The moonlight shimmered like water.
The emerald-green body of the snake glided through the water, its triangular head parting the waves.
As the ripples spread out, the Green Water Python suddenly burst out of the water, lunging at Tang Wen, who was floating on his back.
Ssshh!
Tang Wen's fist turned black as it collided with the python's head.
The Green Water Python was sent reeling, retreating into the distance.
For a while, there was no further movement.
"You three sparring partners are getting lazier by the day. What use are you?"
In the first half of the month, the three Green Water Pythons had attacked Tang Wen fiercely every night.
But in the latter half, they became sluggish and hesitant in their attacks.
It was clear they had realized they were no match for Tang Wen.
Now, Tang Wen had to lie on the water's surface, feigning exhaustion, just to lure them into attacking.
[Golden Bell Shield, Mastery (2987/3000)]
Just a dozen more points, and he could level up.
But at this critical moment, the Green Water Pythons no longer dared to approach Tang Wen.
Similarly, after a month of relentless underwater training, the Mountain-Cracking Cannon Fist was also on the verge of a breakthrough.
[Mountain-Cracking Cannon Fist, Proficiency (6000/6000)]
Only a bit more effort was needed to break through.
Splash!
Tang Wen stood up in the water, walking as if on solid ground.
The lake, several meters deep, only reached his waist.
"Commander, there are new refugees!" A scout rode up to report.
Tang Wen asked calmly, "How many?"
"At least a thousand, mostly women, children, and the elderly."
Tang Wen shook his head. "Report it. Send people to intercept them. Don't let them near the lake."
"Yes, sir!"
Over the past month, word had somehow spread, and people from nearby villages and mountain strongholds—those who could no longer survive—began gathering toward Flame Camp.
When asked, they simply said they knew there was a lake here.
With a lake and water, perhaps they could survive!
In just a month, tens of thousands had arrived at the lake.
The lake was crucial to the camp's food production and the survival of countless people, so the refugees were not allowed near it.
As a last resort, ten deep wells were dug not far from the lake to provide them with water.
But food became a major issue.
The refugees had little to eat, and the camp certainly couldn't provide for them.
At first, almost every day, people would sneak to the lake to fish.
They weren't just ordinary folk; among them were Martial Apprentices and even Martial Practitioners.
Without exception, they were sent to clear land.
Later, on Tang Wen's suggestion, the camp began actively seeking out strong and able-bodied individuals among the refugees—Martial Apprentices or Martial Practitioners.
They were put to work clearing land, forging, crafting, or hunting.
As long as they completed their tasks on time, they and their families would be given food.
This way, the remaining ordinary refugees posed no threat.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The water churned as if boiling.
Tang Wen unleashed forty-five punches in one breath.
The force of his strikes sent ripples through the lake, and the creatures within avoided the area.
Days passed, and neither day nor night did the three Green Water Pythons reappear.
Three more days later, through sheer effort, Tang Wen pushed his skill experience past the threshold.
[Golden Bell Shield, Mastery → Proficiency (1/6000)]
[Mountain-Cracking Cannon Fist, Proficiency → Expertise (0/12000)]
With the Green Water Pythons no longer showing themselves and the waterwheel operating smoothly, Tang Wen informed General Zhao and left his post by the lake.
Alone, Tang Wen rode Wuzhui, accompanied by two low-level exotic beast donkeys, heading into the southern wilderness.
Traveling south from the hunting squad's base, Wuzhui galloped for most of the day until several undulating stone hills came into view.
"Howl!"
Not far away, a sand wolf howled.
The stones of the hills before him were granite, incredibly hard.
And that was precisely what he was looking for.
Tang Wen removed his shirt, a faint golden light flickering in his eyes as black skin spread across his body.
His entire upper body turned pitch black.
Even his abs transformed into large blocks of chocolate.
Both in color and shape.
Tang Wen focused his mind, attempting to extend the black defense downward.
A few seconds later, the black defense indeed began to descend.
However, in contrast, the black defense around his shoulders and neck started to fade slowly.
He tirelessly tried again and again.
Failure came time after time.
"It seems the maximum is only half the body, and..."
He looked down at his black lower body, his feet completely black.
But it only reached his waist.
And omitted the area between his legs.
No protection for the crucial parts, is that acceptable?
Tang Wen channeled his mental energy, trying to deliberately protect that area.
But whether it was due to skin issues or insufficient cultivation level,
the black defense always avoided the critical area.
After several attempts, he stopped the experiment.
The black defense moved upward, reaching above his neck.
Beyond that, it refused to go any further.
"Alright! It seems my Golden Bell Shield hasn't been fully mastered yet!"
Two vital areas remained unprotected.
Clang!
Facing the mountain wall, he threw a punch.
The black fist collided with the rock, sending stone fragments flying, leaving a deep fist imprint in the hard granite.
As he withdrew his arm, more stone debris crumbled down.
Tang Wen returned to the donkeys, pulling out a Hundred Refinements Dagger. He glanced at it with a hint of regret, removed the wooden handle, and inserted the blade outward into a crevice in the rock wall.
The sharp blade of the dagger gleamed.
It was clear that it could easily disembowel a person.
Tang Wen took a deep breath, his right fist turning black: "Armament Hues!"
Bang!
The fist and the dagger collided head-on.
A slight stinging sensation followed as the dagger was crushed into scrap metal by the immense force of the punch.
His fist returned to its pale color, and Tang Wen examined it closely—not even a scratch.
This punch had been fueled by the Contemplation Method.
This meant that the Golden Bell Shield covering his fist not only numbed the pain but also enhanced the fist's strength!
Moreover, the defense was sufficient to allow him to disarm an opponent of the same level barehanded!
The black color completely faded.
Tang Wen adjusted his breathing.
His gaze calmly fixed on the mountain wall before him.
Years of wind and sand erosion had not smoothed its surface; it felt cold and heavy to the touch.
In his mind, the water surface rippled, creating small waves that grew larger and larger, layer upon layer, transforming into towering waves that engulfed everything...
The wind rises from the tip of the grass, the waves form from the smallest ripples!
Tang Wen struck.
[Mountain-Cracking Cannon Fist, Fifth Form: Dragon Emerges from Water, Ocean Floor Trembles]
Boom!
Like a missile hitting the mountain, a series of explosions erupted.
The black fist, with an almost imperceptible tremor, slammed into the rock wall.
The hard granite, as if made of black tofu, was directly punched through, leaving a deep hole!
Tang Wen pulled his fist out of the hole, opening his palm as countless stone particles drifted away with the wind.
"This is the Vibration Force!"
He assessed his stamina.
This punch consumed even more energy than the explosive strength of the Eight-Armed Divine Fist. It was roughly three times the consumption of a normal burst.
"But this expenditure is worth it!"
Looking at the Black Hole on the stone wall, his excitement surged, and he unleashed a continuous barrage of punches, kicks, elbows, and knees.
Fragments of rock flew everywhere.
It was like a heavy cannon bombarding the mountain.
After a brief pause, he used his back and hips to crash into the mountain.
The warmth of the Contemplation Method flowed through him as Tang Wen leaned heavily against the mountain with his back, causing a large rock to shake loose and slide down from the mountainside.
With a side thrust of his waist, the explosive strength burst forth, shattering the thin stone wall on the side of the mountain!
"The Cannon Fist has broken through, and I've become a first-class Martial Master!"
"I really want to find someone to fight!"
"If I were really only fifteen years old, I'd probably jump to the top of the mountain and shout to the world, 'Who else is there?'"
As he muttered this to himself, Tang Wen laughed.
"Awoo," a wolf howl echoed, much closer than before.
Tang Wen turned his gaze: "A pack of Sand Wolves! Hmm, a good group of opponents."
Now that the fist technique has just been mastered, it's time to test it in actual combat, isn't it?
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