Chapter 22: Steely Resolve and Hidden Strength, The Art of Combat!

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Today's fourth update: Chapter 022!
...
Han Yue Su was momentarily at a loss for words. If it weren’t for Yu Le revealing himself as a Heaven Martial’s chosen, she would have definitely kicked such a cultivation novice out of the team!
For now, she could only patiently say, “You know about the ninth rank of the Rock Realm and its division into nine stone forces, right?”
“Of course!” Yu Le nodded.
“Do you know the power mastered by the Rock Realm is called ‘Ming Force’?”
“No.”
Han Yue Su: ...
“Ming Force... simply put, it is released through the muscles and acts on the surface of objects, like this.”
Han Yue Su struck the table again, which had previously been punched by Geng Xiao, causing the surface to crack once more.
Table: Damn it...
“The Rock Realm trains the flesh outwardly, mastering Ming Force, with the realm divided by the nine stone powers.”
“Once the Rock Realm is perfected, and the muscles can no longer be further refined, one can begin to step into the ‘Zheng Bone Realm.’ The Zheng Bone Realm means ‘solid iron bones,’ where you train the bones internally and master the power of ‘Dark Force’—this is Dark Force!”
Han Yue Su struck the already battered table again. Though Yu Le could feel the immense pressure in her palm, when her hand fell, there was no sound or visible damage on the table’s surface.
However, when Han Yue Su tapped her fingers on the table, a cracking sound like ice breaking emerged from within, and then...
The table exploded!
If the surface shattered into pieces, the interior had turned into a pile of powder!

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Awesome, awesome!
Yu Le almost applauded.
“Dark Force is power released through the surface, capable of damaging internal structures. Ordinary defenses are hard-pressed to withstand it, and its destructive power is much greater.”
“Converting Ming Force into Dark Force is the cultivation path of the Zheng Bone Realm. When you train your bones internally and transform all nine stone powers into bone Dark Force, you have perfected the Zheng Bone Realm!”
Hmm?
Yu Le thought of his seismic power, which also displayed features of Dark Force.
After all, in an earthquake, the internal force is strongest while the surface shell is just residual energy.
“As for the next realm, the Jade Realm, I don’t think you need to understand it now. What you need to do is focus on practicing body strengthening techniques to raise your cultivation level, and also practice a combat skill to increase your power limit.”
“Are these combat skills expensive?” Yu Le asked the question most on his mind.
After all, Su Rui had just mentioned that the combat skill Han Yue Su showed was of the mysterious (Xuan) grade and a family secret of the Han clan.
Han Yue Su smiled faintly but said nothing.
Su Rui quickly explained, “Of course they’re costly. The price varies greatly depending on demand, but even the most common ones, classified as yellow-grade combat skills, cost tens of thousands. The two yellow-grade skills I learned cost 300,000 when bundled. As for the Ice Soul Palm Han Jie gave you, it’s a Han family secret, a mysterious-grade skill. It’s not just priceless but also hard to find a buyer. Selling it for over a million is no problem, and since it’s considered a secret technique the Han family doesn’t share, it’s even more valuable.”
Wow...
“Another important point: every combat skill circulating on the market is a copy imprinted by a strong practitioner. Once learned, it becomes knowledge in the mind and cannot be shared with another person. If you were to acquire an original copy of a combat skill, even a yellow-grade one, selling it for hundreds of millions wouldn’t be impossible. And if you can reproduce combat skills, you become a golden goose laying golden eggs. With that, founding a family is no big deal.”
Su Rui’s insights gained nods of approval from the group.
“Han... sister, if I learn this, will it affect your standing in the Han family?”
“Don’t worry about it. Although it’s called a secret technique, many in the family have taken copies to sell outside. But a combat skill’s usefulness is key; if you can’t use it, it’s a waste. I don’t have combat skills that suit your destined martial path well. Just practice the Ice Soul Palm and see how it goes. If it doesn’t suit you, don’t force it,” Han Yue Su said calmly.

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“You all should show some support too,” Han Yue Su looked at the other three.
It was as if this had become a gift-giving scene for Yu Le.
“N-no... isn’t this a bit inappropriate?” Yu Le’s face flushed. He had joined the team, but Su Rui beside him hadn’t received anything.
Ling Xiao placed a book in Yu Le’s hands: “Don’t be polite. What you need most now is growth. I look forward to seeing how far you can lead the Burning Sky Squad.”
“This is a body movement combat skill called ‘Gentle Sway Light Step.’ You’ve probably seen Little Fatty’s Shadow Step. Learning one movement skill greatly improves your ability to avoid danger.”
Meng Huai quickly took out a book too: “If we’re talking suitability, my combat skill here fits you best—‘Sticky Clothes Flick,’ a staff technique. I intended it to assist my gun technique training, but since your destined martial weapon is a fishing rod, which counts as a type of staff, I’m handing it over to you!”
The combat skills Ling Xiao and Meng Huai gave were naturally yellow-grade, but just like Su Rui said earlier, even a copy of a yellow-grade combat skill costs tens of thousands!
This wasn’t just joining a team; it was like entering a charity organization, receiving gifts until your hands went numb.
“Uncle Yu Le, I don’t have anything good to give you. Take this pill—blue in color—it can save your life in a critical moment.”
Xiao Yuan bounced over and placed a small blue pill in Yu Le’s palm.
Meng Huai, displeased, said, “Xiao Yuan, you’ve gone too far! Last time I asked you and you didn’t give me anything.”
“Bleh, you’re just a runner—what do you need pills for?”
Meng Huai: O.o