Mountain-Shrinking Fist

The Rebellion of Kaidu?

In Zhu Yuanzhang's hazy memories.

It seemed to be a rebellion launched by some Mongol vassal kings in Central Asia, West Asia, and the Mongolian Plateau who opposed Kublai Khan's Sinicization.

It was said that three or four Mongol khanates participated directly in the rebellion, making it quite a massive affair.

And then, they were farmed by the Great Yuan like mobs in a game.

But... feeling the damp air inside the Scripture Depository.

"The Rebellion of Kaidu," "Garrisoned in Dingshui County," "The Mountain-Shrinking Fist created by the aquatic Tanka people."

"And the Mingde before me."

Is it really a coincidence?

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes.

But regardless of the truth, it was all too far removed from his current situation.

The current Zhu Yuanzhang was nothing more than a little monk with little time left, caught in the power struggle between various factions at Yinglong Temple.

"If there is nothing else, Minghe will take his leave."

Accompanied by the rumbling sound coming from his stomach, Zhu Yuanzhang cupped his hands in a salute and said with a straight face.

Seeing the umbrella-wielding monk before him nod in tacit approval.

Zhu Yuanzhang strode out of the Scripture Depository.

At this moment, the bright moon hung high.

Zhu Yuanzhang walked along the mountain path, smelling the aroma of meat buns wafting from the refectory.

His heart leaped with joy.

"Finally, I'm going to have my first full meal since transmigrating."

Turning the corner of the mountain path, he looked at the brightly lit refectory ahead.

Zhu Yuanzhang felt a surge of emotion.

The True Fire on his forehead flickered slightly, as if warning him.

A black shadow lunged out from the locust tree forest on both sides of the road.

Illuminated by the True Fire and the moonlight, it revealed a face with a green complexion and fangs.

It pounced fiercely toward Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang flung out the True Fire.

A wall of fire capable of breaking evil and dispelling spirits rose before him.

It instantly drained one-third of Zhu Yuanzhang's lifespan.

However—

"No effect? This is a scam!"

Zhu Yuanzhang let out a cry of grief and indignation.

The Fixed Light True Fire, touted as being able to subdue dragons and tigers, seemed completely unable to affect the zombie wearing monk's robes in front of him.

The opponent's speed was so fast that Zhu Yuanzhang had no time to defend himself at all.

Accompanied by a whistling sound through the air.

Scarlet characters flashed before Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes.

[You have died]

"I think it's better to ask Master Mingde to help me master the Mountain-Shrinking Fist before setting out."

Zhu Yuanzhang changed from his previous expression of a starving ghost desperate for food.

Instead, he adopted an attitude of thirst for knowledge and bowed to the Master Mingde before him.

There was no other reason.

It was purely because Zhu Yuanzhang loved to learn; he simply couldn't eat his meal without mastering the Mountain-Shrinking Fist.

"Very well! I shall protect you."

Seeming to sense something, Mingde raised the black umbrella in his hand and looked toward the door of the Scripture Depository.

The next moment.

A gust of sea breeze carrying the smell of fish blew in from outside the door.

The doors and windows of the Scripture Depository slammed shut, leaving only the faint light from the candle holder Zhu Yuanzhang had brought, which sat on the bookshelf.

Three hours later.

Zhu Yuanzhang opened his eyes and dropped his stance.

A series of crackling sounds like breaking bones erupted from every limb and joint in Zhu Yuanzhang's body.

"With your blood and qi gathered, you may now contemplate the visualization technique."

Mingde extended a finger, signaling for Zhu Yuanzhang to retrieve the visualization scroll himself.

Zhu Yuanzhang mimicked Mingde's movements, hooked the iron rings, and pulled them sharply to either side.

BOOM!

The world spun!

A massive wave surged toward him.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood once again upon the familiar reef.

What exactly is lurking beneath the surface of the sea?

Drawing from his previous experience, Zhu Yuanzhang located his target with lightning speed.

A thick, briny stench billowed up from beneath the waves, nearly choking Zhu Yuanzhang into a coughing fit.

Yet, he kept his eyes fixed on the depths, refusing to blink.

Amidst the churning black waves beneath the gloomy sky, a giant, scaled arm broke the surface.

"It's coming out!"

A sudden realization struck Zhu Yuanzhang's heart.

A gargantuan wave crashed toward the reef, the seawater boiling in its wake.

Zhu Yuanzhang finally saw the thing beneath the sea.

It possessed a massive, humanoid body over a hundred meters tall, draped in dense, sturdy, and hideous scales.

It lunged fiercely toward the reef where Zhu Yuanzhang stood.

No!

Almost the instant he beheld the true form of the leviathan, Zhu Yuanzhang was ejected from the space.

But that was not what truly shocked him.

It was—

[Dagon (Great Ocean Water)]
[Because you faced an image of Dagon (Great Ocean Water) from history]
[You have gained "Dagon's Blessing (Temporary)"]
[You have gained "Dagon Visualization Scroll (Temporary)"]
[You have fulfilled all conditions to learn Mountain-Shrinking Fist]
[Learned Mountain-Shrinking Fist]

Crimson blood and qi condensed into an almost physical form around Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang opened his palms and discovered a faint, eerie blue light emanating from his fingernails.

A layer of translucent, horny scales had even begun to sprout upon his skin.

Mingde, who had been standing to the side, had vanished without a trace.

The doors of the Scripture Depository behind him stood wide open, signaling that Zhu Yuanzhang was free to leave.

Zhu Yuanzhang focused his mind.

[Name: Zhu Yuanzhang (Minghe Monk)]
[Profession: Investigator, Imperial Awakening Temple Disciple (False)]
[Status: Ill-fated]
[Skills: Great Wisdom Zen Technique (False), Dingguang Demon-Subduing True Technique (False), Mountain-Shrinking Fist (False)]
[Equipment: None]
[Note: Today's calamity! There is no escape!]
[Reward: Permanently solidify one skill (Pending use).]

"It is time to see the practical effects of the Mountain-Shrinking Fist."

After mastering the Mountain-Shrinking Fist, Zhu Yuanzhang found that he no longer felt repulsed by the damp climate inside the Scripture Depository.

The change was not merely physical; it was psychological as well.

As Zhu Yuanzhang walked outside, he found himself instinctively longing for the misty, water-laden atmosphere of the Scripture Depository.

This made Zhu Yuanzhang increasingly wary of the entity known as [Dagon] that he had seen in the visualization scroll.

Pale eyeballs, long black hair, and tusks as thick and long as a wild boar's.

The system is named [Shadow Walker].

Emerging suddenly from the shadows of the locust grove at the mountain path's corner, it dealt Zhu Yuanzhang a fatal blow.

Just like last time, this monster showed no fear of the True Fire.

It lunged straight through the wall of fire, which had been fueled by half of Zhu Yuanzhang's lifespan, and pounced toward him.

But there was a difference.

This time, Zhu Yuanzhang had assumed a "stance."

His expression was so calm that even the Shadow Walker before him was taken aback for a moment.

"I've been waiting for you."

Zhu Yuanzhang whispered.

The major meridians throughout his body were now forged into a single line under the effects of "Thirty Years of Hard Labor."

And as Zhu Yuanzhang visualized the figure of [Dagon] once more.

Scarlet blood sprayed from the pores on his skin like a mist.

"Hm?"

The [Shadow Walker] froze; it crouched down warily, watching the blood-soaked man before it, not daring to attack rashly.

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned as well.

"What is going on here?"

"Don't!"

Large patches of grayish-white scales, resembling a skin disease, began to sprout from his flesh.

However, before these clumped scales could connect across the surface of his body.

The True Fire rushed forward without hesitation, as if it had spotted the murderer of its entire family, and began to burn these newly grown limbs in a rage.

And it wasn't just on the surface.

At the same time, the Mountain-Shrinking Fist was remodeling Zhu Yuanzhang's internal organs, transforming them into those of another creature.

Yet the True Fire remained relentless, clashing head-on with the Mountain-Shrinking Fist inside Zhu Yuanzhang's body.

This was the root cause of why Zhu Yuanzhang was already severely injured before he had even made a move.

Accompanied by a sound like shattering glass from within Zhu Yuanzhang's body.

Zhu Yuanzhang threw his head back and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Then, several scarlet characters flashed before his eyes.

[You have died!]

"Damn it!"

"This cultivation technique is poisonous!"