To put it plainly, expanding the original meridians to twice their width means having the potential of two meridians; three times, the potential of three meridians...

However, the toughness of the meridians has its limits. Due to differences in physique and cultivation methods, some people reach their limit at double expansion, while others can expand up to five or six times!

Legend has it that the top geniuses on the continent can expand their meridians to nine times their original width, and thus are called 【Nine-Meridian Talent】!

Almost everyone who has achieved this has become a renowned powerhouse in their region...

The ancestor of the Xu family, who once reached the Grandmaster realm, expanded his meridians to four times their width, making a name for himself at the time.

Currently, the family member with the greatest potential, father Thomas Clark, could only expand his meridians to 3.6 times before he could no longer endure it.

It’s uncertain whether he can achieve such an accomplishment...

With the experience from the previous two attempts, knowing that without enough beast meat or Qi-enhancing liquid as supplements, forcibly breaking through to Martial Artist Level Six would be courting death, Henry Clark finally stopped cultivating and strode toward the Martial Arts Hall.

After the crisis with the Iron-Arm Bear, he realized that relying on just Tiger Fist alone was definitely not enough for hunting. At the very least, he needed to learn some escape techniques; otherwise, if he encountered danger again, he might not be as lucky as last time.

After all, for him, strength wasn’t the most important thing—surviving longer was the true path!

Chapter 014: Turtle Walk, Crane Step

Over ten minutes later, he arrived in front of a spacious building. The three large characters directly ahead, as imposing as long swords, struck awe into the heart—Martial Arts Hall.

Bang bang bang! Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

As soon as he entered, he saw the spacious hall bustling with people, lively and crowded, almost everyone practicing martial arts.

Some were exploring techniques alone, some sparring in groups, and others sitting together discussing... It was quite a lively scene.

He glanced around.

That guy Edward Clark was actually here too.

Ever since they parted ways after eating python meat last time, he had been in seclusion cultivating, and they hadn’t met since.

At this moment, Edward Clark hadn’t noticed his arrival. He was standing in front of the Power Testing Stele, posing like a tiger about to pounce, adjusting his breathing.

Power Testing Stele: a special stone engraved with formations, capable of testing a cultivator’s comprehension of martial arts, as well as a martial artist’s exact strength.

After gathering his strength, Edward Clark moved. Tiger Fist exploded from him, like a leisurely tiger suddenly spotting prey, instantly unleashing his power perfectly.

Bang!

A sound like air bursting rang out. A flash of blue light appeared on the stele’s surface, and two large characters emerged—Mastery!

“He actually cultivated ‘Tiger Fist’ to the mastery level!”

“At the peak of the Body Tempering Realm, and now he’s mastered Tiger Fist. Right now, Edward Clark is no less than Young Chief Henry Clark!”

“I think he might have even surpassed him... I heard that Young Master Edward Clark has already found the barrier to Martial Artist Level Four. If nothing unexpected happens, he’ll break through within a month! But Young Chief Henry Clark seems to have been stuck in place for five years, without any progress at all...”

...

Discussions buzzed all around.

Not bothering with them, Henry Clark showed a hint of surprise in his eyes.

This “little brother” really has some talent!

Even Samuel Clark hadn’t reached the mastery level in Tiger Fist... In his previous life, it was only after his father took him to observe a tiger up close that he gained some insight.

With martial arts comprehension at this level, combined with his cultivation, if he encountered the Tiger-Patterned Azure Python again, he definitely wouldn’t be so badly entangled—he’d easily kill it...

With a sigh, Henry Clark stopped thinking about it and walked to the bookshelf by the wall, searching carefully.

All the martial arts that the younger generation of the Xu family could practice were placed here, for easy access during training.

The most frequently read at the top was naturally “Tiger Fist,” followed by “Rolling Stone Fist,” “Four Seasons Palm,” “Snow-Stepping Sword Technique”...

He skimmed over them, and soon his gaze stopped.

“‘Turtle Walk, Crane Step’? Could it be related to Turtle Origin Technique?”

The book before him was covered in dust, clearly untouched for a long time.

He patted it, took it down, and opened it casually.

“‘Turtle Walk, Crane Step’: once mastered, you can dodge and maneuver like a turtle, without showing any sign of rapid breathing; when moving forward swiftly, you are as graceful as a crane...”

It didn’t have much to do with Turtle Origin Technique—only the name shared the word “turtle.”

“This is it!”

Since no one had touched it, it probably wasn’t a high-level technique. He was only experimenting anyway; if the level was too high, he might not have enough lifespan to burn. Plus, he needed to learn a movement technique, and this one was just right.

He flipped through it carefully and soon memorized the energy circulation route.

Closing his eyes, Henry Clark controlled his true essence, letting it flow along his meridians.

Body damaged, lifespan: -0.01, -0.01, -0.01...

Physical constitution enhanced, lifespan: +0.001, +0.001...

As expected.

The cultivation method had both gains and losses, but overall, the negatives outweighed the positives, which meant it would cause some damage to the body.

With the experience from “Turtle Origin Technique,” this time he modified the energy flow route very quickly, and soon had completely revised it.

Following the modified method, true essence slowly flowed through his meridians, and his lifespan visibly decreased.