Shaking the Mountain

At this moment, the refreshed panel seemed to have reached its limit after settling on the brand-new realm.

[Martial Skill: Rock Crushing Palm (Perfection)]

"Is there no continuation?"

Jiang Qinghe frowned slightly. Calming down from his earlier delight, he carefully sensed the changes in his body and consciousness.

In his perception, he had merely crossed that threshold and touched upon the embryonic form of "momentum."

After only a tentative taste, he could delve no deeper.

It seemed that the further realms, the continued tempering and strengthening of this "momentum," could no longer be improved through the Rock Crushing Palm.

"Perhaps this palm technique itself only reaches this level. I'll need higher-grade martial skills to go any further."

A realization dawned on Jiang Qinghe.

"In a few days, I'll raise the other two martial skills to perfection and see!"

The Wind Shaking Saber Technique was likely not much different in level from the Rock Crushing Palm, while the Levitation Technique was clearly of a far higher grade than the other two martial skills.

Jiang Qinghe was already faintly looking forward to what kind of momentum would emerge once both the Levitation Technique and the Wind Shaking Saber Technique reached perfection.

Would these different types of momentum remain separate, or could they fuse together?

"Forget it. There's no use overthinking."

He shook his head, brushing away the fine snowflakes that had silently settled atop his head. "I'll go ask Master to clear up my doubts!"

Jiang Qinghe straightened his clothes and turned to leave the small courtyard.

After eating something simple in the dining hall, he went to the pavilion where Elder Ping lived and softly knocked on the door.

"Master."

"Come in."

Elder Ping's voice came from within.

Jiang Qinghe entered the room and approached Elder Ping.

Elder Ping was puffing on his smoking pipe. He looked up, his gaze settling on Jiang Qinghe as he said leisurely,

"Qing River, how has your Tiger Form Muscle Tendon Strengthening Technique been progressing lately?"

"Master, it has reached Minor Accomplishment."

Jiang Qinghe answered calmly.

Elder Ping's hand holding the pipe visibly paused. Only after several seconds did he slowly nod.

"Mm, well done."

"Master, I have also brought the Rock Crushing Palm to perfection."

Jiang Qinghe added.

"Hm?"

Hearing this, Elder Ping could finally no longer conceal the surprise on his face.

He sprang from his reclining chair, tossing the smoking pipe steadily onto a nearby table.

Then his right palm shot forward like lightning, striking toward Jiang Qinghe's chest.

Neither Dodging Nor Evading, Jiang Qinghe met the attack with equal speed.

Bang!

The full-force palm strike containing the embryonic form of momentum seemed, the instant it met Elder Ping's palm, to slam into an invisible yet indestructible wall.

A whirlwind burst between their palms, scattering the fine dust on the floor and making even the nearby table tremble slightly.

Jiang Qinghe staggered back three steps, his blood and qi churning within him.

He felt that the moment his strength, momentum, and speed came into contact with the other man, they were all dissolved and suppressed.

Though he had wound himself up to use ten parts of his strength, he had not even managed to unleash seven.

"Not bad!"

A smile appeared on Elder Ping's face.

To initially grasp the embryonic form of momentum while still at the tendon-strengthening stage—such talent... The appreciation in his gaze toward Jiang Qinghe was utterly undisguised.

"Qing River, your comprehension far exceeds this master's expectations."

Jiang Qinghe said respectfully,

"I only happened to gain some insight while practicing my palm technique this morning. A flash of inspiration came to me, and I broke through by chance."

"Yet the path of momentum is profound and unfathomable. This disciple has only just glimpsed the doorway and has many doubts and confusions in his heart. That is why I hurried here to seek Master's guidance."

"Mm."

Elder Ping nodded in satisfaction, stroking his beard as his eyes deepened. He began clearing up his beloved disciple's doubts.

"Qing River, momentum is the pressure manifested when a Martial Practitioner's essence, qi, and spirit are highly condensed, and their martial will is elevated. Generally speaking, only by cultivating a martial art to perfection and obtaining its essence can one touch upon the embryonic form of momentum."

He paused, then continued,

"And this embryonic form is merely the beginning. Beyond it lie the more profound First Level Momentum and Second Level Momentum."

Elder Ping continued his patient explanation.

"When you exchanged blows with this master just now, did you feel as though, before me, you could not bring out even seventy percent of your strength? As though you were constrained at every turn, unable to let your power flow freely?"

After thinking it over, Jiang Qinghe came to a realization.

"Master, that is because within the range of your momentum, those who possess no momentum, or whose momentum is of a lower level than yours, will be suppressed."

"Correct!"

Elder Ping nodded.

"That is the suppression of momentum. The instant our momentums touched, superiority and inferiority were decided. Within the range covered by this master's First Level Momentum, any Martial Practitioner who possesses no momentum, or whose momentum is of a lower level than mine, will suffer complete suppression in strength, speed, reactions, and even their state of mind!"

He extended a finger and tapped lightly at the air.

"Take Martial Practitioners without momentum as the standard. If you grasp the embryonic form of momentum, you can suppress about five percent of their strength. After comprehending First Level Momentum, you can suppress as much as thirty percent. If you reach Second Level Momentum, they may not even be able to bring out half their strength."

Jiang Qinghe asked curiously,

"Master, what realm lies above the second level?"

Hearing this, Elder Ping instinctively revealed a longing expression.

"Condensing one's own Martial Path True Intent!"

Then he laughed and scolded,

"You brat, don't aim too high. The path of momentum alone will take you countless hours to explore."

"Alright. Since you have already cultivated the Rock Crushing Palm to perfection and comprehended the embryonic form of momentum, while your Tiger Form Muscle Tendon Strengthening Technique has also entered Minor Accomplishment, your foundation is now stable. Today, this master will formally teach you the Mountain Shaking Palm!"

"Mountain Shaking Palm?"

Jiang Qinghe perked up, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"Correct!"

Elder Ping said solemnly,

"This palm technique is fierce and sharp. It focuses on using overwhelming explosive force to break through an opponent's defenses and crush them."

"However, it carries a concussive effect. If one's Cultivation Level is insufficient, it can easily damage the tendons and bones. Thus, one may only cultivate it after achieving success in tendon strengthening, using the fascia throughout the body to dissipate the force of the backlash."

"The Rock Crushing Palm is the foundational chapter of the Mountain Shaking Palm. The two come from the same source; their circulation of power and methods of exertion are passed down through the same meridian. Since your Rock Crushing Palm has already reached the pinnacle, with that foundation, cultivating the Mountain Shaking Palm will yield twice the result with half the effort."

Master and disciple walked into the rear courtyard behind the pavilion.

"Watch carefully!"

Elder Ping's aura suddenly changed!

Standing amid the snow, he slowly raised his right palm. The movement appeared unhurried, yet it carried a peculiar rhythm.

As his palm subtly curved inward, an invisible force gathered, compressed, and condensed along its edge.

"Shock!"

A low, vast humming sound arose. The ground faintly trembled, and the accumulated snow was swept up, gathering into an enormous snowball.

As he thrust out his palm, the air before him was compressed without cease before finally exploding, blasting into the snowball and scattering it apart.

At that moment, an open patch of ground without snow, one zhang square, formed around Elder Ping.

"This is the Shock-Character True Intent of the Mountain Shaking Palm. Power held within, piercing straight through to the source."

There was a trace of majesty in Elder Ping's voice.

"Qing River, remember this feeling. Gather all the strength of your body at a single point, erupt in an instant, and unleash shockwaves capable of destroying everything."

"When you cultivate this palm to perfection, your comprehension and control of momentum will surely rise to another level. At that time, like this master, you will step into the realm of First Level Momentum."