Wind-Thunder Force

"The other guy's a Major Success in Qi Gathering expert!"

Qiu Wenjie's voice was hoarse, his eyes bloodshot.

He had started practicing martial arts young and was still only sixteen. His family had suddenly suffered a disaster: his uncle had been injured, their family business was being coveted and seized, and they were on the brink of annihilation. His mind was already in turmoil.

He had come to Wei Yuan Hall for help, only to be rejected again and again. The fact that he hadn't broken down in tears already showed how strong he was.

Now, seeing Xu Yang, who had always been as close to him as an elder brother, his grief and anger were too much to keep bottled up.

"I'll ask some of the other senior brothers again. Surely someone will step up and help!"

Qiu Wenjie took a deep breath, forcing down his turbulent emotions. If he could save his family from disaster, what did it matter if people scolded or rejected him?

At worst, he would ask every senior brother in the Inner Courtyard. Someone was bound to be sick of the Hong Family's tyrannical ways. If all else failed, he would beg Senior Brother Sun Tao, or ask Master Lin Cheng.

His own pride and shame meant nothing compared with his family's lives.

Qiu Wenjie turned to leave, but Xu Yang laid a hand on his shoulder. "Tell me exactly what happened."

Qiu Wenjie was in a hurry, but having one more person hear the story and help think of a solution could only be a good thing. So he immediately explained how the Hong Family had set their sights on the Qiu Family's supply channels.

"Sorry, I have to focus all my efforts on the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent. I can't get involved."

Zhang Yong and Zhang Hong had appeared at some point. Zhang Yong explained why he couldn't help.

"But he's only at Minor Success in Qi Gathering. The few of us can gang up on him and beat him to a pulp," Wu Yongfeng said fiercely.

Since they had banded together, they couldn't stand by when one of them was in trouble. If he refused to help Qiu Wenjie today, no one would help him when he was in trouble tomorrow.

Qiu Wenjie's eyes lit up. If Wu Yongfeng and Zhang Hong were willing to step in, Zhang Yong should have fewer reservations.

"It won't work."

Zhang Yong shook his head. "The other guy's from Tiger Roar Martial Hall. Wenjie has senior brothers, and so does he. If we all jump in, we'll only make things worse."

The hope that had just risen in Qiu Wenjie's heart was immediately crushed. Wu Yongfeng also realized that it wasn't a good idea.

Zhang Hong gritted his teeth. "I'll ask Senior Sister Gu Fang for help. I serve the Gu Family, so she should be willing to do me this favor."

Truthfully, he wasn't confident.

Though he served the Gu Family, he had little to do with Gu Fang, either there or at Wei Yuan Hall.

"No need."

Xu Yang was the one who spoke this time. Everyone looked at him in surprise, not understanding why he was against asking Gu Fang for help.

"Take me to the Hong Family. I'll deal with Hong Feng," Xu Yang said calmly.

They had both only just broken through to Minor Success in Qi Gathering. With the profound mysteries of Diamond Skill, he was confident he wouldn't lose to anyone at the same level.

Even if Hong Feng had been practicing martial arts for two or three years and had more refined fist skills, Xu Yang wasn't afraid. If things went badly, he still had points in reserve.

Qiu Yongqiang had supported his martial arts training all this time. It was time to let him know that his money hadn't gone down the drain.

"Senior Brother Xu, don't be rash. I'll ask the other senior brothers again."

Qiu Wenjie was touched, thinking Xu Yang meant to risk his life to repay the Qiu Family's kindness.

Zhang Hong's heart stirred, and his voice sharpened. "You've reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering?"

He knew Xu Yang too well. Xu Yang was even more cautious than he was; if he planned to step in, he must have reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering.

"Yeah." Xu Yang nodded, then added, "The Liu Family doesn't allow us to casually reveal improvements in our cultivation, so I kept it to myself."

"Haha... I knew you wouldn't just fade into the crowd, Xu Yang." Zhang Hong wasn't listening to his explanation.

Wu Yongfeng and Zhang Yong both stared wide-eyed.

Xu Yang had reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering too.

Xu Yang shook his head. "Actually, Wenjie's family has been supporting my martial arts training all along."

He explained, without specifying how much they had given, concealing the fact that his Bone Root and Comprehension had been improving the whole time.

Otherwise, even with the Qiu Family's three taels of silver in support, he couldn't have reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering so quickly.

Zhang Hong, Wu Yongfeng, and the others looked enlightened.

"Senior Brother Xu, you... you really have reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering?" Qiu Wenjie trembled with excitement.

He wouldn't have to grovel and beg anyone, and the Qiu Family could be saved!

Xu Yang said, "Enough talk. Let's deal with this first. Don't keep Uncle Qiu and the others worrying."

"Okay!"

Qiu Wenjie suppressed his excitement and immediately strode out. Xu Yang quickly followed.

Wu Yongfeng, Zhang Hong, and Zhang Yong hesitated briefly before following them.

"How interesting. He's reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering too," Jiang Ping said with a smile.

Qi-Gathering Martial Artists had keen senses. They could hear breathing from several yards away, so naturally they had heard Xu Yang and the others talking.

Lu Ren said, "I didn't know he'd had someone supporting him all along. No wonder he refused to marry into the Liu Family. Looks like the martial hall has one more person who can make the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent."

Jiang Ping shook his head. "The Qiu Family is just a small household. How much money could they give him? Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to the Liu Family. He'll still have a hard time making the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent. Even if he makes it onto the stage, he'll just be there to fill a spot.

"And there's a chance he'll get himself beaten to death while sticking his neck out for someone this time.

"What a fool, choosing to get involved at a time like this."

With that, he looked at Lu Ren. "Everyone's always said he was no weaker than you. Aren't you going to see what he can do?"

By now, many people in the Inner Courtyard knew Xu Yang had reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering and was going to face another Qi-Gathering Martial Artist. They immediately followed along.

Lu Ren had no interest in watching. He shook his head. "I reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering two months ago. I could beat him in three moves, so there's no point watching.

"I used to be immature and wanted to keep him down. Looking back, it's laughable that I focused my attention on someone so far beneath me."

[Comprehension: 45]

[Bone Root: 48]

[Cultivation: Minor Success in Qi Gathering]

[Martial Arts: Turtle-Snake Great Stance · Minor Success (65/300), Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist · Minor Success (185/500), Diamond Skill · Entry (50/1000)]

[Skills: Mining lv.3 (283/400)]

[Remaining Lifespan: 61]

[Martial Dao Longevity Points: 57]

Xu Yang brought up the Status Panel.

With Diamond Skill protecting him, both his physique and his qi should be superior to Hong Feng's. However, he had only been practicing martial arts for half a year, while Hong Feng had been at it for nearly three.

Though Hong Feng's Bone Root was inferior to his and it had taken him nearly three years to reach Minor Success in Qi Gathering, he had spent those years practicing his fists day and night. His skill should be superior to Xu Yang's.

Xu Yang was confident he could defeat Hong Feng, but he couldn't guarantee he would win without getting hurt. And an injury would affect his chances in the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent.

That was why Zhang Yong had refused to get involved. He had the same concerns.

To be safe, Xu Yang needed to improve his Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist.

"I've heard that Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist has three kinds of force, but most disciples at Wei Yuan Hall can only grasp one: Explosive Bear Force."

Explosive Bear Force, also known as external force, was a technique for channeling power through the body. It was the most fierce and forceful kind.

About half of the Inner Courtyard disciples at Wei Yuan Hall could grasp it.

The second kind of force was called Wind-Thunder Force. It took its name from being light and nimble as the wind, yet fierce as rolling thunder. It was a method of wielding true qi, also known as internal force or hidden force, and was a killing move specifically meant for opponents at Major Success in Qi Gathering.

Wind-Thunder Force could bypass the protective qi of opponents at Major Success in Qi Gathering and drive one's own qi into their bodies through that defense. A needle hidden in cotton, a hidden arrow that struck without warning—this was an exceptionally fearsome method of wielding true qi, one that required tremendous Comprehension to grasp.

As far as Xu Yang knew, not a single disciple at Wei Yuan Hall had ever grasped Wind-Thunder Force from Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist, not even geniuses like Jiang Ping and Gu Fang, who had entered the Inner Courtyard long ago.

This time, as he improved Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist, Xu Yang hoped to grasp Wind-Thunder Force.

If he could master Wind-Thunder Force, he wouldn't fear Hong Feng, who was only at Minor Success in Qi Gathering. He wouldn't even fear someone at Major Success.

With this technique, he would be beyond the reach of ninety-nine percent of people, even those who had reached Major Success in Qi Gathering.

If he relied on his own understanding, his current Comprehension would still fall short.

But the Status Panel's improvements followed the progress bar. Since Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist had three levels of force, once his progress exceeded two hundred, he should be able to grasp Wind-Thunder Force.

As for the third kind of force in Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist, it was called Primordial Force.

When inner and outer force became one, it was Primordial.

Only when all was as one could the art reach Major Success.

Perhaps by the time of the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent, he would achieve unity and bring Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist to Major Success.