Pre-Departure Enlightenment, Rock Shattering Fist Mastery!

"Tomorrow is the day we leave Qingshui Town. Get some rest tonight to recharge your energy."

Despite his words, Su Mu tossed and turned that night, his mind replaying his experiences since arriving in Qingshui Town.

Unable to sleep, Su Mu got up and went into the courtyard to practice his fists. He started with the Five Animal Frolics to warm up, cycling through the Tiger, Bear, Monkey, Deer, and Bird forms before beginning his practice of the Tiger Subduing Fist.

The Tiger Subduing Fist, the first ranked martial art Su Mu had cultivated, had been practiced for nearly a year now. The number of bandits who had died by his Tiger Subduing Fist was nearly ten, and several Ninth Rank martial artists had also fallen.

Under Su Mu's control, the Tiger Subduing Fist had reached a state where he could use it as he pleased, as naturally as moving his own arm, and was not far from perfection.

After an hour of practicing the Tiger Subduing Fist, Su Mu changed his stance and began practicing the Rock Shattering Fist. As he alternated between hardness and softness, Su Mu felt the Hidden Force within him surge, being tempered, strengthened, and nourished.

"The Tiger Subduing Fist can temper Manifest Force, while the Rock Shattering Fist can temper Hidden Force!"

One manifest, one hidden. One hard, one soft.

After a great battle, as he finally relaxed, a clear understanding dawned upon Su Mu. He continuously practiced the Rock Shattering Fist, and with each punch, the Hidden Force contained within caused the surrounding air to tremble violently.

Bang!

After another punch, at the critical moment, a premonition of breakthrough suddenly arose in his heart.

His Excellent Talent, Raw Jade comprehension came into play at this moment, allowing Su Mu to keenly grasp this flash of inspiration.

Su Mu's eyes brightened, and he continued to practice the Rock Shattering Fist.

He practiced all night. The roosters crowed in the village, and a ray of early morning sun spilled onto the earth from the heavens, illuminating the sweat-drenched face of the young man.

The young man suddenly trembled.

He felt his blood and qi boiling, and strands of Hidden Force surging at an accelerated pace.

Rock Shattering Fist (Mastered 1%)

"The Rock Shattering Fist is mastered!"

On the eve of his departure from Qingshui Town for Qingyun City, the young man had an epiphany. His Excellent Talent, Raw Jade comprehension allowed him to seize this opportunity, and thus, the Rock Shattering Fist advanced to mastery overnight!

As the Rock Shattering Fist reached mastery, a familiar warm current generated in his abdomen. The warm current flowed through his limbs and meridians, dispelling the fatigue of practicing fists all night within moments.

Buzz---------

At this moment, all the acupoints on Su Mu's body buzzed in unison, causing him to beam with joy.

"The Hidden Force is about to reach mastery!"

To break through to the next level, one needed to accumulate their internal Force and blood qi to their peak. The last time Su Mu had filled his Force and blood qi took half a year.

Su Mu had originally estimated that it would take at least three months to accumulate the Hidden Force this time. However, he hadn't expected the warm current from his improved comprehension to accelerate this process, bringing it forward significantly.

Su Mu felt his blood qi and Hidden Force boiling and heating within him, their flow rate constantly increasing, transforming into streams of scorching turbulence surging through Su Mu's body, making it feel as if a ball of fire was burning and rising within him.

His body was like iron ore on a blacksmith's forge, with impurities being burned away by the dual scorching of Force and blood qi.

For a time, beads of sweat the size of soybeans continuously seeped from Su Mu's skin.

Drip.

Sweat poured down like rain. Su Mu gritted his teeth and persevered, but this intense heat came and went quickly. As the warm current from the mastery of the Rock Shattering Fist dissipated, the transformation of the Force within Su Mu's body also gradually calmed down.

"Just a little bit more to Hidden Force mastery."

Su Mu exhaled lightly. Instead of disappointment, he showed a pleased expression.

"It's only been a month since the Hidden Force was born!"

Su Mu felt the Hidden Force within him, which had risen significantly. If he encountered Wu Heng again, Su Mu was confident he could easily kill him without needing to break his limits and use Twin Tigers.

"It will probably take another three to five days."

Now, Su Mu was confident that he could fully accumulate the Hidden Force within three to five days, meaning this epiphany with the Rock Shattering Fist had saved him nearly two months of arduous cultivation.

After the breakthrough, Su Mu brought up his current status panel to check.

[Name: Su Mu (14 years old)]
[Lifespan: 85 years]
[Skills: Five Animal Frolics (Perfect), Blacksmithing (Mastered 98%), Tiger Subduing Fist (Mastered 91%), Rock Shattering Fist (Mastered 1%), Startled Sparrow Steps (Minor 68%), Alchemy (Minor 2%)]
[Comprehension: 14 (Excellent Talent, Raw Jade)]

"Not bad, my comprehension increased by two points directly this time, and my lifespan also increased by ten years."

"Since ancient times, eighty has been a rarity. Now, my lifespan can be considered long even in this ancient era!"

Su Mu glanced over it, satisfied. In the half-year since reaching Ninth Rank, he had discovered some patterns regarding the increase in comprehension.

The difficulty of increasing comprehension was not constant but dynamic. For example, both the unranked Five Animal Frolics and Alchemy only required minor completion to bring about an increase in comprehension and lifespan before he reached Ninth Rank. However, minor completion of Alchemy a few days ago had not brought about an increase in comprehension.

As for ranked martial arts, both the Ninth Rank Rock Shattering Fist and Startled Sparrow Steps had increased their respective comprehension upon reaching minor completion.

Furthermore, the increase in comprehension brought about by a skill breakthrough was also related to its rank. For instance, advancing the Five Animal Frolics to perfect only increased comprehension by two points, but the mastery of the Ninth Rank Rock Shattering Fist brought about the same two-point increase.

On this day, Li Tie publicly announced that Su Mu would be going to the Weapon Forging Workshop in Qingyun City. He also announced that the blacksmith shop would be closed for a day.

"To celebrate our shop having a future 'Forging Master,' I'm treating everyone today. Let's go have a meal at the town's restaurant."

The dozen or so people from the Li Family Blacksmith Shop arrived at the town's restaurant, where wine flowed and the air was thick with the aroma of food.

The blacksmith masters poured wine for Su Mu one after another. They all knew that this parting might mean they wouldn't easily meet again. Seeing Su Mu's face turn red and cough from the strong liquor, the masters burst into laughter.

Finally, Zhou Shan stopped the enthusiastic masters. "This kid has a low tolerance for alcohol; he's had enough."

Before leaving the restaurant, Li Xiaohu pulled Su Mu aside downstairs and chatted with him for a long time, his tone full of reluctance. Then, he handed Su Mu an object: a somewhat rough iron token.

One could vaguely make out a cloud pattern around the edge, and a carp was crookedly carved on the surface.

"Actually, my father told me before that you were going to the Weapon Forging Workshop. I made this these past few days... Please don't dislike it."

"I never knew my mother since I was young, but she left me a protective charm. I made this based on that."

As he spoke, Li Xiaohu took out a jade token from his collar. Su Mu saw a three-part resemblance and was touched.

"Brother Li, I'll accept it then."

Su Mu solemnly accepted it. Just then, the masters came downstairs. Before they left, the shop owner, Li Tie, handed a cloth bag to Su Mu.

"Uncle Li, what is this?"

"This is a small token of our appreciation from me and the masters. There are twenty-three taels of silver inside." Seeing Su Mu hesitate to accept, Li Tie spoke solemnly.

"Little Mu, you cannot refuse a gift from an elder. Qingyun City is not like this small town; you'll need money for everything. Just accept it."

Su Mu felt grateful and finally accepted the cloth bag.

Having drunk so much wine, Su Mu was a little drunk. He didn't use his Force to dispel the drunkenness. Life rarely offered such a chance to get drunk, and it was even rarer for someone who didn't usually drink.

That night, he stayed at Zhou Shan's home, and they talked until late.

The next morning, Su Mu bid farewell to the Li father and son, Zhou Shan, and the other masters before setting off.

"A golden scale is no ordinary thing in a pond; it transforms into a dragon when it meets the wind and clouds. I have a premonition that Little Mu will achieve great things in the future!"

"Shop Owner, I don't quite understand all that you're saying, but I understood the latter half... You said if Little Mu becomes successful in the future, will we be able to bask in his glory!"

"Hahaha, of course, you'll be able to! Zhou Shan will be incredible then; he'll be the master of a Forging Master!"

A few jests dispelled the sadness of parting. After watching Su Mu leave, the blacksmith masters returned to the forging room. Only Li Xiaohu sniffled, feeling lost. He returned to the shop and sat under the shade of the old locust tree, lost in thought.

Clang!

Not long after, the sound of blacksmithing echoed from the forging room again, just like any other day.

Under the bright sunlight.

A young man from a small southern town arrived outside Qingyun City.