You're My Own Nephew

Bone Kneading was not literally kneading bones.

It placed immense emphasis on technique and method.

Without sufficient cultivation and control, ordinary martial artists could not accomplish it.

In a place like Stone Valley County, even among the formidable warriors in martial arts halls, escort agencies, and the yamen, those who knew Bone Kneading could only knead superficially, nowhere near true Bone Kneading.

He had learned this method from his master.

Deep-level Bone Kneading.

The heat was an instinctive response from tendons and bones stirred by external force, relieving the pressure. That response alone was enough to prove his natural foundation was extraordinary.

In Stone Valley County, it could be considered top-tier.

If it had been an ordinary person, their tendons and bones would have long since shattered beneath the pressure of this special force.

The force he was using now had nearly reached the level his master had used to knead his bones back then. The difference was negligible.

At that level back then, his master had been overjoyed at finding such a fine seedling. Even in the prefectural city, he would have been considered quite exceptional.

Zhao Yang forcefully suppressed the turmoil in his heart, narrowed his eyes, and carefully sensed it.

Tough.

Exceptionally malleable.

And it came with astonishing potential for growth.

Under the stimulation of his force, it was like a sponge.

His tendons and bones even faintly radiated a trace of tyrannical intent.

His expression turned grave, and he could not help increasing his strength once more.

Blood marks had already been pinched into the flesh.

Zhao Hong frowned and bared his teeth.

"My flesh hurts a little. It feels like my skin's been punctured by fingernails."

"..."

What did that have to do with the flesh...? Zhao Yang drew a deep breath and gritted his teeth. "Tell me something else."

"It's getting hotter."

"It feels like a stream of hot air is pouring out from deep inside my tendons and bones. It's getting hotter and stronger."

I increase the force, and you just keep getting hotter and stronger with no limit, is that it?

Fine, fine. So that's how we're playing?

Zhao Yang's expression hardened.

"Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt. It's numb and hot, and kind of tingly."

You're even enjoying the tingles?

Zhao Yang's eyes widened.

The shock on his face could no longer be concealed.

Tyrannical, fierce, and powerful—yet with a trace of savagery.

Like a beast!

Such deep-rooted traits had actually gathered in one body, and reached such a level?

"He's practically surpassed Eldest Senior Brother."

Zhao Yang was dazed. What kind of monster was Eldest Senior Brother?

His master had called him a talent seen only once in a century, with an extraordinarily special natural foundation.

And now, in his own village, there was someone with a natural foundation comparable to Eldest Senior Brother's. This, this, this... it was enough to drive a person mad.

He wanted to continue.

But he did not possess his master's powerful cultivation, and he was injured himself. If he deepened it further, he would be unable to control it. A single mistake could damage Zhao Hong's foundation.

This was already enough.

He suddenly released his hand and gave Zhao Hong a long look.

"Hiss."

Zhao Hong rubbed the swollen red spots on his body, baring his teeth repeatedly.

The numb heat surging out from within had yet to fade, and all he wanted now was to practice the Mountain-Leaning Stake with all his might.

Zhao Yang saw Zhao Hong's current state at a glance. He turned and went back inside, bringing out a jar containing powerful beast blood he had specially saved.

"Drink it."

"Then practice the Eight-Step Exploding Fist here."

"Alright."

Zhao Hong did not doubt him. He drank it all in one gulp, feeling the heat throughout his body reach its peak, as though a flood was about to tear through the restraints of his tendons, bones, and flesh and burst forth.

He went to an open space and began practicing.

Giving it everything he had, he vented without restraint.

The Eight-Step Exploding Fist emphasized speed and explosive force.

After only a few days, he had learned merely the outermost basics.

Yet in his unusual state, he swiftly found the right feeling. His movements stirred the wind like a tiger, fierce and forceful.

The heat inside his body grew ever more intense.

"Suppress it. Draw it in."

Zhao Yang reminded him in a deep voice.

Zhao Hong gritted his teeth, contracting his muscles and compressing with all his might, refusing to let the heat escape.

Several dozen breaths later.

The flesh across his body trembled, and pain filled his expression.

"Uncle, I can't hold it down."

"Press it down like your life depends on it."

The instant Zhao Yang spoke, he flashed forward and appeared directly in front of Zhao Hong.

Boom!

A terrifying pressure erupted from his body, like a volcano exploding, mountains collapsing, and seas roaring. It raised a tangible tidal wave that crashed down over Zhao Hong's head.

Under that pressure, Zhao Hong's entire body shuddered. The heat wave on the verge of erupting was like a lone skiff, violently slapped back by a raging wave.

It churned and poured back inside.

His tendons and bones crackled with sharp explosive pops.

In a daze.

Zhao Hong seemed to hear dragons roar and tigers howl. Deep within his limbs and bones, his tendons and bones let out beastlike cries. Pressed to the utmost limit, they erupted with a powerful torrential heat wave that relieved the pressure even as it fiercely surged back outward.

Boom!

Airwaves rolled.

Zhao Yang's eyelids twitched wildly, and he nearly screamed aloud.

He could actually counterattack?

I may not be using my full strength, but this is still not something a half-grown boy who hasn't even stepped onto the martial path should be able to counterattack!

Fucking monster. Can a human really grow tendons and bones like these?

Unable to restrain himself, he immediately intensified his pressure.

Boom!

Roar!

Zhao Hong let out a pained growl. The ground beneath his feet cracked, fissures spreading in every direction.

He felt as if invisible force had pierced his skin, while his flesh burned as though it had been set aflame and melted into scalding paste.

Even deeper within, countless fine needles seemed to be stabbing and surging outward.

Painful and numb.

Uncle, we're relatives!

Zhao Hong wailed inwardly and gritted his teeth against the pain.

Are you testing me?

Fine, fine.

I have Dragon Tendon and Tiger Bones. What the hell am I afraid of?

Roar!

Zhao Hong glared at Zhao Yang and released a low roar.

His tendons and bones rumbled, and another tidal surge rose.

"Fuck."

Zhao Yang could not stop himself from swearing, his expression twisting.

If his master were here, he would probably be so excited that he would punch a mountain to pieces.

This was a monster through and through.

And he had not even reached his limit.

"It's not over yet."

Zhao Yang gave a low shout and vanished from where he stood like a ghost.

Before Zhao Hong could react, Zhao Yang had already returned in an instant. A jar even larger than the previous one shattered in his hand.

Beast blood splashed everywhere.

"Open your mouth."

He instinctively opened his mouth wide.

A wave of blood qi even surged out through his mouth.

Zhao Yang swept his sleeve.

The splashing beast blood gathered in midair, transforming into a crimson torrent that shot straight into Zhao Hong's mouth. It looked terrifying, yet its impact was weak. The moment it entered his mouth, it became like a docile kitten and slid smoothly down.

Gulp!

Boom!

Zhao Hong trembled like chaff in the wind, his entire face flushed blood-red.

It had ignited.

He felt as though his entire body had caught fire.

"Aaaaah!"

Amid a burst of miserable, agonized cries, Zhao Hong suddenly straightened his back and threw his head back with a howl.

Boom!

A terrifying wave of blood, like blazing flames, erupted furiously and shot into the sky.

His entire body was bathed in vast bloodfire, radiating a savage and tyrannical aura that made one suffocate.

Zhao Yang slowly retreated, his expression as though he had seen a ghost.

"Just entering Blood Refinement, yet his blood qi boils like flames—vast and mighty, surging like wolf-smoke racing across the land. He's simply several times stronger than an ordinary person at the completion of Blood Refinement."

"His tyrannical, savage bearing is fiercer than a beast's."

"Hiss."

He had never expected that a trip home would bring him face-to-face with such a seedling.

This was his own nephew—no, closer than his own nephew!

"Master, if I let a freak like this slip away, you'd definitely beat me to death."

Zhao Yang swallowed hard, his eyes blazing. He practically wished he could teleport back to the prefectural city at once and drag his master and all his fellow disciples over to see this with their own eyes.

Just look—this was his own dear nephew!

After a long while.

The blood flames around Zhao Hong gradually withdrew into his body.

That sensation of pain vanished completely.

His entire body felt unblocked and incomparably refreshed.

In a daze, he swung his arms. They were powerful and strong, filled with fierce explosive force.

One punch from me could smash a wild bull to death.

It even seemed as though the thunderous rumble of his tendons and bones still echoed beside his ears, like dragons roaring and tigers howling.

"Is this the terror of Dragon Tendon and Tiger Bones?"

Now that he had come back to his senses, Zhao Hong realized that he had actually faced Uncle Yang's pressure without falling or retreating.

He had even counterattacked several times.

Of course, the two jars of beast blood might also have contributed.

"Uncle, does this mean... I've become a martial artist?"

"Early Blood Refinement. Very good. Exceptionally good."

Zhao Yang gave him a staggering evaluation.

Zhao Hong blinked. "Uncle, can I learn the real good stuff from you?"

The Mountain-Leaning Stake, Cloak Blade, and Eight-Step Exploding Fist were enough to keep him occupied for a long time.

It was not because he was aiming too high.

It was because he knew perfectly well that Zhao Yang had an extraordinary background. He came from a Great Martial Arts Hall in the prefectural city, and the inheritance he had learned could be easily imagined.

He did not know how long Zhao Yang would remain here. If he missed this chance, he might never catch another in his lifetime.

Crude, shallow methods and the real good stuff were as far apart as heaven and earth.

It would be one thing if he lacked the qualifications.

But did he lack them?

Zhao Yang grinned, then laughed heartily. "If you want to learn, of course you can."

"However, before that, you must undergo one more test."

Zhao Hong was startled. Good heavens, what I just went through wasn't even the test?

He could not help asking, "Uncle, what test? Bring it on."