Buddhist-Minded 3's Alliance Leader Reward

The next morning.

On a peak at Red Mountain behind Qinghe Temple.

Qinghe Temple lay between Red Mountain and Qingding Mountain. The mountain roads in this region were steep, and the forest sea was dense. Peaks of varying heights rose one after another, like white boils growing from the mountain range's sea of trees, especially eye-catching.

At that moment, within a somewhat dim pine forest atop the peak.

Zhang Rongfang and Zhao Dacong stood facing each other, quietly locked in confrontation.

Both adjusted their breathing, their gazes constantly fixed on the parts of the other's body where force would be exerted.

Huff.

A breeze suddenly rustled through the branches and leaves. Amid the swishing sounds, fallen leaves whirled through the air.

With a low shout, Zhao Dacong stepped forward, her palms moving one above and one below as she simultaneously grabbed for Zhang Rongfang's arms.

This move, Yingmen Heavenly Pine, was primarily a restraining technique. It was also from the Yue Type Talisman.

Yet Zhang Rongfang advanced instead of retreating, accelerating forward and crashing into Zhao Dacong's range. His right elbow slammed toward her chest and abdomen.

The elbow strike was swift and vicious, forcing Zhao Dacong to change moves and block it.

Bang.

The two rapidly exchanged and dismantled moves, each taking a step back.

Immediately afterward, they struck again at the same time. The same set of Yue Type Talisman moves became two entirely different styles in their hands.

Zhao Dacong's style was broad and forceful, carrying the heavy bearing of a mountain peak crushing down from above.

Zhang Rongfang, meanwhile, stood firm and unmoving. Whenever a move came at him, he dismantled it with precision and calm, brushing each one aside like the sturdiest rock wall.

In the blink of an eye, more than thirty moves had passed, and Zhao Dacong voluntarily withdrew her hands.

"Impressive. In terms of moves alone, you've already surpassed me. If I hadn't seen you use many of these moves, I wouldn't have known they could be used this way."

Her praise was wholehearted.

Martial arts were, in truth, a Combat and Killing Technique. Moves were chains of pre-designed postures and actions, making it difficult for enemies to predict or resist them while allowing oneself to unleash one's full strength smoothly.

And now, Zhang Rongfang's understanding of moves had already surpassed even her, a Second Grade martial artist.

"Senior Sister, you let me win," Zhang Rongfang said with a smile, withdrawing his hands and cupping his fists.

"You're only at Blood Nourishing. It'll take at least another two years before you can begin Tendon Forging. Once you Enter the Ranks, I might not necessarily be able to defeat you," Zhao Dacong sighed, returning the gesture.

"Even after Entering the Ranks, I'd only be First Grade. How could I compare to you, Senior Sister?" Zhang Rongfang shook his head.

"That isn't how it works. Once you Enter the Ranks, the differences between grades aren't that great if you only compare strength, physical fitness, recovery, endurance, and so on.

"The primary gaps lie in the quality of one's martial arts and one's realm.

"That's why people say grades are fought out. There are also plenty of experts whose grades exceed the Limit of their martial arts.

"Now, your moves are already more complete and perfected than mine. You can spot my openings faster than I can. Once you Enter the Ranks, if our strength isn't too far apart, then as long as I can't completely crush you at once, the outcome of a real fight would be hard to predict," Zhao Dacong explained.

"After all, no matter what grade an expert is, they'll still be crippled or even killed if their vital points are struck," she added.

"Is there no martial art that tempers the hardness of the entire body?" Zhang Rongfang frowned.

"There is. Hard Qi Skill.

"But so-called Hard Qi Skill only makes you hard as iron when you circulate your blood and qi. Any place where you aren't circulating it is still vulnerable.

"In other words, if you're unprepared, then even if you practice Hard Qi Skill, it's merely like having an extra layer of thick skin compared to an ordinary person. With that kind of protection, even a ten-year-old child holding a knife could kill you through your vital points."

Zhao Dacong's words were exceedingly realistic.

They also reminded Zhang Rongfang of the Hard Qi Skills from his Previous Life.

It seemed the Hard Qi Skills here were no different.

"Then what about a Hard Qi Skill that tempers the whole body?" he asked unwillingly.

"I've never heard of one. Generally, they focus on one area, such as Iron Arm Skill, Iron Body Skill, Iron Head Skill, Iron Back Skill, and so on. Besides, these techniques cannot remain hard for long, their duration is short, they damage the body, and they take a long time to practice. So they aren't very practical. They're only somewhat useful for street performers."

Zhao Dacong explained.

"Come on, why think so much? Those Hard Qi Skills aren't as good as putting on a set of leather armor when needed. Then you wouldn't have to train for so many years or accumulate so many hidden injuries.

"Since Master asked me to assess your current level, your moves are good enough. Come with me again."

She beckoned Zhang Rongfang over and turned toward the depths of the pine forest.

He hurriedly followed.

Before long, the pair arrived before a small patch of remaining tree stumps.

The thick stumps, each over a meter tall, stood dark brown in the pine forest clearing. Together with the ground carpeted in Withered Yellow, they gave off threads of bleak desolation.

Zhao Dacong patted one of the stumps.

"This is an Iron Wood Pile. Its surface has been polished, so it won't hurt your hands. I use it to practice putting force into my moves."

"Putting force into moves means Real Moves. Unlike when we shadowbox at the Martial Arts Daoist Temple, every move you make here must strike the Iron Wood Pile.

"You need an accurate grasp of the force behind every move you throw. At the same time, you must temper the toughness of the flesh and skin on your fists and palms. Otherwise, if you trade a punch with someone and their hand is fine while your skin splits and bleeds, how could you keep fighting?"

Zhao Dacong's words made Zhang Rongfang nod repeatedly.

"Want to give it a try?"

"Alright!"

Zhang Rongfang did not stand on ceremony. He walked over, stopped before another Iron Wood Pile, and reached out to touch it.

It felt smooth and tough, as if covered in a layer of flesh. Despite it being winter, it was not cold in the slightest.

Bang.

Beside him, Zhao Dacong had already begun pounding an Iron Wood Pile. There were no moves involved—she simply struck it repeatedly with both fists, tempering the skin, flesh, and bones of her fist surfaces.

"Also, don't worry about this Iron Wood Pile suddenly breaking. Or getting any sharp splinters or gaps.

"This thing is extremely hard. Even with my full strength—"

Before she finished speaking, Zhao Dacong abruptly retreated, then unleashed a vicious elbow strike sweeping from right to left.

Bang! Her elbow struck the wooden pile, leaving only a shallow dent less than a centimeter deep.

"—I can only do this much," Zhao Dacong finished.

Zhang Rongfang looked at the dent, then abruptly threw out the same move himself.

Bang.

The wooden pile on his side remained smooth, without the slightest mark. He had concealed his strength.

Zhao Dacong immediately laughed from the side.

"Don't rush. Take it slowly. How long have you trained? How long have I trained?"

"I understand."

Zhang Rongfang nodded. Without another word, he began pummeling the Iron Wood Pile.

Following Zhao Dacong's example, he first focused solely on tempering his two fists.

After striking for ten-odd minutes each time, Zhao Dacong would take out medicinal wine she carried and apply it to the places they had struck.

Then they would rest before continuing.

They repeated this until it was nearly noon.

Zhao Dacong had matters to attend to and left first, leaving Zhang Rongfang alone to continue practicing his strikes.

After practicing for a while, Zhang Rongfang suddenly stopped and looked at the one-centimeter dent Zhao Dacong had made earlier.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly thought that perhaps he could test the power of the Secret Skill Mountain Press he had just obtained.

Based on how it had felt when he comprehended Heavy Mountain, Heavy Mountain could greatly raise the explosive power at his original Limit.

But Zhang Rongfang did not know how powerful it would be in actual use, nor what it would consume afterward.

Let's give it a try.

With that thought, he took a step back and closed his eyes.

The muscles in his sturdy arms began to slowly writhe. His heartbeat rapidly accelerated, and under the guidance of his will, blood surged toward his right arm.

All at once.

Zhang Rongfang drove force through his legs, linking it through his waist, chest, shoulders, and back, forming a single line along his right arm as he threw a fierce punch.

Bang! A faint pain and numbness spread from his fist surface throughout his entire body.

The Iron Wood Pile trembled slightly, then returned to stillness.

Zhang Rongfang let out a breath and felt a trace of fatigue.

I already feel tired after just one strike. This Secret Skill really consumes a lot.

He withdrew his hand and saw that his fist surface was bright red, covered in dense Blood Spots. He had clearly suffered a minor injury.

Even the flesh and skin strength I gained from Entering First Grade can't endure it.

After entering First Grade, one's skin and membrane strength would increase once. After that, there would be no more such effect.

Subsequent grade advancements through Breaking Limits only slightly increased strength, endurance, and the like. Moreover, the higher one's grade, the closer one came to the human Limit.

A human's Limit was only so high. The further one went, the less one could improve. More often, it came down to competing in martial arts realms and the strength and effects of the martial arts themselves.

Looking at it this way, this move consumes a great deal of stamina, and my own flesh can't withstand it. I can only use it at critical moments. It's best for deciding victory or defeat.

Otherwise, I'll injure myself and bleed before I even finish the fight. I won't be able to endure it.

Zhang Rongfang's thoughts were clear.

Actually, there was another way to use this Secret Skill freely.

That was to find a fist-training Hard Qi Skill to practice alongside it, while also increasing his endurance and stamina.

That way, he could use this Secret Skill as an ordinary move.

But a martial art generally required years of practice before one could attain Minor Accomplishment. For others, adding another Hard Qi Skill on top of that was far too poor in cost-effectiveness.

For Zhang Rongfang, however, with Attribute Points to accelerate things instantly, it was worth trying.

"Right, I haven't even checked this move's power yet." Zhang Rongfang suddenly came back to his senses, stepped forward, and looked at the Iron Wood Pile.

Sure enough, there was a clear new mark on the Iron Wood Pile, deeper than the dent Senior Sister Zhao Dacong had made.

Zhang Rongfang was slightly stunned as he repeatedly compared the two dents.

Only after confirming that the dent he had made was a little deeper than the one Senior Sister Zhao Dacong had made with her full strength did understanding flash through his eyes.

Senior Sister Zhao only made a dent like that because she's Second Grade and naturally strong. An ordinary Second Grade martial artist would probably be weaker. My power is a little greater than that level.

"Let's try again without the Secret Skill."

Without another word, Zhang Rongfang stepped back again. With the same punch, without concealing his strength and without using the Secret Skill, he struck the other side of the wooden pile with all his strength.

Bang! This time, there was only a very shallow mark, with barely any indentation.

"In other words, my raw strength truly remains far inferior to Senior Sister Zhao's, but by using the Secret Skill, I can unleash killing power greater than her full strength."

Strength and speed complemented each other. Given unchanged mass, the greater the strength, the faster the speed, and vice versa.

Heavy Mountain is much faster than ordinary moves. It consumes greatly and hits greatly. It seems its best use is still as a trump card.

Ordinary people would never imagine that I, a Daoist who hasn't Entered the Ranks, could suddenly unleash a killing move beyond Second Grade. The wider the span of explosive strength, the more it can catch people completely off guard.