Chapter 404: 404

Even though yesterday’s grand banquet from lasted until the dead of the night, Yan Liqiang managed to wake up the next morning before sunrise . After washing up, he went to the garden behind Yan Residence’s courtyard and began his morning training .

Originally, there used to be a bamboo grove outside the Yan Residence’s backyard which did not belong to the Yan Clan at first . However, when the Yan Residence decided to renovate the courtyard last year, Yan Liqiang asked his people to purchase the bamboo grove area and connect it to the backyard, thus transforming it into the Yan Residence’s back garden . This same garden became a convenient place for Yan Liqiang to perform his morning training every day .

The fields in the late autumn mornings would always be covered in layers of drizzly mist, causing dew drops to form on the grass surfaces . Despite the Yan Residence’s back garden which already looked somewhat bleak, the dense bamboo grove was able to transform this area into a place of heaven and earth, making it seem quite secluded .

Yan Liqiang wielded the Dragon Spine Steel large spear of four hundred jin as if he was holding a piece of rice straw in his hand with three fingers pinching the end of the weapon . He then stretched his arm forward before gradually stretching his whole body . The large spear held by only three fingers slowly pierced forward, retracted, and blocked in accordance with his body stretching, and they were all extremely simple movements…

As the saying goes, “While the connoisseur recognizes the artistry, the layman simply enjoys the show . ” At this moment, if Li Hongtu were at Yan Liqiang’s side and saw him using this sort of method to cultivate, he would have turned pale from shock . The weight of the four hundred jin large spear was outrageous . Even if it was an ordinary Martial Warrior, they might not be able to lift up this spear on their own . But for Yan Liqiang to hold it using only his thumb, index finger, and middle finger by grasping the end of the spear, the force of such power was definitely appalling . If one were to borrow a bench vice from the blacksmith workshop to clamp a three meter long, four hundred-jin item by the end and leave it hanging, clamping it without making it fall would always be a problem, let alone holding it with only three fingers .

With Yan Liqiang’s relaxed movements, every action he made seemed to harbor a horrifying degree of power . At that moment, his body had achieved a perfect balance between firmness and flexibility, as well as between Yin and Yang .

Yan Liqiang closed his eyes and raised his spirit to the maximum level . He imagined countless enemies surrounding him with a myriad of weapons brandished at him, and countless hidden weapons and arrows flying in his direction . Yet, he could not see them . All he could do was depend on his feelings and use his long spear to block the incoming hidden weapons, arrows, and swords .

This was the training method that Yan Liqiang had discovered for himself . Whether it was his form or his mind, this sort of training was the fastest method that would allow his body to enter its ultimate state, in turn generating the largest consumption of energy to achieve the greatest temperament . The Muscle Tendon Changing and Marrow Cleansing that would be used to strengthen his body could reach its greatest effectiveness later on .

As expected, after Yan Liqiang had trained for only for half an hour, his body quickly became burning hot, as if there was a stove boiling inside him . The frost condensed on the ground and the bamboo around him melted and immediately evaporated because of the heat generated from his body, thus enveloping Yan Liqiang with a cloud of mist . No one would be able to clearly see Yan Liqiang’s figure from afar . The only thing visible within the hot mist was the long spear that looked like a dragon out of water, flowing high and low…

Yan Liqiang continued to practice with the heavy spear for about forty minutes until he was drenched in sweat . His heart was beating heavily, and his muscles were aching . He then decided to put down the heavy spear and proceeded to cultivate his Muscle Tendon Changing and Marrow Cleansing . As soon as he started his cultivation, a great wave of Heaven and Earth energy surged from every corner before rushing into his body like a bestowment from the top of his head . The mist around him did not vanish — instead, it formed into a vortex and began spinning around Yan Liqiang, which seemed extremely mystical…

After he was done cultivating the first round of Muscle Tendon Changing and Marrow Cleansing, Yan Liqiang could sense that someone had arrived at the back garden . Although he did not open his eyes to see who it was, he knew the person entering the garden was none other than his father, Yan Dechang .

Yan Liqiang did not stop either and continued his cultivation . Yan Dechang arrived to an area about twenty meters in distance from his son . Without uttering a word, he continued to observe the fog surrounding Yan Liqiang .

Yan Liqiang only wrapped up the second round of Muscle Tendon Changing and Marrow Cleansing after he felt the energy of his body and mind fully rejuvenated like a recharged battery, in addition to slightly increasing his energy capacity . After that, he opened his eyes .

The fog surrounding Yan Liqiang slowly disappeared as soon as he wrapped up his cultivation . He then held the Dragon Spine Steel spear in his hand and approached Yan Dechang .

“Father, did you wake up early too?”

“You knew I was coming?” Yan Dechang said as he examined Yan Liqiang from head to toe . There was gratification in his expression, yet at the same time, an indescribable shock could be seen from his face . Even though Yan Dechang was not a warrior and had no prior knowledge in any sort of cultivation, he could still tell from the scenario just now that Yan Liqiang’s cultivation base was definitely no longer the same as it was before — it had already far exceeded than what he had imagined .

“I knew the moment you arrived just now!” Yan Liqiang laughed . He had already instructed Head Steward Zhou and Hu Haihe before that they should not come into the back garden to disturb him whenever he was cultivating his martial arts . Because of that, the only person who could enter the garden at this time would be Yan Dechang .

Yan Dechang’s gaze briefly swept toward the Dragon Spine Steel long spear that Yan Liqiang was wielding . A radiant gleam flashed in his eyes as he said, “That’s a good spear . The quality of the material of this long spear seems special . It’s not some kind of steel and it looks a bit like an alloy…”

“This is a long spear made of Dragon Spine Steel and that is certainly not some ordinary steel!” Yan Liqiang replied .

“Let me try and gauge how heavy it is!” Yan Dechang said as he reached out to hold the spear .

“Be careful, Father . This spear is quite heavy, so you might not be able to wield it with just one hand…” Yan Liqiang cautioned while putting the long spear in an upright position . He placed the end of the spear shaft on the ground first before handing the spear to his father .

“I have never heard of Dragon Spine Steel before!” Yan Dechang said absentmindedly . He continued, “However, it’s just a long spear . How heavy can it be? The hammer I usually swing weighs about a dozen jin . I can still lift up something that weighs a few hundred jin without a problem . ”

The moment Yan Dechang touched the spear made of Dragon Spine Steel, Yan Liqiang released his grip on the spear, allowing it the fall into Yan Dechang’s grasp . In that instant, Yan Dechang’s expression changed . He felt as if he was holding a pillar in his arms, which was falling onto him . Unable to wield the long spear with one hand, he was quickly pressed into retreating a few steps before he promptly managed to balance the falling spear by balancing it with both hands .

Yan Dechang took a deep breath and widened his stance in an attempt to pick up the long spear from the ground once more . However, in doing so, his face became red and his veins violently popped up from his forehead . He only managed to pick up the Dragon Spine Steel spear that fell on the ground by a few inches after struggling for a while…

Upon watching Yan Dechang’s hands trembling from holding the spear, Yan Liqiang quickly took the Dragon Spine Steel spear from his father’s clutches and said, “Be careful, Father . Don’t hurt yourself…”

Yan Dechang gasped for air and puffed from strain . Within a few moments, his forehead was already covered in a layer of sweat . He gazed at Yan Liqiang and watched him wield the long spear with ease as if he was just holding a wooden club . Gasping for breath, Yan Dechang asked, “How… how heavy is this spear?”

“About four hundred jin!”

“Do you use this on a daily basis?”

“It’s not convenient to bring this spear with me all the time, so I only use it during my training!”

“And your current cultivation base is…”

“I have already advanced to Martial Master…” Yan Liqiang calmly replied . He could keep his cultivation base advancement a secret to anyone, but with Yan Dechang, there was no need to hide that fact from him .

“Martial Master!” Yan Dechang gazed at Yan Liqiang, stunned . After he managed to calm down his breathing, he patted Yan Liqiang’s shoulder and said, “Liqiang, you are covered in sweat . Go take a bath and change your clothes first . After that, come to my room . I have something to tell you!”

“Alright!”

Upon watching his father leave, Yan Liqiang felt that his father’s emotions were a bit different today .

Ten minutes later when Yan Liqiang had taken a bath and changed his clothes, he went to Yan Dechang’s room feeling light and refreshed .

Yan Dechang was sitting in his room while waiting for Yan Liqiang with a dark expression on his face . When he saw that Yan Liqiang had arrived, he pointed to the seat next to him and said, “Liqiang, come and sit down!”

Yan Liqiang sat down beside him .

“There’s something I have never told you before . I thought that there would be no hope for us both in this life . But ever since you came back, especially after seeing your archery skills last night, I think now is the time for you to know about it!”

“Father, what do you want to tell me?”

A sorrowful expression was painted on Yan Dechang’s face as he replied, “You must know who you should look for to avenge your mother…”