novelHire Chapter 253: Fifth Realm 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》
Chapter 253: Fifth Realm 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》
Chen Ergou had obtained quite a few Second-Rank martial arts manuals from the Yulong Gang’s armory manual vault.
Combined with the Second-Rank manuals Su Wangchuan had previously purchased from the studio, the path for a Second-Rank Martial Artist had actually already been paved.
But Su Wangchuan knew that the further they went, the more money Chen Ergou and Zhao Heiniu would require—because Third-Rank martial arts manuals were truly expensive.
After spending several days, he helped Captain Zhao Heiniu raise 《Green Bamboo Staff Art》 to Entry-Level Mastery.
Captain Zhao Heiniu broke through to the Second Rank!
Naturally, Su Wangchuan was not stingy. He used two armory manual vault tokens and guided Zhao Heiniu in exchanging them for 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》 and 《Parting-Waters Saber Art》.
Although he could also have guided the two to begin cultivating 《Black Tortoise Art》 earlier and start their internal cultivation method in advance, now was not yet the right time.
Having reached the Second Rank, what they needed most was an offensive Third-Rank martial art—one for attack and one for defense—so they could quickly cultivate them to the Practice Makes Perfect realm before considering 《Black Tortoise Art》.
While the two of them advanced to the Second Rank, Su Wangchuan’s 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》 also finally broke through to Integration!
“Ding!”“《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》 has advanced from Entry-Level Mastery to Integration. Reward: +4 Stamina.”
His stamina attribute instantly rose to 59 points!
At its current realm, 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》 provided +28 defense. When the Dragon-Elephant Golden Body was activated, the body-protection technique could, with a high probability, avoid attacks aimed at vital points, reduce damage to vital areas by 60%, and reflect ten percent of the attack damage back to the attacker.
A Third-Rank body-protection technique cultivated to Integration essentially meant that among Second-Rank Martial Artists, Su Wangchuan already stood among the very best. At least in terms of horizontal body training, it would be difficult for any Second-Rank Martial Artist to threaten him.
Even ordinary Third-Rank Martial Artists would find their threat to him greatly reduced.
In his own courtyard, Su Wangchuan carefully examined his status panel.
“When 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》 is activated, my natural defense reaches 37.3. If I activate 《Black Tortoise Art》 as well, my defense can reach as high as 48.7. I can practically take no damage from Second-Rank staff techniques at the Entry-Level Mastery realm. Even against ordinary Third-Rank martial arts, I should have no trouble holding out.”
“High-level staff techniques deal at least 5 points of forced damage. If they trigger a double burst, the damage becomes even greater. That could easily cause light injuries and interfere with training. It is no longer suitable for sparring.”
“I might consider cultivating another First-Rank Martial Artist.”
“Li Qing would be a good choice.”
Within the Sanjiang Branch Helm, aside from Chen Ergou and Zhao Heiniu, the NPC most worth cultivating was Li Qing.
Li Qing possessed astonishing memory and a sharp eye for detail—clearly a talented individual.
He had also helped expose a Crimson Pavilion assassin and a disciple of the Five Poison Sect, contributing significant merit.
He could be trained to the Second Rank.
Su Wangchuan had someone summon Li Qing.
Naturally, Li Qing intended to perform well.
But an unexpected problem arose.
When Li Qing’s fists and kicks landed on Su Wangchuan’s body, not only did they fail to cause any loss of HP, the impact instead bruised his own arm and tore the skin until it bled. His fist trembled uncontrollably.
“Helm leader!”
“Your body is too hard.”
“It felt like I punched a stone lion.”
Li Qing tried desperately to suppress the pained expression on his face, but he could not control it.
Su Wangchuan knew that it was most likely the rebound effect of the Dragon-Elephant Golden Body.
“Use the staff technique.”
Li Qing nodded. He grabbed a long staff from the weapon rack and spun it fiercely—
SMACK!
The staff struck Su Wangchuan’s body and instantly rebounded, dropping to the ground.
Li Qing stared at his own hands in disbelief. Blood seeped from the cracked web between his thumb and forefinger, and both hands went numb.
With a miserable expression, Li Qing panicked.
“Helm leader…”
Su Wangchuan waved his hand.
“You may withdraw. Go treat your injuries.”
Li Qing felt as though he had been granted a reprieve from execution and hurried away.
Su Wangchuan sighed with some regret.
High-attack martial techniques were unsuitable for sparring because they could easily cause injury.
Low-attack techniques…
The realm of 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》 was now too high. Anyone sparring with him would likely injure themselves instead.
He had only just discovered a training exploit, yet now it had already been sealed off. The window of opportunity had been far too short.
But Su Wangchuan did not give up.
Even if the window had been brief…
The benefits it brought were visible to the naked eye!
“I cannot just abandon it.”
“…Perhaps… I could train a newcomer in 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》 and continue sparring that way.”
Su Wangchuan’s eyes gleamed thoughtfully as he muttered to himself.
“To cultivate such a sparring partner, that person must master both 《Qingcheng Heart Method》 and 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》…”
Immediately, he thought of someone.
Bai Yuhui!
Recently, Bai Yuhui had been studying and cultivating 《Black Tortoise Art》 and 《Qingcheng Sword Art》, but his progress had been slow.
Bai Yuhui was Bai Jingtang’s cousin. He definitely knew 《Qingcheng Heart Method》.
If he also cultivated 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》, he could become an excellent sparring partner.
Su Wangchuan’s eyes lit up. He immediately summoned Bai Yuhui and explained his plan.
When Bai Yuhui heard that he could rapidly cultivate 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》 and potentially reach Entry-Level Mastery or even Integration, he naturally agreed!
The two immediately hit it off.
Bai Yuhui promptly went to the Caobang armory manual vault and exchanged for a copy of 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》.
Meanwhile, while Bai Yuhui was becoming familiar with the entry-level stage of the technique, Su Wangchuan began cultivating the Third-Rank lightness skill 《Water Strider》.
The key to cultivating this technique lay in practicing upon water. Once it reached Minor Mastery, one could step upon the surface of water and run across it, flying at least thirty meters across a river—this was information Bai Yuhui had shared with him.
Without hesitation, Su Wangchuan followed the breathing rhythm described in 《Water Strider》 and went to a deserted stretch of riverbank to attempt stepping on the water.
Why choose a place where no one could see?
Glug-glug!
With a single mistake in the rhythm of breathing and circulation, Su Wangchuan’s body tilted and he plunged into the water.
Clambering ashore in embarrassment, he steadied his mind, calmed his breathing, spread his arms again, and attempted to step across the water.
Water had buoyancy, but to use that buoyancy to run across its surface required proper breathing techniques to lighten the body, combined with the rhythm of footwork and internal force.
Step-step!
Splash!!
Glug, glug.
Nearly every attempt ended the same way—after two or three steps, his rhythm collapsed. He could not coordinate the breathing rhythm with the movement of his body.
Sometimes his steps were too light.
Sometimes too heavy…
In any case, after two hours of training, he had fallen into the water countless times.
Finally, when he was almost numb from repetition, he managed to take five consecutive steps across the water, skimming seven or eight meters over the surface. In that instant, it felt as though he had suddenly grasped the balance and rhythm required.
He landed on solid ground.
Then he turned back and ran across the water again!
Step-step-step-step…
Once more, he reached the shore successfully.
Su Wangchuan could now cross the water without falling in.
He summoned the status panel to check.
《Water Strider》 — Entry Level 1/100.
Su Wangchuan was overjoyed.
He had successfully entered the technique.
From here on, he only needed to continue training to increase experience value.
Although the distance he could run across the water was still short, the sense of accomplishment from stepping across the surface was no less thrilling than the first time he ran across rooftops and walls.
It felt fantastic.
Su Wangchuan continued training back and forth. When he became hungry, Chen Ergou brought him food. Then he circulated 《Qingcheng Heart Method》 to clear fatigue…
And continued stepping across the water!
Step-step-step-step…
His movements grew faster and faster, and his posture while running across the water became increasingly relaxed and natural.