Martial Arts Powers

The Martial Powers of Yunyang: The Qin Family.

Like the Fang Family, it stood along a hillside street, only a few miles away, yet its residence occupied less than half the Fang Family's grounds.

Among Yunyang's five great martial arts families—Shen, Yue, Qin, Zhou, and Chen—the Qin Family ranked third. However, the Qin Family was not skilled at business, which was why they had considered a marriage alliance with the Fang Family, Yunyang's wealthiest household.

Qin Lang hung up the phone, washed his face, grabbed his clothes, and headed out, only to run into Qin Muxue, who had just returned from training outside in a white practice uniform.

Qin Muxue was truly beautiful. Tall and over 1.7 meters, her long legs looked especially slender. Beads of sweat dotted her jade-like face, her hair was pinned behind her head, and her entire bearing radiated a heroic spirit.

"Xiao Lang, where are you going without eating?"

Qin Muxue asked as she watched Qin Lang hurry past.

"I've got something to do. I'm not eating!"

Qin Lang grinned, stopped, then leaned close to Qin Muxue and lowered his voice. "Sis, Yang Jihua and the others found Fang Mo's whereabouts. I'm heading over now!"

"What are you looking for him for?"

Qin Muxue's eyes darkened slightly as she spoke with displeasure.

At her words, a resentful look surfaced on Qin Lang's face. "That brat goes around every day saying he's my brother-in-law. Sis, Yunkong Martial Academy has already specially recruited you—I can't let him ruin your reputation!"

Qin Muxue frowned and said gravely:

"Don't go making trouble. The engagement has already been called off, so why are you still going after him?"

"Don't worry about it, Sis!"

Qin Lang waved his hand impatiently and ran outside.

Watching Qin Lang rush out the door, Qin Muxue's face filled with concern. She turned to the guard beside her and said:

"Send someone after him. Don't let Xiao Lang do anything reckless!"

"Yes, Miss!"

The guard answered and turned to leave.

Qin Muxue took the hot towel handed over by a maid and wiped her hands. Calmly, she said:

"Have the motorcade prepare a car. After lunch, I'm going to the academy. Senior Sister Luo will be visiting the academy today, and I need to accompany her!"

"Miss, you're amazing—you can personally accompany the Home Planet's youngest grandmaster!"

The maid immediately said enviously.

"Amazing?"

A proud expression appeared on Qin Muxue's face as she murmured, "The youngest grandmaster? That may not be true in the future!"

In the front courtyard of Tiger Might Martial Arts School, sunlight fell in mottled patches. Fang Mo's figure leaped through the interwoven light and shadow, every punch and palm seeming to contain the untamed might of a fierce mountain tiger.

Sweat poured down like rain, falling onto the dust-stirred ground.

His movements gradually shifted from fierce strength to supple resilience, then erupted from that resilience with astonishing explosive force. His fist wind howled, like a tiger's roar echoing through the mountains and forests, shaking the heart.

With the final move, his body came to an abrupt halt, his bearing as still as a deep pool and as steadfast as a towering mountain. The air around him seemed frozen by that instant of silence.

[Tiger Subduing Fist: Elementary Mastery (1/1000)]

—Within his mind, an ancient bronze mirror silently trembled. Golden light gleamed across its surface, and the ancient inscribed characters seemed to come alive, leaping forth to proclaim that he had entered an entirely new realm of the Tiger Subduing Fist.

At that moment, Fang Mo felt as though he were enveloped by a warm flood. Enlightenment from the depths of his soul surged forth like a spring.

Every principle behind the fist, every understanding of force, soared to unprecedented heights.

That warm current rose from his Dantian and coursed through the meridians of his entire body. His bones, muscles, and tendons were subtly tempered, strengthening his frame as his power quietly climbed.

Fang Mo drew a deep breath, feeling the surging power within him. An indescribable joy and sense of achievement rose from his heart, as though he had broken free from a cocoon and turned into a butterfly, shedding his restraints to fly into a wider sky.

Spurred on by the surging power within, Fang Mo barely paused before immersing himself in fist training once more.

His physical strength had improved significantly, and both his endurance and training intensity far surpassed what they had been before.

By the time lunch arrived, he had gained another ten points of proficiency.

At the dining table, everyone was discussing the topic of "Xiongying Martial Arts School challenging every martial arts school in the city."

"I heard Iron Eagle Martial Arts School in the southern district has issued a challenge, saying they'll sweep through every martial arts school in Yunyang!"

"Isn't that too arrogant? Can they really pull it off?"

"I know a little. They say the head of Xiongying Martial Arts School comes from the Eagle Claw Sect. That's a first-rate martial arts sect."

Fang Mo asked Ding Zhiyuan beside him, "Senior Brother, is the Eagle Claw Sect really that formidable?"

Ding Zhiyuan's expression tightened as he replied seriously, "More than formidable—it's one of the Eight Gates among the first-rate martial arts sects!" Seeing Fang Mo's blank look, Ding Zhiyuan was first taken aback, then laughed.

"You don't even know about the Eight Gates? Well, no wonder. You keep your head buried in training all day long, so naturally you rarely pay attention to matters beyond the martial arts school."

Fang Mo gave an embarrassed chuckle and pleaded, "Senior Brother, then give me the rundown!"

"Fine, I'll tell you about it!"

Ding Zhiyuan set down his bowl and chopsticks, his expression turning solemn as he began to explain patiently:

"In the martial world, ranks were clearly defined, from third-rate, second-rate, and first-rate, all the way up to super first-rate. At the pinnacle of the pyramid stood four great tiers: One Sect, Three Academies, Five Sects, and Eight Gates."

Seeing the flames of curiosity flickering in Fang Mo's eyes, he explained in simple terms, "One Sect refers solely to the Tianyi Sect. It stands above even the super first-rate, with hidden dragons and crouching tigers among its ranks—countless powerful experts! I've heard they even have Heavenly Human Realm experts!"

"Heavenly Human Realm? What kind of realm is that?"

Surprise appeared on Fang Mo's face. It seemed he had never even heard of such a realm.

"Do you never go online?"

Ding Zhiyuan chuckled, then added with slight helplessness, "The realms progress like this: after Bright Force comes Dark Strength, then Hua Jin. Above that is the master-level Dan Jin, followed by Gang Force, which is divided into the Post-Heaven Realm and the Pre-Heaven Realm. Beyond the Pre-Heaven Realm lies the Heavenly Human Realm."

Ding Zhiyuan's eyes gleamed with yearning for those higher realms, while Fang Mo was deeply stirred by the vastness of this martial world.

Coming back to himself, Ding Zhiyuan lightly wiped the corner of his mouth and continued, "The Three Academies—Dan Shi Mountain Buddhist Monastery, Qingyun Mountain Sword Academy, and Wugong Mountain Daoist Academy—are all super first-rate. And our hall master came from the outer academy of Dan Shi Mountain Buddhist Monastery." He lowered his voice, glanced around, and whispered, lending his words a touch of mystery.

Fang Mo was somewhat astonished. So the hall master was merely an outer academy disciple of Dan Shi Mountain Buddhist Monastery. An outer academy disciple was already at Hua Jin—then just how powerful were the inner academy disciples?

Ding Zhiyuan continued, "Now, let's talk about the Five Sects!"

"The Five Sects include the Donglai Sword Sect, the Chihuo Saber Sect, and three others. Their strength nearly rivaled the Three Academies and far surpassed the Eight Gates."

Fang Mo's heart stirred at this. Yue Jian's older sister, Yue Quan, seemed to be a disciple of the Donglai Sword Sect.

"The Eight Gates are the Iron Sword Sect, Five Tigers Broken Saber Sect, Vajra Sect, Five Poisons Sect, Medicine King Sect, Eagle Claw Sect, Iron Finger Sect, and Bihai Sect. All eight are first-rate powers. Remember this: when you travel outside, if you encounter disciples of these Eight Gates, be sure to be careful. Though their combat strength cannot compare to the Three Academies and Five Sects, they have many disciples, both good and bad. If you provoke them, it will bring you considerable trouble."

Fang Mo nodded and quietly committed it all to memory.

A question suddenly occurred to him, and he asked:

"Senior Brother, then why aren't Martial Academies ranked among these powers?"

Ding Zhiyuan answered with a smile:

"Martial Academies are pillars of the Galactic Federation and do not belong to the martial sects. They train martial talents for the Federation. The Twelve Great Super Martial Academies possess strength comparable to first-rate sects, and their influence reaches deep into both the military and government!"

Understanding dawned on Fang Mo. One belonged to the people, while the other belonged to the authorities.

Ding Zhiyuan patted Fang Mo on the shoulder and encouraged him:

"If you get the chance, you should still apply to a Martial Academy! You'll have an opportunity to enter the military, and if you can join the Interstellar Expeditionary Force, the resources will be even more abundant."

Fang Mo smiled faintly. It was certainly tempting, but right now, the most important thing was to become a Bright Force martial artist first. Otherwise, everything else was empty talk.