Hidden Force and News

A teacher is one who imparts knowledge, teaches skills, and resolves doubts.

Li Beichen had just broken through to the Eighth Rank and was filled with many questions, and as it happened, Meng Juxiang had been staying at the Like-Elephant Martial Hall recently.

He headed straight out the door and walked directly toward the martial hall.

Once the complete Giant Elephant Fist had been mastered to the entry level, Meng Juxiang no longer required his inner-court disciples to practice exclusively within the hall.

Instead, he became quite flexible.

After all, a master leads you through the door, but cultivation depends on the individual.

Once the basics of the fist technique are mastered, the remaining improvement in cultivation depends entirely on the martial artist's own diligent practice.

Li Beichen usually chose to practice in the inner court of the martial hall in the morning, returning to his own residence to train in the afternoon.

When he arrived, Li Beichen saw Meng Juxiang drinking tea in the inner court foyer.

In front of Meng Juxiang, a stick of sandalwood incense was lit.

A faint, wispy trail of smoke permeated the entire room.

It appeared quite fresh and elegant.

Paired with Meng Juxiang's mountain-like, imposing physique and the terrifying scar on his face, it added a touch of wild, unbridled temperament.

"Master..."

Li Beichen entered through the half-open nanmu door and bowed respectfully with cupped hands.

"So, Beichen is here."

"This disciple has a matter he wishes to seek guidance on."

Meng Juxiang set down his teacup and nodded.

"Speak."

"Master, you once said that the Eighth Rank, the Tendon-Refining stage, uses a subtle force to penetrate the fascia throughout the body for cultivation."

"This disciple has discovered that if this subtle force is projected outward, it is silent, yet its penetrating power is astonishing."

"It could be described as displaying might in the silence."

At first, Meng Juxiang's expression remained indifferent when he heard Li Beichen mention refining tendons with subtle force, but when Li Beichen described projecting that force outward, Meng Juxiang could no longer sit still.

His expression tightened, and he rose abruptly, darting forward like a lightning bolt to stand instantly before Li Beichen, extending his fingers to examine Li Beichen's tendons and bones.

"What is it, Master?!"

Li Beichen was somewhat startled.

He saw that Meng Juxiang's face was extremely grave.

However, the gravity on Meng Juxiang's face gradually eased.

After a long moment, he released his grip.

"An Eighth Rank martial artist is in the stage of Tendon-Refining, capable of tempering their fascia to a level comparable to that of tigers and leopards."

"The silent force you speak of is called Hidden Force; it delivers a crushing blow without a sound, and it is truly ferocious."

"However, this type of force places a tremendous burden on the fascia; even a martial artist who has mastered Tendon-Refining cannot strike with it many times."

"If one forces out a Hidden Force before reaching the peak of Tendon-Refining, it is very easy to get injured and damage the fascia."

"It was my oversight; I did not anticipate that you would break through to the Eighth Rank so quickly."

"It is fortunate that your foundation was not damaged."

Li Beichen had not expected there to be such a catch to this Hidden Force.

However, when he used the Hidden Force to shatter the cobblestone, he had not felt the slightest discomfort.

My Hidden Force is a natural trait; it seems it is likely different from that of an ordinary Eighth Rank.

However, since Hidden Force places such a great burden on the fascia, I must explore it carefully.

Thoughts flashed through Li Beichen's mind; he naturally could not tell Meng Juxiang about his system panel.

This speculation could only be verified in private.

But the concern Meng Juxiang showed for him was something Li Beichen felt grateful for.

He cupped his hands toward Meng Juxiang.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master. This disciple will certainly be careful in the future."

Meng Juxiang sat back down in his chair.

He picked up his teacup again and took a sip.

"Li Beichen, you are very good. When I just examined your fascia, I discovered that its strength is already comparable to that of an expert who has been training at the Eighth Rank for a long time."

"It seems your talent is indeed excellent; it is no wonder you were able to comprehend Hidden Force."

"Come next spring, you shall accompany me to Dongting Lake. I will recommend you for cultivation within the Giant Elephant Sect!"

He was very satisfied with Li Beichen and officially confirmed his spot.

"Beichen, many thanks, Master!"

Just as Li Beichen and Meng Juxiang were speaking.

Thump, thump, thump!!

The door suddenly sounded.

Zhang Meng's usually booming voice revealed a hint of gravity.

"Master, something has happened!"

"Come in!"

With a creak, Zhang Meng pushed open the ajar door and stepped quickly into the room. He glanced at Li Beichen, then looked toward Meng Juxiang in the main seat.

Seeing this, Li Beichen stepped forward.

"Master, since Eldest Senior Brother has urgent matters to discuss with you, Beichen will take his leave."

"No need. Since you have already broken through to the Eighth Rank, you will be heading to the Giant Elephant Sect with Zhang Meng come spring. You are now a core disciple of the martial hall; you may stand here and listen to anything from now on."

After saying this to Li Beichen, Meng Juxiang looked at Zhang Meng.

"What has happened?"

Zhang Meng first closed the door, then wore a grave expression.

He recounted the events.

"News has come from the Tea Guild that the Second Junior Brother killed Yan Fu in the Lingnan Mountains."

"Then... outside Ram City, he forcibly killed Huang Shan, the biological son of Huang Baitao from the Thunderbolt Martial Hall."

"He is currently hiding somewhere unknown."

"Lin Xiong and Mo Changkun from the Thunderbolt Martial Hall are leading men everywhere to search for his whereabouts."

Li Beichen, listening from the side, felt his eyelids twitch.

He had not expected Yuan Dazong to be so insane.

Killing the head of the Tea Guild in the mountains was one thing; according to what Zhang Meng had said before, with Meng Juxiang's backing, he could just hide out for a while until the wind blew over.

But he had actually killed the biological son of Huang Baitao, the master of the Thunderbolt Martial Hall, in full view of everyone.

This was the son of a Sixth Rank Bone-Refining martial artist.

In his chair, Meng Juxiang also furrowed his brows.

"What madness has possessed him? Why would he kill Huang Baitao's son!"

"This disciple is also at a complete loss."

"According to the Tea Guild's news, the Second Junior Brother killed Yan Fu yesterday at Ten-Mile Slope in the Lingnan Mountains."

"Ten-Mile Slope is a full five hundred miles away from Ram City. The Second Junior Brother must have ridden through the night without rest after killing Yan Fu, then intercepted Huang Shan outside Ram City."

"After the killing, he went into hiding."

Seeing Zhang Meng's grave expression, Li Beichen could not help but ask.

"Eldest Senior Brother, isn't the Second Senior Brother a consultant for the Tea Guild? Why would he kill Yan Fu? And did he have some grudge against Huang Shan?"

"Yan Fu... that is possible. I vaguely knew they had a wager, and he had been out for so long because the wager remained unfinished."

"If a dispute arose during that time, killing Yan Fu is plausible."

"But Huang Shan..."

Zhang Meng shook his head.

"I have never heard of any enmity between the two."

"Besides, even if there were a grudge, there was no need to forcibly kill the son of a Sixth Rank martial artist in public."

"From what I know of the Second Junior Brother, he would never do something so brainless."

Hearing this, Li Beichen suddenly recalled that when he had just entered the Ninth Rank, Yuan Dazong had warmly invited him to join the Tea Guild.

He had even let Yan Fu offer a consultant fee far exceeding that of a newly promoted Ninth Rank.

Looking at it now, it seemed Yuan Dazong had likely intended for him to be the scapegoat.

At this thought, Li Beichen's eyes turned cold, and he ceased speaking.

Zhang Meng was still deep in thought.

A moment later, he said with some uncertainty.

"To make the Second Junior Brother risk offending a Sixth Rank expert to the death... it could only be the hope of advancing further in the martial path."

"If it were for that, the Second Junior Brother might do it."

"But he shouldn't have acted so crudely; this is not his style."