One Punch Elevates One Realm!

Ye Xiao stood on the rooftop, his upper body bare, the ground beneath him already soaked through with sweat.

As he threw a punch, a faint, earthy-yellow halo shimmered across his skin—the hallmark of his physical form beginning to coalesce.

Where his fist cut through the air, a dull, whistling boom erupted—not from a spell, but from pure, raw power!

After Ye Xiao exhausted every ounce of his strength, unleashing nine consecutive strikes.

His cultivation reached the Mud Embryo Realm, 10th Layer.

According to the memories of his predecessor.

Ye Xiao knew that the martial realms of this world were divided into 15 stages.

The first ten were: Mud Embryo, Bone Tempering, Tendon Changing, Marrow Cleansing, Golden Body, Gall Condensing, Intent Gathering, Godly Communion, Dao Transformation, and Return to Truth!

Beyond the tenth realm, one transcended the mortal coil, gaining the power to soar through the heavens, dive into the earth, split mountains, and part seas.

Each realm was further divided into 1st through 10th layers.

Beyond this, various professions had their own unique nomenclature for their ranks.

However, the 15-realm system remained universal.

This provided a standard for horizontal comparison across different vocations.

At this moment, Ye Xiao could not even be considered a true martial artist.

Because he was still stuck in the Mud Embryo Realm.

The meaning of the Mud Embryo Realm was "a body like a clay mold, just shaped, needing the tempering of raging fire."

It was a process of honing the physical form.

At the Great Perfection of the Mud Embryo Realm, one could shatter bluestone with a single punch and withstand mundane weapons with their bare skin!

Only then could one be considered a true martial artist.

"I have already reached the Mud Embryo Realm, 10th Layer."

"So, let this next punch be the one that breaks me through to the second realm, Bone Tempering!"

With that.

Ye Xiao exerted his full strength once more and threw a punch!

The wind howled across the entire rooftop.

[Ding!]

[You have completed a punch. The force of this strike was: 41%!]

[Gained 1 Martial Dao Point!]

[Your realm has improved!]

[Current Realm: Mud Embryo Realm, 11th Layer!]

Suddenly.

Ye Xiao froze in place.

The breakthrough he had imagined never came!

He had actually reached the 11th Layer of the Mud Embryo Realm!

It defied every bit of established knowledge!

"My major realm... it didn't break through?"

"Instead, my minor layer continued to rise?"

Ye Xiao was struck with immense astonishment.

According to his predecessor's memories, this was a situation that had never occurred before.

Ten layers per realm—this was an immutable iron law that had existed since the dawn of time!

But now, his existence had shattered that rule.

Ye Xiao also noticed something.

After his minor layer improved, the power within his body continued to surge!

At the same time, the foundation of his physical cultivation became even more solid!

At this moment, Ye Xiao.

Suddenly laughed.

"How interesting!"

"Others stop once they reach the 10th layer of a realm, unable to progress any further."

"Unless they can break through the bottleneck of the major realm!"

"But I can continue to improve within the minor layers, gaining power and fortifying my foundation!"

"This is my greatest advantage!"

And so.

Ye Xiao, whose body had been completely drained of strength, suddenly felt a surge of energy.

"Again!"

"Keep throwing punches!"

He threw four or five more punches in succession.

His realm began to rise!

However, as he squeezed every ounce of strength from his body, his subsequent punches became increasingly weak.

When he threw another punch, Ye Xiao realized that his realm was no longer improving.

[Ding!]

[You have completed a punch. The force of this punch was: 19%!]

[Realm improvement failed!]

At this moment, Ye Xiao realized something.

Not every form of punching could improve his realm.

In his attribute panel, there was a separate entry: Realm Advancement Force!

[Realm Advancement Force: 30%]

Now, Ye Xiao understood the meaning of this so-called "Realm Advancement Force."

He had to ensure that his punch exceeded 30% of his total physical strength.

Only then could his punch have the effect of improving his realm!

"Better take a break."

Ye Xiao muttered to himself, finding a spot on the rooftop to sit down.

He was completely spent now.

Continuing to practice his punches would yield no further improvement.

He decided to rest and let his body recover, while simultaneously studying his system functions.

He opened the system panel to take a look.

[Host: Ye Xiao]

[Profession: Martial Artist (Sole Successor of the Extreme Path)]

[Realm: Mud Embryo Realm, 16th Layer]

[Fist Force Amplification: 0%]

[Cultivation Method: Extreme Martial Fist Sutra]

[Passive: None]

[Divine Ability: None]

[Status: None]

[Martial Value: 16]

[Realm Advancement Force: 30%]

[Requirement for next major breakthrough: Complete one Fist of Law-Breaking! (Incomplete)]

Beyond the fact that his realm had risen to the 16th layer, Ye Xiao focused his attention on his cultivation method and his Martial Value.

First was the Extreme Martial Fist Sutra.

It was a cultivation method that came with the system after Ye Xiao activated it.

He checked it.

As he clicked to view it, a majestic cinematic vision of martial arts suddenly appeared before him!

"Who stands at the peak of the martial path? One glimpse of Nameless, and the path turns to void!"

Extreme Martial Fist Sutra, an ancient martial arts sacred text, the foundational technique of the Extreme Martial Sect.

It does not cultivate spiritual power, does not refine the soul, does not borrow external objects, and does not ask of destiny.

Practice only one fist!

When the fist strikes, ten thousand techniques are shattered!

When the fist retracts, heaven and earth fall into silence!

This sutra says:

"Cast one's bones and sinews into a fist, burn one's hot blood into a fist, condense one's lifelong obsession into a fist."

"If the fist exists, the person exists. If the fist is gone, the person dies."

It is rumored.

The Extreme Martial Fist Sutra was created one hundred thousand years ago by a martial artist who called himself "Nameless."

At that time, it was the golden age of cultivation, where ten thousand techniques vied for supremacy, and the martial path was dismissed as mere brute force.

Nameless sat alone on the peak for three thousand years without throwing a single punch.

Three thousand years later, he opened his eyes and threw a punch toward the sky.

That punch caused the sky to remain fractured for ninety thousand years!

Beside the fist mark, he carved twenty characters:

"Extreme in martial, extreme in fist, extreme in heart, extreme in dao."

"All else may be forsaken, but the fist shall never be abandoned!"

After Ye Xiao finished watching this cinematic introduction, his heart grew increasingly stirred and expectant.

Ye Xiao's mind was filled with the image of Nameless throwing that punch toward the sky!

One punch, and the sky remained fractured for ninety thousand years!

Immediately after.

The specific contents of the [Extreme Martial Fist Sutra] appeared before Ye Xiao's eyes.

[Extreme Martial Fist Sutra]

[Grade: Martial Dao Sacred Scripture]

[Level: 0]

[Fist Power Boost: 0%]

[Required for Upgrade: 10 Martial Dao Points]

The content was simple and sparse.

Ye Xiao immediately grasped the key point.

"It takes 10 Martial Dao Points to upgrade once?"

"For every effective punch I throw, I can gain 1 Martial Dao Point."

"So, I currently have 16 Martial Dao Points."

"Then upgrade the Extreme Martial Fist Sutra for me!"

[Consumed 10 Martial Dao Points, Extreme Martial Fist Sutra level increased! (Level 0 → Level 1)]

Once the upgrade was complete.

Ye Xiao checked again and indeed discovered the differences!

[Extreme Martial Fist Sutra]

[Grade: Martial Dao Sacred Scripture]

[Level: 1]

[Fist Power Boost: 1%]

[Heart of Extreme Martial (Active): During combat, attacks generate "Battle Intent." Once "Battle Intent" is full, enter an explosive state to significantly increase combat power! Activating "Heart of Extreme Martial" will continuously consume one's own strength.]

[Required for Upgrade: 20 Martial Dao Points]

First of all.

The level 1 Extreme Martial Fist Sutra granted Ye Xiao a 1% boost to his fist power.

And this meant.

Under normal circumstances, when Ye Xiao threw a punch.

Due to the effect of the Extreme Martial Fist Sutra, the damage of his punch would be increased by an additional 1%!

Although this 1% additional increase seemed small.

Once the level of the [Extreme Martial Fist Sutra] was raised higher.

The increase in damage dealt would undoubtedly be quite substantial!

Beyond that.

Ye Xiao had mastered his first skill, which was the "Heart of Extreme Martial".

It appeared to be a skill for a temporary burst of combat power.

Once an enemy underestimated Ye Xiao, believing he was on the verge of defeat.

That would be Ye Xiao's perfect opportunity for a desperate comeback!

Ye Xiao had to keep this secret well-hidden.

Waiting for the necessary moment.

This secret would help Ye Xiao shine brilliantly!