After the conditioning session ended, thanks to Liu Changfeng’s "special care," Zhao Xuanqi was black and blue all over, looking utterly miserable.

However, Zhao Xuanqi knew this was normal for Cross-Training conditioning. If the body wasn’t broken down as much as possible, it couldn’t rapidly become stronger upon recovery.

After the session, Weng Xiaolin had someone bring over a large wooden barrel. He dissolved three portions of Secret Medicine in water and poured the mixture into the barrel. Then, after having Zhao Xuanqi consume one portion of the Secret Medicine, he had him get into the barrel to continue his Pile Technique practice, soaking in a medicinal bath to heal his injuries and repair his body as quickly as possible.

The three elements of the Martial Dao: Train! Fight! Eat!

Especially during the Cross-Training stage, medicine becomes crucial. Without sufficient medicine, it is very easy to cause permanent damage during this phase of training. This is also why Martial Artists who have mastered Cross-Training are much rarer than those at the Sound Force stage.

The requirements for one’s innate constitution, the need for Secret Medicines, and the necessary mastery of Pile Skill and Qi and Blood are enough to overwhelm the vast majority of Martial Artists!

But it is precisely because of these higher requirements that the Cross-Training stage marks the beginning of a Martial Artist’s journey to acquiring strength far surpassing that of an ordinary person.

An hour later, when Zhao Xuanqi emerged from the wooden barrel, the bruises covering his body had already faded significantly.

"Conditioning with wooden rods is just the most basic method of Cross-Training. Its main purpose is to train your ability to control Qi and Blood through your Pile Technique. In truth, you can perform this conditioning by yourself. Once you’ve grasped the essentials, you can start using training methods like iron sand, post-striking, wooden dummies, and iron dummies to continue your Cross-Training cultivation alone."

"Now, I will teach you the fighting techniques of the Cross-Training stage."

Weng Xiaolin said evenly. The physical training was over; now came the transmission of knowledge.

"The reason the Cross-Training stage allows one to surpass ordinary people is twofold. First, through constant conditioning and physical stimulation, the body becomes so strong that it’s difficult to injure with blades. Second, after completing Cross-Training, a Martial Artist’s Qi and Blood grow powerful, allowing them to grasp a technique called ’Qi Surge’."

As Weng Xiaolin spoke, he waved his hand at Liu Changfeng.

Liu Changfeng removed the top of his Martial Arts Uniform, revealing a powerful, muscular physique.

HAH!!

He let out a sudden, low roar. His body’s Qi and Blood were instantly mobilized, creating the sensation of a torrential river.

BOOM!!

With a muffled boom, his muscles suddenly swelled. Most importantly, his powerful Qi and Blood surged violently, concentrating in his upper body and causing his skin to flush a faint, bloody red.

At the same time, his frame swelled by a full size, transforming him into something like a ferocious beast from the Wilderness.

Blasts of hot air shot from his nostrils, and his massive form radiated an incredibly terrifying pressure.

"This is the ’Qi Surge’ of Cross-Training. When your Qi and Blood are sufficiently powerful and your mastery of the Pile Skill has improved, you can learn to surge and control your Qi and Blood in combat, directing it to specific parts of your body."

"This infusion of Qi and Blood will grant your body greater defensive power, more explosive strength, and the nutrients within will provide you with longer-lasting stamina."

"The extent of one’s Qi Surge depends on their innate constitution. Even at the peak of Cross-Training, an ordinary practitioner of the Tiger Form Fist can only manage to circulate it through their arms, chest, and back. Your Senior Brother Liu, however, was born with Divine Power and a robust constitution, so he can even achieve Qi Surge in his waist and abdomen."

"Remember, if you encounter an opponent out in the world, you can roughly judge their strength by the extent of their Qi Surge. If you run into an expert of this caliber, you must be exceedingly cautious."

Weng Xiaolin said with a grave expression.

"What if the Qi Surge can circulate throughout the entire body?"

Zhao Xuanqi asked.

"That would require the core Secret Transmission of a top-tier Martial Arts School, and it also places extremely strict demands on the practitioner’s innate talents. Even across the entire Divine Land, few can achieve Qi Circulation Throughout the Body during the Cross-Training stage. All of them are candidates to become future Grandmasters. If you ever meet someone who can do that, don’t hesitate. Turn and flee immediately."

Weng Xiaolin said evenly.

Hearing these words, Zhao Xuanqi slightly narrowed his eyes.

’From the Sound Force to the Cross-Training stage, the Hundred Beasts Fist passed down two sets of Pile Skills: the Fierce Form and the Soaring Form. The Fierce Form primarily trains the fists, palms, arms, and upper body, while the Soaring Form focuses on stepping techniques.’

’When the two are combined, the peak of its Cross-Training stage is ’Qi Circulation Throughout the Body’.’

’It seems the Hundred Beasts Fist ranks among the top-tier Martial Dao schools, even in this world.’

...

...

「Hongchang Trading Company.」

Ma Maocheng and Chu Jiaxuan sat in a private office on the third floor of the trading company, holding an intelligence report that had just arrived from Su Sea.

Following a short, handwritten letter was a thin stack of intelligence papers. They contained detailed information about the identities of Zhao Jinwen and Zhao Lingfei. Attached to the end of the file was a black-and-white photograph.

The photograph was a portrait of a family of four. The man was slender, wore glasses, and had a ramrod-straight posture. The woman had short hair, a mole by the corner of her eye, and eyes that crinkled into crescents as she smiled.

At their sides, each holding a hand, were a boy and a girl who looked to be only eleven or twelve years old.

The family looked very close, their smiles warm.

Ma Maocheng’s mood grew heavy. Memories of his time with the couple, Zhao Rong’en and Zhou Minqing, surfaced in his mind. Along with them came the image of that bloody photograph showing the two of them decapitated.

Two hugely influential scholars, fallen under the butcher’s knives of the Warlords. Their once-happy family had been torn apart as a result.

They had already sacrificed far too much for this land.

By all rights, the National Salvation Association should have ensured the safety of their children. But unfortunately, at that time, the Association was being hunted down and suppressed all across the Divine Land. Our organizational structures were in chaos, and we simply couldn’t spare the manpower to see to such matters.

Afterward, they had been doing everything in their power to find Zhao Jinwen and Zhao Lingfei. But the Divine Land was vast; finding two fugitives was far easier said than done.

Now, looking at the faces of Zhao Jinwen and Zhao Lingfei in the picture and comparing them to the appearance of the young man he saw at the Tri-Hall Tournament, he could immediately confirm it: Zhao Qi was the person they were looking for.

"Is it confirmed?"

Chu Jiaxuan asked Ma Maocheng.

"It is. I’m at least eighty percent certain that Zhao Qi is Zhao Jinwen."

Ma Maocheng said, nodding.

"It’s... incredible. The son of those two could actually have such talent for the Martial Dao? It hasn’t even been a year since they fled, has it?" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Chu Jiaxuan couldn’t help but recall the scenes from the Tri-Hall Tournament, a sense of disbelief rising within her.

"I suppose the world is full of surprises,"

Ma Maocheng said, shaking his head.

"Then what should we do now? Since they are the children of those two, we should reestablish contact. Besides, Zhao Qi holds a prominent position in the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall now. It’s a sure thing that he’ll become the fourth to receive the True Inheritance. If we can leverage this connection to win him over, it would be extremely beneficial to our work!"

"As their descendants, they should naturally be on our side."

Chu Jiaxuan said in a low, serious voice.

"I don’t think this matter is that simple."

Recalling Zhao Xuanqi’s performance in the ring and the intelligence he had gathered about him, Ma Maocheng frowned slightly.

"Lately, Zhao Qi has remained within the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall. His sister, Zhao Qin, on the other hand, moved out after staying at the hall for half a month. She still has disciples from the hall protecting her at all times, though. I think, rather than approaching Zhao Qi, it would be better to find a way to contact Zhao Qin first."

Ma Maocheng said after a moment of thought.