Apocalypse: Grinding EXP through Hunting

The fifteen Peak Martial Artists lined up in formation.

Seven in the first row, eight in the second.

Tang Wen stood in the first row.

He didn’t recognize the people on his left or right. Everyone sized him up with a hint of curiosity.

The instructor for the lesson arrived just as they had formed neat rows.

He was a stern-faced middle-aged man:

"The Night Divine Fist isn’t something you can learn just because you want to!"

"Of all the Fist Techniques in the world, the Night Divine Fist is the most difficult."

"While you still have the chance, I advise you to switch to a different Fist Technique. It would be better for you and would save you from wasting my time!"

The middle-aged instructor made no effort to hide his aura.

A First-class Martial Artist.

Only one step away from transformation.

Judging by his age, it was unclear if he had applied for the Protective Marrow Liquid and attempted the transformation already.

"Does anyone want to back out?"

Everyone was silent.

"Very good. But I must tell you, every year, hundreds in the gang become Martial Artists! But in the end, only one in ten becomes a Martial Artist!"

Tang Wen sized up his surroundings from the corner of his eye. He could feel it.

The young and middle-aged Martial Artists had all grown tense, to one degree or another.

Their bodies stood even straighter.

The middle-aged instructor grumbled on for a while longer before finally getting to the point:

"The Night Divine Fist uses darkness as its source."

"Though the Fist Technique is difficult, its power is immense!"

"The Attributes of darkness are: the uncanny, terror, tyranny, and erosion."

"The Fist Technique is the same. The basic power-generating techniques corresponding to the Night Divine Fist include Cannon Fist, Beng Fist, Binding Fist, and Killing Fist..."

The middle-aged instructor explained in detail.

Tang Wen listened intently, thinking, ’This trip was worth it.’

The middle-aged instructor continued, "Starting today, for the next half-month, the fifteen of you will gather here every morning, two hours before dawn!

I will teach you some of the Fist Technique skills one by one.

But let me give you a fair warning: be late even once, and you will never have to come again!"

After the lengthy lecture, the group was finally allowed to enter the Visualization House.

The Visualization House was located in a basement.

Tang Wen stepped inside, not looking at anything else.

First, he counted the number of Visualization Images.

Nine of them!

Both shocked and delighted, he quickly composed himself and began to examine their contents one by one.

The Night Divine Fist had ten moves.

The ones he hadn’t learned were the Third, Seventh, and the final Profound Technique.

’With nine Visualization Images here, surely I can learn the complete Night Divine Fist now?’

"First Form, Second Form..."

He frowned slightly.

The Night Divine Fist before him still lacked the final form.

To be precise, the Eighth and Ninth Forms were also missing.

However, the First through Seventh Forms were all there.

Of the nine Visualization Images, one of the remaining two was the Core Strength Visualization Image.

The last one was a Body Technique—Shadow Netherworld.

’Sounds pretty deadly.’

’There’s no Profound Technique!’

Tang Wen sighed inwardly. Then, wasting no more time, he immediately immersed himself in the last Visualization Image and began to learn the Body Technique.

Speaking of which, Body Techniques were definitely his weak point.

For long range, he had Flying Stone.

For mid-range, he had Flying Blade.

For close range, he had the Shocking Fist Profound Technique!

He even had the Golden Bell Shield for defense.

Only his speed relied solely on continuous bursts of stamina.

In the Visualization Image,

the Shadow Nether Body Technique was displayed.

It moved like a shadow in the dark night, a mass of Ghostly Shadows, impossible to grasp!

Truly worthy of being a Visualization Martial Arts Body Technique.

For several hours, he went over it again and again, imprinting the Contemplation Method into his mind.

He looked at the third Visualization Image.

Night Divine Fist, Third Form—Night Parade of Hundred Demons!

Night Parade of Hundred Demons, much like Night Battle Eight Directions, was a signature move.

It was a move for fighting groups.

After learning this form, he looked at the Night Divine Fist, Seventh Form—Sky-soaring Shock!

After learning the three new Fist Technique moves, he reviewed all the Visualization Images one more time.

He confirmed that their contents were identical to what he had seen at the Four Seas Commerce Association.

With that, he was completely at ease.

After all, the Black Water Gang was founded on the Night Divine Fist!

And at the Four Seas Commerce Association, one could view the Night Divine Fist for a day for one thousand taels!

The two had a direct conflict regarding the inheritance of the Martial Arts.

The possibility that they were colluding to set a trap was minuscule.

Now then, he looked toward the door.

’Time to make some noise.’

From his observations,

hiding one’s strength in the Black Water Gang was useless.

It was better to appropriately reveal some of his talent to fight for the resources he needed.

He went over his plan in his mind.

He double- and triple-checked to ensure there were no obvious oversights.

Then, he pulled open the door and walked straight out.

Hearing the noise, Instructor Sun, who had been waiting outside the door all day, immediately frowned. Seeing Tang Wen come out, he started cursing him out directly:

"You’re the kid called Tang Wen, right?"

"What the hell is going on?!"

"Didn’t I tell you to seize every single minute, every single second?!"

"Did you just let my words go in one ear and out the other?"

"There are still six full minutes left, and you’ve come out early?"

"What, you think those six minutes are beneath you?"

"Let me tell you, when I was learning Fist Techniques through Visualization, I wished I could live in there!"

Instructor Sun was clearly a veteran instructor, and his scolding was fierce.

’Killing the chicken to scare the monkey.’

’Looks like I’m the monkey.’

Tang Wen pursed his lips. He had intended to stir things up anyway.

Instructor Sun’s actions were, in a way, playing right into his hands.

He didn’t rush to rebut.

Six minutes passed in a flash.

The other Martial Artists came out one after another.

They saw Tang Wen getting berated and, after listening for a moment, understood what was happening.

"Who’s this guy? Is he new?"

"Definitely new. He doesn’t even know of the great Iron-Faced Instructor."

"Hehe, I hear he’s a Beast Tamer."

"The new guy. Hasn’t treated us from the Law Enforcement Hall to a trip to Baihua Tower. I hear he’s following a newly promoted Commander."

"No wonder. So he has no connections."

Tang Wen heard every single word of their conversation.

Instructor Sun heard them too. ’So he’s a new guy!’

And so his reprimand became even smoother.

One, two, three...

Tang Wen silently counted the footsteps behind him.

Fourteen people. Everyone was here.

Instructor Sun was still spitting as he yelled.

’Damn it!’

’Why isn’t this kid talking back? It’s no fun chewing him out like this.’

Instructor Sun was used to scolding his disciples and particularly enjoyed disciplining the rebellious ones.

He had just taken on a new class of students and was planning to find a troublemaker among them to properly put in his place.

Unfortunately, over the years, he had built up such a fearsome reputation that the old-timers in the gang all knew better than to cross him.

Only a new guy would be foolish enough to step up.

SWISH!

Tang Wen raised his head, his eyes flashing with a calm light.

"Erk!"

Instructor Sun was inexplicably stunned for a moment.

He only heard Tang Wen say calmly, "Just now, while comprehending the Contemplation Method, I had a small epiphany. I would like to ask the Instructor to critique one of my punches!"

After speaking, he gave no one any time to react.

He lunged forward, visualized, bent his elbow, and threw a punch!

From two meters away, his fist shot straight toward Instructor Sun.

Hah!

Like a large macaque that had suddenly been frightened,

Instructor Sun leaped backward without a second thought.

WHOOSH!

A strong gust of wind swept past.

His black hair whipped about wildly.

His face was filled with shock. After a long moment, he grit his teeth and forced out a few words: "Shadow Kill! You’ve learned it!"

What?

The Martial Artists behind Tang Wen hadn’t yet figured out what had happened.

Expressions of schadenfreude, disdain, and mockery were still frozen on their faces.

They doubted their own ears, turning their heads stiffly, trying to figure out what was going on by looking at their companions’ faces.

Unfortunately, all fourteen of them were now just a bunch of dumb geese.

"Is this your reason for coming out early?" Instructor Sun’s face was ashen.

He stared intently into Tang Wen’s eyes, his fists clenched, and pressed, "This can’t be your first time comprehending the Night Divine Fist, can it!"