengyu had both talent and good leadership potential. He was a talented individual.

Zhang Yuxian said, "For this Elephant Swallowing Technique, eating wood and Guanyin clay is just the beginning stage. If you meet the criteria, you can even try eating materials with devastating energies or treasures that are extremely difficult to digest. The effects of practicing the skill will be better."

These words were only for Lian Chengyu and Yi Yun. From Zhang Yuxian point of view, only Lian Chengyu and Yi Yun had the ability to leave the vast wilderness and become a true warrior.

He turned towards Zhao Tiezhu and company, saying, "As for you, although you won't have the opportunity to eat all those treasures, but if you were to master the Elephant Swallowing Technique, you will be able to eat grass roots and tree bark safely during a famine. It will be a great boon to your survival. Even learning a tiny bit will be extremely valuable for you."

"I will do it again. The speed will be much slower. Look carefully. To be able to identify the charm of the Elephant Swallowing Technique will all depend on yourself!"

With that, Zhang Yuxian began moving again.

He really slowed down, but he was still unable to get through to Zhao Tiezhu and company.

The result for that night was wailings from the toilets of the Lian tribal clan.

Some people say that the most painful thing in life is the failure to find a bathroom when experiencing diarrhea. They would eventually have to shit in their pants.

But for Zhao Tiezhu and company, what would this be called?

Only those who experienced what Zhao Tiezhu was feeling will know that even shitting in their pants was extreme bliss.

That night, the only doctor in the Lian tribal clan boiled a huge pot of laxatives. Every member of the warrior preparation camp drank it, but they still could not succeed in excreting what they consumed out.

As a last resort, they had to follow Zhang Yuxian's words. They used their fingers to dig. When they realized their fingers were not long enough, they used bamboo sticks.

As for bamboo sticks being inserted into their rectum…

That feeling was…"heavenly".

In fact, using a bamboo stick to dig was not easy. It was an extremely difficult task for an individual, because they could not see.

As a last resort, they had to "help" one another. They had to reveal their ass, getting a brother to help…

That scene was too perfect that Yi Yun didn't want to think about it.

To be able to bust ass for a comrade was nothing. But to help a comrade dig out shit, that would be true love. noveltranslationweb.blogspot.com

Just listening to the shrill cries, one could imagine the carnage happening. The bamboo sticks might have dug through something…

On the second day, Zhao Tiezhu and company's faces walked soft-footedly with an ashen expression. They had not been able to sleep the whole night for they were constantly running to the toilet. Even after they had drunk the laxative, all that came out was yellow liquid, as for the bamboo sticks… Even known tortures were nothing in comparison. However, they were thankful that they did not eat too much Guanyin clay. As a result of the laxatives and the digging, no one died.

…

For the second day of training, Zhao Tiezhu and company no longer dared to eat the Guanyin clay. As such, Zhang Yuxian only taught Yi Yun and Lian Chengyu.

Eventually, Zhang Yuxian did not even stay the full three days at the Lian tribal clan.

On the second night, a jade slip that accompanied Zhang Yuxian trembled while producing a sound.

This jade slip was a messaging device the Jing Long Wei used.

Seeing the jade slip tremble, Zhang Yuxian's expression changed. He left a note, mounted his beast and disappeared into the night…

True Martial World - Chapter 38: Charm

F**k, is he teasing me?

Zhao Tiezhu was crushed. This isn't some Elephant Swallowing Technique, it's a prank!

Many of the warrior preparation camp members had already begun digging their throats with their fingers, hoping to vomit out the Guanyin clay and wood they had just eaten.

However, it was useless. The Guanyin clay was extremely sticky. The moment it reached the stomach, it sank and coagulated. Vomiting this final block would prove difficult.

Even though the men from the warrior preparation camp had vomited out their gastric juices, only a few wood splinters came out. The Guanyin clay was still bound tightly in their stomachs.

Momentarily, the men all froze up.

"Lord Zhang, please stop joking. I couldn't even see your movements!" said one of the men who were close to tears.

"How could anyone learn such a movement?"

Despite hearing the complaints of the warrior preparation camp members, Zhang Yuxian remained indifferent. He did the twelve moves of the Elephant Swallowing Technique again. However, this time, he did it at a slower speed, allowing the people from the warrior preparation camp to see better.

But Yi Yun realized that when Zhang Yuxian lowered his speed, there was a charm lacking in his set of moves!

And it was this charm that was the crux of this set of moves!

"Let me try!" At that moment, Lian Chengyu stood forward.

Lian Chengyu had already eaten quite a bit of Guanyin clay and wood.

Lian Chengyu had some perceptive ability after all. He barely demonstrated the movements Zhang Yuxian had done. But in fact, his movements were far from correct.

Of course, only Yi Yun could tell. As for Zhao Tiezhu and company, they were filled with admiration.

"Young Master Lian is a man of God!"

"Wow, how could you do those moves?" Zhao Tiezhu and company began to suck up. They were truly filled with admiration for Lian Chengyu as he astounded them.

But Zhang Yuxian looked at Lian Chengyu and said lightly, "That barely counts."

Given this evaluation made Lian Chengyu feel a sense of defeat. The moves were too hard, and he felt it was quite impressive that he was able to mimic it.

But Zhang Yuxian only rated it as "barely counts". His standards were too high.

Lian Chengyu always had confidence in his talent. He felt that it was not because he failed to do well, but a result of Zhang Yuxian's overly strict standards. Zhang Yuxian was also not generous with his praises. noveltranslationweb.blogspot.com

At that moment, Lian Chengyu noticed that Zhang Yuxian's gaze was focused on Yi Yun.

Yi Yun had closed his eyes as if in a daze.

Lian Chengyu sneered.

Having eaten so much wood and Guanyin clay, the kid’s stomach must be hurting right now.

This Elephant Swallowing Technique was so difficult, the set of movements was filled with mystery. How could a twelve-year-old like him learn it? It was best that he died a painful death from a ruptured stomach!

Due to Zhang Yuxian's high praise for Yi Yun, Lian Chengyu treated Yi Yun with great animosity.

Yi Yun was fully immersed in his own world.

Yi Yun could not be bothered watching Lian Chengyu's movements after a while. It was because Lian Chengyu could only barely match a few of the moves. And it was those moves that Yi Yun realized lacked a certain charm!

From this point, Yi Yun realized something. He closed his eyes and began pondering.

In Yi Yun's mind, Zhang Yuxian's movements were repeated again and again like a movie.

After breaking through to the Meridian realm, Yi Yun's five senses were extremely keen. Although Zhang Yuxian's movements were quick, Yi Yun still managed to gain some insight.

Also having lived two lives, he had very high perceptivity. His eyes had been nourished by both the Purple Crystal and his meridians, making the motion of Zhang Yuxian that was replicated in his mind even clearer. The outer form first came together, and slowly each move began to emit that charm.

Yi Yun realized that the Elephant Swallowing Technique was extremely mysterious.

First, one had to eat hard-to-digest and impossible to excrete food. Next, they had to use this set of mysterious moves to train their stomach and intestines.

These moves, if one paid attention to the poses, would have their charm reduced.

If one wanted to reflect the charm, then the poses would no longer be accurate.

It was a fascinating mystic technique!

Yi Yun began to have such a thought. He felt that the Elephant Swallowing Technique was more mystical than the "Dragon Rib Tiger Bone Fist". But why would a cornerstone skill of the Jing Long Wei be widely spread among the grassroots?

It wasn't time to think about this. Yi Yun began to reach out his hands according to his memories.

Suddenly, Yi Yun began to move. With his eyes slightly closed, and without any sense of direction, he began to demonstrate the movements of Zhang Yuxian using the mysterious feelings in his memories.

One by one, Yi Yun's train of thought became clearer, and his speed increased.

People who were looking at Yi Yun only saw a blurred shadow of Yi Yun!

Zhang Yuxian's eyes suddenly lit up.

Yi Yun managed to simulate a trace of the charm of the Elephant Swallowing Technique in his first practice! This had nothing to do with one's practice or physique. Only a person's perceptivity mattered.

The difficulty of the Elephant Swallowing Technique was its comprehension. It took Zhang Yuxian a long while to understand the charms behind the Elephant Swallowing Technique. He too had suffered from eating Guanyin clay back in his day.

This kid, Yi Yun, had an exceptionally perceptive mind!

As for the men from the warrior preparation camp, they were all shocked at Yi Yun's movements. They did not understand the mystery behind the Elephant Swallowing Technique, but no matter how dumb they were, they knew that Yi Yun wasn't doing it haphazardly. Because they too perceived an incomprehensible illusion from Yi Yun's movements!

"This…This kid…" The men were stunned. They did not need to judge if Yi Yun's moves were accurate. From Zhang Yuxian's eyes, they knew they had to accept a more frustrating reality. Yi Yun could perform the Elephant Swallowing Technique!

"How could this be. This little slave born from a low caste managed to learn Lord Zhang's movements after he demonstrated it twice?" Zhao Tiezhu and company did not know how many times Zhang Yuxian had demonstrated the moves. They only saw his figure blur twice, hence they had concluded that he had done it twice. noveltranslationweb.blogspot.com

"He actually learned such a difficult move?" The members of the warrior preparation camp found it unacceptable. They had always been condescending, and deep down, they felt they were the ruling class of the Lian tribal clan.

But today, an inferior plebeian had climbed over their heads, suppressing them greatly.

The lifting of stone rollers, which they were proud of was worthless in the eyes of Zhang Yuxian, but they could not learn a thing Zhang Yuxian taught them.

Even the bright star of the clan, Lian Chengyu was suppressed by Yi Yun!

Lian Chengyu clenched his fists. A deep sense of anger and frustration burned in his eyes. This sense of frustration slowly turned into cold killing intent!

True Martial World - Chapter 37: Twelve Moves

Seeing that Yi Yun was the first to follow his instructions, Zhang Yuxian nodded with satisfaction. The others did not think likewise. Zhao Tiezhu looked at Yi Yun eating the tree and sneered.

It wasn't so simple eating wood.

You may be trying to be a hero, but I'll see how you burst to your death later.

When the people faced famine, people ate grass roots and tree bark. But no one tried eating wood, especially uncooked hardwood.

Other than termites or borers, few animals in the world ate wood. The wood fibers in the wood was not something the stomach could digest.

"Go! Dig up some Guanyin clay!" Zhang Yuxian ordered. Guanyin clay was actually magnesium silicate. No one knew why it was called Guanyin clay. Perhaps people looked to the Guanyin goddess for help during times of famine. This clay could fill the stomachs, so it obtained such a name.

But in reality, Guanyin clay was a poison. It was not harmful in small amounts. But slightly larger portions would result in indigestion. It would be impossible to excrete it out, and a person would eventually die of abdominal distension.

Coincidentally, the Lian tribal clan had such a material. Some people may wonder why would people eat the Guanyin clay if they knew it could kill?

This was because of the ignorance of the local people. They believed that if they had a sincere heart, they would receive salvation from the goddess, Guanyin.

The second reason was that Guanyin clay tasted much better than tree bark and grass-roots. Its appearance and taste resembled flour. Some people who could not resist the temptation under extreme hunger would die from eating too much.

The Guanyin clay was dug up and piled into a bunch.

This Guanyin clay was moved over by the citizens. The citizens of the Lian tribal clan had become onlookers.

Seeing the people from the warrior preparation camp about to eat the Guanyin clay, the onlookers were worried. It was okay eating some Guanyin clay, but the results would be devastating if they finished that large amount.

"Begin," Zhang Yuxian said lightly. Yi Yun did not hesitate and began eating the Guanyin clay in large amounts. It did not have any special taste but it tasted a bit creamy.

The Guanyin clay was much easier to swallow than the wood.

Seeing Yi Yun's actions, the people from the warrior preparation camp could not take that lying down.

They bit the bullet and began eating.

They believed Zhang Yuxian wasn't out to harm them. Although it was awful eating that, they had to endure the eating in order to practice the skill!

But just as the thought flashed in their heads, Zhang Yuxian destroyed that thought when he said, "The Elephant Swallowing Technique isn't that easy to learn. Some people who ate the Guanyin clay for the practice of Elephant Swallowing Technique did not manage to learn it before dying of abdominal distention."

"What!?"

Upon hearing Zhang Yuxian's words, the courage they had mustered deflated.

If you can't master the Elephant Swallowing Technique, eating all this wood and Guanyin clay would result in death!

Learning this technique could result in death. They thought they would be subjected to suffering, but it would not be life-threatening. But the truth proved that they had thought wrong!

Seeing Zhao Tiezhu and company's expressions, Zhang Yuxian gave a disdainful glance, "Do you think the practicing of martial arts is to treat others to dinner and having a good time? And from that, you will learn a peerless skill?"

"When a warrior practices the arts, he has to understand that he will constantly confront death! There are often deaths even among the Jing Long Wei members' normal training! Without pushing your body to its limits, how do you expect to break through!?"

"The path of martial arts, entering mysterious lands, vendettas, vying for treasure, destroying the devil within, escaping death, surviving tragedies! Which one of those doesn't have death involved? You are only at the beginning stages. If you don't dare to eat Guanyin clay, then don't practice martial arts. Just die in this vast wilderness!"

Zhang Yuxian had no more demands from the likes of these people. He also did not say how much Guanyin clay or wood a beginner of the Elephant Swallowing Technique should consume. noveltranslationweb.blogspot.com

It was up to a person's courage to determine how much he should eat.

The warrior preparation camp members looked at each other. They subconsciously began to slow down their eating speeds.

As for Yi Yun, he paused for a while. After a short silence, he began eating at a constant speed, not affected by those words.

Zhang Yuxian noticed Yi Yun and nodded. This courage was admirable.

As for Zhao Tiezhu and company, they naturally noticed Yi Yun’s constant eating of the wood and Guanyin clay. Zhao Tiezhu maliciously whispered, "That little bastard, he may be showing off now, but he will die from a ruptured stomach later!"

"Don't mind the idiot, Brother Zhao. We are just beginners. Let's not eat too much. 250 grams, no…200 to 250 grams should do…"

The men from the warrior preparation camp began to carefully weigh the amount they ate. They ate it sparingly like a gluttonous child unwilling to finish a cake.

"Brother Zhao, don't bite off more than you can chew. Let's do it step by step. We will do it steadily. We will let Lord Zhang see our martial arts talent! How could we not match up to a little kid!"

The men from the warrior preparation camp suppressed their anger. Zhang Yuxian had looked down on them, and his words implied that he had chosen them just to fill the numbers.

They had conceded to that, but they could not agree to Zhang Yuxian’s high appraisal of a sickly child like Yi Yun!

They thought they could lift stone rollers while practicing martial arts with Zhang Yuxian. It was their forte where they could posture and easily repress Yi Yun. It would have been fun.

But they never expected that they were required to eat a tree for their cultivation!

It was like a bolt out of the blue!

"It's just eating wood and Guanyin clay. What's there to fear? Bros, eat! We have to exceed Yi Yun. This little chick is just here to play after all."

Zhao Tiezhu grew madder and madder just thinking. If the other men did not dare eat, he would purposely eat more. He did not believe he would be unable to learn the Elephant Swallowing Technique.

At this point, Yi Yun had already eaten about a kilogram of Guanyin clay at a leisurely speed. The Guanyin clay had begun to expand in his stomach. He felt as if a lead block had been stuffed into his stomach and was falling.

Yi Yun's stomach began to hurt.

This kind of pain was not obvious in the beginning, but it became worse as time went by, to the point of causing people to die from pain.

Suddenly, Yi Yun heard a voice say, "Follow me, do these twelve moves."

Yi Yun raised his head and saw Zhang Yuxian standing in front of everyone. Zhang Yuxian eyes were on him, with an encouraging smile.

With that, Zhang Yuxian began to move.

It was hard to describe Zhang Yuxian's movements. His movements looked like a blur. It seemed like he was standing in another space-time dimension, having cut off contact from the outside world.

He demonstrated each of the moves which were extremely strange. But when the actions connected, it gave off a consistent natural feel.

Zhang Yuxian's speed varied. It contained a hard to describe charm.

These actions appeared in the irises of the people, but it was as if seeing a shadow that didn't exist. It looked like an illusion.

Dreamy…

Yi Yun suddenly thought of something, he felt like it was a dream seeing Zhang Yuxian's movements.

In a dream, the things seen, the words said were all very real and clear.

It was possible to have utmost creativity in the dreams, creating beautiful poems.

One could feel that his literary talent was excellent in the dream, but no matter what, he would never be able to remember what was written or said.

Upon waking up, everything would be forgotten.

Seeing Zhang Yuxian's movements, Yi Yun had such a strange idea.

Is the "Elephant Swallowing Technique" just a fundamental skill? Why do I find it much better than the "Dragon Rib Tiger Bone Fist"?

Yi Yun could not believe it.

At this point, Zhang Yuxian had already finished. Although he could not remember most of the moves, Yi Yun knew that Zhang Yuxian had done the entire set of movements three times!

"Alright, these are the twelve moves of the Elephant Swallowing Technique. Do it accordingly. If you can do it, you will have some small success with the Elephant Swallowing Technique, and it wouldn't be hard to digest that bit of Guanyin clay."

Wh…What?

Hearing Zhang Yuxian's words, Zhao Tiezhu and company stared wide-eyed!

What did Zhang Yuxian just do?

They only saw a blur. Zhang Yuxian's body shook, leaving some after-images, and then he was back there standing.

Some of them were thinking if they were giddy, since they had seen double.

They did not understand the situation. It was impossible for them to follow Zhang Yuxian's movements!

Upon seeing the sodden expressions of the warrior preparation camp members, Zhang Yuxian asked, "What's the problem?"

"A…A question…" Zhao Tiezhu swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said his question with difficulty. "If…If we can't learn yo…your movements, then wh…what will happen to the Guanyin clay and wood that we just ate?"

Zhao Tiezhu felt hopeless. It was too complicated. He couldn't even understand the moves. It was impossible for him to learn it in three days!

"Oh?" Zhang Yuxian frowned. He could not be bothered with Zhao Tiezhu's retarded question and said, "When you go to the bathroom, use a finger or a pick to dig, and you might survive. Remember not to drink any water."

Hearing Zhang Yuxian finish his words, Zhao Tiezhu and company suddenly felt like they had eaten a kilogram of shit, the kind that had been festering in the intestines for days.

That expression was indescribable.

True Martial World - Chapter 36: Really have to eat the tree?

"Oh? Do you not understand?" Seeing Zhao Tiezhu hesitate, Zhang Yuxian's expression turned cold.

"I..." Zhao Tiezhu was speechless. He felt that Zhang Yuxian was teasing him.

Did Lord Zhang hear his lampooning of Yi Yun, and was purposely teasing him?

But no matter how discontent he was, he did not dare to retort Zhang Yuxian.

At that moment, the members of the warrior preparation camp looked at Zhao Tiezhu with pity. They knew what words Zhao Tiezhu had previously said to Yi Yun.

They did not expect retribution to come so quickly!

Seeing Zhao Tiezhu's misfortune, the two men who had pitched in about eating a large stone roller and drinking the East River's water began to twitch.

They wished they could slap their own mouths. Why did they join Zhao Tiezhu's craziness? It was possible they would receive their just deserves in a while!

It was possible to take a bite or two from the large pagoda tree, but how could one eat the stone roller.

"Zhao Tiezhu, what are you idling for? You were ordered to eat the tree, did you not hear?"

Lian Chengyu saw Zhao Tiezhu's reluctance and reprimanded him.

Lian Chengyu did not care what the reason was. He decided that since it was commanded by Zhang Yuxian, any order from the High Ambassador had to be complied. After all, it wasn't just because of his rotten luck.

"I...I..." Zhao Tiezhu made up his mind despite his bitter face. He said, "I'll eat..."

He crouched down and broke off a piece of wood.

Zhao Tiezhu looked at this piece of wood with a tearless grief. This piece of wood could be used to build a house. I'm being treated as a termite!

Seeing Lian Chengyu's unfriendly face, Zhao Tiezhu could only resign to fate as he stuffed the piece of wood into his mouth with his eyes closed.

This taste was was an indescribable 'enjoyment'.

Zhao Tiezhu felt as if his throat was being torn apart. He had managed to swallow a piece with extreme difficulty. He looked at Zhang Yuxian helplessly. It read, "Is that enough?"

But Zhang Yuxian simply said, "Carry on!"

Zhao Tiezhu almost fainted!

He was great at lifting stone rollers, chopping trees and piling, but eating wood was a torture!

"Lord Zhang, I don't understand this mystic technique?" Lian Chengyu had originally thought that Zhang Yuxian was teasing Zhao Tiezhu, letting him understand the importance of following orders.

But now it didn't look right. It appeared as if making Zhao Tiezhu eat the tree was part of the mystic technique.

If so, then even he had to eat the wood in a while. So he asked to be sure.

Towards Lian Chengyu, Zhang Yuxian's attitude was better. He said, "This mystic technique is known as the 'Elephant Swallowing Technique'. It's a technique used to train your stomach and digestive abilities! A person who accomplishes much in the Elephant Swallowing Technique can eat as much as they want every meal. It is rumored some can even eat an entire elephant, hence its name."

The members of the warrior preparation camp had an expression on their faces. Simply stated, this Elephant Swallowing Technique was just a technique for eating.

Isn't this a gluttony skill? Can this be considered a mystic technique?

Seeing the expression on the members of the warrior preparation camp, Zhang Yuxian knew what was on their minds.

He said disdainfully, "You people have the exposure similar to an ant. How dare you evaluate the cornerstone skill of the Jing Long Wei! Simply ridiculous!"

"Training a warrior's stomach is very important! With good heart and lungs, you can endure longer, and fight harder. But being good at fighting can't be better than cultivation. With your stomach strong, it will be a benefit to cultivation!"

"For Mortal Blood warriors, you may be moving stone rollers, fighting, climbing up trees and houses. Where does all this energy come from? It's from your meals!"

"Some warriors with a well-trained stomach have astonishing appetite. They can finish a cow in three days, the amount of nutrition they absorb will naturally be more. Their muscles will grow stronger, and their strength increases naturally."

Zhang Yuxian's voice was loud but Yi Yun was moved by his speech.

Indeed, a warrior's energy output was terrific. This energy had to come from somewhere. And that energy source for Mortal Blood warriors had to come from their meals.

Meals were energy. If one could eat more, there would be natural benefits.

Consider the children of average talent that came from noble families. Most of the time, they would not be distributed desolate bone essence for their cultivation. The only method to increase their strength was by eating desolate beast meat.

Most people would be full from about four kilograms of desolate beast meat. With such an appetite, it was pointless for them; they might as well take care of the family business.

There were others who could eat a hundred kilograms of desolate beast meat and still have room for more.

All the desolate beast meat could be digested, obtaining the essence within. By working hard to cultivate, they would be able to reach a higher level.

Hence, having a good stomach allowed one an advantage!

Zhang Yuxian's foundation mystic technique was the Elephant Swallowing Technique.

It was a fundamental technique for practicing the arts!

Zhang Yuxian carried on, "The warriors from the large tribes, practice the Elephant Swallowing Technique with desolate beast meat. As you lack the materials in the Cloud Wilderness, you can't even fill your stomachs. However practicing the Elephant Swallowing Technique is still useful!"

"Having a strong stomach allows you to absorb the nutrients of anything you eat!"

"Commoners will waste a lot of the essence when they digest the five grains they eat. Most of it is excreted as feces."

"Human waste is even eaten by dogs. Maggots thrive in the feces and the dung beetles roll the dung into balls as their brooding chambers! In it, there are large amounts of nutrients that were not completely absorbed!"

"If you can't even absorb completely the five grains, don't even think about eating precious foods!"

"Without a good stomach, you won't even be able to digest precious foods!"

"After learning the Elephant Swallowing Technique, you will be able to absorb anything you eat completely! When you encounter a famine, you can eat and digest the bark on the trees or Guanyin clay 1  , giving you the nutrition to sustain life!"

"From today, your meals will consist of tree roots, tree bark and Guanyin Clay. After you are done eating, follow my method to practice your Elephant Swallowing Technique to kickstart your stomach to digest these hard-to-digest foods into nutrients!"

After hearing Zhang Yuxian's words, the members of the warrior preparation camp were speechless. They had to eat that?

They could only have wood and Guanyin clay as meals for three days!

They had originally thought that they would be able to feast on the meat Zhang Yuxian had obtained from hunting fierce beasts.

However, reality is cruel. Not only did they have no chance at eating fierce beast meat, they were not also barred from eating rice porridge.

The faces of the members of the warrior preparation camp were bitter. No one wanted to eat the tree.

They needed to at least ease into the process.

As they looked at each other, Yi Yun walked out of the group. He crouched down in front of the big pagoda tree, broke off a branch and swallowed it down, leaves and all.

Practicing the arts wasn't meant to be an enjoyment. It required suffering, frustration and the risking of their lives. noveltranslationweb.blogspot.com

It was not limited to only martial arts. Yi Yun knew that on Earth, children who practiced acrobatics, dance or Judo underwent tough training. For example, a teacher would kneel on a child's back to exert pressure. That kind of pain wasn't something an adult could endure.

In this strange world, behind the scenes of a peerless expert was indescribable effort. Eating some wood or Guanyin clay was nothing.

True Martial World - Chapter 35: Cornerstone Skill of the Army

Late in the morning, Yi Yun came to the school ground. Zhao Tiezhu and the bunch of warrior preparation camp members had arrived early with eagerness. They had moved big stone rollers and millstones over.

These boors relied on these items to train their strength. It was what they were best at, and something they were extremely proud of.

So although Zhang Yuxian had not arrived, these men from the warrior preparation camp had begun lifting the stone rollers.

There were many villagers in the vicinity. They could not stop themselves from watching such a lively scene.

"Oh, isn't this our martial arts whiz! How about it, have a go at it." Zhao Tiezhu demonstrated as he saw Yi Yun squeeze out from the crowd.

"Peng!"

With a thud, Zhao Tiezhu had thrown a 250-kilogram stone roller in front of Yi Yun.

"Do you dare to have a go at it?" said Zhao Tiezhu with a contemptuous look at Yi Yun.

In front of all these people, Zhao Tiezhu wanted to prove that it was only through sheer good luck that Yi Yun was considered a martial arts prodigy.

"Brother Zhao, you are being too hard on him. How could he lift a 250-kilogram stone roller? Come little brother, why don't you try this small rock weight."

Another man threw a hundred-kilogram rock weight at Yi Yun. He complemented Zhao Tiezhu in humiliating Yi Yun.

To them, even twenty-five kilograms would be tough for Yi Yun, not to mention a hundred kilograms. How could he be a martial art prodigy?

Yi Yun looked at them as if they were retards. He couldn't be bothered with them.

He had already proven his talent for martial arts. He did not care if they believed for he had already achieved his goal of planting the seed in their minds.

Next, he had to cultivate properly. When he showcased his extraordinary strength at the Kingdom's selection, it would be understandable.

Yi Yun did not plan on being in direct conflict with Lian Chengyu. Lian Chengyu's cultivation was one level higher than his, and he had rich fighting experience. Besides, Lian Chengyu wasn't just one person, there were others like Yao Yuan and the Patriarch, and numerous people from the upper echelon that supported Lian Chengyu.

If it really came down to it, Yi Yun felt his current strength was too weak. Besides, he had a weakness—Jiang Xiaorou.

"Lord Zhang is here!" Suddenly a man shouted in a low voice. All the members of the warrior preparation camp scattered like chickens and began lifting the stone rollers.

"Hey! Ha! Hey! Ha!"

These people had been lifting stone rollers for years, resulting in a harmonious chant.

The scene was really in full swing.

Accompanied by Lian Chengyu, Zhang Yuxian walked to the center of the square. The men's faces were flushed with excitement. They tried to display their strength to Zhang Yuxian, hoping to gain some credit. noveltranslationweb.blogspot.com

Amongst all, Zhao Tiezhu was working the hardest. The expression on his face read, "Do you see it?" This was his real strength. He could fool around with a 250-kilogram stone roller. How could he be incomparable to a small kid. Lord Zhang, take a good look, did you make a mistake just now?

Seeing this scene, Zhang Yuxian frowned. He felt his minimal amount of patience grinding low. The upper echelon of the kingdom did not know any better and wanted to hold a kingdom selection in the wilderness. And he had to take on the task to which he felt like he was teaching a pile of trash.

"You bunch of trash, stand well for me!" Zhang Yuxian suddenly roared. His sound waves exploded forward like a bomb, scaring the members of the warrior preparation camp. They all released their grip.

"Peng! Peng! Peng!"

Many of them nearly broke their backs by dropping the stone roller on the ground.

Zhao Tiezhu and the rest were a little dumbfounded. They did not expect the originally majestic but amiable Zhang Yuxian to change totally.

In fact, the Jing Long Wei was an army. As an instructor in a unit, it was common to beat a person to death. Zhang Yuxian was being moderate because he could not be bothered to stoop down to the level of junk. Beating these trash who had brain problems was a sully to his reputation as a Jing Long Wei member.

"You bunch of idiots! I will only be teaching you three days of skills during this visit to the Lian tribal clan! I had originally wanted to teach you fist skills or movement skills, but from your actions and ignorance, I doubt I can finish teaching you a skill."

Zhang Yuxian swept the crowd with his sharp gaze. It felt like a knife had scraped past their face, itching their facial skin!

Zhang Yuxian turned and walked to a corner of the school field. In that corner stood a tall and thick tree.

This was the "large pagoda tree" Zhao Tiezhu had promised to eat when he mocked Yi Yun.

Zhang Yuxian stood in front of the large pagoda tree. He looked up and suddenly sent a chop towards the tree.

"Ka-cha!"

A crisp sound erupted. This large pagoda tree had been cut down with Zhang Yuxian's hand chop!

Wow–

The men from the warrior preparation camp gasped at seeing this scene. The surrounding villagers were shocked and couldn't stop grinning. They had never seen such a terrific display of skills.

Lian Chengyu's eyebrows jumped. If it was a kick, he would have been able to do the same. But a casual hand chop to bring down a large pagoda tree as if he was cutting grass was a shocking display of power.

Zhang Yuxian dragged the large pagoda tree that weighed thousands of kilograms as if it was a wooden stick. He threw the big tree before the members of the warrior preparation camp.

As the people looked at the tree, they recalled Zhang Yuxian's words. Zhang Yuxian had said that he will teach them one skill. Was it this hand chop?

Thinking of this, many of them couldn't help but anticipate it. This move was too cool. Even if they couldn't match Zhang Yuxian, just a tenth of the power would be extremely cool!

"Today the skill I'm teaching you is neither a technique not a combat skill. It's a mystic technique! It's a cornerstone skill of the Jing Long Wei. It’s priceless! If you can learn it well, the path of martial arts will be smoother for you, and it will greatly increase your body's strength. It will also increase your survivability!"

Zhang Yuxian's words aroused the curiosity of the people. Not only did it help in their martial arts, it also increased their strength, and even survivability. It was a cornerstone skill of the Jing Long Wei!

This mystic technique sure sounded great. What was it?

"You!" Zhang Yuxian pointed at Zhao Tiezhu, "Step forward!"

Zhao Tiezhu intelligently stepped forward in front of Zhang Yuxian. He was a part nervous and a part excited.

"This mystic technique will be demonstrated by you." Zhao Tiezhu was delighted hearing those words; a good outcome had fallen into his lap. noveltranslationweb.blogspot.com

Hahaha.

Zhao Tiezhu laughed in his heart thrice. Zhang Yuxian was going to personally impart the mystic technique to himself. Would he not learn it well?

Although Lord Zhang did not say anything, he had appreciated me after all. It was expected, I am one of the strongest in the entire warrior preparation camp.

With today's practice target being that large pagoda tree, I would at least be able to cut down a large piece of bark with one chop!

As Zhao Tiezhu was itching to try, Zhang Yuxian split the large pagoda tree apart with two chops!

Following that, Zhang Yuxian pointed at the large pagoda tree and said to Zhao Tiezhu, "You! Eat this large pagoda tree!"

With those words, an excited Zhao Tiezhu nearly tumbled, planting his head into the ground.

What? What the f**k?

Eat this large pagoda tree.

Eat the large pagoda tree.

Eat the tree.

Eat…

The words rang in Zhao Tiezhu's head. He couldn't believe Zhang Yuxian.

I couldn't have heard it wrongly!

True Martial World - Chapter 34: Jiang Xiaorou’s warning

Yi Yun and Jiang Xiaorou returned home almost under the escort of all the villagers.

To the Lian tribal clan, it was big news that Yi Yun had passed the examination.

A poor kid had been chosen by a High Ambassador and he would be given martial art pointers. He could even participate in the kingdom selection in the future!

This could not be described by any auspicious omen.

"You say, I watched this Yun-kiddo grow up. I never felt anything special about him. He's really a martial arts prodigy? And to contest in the kingdom selection. Is that true?"

"Since it was said by the High Ambassador himself, there has to be some truth in it. But I doubt he would have enough time to prepare for the Kingdom's selection. Even if Yi Yun was a prodigy, he would have absolutely no hope."

To the villagers of the Lian tribal clan, they knew that martial arts wasn't something that could be accomplished overnight. The Kingdom's selection was an elite selection process. He was one lucky fuck to catch Zhang Yuxian's fancy.

It would be akin to daydreaming for him to pass the Kingdom's selection.

No matter how clever a child was, giving a child, who had never read before a scholarly collection was pointless. It would never allow him to pass the exam to become a scholar in two months.

It was the same logic with participating in the kingdom selection. The Lian tribal clan had come to a consensus, which no one doubted.

With a lot of effort, Jiang Xiaorou finally brought Yi Yun home.

Despite Jiang Xiaorou closing the courtyard's door, many people had climbed up the walls to look into Jiang Xiaorou's house. As the mud walls in the villagers were short, a kid could easily climb up the walls.

As a result, a row of people were slumped over Jiang Xiaorou's house walls. The mud walls began to sink, as if they were about to collapse.

Jiang Xiaorou did not bother about that as mixed thoughts plagued her. She was proud of her brother, but it was also mixed with the fear and confusion of the unknown future.

Jiang Xiaorou knew that Yi Yun only had talent and that he lacked strength.

The villagers might have mixed it up, thinking that Yi Yun had undergone a life changing event. Jiang Xiaorou knew that in the vast wilderness, strength was of utmost importance. A person with talent had to let the strength grow to be of use, or it would be useless!

"Yun-er, Lord Zhang said you had a Seamless Body, do you know what a Seamless Body is?" Jiang Xiaorou held onto Yi Yun's hands as she sat by the bedside.

Yi Yun shook his head, "Sis Xiaorou, could it be that you know what it is?"

"Yes...I've heard a bit about this. A Seamless Body means that a body does not have any energy 'leaks'. Such a constitution is extremely suitable for practicing martial arts."

"A Seamless Body also has levels. The lowest level is Mortal Blood Seamless Body. One can be without leaks while in the Mortal Blood realm, but will not be able to do so upon reaching Purple Blood. A Purple Blood Seamless Body would not have any leaks in both the Mortal Blood and Purple Blood realm. But at higher levels, they will not be able to do so...I don't know what you are at the moment."

Yi Yun was surprised at Jiang Xiaorou's words, "Sis Xiaorou, how do you know so much?"

Jiang Xiaorou touched Yi Yun's head saying, "When I was young, I had my talent tested by my family, so I had learned something from there."

"The steps to testing a Seamless Body were extremely troublesome. That Lord Zhang did not have any array set up, and his cultivation was limited, so he could only test you crudely..."

"A person with Seamless Body is highly appreciated in a clan. But if you were only a Mortal Blood Seamless Body, then the appreciation will be limited. However the higher levels of Seamless Body are extremely rare. I remember on the day of the test, a cousin of mine named Jiang Mingzhe was a Sage level Seamless Body. The entire family was overjoyed, and they celebrated for days. There were many VIPs who came during those days, as for the details, I don't really remember anymore..." Yi Yun was stunned after hearing Jiang Xiaorou's words. noveltranslationweb.blogspot.com

Sage level Seamless Body?

Although he didn't know what level that was, it sounded really powerful.

And...to be able to produce such a constitution in the family, what sort of clan did Jiang Xiaorou belong to?

Yi Yun knew that Jiang Xiaorou came from a rich background. She was taught how to write from a young age. She had read widely, so she knew about cultivation. It was impossible for children that came from small families.

Having been born in such a clan, how did she inexplicably find herself seeking refuge in the vast wilderness, to be eventually adopted by his own family?

Yi Yun could not help but ask, "Sis Xiaorou, what sort of family clan was yours?"

Jiang Xiaorou wrinkled her little brow as she thought for a while before shaking her head saying, "I don't remember anymore. I only remember it was a big family clan. Then I remember...that I began reading and writing at a young age. I remember the courtyard I stayed in when I was young. As for the events after that, I don't remember anymore even if I tried."

Jiang Xiaorou's words piqued Yi Yun’s curiosity. Did Jiang Xiaorou's family experience some huge transition?

Could such a brilliant family have been destroyed, causing the clan to disperse?

Dynasties rose and fell, families grew and were destroyed. In this world, nothing was eternal.

"Yun-er, this set of clothes was made by me. See if it fits." As Jiang Xiaorou said that, she took out a set of newly sewn clothes from some old baggage.

It was made of blue fabric. It was very rough as people from the Cloud Wilderness usually wore clothes made of linen. They were tough and resistant.

Yi Yun was surprised. The family was so poor that locks were not needed. It was not an exaggeration but a fact. Poor families like Yi Yun's did not have locks. In the Cloud Wilderness, locks made of metal were expensive. A poor family's entire fortune was not worth more than the price of a lock.

Despite such a situation, Jiang Xiaorou had been able to obtain a piece of cloth to make him new clothes?

Yi Yun received the clothes with mixed feelings. Although the cloth was rough, it was elegant and neat. The ends of the cloth were studded with tiny pins. This was sewn one stitch at a time by Jiang Xiaorou.

Honestly, the texture of the clothes was not good, in fact, it was pretty bad. Compared to the cotton and silk clothes Yi Yun had experienced on Earth, it was a difference like night and day.

But such a piece of clothing made Yi Yun feel extremely special.

"Quick, put it on. I wanted to give it to you for the new year, but you will be practicing martial arts today in the school yard. It's a joyous occasion, so you should wear something nice. Others won’t be able to mock you that way." Jiang Xiaorou's words formed a lump in Yi Yun’s throat. He took a deep breath before taking off his tattered clothes. He then changed into the new set of clothes.

As the saying goes—clothes make a man just as a saddle makes a horse. Jiang Xiaorou's clothes were extremely fitting. Although it was made of linen, it matched well with Yi Yun's growing body and the aura he obtained after breaking through into the Meridian realm. It was eye-catching.

Jiang Xiaorou pulled Yi Yun in front of her and looked all over him, feeling extremely pleased.

But she recalled something, saying, "Yun-er, you may have been appreciated by Lord Zhang, but Lord Zhang will leave in three days. He isn't related to us, so it will be hard for him to take care of us, so in the future, we must rely on ourselves."

"Lord Zhang may say you have a lot of talent, but talent is not enough for protection. You might face a disaster before you mature. It's because an elephant has tusks, while a rhinoceros has a horn that they are hunted. When you are practicing under Lord Zhang, don't be too excessive. Keeping things low key and staying cautious is the right way to go."

"Especially people like Lian Chengyu who are extremely narrow minded. He will not spare you if you steal his limelight!"

"When Lord Zhang is here, Lian Chengyu would not dare try anything, but what would happen after Lord Zhang leaves? Lord Zhang wouldn't know what sort of person Lian Chengyu is, nor would he know the ongoings in the Lian tribal clan and Lian Chengyu’s hostility towards you. Lord Zhang likely has his hands tied with some matters, and he came here out of convenience for the Kingdom's selection preliminaries. He will likely not put too much thought into it, and wouldn't meddle with the internal affairs of the Lian tribal clan. Hoping for him to protect you will be extremely difficult. Do you understand?" Jiang Xiaorou said a lot in one breath, astonishing Yi Yun.

Jiang Xiaorou's thoughts were prudent. Her understanding of people and the world exceeded girls her age.

A normal girl would have fainted upon hearing how her brother had been appreciated by a High Ambassador. She wouldn't stay at home to give him advice, but run off to the neighbors to brag about her capable brother.

"Sis Xiaorou, I understand everything that you said," Yi Yun held Jiang Xiaorou's hand. "Don't worry, if I wasn't confident in dealing with Lian Chengyu, I would never have stepped forward today."

Yi Yun had carefully weighed his choices before registering.

Without question, Yi Yun had to pass the preliminaries hosted by Zhang Yuxian. Not only was it a required ticket for entry to the Kingdom's selection, but to be able to be imparted skills from Zhang Yuxian made Yi Yun extremely interested.

Previously, Yi Yun had stolen lessons from Yao Yuan, so the effectiveness was largely reduced. Yi Yun had to step forward when Zhang Yuxian was making his selection.

However, Yi Yun could only reveal his talent, but not reveal his actual training in front of Zhang Yuxian.

Zhang Yuxian did not know Yi Yun's trump card. Neither did Lian Chengyu know. Yi Yun was a weak kid a few days before, without herbs or people imparting skills to him, it was preposterous that he reached the Meridian realm out of nowhere!

If Lian Chengyu informed Zhang Yuxian of this, Zhang Yuxian would feel suspicious. A proud person like him could not even have such a fast cultivation speed even if he ate all sorts of precious herbs daily.

At that time, Zhang Yuxian might even suspect that he had a secret!

Although Zhang Yuxian seemed like an upright person, it was best to err on the side of caution. An upright person could be tempted by the huge treasure in front of him to do horrible acts. Yi Yun definitely could not expose the Purple Crystal.

True Martial World - Chapter 33: Eating a Large Pagoda Tree

"How old are you?" Zhang Yuxian looked at the first person—a short but stocky man. The members of the warrior preparation were both stout and dark-skinned.

This man had a considerable status in the Lian tribal clan. Even among the warrior preparation camp, he was one of the strongest. He felt honored being the first to be examined by Zhang Yuxian and was dying of anticipation.

"Lord, Me is twenty-six this year. Me can raise a 200-kilogram stone roller. Me isn’t bullshitting. Me can lift such a heavy rock four to five times like a toy. If the Lord wants to follow Me, Me will lift it to show you!" This man introduced himself confidently. Zhang Yuxian did not take notice of his boastful words and silently placed his hand on the man's shoulder. He began to inject Yuan Qi in.

One who had "Opened Heaven's Eyes" could see a person's muscles, meridians, bones with a glance, and from there determine if a person was suitable for martial arts.

However, Zhang Yuxian had not reached such a realm. So his selection method was to inject a person with a little Yuan Qi, and see how the person's body would absorb it.

Those who could absorb it well had a suitable constitution. Those who had poor absorption had an unsuitable constitution.

After a short venture, Zhang Yuxian was speechless. Less than 10% of the amount of Yuan Qi he had injected was absorbed by the man. It was about 7-8%.

This talent was so miserable that he could hardly bear looking at him.

"Do you think you can defeat your enemies just because you can lift rocks?" Zhang Yuxian stared into the man's eyes saying, "Your constitution is extremely common, it's not suitable for martial arts."

Zhang Yuxian's words were like a bucket of cold water that splashed on the man's face. The boastful man was confused.

Not suitable for martial arts? How could Me not be suitable for martial arts?

That man felt extremely disgruntled, but coming into contact with Zhang Yuxian's cold stare, he faded backward like a defeated cockfighter.

Me has always been stronger than my peers since a young age. Me could lift a 200-kilograms stone roller when Me grew up. If Me wasn't suited for martial arts, would Me be able to lift the heavy stone roller?

These thoughts swirled in the man's mind. He had been practicing martial arts for years, and to be told by Zhang Yuxian that he was unsuitable for martial arts, negated all his previous efforts.

Of course, he only kept that in his mind for he did not have the courage to contradict Zhang Yuxian.

"Stay here for now," Zhang Yuxian did not plan on sending him packing immediately but kept him there.

It was because Zhang Yuxian knew that he had to be mentally prepared when making a selection in the wilderness. It was hard for these people to become an expert under such poor environments. noveltranslationweb.blogspot.com

A tribe without any experts would continue on from one generation to the next, and it was very unlikely a prodigy could transpire out of that.

But very quickly, Zhang Yuxian realized that he had underestimated the extent of the poor quality of men in the vast wilderness. He began to understand that there was no such thing as worst, only worse.

As he went down the line, the boastful man from before was actually considered not bad. As he reached the end, most of them could only absorb 6-7%. There were even some who could only absorb 4-5%.

It was a terrible sight.

Zhang Yuxian could only lower his standards. He finally decided that all those who could absorb more than 6% could stay behind.

"You…I guess you barely qualify." Zhang Yuxian looked helplessly at a stout man, and could only describe it with the word "barely".

As he probed down the line, his elimination rate was at about 50%.

With about forty warrior preparation camp members, there were only about twenty who qualified under such standards, clearly missing the thirty people target.

"Lord Zhang sure is strict. Those soldiers from the warrior preparation camp are so strong, but half of them were eliminated."

"Thankfully we didn't go up, or it will be so humiliating.

A few men who had previously wanted to make an attempt after seeing Yi Yun signing up felt lucky.

Under such elimination practices, only a very gifted person could be selected.

And they could tell that Zhang Yuxian was not really satisfied with the people who had passed. It was only because there was no one else to choose that he had to pick a general among the dwarves.

Upon understanding this, the crowd began to admire Lian Chengyu even more.

Only Lian Chengyu won the praise of "extremely not bad".

"Yun-er…" said Jiang Xiaorou as she clasped her tiny hands. She looked at Yi Yun worriedly. She knew that Yi Yun had been secretly practicing martial arts the past few days, but she did not think that his ability would rise above the members of the warrior preparation camp in such a short period of time.

If Zhang Yuxian would not even pick those men from the warrior preparation camp, how would he choose Yi Yun?

Jiang Xiaorou was still standing in the middle of the square. Her position was extremely awkward. The crowd's eyes were on her. Her brother was among the preliminary candidates. Jiang Xiaorou could neither retreat nor could she stand there.

Yi Yun noticed Jiang Xiaorou's worried eyes and moved his mouth slightly, "Sis Xiaorou, don't worry. I'll be fine."

Zhao Tiezhu burst out into laughter after hearing Yi Yun's words, "You f**king bullshitter, I can pick any stray dog, and it would be stronger than you. Lord Zhang would rather choose a dog as a disciple rather than you!"

Facing the cynical mockery, Yi Yun could only stare coldly into Zhao Tiezhu's eyes saying, "You should just care for yourself. You don't need to worry about me."

"Hey! This kid sure got cocky! To think he used those words against me! If you were to be chosen today, I will uproot that large pagoda tree by the village entrance and eat it, leaves and roots all." Zhao Tiezhu burst into laughter as he said that. At the same time, another man standing beside Zhao Tiezhu, another warrior preparation camp member echoed mockingly, "Then I'll eat that big stone roller by the village entrance!"

"Haha, you guys sure are humorous. I'll join you guys by drinking all the water in the East River."

The men from the warrior preparation camp began to turn rowdy.

Yi Yun looked helplessly at these men and shrugged as he said, "Whatever."

At that time, Zhang Yuxian had already reached Zhao Tiezhu. Zhao Tiezhu wiped off his smile and stood up straight.

Zhang Yuxian pressed on Zhao Tiezhu's body and said "Twenty-eight?"

Zhao Tiezhu replied hastily, "The Lord sure has great eyes, I am indeed twenty-eight years old."

Zhang Yuxian frowned for Zhao Tiezhu was also not satisfactory to him. But considering that the numbers were too few, he reluctantly said, "I guess you meet the minimum requirements. I will keep you to make up the numbers."

Zhang Yuxian began to reach the conclusion that having a kingdom selection in the Cloud Wilderness was a pointless endeavor.

Zhao Tiezhu heaved a sigh of relief, and shook his fists, "That's great! I passed!"

He was very excited and began making a spectacle of himself in front of Yi Yun. Although he had barely met the minimum standard, he had still passed!

He was about to practice martial arts with the High Ambassador. When he had a meteoric rise, he could marry multiple wives and walk towards the peak of humanity. It was not something a weakling like Yi Yun could compare with.

At that moment, Zhang Yuxian was standing in front of Yi Yun.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Yi Yun.

Lian Chengyu sneered.

I want to see how you are going to get out of this!

That thought had bubbled into his mind, but he pricked it immediately. Yi Yun was a mentally handicapped kid, so Yi Yun would be oblivious even if he was humiliated.

A mentally handicapped kid did not need to wrap things up. Causing an uproar was common. He might even mistake the jeers as compliments.

Lian Chengyu was rendered speechless when his train of thought reached this conclusion. It was akin to the quote that one should never argue with an idiot, they will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.

"Yi Yun, right?" said Zhang Yuxian as he stood in front of Yi Yun.

"Yes, milord!"

"Have you never really practiced martial arts?"

Zhang Yuxian gave a wistful glance at Yi Yun. He was only at the Purple Blood realm, and could not tell Yi Yun's level, but he had felt a hidden power within Yi Yun's body.

To be talented yet self-effacing!

"I've trained a bit," Yi Yun chose his words wisely. Training by stealing lessons was also considered training.

"Lord, this kid is lying!" Zhao Tiezhu began to snitch, "I can attest to the fact that this kid has never practiced martial arts!"

Yi Yun looked at Zhao Tiezhu as if he was a retard, "How would you know if I practiced martial arts? I've passed the tribal grounds multiple times. I've also practiced some of what Instructor Yao had taught."

Yi Yun openly admitted that he had practiced martial arts. This was to prepare for the day when he had to reveal his real strength. It would make people think he was a prodigy, lowering the risk of the discovery of the Purple Crystal.

If not, he would be unable to explain where he got all his skills from.

"You secretly learned martial arts?" Hearing Yi Yun's words, not only did Zhao Tiezhu laugh, even the other members of the warrior preparation camp were trying hard to hold it in. They did not dare be audacious in front of Zhang Yuxian.

At this point, no one pursued his crime of secretly learning martial arts by watching lessons covertly.

A member of the warrior preparation camp said, "Instructor Yao's "Dragon Rib Tiger Bone Fist" is so profound. We couldn't even grasp it by following his every move. A dull kid like you without any strength managed to learn it secretly? What could you have learned!?"

Yi Yun could not be bothered to retort. He just wanted to leave the impression that he had practiced martial arts. It could be used to cushion the blow when he eventually revealed his true strength.

Zhang Yuxian pondered as he placed his hand on Yi Yun's shoulder, slowly injecting his Yuan Qi.

Zhang Yuxian had not expected much. He had appreciated Yi Yun for his bravery for it was rare for a kid to step forward under such circumstances. Of course, appreciation was one thing, but the practice of martial arts was not only about bravery.

The Yuan Qi that Zhang Yuxian released into Yi Yun's body completed a circulation, and as he waited expectantly to see how much was absorbed when he received the Yuan Qi…

He realized that the Yuan Qi he injected had disappeared without a trace!

"This is…" Zhang Yuxian stared in surprise.

How could this be?

His brows began to twitch as he refused to believe the situation he was in. He injected another surge of Yuan Qi into Yi Yun's body.

This burst of Yuan Qi entered Yi Yun's meridians as if they had entered a black hole. The moment it passed Yi Yun's heart, it was absorbed by the Purple Crystal, with not a drop left.

"You…" Zhang Yuxian was shocked. The Yuan Qi that he had injected into Yi Yun had been absorbed completely!?

Seeing Zhang Yuxian's eyebrows jumping, Lian Chengyu did not know if Zhang Yuxian had been angered. He walked to Zhang Yuxian's side with a sullen expression.

Lian Chengyu's thoughts revolved around the examination of the Lian tribal clan that Zhang Yuxian was conducting, but alas, an eccentric flower like Yi Yun had messed it up.

Although he treated the lives of the Lian tribal clan as dirt, he did not want the Lian tribal clan shamed in front of outsiders. It would result in others thinking lowly of him.

Lian Chengyu reluctantly smiled, "Lord High Ambassador, the banquet has been prepared. Shall we eat first?"

Lian Chengyu had wanted to divert Zhang Yuxian's attention, wishing that he could cover up the incident with Yi Yun. But suddenly, Zhang Yuxian grasped Yi Yun's shoulders with both hands.

He measured up Yi Yun carefully.

A poor tribe in the vast wilderness could produce such a talent?

Besides, this youth in front of him had the courage and commitment towards martial arts. He had proven himself by standing up in public.

Besides that, the youth had a hidden amount of power. It had sparked Zhang Yuxian's interest.

"You are good, very good! I never thought that I would find such an unpolished gem in a small tribe in the vast wilderness." Zhang Yuxian was not stingy with his compliments. His voice projected far and loud.

Ah?

Beside Yi Yun was Zhao Tiezhu, who was ready to mock Yi Yun when he failed to qualify. He suddenly widened his eyes like a rooster being grabbed by the neck.

What did Lord Zhang just say? Did I hear wrong!?

Lian Chengyu who was gearing to lead Zhang Yuxian for a meal stood dumbfounded. He was not sure how to react momentarily.

The periphery of the crowd who could not see the situation did not know what had happened. Their interest was piqued after hearing Zhang Yuxian compliment, someone.

"Who? Who received such a high compliment?" People in the periphery started jumping to catch a glimpse.

"You have a ‘Seamless Body’. Even a low-grade Purple Blood Seamless Body is extremely good! You will be appreciated even in a large tribe!"

Seamless Body?

The people, including Lian Chengyu, did not know the term Seamless Body.

But this did not prevent them from understanding Zhang Yuxian's attitude.

"Very good", "unpolished gem", "appreciated even in a large tribe"!

Even Zhao Tiezhu with his feeble mental processes knew that Zhang Yuxian's compliments for Yi Yun had exceeded Lian Chengyu’s!

How could this be? Zhao Tiezhu felt like he had eaten a pound of shit, leaving a spectacular expression on his face.

The other warrior preparation camp members were all dumbfounded as their mouths gaped.

"Brother, he…" Jiang Xiaorou's eyes were watery. She was the only person who had wished that Yi Yun would amount to something. However, happiness had come too suddenly that even she had trouble believing it.

She had seen Yi Yun’s growth since he was wearing diapers. She had never felt that Yi Yun was talented. Was what Zhang Yuxian had said true?

Jiang Xiaorou felt something iffy. Even Lian Chengyu's evaluation was weaker than her brother's?

"This kid is a martial arts prodigy? How could this be!" Lian Chengyu clenched his fists. He could not accept it.

Zhang Yuxian had favored Yi Yun even more!

Lian Chengyu was always the number one prodigy in the Lian tribal clan, how could he tolerate someone exceeding him?

Besides, the other person was a young slave!

"This…Lord High Ambassador, you say that this kid is a martial arts prodigy? Could you have made a mistake…" Everyone doubted Zhang Yuxian's words but only Zhao Tiezhu could not keep it in and asked dumbly.

Zhang Yuxian's face turned solemn, and said coldly, "You doubt me?"

"Uh…" Zhao Tiezhu was shocked. He shook his head vigorously, "No, I dare not, I wouldn't dare."

Zhang Yuxian gave Zhao Tiezhu a cold glance as he said, "I have limited time. In an hour, those who were selected, gather around here. I will impart martial arts to you for three days!"

With that said, Zhang Yuxian left. He had no interest in the welcoming banquet.

Zhao Tiezhu, Lian Chengyu, and the rest of the warrior preparation camp were staring with utter bewilderment.

They looked at Yi Yun as if he was a freak. They could not accept the fact!

Yi Yun had passed the preliminaries. He had even received extremely high compliments. How could that be?

"Yun-er!" Jiang Xiaorou caught notice of the glares Lian Chengyu and company were shooting at Yi Yun. She rushed forward to hold Yi Yun against her side as she worried about him.

"Me don't believe it! Me don't believe it! That Lord said Me was not suitable for martial arts. He even said this kid was some gem or what body. Me can lift a 200-kilogram stone roller. That kid doesn't seem like he can even hold a chicken firmly. Me can't be compared with him?" shouted the short stout man.

His words were met with an astounding response.

"I can't compare with that kid? I don't believe it!"

"This kid sure is one lucky fuck!"

The warrior preparation camp members were originally filled with confidence, but it had been wiped clean during Zhang Yuxian's preliminary examination. Yi Yun was the only one who had received high compliments.

They were definitely disgruntled.

At this point, Zhao Tiezhu walked towards Yi Yun, saying, "Kiddo, don't be too proud. I'm not sure what was wrong with Lord Zhang. You think we don't know? You have been ill-ridden since you were young, like a little chick. You can't even lift a twenty-five-kilogram rock weight. You almost died picking herbs. Such a person is a martial arts prodigy? My foot!"

Zhao Tiezhu was not wrong. The children of Yi Yun's age could lift twenty-five-kilogram rock weights, and Yi Yun could barely lift fifteen kilograms a few months ago.

Yi Yun himself did not expect a "Seamless Body" assessment.

Through the ownership of the Purple Crystal, and combined with his keen senses from entering the Meridians realm, Yi Yun had already guessed what Zhang Yuxian was doing. He had injected energy to test a person's talent.

This energy was absorbed by the Purple Crystal, resulting in the misunderstanding by Zhang Yuxian.

To be honest, his body's innate talent was nothing out of the ordinary. There was definitely no Seamless Body.

A real martial artist prodigy would not have such a poor constitution like Yi Yun. If a body had a high affinity with energy, it would absorb energy from the surroundings in an invisible manner, causing the body to grow strong.

How could one expect a starving child that grew up in the vast wilderness be a prodigy?

Of course, although Yi Yun understood it, he decided to accept his title as a prodigy.

It was a good way to explain himself when he revealed his strength.

With that, Yi Yun looked at Zhao Tiezhu with a faint smile.

Seeing Yi Yun glancing over at him, Zhao Tiezhu stared back with a look of disdain, "What? Disgruntled? If you are disgruntled, you can fight with me. I'll squash you with a finger. I'll let you win if I use an additional piece of hair!"

Zhao Tiezhu was also fuming; he wanted to teach Yi Yun a lesson.

But Yi Yun replied calmly, "Uncle Tiezhu, have you finished eating the large pagoda tree?"

A critical hit with one sentence!

The mocking words Zhao Tiezhu had planned on saying got stuck in his throat. He remained silent as his eyes stared like a dead fish on the ground.

"And that warrior from before…have you eaten that stone roller?"

"Oh…and there was another one who wanted to drink up the East River's water."

Yi Yun said in a bemused manner. His body was small and thin while his face was still boyish. It did not seem capable of causing any harm, but every word he said embedded within itself an extreme amount of destructive power.

The members of the warrior preparation camp quickly disavowed their statements. No one took responsibility for what they had said. The words they had previously said in front of the entire tribe had smacked them right back in the face.

"My fellow warriors, I shall head back to take a rest. I need to make preparations for practicing martial arts with Lord Zhang. Also, Young Master Lian, since I need to practice martial arts, can I be given time off from the refining of the desolate bone?" Yi Yun asked earnestly. Lian Chengyu's face was utterly black. How could he dare not to?

"Of course. Practicing martial arts is more important." As Lian Chengyu said that, he felt his intestines twist.