Chapter 90 - 74: Weathering the Storm, Sharing Hardships

Chapter 90: Chapter 74: Weathering the Storm, Sharing Hardships

"Please rest assured, Captain Zheng! I will weather any storm and stand by your side through thick and thin!" In the private room of the Rejuvenating Building, Xu Tianfang pointed three fingers toward the sky, swearing an oath to the heavens to express his absolute loyalty to Zheng Jun.

Watching from the side, the fat man with a face full of fierce flesh couldn’t help but click his tongue. It was his first time seeing his master act like this. Normally, his master was stern and unsmiling. Even when interacting with other Qi Storage martial artists, he always carried himself with perfect composure. Why was he acting like this now? Was it simply because Zheng Jun was influential and possessed formidable strength?

The fat man felt a twinge of disdain in his heart. He considered himself an iron-boned, unyielding man who lived by the motto: *How could I bow and scrape to the powerful and betray my own happiness?* He would never stoop to such blatant flattery!

Just then, Xu Tianfang suddenly called out, "Zhilei, come toast Captain Zheng with a cup of wine!"

"Coming!" Upon hearing this, the fat man instantly changed his tune. Wearing an obsequious smile, he raised his cup and gave Zheng Jun a shameless, sycophantic grin. "Captain Zheng, with this cup of wine, I wish for your Martial Arts to flourish forever and your career to enjoy a meteoric rise! Bottoms up!" With that, he downed the wine in one gulp.

"Not bad," Zheng Jun nodded. "I used to visit the Xu Family Martial Arts Hall often, yet I didn’t know you had such skills. From now on, after you finish practicing the new recruits’ military array every day, you and your master can come act as my sparring partners. When I have time, I can also give you some pointers on the Iron Sand Demon Suppression Skill."

Truthfully, Xu Tianfang’s willingness to join the Tongzhou Association was a convenient development for Zheng Jun. At the very least, he now had a steady source of proficiency points while practicing Martial Arts in the Qi Storage stage. Real combat would always increase his progress much faster than empty practice.

"Being able to spar with Captain Zheng is absolutely my honor!" The fat man nodded earnestly, looking as if he had just received a massive boon.

In his heart, however, he scoffed, "I’ve practiced these horizontal training skills since childhood, and I have mastered the Iron Sand Demon Suppression Skill to perfection. Although Captain Zheng is a Martial Arts Pride with formidable strength, could his mastery of this specific skill really be higher than mine?"

Seeing the crowd’s reaction, Zheng Jun—though unaware of the fat man’s exact thoughts—felt a surge of interest. He looked around the room and announced, "Come on, each of you hit me once! Let me show you my horizontal training skills!"

Aside from himself, Xu Tianfang was the only Qi Storage martial artist present. The rest were all in the Blood Refining realm. Therefore, Zheng Jun was exceptionally confident. Had everyone present been at the Qi Storage realm, he naturally wouldn’t have made such an offer.

Hearing Zheng Jun’s words, Xu Tianfang’s heart gave a sudden THUMP, and a familiar, ominous chill welled up within him. This pitch sounded eerily familiar...

"Ah?" Du Ding—the top apprentice of the Ma Family Fist Martial Arts Hall and current vice crew leader of the Black Mountain Guard’s personal soldier squad—was taken aback. He hesitated, saying, "Captain, your might is divine. Your humble subordinate wouldn’t dare strike you."

Hearing Du Ding’s response, Ma Zhiyuan immediately scolded him in a low voice. "If he tells you to attack, then attack! What are you afraid of? The Captain is incredibly formidable. Do you actually think you could hurt him?"

Seeing this, Zheng Jun chuckled lightly. "It’s fine. Vice Crew Leader Du simply doesn’t know me well enough."

With that, Zheng Jun stood up from the table. He merely loosened his joints, and in the next moment, profound True Qi erupted from his limbs and bones. A faint, dark metallic hue instantly surfaced on his skin, his muscles bulging until they were as solid as iron walls.

Seeing this, the fierce-faced fat man froze, instinctively blurting out, "The Iron Sand Demon Suppression Skill? How is this possible?!"

As a cultivator who had practiced this art since childhood, Zhilei was all too familiar with it. The moment he saw Zheng Jun execute the technique, he was completely dumbfounded, his expression changing drastically. Zheng Jun’s progress in the Iron Sand Demon Suppression Skill was actually faster than his own! How could this be possible?!

Meanwhile, Xu Tianfang suddenly felt a bone-piercing chill creep up his spine, making him shudder. How many days had it been since he gave Captain Zheng the secret manual for the Iron Sand Demon Suppression Skill? And Captain Zheng was already this proficient?! His level of cultivation was even on par with his own!

Momentarily losing the light in his eyes, Xu Tianfang staggered back a step and collapsed into his chair, looking thoroughly defeated. For him, this blow was far heavier than simply being surpassed in realm. After all, he had always comforted himself by thinking that an advancement in Martial Arts realm only meant the other party’s cultivation talent was higher. Horizontal training skills, however, required more than just talent; they demanded one to endure immense physical suffering.

Even with extraordinary talent, Captain Zheng should have needed years of painstaking effort to cultivate the Iron Sand Demon Suppression Skill to this level. But now, it hadn’t even been a month. What kind of terrifying comprehension and talent was this?

Xu Tianfang deeply regretted his rash decision earlier in the day. He should have clung to Zheng Jun shamelessly! Even if it meant kneeling and kowtowing, he should have offered to work like a horse for such a Martial Arts Pride!

"Don’t misunderstand, everyone. I’m not a masochist begging to be beaten," Zheng Jun smiled lightly, speaking in a casual tone. "It’s just that my recent cultivation of the Iron Sand Demon Suppression Skill has yielded quite some results, and I want to test them. Please, feel free to attack me, and let me see what you’re all capable of."

Xu Tianfang and the fat man, who both deeply understood the brutal nature of the Iron Sand Demon Suppression Skill, forced stiff, awkward smiles.

Du Ding, however, didn’t know what the skill truly entailed. He only caught the words ’see what you’re all capable of.’ Eager to prove himself, he immediately jumped forward and said, "In that case, this humble subordinate will be so bold."

Zheng Jun nodded in acknowledgment, and the rest of the men quickly stepped aside to clear the room.