A Yanda

The sky was clear and the breeze gentle—a perfect time for martial training!

On the training grounds of the Prajna Hall at Treasure Pearl Temple in Fangnan, Great Yan, shouts and cries rang out without cease. A dozen or so newly assigned "Kong"-generation disciples, faces brimming with excitement, had formed neat ranks and were diligently practicing the Prajna Hall's foundational martial art—the "Prajna Palm."

Before the formation stood a tall, robust monk who looked about twenty-eight or twenty-nine, instructing the group of novices in their practice.

"The 'Prajna Palm' is one of our Prajna Hall's secret martial arts, created specifically for newly initiated disciples. It comprises a full forty-nine forms, each with boundless subtlety, capable of thoroughly training the skin and membranes of the entire body with extraordinary results. In the martial world, it ranks as a top-tier foundational Skin Tempering art.

Should any of you one day master this palm technique to its first major completion, the first realm of the martial path—Skin Tempering—will be considered achieved. After that, you may move on to other Muscle Tendon Strengthening arts and advance toward higher martial levels."

As the tall monk explained without pause, his palms began to dance. In an instant, the training ground was filled with flying palm shadows and the constant sound of air splitting.

Though it was an ordinary set of palm techniques, when executed by him, it seemed like a profound martial art, imbued with an indescribable artistic conception.

"Junior Brother Jingyuan!"

Just as the tall monk was lost in his practice, a voice reached his ears.

"Who?"

Startled by the sudden voice, Jingyuan couldn't help but look toward its source. Not far to his right, beneath a large tree, stood a monk with three burn scars on his crown and an exceptionally handsome, imposing bearing, smiling as he watched him.

"Senior Brother Jingming!"

Recognizing the visitor's face, Jingyuan's body jolted, then a look of wild joy spread across his face. He left the formation with a curt "Practice well," and in a few strides covering several meters, reached the tree.

"Senior Brother Jingming, you've emerged from seclusion! Could it be that you've finally..."

Jingyuan's eyes were full of anticipation as he waited for Gu Han's answer.

"Indeed. Your senior brother has gained a small insight today and barely managed to break through the threshold of Blood Tempering, reaching that realm."

Gu Han smiled faintly and nodded.

"Haha! You've truly broken through! Jingyuan congratulates you, Senior Brother! With this breakthrough to Blood Tempering, I fear it won't be long before you reach Inner Qi!"

Hearing Gu Han's confirmation, Jingyuan's face lit up with joy as he offered his congratulations.

Others might not know, but Jingyuan, who had the most contact with Gu Han in Treasure Pearl Temple, was well aware of just how powerful his senior brother's physical blood and qi were.

For an ordinary Blood Tempering martial artist, breaking through to Inner Qi might be difficult, as they lacked sufficient blood and qi to refine essence into qi and generate the first thread of inner energy.

But for the senior brother before him, that difficulty simply didn't exist.

Because his blood and qi were truly too formidable.

Thinking back fourteen years ago, when his senior brother had only just reached minor completion in Muscle Tendon Strengthening, he could already severely wound Wang Lang with a single punch. Later, upon reaching major completion in Muscle Tendon Strengthening, he could even rival Jingyuan himself, a major-completion Blood Tempering martial artist.

Now that his senior brother had broken through to Blood Tempering, just what level would his physical blood and qi reach? Even Inner Qi masters might not compare!

Jingyuan speculated inwardly.

"Heh, you flatter me, Junior Brother. I've only just broken through to Blood Tempering; I'm still far from Inner Qi. The reason I came to find you, Junior Brother, is to ask if any major events have occurred in the outside world during my seclusion, and what changes have taken place in the realm?"

Gu Han asked curiously.

Over the years, though Jingyuan had occasionally visited him, he had never spoken of the outside situation.

Of course, that was also because Gu Han had been focused solely on seeking a breakthrough and had no interest in external matters.

"Oh, I see. Since you ask, Senior Brother, I'll tell you!"

Jingyuan nodded, then organized his thoughts and began:

"Since you repelled King Tang and entered secluded cultivation, our Treasure Pearl Temple has returned to peace, but the realm remains mired in endless war.

Whether it's heaven's will or fate's cruel joke, just as the Central Plains were ravaged by flames of war and its strength waned, an unparalleled prodigy arose among the southern Barbarian tribes.

This man is named 'A Yanda,' the chieftain of the 'Dada Tribe,' a mid-sized tribe among the hundred southern barbarian clans. They say his martial talent is beyond belief. Back when he was barely over twenty, his strength had already reached major Inner Qi completion. Moreover, he tailored a fearsome martial art to his tribe's unique physique.

Relying on this art, the Dada Tribe rose from the black mountains and white waters. Every member of the tribe became a warrior—men, women, old, and young alike—all fierce and robust. Among soldiers aged fifteen and above, even the weakest rival our major-completion Skin Tempering martial artists. Their strength is terrifyingly astonishing!"

As Jingyuan spoke, his eyes were filled with awe.

"Oh? The martial art created by this 'A Yanda' is truly that miraculous?"

Hearing this, Gu Han was also somewhat shocked.

Martial artists typically began training at twelve. By fifteen, achieving minor Skin Tempering completion was already considered quite talented, with hope of reaching Muscle Tendon Strengthening. Major Skin Tempering completion was enough to be called a genius, with potential for Blood Tempering.

Yet in the Dada Tribe, a single technique enabled every member to reach major Skin Tempering completion? That was truly unbelievable. If Gu Han weren't certain he hadn't passed on the "Vajra Body Refining Fist," he might have thought the Dada Tribe had learned his martial art!

Gu Han was amazed, but he didn't dwell on it too much. Even if A Yanda had created a complementary martial art similar to his own dual-realm fusion, there was nothing he could do about it. Better to hear what happened next. So he quickly asked Jingyuan again:

"And then? What happened?"

"Then?"

Caught off guard by Gu Han's sudden question, Jingyuan paused for a moment but quickly answered:

"Then A Yanda, unsatisfied with the barren mountains and harsh waters of the southern barbarian lands, coveted the fertile soil of our Great Yan.

So, thirteen years ago, A Yanda swiftly unified the entire southern barbarian region, integrated all the tribes, and established a kingdom, proclaiming it the 'Great Barbarian Kingdom.'

Afterward, he led the Great Barbarian Kingdom's soldiers in a sudden attack on our southern border, Yunhai Prefecture.

In that battle, he defeated King Tang in a single engagement, captured Yunhai, and showed the world the ferocity of the Dada Tribe. In the following month, the barbarians successively took Zhencang and Lanling, three prefectures in total, and slew King Tang amidst the army!

Had it not been for King Ming Zhu Hong of the north later sending troops to resist, our Fangnan Prefecture would have fallen twelve years ago. But... alas!"

At this point, Jingyuan sighed again, his face full of worry, and continued:

"But I've heard that A Yanda has recently made another breakthrough. Though he hasn't yet reached true invincibility or stepped into the legendary realm of Patriarch Bodhidharma, he far surpasses major Inner Qi completion and can rival our Treasure Pearl Temple's ancestral masters Jue Ming and Liao Yuan. Moreover, he has decided to personally lead an expedition soon, bearing down on our Fangnan Prefecture."

By the end, even Jingyuan's spirit seemed to have dimmed somewhat, his face etched with sorrow.