Hidden Force

Gradually, amid the pain, Zhao Feng actually began to feel a hint of ease. That trace of relief felt especially pleasant against the intense agony. Zhao Feng understood that his tendons, bones, and flesh had been cleansed and strengthened, becoming tougher, which was why he was beginning to feel relaxed.

In other words, it was a sign that his tendons, bones, and joints had been opened up.

As time passed second by second, the feeling of ease within his body expanded further and further, gradually spreading throughout his entire body as his tendons, bones, and flesh became connected.

His entire body began to feel comfortable, as if he were soaking in a hot spring. It was incredibly soothing.

Boom!

An unprecedented feeling of smoothness and comfort spread through his entire body. His blood and qi circulated freely throughout him, while a powerful force quietly emerged from his tendons, bones, and joints. It could be gathered and unleashed in an instant.

[Eight Extremes Stake Skill Mastery (1/2000)]

"So this is hidden force!"

Zhao Feng thought to himself. By his reckoning, he had only broken through two months later than Chu Fan, the most talented disciple in the martial arts hall. That was not bad at all.

After breaking through to hidden force, his body felt incredibly light, and his control over his blood and qi had clearly become far more natural.

His body was lighter than ever, and his control over his blood and qi was precise to the smallest detail. With a thought, a terrifying dormant force burst forth from his tendons, bones, and joints.

Whoosh! He tried throwing a punch with hidden force. There was no sound, but he could sense inner force passing out through his body. However, he was not proficient with it yet, so the effect was not obvious.

Zhao Feng lightly leaped down from the plum blossom stakes, landing with a graceful posture. While the breath in his chest was still present, he immediately began practicing Tai Chi, while attempting to channel hidden force at the same time.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! As he completed the form, its movements perhaps appeared less forceful than when he used overt force. Yet he could clearly feel the surrounding air stirring. This was the sign of hidden force occasionally leaving his body, resonating with the air and creating ripples.

He continued practicing the form while visualizing the flow of hidden force and integrating it into his punches.

After completing two sets of the form, a flash of white light appeared before his eyes.

[Eight Extremes Fist Mastery (1/2000)]

With that, his stake skill and fist technique had broken through one after another tonight.

"I'm still not proficient enough at unleashing hidden force. I've only touched the threshold, and not by much. I need to ask Master about the tricks to using hidden force in punches, as well as the stake stances for the hidden force stage."

As soon as Zhao Feng landed and turned around, he saw Huo Yao, his master's daughter, staring at him with wide, beautiful eyes, her expression filled with surprise.

"You successfully broke through to hidden force?" As Huo Yao passed through the corridor, she had heard movement in the front courtyard. When she came out to look, she saw the punch he had thrown. Though he had not grasped the proper method of exerting force, she could sense that it seemed to be hidden force.

"I got lucky," Zhao Feng said.

"I'll take you to see my father," Huo Yao said. Deep down, she felt a little happy. Of course, it was not romantic affection. Zhao Feng's diligence and hard work over the past few months had truly left a deep impression on her, stirring a measure of sympathy. Though she knew he had little potential, she still hoped he could successfully break through.

Huo Yao led Zhao Feng through the corridor and into the rear courtyard. It was quiet and peaceful there. A tall parasol tree stood beside the courtyard wall, providing shade in summer, while the master's wife had planted flowers and greenery around the yard, making it feel full of life.

This was Zhao Feng's second time entering the rear courtyard. The previous time, he had only been allowed in after receiving permission because he had business with Huo Shan.

At that moment, Shi Mao, the eldest senior brother; Wei Yuan, the second senior brother; Wang Yu, the third senior brother; Zhou Xue, the fourth senior sister; and Chu Fan were seated around a round table in the rear courtyard, serving tea to their master and mistress.

They were inner disciples who could enter the rear courtyard freely, so they naturally had a closer relationship with their master. Chu Fan had made a great showing these past few days and brought honor to the martial arts hall. Coupled with it being their mistress's birthday, it was truly a double celebration.

"Father!" Huo Yao called out.

Everyone turned and saw Zhao Feng following behind Huo Yao, their faces immediately filled with confusion.

Other than inner disciples, no one was allowed into the rear courtyard without an invitation.

"Zhao Feng, what is it?" Huo Shan asked as he lifted his teacup. Was this disciple here to bid him farewell?

"Master, this disciple just got lucky and broke through to hidden force," Zhao Feng said calmly.

"Oh... what did you say?" Huo Shan had just lifted the lid of his teacup and was about to drink when his hand trembled. Several drops of tea spilled out.

The others beside him were equally stunned and incredulous. Wasn't Junior Brother Zhao lacking in natural talent, with all his potential already exhausted?

"Junior Brother Zhao, you really succeeded in breaking through?" Wei Yuan was the first to react, shooting to his feet. He was both shocked and delighted.

"Senior Brother Wei, I got lucky." Zhao Feng nodded. He had sensed the subtle changes in Wei Yuan's attitude toward him over the past few days, but he had not taken them to heart.

Huo Shan stood up and crossed the few steps to Zhao Feng. After examining him from head to toe, he pointed toward the parasol tree nearby.

"Throw a punch at it. Try using hidden force." Zhao Feng nodded, stepped forward, gathered his strength, and threw a rushing punch. The punch looked unremarkable, yet it carried the sound of tearing air as it struck the trunk from afar. There was no violent impact, and the tree did not even shake. Yet the bark suddenly caved inward, leaving behind a shallow fist print. Clearly, the hidden force had struck directly into the interior of the trunk.

"It really is hidden force!" The disciples present all revealed shocked expressions.

Wasn't Junior Brother Zhao of fifth-grade natural talent? How had he broken through to hidden force in just over half a year? It completely overturned their understanding.

"You said you just broke through. Was this your first attempt at breaking through?" Huo Shan asked.

"Yes, Master." Upon receiving Zhao Feng's confirmation, Huo Shan's pupils contracted slightly, and waves crashed through his heart. He had personally examined Zhao Feng's bones and confirmed that he possessed fifth-grade natural talent, barely a lower-middle level—perhaps even worse than that. Zhao Feng breaking through to hidden force was already astonishing enough. Yet he had succeeded on his very first attempt, which was hardly inferior to those talented disciples. In the entire martial arts hall, aside from Zhao Feng, only Chu Fan had succeeded on his first attempt.

Huo Shan calculated it. Zhao Feng and Chu Fan had entered at roughly the same time, with Zhao Feng only two months later. But Chu Fan possessed second-grade natural talent.

Huo Shan's impression of Zhao Feng had always been that he was steady, diligent, and focused wholeheartedly on grueling cultivation. But for someone with fifth-grade natural talent, diligence alone was nowhere near enough. Back when he was in the sect, as well as afterward, he had seen many people with fifth-grade or even fourth-grade natural talent who trained tirelessly and struggled with all their might, only to remain stuck at the bottleneck. The hidden force barrier was a chasm for them. Failing one's first breakthrough attempt was almost the norm, and they could attempt it only two or three more times afterward. If they forcibly tried again, it would only backfire, damaging their bodies and greatly draining their vitality, leaving them utterly crippled.

Yet Zhao Feng had broken through to hidden force in a little over half a year, and had succeeded on his first attempt. The only explanation was his comprehension. When Huo Shan had previously guided him in breaking down techniques, he had already seen that Zhao Feng's comprehension was indeed quite good. Even if his natural talent was poor, exceptional comprehension was still worth valuing! Worth nurturing.

"Good! Good!"

Huo Shan burst into laughter. He patted Zhao Feng on the shoulder, his eyes filled with approval. "Good lad, I misjudged you!"

"From today onward, you are my sixth inner disciple."

"This is truly a triple celebration!" Everyone understood what he meant. First, Chu Fan had earned merit and brought fame to the martial arts hall. Second, it was their mistress's birthday. Third, Zhao Feng had broken through to hidden force.

"Junior Brother Zhao, congratulations." As the eldest senior brother, Shi Mao was the first to step forward and congratulate him.

There was no need to mention Wei Yuan. He was sincerely happy for Zhao Feng. He now completely understood why Zhao Feng had voluntarily declined to join the patrol a few days ago. He had been focusing on breaking through. Wei Yuan had even thought Junior Brother Zhao had lost his fighting spirit and had felt disappointed in him. How ridiculous.

Wang Yu and Zhou Xue also came over to offer congratulations for the sake of their fellow disciple relationship. Both felt somewhat awkward. They had each said more than once that Zhao Feng could never successfully break through to hidden force.

Chu Fan, however, lowered his head and gripped the teacup tightly in his hand. His eyes held a trace of confusion, but even more unwillingness. The topic of this family banquet had originally revolved around him, yet Zhao Feng—the person he had always looked down on—had unexpectedly stolen the spotlight. But why? Why could Zhao Feng stand on equal footing with him?

Although he still held the status of closed-door disciple, the one meant to inherit his master's legacy, he still found it difficult to accept. Why did it have to be Zhao Feng? Why did it have to be this fellow disciple who had seen him at his most miserable? Couldn't it have been someone else? Anyone else would have been fine.