Mastering Power

At dusk, in a small grove.

Two youths leaned against a tree, speaking in low voices.

"You actually completed Spirit Root Revival so quickly? Didn't you say you were still far from Great Success? Is the Imagination Method really that effective?"

Wang Yao scratched his head.

"The Imagination Method has already surpassed the perfected level of Qi Nurturing Technique mastery. What do you think? Add in my skyrocketing income, and naturally it won't take long."

"And once Qi Nurturing Technique reaches Great Success, Spirit Root Revival will happen as naturally as water flowing downhill. Next, I'll join the Black Armor Army and look for opportunities to expand the business. With more resources, if you work harder, you should be able to catch up faster."

Yun Ye said.

"Wait, you're going first?"

Wang Yao frowned.

He had always felt that White Stone Town was extremely dangerous. In this situation, Wang Yao should have been the one to scout ahead first. So why was Yun Ye always one step ahead of him?

"I have other considerations. You shouldn't join the Spirit Law Squad. Just pretend you can't awaken your spirit root and wait to be expelled from the Awakening Hall."

Yun Ye said.

"What are you planning?"

Wang Yao was astonished. If he didn't enter the Spirit Law Squad, what could he accomplish outside?

"After awakening my spirit root, I discovered a major problem. If Qi Nurturing Technique doesn't reach Great Success, using Spirit Root Revival will make you die very quickly. This thing consumes your lifespan."

"Whether you enter the Spirit Law Squad or the Black Armor Army, neither is a good thing. It would be better to develop a force outside instead. By then, there will be more people you can trust, and more things you can do."

"Besides, I want to make some serious waves in the Black Armor Army. If something goes wrong, you'll be in a better position to hide outside."

Yun Ye said.

"You really aren't afraid of death, are you... Fine, I'll stay and help Uncle Yang!"

Wang Yao agreed.

He greatly admired Yun Ye. Being able to create a secret art like the Imagination Method showed that he possessed great wisdom. Yet clever people were often timid and hesitant. As the old saying went, the righteous were often among the dog-slaughtering folk, while the faithless were mostly scholars.

Despite being so intelligent, Yun Ye possessed unwavering resolve and the courage to risk his life. No wonder even his few words on ordinary days could make Wang Yao glimpse the true nature of the world.

A day later.

Awakening Hall, Rear Hall.

The middle-aged man in charge of recording looked at Yun Ye in surprise and said, "In that case, follow me."

The middle-aged man was Shen An, the person in charge of the Awakening Hall's Rear Hall. All matters, large and small, had to pass through his hands.

And with only a little over a hundred people to deal with, a Spirit Root Revival practitioner would never have to worry about lacking energy.

He would personally test Yun Ye's strength!

If Yun Ye had come merely to waste his time, Shen An wouldn't bother saying anything. Making him lie in bed for half a year would already count as showing mercy.

The two arrived at the Awakening Hall's exclusive Martial Arts Arena, namely Martial Arts Arena Number 6.

Shen An's arrival drew quite a bit of attention. Three youths and young women of extraordinary bearing exchanged glances before stepping forward together.

"Shen An Instructor, good afternoon!"

The three clasped their fists and saluted in unison.

"Huang Yupeng, the House, and Zhu Zhaohong—you're all here. Looks like I missed something."

Shen An glanced at Yun Ye.

"The instructor wasn't here the day before yesterday, so naturally you wouldn't know. If I'm not mistaken, he's the newcomer who awakened his spirit root after reaching Great Success in Qi Nurturing Technique, right?"

Huang Yupeng brought up Yun Ye.

Yun Ye did not speak. Instead, he sized up the three of them.

Huang Yupeng was a fair-faced youth. Although he wore the same uniform, his bearing was completely different from that of ordinary people.

Confident, with his sharp edge fully exposed!

The House was extremely burly, with long hair draped over his shoulders and a flamboyant air about him. Yun Ye knew him, after all. He was currently the leader of Hundred Refined Steel, and Yun Ye had seen him several times despite being a member who never participated in activities.

As for the last one, Zhu Zhaohong, Yun Ye had never met her, but he had heard of her reputation.

The publicly recognized strongest person in the Prominent Learning Hall was Zhu Zhaohong.

She came from the Zhu Family and was the daughter of the current Clan Head of the Zhu Family. The Zhu Family was a great aristocratic clan second only to the Liu Family. Few core members entered the Prominent Learning Hall, let alone women. Ever since she enrolled, every move she made had attracted countless eyes.

The three had gathered at a Martial Arts Arena they rarely visited. They had only one purpose: Yun Ye.

Shen An knew that Yun Ye had most likely truly awakened his spirit root—and was an awakener who had reached Great Success in Qi Nurturing Technique.

He said, "I was just about to confirm it. Since you're all so interested, why don't you do it?"

"Can we, Instructor Shen? I was just thinking that if our strengths were close, the test would be more entertaining." Huang Yupeng smiled and took a step forward, showing no intention of refusing.

The corners of the House's and Zhu Zhaohong's mouths lifted. Close in strength? What nonsense was he spouting?

Hadn't all of them already cultivated spirit arts for four or five years?

A newcomer who had just awakened his spirit root hadn't even touched spirit arts. Once they fought, the only possible outcome was crushing him like dry weeds before the wind.

But.

It would indeed be quite a spectacle!

"Then go ahead."

Shen An couldn't be bothered to act himself and made the decision on the spot.

"Thank you, Instructor! Please, junior brother."

Huang Yupeng raised his hands into a stance.

Neither of them cared about Yun Ye's opinion. Yun Ye had no choice either and could only accept it calmly.

The two stood about five meters apart and clasped their fists in salute.

"Yang Shi, right? You can begin."

Huang Yupeng extended one hand in invitation without even assuming a stance. His contempt was plain for all to see.

Yun Ye, however, intended to have a proper fight, so he took the opening stance of Tiger Fist.

His fists crossed, and every muscle in his body tensed.

And right from the start, Yun Ye felt something different. In the past, Tiger Fist had been less a combat technique than an elaborate showpiece. Many of its movements had no practical value in actual combat. The opening stance, for example, wasted a great deal of strength.

But after awakening his spirit root, the moment he assumed the opening stance, Yun Ye immediately sensed something extraordinary...

His Life Energy moved!

The Life Energy that had originally remained throughout his body began to circulate on its own after he took the stance.

Most of it gathered between his arms and legs as it flowed.

Life Energy was another form of energy marker in this world.

It corresponded to the body's muscle tissue.

The Life Energy that had gathered—

What did it represent?

"Boom!"

Like leaping across the heavens, Yun Ye stomped down and made the ground tremble. His entire body shot forward like an arrow, "floating" three meters ahead. He had not run up at all; he had merely pushed off with one leg. To Yun Ye, it truly felt as though he were running through midair without touching the ground in a wuxia dream. It was simply...

Incredibly satisfying!

In the blink of an eye, Yun Ye was like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, pouncing before Huang Yupeng. Then, accompanied by a 180-degree turn and a sweeping arm, Tiger Fist's ferocious move exploded forth: "Whip Hammer!"

At that moment, most of Yun Ye's Life Energy gathered in his right arm, and the air itself rang with an explosion.

Yun Ye could feel that his strength had absolutely multiplied several times over. It was worlds apart from before he had awakened his spirit root!

If it struck a person, it could probably smash their bones with ease, shatter their insides, and leave them dead beyond dead!

Yet despite the ferocity of the blow, Huang Yupeng smiled calmly and casually raised a hand to block. To Yun Ye's astonished gaze, he dispelled all the force. Then Huang Yupeng took a step forward...

Yun Ye suddenly felt an inexplicably familiar sensation. He seemed to have seen this movement countless times in movies. Almost without thinking, the fiery pattern on his forehead shimmered, his strength surged severalfold, and he stepped back.