Chapter 93 - 88 Pointers on Fist Skill! Demons Lurk!_2

This kind of thing was not the first time.

Gu Sheng felt a trace of warmth in his heart. Gu Xiaojiang, despite his cold exterior, had a fiery and sincere nature. Once familiar with him, one would find he was actually a straightforward young man.

"Then let’s spar!"

Gu Sheng laughed heartily. He had been considering how to give Gu Xiaojiang some pointers, and now the opportunity had arrived.

The two stood facing each other, focusing their minds, their auras shifting like a steadfast rock anchoring a river.

The next instant.

With two spirited shouts, one black and one blue figure charged toward each other at lightning speed. They limited their sparring to fist techniques. Gu Xiaojiang deliberately restrained his strength to avoid overpowering Gu Sheng, and Gu Sheng did the same, controlling his level with precision, maintaining it at the level of an average adult.

Especially with Iron Stone Fist, Gu Sheng kept his skill within the entry-level to Small Success stage.

Bang, bang, bang!!

The muffled sounds of fists and feet colliding echoed incessantly through the courtyard. The whistling of fist winds could be heard as the two figures crossed paths repeatedly. Gu Xiaojiang’s eyes were filled with amazement, and he couldn’t help but burst into laughter, saying:

"Asheng, I didn’t expect your Iron Stone Fist progress to be this fast. Truly impressive—hard work pays off, hard work does pay off!"

He threw a punch, muscles bulging, his arm like an iron chain spanning a river, swinging horizontally at Gu Sheng, generating a fierce gust of wind.

Gu Sheng laughed aloud:

"Enough with the flattery—take this punch!"

Gu Sheng was highly perceptive; Gu Xiaojiang’s current realm was completely transparent before him. Every flaw and subtlety was discernible with clarity.

Launching forward like a rampaging tiger, his body seemed as if heavy mountains were pressing down. It appeared riddled with openings, yet beneath the surface, only Gu Sheng himself knew the secret—his force directly swept toward the point of Gu Xiaojiang’s power transition.

To elevate Iron Stone Fist to the Great Achievement Realm only required mastering one specific punch variation. Once grasped, refining the rest would be straightforward.

The two sparred endlessly; Gu Sheng was at a slight disadvantage.

"Try my ultimate technique—Force King Stone Toss!"

Gu Sheng shouted fiercely, his expression solemn. His waist bent like a trebuchet, and his fists transformed into boulders, hurling forward vigorously, smashing toward Gu Xiaojiang.

Gu Xiaojiang, who had previously held the upper hand, suddenly froze. He found Gu Sheng’s move unexpectedly ferocious, causing his heart to waver. Without thinking, he instinctively employed a ’training method’ move. Similarly an iron fist crossing the river, yet this time, it was strikingly different—his arm wrapped around Gu Sheng’s boulder-like fists, unwinding their force and neutralizing the attack with ease.

Switching from a striking technique to a training method—achieved in an instant.

Gu Xiaojiang’s mind felt as though struck by lightning, his thoughts surging with inspiration. He stood dazed on the spot.

Gu Sheng’s punches remained relentless. Seeing Gu Xiaojiang stop fighting mid-sparring, Gu Sheng felt a sense of gratification but feigned irritation:

"Xiao Jiang, you can’t just stop like this! I’m just getting into the mood—Force King Stone Toss is my strongest move!"

Gu Xiaojiang seemed oblivious, merely staring blankly at his own hands. Dazed, he murmured:

"Asheng... I—I think I just achieved enlightenment..."

His eyes lit up with joy, and he suddenly burst into laughter.

"Asheng, I’ve found it! I’ve discovered the sensation needed to break through Iron Stone Fist into the Great Achievement Realm!"

"I can’t spar anymore right now—I’m going to find Uncle Vajra to confirm this! I’ll leave now. Once I’ve reached the Great Achievement Realm, I’ll come back and train with you again!"

Gu Xiaojiang suddenly dashed out, in a rush as if fearing the fleeting inspiration might dissipate.

Watching the frantic Gu Xiaojiang disappear, the mock displeasure on Gu Sheng’s face gradually faded, replaced with a smile of amusement. He shook his head and chuckled:

"That boy... his comprehension isn’t bad. Looks like, in a while, he’ll likely achieve a breakthrough to Iron Stone Fist’s Great Achievement Realm."

Originally, Gu Sheng thought he might need to stealthily push Xiao Jiang a few more times. Unexpectedly, Gu Xiaojiang’s accumulation was deeply substantial, proving his half-year of diligent training wasn’t inferior to Gu Sheng’s own efforts. Xiao Jiang harbored ambition, talent, and dedication—all the ingredients for great future achievements.

Returning kindness with kindness.

Those who show me goodwill—I will reciprocate with goodwill in turn.

This had always been Gu Sheng’s principle. Since Gu Xiaojiang treated him sincerely, Gu Sheng didn’t mind providing subtle guidance whenever possible without revealing too much.

Tipping his head back, he took a swig of wine. A pleasant sensation rose within Gu Sheng’s heart, and he laughed aloud, continuing his own practice!

Persistent training leads to bold breakthroughs!

...

Year Two of Guangxing.

A new year had arrived—the second year of the new emperor’s reign.

For the common folk, their perception of this far-off supreme ruler wasn’t bad. At the very least, he had granted them another year of relatively stable life. Now, with the arrival of spring, if luck held and there was a bountiful harvest, the cycle of surviving another year would continue.

In short.

To live is to hope.

But for the people of Canghe County, the more significant matter was—

The former County Magistrate Liu Yuanhu had become the acting County Prefect of Canghe County, simultaneously retaining his role as County Magistrate.

This was unprecedented.

A single individual holding both the positions of County Magistrate and County Prefect meant controlling the military and administrative power of an entire county.

Though it didn’t imply an autonomous state, it highlighted the current dynasty’s inability to oversee local regions effectively.

Liu Yuanhu had effectively become the local emperor of Canghe County—a true local emperor in every sense.

When Gu Sheng learned of this news, he remained silent for a long time.

Although it was unclear how much Liu Yuanhu had sacrificed to prevent the capital from assigning a new Prefect, one thing was certain—two tigers cannot share a mountain. Liu Yuanhu would not tolerate the Black Sand Gang growing beneath his nose without restraint.

Gu Sheng had a premonition.

Within one to two years, these two forces would inevitably clash.

Furthermore, it was foreseeable that from this point onward, peace in Canghe County would steadily decline. Minor skirmishes between the factions would surely escalate, drawing in other forces as well.