Chapter 2543 — Cutting Off Both Legs Is No Easy Feat

"Formidable it is, but cultivating it is a real nuisance..." Zhao Qibing said with a bitter smile. "The prerequisite is this: to master the Thousand Legs, you must first break your legs—break them nine times, and each time you unleash a single form."

"What? You have to break your legs to cultivate this martial art?" Old Master Zhao was taken aback. "You can't be serious. Isn't that just self-mutilation?"

"It is, but I figure breaking my legs nine times is nothing much, Grandfather. Have you forgotten how many times my legs have already been broken? A few more won't make a difference!" Zhao Qibing said. "Besides, I hear some martial arts even require self-castration to cultivate..."

"Hmm, that's true..." Old Master Zhao nodded. "But not nine times, surely? I recall it was only five? How will you make up the remaining times?"

"Well... I'll just break both my legs myself..." Zhong Yongliang suddenly regretted his words. If only, back at the hotel that time, he had put on more airs with Elder Bi in front of Wei Zhao—perhaps his legs would have been broken once more. Each break counted, and now he had to fret over breaking his legs himself.

"Good, that's the spirit—impressive, truly impressive! That's my grandson!" Old Master Zhao was deeply gratified. He gave a thumbs-up and said, "Qibing, I've been watching you for some time now, and I've noticed you're a child somewhat fond of comfort and pleasure. Though your contributions to our Hidden Zhao family have been great, contributions are contributions. I wasn't sure you could bear the heavy burden of a family, so I hesitated over whether to give you the position of young family head. But today, hearing your words, I know your resolve. You're a child who can endure hardship. The Thousand Legs is formidable—once mastered, your strength will surely surge. Our Hidden Zhao family will have hope for the future!"

Zhao Qibing was both shocked and delighted at his grandfather's words. He had never imagined that this martial art, chosen by pure accident simply because his legs had been broken so many times, would become the very thing that steeled Old Master Zhao's resolve to make him the young family head!

Zhao Qibing counted himself lucky in secret. In truth, if Wei Zhao hadn't broken his legs so many times, he would never have chosen such a self-torturing martial art. It was precisely because his legs had been broken again and again, until he was used to it, that he had ended up this way.

"Grandfather, rest assured, I will cultivate diligently and lead the Hidden Zhao family to glory!" Zhao Qibing said respectfully.

"Mm, then you may go back first. I need to rest!" Old Master Zhao said.

"Ah, just a moment, Grandfather. There's one more important matter I'd like to discuss with you," Zhao Qibing said.

"Oh? What else is there?" Old Master Zhao asked.

"Grandfather, on this trip to the Hidden Yu family, I fell in love at first sight with my uncle's daughter, my cousin Yu Ning. I was wondering—could I ask my uncle for her hand, so that I might marry cousin Yu Ning? That way our families would be doubly bound!" Zhao Qibing said.

"Hmm, I see..." Old Master Zhao showed neither distaste nor delight, only gave a faint nod. "I understand. I'll need to think it over. By rights this is a good thing, but I don't know whether the Hidden Yu family would agree to such a proposal. You know as well as I do that because of the Qi-Gathering Pill affair, our relations with the Hidden Yu family are cordial in appearance only. I was astonished enough that you obtained the martial art this time. If we propose marriage, I fear the Hidden Yu family will refuse, and that would bruise the Hidden Zhao family's dignity. So this matter must be considered at length!"

"Yes, Grandfather, that's why I didn't rashly make the request to the Hidden Yu family directly, but wanted to discuss it with you first." Zhao Qibing's heart skipped a beat. This time he truly meant it. The princess of the Hidden Yu family was not only beautiful, like a woman out of a fairy tale—most importantly, if he married Yu Ning, his position as young family head of the Zhao family would be secure. Wasn't that exactly how it had been with his father, Zhao Guangyin?

"You may go back first. I've heard what you had to say." Old Master Zhao waved his hand, signaling that Zhao Qibing could leave.

"Yes!" Zhao Qibing did not dare say more, and hastily withdrew.

In fact, Old Master Zhao and Zhao Qibing were of the same mind. He too was thinking that if Zhao Qibing could marry Yu Ning, then pushing him into the position would meet far less resistance. So this matter really was worth maneuvering over...

After returning, Zhao Qibing took out the "Thousand Legs" martial art and began studying his own legs. Breaking them nine times—that was a bit too ruthless. Most people could not bring themselves to do it. But to master this martial art, Zhao Qibing had no choice but to break his own legs.

Zhao Qibing found a large hammer. Gritting his teeth, he shut his eyes and swung it at his legs...

"Bang!"

"Awooo—"

Zhao Qibing let out a miserable scream, but his leg did not break. Apart from a bruise, there was no injury at all. He was, after all, an early earth-tier expert now, with true qi protecting his body. When the blow landed, he had instinctively summoned his true qi as a shield. As a result, the hammer struck, the leg did not break, and he was left in agony, cold sweat pouring down.

"Damn it, the pain is killing me! Breaking a leg isn't something just anyone can do!" Zhao Qibing grimaced in pain. He had watched Wei Zhao break his legs so easily before, yet for himself it was no simple matter. So this was a skill in its own right!

Zhao Qibing waited a while, gritted his teeth, raised the hammer again, and brought it down. This time he tried his best to avoid using true qi to shield himself. Another loud "bang," and Zhong Yongliang let out an "awooo," flung the hammer away, clutched his leg, and hopped around on the ground: "It's killing me, killing me, killing your daddy dead! Is it broken this time?"

But after waiting a while, Zhao Qibing found that apart from a swollen lump on his leg, there was no sign of a break at all. His face fell into a worried frown! Why was breaking a leg so difficult? When he had watched Wei Zhao break his legs, it had snapped at once, but when it came to his own turn, it simply wouldn't work...