Master of Transformation! Return to the Peak! (Two-in-one)

"Gulp! Gulp!"

Su Hao downed two mouthfuls of the ginseng wine. The liquor was not harsh; on the contrary, it was incredibly mellow and smooth, sliding down his throat into his belly before transforming into a warm current that flowed through his limbs and bones, making him feel as though he possessed an inexhaustible supply of strength!

Taking advantage of the medicinal efficacy, Su Hao began to practice the Bear Form Fist.

The hallmark of the Bear Form Fist lies in the mastery of power. To perform this seemingly clumsy set of techniques with lightness, elegance, and the ability to handle heavy weights as if they were light is the realm of minor completion. To go a step further—returning to simplicity—and execute these light techniques with the weight of a mountain is the realm of great completion. The force cultivated by this fist style is known as the "Bear-Grizzly Force."

As for the final style, the Deer Form Fist, it is renowned for its footwork. It excels at short-range shifting and maneuvering, much like a nimble deer moving through a forest, not even brushing against a single leaf. Its force is the "Deer Creek Force." While not a style primarily focused on killing, it is capable of dissipating and borrowing force, making it profoundly mysterious.

"Boom! Boom!"

Under the reinforcement of the Blood Ginseng Wine, Su Hao pushed his fist techniques to the limit. His muscles and bones hummed and vibrated, emitting a Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound that tempered his internal organs and skeleton, strengthening the energy within. His fist techniques combined lightness and heaviness; at times, they were as light as a feather, his strikes swift and silent, while at other times, they were as heavy as a giant bear swinging its paw, creating a thunderous roar.

The scene of Su Hao practicing martial arts with all his might possessed a beauty born of the combination of power and technique—body and mind in perfect harmony!

With the aid of the blood ginseng, Su Hao could practice without reservation, never needing to worry about depleting his body. It even repaired the hidden injuries of this vessel, making his foundation more solid and tending toward perfection.

"The Mortal-Shedding Bead... its energy is more than half full. Perhaps it won't be long before it is completely charged. I wonder what its true purpose is. The words 'Mortal-Shedding' must be the key..."

While practicing the Five Animals Fist, Su Hao also observed the changes in the Mortal-Shedding Bead during his nightly meditations to temper his mental strength. The blood-colored energy filling it had already occupied more than half of the bead's interior.

Su Hao felt a sense of anticipation for the effects of this Mortal-Shedding Bead!

Su Hao's life fell into a period of tranquility. He progressed rapidly; two months later, he had cleared a portion of his meridians, and the fourth type of energy, the "Bear-Grizzly Force," was born within him. The Bear Form Fist had returned to its peak!

Four months later, the final portion of Su Hao's meridians was cleared, and the "Deer Creek Force" of the Deer Form Fist flowed unimpeded!

The Five Animals Fist had finally reached perfection!

In his previous life, Su Hao had spent twenty to thirty years to achieve this; in this life, he had spent less than a year!

Of course, the primary reason was that Su Hao's experience and realm remained; all he lacked was the body. As long as the body was strong enough to clear the meridians for force generation, entering the realm of force would happen naturally.

At high noon, with the sun hanging high, Su Hao stood quietly in an open space behind the mountain. He appeared calm, but in reality, currents of energy were flowing within him. These five types of energy were distinct—some fierce, some sharp, some light, some heavy, and some soft—representing the five forces Su Hao had cultivated to the pinnacle of the Five Animals Fist!

"This moment... has finally arrived!"

Su Hao felt a surge of excitement. Since his transmigration, his body, once that of a Master of Transformation, had become that of a frail youth. Having lost all his strength, he had felt a lack of security. Now, he had finally cleared all the meridians in his body and would return to his peak!

Calming his mind, Su Hao focused his spirit and began "internal observation." Within this state, he "saw" the invisible threads of energy flowing through his body. These energies had distinct characteristics: the fierce Tiger Gallant Force, the light Crane Cry Force, the versatile Ape Agility Force, the heavy Bear-Grizzly Force, and the soft Deer Creek Force...

They were clearly defined. Even for others practicing the Five Animals Fist, the step of merging the five forces was a massive hurdle that usually took years to overcome. But for Su Hao, who had already experienced it once, it was a familiar path.

As his intent shifted, these various energies seemed to receive a silent command, flowing rapidly. They countered and generated one another, beginning to entwine and fuse.

"Rumble!"

The rapidly flowing energy caused Su Hao's internal organs and bones to resonate in unison, emitting low, thunder-like sounds. If his physique were not strong enough, the process of merging the five forces would have damaged his internal organs!

As the energies collided within him, they were accompanied by the sounds of tigers roaring, deer calling, bears growling, apes shrieking, and cranes crying. Su Hao sat cross-legged, and the interweaving of these various sounds seemed to form an invisible shockwave, causing the ground within a two-foot radius to crack and sending sand and gravel flying.

The five types of energy within his body gradually merged, becoming indistinguishable from one another. They began to course through his spine—the "Great Dragon"—and permeated every inch of his body, down to the extremities like his teeth, nails, and hair.

The force resulting from the fusion of the five energies underwent a qualitative change. It possessed the characteristics of all five, filling every inch of Su Hao's body. It could be unleashed at will, combining hardness and softness: when hard, it was like steel and iron, invincible; when soft, it was like a spring breeze and gentle rain, penetrating every opening!

Half an hour later, everything fell silent. Su Hao slowly opened his eyes, a flash of invisible brilliance flickering within them before vanishing.

"Finally... I have restored the peak state of a Master of Transformation from my previous life!"

A smile of irrepressible relief and joy appeared at the corner of Su Hao's mouth.

Relying on the large sum of money obtained from Su Lie and that stalk of blood ginseng, Su Hao had finally achieved a miracle in the shortest possible time, returning to his peak!

Su Hao stood up to experience the profound mysteries of the Transformation Force once more.

"Crack, crack, crack!"

Su Hao stood motionless, yet his body seemed to weigh a thousand pounds; the ground beneath his feet sank by an inch. This was a characteristic of the "Bear-Grizzly Force," which could achieve an effect similar to a "thousand-pound drop," altering his own weight. The heavier his body, the heavier his strikes would naturally be!

The next instant, the invisible energy hidden within his limbs and bones erupted, propelled segment by segment from his spine, transforming into a surging force. Su Hao threw a punch with his right hand.

"Boom!"

The commotion caused by this punch was astonishing, sounding like a speeding vehicle rushing through a narrow alley. Su Hao's fist compressed, pushed, and crushed the air in front of him!

Large amounts of dead branches and fallen leaves on the ground were swept up by this fist force, crushed as it roared forward like a wild horse charging at full speed. Had anyone dared to stand in the way, they would surely have suffered broken bones and shattered flesh. The force did not dissipate until it had traveled a full ten feet.

The ferocity and dominance of this punch were enough to make one's scalp tingle; it was hard to imagine it could be delivered by a body of flesh and blood!

Su Hao then shifted from hard to soft. He picked up the wine gourd with one hand and tapped it lightly. The wine inside leaped up, and a suction force—a soft energy—generated from his palm, guiding the liquid to gather without scattering, swirling and dancing around his hand.

After playing with it for a while, Su Hao opened his mouth and swallowed the wine in one gulp, not wasting a single drop!

"This is the Transformation Force: combining hardness and softness, with power reaching the four extremities, permeating every inch of the body, unleashed at will. Not even a feather could land upon me!"

A curve appeared on Su Hao's lips. He pressed his finger lightly against a large tree. He did not use much strength, yet his finger pierced into the hard trunk as easily as a hot knife through butter, with a soft hiss.

Su Hao also felt a sense of lightness throughout his body. During this period, his nerves had been taut, and he had not wasted a single moment, dedicating everything to his cultivation. Now that he had finally achieved the Transformation Force and returned to his peak, he felt relieved!

"But this is not enough. I have only just begun. My next step is to challenge the realm of the Grandmaster of Dan Energy, which I never reached in my previous life. Beyond that, I must also devote energy to studying the 'Blood Energy' martial arts of this world. There is still a long road ahead."

But soon, Su Hao practiced self-reflection, refusing to let pride or complacency take root due to his current achievements.

The Grandmaster of Dan Energy was a realm he had not attained in his past life. At only fifteen or sixteen years old, he had plenty of time and energy to start anew. He believed that fulfilling his wish would not be far off!

Furthermore, regarding the martial arts system of this world, Su Hao was not one to cling stubbornly to the past. He would not look down upon or reject the martial arts of the Eastern Land World simply because he practiced the internal Five Animals Fist system. By taking the best from others to improve himself and constantly progressing, he would be able to reach even higher realms!

"The realm of Dan Energy is not so easily attained. According to my master, to achieve Dan Energy, one requires not only profound internal strength but also a specific state of mental cultivation... This tempering of the spirit can only be done slowly."

Several days had passed. Su Hao had spent some time consolidating his foundation. His research into this path in his previous life had not been in vain, and he possessed a general understanding of the Dan Energy realm. All he needed now was to accumulate his essence and refine his spirit; eventually, he would be able to take that step.

"As for the practice of Blood Energy martial arts, it requires resources. The medicinal efficacy of the Blood Ginseng was exhausted nearly a month ago, and I have used it all up... It seems that if there is an opportunity this year, I should visit the Martial Academy."

Furthermore, compared to the practice of internal martial arts, both Blood Energy and body tempering required a vast amount of secret medicines. Su Hao hoped to visit the Martial Academy in Longshan City, as it was a much broader stage with resources that could never be obtained within Su Family Fort.

While Su Hao was training, a major event occurred within Su Family Fort.

"Su You, is that truly what they said?"

In the Su Family Fort council hall, Clan Head Su Yun frowned as he looked at the man before him.

The man hurriedly replied, "Clan Head, that gang of bandits attacked our caravan, detained several clansmen and our cargo, and demanded that you personally bring one thousand taels of silver to ransom them. They also said you would know where to find them."

In the hall, Su Lie and the other elders wore expressions as dark as a storm.

"Flying Cloud Gang... It must be the Flying Cloud Gang! They even expect the Clan Head to bring silver for a ransom? They are utterly lawless!"

An elder, overcome with rage, slammed his hand against the table.

The others remained silent. They were well aware of the feud between the Flying Cloud Gang and the Su family. Su Yu, an elite martial artist of the Su family, had engaged in a bloody battle with the gang and killed many of their members.

However, every debt has its debtor. If Su Yu were still in Su Family Fort, it would be expected for the Flying Cloud Gang to come seeking revenge. But the Su family did not know Su Yu's whereabouts, nor had they provided him with sanctuary. Yet, the Flying Cloud Gang was now targeting the entire family.

Yesterday, a Su family caravan was ambushed by bandits. Several disciples were captured alive, and Su You was released to deliver the message. The intent behind this was self-evident.

"Clan Head... this matter was caused by Su Yu. Perhaps we should let Su Hao go and offer an apology..."

A Su family elder said cautiously. In their view, this was a matter concerning Su Yu's family, and since it started with them, it would be better to sacrifice Su Hao to satisfy the Flying Cloud Gang and resolve the feud.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expression shifted.

Su Yun glared at him and rebuked in a deep voice, "Elder Su Jiu, we are all of the Su family, sharing the same ancestors. Even if Su Yu caused this trouble, we should do our best to protect his family. If we trade a youth to appease the Flying Cloud Gang, how could our Su family ever hold our heads high in Su Family Fort again? Elder Su Jiu, you once had a grudge against Su Yu, but that was many years ago. I do not wish to see you stir up trouble now!"

"Indeed, and a single Su Hao may not even satisfy the Flying Cloud Gang. They are merely using this as a pretext to extort wealth from our family!"

Su Lie also agreed with Su Yun's decision. He understood that even if they used Su Hao as a bargaining chip, the Flying Cloud Gang would likely not let them off easily unless they received sufficient benefits.

Moreover, as Su Yun had said, the Su family's ability to stand firm in Su Family Fort relied on the unity of the clan. If they were to betray their own kin, it would inevitably lead to the disintegration of the family's morale.

Elder Su Jiu coughed dryly. "I was merely suggesting... just a suggestion. Let us discuss further."

"Then what are we to do? A shipment of our goods and several clansmen are being held by the Flying Cloud Gang..."

Someone frowned, returning to the original problem.

Su Yun took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "I will first go to Longshan City to ask Lord Zhao for help, then proceed to the Flying Cloud Gang with his men to pay the ransom. If we can resolve the hatred with the Flying Cloud Gang, it will be worth the cost!"

In the end, Su Yun made his decision: he would go to the Flying Cloud Gang himself. However, before going, he would ask the influential figures he knew in Longshan City to send men to accompany him. With such backing, the Flying Cloud Gang would have reservations and likely would not dare to go too far.

"I hope... everything goes smoothly."

Su Yun sighed inwardly. He knew this storm was significant, and he could only hope that as the head of the family, he could maneuver with all his might to help the Su family weather this crisis.

Time passed, and several days went by.

"Hmm? Is someone watching me?"

As Su Hao walked along the narrow streets of Su Family Fort, lost in thought about his future development, he suddenly frowned.

Internal martial arts focused on the cultivation of techniques and the tempering of the spirit, allowing one to perfectly control every muscle and ounce of strength. A master of internal arts could even sense the wind before the cicada stirred; Su Hao's perception was equally keen.

Su Hao could clearly feel someone watching him, but he remained calm, acting as if he had noticed nothing unusual, and continued walking as if nothing were amiss.

"Is that brat Su Hao?"

At a noodle shop by the street, a man dressed in coarse linen, disguised as an ordinary mountain villager, was slurping a bowl of noodles. He seemed no different from the other patrons, but he watched Su Hao's departing back with a calm gaze, his mind silently turning.

"Check, please."

After finishing his noodles, the man in linen let out a belch, produced a few copper coins, paid, and sauntered away.

Only after leaving Su Family Fort and checking his surroundings to ensure no one was watching did the man suddenly unleash his movement technique. His figure was as agile as a leopard, and with a few leaps, he vanished into the wilderness.

Once the man had left, a figure slowly emerged from behind a large tree—it was Su Hao.

"This person's martial cultivation is not weak, yet he disguised himself as a common villager and deliberately observed me. Could he be from the Flying Cloud Gang?"

Su Hao watched the man disappear into the wilderness, his brow furrowed as he realized the man's likely identity.

"I should head home first. As for this Flying Cloud Gang... it seems it is time to go and investigate them."

A cold chill welled up in Su Hao's heart.

The feud with the Flying Cloud Gang was already a matter of life and death. He had always been ruthless toward his enemies; to cut the weeds, one must pull out the roots. Wiping out the Flying Cloud Gang entirely was the simplest solution.