Character

"The second move of the Broken Mountain Fist is called Mountain Rift! It emphasizes using the Bright Force realm to gather one's qi and blood, transforming it into tangible force.

From outside to within, from the surface to the depths—it is no longer limited to heavy blows on the surface. It focuses on force that penetrates the enemy, tears apart the flesh, and shatters the internal organs.

It is effective against heavy armor, tough hides, and protective barriers, countering all forms of surface defense.

Of course, once you cultivate to Dark Force, this move will undergo a qualitative leap. You will no longer need violent force to shake your opponent's insides.

Instead, you will be able to effortlessly seep your force deep into an enemy's body, making it far easier to use." With his hands behind his back, Chen Feng explained the new move before Duan Xuan, Zhao Bastard, and Zhao Hui.

Duan Xuan was still the last of the new disciples to advance to Bright Force, but he had met the requirements to learn a new move.

So early that morning, Chen Feng began teaching them the fist art.

Duan Xuan nodded, analyzing it inwardly.

Bright Force manifested force externally, while Dark Force drew the power of Bright Force back into the body, allowing one to catch an opponent off guard.

Thus, cultivating this move during the Bright Force stage required sufficiently powerful qi and blood.

"Zhang Chen, take your stance!

Watch closely. This is the first form of Mountain Rift—Drill Split!" Chen Feng took his stance, forming a fist with one hand. His fingertips curled slightly inward, the ridge of his fist protruding as qi and blood rose from beneath his feet and coursed upward.

At the instant it transformed into force, it gathered at a single inch of his fist tip.

Whoosh!

He threw a punch.

Zhang Chen's throat bobbed as he gulped down a mouthful of saliva.

He instinctively wanted to defend himself, but Chen Feng's fist came at a tricky angle and with lightning speed.

It pierced straight through the gap in Zhang Chen's guard.

When the blow landed, Zhang Chen felt as though a massive iron awl had viciously stabbed into his chest.

And because Chen Feng was using Bright Force cultivation, his force erupted. The fierce power surged directly into Zhang Chen's unarmored body, striking deep within.

Zhang Chen staggered several steps backward before finally dispersing his master's force.

Yet his chest still felt exceptionally uncomfortable from the shock.

"The three forms of this second move, once you master them to perfection and pair them with powerful qi and blood—

Breaking defenses and piercing through them will be no trouble.

They can penetrate leather armor, scale armor, and the tough shells of demonic beasts. Though they may not seem particularly forceful, their penetrating power cuts to the bone.

Catching an enemy unprepared, a single punch can often jolt and injure their meridians and qi and blood. It can effectively counter martial artists who turtle up, hold their ground, and resist head-on!"

"Don't blink. Next comes the second form—Mountain Sweep! Li Biao, Xiaopeng, the two of you attack me together with Zhang Chen!"

Zhang Chen nodded at his two junior brothers. All three were Bright Force martial artists, and their interest was immediately piqued. Taking up the Broken Mountain Fist stance, they charged forward.

Zhao Bastard's sharp gaze remained fixed on Chen Feng.

Even Zhao Hui, who had always had no interest in martial arts, could not help focusing his attention.

Duan Xuan frowned slightly. "Could this form be meant for fighting one against many?"

"Haah!"

Chen Feng turned sideways and dropped his shoulder, both fists pressed against his waist as he gathered strength.

When the three disciples attacked from different directions with different moves—

His waist immediately swept sideways, and his fists arced outward in a horizontal sweep, their wind broad and tyrannical.

The force gathered across the surface of his arms spread horizontally, covering an extremely wide area.

Zhang Chen and the others immediately felt a mountain-breaking force rushing straight at them.

Bang!

Limbs collided, and force clashed. Zhang Chen, Li Biao, and Xiaopeng's carefully prepared punching stances—

Were forcibly smashed apart. The three of them tilted backward and were sent reeling away.

Everyone present understood that if this had been a life-and-death fight, with their centerlines wide open and their footing unstable, the victor had already been decided. In a battle to the death, this would have been the point where all three heads hit the ground!

Chen Feng withdrew his stance and explained, "The second form is called Mountain Sweep, also known as the Mass-Battle Divine Form.

Once you are surrounded and attacked by several enemies, especially when they work in perfect coordination and two fists cannot fend off four hands—

This move can buy you enough room to catch your breath, perhaps even the perfect chance to kill them in return!"

Duan Xuan was inwardly shaken. His master's strike just now had used the legs to turn the waist.

Then the power from the waist's axis had been passed to the elbows and pushed out sideways, shattering the surrounding air and breaking an encirclement. It truly was ideal for breaking a deadlock in close combat.

He quickly ran through it in his mind, imagining what would have happened if he had used that move on the people at Wolf Stronghold last night.

"Put away those thoughts. You have yet to undergo real combat. If you want to achieve the effect of my strike just now and send back several people at once—

You will need at least one or two more months of tempering. And fighting several opponents is far more complicated than the movements you just saw.

Do not indulge in fantasies!

The final form of Mountain Rift is called Rupture!

This is the essence of Mountain Rift.

I will explain as I demonstrate it in slow motion. Memorize it carefully.

Blend feints with reality. First, use a false punch to lure the enemy; the moment you close in, sink your force and erupt.

One fist high and one low—one sinks, one explodes—two layers of force burst forth together.

The surface force breaks through defenses, while the inner force shakes and ruptures. Damage comes from both within and without!"

Chen Feng explained as he demonstrated, his movements exceedingly slow.

After repeating it twice, he coughed. "You must be wondering what happens if the opponent refuses to cooperate.

That depends on how convincing your feints are and how much of their mind you can deceive!"

"Once the deception succeeds, the killing power of those two punches doubles.

After breaking through their defense, pour all your force into them.

Rupture their internal injuries.

If your two fists land while the opponent is completely unguarded, you can instantly shatter that person's visceral qi."

Chen Feng had Duan Xuan bring over a wooden training dummy. He followed the steps as before, pretending to dodge and feint. Then, catching the dummy off guard, he viciously punched toward its left side.

The moment the dummy swayed, his right fist followed at once. With a thud, it struck the dummy's right side.

The wooden dummy swayed left and right. Then, with a crack, it first split apart amid the shaking before exploding completely.

"Hiss—" The others sucked in a breath. If that had been a person, they would have been torn into eight pieces already.

Zhao Bastard raised an eyebrow slightly, seeming unconvinced. "Master, if it were a martial artist of the same realm, could you still unleash such great power?"

"I told you, this form is the essence of the three forms in this move. Gather all your strength in both hands. So long as your feint throws the opponent off, whether it is a wooden dummy or a person, the effect is the same!"

"Alright, practice diligently. Today's lesson ends here!"

Zhang Chen, Xiaopeng, and the others let out long breaths. Thankfully, their master had not used that move on them. Besides, this was not how he had taught fist techniques back then!

"Junior Brother Duan, shall Senior Brother spar with you?" Hearing Zhang Chen's ill-intentioned laugh, Duan Xuan nodded. "Come!"

Benevolent Harmony Hall.

Zhou Wei stood at the entrance while Ren Yun sat restlessly, both hands clutching his cane so tightly that sweat beaded on them.

"Why haven't the people taking over returned yet? Could they be searching for Duan Xuan's corpse?

Sigh, just as I expected. Duan Xuan is at that age of youthful recklessness; faced with provocation, he certainly could not sit still."

There was only disappointment on Ren Yun's face, but no regret.

Keeping Zhou Wei alive was more important than anything else.

Not long afterward, after seeing off several guests, the footsteps of Benevolent Harmony Hall's Bright Force expert finally sounded outside.

The moment they saw him, Zhou Wei and Ren Yun both rose to their feet. "Why are you back so late? Where did you bury the body?"

Lin Meng froze. "In reply to Young Master, I waited until the incoming resident disciple arrived before leaving.

As for the corpse you mentioned, do you mean those spies from Fortune Hall? They seemed to have gone to watch the medicinal garden as well!"

"What? You mean you only returned after Duan Xuan from Broken Mountain Martial Arts Hall arrived? He's still alive?" Ren Ping asked.

"Yes. Brother Duan arrived right on time, though this time he carried a bow and several other objects resembling traps."

"How is the medicinal garden?"

Lin Meng took out the inventory ledger. "Everything is normal. Nothing is missing, and nothing extra has appeared. The medicinal herbs are growing vigorously. In roughly half a month, the easternmost plot will be ready for harvest."

Ren Yun and Zhou Wei were both stunned.

The man was not dead, and none of the medicinal herbs were missing. That meant Wolf Stronghold's men had not broken in at all.

Yet the previous two resident disciples had both been lured out and killed by Lang Zhan's men without exception.

And Zhou Wei knew very well that when he had sent Duan Xuan to the medicinal garden, at least five Wolf Stronghold members had been hiding nearby. Two of them had qi and blood at the half-step Bright Force level. Could he truly hold them off alone?

"Elder Zhou, what do you think?" Ren Yun could not see through it and turned to Zhou Wei.

The latter clasped his hands behind his back, his eyes slowly narrowing. "Young Master intends to sponsor him?

But it is too early. Wolf Stronghold may have plans of its own. We can observe for a while first. This old man understands the Young Master's eagerness to recruit talent for the family.

But martial strength and survival skills are not what we value most. What matters is character.

That medicinal garden grows the raw materials for qi-and-blood powder and qi-and-blood pills. Brother Duan already knew this when he took on the resident post.

An ordinary martial artist would inevitably take advantage of his position to pocket one or two plants for personal use. He is only human..."

Zhou Wei said no more, but Ren Yun understood. He calmed himself rationally. "Elder Zhou is right. I was too hasty..."