Chapter 89: Flame Palm

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Fang Yue—
Merit: 20,696 points
Divine Powers: Deduction, Illumination, Soul Capture
Martial Skills: Enlightenment Fist (Third Level), Basic Blade Technique (First Level), Ironfire Body (First Level), Flame Palm (First Level), Basic Lightness Skill (First Level)

“Enlightenment Fist at the third level is nearly at the pinnacle of the Postnatal stage. By rights, I could wait a while, acquire a Pre-Heaven martial arts manual, and once I’ve learned and understood it, I would be able to open the Purple Mansion, reach the Innate stage, and transform the postnatal internal energy in my dantian into innate true qi.”

Fang Yue sat at the table in his room, several martial arts manuals spread before him.

Autumn sunlight poured in from outside, warming his body, lending the day a rare tranquility.

Apricot, dressed in a pale green gauze dress, squatted by the door, basking in the sun while teasing a plump tabby cat with a twig.

No one knew where the tabby had come from, but it had decided to take up residence in Fang Yue’s courtyard, sprawling out to sun its snowy white belly with utmost indolence.

Apricot prodded its belly gently with her twig, but the cat paid her no mind.

“Young master, can we keep a cat?”

“Sure.”

Apricot’s eyes lit up and she hurried to the kitchen to fetch some dried salted fish.

The languid tabby instantly perked up, its almond-shaped green eyes fixed intently on the fish in her hand.

“This cat may already have an owner. If you want a pet, you could buy a kitten from the market in town. Raise it from small, and it’ll be more affectionate.”

“I know.” Apricot tossed the dried fish to the tabby, who caught it deftly in its mouth.

“Hey, if nobody wants you, why not come live with us?” she said to the feasting cat, clearly quite fond of the plump tabby.

Fang Yue shook his head with a smile and turned his attention back to the manuals on the table.

Such peaceful, tranquil days were just to his taste.

Yet he knew well the storm that lurked beneath calm waters, the shadows that hid behind bright sunlight.

In this world overrun by ghosts and monsters, for ordinary people like them, there was no true land of peace anywhere under heaven.

Take Ping’an County, for example. Once it was a place of safety, until almost in a single night it became a dead zone, the entire population nearly wiped out.

In this world, ordinary lives and deaths were often beyond ordinary people’s control.

“Strength is still what’s needed.”

Fang Yue sighed and picked up one of the martial arts manuals on the table.

This was the “Crouching Ox Force,” a manual delivered to him by Yuan Zhixing before he left a few days ago. Fang Yue had been studying this internal cultivation method ever since.

After their conversation by the riverbank, Yuan Zhixing’s attitude had changed considerably, and Fang Yue had learned a great many things from him.

Before departing, Yuan Zhixing gifted him “Crouching Ox Force” and another manual, “Flame Palm,” while Fang Yue provided him with two hundred taels of travel funds in return.

Armed with the money from Fang Yue and Master Ren, Yuan Zhixing set out once more to roam the martial world.

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“Although my Enlightenment Fist has reached the Postnatal stage’s very peak, after supplementing my knowledge of internal cultivation these past days, I feel there may be room for further progress even within the Postnatal realm.”

Fang Yue set down “Crouching Ox Force,” his gaze sweeping across several other internal cultivation manuals on the table: “Jade Essence,” “Soaring Bear Technique,” “Firecloud Art,” and of course, “Crouching Ox Force.” He had nearly fully grasped the contents of all four.

“At my current level, unless I seek to break through to the Innate stage, further advancement in internal arts is almost impossible. Even the tiniest progress would require an immense effort, with the gains far outweighed by the cost.”

“But I am different. Deduction!”

...

Three days later.

In the courtyard, Fang Yue struck a thick wooden board with his palm, instantly leaving a deep, blackened handprint the size of his palm.

“This is the power of the second level of Flame Palm.”

He looked at his reddened palm, a smile on his face.

The “Flame Palm” given to him by Yuan Zhixing was the complete version, including the portion for the Innate realm.

“Flame Palm” was the signature martial art of Firecloud Sect, a clan in northern Yun Prefecture that had been annihilated by enemies.

Why Yuan Zhixing had a complete copy of this manual was not something Fang Yue questioned.

After all, Yuan Zhixing’s master, the Thunder Sword King Nan Tian, also hailed from the north of Yun Prefecture.

Yuan Zhixing and Fang Yue had sparred a few more times, always stopping short, merely exchanging martial insights.

Knowing that Fang Yue practiced the Flame Palm, Yuan Zhixing had gifted him the complete manual.

Fang Yue—
Merit: 16,136 points
Divine Powers: Deduction, Illumination, Soul Capture
Martial Skills: Enlightenment Art (Fourth Level), Flame Palm (Second Level), Ironfire Body (First Level), Basic Fist (First Level), Basic Blade Technique (First Level), Basic Lightness Skill (First Level)

Fang Yue had separated Basic Fist from Enlightenment Fist.

Now, his internal cultivation was rooted in Enlightenment Art, which had advanced to the fourth level, reaching the absolute pinnacle of the Postnatal stage—an unprecedented level, perhaps never achieved before.

“According to Yuan Zhixing, martial artists of the Postnatal stage have little means to deal with ghosts and monsters, relying at best on their vigorous vitality to resist.

But Innate masters can fight such beings because their true qi is imbued with special attributes.

For instance, Yuan Zhixing’s master, the Thunder Sword King, cultivates innate true qi with the attribute of thunder. A single sword strike unleashes hidden thunder energy, dealing tremendous damage to supernatural entities.

Take, for example, my own Flame Palm.”

With his Enlightenment Art at the absolute peak of the Postnatal realm and the assistance of the merit system, Fang Yue had cultivated the second level of Flame Palm, infusing it with the fire attribute even before reaching the Innate stage.

This, at last, gave him a measure of confidence when facing ghosts and monsters.

“Young master.”

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Apricot returned from outside carrying a basin of freshly washed clothes, a tiny orange kitten trotting at her heels, mewing incessantly.

The plump tabby cat, after gobbling up the dried fish, had disappeared—likely gone home—and hadn’t returned to Fang Yue’s courtyard.

This left Apricot quite disappointed, feeling the cat had simply eaten its fill and then sauntered off without a care.

Yesterday, Fang Yue had accompanied her to the market, where they bought this affectionate little orange kitten.

Watching Apricot carry the wooden basin inside, Fang Yue mused, “Once things here settle down, it will be time to journey afar and study the Innate arts.”

As for where to go, he hadn’t yet decided.

Baiquan Prefecture was the nearest city—a major port in Yun Prefecture, bustling and prosperous, surely home to Innate masters.

But the very master and disciple, Tian Yangzi and his apprentice, who once schemed against Fang Yue, came from Baiquan Prefecture. Fang Yue doubted they suffered much in the pirate attack that devastated the city.

So, for now, Baiquan Prefecture was off-limits. He would only consider it once he became an Innate master himself.

Another option was the north of Yun Prefecture, known for its bold populace and thriving martial sects, where top-tier clans boasted Innate masters.

Of course, before venturing far, a substantial sum of silver would be needed.

Innate-level martial arts were the treasured secrets of every sect and school—learning one was no easy feat.

Fang Yue had no intention of starting from the bottom as a disciple of some sect, slowly gaining trust and waiting years to learn their secrets.

Who could say when that would bear fruit?

So, using a large sum of silver to pave the way and seize opportunities would be much more efficient.

“The market in Banshan County has already been established. The moment soap was introduced, it became a hit. Though the price is modest, the small profits add up with volume, and as the sole supplier, the profits are quite good.

Now, the plan is to use Banshan County as a base and expand to the surrounding prefectures and counties.

However, with no connections, progress must be gradual, seeking local partners and sharing profits.

Glass production has begun in earnest, and the maritime trade routes have reopened. This luxury item will be the main source of silver.

But such lucrative products easily attract covetous eyes. As Master Ren advised, the production process must be kept secret. As long as the cost remains unknown, safety can be preserved.

Fortunately, all glass is produced in Yutou Town, under complete control.

Refined into all manner of exquisite luxury goods, who would suspect their raw material is mere sand worth almost nothing?

As long as the volume remains limited, outsiders will assume they are rare new varieties of jade.

Should trouble arise, I can always abandon the goods and keep myself safe. I’m no miser, after all.

As for perfumes, distilled spirits, and other small novelties, for now my strength is insufficient. Too many products would be difficult to protect, so it’s best to proceed gradually.”

Fang Yue let out a long breath. Now, all was ready—he only awaited the east wind.