Chapter 6: Tenfold Power Strike, Cold Moon Blade Technique

‘Tenfold Power Strike, first level, full power!’

Zhang Shen swiftly unleashed four punches, each aimed at an individual adversary, sending them sprawling backward. Their defenses crumbled under the swift and ferocious onslaught of his blows, and they were swiftly knocked off the stage.

He withdrew his fist and power, standing calmly on the stage.

The first level of Tenfold Power Strike allowed one to manifest the equivalent power of their full body strength in a single strike. With each additional level mastered, the practitioner could add an equivalent force of another full-strength strike into each punch.

When fully mastered, a single punch could contain the continuous power of ten full-strength strikes. This technique was straightforward, brutal, and considered a top-tier martial skill in the Acquired Stage.

In the Zhang family, this was the highest grade martial skill available within the Acquired Stage. There was no Acquired Stage martial skill present in the family’s arsenal that belonged to the superior grade, which was divided into low-grade, mid-grade, top-grade, and superior-grade.

The superior-grade martial arts in each stage represent the peak capabilities its creator reached within that specific stage. Such individuals were sparse, hence such martial arts were rare and not something the current Zhang family could possess.

As Zhang Shen disembarked from the stage, he noticed that several other platforms had already concluded their duels. Among the winners, a burly man wielding a firewood hatchet and a cold-faced man brandishing a sword caught his eye.

“Despite his rugged exterior, he emanates an indomitable masculine aura. He’s clearly a person with talent. But why does he brandish a firewood hatchet? Do his martial arts reflect such uniqueness? Why does this sword-carrying man keep staring at me? Did my outstanding performance make him wary?”

Soon, twenty-one victors were chosen from the 126 competitors. These twenty-one contenders were further divided into three groups, determining the top three in one go.

Zhang Shen was placed in the third group, which boasted one person at the Acquired 5th Layer while the rest were all formidable competitors at the 4th Layer.

The moment the referee signaled the start, the group of six collectively lunged at Zhang Shen.

Punches, leg kicks, sword thrusts, axe swings, and halberd slashes descended in a flurry, causing Zhang Shen’s brow to furrow. He was naturally oblivious that these opponents were carefully arranged by the elders who were previously chided in the conference room, aiming to act as roadblocks for him. However, he instinctively sensed something was amiss.

“Hmph, seems I should reveal a bit more of my strength then.”

Zhang Shen gave a cold snort, his footwork rapidly shifting, and within moments, he extricated himself from the barrage of blows from the six opponents. They couldn’t even graze Zhang Shen’s shadow before he had already weaved past their ranks.

He was employing the Acquired mid-grade movement skill, Cloud-Drifting Step.

“Six adversaries, and armed at that, then there’s no need for me to be polite.”

He reached behind him and drew out a black iron rod crafted from high-grade iron. A piercing aura radiated from Zhang Shen, causing the six individuals to feel uncomfortable as if a thorn was lodged in their throats as if they were being threatened by a sharp weapon.

“Let’s go.” Zhang Shen raised the iron rod, his footwork unpredictable as he danced around with the Cloud-Drifting Step, akin to a phantom. None of the six could lay a finger on him.

He navigated freely between them.

The iron rod in his hand swung with practiced ease as Zhang Shen channeled the full power of the first level of the Tenfold Power Strike into it.

Each swing of the rod sent painful cracks through the adversaries’ bones, numbing their hands.

After a barrage of dozens of hits, save for the one at the Acquired 5th Laye who could still resist, the rest had been struck by Zhang Shen three to four times, leaving them with torn flesh and flowing blood, a horrifying sight to behold. If Zhang Shen hadn’t exercised restraint and let his force bear down directly on their bodies, their internals would’ve been crushed from the impact, leading to instantaneous death on the spot.

“Get out,” With a sweeping swing of the iron rod, he ejected the five incapacitated individuals off the stage, leaving only Zhang Shen and another Acquired 5th Layer behemoth standing on the platform.

The colossal man felt immensely suppressed. Each of them had unique talents, but they were helpless before Zhang Shen due to the gap in their movement techniques, leaving them gravely wounded.

But he, Zhang Ta, would not concede. He wouldn’t allow himself to be toyed with and humiliated. Even in defeat, he would ensure Zhang Shen was thoroughly exhausted. Zhang Ta pledged quietly in his heart, his internal energy swirling from his dantian, encasing the surface of his body.

Zhang Shen, observing from a two-meter distance, found himself in a bit of a predicament as well.

“This guy is like an impenetrable iron fortress, surely versed in the arts of defense. If I strike with the full power of the first level, I’d have to land numerous hits before his defense would crack. Using the second level wouldn’t allow me to evenly disperse the force onto his flesh, it would undoubtedly harm his internal organs.”

Zhang Shen did not harbor enmity against this towering figure of a man. Even though he had discerned some foul play in this match, they all belonged to the same family. There was no necessity to exhibit excessive brutality amidst their disagreement.

“I’ll just use that move.”

Zhang Shen gripped the iron rod single-handedly, its tip gently resting against the stone floor.

“Big guy, brace yourself, I’m coming.” After speaking, Zhang Shen launched himself directly toward Zhang Ta.

“Bring it on,” Zhang Ta bellowed, delivering a punch. In addition to his defensive arts, he was also a practitioner of the Bear King Fist, which was impressively powerful and fearless in a frontal confrontation.

Zhang Shen’s gaze hardened, and the iron rod in his grip traced a crescent arc.

‘Cold Moon Arc Slash!’

A series of cracking sounds reverberated, Zhang Ta’s right arm was instantly fractured, and a gruesome gash was carved across his chest. Blood welled up, soaking his clothes with a stark red.

“You!” Zhang Ta, cradling his fractured arm, gazed at Zhang Shen in shock. He had glimpsed a flash of sword light in that moment.

Zhang Ta was consumed by lingering fear. Had that not been an iron rod, but a sword instead, he would have been cleaved in two.

Given his defensive cultivation, an average martial artist wouldn’t have been able to inflict a wound on him with a blade or sword. However, Zhang Shen, employing a sword technique with an iron rod, had carved him so devastatingly, an actual sword would’ve been even more deadly.

His blade skill mastery must’ve reached an extraordinarily advanced realm.

“Surrender, you’ve already been defeated,” Zhang Shen stated. A shred of flesh still clung to the end of his iron rod.

Zhang Ta conceded and descended the stage to seek medical attention, persisting would only showcase ignorance of his situation.

***

In the spectator stands.

“My dear in-law, did Zhang Shen execute the Cold Moon Blade Technique just now?” Lin Dongcheng queried Zhang Tianlong, his eyes glinting with delight.

Zhang Tianlong couldn’t help but chuckle, “Indeed, little Shen used the Cold Moon Blade Technique.”

On hearing this, Lin Dongcheng was brimming with joy. He was Lin Yanqing’s father, Zhang Shen’s mother. His trip this time was due to his concern over his grandson’s upcoming match. Yet, the outcome was far beyond his expectations.

“Not only that, Zhang Shen has managed to attain minor mastery over the first four moves of the Cold Moon Blade Technique, and has achieved significant mastery over the first four levels of the Tenfold Power Strike.”

A gasp rippled through the spectators. Attainmening 5th Layer of the Acquired Stage at the tender age of ten was already a marvel in itself. To additionally excel in various martial techniques was a testament to his extraordinary talent.

Standing next to them, Zhang Yanzhu was left in a state of awe and a pang of resentment. The Cloud-Drifting Step, Cold Moon Blade Technique, Tenfold Power Strike, and the primary cultivation technique he practiced, such a comprehensive set of martial art techniques bestowed upon him at such a young age. He himself had to battle for many years on behalf of the family before he could amass such an array of techniques and skills.

Thinking on the grand prize of the competition, the Cold Moon Blade, Zhang Yanzhu’s eyes bulged with envy.

However, what they were oblivious to was, Zhang Shen’s capabilities far surpassed what Zhang Tianlong had disclosed.

If they could glimpse at his status panel, they would discover that the progress of his Acquired top-grade Tenfold Power Strike was 75%, Acquired top-grade Cold Moon Blade Technique stood at 63%, and Acquired mid-grade Cloud-Drifting Step was at 80%.

Upon further scrutiny, they would note that the first seven levels of Tenfold Power Strike were mastered, the eighth level’s progress was 50% (Overall progress 75%) and that the first five moves of Cold Moon Blade Technique were mastered, the sixth move’s progress was 73% (Out of nine moves, overall progress 63%)

In the practice of martial arts, each move and technique could be cultivated independently. Even if the preceding move wasn’t mastered, it didn’t obstruct the cultivation of the subsequent one. This was true for both the Cold Moon Blade Technique and the Tenfold Power Strike.

Take the Tenfold Power Strike, for instance. After reaching minor mastery with the first level, one could commence learning the execution of the second one. The customary approach then entailed perfecting each move afterward.

Most would adhere to this route, as perfecting each move can prove to be time-consuming.

Zhang Shen, however, was an exception. When he trained, his progress bar mirrored his advancements in his martial arts, proving to be far more motivating than a mere intuition of his own progress. Furthermore, prior to perfecting each move, he could bolster his physical form by garnering experience points from his martial art practice.

Cold Moon Blade Technique is a martial technique or martial skill

Bright Moon Technique is the primary cultivation technique for now.