“Next, use it to practice the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method. If the hammer breaks, make one yourself.”
Leaving these words behind, Tang Hao returned to his cave again. Only a few simple words, but what he had given Tang San was an even more difficult challenge.
When he first got the hammer, Tang San didn’t feel anything. For three months he had used the several dozen jin forging hammer, now holding this wooden hammer, it was practically light as air.
As he once again swam back to the waterfall, he was a lot more relaxed than before. The wooden hammer was buoyant, and moreover so light, it saved him practically a fifth of the time before he reached the waterfall.
However, when he climbed onto the round rock under the waterfall, he immediately felt something amiss. Under the immense impact of the water, his body swayed, and he was unexpectedly almost smashed onto the rock.
In fact, these three months of training had long since let him stand stable on the round rock like a nail hammered into a board. Having his steps suddenly falter, how could he not be shocked?
Very quickly, Tang San realized the problem. The forging hammer in his hand had turned into a wooden hammer, and the weight was massively different. The center of his gravity as well as his familiarity with the stream of water had all changed.
With different weight, it was naturally even more difficult to stand steadily. Having figured this out, Tang San immediately understood some of his father’s intentions.
Astutely, he didn’t immediately swing the wooden hammer after standing firm, but rather stood there stably, controlling the wooden hammer to swing it softly, feeling the sensation of the wooden hammer in the stream.
The seemingly light as a feather wooden hammer unexpectedly received even greater resistance in the water than the forging hammer from before. It suffered the double influence of its own buoyancy and the water’s impulse, making Tang San’s control even more difficult.
When Tang San felt he could once again stand firmly, he began to use the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method again.
The first and second swings still continued as normal, just not so easy. But when the third swing arrived, the frail wooden hammer snapped the instant it would split the water. One wooden hammer, broken.
From this day on, Tang San entered the second stage of training.
He didn’t have internal strength. Unable to infuse the wooden hammer with internal strength to protect it, what he could do was to control his use of strength as far as possible, controlling the force constantly exerted on the wooden hammer to keep it from breaking under the water. From breaking from his own swings.
The abruptly growing problem didn’t make Tang San shrink back, on the contrary it made his mind even more focused, starting an even more arduous special training.
After nine months.
Within an ear-piercing roar, the tremendous water screen soared up. This time it wasn’t only the part of the waterfall above, but an entire section almost ten meters wide. Under the waterfall, that soaring figure’s whole body twinkled with a bronze radiance, glittering like gold under the sunlight.
Eighty one swings, Tang San had already forgotten how many times this was that he had completed the eighty first swing.
Chapter 133: Hammer Method’s Great Success, Slaughter Energy
Part 1 (TL by Bagelson)
Falling into the pool, feeling the surroundings wrap him up in clear coolness, he did his utmost to relax his body. He knew that, to him, this was only a brief moment of relaxation. He didn’t know what kind of cultivation method his father had in store for him next.
What he held in his hand was no longer the forging hammer sized wooden hammer, but rather a supersized hammer with a hammer head cross section diameter of two meters. And behind this kind of giant wooden hammer, the handle was only the width of a person’s arm.
As could be imagined, if it was only raising an ordinary hammer, perhaps the hammer handle would directly break under its own weight. But Tang San relied on ingenious control of force, using it to complete eighty one swings under the waterfall.
That was such an enormous waterfall’s force of impact, if he didn’t have this kind of giant hammer, how could he have instantly reversed it for ten meters? At this moment, his Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method was already practiced to its pinnacle.
Just as Tang San expected, as he returned to the side of the shore, his father was already waiting there for him. But different from the past, as he prepared to land, his father’s coarse hand appeared in front of him.
After being stunned for a moment, Tang San extended his right hand, clasping his father’s. Tang Hao exerted himself, and Tang San’s body broke through the water, landing in front of him.
Having been here for a full year already, Tang San had clearly become taller. Already close to sixteen, he completely had the body of an adult, and a tall one at that. He also grew more and more like himself in his youth. Even though he still wasn’t sixteen, his face had the resolution even a twenty two or twenty three year old ordinary man might not have.
Resolute, unwavering, persevering. All the excellent intrinsic qualities Clear Sky School’s directly related disciples could possess could be found on him.
Tang Hao was very satisfied with his son’s achievements. Even if he wouldn’t show it.
Without waiting for Tang Hao to do anything, Tang San already took the initiative to place the large sized wooden hammer to the side,
“Dad, what do I use next?”
In one year, he had already adapted to this kind of special training. He could also clearly feel himself improving through this training. In terms of application of strength, Tang San could now be said to have reached the pinnacle. He could even clearly control the path of each fraction of his strength.
Out of the pool, even the most minute force fluctuations couldn’t be hidden from his senses. Even a blade of grass could become a deadly weapon in his hands, even without spirit power.
Tang Hao raised his hand, pointing at the waterfall on the other side of the pool,
“Today you rest. Starting tomorrow, except when you’re cultivating, I don’t want to see the waterfall fall below thirty meters above the pool. Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method can be used head on, but it can also be used to counter, just like when you blocked that Stormwind Demon Wolf Thirty Six Successive Chops from that Feng Xiaotian of the Godwind Academy.”
Tang San looked somewhat nonplussed at Tang Hao,
“Dad, I don’t understand.”
Tang Hao calmly said:
“All the training is in order to let you master the Clear Sky Hammer better, to use your strength better. But if you always train with external objects, you will never be able to directly feel what the Clear Sky Hammer gan give you. Therefore, from tomorrow on, the hammer you will use under the waterfall is your own Clear Sky. You can use spirit power. Let me see just what level you can reach.”
While speaking, Tang Hao raised his hand to poke Tang San’s left shoulder. Tang San felt a great force, and he involuntarily spun around. Immediately afterward, a burning hot big hand stuck to the center of his back. A scalding stream of heat penetrated his body, instantly surging into his dantian. Before Tang San could react, the internal energy within the dantian erupted like a volcano and surged out.
Pushed down by a great force, Tang San unconsciously sat down under Tang Hao’s control.
“Calm your qi, cultivate spirit power.”
The few simple words were Tang Hao’s directions for Tang San. Originally thinking he could truly rest for a day, Tang San didn’t have time to think of anything else. Immediately grabbing the source, he guided the suddenly erupting internal strength within his body to circulate through the route of the Mysterious Heaven Skill.
Mysterious Heaven Skill was originally a kind of gentle inner strength, but right now it suddenly became berserk. Under Tang San’s minute control, it was like a flood bursting through a dam, scouring his incompara
bly durable energy channels.
With internal strength entering his body, Tang San sensed a great deal. The first thing he sensed was his spiritual force controlling his internal strength. Under the tremendous spiritual force effect, even though the rushing internal strength struck with enormous force, he could still manage to control it. The second thing he sensed was the change in his energy channels.
Even though it had already been one year since he had circulated his internal strength, his energy channels seemed to have widened, and moreover turned incomparably durable. No matter how the internal strength attacked, it still had to follow the paths of his energy channels.
The scrubbing under the waterfall was a forging of Tang San’s whole person, physique, energy channels, willpower, mind. One year of dry as dust training had brought unprecedented improvements.
Rupturing sounds constantly echoed within Tang San’s body. That wasn’t the bursting of energy channels, but rather the opening of blockages. In just three short circulations, of Tang San’s eight extraordinary meridians, including the ones already open from before, he had unexpectedly broken through six. Only two meridians still kept their barriers.
With six meridians connected, an even more tremendous internal strength entered, and a feeling like a smelting furnace appeared once again. Only this time, it was one Tang San made himself.
In fact, even Tang Hao didn’t know that in this year under the battering of the waterfall without his internal strength, the three immortal treasure herbs Tang San ate had completed a thorough merging process with his body.
The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Infernal Precious Apricot, as well as the Piercing Gaze Begonia were finally completely fused with his body.
If he followed regular cultivation, this process would require at least ten years of slow absorption to complete. Even though absorbing the three herbs wouldn’t give Tang San any major breakthroughs in internal strength, the degree of pliability and toughness they provided his energy channels, bones and muscles was frightening. Each was brimming with explosive force.
Just like Tang Hao planned, Tang San was walking on the road of being forged into a divine tool.
All the burning heat finally condensed in the center of his back, rolling in reverse. That final point of condensation was precisely where his external spirit bone Eight Spider Lances was. As a spirit bone capable of evolution, Eight Spider Lances would also constantly evolve along with Tang San’s improvements.
The one day became seven days. Tang Hao stood guarding at his son’s side for the full seven days. In seven days, Tang San’s body underwent heaven and earth revolving changes.
On the first day, a layer of gray matter bubbled out of Tang San’s body. On the second day, the grey matter condensed into flakes and began to gradually peel off, exposing pink white skin, and under the skin, Tang Hao saw faint red and blue colors roaming.
And by the end of the seven days, Tang San’s entire body had become sleek like gemstone, to the extent that there even flowed a faint gem like light within him. Nothing in the outside world was important any longer. Tang San’s unprecedented breakthrough was forged from one year of pressure.
Tang Hao of course hadn’t simply sealed his spirit power. This spirit power suppressing trick was one of Clear Sky School’s methods, most suitable to use in the forty to fifty rank range. Originally Tang Hao was prepared to suppress Tang San for two years, but he hadn’t expected Tang San to complete his two year task in only one.
Tang Hao knew that if he continued to suppress it, it might have the reverse effect, therefore he helped him undo the seal today.
Such a method of erupting after suppressing could only be used once in a lifetime.
The timing Tang Hao chose, was undoubtedly the best.
Tang San’s spirit power fluctuations calmed over seven days. As he once again opened his eyes, Tang Hao saw a gentle gaze in Tang San’s eyes.
“Dad.”
Tang San looked at his father.
Tang Hao suddenly swatted him with a palm. Tang San didn’t dare block it, allowing his father’s palm to strike his chest, sending him far into the deep water.
“Wash yourself properly.”
Tang Hao’s voice came from the shore,
“Your spirit power has already reached the fiftieth rank bottleneck.”
While saying this, even if Tang Hao wanted to make his voice calm, he still couldn’t suppress his pleasant surprise.
Fiftieth rank, that’s right, right now Tang San’s spirit power had already reached the fiftieth rank bottleneck. As long as he obtained one more spirit ring, he could directly enter the Spirit King stage.
One year, in one brief year, he had gone from forty second to fiftieth rank. Tang San still wasn’t sixteen, this was something unprecedented in the history of the Spirit Master world.
Even though Tang San also felt he had made enormous breakthroughs, if Tang Hao didn’t tell him, he would still have been unable that the degree of his progress would actually be so terrifying. Eight ranks in one year, even a genius like him wouldn’t dare think of it. In fact, the higher the spirit power, the more difficult the cultivation.
Simply washing himself clean, Tang San once again climbed onto the shore. His first words were unavoidably a question for his father:
“Dad, am I really already fiftieth rank?”
He knew about the six meridians connecting, but his spirit power progressing this tremendously, the feeling of that kind of leap still had him brimming with excitement.
Tang Hao nodded,
“My senses wouldn’t be wrong. You’re already fiftieth ranked. However, don’t be complacent. The later it is, the more troublesome the cultivation. Fiftieth rank to sixtieth rank is a watershed that I originally used five years to cross. I hope you can break through the sixtieth rank boundary before you’re twenty. Your road will be easier after that.”
Part 2 (TL by Bagelson)
“Yes.”
This time, even Tang San saw the change in his father’s mood, Even though he was still instructing him, he still caught that faintly discernable smile on his father’s face.
Fiftieth ranked at sixteen, and possessing two spirit bones. Right now, even sixtieth ranked Spirit Masters could never defeat Tang San.
“Little San, the technique for throwing the Eight Spider Lances fragments you used in the final moment of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, was it your created spirit ability?”
Tang Hao suddenly asked.
Tang San looked distracted a moment, scratching his head, and said:
“More or less.”
He could never say that it wasn’t a technique of this world. In some sense, after reaching this world, Tang Sect’s secret lore could all be considered his created spirit ability.
Tang Hao nodded, saying:
“Those techniques of yours are very good, don’t abandon them. From now on, you will train with the Clear Sky Hammer under the waterfall at night, and make your own plans for the daytime.”
Tang San’s couldn’t help saying:
“Dad, I’m already fiftieth rank, won’t we go look for a fitting spirit ring?”
Tang Hao indifferently said:
“Have you forgotten what Grandmaster taught you? One of his ten great core competitive forces, didn’t it propose that even if a Spirit Master doesn’t obtain a spirit ring after reaching the bottleneck, his spirit power will still constantly be stored, to appear after obtaining the spirit ring. There’s no need for you to fight right now, why rush to obtain a spirit ring?”
Tang San nodded, saying:
“I understand.”
Spirit power reaching the fiftieth rank was also equivalent to Mysterious Heaven Skill reaching the brink of the fifth tier. With stronger internal strength, some hidden weapon techniques that couldn’t be used before could be cultivated. Tang San had never forgotten the hidden weapons he had paid his previous life for. From this day on, like Tang Hao said, he began to
cultivate Mysterious Heaven Skill and hidden weapons in the daytime, and train with the Clear Sky Hammer at night. The process of cultivating Mysterious Heaven Skill was his rest.
Right now Tang San was like a spring powered mechanism, seemingly never resting.
……
Supreme Pontiff Palace.
“Are you really thinking clearly?”
The Supreme Pontiff quietly looked at Hu Liena kneeling in front of her.
Hu Liena nodded firmly,
“Your Holiness. If I can’t break through to some extent somehow, I’m afraid Tang San will catch up to me sooner or later. For Spirit Hall, I’m ready to take the risk.”
Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong’s face grew a lot gentler,
“Actually, you don’t need to do it. You’re already extremely outstanding. Going there to train, there’s a large chance even you won’t return. Wouldn’t it be much better to go cultivate at Death Canyon like Xie Yue and Yan?”
Hu Liena shook her head,
“No. Your Holiness, even though Death Canyon is dangerous, it won’t be able to truly give me the sensation of death. I know you’ve always had Lord Chrysanthemum Douluo protect me in secret. Without truly experiencing the feeling of death, with my talent, I’m afraid I’ll be unable to compare to Tang San later.”
Bibi Dong smiled calmly,
“Even though it’s been two years, you still can’t forget that defeat.”
Hu Liena attentively watched the Supreme Pontiff’s eyes,
“Teacher. Didn’t you say that defeat is the mother of success? If I forgot the defeat, forgot the humiliation, how could I be worthy of your guidance? I hope that when I go there this time, you won’t dispatch anyone to protect me. I will definitely return alive.”
Right now her face didn’t have the slightest hint of seduction, only incomparable resolve.
Bibi Dong reached out to pull Hu Liena from the floor,
“Child. In you, I see the hope for Spirit Hall’s future. Fine, I’ll approve it. But you must remember, you have to return alive. Whether as the Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall, or as your teacher, this is my mission for you, as well as my request. Understand?”
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 236