Chapter 39: The Fourfold Martial Body

“It seems that the Liu and Wu clans’ years-long lockdown of the forbidden zone has already aroused suspicion among the other noble families,” Lu Yan mused. The Situ clan of Guangji City was another Marquis-level house within the Anqun region, possessing formidable strength, no less than the Liu or Wu families. Clearly, by sealing off the forbidden area for so long, the Liu and Wu clans had drawn the eyes of every faction to this place.

What could truly lie within the forbidden zone?

Lu Yan believed it was not simply about the Dao Food. For now, apart from himself, it appeared no one understood its purpose, which was why he had so easily found two pieces.

“Let’s begin!” In the training chamber, Lu Yan closed the door, took out a piece of Dao Food, and let the Dao Book devour it. His Diamond Body avatar began cultivating, entering a state akin to enlightenment, the progress surging forward and feeding back to Lu Yan. His comprehension of the Diamond Body continually deepened.

When the Diamond Body paused, progress had reached 80% of Mastery—an increase of nearly thirty percent.

“One push to the finish.” Lu Yan drew out the last square copper piece, anticipation gleaming in his eyes. He was eager to see just how much he would gain if a second-rate martial art achieved unity of man and martial skill, forming the Martial Body.

With a thought, the square copper piece was consumed by the Dao Book, and the Diamond Body’s progress advanced further. Soon, it reached ninety-eight percent, ninety-nine, then one hundred. The words above the avatar’s head shifted: Avatar. Diamond Body. Unity of Man and Martial Skill.

That familiar sensation of forging the Martial Body descended again, invisible energies from heaven and earth pouring into his form. Lu Yan’s body underwent a violent transformation—purifying marrow, remaking flesh and bone.

This time, it lasted a full six hours before ending. Lu Yan felt his vitality and blood increased by thirty percent, now even more robust. The greatest gains were in physical strength and blood capacity, each boosted by fifty percent.

Do not underestimate fifty percent: Lu Yan’s body was already the result of three layers of Martial Body, essentially stacked threefold. His physique and blood capacity far surpassed ordinary humans. To gain another fifty percent atop such a powerful foundation was astonishing.

The first time he forged a Martial Body with a third-rate martial art, he gained fifty percent. The second, forty percent. The third, thirty percent. Following that pattern, if he continued with third-rate martial arts achieving unity, he’d gain at most twenty percent, perhaps even less.

Gaining fifty percent now left Lu Yan quite satisfied. Both his physique and blood capacity were over three times stronger than a normal person. For reference, Liu Xingchao’s blood capacity was merely double that of a regular person, yet he was hailed as the most gifted in the Liu clan’s history.

“If we were to fight on equal footing now, I could thrash Liu Xingchao into submission,” Lu Yan thought confidently.

However, with such a strong foundation, the next Martial Body breakthrough would bring much less improvement. Even with a second-rate martial art, the effect would likely diminish sharply. Yet, even a small gain was valuable; with enough stacking—dozens of Martial Bodies—his body and blood capacity could reach inhuman levels.

He was quite looking forward to that.

Now, what troubled Lu Yan was his height. Achieving unity with the Diamond Body had caused his stature to shoot past two meters, his frame powerful and imposing. But to suddenly grow so much overnight—how could others not be suspicious? He could not reveal his breakthrough yet.

Barely a year had passed since his last breakthrough, and another so soon would draw attention. He needed to hold back.

“Let’s see if I can shrink my height,” he thought, activating the Diamond Body. Instantly, his body crackled, muscles writhing, his height gradually decreasing. After a while, he stabilized at around 1.9 meters, his frame slimmer, nearly as before the breakthrough.

“The Diamond Body with unity truly is wondrous,” Lu Yan rejoiced. The Diamond Body, a hard-style cultivation method, primarily tempered bones and muscles. Achieving unity granted him extreme control over his physique; adjusting height and build was not difficult.

With that, he no longer feared discovery.

“What should I cultivate next?” he pondered. All his martial arts had reached their limits; it was time to plan ahead.

It boiled down to two things:

First, earning money.

Second, acquiring martial arts manuals.

After four breakthroughs, ordinary meat was nearly useless; to build vitality, he needed Martial Food. And to buy Martial Food, one must have money. Moreover, he could not lack martial arts manuals—ideally cultivating both second- and third-rate arts simultaneously.

Because regardless of what he cultivated, the Dao Book would absorb half the food’s energy.

Eating Martial Food, only to have half its energy siphoned away, was painful to Lu Yan. And to maintain bodily functions, he still consumed large amounts of ordinary meat daily, which could improve third-rate martial arts.

But where could he procure these things?

After much deliberation, Lu Yan decided to start with the gangs.

He lacked the time and expertise for business, running a martial hall or escort agency. The paltry monthly wage from the Crimson Guards was nowhere near enough.

Starting with the gangs was most efficient and fastest.

For example, using overwhelming martial power to control other gangs in the shadows, as he had with the Green Bamboo Gang.

The gangs in the northern city of Changfeng, though under Liu clan oversight, regularly fought among themselves for territory and profit. Even if one gang wiped out another, the Liu clan turned a blind eye, so long as their ‘cut’ was delivered. Who ruled mattered little to them.

Of course, one could not go too far.

If a single gang wiped out all others and unified the north city, the Liu clan would be alarmed—a force too strong was undesirable. But eliminating one or two gangs should pose no issue.

With that in mind, Lu Yan began outlining his plan.

His first target: the Tiger Gang.

The next day, Lu Yan went alone to the Tiger Gang headquarters.

“Stop right there!” The gatekeeper blocked his way, looking down at him.

Bang! Lu Yan slapped the guard, sending him flying two meters, his face swelling grotesquely.

“Go inside and tell Thunder Tiger that Lu Shan, leader of the Green Bamboo Gang, is here to visit,” Lu Yan said coldly.

Fang Xiong had not shown up for a long time; anyone with sense knew he had likely met a bad end, replaced by Lu Yan. So Lu Yan simply took the position openly.

The other gatekeeper hurried inside to report.

Soon, Lu Yan was ushered into the Tiger Gang’s main hall.

Thunder Tiger, the gang’s boss, sat at the head, flanked by two burly men. One was Cao Hu, whom Lu Yan had dealt with before.

Several experts stood behind Lu Yan; the Tiger Gang’s elite had all gathered.

“Lu Shan, what brings you to me?” Thunder Tiger squinted, looking down at Lu Yan, his tone indifferent.

“Oh, it’s simple. Today I’m here to ask you to give up your position as the Tiger Gang’s leader,” Lu Yan replied nonchalantly.

Thunder Tiger and his lieutenants were stunned.

“Hahaha…” Thunder Tiger burst into laughter, his gaze sharp as a tiger poised to strike. “Just you alone?”

“Of course,” Lu Yan nodded without hesitation.

Thunder Tiger’s pupils contracted. For some reason, a chill swept over him, a sense of impending danger. Yet, how could he surrender his position just because Lu Yan said so?

Though most of the gang’s yearly ‘profits’ had to be handed over to the Liu clan, with another sum for the Crimson Guards, there was still plenty left—how could he let it go so easily?

“Lu Shan, I’ll say this: leave now, and I’ll pretend you never spoke those words,” Thunder Tiger declared.

“One word: refuse, and you die,” Lu Yan retorted.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly grew tense.