Breaking Through Hidden Strength

Yang Jing made up his mind. He decided that if necessary, he would stay up all night to break through to Hidden Strength as soon as possible. Fortunately, he still had a pound of bear meat and a pound of tiger meat at home, which would be enough for his nutritional needs that night.

He took a deep breath and was about to walk to the center of the courtyard to assume his stance when he heard "dong, dong, dong" knocking on the gate.

The night was deep, and the knocking sounded exceptionally clear in the silent ward.

Yang Jing's movements paused, and his brow furrowed. Who would come looking for him at this hour?

He immediately became vigilant. With a cold expression, he walked to the gate, his fingertips resting on the latch. He peeked through the gap in the door.

Outside the gate stood a burly man in short attire. His eyes, however, were restless, scanning the courtyard through the gap as if searching for something. At that moment, his gaze met Yang Jing's, startling the man.

"Excuse me, is this Coach Li's home?" the man asked, his voice hoarse but with a deliberately casual tone that Yang Jing recognized.

Yang Jing's fingertips tightened. "No, you've got the wrong place," he said in a deep voice.

The man replied with an "Oh," but then paused before turning towards the alley entrance. His steps were sluggish, but as he was about to turn the corner, he quickly glanced back at the gate.

Yang Jing checked the latch before turning around and leaning against the door, a thin sheen of sweat on his palms.

The man's eyes were wrong. He was clearly probing, not looking for the wrong house.

Most of the residents nearby were ordinary people. Who was this "Coach Li"?

Recalling the recent activities of the Righteousness Gang in several wards on the west side, his lingering doubts instantly turned into a chill.

Regardless of whether the person was from the Righteousness Gang or not, this probing was definitely not a good sign.

He walked to the center of the courtyard, the moonlight casting a cold glow on the ground.

"I can't wait any longer."

Yang Jing muttered to himself, clenching his fists.

The Blood Essence within him seemed to churn with the sudden sense of crisis.

He then lowered his stance and rooted himself, his Mountain Collapse Fist shadows stretching in the moonlight, each move more fluid than before.

The medicinal properties of the tiger meat continued to surge within him, merging with his Blood Essence and flowing slowly through his meridians.

He executed a "Pushing Mountain Stance," and before his fist even arrived, the air in front of him vibrated slightly under the pressure.

Just as his punch was nearing its end, a faint "pop" sound came from within him, as if an invisible membrane had been broken.

In that instant, Yang Jing's entire body trembled, his pores seemingly opening up.

The force that had been stagnant in his shoulders and arms suddenly became unimpeded, flowing through his bones and spreading to his fingertips. Even his breathing became long and deep.

He could clearly feel every muscle contraction, every surge of Blood Essence, all under his control.

When punching, he could concentrate his force within three inches of his fist.

When retracting his fist, he could draw back his Inner Force like flowing water, without losing a single bit.

The sense of completeness that he had always felt was just a little bit short was now finally filled.

His limbs felt as if they had been soaked in warm water, filled with explosive power, yet possessing an unprecedented coordination and agility.

He looked down at his fist, his knuckles distinct, yet it felt as if he could grip a much heavier weight than before.

Peak Bright Strength!

This was the feeling of peak Bright Strength.

After months of unremitting hard training, he had finally reached peak Bright Strength today.

Yang Jing stood in the center of the courtyard, his chest rising and falling slightly, his eyes shining with an astonishing brilliance.

He didn't stop, merely adjusted his breathing and resumed his starting stance.

The fist wind of Mountain Collapse Fist was still fierce, but now it carried a sense of effortless composure, as if each punch could shatter the void before him.

He was only one step away from Hidden Strength.

Time ticked by.

The night deepened, and the moonlight in the courtyard grew clearer, casting a long shadow of Yang Jing.

He practiced Mountain Collapse Fist over and over again. The fist wind whistled, but he no longer focused on fierceness, gradually developing a sense of "heaviness."

When his foot landed, it was no longer a heavy thud on the ground, but like a stone sinking into still water, quietly seeping its force into the earth. Even the moss at the corner of the courtyard seemed to be stirred by this Inner Force, trembling slightly.

Yang Jing practiced Mountain Collapse Fist for two full hours, losing count of how many times he had performed it.

When he executed the "Mountain Collapse Stance" again, his fist was still an inch away from the old locust tree in the courtyard. The bark inexplicably cracked, and a few dry leaves fluttered down.

"It's done!"

Yang Jing's heart stirred. His fist didn't stop. He felt the force within him, which had previously surged like a river, suddenly sink like an undertow deep within a riverbed.

Previously, when exerting Bright Strength, his muscles would bulge, his Blood Essence would surge, and every ounce of his strength was displayed openly.

Now, it was different. The force seemed to hide within the gaps of his bones and muscles. It was still when not in motion, but when it moved, it flowed along the meridians with a "penetrating" force.

He tried lifting his wrist lightly, pointing his fingertip at the stone table in the distance.

No gust of wind passed, but moments later, a small patch of stone flakes silently chipped off the edge of the stone table.

If this force were to land on a person, it would be the ruthless power that penetrates flesh and blood, reaching directly to the internal organs.

"This is Hidden Strength," Yang Jing muttered to himself, placing a hand on his chest.

During Bright Strength, he could clearly feel the powerful throb of his heart beating against his ribs.

But now, he could "hear" the subtle sound of blood flowing through his veins, "feel" the gentle breeze stirred by passersby outside the courtyard wall, and even "touch" the moist earth several feet underground through the soles of his shoes.

The power of Hidden Strength wasn't just about a little more force than Bright Strength; it was about "control" and "penetration."

Bright Strength was like chopping wood: one swing, and the result was clear.

Hidden Strength, however, was like embroidery, able to twist force into threads, landing precisely where it needed to go, like threading a needle.

Take that feint just now, for example. It seemed casual, but it was actually the condensation of inner force at the fingertip, projected through empty space. This was something Bright Strength could never achieve.

When he swung his fist again, the surface of his fist sliced through the air, the sound of the wind significantly quieter. Yet, when it landed on the old locust tree, it wasn't a jarring impact that shook the trunk. Instead, the entire tree trembled subtly from its roots, as if a force had silently seeped into the deep earth along the trunk.

Under the moonlight, Yang Jing stood still, eyes gently closed, breathing slowly.

He knew he had crossed the mountain that trapped countless martial artists, not by brute force, which would have severely injured him if he failed, but naturally, like a stream flowing over pebbles, he had reached the realm of Hidden Strength.

"Finally, Hidden Strength."

Yang Jing slowly opened his eyes, feeling an indescribable sense of exhilaration flow through his entire body, as if all the stagnant energy that had been suppressed for so long had dispersed.

Feeling an unprecedented sense of power radiating from his body, an irrepressible excitement surged from the depths of his heart.

He tilted his head back, gazing at the bright moon hanging high in the sky, and couldn't help but let out a low chuckle.

The pressure and vigilance of the past few days vanished at this moment.

The Righteousness Gang? They only had two peak Bright Strength practitioners.

Now that he had entered Hidden Strength, dealing with the Righteousness Gang wouldn't require much effort. If he truly decided to act, destroying that group wouldn't be difficult.

"If they behave themselves, fine. But if they dare to come looking for trouble..." A cold glint flashed in Yang Jing's eyes.

The heavy stone in his heart finally landed, and he felt much lighter.

He turned and fetched a bucket of well water, taking a refreshing bath to wash away the sweat and fatigue.

After changing into clean clothes and lying on his bed, he felt a profound comfort in every part of his body.

The moonlight from outside streamed through the window lattice, illuminating the edge of the bed.

Yang Jing closed his eyes. Gone were the tension and vigilance of the past. His mind was no longer filled with martial arts techniques or the shadow of the Righteousness Gang, but with the solid peace and security that came after breaking through to Hidden Strength.

"Finally, I can get a good night's sleep."

The next day, early morning.

Wazi Township, Ning Family, study.

Incense smoke curled upwards.

Ning Xuezhi, the head of the Ning family, sat behind a pear wood desk, looking through account books.

"Master! Master! Great news!"

The butler Li Zhong's voice was filled with irrepressible excitement, his voice arriving before he did.

Behind him followed a panting young servant, the personal attendant of the Ning family's second young master, Ning Wenbo.

Ning Xuezhi put down the account book and looked up. "What's all the fuss about?"

Before Steward Li could speak, the servant stepped forward, bowed, and said excitedly, "Reporting to Master! Second Young Master, Second Young Master broke through yesterday! He has now successfully entered the realm of Inner Force and is a Bright Strength expert!"

"What?!" Ning Xuezhi shot up from his seat, the account book in his hand falling onto the desk with a 'snap'.

He strode quickly to the servant, his voice trembling slightly. "Say that again? Wenbo... entered the realm of Inner Force?"

"Absolutely true!" the servant quickly replied. "Head of Weiyuan Martial Arts School, Master Wang, personally confirmed it. Young Master has now cultivated Inner Force and is a genuine Bright Strength martial artist!"

"Second Young Master is truly promising. He succeeded on his third breakthrough attempt. That was close," Li Zhong said happily. "Master, all your efforts over the years sending Second Young Master to train at martial arts schools in the city were not in vain."

Generally, martial arts schools had rules: disciples who failed to enter the realm of Inner Force within six months or a year had to leave.

However, there were exceptions. Ning Wenbo, the Ning family's second young master, had been at Weiyuan Martial Arts School for two to three years. This was partly because the Ning family had ample funds, and partly because Ning Xuezhi had pulled many strings.

Hearing the words of Steward Li Zhong and the servant, the wrinkles on Ning Xuezhi's face instantly smoothed out, and an indescribable sense of satisfaction and excitement surged through him.

He slapped his thigh heavily. "Good! Good! My son is truly promising!"

In the path of martial arts, talent was the foundation.

Among the younger generation of the Ning family, only the second son, Ning Wenbo, had been tested to have low-grade root bone. Although not outstanding, he was the Ning family's only hope.

Over the years, he had specifically sent his son to Weiyuan Martial Arts School in the city, hired famous masters at great expense to guide him, and continuously supplied him with nourishing medicinal herbs, all in the hope that his son would enter the realm of Inner Force. Now, his wish had finally been granted.

He knew better than anyone what a Bright Strength martial artist meant to a gentry family.

It was the confidence to protect their home and business, the capital to establish a firm footing in the local community.

Previously, Yang Jing from Yang Family Village becoming an Inner Force martial artist had startled him. Now, upon learning that his own son had also become a Bright Strength practitioner, the lingering unease in his heart immediately vanished.

Yang Jing, after all, was just a farmer's son. Even if he had entered the realm of Inner Force, what of it? His own Wenbo, under the guidance of famous masters at Weiyuan Martial Arts School and with the continuous resources of the Ning family to hone his martial path, was by no means comparable to such a farmer's son.

"Prepare generous gifts and send them to Master Wang, Head of Weiyuan Martial Arts School." Ning Xuezhi sat back in his chair, picked up his teacup, but his hand was still trembling slightly. "Also, withdraw twenty taels of silver from the accounting office to get Wenbo some good materials for new clothes. And take out that thirty-year-old wild ginseng from the storeroom and have someone send it to the martial arts school to supplement his health."

"Yes!" The steward responded and left the study with the servant.

The study returned to silence. Ning Xuezhi held his teacup, gazing at the rising sun outside the window, and let out a long sigh.

With a master of Bright Strength in their own family, the Ning family's standing in Wazi Township would be even more solid from now on.

As for that Yang Jing, he had long since forgotten about him.

Yuhe County, Tongyi Ward.

As dawn broke, Yang Jing woke up.

He had slept soundly, and the Hidden Strength within his body flowed freely, making him feel exceptionally refreshed.

He went to the kitchen, cut a piece of bear meat, and put it in a pot. He boiled it with water, sprinkled in some salt, and the aroma of the meat quickly filled the small courtyard.

After eating a large piece of bear meat, warm energy flowed down his throat, merging with the Hidden Strength in his body, feeling comfortably warm.

He tidied himself up, pushed open the door, and walked briskly towards the Sun Clan Martial Arts School, feeling exceptionally cheerful.

Now that he had entered Hidden Strength, he could continue to cultivate the subsequent techniques of the Mountain Collapse Fist. However, he needed to ask his Master, Sun Yong, for them, and also inform his Master about his breakthrough to Hidden Strength.

According to the rules, his Master would give him a reward after he broke through to Hidden Strength, which was also a token of becoming his Master's core disciple.

A Hidden Strength martial artist was a rare master even in the entire Yuhe County. His Master, Sun Yong, would also attach great importance to it. After all, these Hidden Strength disciples could hold important positions whether they established their own foundation or joined other forces, and they would become valuable connections in the future.

Yang Jing was thinking about meeting his Master later, but he took a slight detour, passing through Guang'an Ward.

Upon arriving at Guang'an Ward, Yang Jing deliberately slowed his pace.

In the past, when he passed by here, he always kept his head down and hurried along. Although he was gathering information, he was also afraid of being noticed by the members of the Righteousness Gang.

But today, Yang Jing was neither rushed nor impatient. He raised his eyes and scanned the groups of men gathered here and there on the street corners, his gaze calm and unwavering.

Their waists were bulging, and their expressions were arrogant. They were indeed members of the Righteousness Gang.

He stood by a tea stall at the street corner, pretending to be waiting for someone, listening to a few small vendors chatting at the next table, occasionally interjecting with discussions about the Righteousness Gang.

He no longer felt any tension in his heart. Instead, he felt a sense of peace, as if everything had settled. Even though he had just broken through to Hidden Strength, the Righteousness Gang was no match for him.

A moment later, Yang Jing withdrew his gaze and turned to continue walking towards the martial arts school.

The sunlight shone through the archway of the market, casting a steady shadow at his feet. The Hidden Strength flowed silently within his body, carrying a sense of calm control over everything.

After Yang Jing's figure disappeared around the street corner, a man wearing a crooked hat by the tea stall slowly stood up.

He had been pretending to drink tea, his peripheral vision secretly watching Yang Jing. Only when Yang Jing had walked far away did he lift the brim of his hat, and a sharp glint flashed in his triangular eyes.