Wind-Thunder Force

"The opponent is a master at Minor Success in Qi Gathering!"

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

He had started martial arts training early and was still only sixteen. With his family suddenly struck by disaster, his eldest uncle injured, and their family business being eyed and plotted against by others, he was facing the threat of total annihilation. His mental state was already fragile.

Having come to Wei Yuan Hall to seek help only to be repeatedly turned away, it was a testament to his strength that he hadn't broken down in tears.

At this moment, seeing Xu Yang, whom he had always treated like an older brother, the grief and indignation in his heart became truly impossible to suppress.

"I will go ask other senior brothers again. Surely someone will be righteous enough to help!"

Qiu Wenjie took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart. If he could resolve his family's crisis, what did a few rebukes and rejections matter?

At worst, he would ask every single senior brother in the Inner Courtyard. There had to be someone who couldn't stand the Hong Family's bullying. If that failed, he would beg Senior Brother Sun Tao, or even his master, Lin Cheng.

Compared to the life and death of his family, his own pride was worth nothing.

Qiu Wenjie turned to leave, but Xu Yang pressed a large hand onto his shoulder. "Tell me in detail what happened."

Though anxious, Qiu Wenjie knew that having one more person to help brainstorm was better than nothing, so he immediately revealed that the Hong Family had set their sights on the Qiu Family's supply channels.

"I apologize, but I must go all out for the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent and cannot intervene."

Zhang Yong and Zhang Hong walked over at some point, and he explained the reason he couldn't step in.

"He's only just reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering. If us brothers go together, we can beat him to death," Wu Yongfeng said viciously.

Since they had formed a group, they naturally couldn't stand by when trouble arose. If he didn't care about Qiu Wenjie's plight today, no one would care when his own turn came tomorrow.

Qiu Wenjie's eyes lit up. If Wu Yongfeng and Zhang Hong were both willing to act, Zhang Yong shouldn't have so many reservations.

"It's useless."

Zhang Yong shook his head. "The opponent is from the Tiger Roar Martial Hall. Wenjie has senior brothers, and so does he. Going together will only escalate the situation."

The hope that had just risen in Qiu Wenjie's heart was instantly extinguished, and Wu Yongfeng also realized that this approach was unwise.

Zhang Hong gritted his teeth and said, "I'll go ask Senior Sister Gu Fang for you. I work for the Gu Family; she should be willing to do this favor."

In truth, he had no confidence in this.

Although he worked for the Gu Family, he didn't have much interaction with Gu Fang, whether in the Gu Family or at Wei Yuan Hall.

"No need!"

This time, it was Xu Yang who spoke. Everyone looked at him in surprise, not understanding why he disapproved of seeking Gu Fang's help.

"Take me to the Hong Family. I will deal with this Hong Feng!" Xu Yang said calmly.

Since they had both just broken through to Minor Success in Qi Gathering, he believed that with the profound nature of the Diamond Skill, he would not lose to anyone at the same level.

Even if Hong Feng had been training for two or three years and might have a deeper mastery of fist techniques, he was not afraid. If it really came down to it, he still had spare points in reserve.

Qiu Yongqiang had always funded his training; it was time to let Qiu Yongqiang know that his money hadn't been thrown into the water.

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

Qiu Wenjie was moved, thinking Xu Yang was risking his life to repay the Qiu Family's kindness.

Zhang Hong, however, had a sudden thought, his voice sharpening. "You've reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering?"

He knew Xu Yang too well; he was more steady than himself. If he planned to act, he must have reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering.

"Yes!" Xu Yang nodded, then added, "The Liu Family does not allow us to casually disclose improvements in cultivation, so I didn't mention it."

"Haha... I knew you, Xu Yang, wouldn't be so easily lost in the crowd." Zhang Hong had no interest in listening to his subsequent explanation.

Wu Yongfeng and Zhang Yong both widened their eyes.

Xu Yang had actually reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering as well.

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

He explained, without specifying the exact amount, covering up the fact that his aptitude and comprehension had been steadily improving.

Otherwise, even with the three taels of silver from the Qiu Family, it would have been impossible for him to reach Minor Success in Qi Gathering so quickly.

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

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

He wouldn't have to beg others with his head bowed, and the Qiu Family could be saved!

Xu Yang said, "Enough talk. Let's resolve this matter first so Uncle Qiu and the others don't have to worry."

"Right!"

Qiu Wenjie suppressed his excitement and immediately stepped out, with Xu Yang following closely behind.

Wu Yongfeng, Zhang Hong, and Zhang Yong hesitated for a moment before following as well.

"Interesting, he actually reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering too," Jiang Ping said with a smile.

Qi-gathering martial artists had keen senses; they could hear breathing within a radius of several yards, so the conversation between Xu Yang and the others was naturally overheard by him.

Lu Ren said, "I didn't expect him to have been receiving funding all along. No wonder he refused to marry into the Liu Family. It seems the Martial Hall has gained another contender for the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent."

Jiang Ping shook his head. "The Qiu Family is just a small household; how much could they have given him? Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to the Liu Family. It's still difficult for him to succeed in the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent. Even if he manages to get on the stage, he'll just be making up the numbers."

Besides, there's a chance he'll just get beaten to death for sticking his neck out for someone else.

"How foolish, to go and play the hero at a time like this."

Having said that, he looked at Lu Ren: "He has always been considered no weaker than you. Don't you want to go see what he's capable of?"

At this moment, many people in the Inner Courtyard, knowing that Xu Yang had reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering and was going to face another practitioner at the same level, immediately followed him out.

Lu Ren had no intention of watching the fight, shaking his head as he said: "I reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering two months ago and could defeat him within three moves; there is truly no point in watching.

I was ignorant before, thinking of suppressing him, but looking back now, it's laughable. To think my focus was actually fixed on someone inferior to me."

[Comprehension: 45]
[Root Bone: 48]
[Cultivation: Minor Success in Qi Gathering]
[Techniques: Turtle-Snake Great Stance Success (65/300), Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist Success (185/500), Diamond Skill (50/1000)]
[Skills: Mining lv.3 (283/400)]
[Remaining Lifespan: 61]
[Martial Dao Longevity Points: 57]

Xu Yang pulled up his panel.

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

Although Hong Feng's root bone was inferior to his, taking nearly three years to reach Minor Success in Qi Gathering, those three years of day-and-night practice meant his fist technique proficiency should be higher than his own.

He was confident he could defeat Hong Feng, but he couldn't guarantee he would win without getting injured, and any injury would affect the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent.

Zhang Yong had refused to step in for this very reason; he shared the same concerns.

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

"It is said that the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist contains three types of force, but most disciples in Wei Yuan Hall can only grasp one: the Explosive Bear Force."

Explosive Bear Force, also known as external force, is a technique for exerting physical strength, characterized by its sheer ferocity.

More than half of the Inner Courtyard disciples at Wei Yuan Hall were able to grasp it.

The second type of force is called Wind-Thunder Force, which takes its meaning from being as light and agile as the wind and as fierce as a thunderbolt. It is a method of utilizing true qi, also known as internal force or hidden force, and is a lethal move specifically designed for experts at the Great Success in Qi Gathering stage.

Wind-Thunder Force can bypass the protective true qi of a Great Success expert, blasting one's own true qi into the enemy's body through their defenses. It is like a needle hidden in silk—a treacherous way to strike—and is a terrifying technique for utilizing true qi that requires extremely high comprehension to master.

As far as he knew, among all the current disciples of Wei Yuan Hall, no one had been able to grasp the Wind-Thunder Force from the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist, not even geniuses like Jiang Ping and Gu Fang who had entered the Inner Courtyard long ago.

By improving his Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist this time, Xu Yang hoped he would be able to grasp the Wind-Thunder Force.

If he could grasp the Wind-Thunder Force, he wouldn't fear Hong Feng even if he were at the Great Success stage, let alone just Minor Success, because this was a technique that 99% of people couldn't master even after reaching Great Success.

Relying on his own comprehension, his current level was still quite lacking.

However, the panel's improvements followed a progress bar. Since the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist had three layers of force, as long as his progress exceeded two hundred, he should be able to grasp the Wind-Thunder Force.

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

When internal and external become one, it is the Primordial.

Only when the Primordial is unified can one reach Great Success.

Perhaps by the time of the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent, he would be able to unify the Primordial and reach Great Success in the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist.