Breaking Fists

Yang Yilong's silence meant that he agreed with Li Yi's approach.

"Director Yang, then it's settled. I'm going to start demonstrating. Before that, I should tell you about the origins of this Fist Technique."

Seeing this, Li Yi immediately spoke and walked to the side, picking up a thick wooden board from the floor.

"I learned this Fist Technique on Ghost Street. Back then, I entered that extraordinarily dangerous place while fleeing from Biao's pursuit. There, I saw someone—perhaps that person was a vengeful ghost, though I can't be certain—standing in some corner in a strange posture and practicing punches."

"After watching for a while, I memorized that person's Punch Stance and the way he threw his punches, and thus learned this Fist Technique. However, I can't guarantee that what I learned was complete. I had limited time, and my comprehension wasn't very good, so I could only grasp a small portion."

Li Yi began to spin a yarn.

I learned my punches properly from a master. How could I hand everything over just because you said so?

But when one was beneath another's roof, one had to bow one's head. He couldn't afford to offend Yang Yilong, so he could only find a way to muddle through this. If he refused today, he probably wouldn't make it out of this basement. He didn't dare gamble his life on someone else's character.

"Director Yang, I'll try to go slowly. Watch carefully."

Then Li Yi slightly crouched and raised his Punch Stance.

However, he adjusted his body. Some parts tensed, ready to exert force, while other parts relaxed. He demonstrated an incomplete version.

The complete Punch Stance was the essence of this technique. Once he learned the stance, Yang Yilong's talent might truly allow him to master the entire technique.

But Yang Yilong didn't know that Li Yi was concealing his true ability. He hurriedly moved closer and began observing seriously.

Even under the lights, his eyes now shone brilliantly, as though he wanted to record every movement Li Yi made.

Li Yi took a deep breath.

His body began to exert force.

Even without mobilizing all his strength, with his current abilities he could produce Punch Force. Its power was naturally limited, but he was demonstrating it against a wooden board rather than the Fierce Beast Biao, so there was no way to tell how powerful it truly was.

The next moment, he sent the wooden board flying.

Li Yi threw a punch.

"Bang!"

The air seemed to explode.

Li Yi's fist slammed heavily into the wooden board as it fell through midair.

Something strange happened.

The wooden board didn't crack or fly away after being struck. Instead, it stuck to Li Yi's fist.

"What an extraordinary Fist Technique." Yang Yilong couldn't help exclaiming in admiration, while also seeing through some of its mysteries.

If this fist struck a person, it would blow them apart in a single punch. The force couldn't be discharged at all. This was a Fist Technique evolved specifically for combat, and it was extraordinarily precious.

Practitioners in this era yearned desperately for techniques like this.

Li Yi slowly lowered his Punch Stance, then removed the wooden board from his fist.

A clear Fist Print was stamped into its surface.

"Director Yang, this is the punch I practiced. Unfortunately, I was busy running for my life on Ghost Street and couldn't finish watching the entire Fist Technique, so I'm still exploring and improving it myself." Li Yi spoke regretfully.

"If you ever get the chance, Director Yang, you could try going to Ghost Street and learning the complete Fist Technique."

Yang Yilong immediately said, "I understand some of the mysteries now. This punch's secret lies in how the force is exerted. That posture you used just now was the optimal posture for exerting force, which is why you had to set up the Punch Stance. But once you've fully mastered it, everything becomes second nature, and the stance is no longer important. Good, very good. Li Yi, I, Yang Yilong, owe you a favor. If you ever run into trouble, come to me without hesitation. I won't refuse."

"Director Yang, you're too kind. I was merely returning your gift with another gift."

Li Yi said, "But Director Yang, I have to leave now. There are some matters at home I need to deal with, so I can't stay any longer. If there's anything else you don't understand, you can ask me later. I'll tell you everything I know."

"I'll see you out," Yang Yilong said.

"No need, no need. I can take the elevator up myself. Goodbye, Director Yang." As Li Yi spoke, he picked up his things and boarded the elevator.

Go ahead and practice. Once your body develops problems, you'll understand the consequences.

With that thought, Li Yi quickly left, not daring to linger in case he was forcibly detained.

Yang Yilong stood rooted to the spot, eyes closed as he savored that punch from moments ago.

Then he imitated Li Yi's movements and assumed the Punch Stance.

After gathering his strength for a moment, Yang Yilong threw a punch.

The wind of his fist howled.

But it made no sound.

"It looks like a simple punch, but actually mastering it is still somewhat difficult." Yang Yilong opened his eyes and picked up the wooden board from the floor.

The Fist Print on the wooden board was clearly visible.

If his punch just now had landed on it, the wooden board would only have been shattered. It would have been impossible to leave behind a Fist Print.

"Yilong, perhaps that Li Yi held something back and didn't teach you seriously. That boy is crafty. He put you on the spot with a single sentence. You couldn't buy it, but you couldn't seize it either, so in the end you could only be fooled. If it were me, I wouldn't have let him go before mastering the Fist Technique. We should have kept him here. Even if we had to use some methods—if you couldn't bring yourself to do it, I could have handled it."

Suddenly, a steady voice rang out. A burly, middle-aged man in a black suit abruptly appeared in the training ground.

His name was Yang Ye, and he was Yang Yilong's uncle.

"Without evidence, we can't act. Are you suggesting we really kill Li Yi and take the money back as well? We're people with status and standing, not bandits or robbers." Yang Yilong spoke calmly. "There are rules to how one conducts oneself and handles affairs. Since Li Yi was willing to compromise, we have to show him some respect. Let him leave."

"Besides, learning a technique depends on talent. When he demonstrated it just now, he produced a Fist Print. I examined it, and it was exactly the same as the Fist Print on Biao's corpse, without the slightest difference. That proves his movements were correct."

"Furthermore, Li Yi taught you the punches for free. If you still forcibly keep him here, wouldn't that be forcing him to fall out with us? If word gets out, who would dare deal with you in the future?"

Afterward, Yang Yilong shook his head.

Yang Ye said, "That boy taught you the punches for free not because of your face, nor because of money, but because circumstances left him no choice. So he was clever. He took the initiative to teach you the Fist Technique, making you feel too embarrassed to refuse and leaving you indebted to him. In the end, you could only let him go."

"I would have preferred to buy it with money, but he refused. However, if we really wanted to purchase a Fist Technique, the price would be extremely high. My funds aren't plentiful right now, so it's a good thing that he was willing to teach me for free. That also prevents some conflicts from arising." Yang Yilong spoke calmly.

"Forget it. Let's not discuss this anymore. The man has left, you've obtained the Fist Technique, and your objective has been achieved. Let this matter end here. Li Yi probably won't come again in the future. He's most likely keeping a grudge over what happened today, but he's only a minor figure and isn't worth worrying about. So let's think about Qin Qing instead." Yang Ye said, "Just now, the treatment plans from all the major medical companies came out. Take a look yourself."

With that, he walked over and handed a quotation sheet to Yang Yilong.

Plan One: Tianhe Medical Company, nanoscopic restorative treatment. Quotation: 270 million. Treatment time: three months.

Plan Two: Biomedical Company, clone transplantation treatment. Quotation: 180 million. Treatment time: one year.

Plan Three: Extraordinary Medical Company, genetic restoration fluid treatment. Quotation: 350 million. Treatment time: one month.

"All these treatment plans are extremely expensive. I advise you rationally: give up on treating Qin Qing. It simply isn't worth it. You don't have much cultivation funding left."

"The Extraordinary Creature I hunted should be enough to cover the medical expenses this time." Yang Yilong frowned as he looked at the quotation sheet in his hands.

Yang Ye said, "If the money from hunting that Extraordinary Creature were invested in your cultivation, it could let your strength continue to improve. But if you spend it on that woman, your cultivation will have to stop. Yang Yilong, you must remember that this world can no longer be stayed in for long. If you can't become a Transcender, everything is empty talk."

"I know you value relationships, so my suggestion is to begin with conservative treatment. Once you grow stronger in the future, treating Qin Qing will be effortless for you. It won't affect your cultivation either—a single move achieving two things."

"Trust that Qin Qing will understand. She's willing to wait for you."

"After all, she has always loved you deeply, hasn't she?"

"That's enough. Stop talking."

Yang Yilong roared, and his voice shook all the surrounding lights into shattering. White radiance emerged around his body, resembling streaks of serpentine lightning.

Yang Ye's expression changed slightly, and he didn't dare say anything more. He immediately turned and left.

However, a trace of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Anger was a good thing.

At least it meant he had weighed the matter in his heart.

Yang Yilong was still somewhat young. He would understand later.

Everyone in the Yang family was a businessman.