Chapter 8: The First Battle of Martial Arts

  "Jiang Xue didn't know the inner workings of Jiang Yue's Broken Wave Technique, but by just watching me practice four moves, she was able to deduce all eighteen moves and eighteen layers of the technique, making it even more perfect than the original Jiang Yue's Broken Wave Technique. Indeed, she far surpassed me."

  Jiang Nan's understanding of Jiang Xue deepened, and he couldn't help but feel that she was unfathomable. He smiled at Tie Zhu and said, "Tie Zhu, are you interested in learning the Dragon-Tiger Elephant Fist technique from my Jiang family?"

  Tie Zhu was shocked and delighted at the same time, but also a bit hesitant: "Zi Chuan, isn't this not quite right? After all, it's your family's heirloom, Jiang's ultimate skill..."

  Jiang Nan smiled and said: "My Jiang family has already declined, only I am left, and there is no family rule that prohibits outsiders from passing it on. Now I am the master of the Jiang family, who to pass it on to is still my decision."

  Tie Zhu's family treated him very well, especially when Jiang Nan was down on his luck. Tie Zhu's mother, although blind in both eyes, had a kind heart and often asked Tie Zhu to help Jiang Nan out. This kindness Jiang Nan remembered deeply.

  "Will your sister-in-law gossip?" Tiezhu hesitated and said.

  "She is my fiancée!"

  Jiang Nan smiled and said, "My cousin is also a member of the Jiang family. As the head of the household, I have the right to pass it down to you. Can she still oppose me? Is she not afraid that I will divorce her?"

  What he created, the Dragon-Tiger Elephant Qigong, although based on the true energy of the Demon Prison Mysterious Fetus Scripture, has a completely new path for the flow of true energy. All Jiangnan needs to do is organize this path and it will become a brand new Dragon-Tiger Elephant Qigong!

  Jiangnan passed on this skill, along with the moves he created himself, to Tiezhu. Tiezhu was born with a unique physique, tall and strong, far surpassing ordinary people, and also had innate divine power. Although it's said that he hadn't refined his true energy yet, as soon as he started practicing the Dragon-Tiger Elephant Force Skill, its power became extremely impressive, as if it were tailor-made for him. Refining his true energy was only a matter of time!

  It can be imagined that if he cultivates to the realm of Jiangnan, the Dragon and Tiger Elephant Fist will definitely shine brightly in his hands, and it's not necessarily inferior to Jiangnan!

  Although Tie Zhu's qualifications and comprehension were not bad, by the time the sun set in the west, he still hadn't managed to master the Dragon-Tiger Elephant Fist. He had only learned the first move's technique and mental method.

  "Zi Chuan, too much learning is useless. This move alone will take me some time to ponder. I'll come back and ask you about the next moves after I've mastered this one!"

  Tie Zhu was in high spirits, turned around and left, laughing: "The job at the Qi Wang Fu today, I've already done it for you. Don't forget to go tomorrow to check on it, otherwise those people in charge will gossip again and deduct your wages."

  Jiang Nan felt like moving around, his stomach was hungry again, rumbling with hunger, returning to the poor district, just entering the house, suddenly a delicious food aroma came, Jiang Xue seemed to know he would be hungry, had already prepared a table of dishes, waiting for him to eat.

  "Sister, you're really good at cooking!" Jiang Nan was overjoyed, and a warm current surged up in his heart, feeling hot in his chest.

  "I am your fiancée and also your childhood sweetheart."

  "If I weren't virtuous and capable, wouldn't you be afraid of divorcing me?"

  Jiang Nan's face turned bright red, this fox demon indeed had some magical powers, and was actually able to hear his conversation with Tiezhu. He stammered: "Sister, did you just hear that? I was just trying to make Zhu know the difficulty and retreat, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble, don't be angry..."

  "Why am I getting angry?"

  Jiang Xue's beautiful eyes sparkled as she smiled and said, "I'm your wife, if you're angry with me, then divorce me. Where can a poor woman like me go?"

  Jiang Nan immediately changed the subject and laughed: "Sister, you've made so many dishes, how can we two people finish them all?"

  "Go ahead and eat."

  Jiang Xue smiled and said: "Eat some more, because later you have something to do, it will consume a lot of physical energy."

  Jiang Nan was astonished in his heart, and Jiang Xue smiled and said: "Now that you are cultivating the Demon Prison Mysterious Fetus Scripture, your qi and blood are extremely vigorous, and your yang energy is just right. Although ordinary people can't see it, to the demons and spirits near Luoxia Mountain, you're like a torch in the dark, very eye-catching."

  Jiang Nan heard this and couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding, probing: "And then?"

  Jiang Xue burst out laughing and said in a soft voice, "Then, you left the city and arrived at the foot of Luoxia Mountain. The monsters and demons in the mountain would naturally come to eat people. You are now like a piece of fragrant Tofu, as long as they eat you, refine your yang energy and blood, the monster's cultivation will naturally make great progress, enough to surpass many years of bitter practice."

  Jiang Nan's face turned dark: "Sister, you just said you weren't angry!"

  "You chose the Demon Prison's Xuan Tai Jing yourself, I didn't force you. Those demonic beasts and spirits coming to eat you aren't something I intentionally provoked either, all of this has nothing to do with me, what am I supposed to be angry about?"

  Jiang Xue smiled and suddenly became serious, saying: "Zi Chuan, you have fought with Wu Si Jiang before and know that you lack combat experience. Now I'm giving you this opportunity! Real battles are the best way to hone your skills. If you want to become a master, a strong warrior, you need real battles, a baptism by blood!"

  Jiang Nan nodded solemnly and said, "I understand."

  "You monster, you have a natural talent for killing, most suitable for a rookie like you."

  "If you can survive the battle with the demon beast, you will thoroughly become a martial artist and no longer be an outsider or a rookie."

  "Sister, if I were in danger in the mountains, would you save me?" Jiang Nan suddenly thought of a crucial point and asked.

  "Okay."

  Jiang Xue said faintly: "I still need your yang energy to repair my divine soul, if you can't hold on, I'll save you, but I don't need a useless younger brother."

  What she meant was that if Jiang Nan couldn't hold on, although she would lend a hand to save him, she wouldn't acknowledge him as her brother, but only use him as a tool to drain his yang energy, without any remaining affection.

  Jiang Nan took a deep breath, his face slightly pale, and said firmly: "Sister, even if I'm in danger, you don't need to intervene. This time, I'll take it on alone!"

  Jiang Xue's eyes showed a hint of appreciation, and he smiled: "Zi Chuan, your battle with Wu Si Jiang was not even a fight, just a desperate struggle. Next time will be your first real battle in the world of martial arts!"

  Her eyes were distant and she said softly: "Don't let sister down..."

  Having eaten and drunk to his heart's content in Jiangnan, he raised his head to gaze at the sun, only to see it hanging low in the sky. It was still early before sunset, so he set out of the city immediately, following the Yangchuan River towards Luoxia Mountain.

  The river snow turned into a white fox, following closely like a shadow. The mountains and forests were covered with withered fallen leaves. A man and a fox stepped on them, making rustling sounds, accompanied by the gentle gurgling of water nearby.

  Yangchuan River originates from Luoxia Mountain, and the upper reaches are rarely visited. Before long, Jiangnan arrived in the depths of the mountain, where he saw a dilapidated stone bridge ahead, with an old and ruined mountain temple on the other side.

  In the depths of the ancient forest, a mournful howl suddenly echoed through the air, rising and falling in a haunting cadence. In an instant, a fierce gust swept through the forest, sending dark winds blowing out from among the trees, whistling towards the stone bridge!

  Jiangnan only felt a strong gust of wind blowing in his face, causing the ribbon that tied up his hair to flutter and make a rustling sound. Amidst the wind, there was actually a pungent smell of blood!

  "A monster has found me!"

  He stood at the edge of the stone bridge, his eyes fixed intently on the other side, with a slight dampness in his palms, which was actually cold sweat that had flowed out unknowingly.

  "The first battle of advancing into the martial way..." Jiang Nan's heart was somewhat excited, he lowered his head and looked at his hands, muttering to himself.

  Huff, huff——

  A heavy breathing sound came from the mountain forest, Jiang Nan's heart tightened, and a huge shadow walked out of the Mountain God Temple in the mountain forest, step by step towards the stone bridge on the Yangchuan River.

  This is a black bear, standing upright, over ten feet tall, majestic and unparalleled, holding in its hand a cut-off horse knife from who-knows-where, the blade broken and tattered.

  In winter, bears have already hibernated, only demonic beasts that know how to cultivate will still be active!

  This bear was obviously one of them, dwelling in the dilapidated mountain temple, and seeing the intense yang energy on Jiang Nan's body, it immediately came out to eat people!

  The black bear's eyes were blood red, and its body was emitting a faint aura of evil energy that seemed to capture people's souls. Jiang Nan had never seen such a majestic black bear before, it should be a rare species from the Luoxia Mountains, cultivated into a demon, and even knew how to use a halberd!

  Bang!

  He took a step out of the forest and onto the stone bridge, his footsteps causing it to tremble.

  This is a terrifying monster, with infinite strength. Seeing the Jiangnan on the other side of the bridge, it lets out a low and muffled roar from its throat, suddenly takes big strides, and rushes towards Jiangnan with a whooshing sound, dragging the broken blade of its horse-slaying knife on the ground, spewing out a string of sparks.

  Within three zhang of Jiangnan, the black bear's speed increased, and the horse-slaying knife suddenly rose, making a "hiss" sound as a snow-white light flashed through the night sky, striking down at Jiangnan with one slash!

  "So fast!"

  Jiang Nan only felt a flash of white light, and the horse-killing knife had already arrived in front of him, leaving no room for him to dodge. Hei Xiong's knife was like a great calligrapher splashing ink, without any extra strokes, simple and direct, one knife decided life and death!

  This simple and direct move is more terrifying and overbearing than any Blood Transformation Divine Art!

  "The great river gives birth to the tide!"

  Suddenly, a loud roar burst forth, like a tidal wave crashing against the shore. The Yangtze River's mighty waves surged forward with a deafening crash, as if the true energy of Jiangnan was stirring. The Three Tigers' strength exploded, propelling the Jiangyue Broken Wave Technique to its limits. With a double palm strike, the sound of the waves rose up and slapped against the beheading knife that Xiong Yao had chopped down!

  Hmph!

  The Great River couldn't stop the demon bear's knife, the horse-slaying knife hesitated for a moment, then the blade cut through the turbulent waves, advancing unstoppable, straight towards Jiangnan!

  In the south, his heart was clear and empty, without thoughts or worries. In his mind, there was only a fierce fighting spirit. He still used all his strength to urge on the Great River's Tidal Wave skill, using softness to overcome stiffness. The water's nature is extremely soft, and his true energy was as gentle as water, washing away the bear demon's strong and violent power.

  In the sound of waves crashing, that broken and tattered horse-killing sword suddenly shattered into pieces, it was this soldier who could not withstand the impact of Jiangnan and Xiong Yao's power, and was shaken to pieces on the spot!

  "Dragon Tiger Elephant Power!"

  Jiang Nan made a single move, shattering the horse-killing sword, and finally escaped the fate of being killed by the bear demon's single move. Immediately, his body moved, not retreating but advancing, charging towards the bear demon!

  Bang!

  As he stepped down, the ground shook violently, even more astonishing than when a black bear made its entrance. If one only listened to his footsteps without looking at Jiang Nan's physique, they would have thought that a giant elephant was charging over, rather than a fourteen-year-old human bookworm!

  "Divine Elephant Treads the Mountain!"