A few days later, in the inner courtyard of the Golden Furnace Martial Arts Hall, on the practice field.
"Huh..."
Zhang Yao sat cross-legged, slowly opened his eyes, and revealed a trace of relief.
"It's finally complete."
With a thought, the attribute panel appeared out of thin air:
Name: Zhang Yao
Talent: Primordial Energy Spring, Essence Qi Transformation
Martial Arts: Taiyi Hun Heaven Skill (35%), Golden Furnace Technique (38%)
Martial Techniques: Great Vajra Fist (21%)
Skills: Herb Mastery (50%), Alchemy (14%)
"It actually halved directly..."
Zhang Yao clicked his tongue in amazement.
A couple of days ago, he had a sudden idea to try to change the panel's divisions with his mind, and to his surprise, it worked.
After some modifications, the panel was divided into martial arts, martial techniques, and life skills, making it easier for him to view them more intuitively.
"The originally great success Taiyi Pile Skill, after switching to Taiyi Hun Heaven Skill, actually regressed to a small success."
Zhang Yao sighed, "The road ahead is long. I don't know when I'll reach the peak."
"Fortunately, the one thing I don't lack is time..."
......
A year later.
Meng Zongwei and Zhou Hongxiu were formally married.
Meng Zongwei was an orphan, raised by Zhou An from a young age. Their bond was deep, akin to that of a father and son.
The childhood sweethearts' union naturally received everyone's blessings.
Zhang Yao also dipped into his little savings and presented a generous gift, joining his fellow disciples in a bout of drunken revelry.
At their wedding banquet, he met his master's only son, Zhou Changgui, for the first time. The latter left Changping City in a hurry just a couple of days after the wedding.
Zhou An tried to persuade him to stay, but Zhou Changgui was adamant, leading to a huge argument between father and son. It was also the first time Zhang Yao saw Zhou An so furious.
...
The second year.
Meng Zongwei and Zhou Hongxiu's child was born—a daughter.
The first-time parents were clumsy and often made amusing mistakes, and sometimes Zhang Yao had to help soothe the child.
Zhou An was very happy, gratified in his old age, but couldn't escape the increasingly apparent aftereffects of declining vitality, seeming to age several years in just one.
Second senior brother Xiao Yao inherited the family business, becoming the new head of the Xiao Family.
Among the senior brothers, his relationship with Zhou An was relatively shallow. When Zhou An took him in, it was more of an alliance of interests to secure support from the Xiao Family and establish a foothold in the city.
But over the years, their relationship had grown, although after he became the family patriarch, Xiao Yao visited the martial arts hall less frequently.
He had once suggested for Zhang Yannian and Zhang Yao to join him, but both declined, and he didn't push further.
...
The third year.
A disaster struck in the north, and tens of thousands of rebel soldiers moved south to attack the city, spreading panic throughout Changping City.
This army was the largest in ten years, far exceeding any previous refugee or rebel army, creating widespread fear.
Yet Zhang Yao noticed that the prominent figures and powerful martial artists in Changping City were not very worried.
On the day the rebel army attacked, Zhang Yao stood on the city gate tower with his master, witnessing the miraculous sight of three thousand breaking through thirty thousand.
This miracle occurred not because of the elite nature of Changping City's three thousand government soldiers but because of one person.
The elderly patriarch of the Wang Clan, the Governor, took action, dominating the battlefield. He was unmatched, slaying generals among thousands like picking items out of a pocket, thoroughly destroying the rebel command and morale, allowing the three thousand soldiers to easily defeat them.
It was Zhang Yao's first time witnessing the power of a Grandmaster, and he was deeply impressed, admiring it greatly.
...
The fourth year.
Zhou An's aging became more pronounced, showing signs of coughing and shortness of breath, with his strength markedly diminished.
Many matters of the Golden Furnace Martial Arts Hall were gradually handed over to the eldest disciple, Meng Zongwei, while Zhou Hongxiu, who took care of the child alone, frequently quarreled with him.
This year, Zhang Yannian left the Golden Furnace Martial Arts Hall.
He was the son of a close friend of Zhou An, who died in a vendetta. Zhou An adopted and personally taught Zhang Yannian.
Zhang Yannian left Changping City, reportedly returning to his father's hometown, communicating only occasionally through letters.
Zhang Yao also left.
He, through Zhou An's connections, became a Martial Arts Tributor at the Governor's Mansion, with an annual salary of one hundred and twenty taels, living decently.
...
Time flows like water, quietly passing by.
In the blink of an eye, seven years had passed since the battle at Qingping Palace.
Golden Furnace Martial Arts Hall, inner courtyard.
"Cough, cough..."
Zhou An, hair and beard graying, leaned on the bed, face pale and weak, coughing continuously.
His face and hands bore prominent age spots, his skin dry and yellowed, no longer showing the strength of his youth, resembling an ordinary ailing old man.
"Father, time for your medicine."
Already a grown woman, Zhou Hongxiu carefully handed over a bowl of medicine.
Zhou An managed to drink most of it before shaking his head, refusing to continue.
Zhou Hongxiu sighed, but didn't force him. Just as she put down the bowl, a commotion, and noise came from outside.
"...They're here again!"
She frowned, with an inextinguishable disdain in her eyes.
"Father, you rest first, I'll go take a look."
She had just stood up when Zhou An grabbed her. Instinctively, she tried to break free but couldn't.
Zhou Hongxiu, surprised, turned back to see Zhou An's eyes no longer clouded, a flash of brightness in them, his voice hoarse, "I've said it before, as long as Zong Wei's Golden Furnace Technique hasn't reached great success, it's always a fatal flaw."
"Relying on others is never as good as relying on yourself. The protection of the martial arts community is limited and cannot always accommodate us."
Zhou Hongxiu's expression became a bit ugly, and she spoke softly, "Father, it took you thirty years to perfect the Golden Furnace Technique back then."
"How old is Zong Wei now? His talent isn't bad. In two or three years, it will be perfected..."
Zhou An shook his head, his voice raspy, "With others already knocking on our door, how could they possibly give him two or three more years?"
In the martial arts world, competition is fierce.
There is no shortage of martial arts experts in the world. Places like Changping City, which stands stable amidst the chaos, are very appealing.
But over the years, Changping City still only has five martial arts halls and three escort agencies, a result of deliberate control. Foreign martial artists who rashly enter often don't fare well.
If it were a few years ago, with Zhou An's strength still intact and his influence in the martial arts community, no one would dare to provoke or challenge them casually.
Unfortunately, in recent years, his vitality has waned, his strength barely a tenth of what it once was, relying on the eldest disciple, Meng Zongwei, to barely keep things together at the martial arts hall.
But a martial artist at the Great Success level alone clearly couldn't sustain a business valued at over a thousand taels a year. Too many coveted it, and past goodwill couldn't withstand endless erosion.
This time—
The foreign martial artist somehow established a connection with the Thunderstorm Martial Arts Hall, gaining Zhao Donglai's acquiescence.
Thus, the other martial arts halls dared not interfere, and Meng Zongwei's repeated endurance of provocations and excuses to avoid duels had already severely affected the martial arts hall's business.
If this continues, the collapse and replacement of the Golden Furnace Martial Arts Hall is only a matter of time.
"Go find A Yao."
Zhou An, gripping Zhou Hongxiu's wrist, earnestly instructed, "Go to him and ask for his help. He will definitely agree."