Collapse and Destruction

Li He stared fixedly at the giant crater on the cliff face.

This power, this penetrative force, this disintegration from the inside out. A monstrous wave surged in Li He's heart. Its might is even greater than my Ape Demon Three Styles!

The Ape Demon Three Styles were tyrannical and fierce, overwhelming others with sheer force.

Yet this Ape Arm Mountain Crushing Fist focused on erupting with a specific vibrational frequency to produce a penetrative, destructive effect; its destructive power was on an entirely different level.

The dust and smoke slowly dissipated.

Yuan Shan slowly retracted his right arm, his sleeves remaining neat and his breathing as steady as before.

"Did you see clearly? This is the Mountain Crushing Style! Its essence does not lie in brute force, but in the frequency of the vibration, focusing on internal destruction."

"Next, I will break down the movements. Observe carefully."

Yuan Shan dismantled and demonstrated the technique, move by move.

His movements carried the steadiness of the Ape Standing Stake, the agility of the Ape Trace Steps, and the relaxed weight of the Old Ape Stretches Arms. Every subtle transition emphasized how to control the circulation of qi and blood to achieve a resonant effect.

"The spine is like a dragon, arched to store power."

"Qi and blood vibrate, the frequency shifting from slow to fast."

"Force condenses at a single point, erupting from the slightest movement."

"At the moment of contact, the vibration explodes, causing disintegration from the inside out."

As Yuan Shan demonstrated, he explained the key points, his voice ringing out like a great bell, clearly reaching the ears of the three.

Li He's focus was at its peak, his eyes like lightning, locked onto every subtle movement Yuan Shan made.

On the system panel, a blurry pattern became increasingly clear.

Once!

Twice!

Three times!

Yuan Shan finished his demonstration and stood still, concluding his stance.

"Now, you try."

The three of them each found an open space and began to attempt it.

Sun Ao imitated Yuan Shan's movements and whipped out his right arm.

Bang!

A muffled thud!

A shallow fist print appeared on the cliff wall with some slight cracks at the edges, but it was far from reaching the level of disintegration.

Sun Ao's face turned pale, his qi and blood churning; clearly, his force circulation had been unsmooth, and the recoil made him quite uncomfortable.

Yuan Lingling followed closely behind. Her movements were very fluid, carrying a hint of elegance.

Snap!

A crisp sound!

A fist print appeared on the cliff wall, deeper than Sun Ao's with more cracks, but it still lacked that pulverizing, disintegrating effect.

She furrowed her delicate brows, seemingly savoring the feeling from just a moment ago.

It was Li He's turn.

His muscles and bones vibrated within him, his right arm turning into a steel whip as he lashed out fiercely, smashing a bowl-sized, inch-deep crater into the cliff wall.

On the system panel, the text remained blurry, showing no signs of becoming clear. Clearly, this punch had relied entirely on brute force and had nothing to do with disintegration.

This direction is wrong.

Li He shook his head, realizing he had subconsciously used the fierce approach of the Ape Demon Three Styles, which ran counter to the vibrational penetration of the Mountain Crushing Power.

For his second attempt, he shifted his feet lightly, stepping out the trajectory of the Ape Trace Steps, attempting to combine his footwork with the fist force.

Bang!

The power was greater, the crater deeper, and the cracks denser, but it still failed to achieve that internal-to-external shattering effect, and a wave of soreness spread through his arm.

For his third attempt, Li He slowed his movements, stretching his arm to its limit, keeping his whole body relaxed and heavy, and swung his fist.

Bang!

The crater was slightly deeper and the cracks were more numerous, but the rock only split; it did not disintegrate, and no vibrational force was produced.

Still missing something.

Next came four consecutive attempts.

During his ninth attempt, Li He subconsciously activated the Ape Demon Iron Body Technique, his muscles and bones humming in unison as qi and blood vibrated through his arm.

The instant his arm touched the cliff wall, a flash of lightning struck Li He's mind, and he relaxed his arm.

Crack!

A sound like ice shattering rang out.

Where the fist landed, a bowl-sized, inch-deep depression appeared on the solid rock wall.

At the edges of the depression, fine cracks spiderwebbed across the stone.

At the same time, the previously blurry system panel text suddenly became clear.

[Ape Arm Mountain Crushing Fist: Entry (0%)]

"It worked, this is the right direction!"

Li He felt a surge of joy in his heart and threw several more punches in quick succession, his movements perfectly standard as an invisible force of vibration continuously radiated outward.

Sun Ao and Yuan Lingling heard the commotion and stopped what they were doing to look over, stunned into silence for a long moment.

"Good, good, good!" Yuan Shan repeated the word three times. He strode over to Li He and carefully examined the fist mark on the wall. "Li He, your comprehension is truly far beyond my expectations!"

Yuan Shan was deeply shocked.

When he first learned this fist technique, it had taken him a full half-month to reach the level Li He was at right now; the boy's talent was truly terrifying.

He immediately turned his head and barked at Lin Feng, who was still standing by in shock, "Lin Feng!"

"Disciple is here!"

"Go to the Tempering Pool at once and fetch the beast blood essence!" Yuan Shan spoke with great urgency. "Apply the blood essence to Li He's arms to stimulate his muscles and bones, enhance his resilience, and stabilize his blood energy."

"Yes, Master!"

Lin Feng did not dare to delay; he turned immediately and dashed toward the Tempering Pool. He returned quickly, cradling a medicine jar.

"Junior Brother Li, bear with it."

Lin Feng took the beast blood essence from the jar and applied it evenly over Li He's arms, paying special attention to the joints where force was generated, such as the shoulders, elbows, and wrists.

Sss!

The moment the blood essence touched his skin, it began to boil.

Li He sucked in a cold breath.

This sensation was exactly the same as when he tempered his Ape Demon Iron Body Technique; the scalding blood essence kept burrowing into his bones, causing a stinging, numbing ache.

Yuan Shan watched from the side: "Circulate the Ape Standing Stake to guide the energy of the blood essence to temper your muscles and bones."

Li He immediately complied, putting his full effort into circulating the minor-success Ape Standing Stake.

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

[Ape Standing Stake: Minor Success (1%) → Minor Success (9%)]

[Ape Arm Mountain Crushing Fist: Entry (0%) → Entry (10%)]

The burning sensation and sharp pain gradually subsided, replaced by a warm, comfortable feeling as his muscles and bones were nourished.

"How do you feel?" Yuan Shan asked.

"The resilience of my muscles and bones has increased, and my blood energy circulation is much smoother!" Li He felt the changes in his arms, a flash of pleasant surprise in his eyes.

"Very good!" Yuan Shan nodded in satisfaction. "Blood essence tempering can enhance the ability of your muscles and bones to withstand the Mountain Crushing Power and assist you in stabilizing the frequency of your blood energy vibrations. But this is only an aid; the true foundation still requires your own hard work and refinement."

"Remember the feeling from just now. Control your strength and focus on sensing the vibration frequency. Do not seek power, but seek precision."

"Yes!"

Li He felt invigorated. He faced the rock wall once more and swung his arm. This time, his movements were more steady, and the frequency of his blood energy vibration was more precise.

Crack!

Another fist mark appeared on the wall with fine cracks radiating from it. Although the power was reduced, the sense of penetration capable of shattering rock was much clearer.

[Proficiency +1]

[Ape Arm Mountain Crushing Fist: Entry (10%) → (11%)]

At the same time.

Evergreen Martial Arts Hall, the master's private chamber.

Chen Changqing sat cross-legged, a light screen floating before him.

On the screen, a carefully edited video was playing.

It was the footage of Li He fighting bloodily and ultimately defeating Sun Jiaoyang.

With stirring background music and provocative subtitles, a brutal fight had been packaged into a hot-blooded legend of an underdog's rise.

Chen Changqing watched with an expressionless face, his eyes calm and unruffled.

As the video finished playing, the light screen automatically closed.

He picked up the clear tea at his side and took a gentle sip.

"Sun Jiaoyang... I remember that name. It seems he has gone to university for further studies now?"

"Li He... truly worthy of being a disciple favored by Teacher Wang. He certainly has some substance. When the October Grand Competition arrives, I hope you can give me a few surprises."

He closed his eyes, his aura settling and condensing. With the fifth rank imminent, he had to devote himself entirely to the breakthrough of his realm.