Breaking Through to Tendon Changing, Tiger Demon Force

"Good!"

Sun Nian was clearly in an excellent mood.

He raised his right hand slightly: "Rise."

As Yang Ning stood up, Sun Nian smiled:

"You and your Senior Brother Gong have different temperaments.

He is sharp and exposed, honing his skills through constant battle.

You are reserved and hidden, accumulating strength for a powerful breakthrough.

But both of you are fine jade, possessing exceptional talent."

The look in his eyes as he gazed at Yang Ning now carried the expectation and regard of a master for a prized pupil:

"At only twenty years of age, you have already reached the perfection of Body Tempering and are touching the threshold of Tendon Changing. This aptitude is even half a notch better than your senior brother was at your age.

In time, you will surely become a pillar of my lineage."

"Since you have taken me as your master today,"

Sun Nian changed the subject, his tone becoming crisp and decisive:

"I shall start by giving you a welcoming gift."

"Since you are already on the edge of a breakthrough, today, I will personally guide you across this gate of Tendon Changing to manifest the 'force' that belongs to you!"

"Come,"

Sun Nian walked to a more spacious area of the secret chamber and beckoned to Yang Ning:

"Spar with me.

Do not hold back; unleash every bit of your understanding of the Tiger Soul Fist."

"Yes."

Yang Ning took a deep breath and calmed his mind.

He stood with his feet in a balanced stance, like a tiger crouching on a mountain rock, his waist and back slightly arched, his spine aligned segment by segment, a faint sound of thunder rumbling within.

Driven by his intent, the blood and qi throughout his body began to surge, and with a movement of his feet, he lunged forward.

He held nothing back; the insights gained from his life-and-death struggles in the Martial Arena and his day-and-night hard training were all poured into this single pounce.

His form was like a fierce tiger breaking out of its cage, charging straight at Sun Nian!

His fist wind tore through the air, the scorching and fierce power of his blood and qi concentrated at his knuckles. This strike had already surpassed his peak performance when he fought Wang Teng!

Yet, facing this ferocious and peerless pounce, Sun Nian's expression remained unchanged; he did not even adopt a fighting stance.

He simply raised his right hand casually, fingers slightly spread, and pressed forward gently.

The movement was slow and fluid, devoid of any aggressive intent.

However, the moment Yang Ning's fist was about to touch that palm, a sudden change occurred!

Around Sun Nian's palm, a formless yet heavy-as-a-mountain "qi" suddenly manifested.

Yang Ning felt as if his unstoppable fist had slammed into an invisible wall of air, or perhaps sunk into a bottomless quagmire.

His violent power was easily absorbed and neutralized, his forward momentum coming to an abrupt halt!

What shocked Yang Ning even more was the strange heat flowing from the other man's palm.

It was not an aggressive force of blood and qi, but something carrying an indescribable spirituality that traveled through his arm's meridians and instantly surged throughout his entire body.

Wherever it passed, his own surging blood and qi, which were on the verge of breaking through, seemed to be combed and guided by an invisible hand.

Under the "instruction" of this heat, they began to circulate on their own, following a more efficient and profound trajectory!

[Tiger Soul Fist (Tendon Changing 753/1000)]

[Tiger Soul Fist (Tendon Changing 763/1000)]

"Hmm?"

A flash of surprise flickered in Sun Nian's eyes:

"What a strange instinct for blood and qi circulation... to be able to adapt to and imitate my guidance so quickly?

You truly are a natural seed for the martial path!"

He did not know that this was not entirely due to Yang Ning's innate talent; it was also the subtle influence of the Heaven Rewards Diligence Destiny System, pushing him toward the most correct and effective path of progress!

Now, under the personal guidance of a master like Sun Nian, this talent was stimulated to its absolute limit!

Yang Ning felt a sudden flash of inspiration; he completely abandoned active control and sank his mind deep into his body.

He followed the trajectory of that spiritual heat closely, sensing every minute change as the force was generated, circulated, and condensed.

[Tiger Soul Fist (Tendon Changing 823/1000)]

[Tiger Soul Fist (Tendon Changing 833/1000)]

Sun Nian's voice rang out at the perfect moment, not loud, yet every word was clear, piercing straight into Yang Ning's mind:

"Tendon Changing is not merely the stretching and strengthening of muscles and tendons.

At its core, it is the use of qi and blood to nourish, penetrate, and mutate the major tendons of the body, making them as tough and elastic as bowstrings, allowing them to integrate deeply with qi and blood to derive 'force'."

"Force is the sublimation of qi and blood.

It is the condensation of strength and the extension of will!"

"You practice Tiger Soul Fist; your fist intent already possesses the fierce Sha of a tiger.

Only when your force aligns with this intent can you unleash its maximum power."

"Visualize the tiger within your fist. It is not just the king of the mountains, but a Tiger Demon—unshackled, devouring gods and slaughtering demons!"

"The Tiger Demon Force must possess the ferocity of a demon and the majestic Sha of a tiger; it must be indestructible and pierce through all things!"

"Hoo!"

Following Sun Nian's guidance, the qi and blood within Yang Ning, along with the force on the verge of taking shape, seemed to be infused with a soul.

The trajectory of that spiritual heat flow suddenly became more aggressive and violent!

Inside Yang Ning, it was as if a caged, ferocious tiger had truly let out a roar!

It was no longer a low tiger growl, but a roar carrying a barbaric, malevolent, and demonic desire to tear everything apart!

His skin flushed an unnatural dark red, and thick tendons bulged beneath the surface, taut like coiled dragons.

An aura, far more condensed and dangerous than before, climbed steadily from within him!

Gong Tian watched from the side, dazzled and stunned.

When he broke through to Tendon Changing, he had also been guided by his master, but it had taken a long time. How could he compare to the shocking scene of Yang Ning, who was achieving a breakthrough almost instantly as if it were the most natural thing in the world?

"Now is the moment!"

Sun Nian's gaze sharpened, and his palm, pressed against Yang Ning's fist, gave a slight jolt.

"Boom—!"

Yang Ning felt as if a barrier in his mind had shattered with a roar!

[Tiger Soul Fist (Bone Forging 0/10000)]

The qi, blood, and major tendons surging throughout his body, under the final guidance of that spiritual heat flow, suddenly collapsed and condensed at his dantian, before erupting with a bang!

A brand-new power surged from his dantian, penetrating his limbs and bones, flowing through every major tendon, and finally gathering at the fist he still held against Sun Nian!

This power felt as refined as steel, yet as scorching as fire, and it carried a malevolent hunger, as if it would devour anyone in its path.

Tiger Demon Force, formed!

"Hum—!"

Where fist and palm met, the air let out a groan of unbearable pressure.

Although the malevolent force on Yang Ning's fist was easily neutralized by Sun Nian, the fleeting display of power made even Gong Tian glance over in surprise.

Sun Nian withdrew his palm and stepped back. He looked at Yang Ning, who stood with eyes closed, his aura fluctuating violently as he stabilized his new realm, and stroked his beard with a smile full of gratification.

"Good! A fine 'Tiger Demon Force'!

To possess such fierce power at its birth—once polished and mastered in the future, its lethality will likely be at least thirty percent stronger than ordinary force of the same rank!"

He looked at Gong Tian and laughed:

"Your junior brother is extraordinary.

Our lineage has a worthy successor."

Gong Tian smiled as well. The way he looked at Yang Ning had completely shifted to the closeness and recognition one holds for their own junior brother.

A moment later, the aura around Yang Ning slowly calmed.

The unnatural color faded from his skin, but when he opened his eyes, they were brighter and deeper than before, with a faint, intimidating glint circulating within them.

He felt the brand-new, malevolent force within him, which moved at his command, and his heart surged with excitement.

This was the Tendon Changing realm! This was force!

He bowed deeply to Sun Nian once more, this time with heartfelt gratitude:

"Thank you, Master, for your guidance!"

Sun Nian accepted the bow calmly and said warmly:

"This is the result of your own accumulation and talent; I merely gave you a push.

Now that you have broken through, you must consolidate your foundation.

Your Senior Brother Gong will inform you in detail about the rules and duties of the Jingan Bureau."

He paused, his tone turning grave:

"As for the Blood Ape Gang, and the matter of your friend being abducted..."

Yang Ning immediately looked up, his gaze burning.

Sun Nian said indifferently:

"Since you have entered my sect, you are a member of the Jingan Bureau.

To move against the kin of our bureau's members is to provoke the Jingan Bureau itself.

You need not worry about this matter alone any longer."

He looked at Gong Tian:

"Gong Tian, I leave this matter to you to handle.

Use your own discretion regarding the scale.

Let certain people know that this Kuishan County has not yet reached the point where they can cover the sky with one hand."

Gong Tian cupped his hands, a cold smile appearing on his face:

"This disciple understands.

I will certainly provide Master and Junior Brother with a satisfactory resolution."