True Genius [2]

In reality.

There were quite a few people present who shared similar thoughts to Hu Xiao.

Due to the genes of their ancestors, it was not uncommon for members of the Hu Clan to possess great strength.

However, someone like Hu Zetong was extremely rare.

Hu Long seemed completely oblivious to the gazes of the crowd.

He was determined to secure the qualification of "Hammer Holder" today.

He would not allow any mistakes.

What about hiding one's light or playing the pig to eat the tiger?

Hu Long had no need for such things; what he needed was to demonstrate enough potential to come into contact with extraordinary power as soon as possible, and this was the perfect opportunity.

If he were elsewhere, Hu Long might consider hiding his strength, but he was currently at the Hu Clan's ancestral sacrifice.

This Strength Bearing Festival was clearly an internal selection process for the clan.

To hide one's strength at a time like this would be nothing short of brain-dead.

Of course, more importantly, he suspected that even if he did hide his strength, it would eventually be discovered.

He had no way to guard against the methods possessed by these secret martial artists.

Rather than that.

It was better to show it openly and honestly.

After all, while his strength might be incredible among ordinary people.

It was nothing compared to these secret martial artists.

Certainly, there were bound to be some hidden risks, but it was worth a try.

After all, there is risk in everything.

Besides.

He always felt that the strength he currently possessed was more than a thousand catties.

This was not an unfounded illusion.

It was an intuition derived from the "Body-Mind Unity" trait, which granted him a high degree of control over his body.

Thinking of this, he splayed the fingers of his right hand and slowly pressed his palm against the cold belly of the cauldron.

Where he touched, the bronze cauldron was mottled with rust, with faint, undulating beast patterns.

"--Hoo!"

Hu Long exhaled, his spine tightening section by section like a great dragon.

As force was transmitted, he directly utilized the power-generating technique mastered through Perfected Mixed Martial Arts.

This allowed his strength to be exerted more concentratedly at this moment.

Crack!

The next moment, the blue bricks beneath his feet cracked instantly.

"--Rise!"

Hu Long's eyes widened slightly.

There was no roar, no buildup of momentum, only the muffled sound of his muscles and bones grinding together suddenly exploding.

The next second.

This bronze cauldron, weighing twelve hundred catties, actually left the ground in response, its three legs suspended in the air!

Unlike Hu Zetong, who had struggled to lift it to his chest just moments before.

The moment the cauldron tilted off the ground, Hu Long's left arm had already braced the other side of the belly, his arm muscles coiled like steel cables, his spine arched as if bearing a mountain, and he hoisted it directly overhead.

Perhaps due to the angle of the tilt, the remaining incense ash from inside the cauldron drifted slowly downward.

As his body straightened.

The blue bricks beneath his feet collapsed, and cracks spread out like a spiderweb.

This Deer Cauldron, placed here for strength testing.

Having never been truly lifted for many years, it was now being held steadily above his head.

The bronze belly reflected the light of the sky.

Under the sunlight, his figure became a dense, ink-like shadow cast upon the ground.

Seeing this scene.

The entire crowd of onlookers fell into a momentary, deathly silence.

Whether they were ordinary collateral clansmen or members of the main family, all were dumbfounded, staring at the figure in the center of the arena as if they had seen a ghost.

Due to the unique nature of the Hu Family bloodline.

Many descendants have possessed great strength.

Yet, those capable of lifting the Deer Cauldron appear perhaps once in a century.

Let alone lifting it to such a height.

Time slipped away in an instant; Hu Long stood firm, his body without the slightest tremor, and ten seconds passed quickly.

Accompanied by the sound of the bronze cauldron hitting the ground.

The crowd finally snapped out of their shock.

"Hiss, he actually lifted it."

"Just how much strength does this guy have?"

"I originally thought Hu Zetong was impressive enough, but I never expected someone could lift this thing over their head."

"The legendary feat of lifting a cauldron with raw strength is nothing more than this..."

"He really lifted it? How is that possible!"

The faint smile on Hu Xiao's face, who was watching from the side, froze.

Smiles do not disappear; they merely transfer.

For instance, the worry on Hu Zhao's face had vanished, replaced by a beaming grin.

"It seems your good nephew isn't quite up to the task."

Hu Xiao opened her mouth.

In the past, she certainly would have refused to concede.

But looking at the young figure standing tall in her line of sight.

A sense of powerlessness and frustration welled up in her heart, and she ultimately said nothing.

The other party's performance far surpassed that of her nephew.

Furthermore, when it came to blood ties, a younger brother is far closer than a nephew.

To continue opposing Hu Zhao.

Once she incurred the resentment of this Hu Long.

Neither she nor her family would meet a good end.

There is simply no comparison between the main branch and the collateral branches.

Every adult member of the Hu Family is told this by the older generation.

She naturally understood this as well.

Thinking of this.

She took a deep breath.

She looked at Hu Zhao beside her and forced a smile onto her face.

"Um, Sister Zhao, I was wrong before. My mouth was too sharp; I hope you won't take it to heart."

"Still want to compete?"

Hu Long paid no mind to the discussions and gazes of those around him. He glanced at the stunned Hu Zetong and spoke with a smile.

Hearing this, Hu Zetong snapped back to reality. Hearing Hu Long's teasing words, he gritted his teeth, not knowing what to say.

No matter what, the facts were right before his eyes: he had lost, and he had lost completely.

Thinking of the boastful words he had just spoken, his face turned red and hot.

This caused his nosebleed, which had been slowing down, to flare up once again.

After all, he was only fifteen years old, at an age when a young man's pride is at its peak.

How could he endure such a provocation?

"Good! Very good! Your name is Hu Long, right?"

Nearby, the clan leader Hu Zhenkui, dressed in a black long robe, stepped forward.

He fixed his gaze on Hu Long, stroked his beard lightly, his expression full of approval.

"Yes, Clan Leader!"

Hu Long replied.

"Very good. Being able to lift this Deer Cauldron shows that both of you possess extraordinary qualities."

Hu Zhenkui nodded slightly, his voice booming like a great bell:

"Hu Long shall be today's 'Hammer Holder'."

He paused briefly, turning his head to look at Hu Zetong, whose face still held a trace of unwillingness, his tone softening:

"Hu Zetong, you are still young, and your future is long. Today's trial is merely a momentary result; there is no need to take it too much to heart."

He had already heard of Hu Zetong's performance and was not surprised.

What truly caught him off guard was that another clansman with Innate Divine Strength had emerged this time.

And judging by his performance, he was even superior to Hu Zetong!

Even among those with Innate Divine Strength, there are differences in caliber.

For instance, possessing the strength of a thousand catties is one thing, but being able to lift a thousand-catty cauldron steadily is quite another.

Human exertion relies on posture and technique.

One might easily lift a hundred catties with a deadlift, but if forced to use one hand, a crouched stance, or shoulder-carrying, it might not be possible.

Just moments ago, although Hu Zetong had managed to lift it, his center of gravity had already wavered, showing he lacked the necessary strength.

But Hu Long, standing before him, was different.

Though his face was flushed, his arms were as steady as rock, and the body of the cauldron did not sway in the slightest.

He appeared to be straining, but in truth, he was composed.

This was far from his true limit.

Had he reached exhaustion, no matter how profound his technique, he could never have maintained such stability.

This lad, both in his foundation of strength and his method of exerting force, was superior to Hu Zetong.

Hu Zhenkui felt a sense of delight.

Due to their ancestor, the Hu Clan had never lacked strong men throughout the generations.

Yet, as the bloodline gradually thinned, in the six hundred years since the founding ancestor, fewer than ten people had been able to lift the Deer Cauldron while still in their mortal, uncultivated state.

Who would have thought that this year's festival would produce one and a half.

Hu Long was the one.

Hu Zetong, naturally, was the half.