Martial Arts Powers

Yunyang's Qin Family.

Like the Fang Family, it stood on Half-Mountain Street, only a few miles away. Yet its estate did not even cover half the area of the Fang Family's.

Among Yunyang's Five Great Martial Families—the Shen, Yue, Qin, Zhou, and Chen Families—the Qin Family ranked third. However, the Qin Family was not skilled at business, which was why they had considered a marriage alliance with the Yunyang Richest Fang Family.

Qin Lang hung up the phone, washed his face, grabbed his clothes, and headed out. He ran straight into Qin Muxue, who had just returned from training outside in a white practice uniform.

Qin Muxue was truly beautiful. Tall and over 1.7 meters, her two legs looked exceptionally long. Beads of sweat dotted her jade-like face, while her hair was tied up behind her head, giving her an entirely valiant air.

"Xiaolang, where are you going without eating?"

Qin Muxue looked at the hurried Qin Lang and asked.

"I have something to do. I'm not eating!"

Qin Lang chuckled and stopped. Leaning close to Qin Muxue, he said in a low voice, "Sis, Yang Jihua and the others found Fang Mo. I'm going over there now!"

"What are you looking for him for?"

Qin Muxue's eyes darkened slightly as she asked unhappily.

A resentful expression appeared on Qin Lang's face. "That brat goes around every day saying he's my brother-in-law. Sis, you've already received special admission from Yun Kong Martial Academy. I can't let him damage your reputation!"

Qin Muxue frowned at this and said gravely:

"Stop causing trouble. The engagement has already been called off, so why are you still going to find him?"

"Don't worry about it, Sis!"

Qin Lang waved his hand impatiently and ran outside.

Watching Qin Lang run out the door, Qin Muxue's face filled with concern. She turned to the guard beside her and said:

"Send someone after him. Don't let Xiaolang do anything reckless!"

"Yes, Miss!"

The guard answered and turned to leave.

Qin Muxue took the hot towel handed over by a maid and wiped her hands. Calmly, she said:

"Have the motorcade prepare a car. After I eat, I'm going to the academy. Senior Sister Luo will be visiting the academy today, and I need to accompany her!"

"Miss, you're amazing—you can personally accompany the youngest Grandmaster on the Homeworld!"

The maid immediately said enviously.

"Amazing?"

A proud look appeared on Qin Muxue's face as she murmured, "The youngest Grandmaster? That may not be true in the future!"

In the front courtyard of Tiger Might Martial Arts School, sunlight fell in mottled patches as Fang Mo's figure leaped amid the interwoven light and shadow. Every punch and palm strike seemed to contain the untamed might and power of a mountain tiger.

Sweat rained down, dripping onto the dust-stirred ground.

His movements gradually shifted from fierce and forceful to supple, then erupted from that suppleness with astonishing explosive power. His fist winds whistled like a tiger's roar echoing through the mountains, striking fear into the heart.

With the final move, his body suddenly stilled, his bearing as deep as an abyss and as steadfast as a mountain. The surrounding air seemed frozen by that instant of stillness.

[Tiger Subduing Fist: Initial Glimpse of the Path (1/1000)]

—Within his mind, an ancient Bronze Mirror silently trembled. Golden light shimmered across it, and the inscribed ancient characters seemed to come alive, leaping forth to proclaim that he had entered a whole new realm in the Tiger Subduing Fist Technique.

At that moment, Fang Mo felt as though a warm flood had enveloped him. Enlightenment from the depths of his soul surged forth like a spring.

Every principle of the fist, every understanding of force, rose to unprecedented heights.

That warm current rose from his dantian and traveled through the meridians of his entire body. His bones and tendons were subtly tempered, strengthening his physique as his power quietly climbed.

Fang Mo drew a deep breath, feeling the surging power churning within him. An indescribable joy and sense of accomplishment welled up inside him, as though he had broken from a cocoon into a butterfly, cast off his shackles, and flown toward a broader sky.

Spurred on by the surging power within him, Fang Mo barely rested before immersing himself in fist training once more.

His physical fitness had improved significantly, and both his endurance and training intensity far surpassed what they had been before.

By lunchtime, he had gained another ten points of proficiency.

At the dining table, everyone was discussing "Xiongying Martial Arts School challenging every martial hall in the city."

"I heard the South District Iron Eagle Martial Arts School issued a challenge. They want to sweep through every martial hall in Yunyang!"

"Isn't that too arrogant? Can they really do it?"

"I know a little about it. They say the master of Xiongying Martial Arts School comes from the Eagle Claw Sect. That's a first-class martial arts sect."

Fang Mo asked Ding Zhiyuan beside him, "Senior Brother, is the Eagle Claw Sect really that formidable?"

Ding Zhiyuan's expression turned solemn as he said seriously, "More than formidable—it is one of the Eight Gates among the first-class martial arts sects!" Seeing Fang Mo's blank expression, Ding Zhiyuan was first taken aback, then laughed.

"You actually don't know about the Eight Gates? Well, no wonder. You bury your head in training all day long, so naturally you rarely pay attention to what happens outside."

Fang Mo gave an embarrassed chuckle and pleaded, "Senior Brother, give me the rundown!"

"Alright, then I'll tell you!"

Ding Zhiyuan set down his bowl and chopsticks, his expression grave as he began to explain patiently:

"The martial arts world has clearly defined ranks, from third-class and second-class to first-class, and even Super First-Class. At the peak of the pyramid are four great tiers: One Sect, Three Academies, Five Sects, and Eight Gates."

Seeing the flames of curiosity flickering in Fang Mo's eyes, he explained in simple terms, "One Sect refers solely to the Tianyi Sect. It stands above even the Super First-Class, with hidden dragons and crouching tigers among its disciples and countless powerful experts! I hear it even has Heavenly Human Realm experts!"

"The Heavenly Human Realm? What realm is that?"

Surprise appeared on Fang Mo's face. He seemed never to have heard of this realm.

"Do you never go online?"

Ding Zhiyuan chuckled, then added somewhat helplessly, "The realms progress step by step. After Ming Jin comes Dark Force, then Transformation Force. Above that is the Grandmaster-level Dan Jin, followed by Gang Jin, which is divided into Postnatal and Prenatal. Above Prenatal lies the Heavenly Human Realm."

Ding Zhiyuan's eyes gleamed with longing for those higher realms, while Fang Mo was deeply stirred by this vast martial arts world.

Ding Zhiyuan came back to himself, lightly wiped the corner of his mouth, and continued, "The Three Academies—the Danshi Mountain Buddhist Monastery, Qingyun Mountain Sword Academy, and Wugong Mountain Daoist Academy—are all Super First-Class. Our master comes from the Outer Court of the Danshi Mountain Buddhist Monastery." Lowering his voice, he glanced around before speaking, his words carrying a hint of mystery.

Fang Mo was somewhat surprised. So the master was merely an Outer Court disciple of the Danshi Mountain Buddhist Monastery. An Outer Court disciple was already at Transformation Force—how powerful, then, must Inner Court disciples be?

Ding Zhiyuan continued, "Next, let's talk about the Five Sects!"

"The Five Sects include the Donglai Sword Sect and Crimson Fire Saber Sect, among the five sects. Their strength rivals that of the Three Academies and far surpasses the Eight Gates."

Fang Mo's heart stirred at this. Yue Jian's older sister, Yue Quan, seemed to be a disciple of the Donglai Sword Sect.

"The Eight Gates are the Iron Sword Gate, Five Tigers Broken Saber Gate, Vajra Gate, Five Poisons Gate, Medicine King Gate, Eagle Claw Sect, Iron Finger Gate, and Azure Sea Gate. All eight are first-class powers. Remember this: when traveling outside, if you encounter disciples of these Eight Gates, you must be careful. Though their combat strength cannot compare to the Three Academies and Five Sects, they have many disciples, a mixed bag of good and bad. If you provoke them, it will bring great trouble."

Fang Mo nodded and silently committed it to memory.

He suddenly thought of a question and asked:

"Senior Brother, then why aren't martial academies ranked among these powers?"

Ding Zhiyuan smiled and answered:

"Martial academies are pillars of the Galactic Federation and are not counted among martial arts sects. They train martial arts talent for the Federation. The Twelve Super Martial Academies possess strength comparable to first-class sects, and their influence reaches deep into the military and government!"

Fang Mo suddenly understood. One belonged to the people, while the other belonged to the authorities.

Ding Zhiyuan patted Fang Mo's shoulder and encouraged him:

"If you get the chance, you should still take the martial academy entrance exam! You'll have the opportunity to enter the military. If you can join the Interstellar Expeditionary Force, the resources will be even more abundant."

Fang Mo smiled faintly. It was certainly tempting, but the most important thing now was to become a Mingjin Martial Artist first. Otherwise, everything else was empty talk.