Hidden Force!

Time flashed by.

Another ten years passed.

On this day.

Deep within the forests of Taiqing Mountain, Chen Jichuan lay prone on the ground, supporting himself on both hands and the tips of his toes. His entire body resembled a slumbering tiger; with every breath, the faint sound of a tiger's roar could be heard.

On his back.

A thousand-pound millstone rose and fell with his breathing, as though it weighed nothing at all.

Beside him.

Stood the Four Great Vajras of the Chen Sect from years past—Wang Mingzhang, Lu Qing, Sun Hanjiu, and Zhou Dasheng—each holding a small hammer and taking turns striking Chen Jichuan's chest and ribs.

With every blow.

A booming sound rang out.

His dantian tightened, his chest and ribs expanded, and air burst from his nostrils.

Every strike sounded like a tiger's roar.

"Few know the divine art of the Crouching Tiger. Let fists and palms bear the weight without changing shape. Sinews, flesh, and bones all become firm and solid; though a thousand-pound millstone presses upon the body, regard suffering piled upon suffering as commonplace. Train both fist strength and the heart, and achieve an indestructible vajra body."

This was the Crouching Tiger Technique.

It was also called the Sleeping Technique.

Chen Jichuan had already cultivated it to an exceedingly profound realm. His entire body feared no blows and could be called indestructible vajra.

Wang Mingzhang and the other three had once been known as the Brute Vajras. They had studied under Chen Jichuan for more than forty years, and now each was a resounding figure in the martial world.

But they were all over sixty.

Yet at this moment, they worked like apprentices, doing hard labor to aid Chen Jichuan's cultivation.

The four vigorous old men did the work with great relish. Their four pairs of eyes watched their "ageless patriarch," observing the tremors of his muscles and the rhythm of his breathing as they pondered and studied.

For them to have made names for themselves in the martial world, none of them could possibly have been ordinary.

Their strength.

Was no weaker than that of Lu Changshou, the "Southern Fist," who had passed away ten years ago. Watching their patriarch train now, each gained something from it.

Normally.

One hour of cultivation would have been enough to complete the cycle.

But today was different.

One hour.

Two hours.

Three hours.

A full three hours passed, leaving even the four old fellows past sixty panting for breath and drenched in sweat. Hammering looked simple, but in truth, for a master like Chen Jichuan, only grandmasters such as the Four Great Vajras possessed enough strength and skill to assist his cultivation.

Controlling the force behind each strike.

Was not only exhausting, but mentally draining as well.

Fortunately.

After three hours, the cultivation session finally neared its end.

"Scatter!"

Chen Jichuan suddenly shouted, startling the Four Great Vajras into retreating. Then he widened his eyes, and his spine and tailbone moved in unison—

Bang!

A sharp report rang out.

The thousand-pound stone mill on his back was actually blasted away. Stone dust flew everywhere, and countless tiny pits appeared across its surface. Chen Jichuan rolled over and rose with the motion. Before the millstone could hit the ground, he thrust both palms forward.

Boom!

With one palm strike, the millstone shattered into four pieces and exploded in every direction.

"Damn!"

The Four Great Vajras stared dumbfoundedly as broken stones struck them. They hastily stumbled several more steps back in a miserable state. Looking at their patriarch standing proudly amid the flying dust after finishing his cultivation, they were both shocked and delighted.

Chen Jichuan stood where he was.

After sensing himself for a moment.

He only felt that every part of his body was clear and unobstructed. The two palms he had just pushed out had been utterly soundless, seeming weighty yet light.

He turned and twisted his body, winding the force of every joint and muscle into a single strand. The sensation of thorough clarity throughout his body grew ever stronger.

When it reached its limit.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Though he had not thrown a punch, a string of explosive sounds came from within his body.

"Hidden Force released outward."

"Thunder roared through the joints."

"So this is the realm of Hidden Force."

A flash of realization rose in Chen Jichuan's heart, followed by overwhelming joy.

After one hundred and twenty years.

After decades of bitter training.

From Manifest Force into Hidden Force.

He had finally taken this crucial step.

From this day onward.

He was a Hidden Force master!

Name: Chen Jichuan [One]

Age: 139

Immortal Rank: None

Official Position: None

Level: 6

Talent: Creation

Spells: Seventy-Two Chen Sect Arts (Sixth Layer), Divine Pounce Blade (Fourth Layer), Flame Control Technique (Fourth Layer), Ghost-Fall Sword (Third Layer)

Immortal Salary: 1

Origin Force: 6628

"Patriarch."

"Did you succeed?"

Among the Four Great Vajras, Wang Mingzhang, the eldest, saw his patriarch exhale a long breath and then reveal a smile not long afterward. He could not help asking.

Lu Qing and the other two also looked toward Chen Jichuan.

"Indeed."

"I succeeded."

Chen Jichuan laughed heartily. Having succeeded in one stroke, joy filled his chest. Seeing Wang Mingzhang and the others staring wide-eyed at him, Chen Jichuan did not hold back. He stepped forward and casually took three steps across the bluestone-paved ground—

The four looked over.

They saw that, in utter silence, three footprints four or five inches deep had appeared in the bluestone.

If they did it, smashing the bluestone with one kick would be easy enough. But to leave footprints so lightly, as though lifting a heavy weight were effortless, without revealing any trace of exertion—this was far beyond them.

"Hiss!"

"This is Hidden Force?"

Lu Qing's face was full of yearning, and light shone from his eyes.

"It is indeed Hidden Force."

Chen Jichuan was in high spirits. Since the four before him had all been taught by his own hand, he naturally spoke more. "I have only just attained Hidden Force. At a time, I can only take three steps; this is already my limit. Moreover, Hidden Force can only be directed to my hands and feet. I cannot yet make my entire body one seamless whole, with force spraying like needles from every part of it."

To hear the Dao in the morning was enough to die content that evening.

Chen Jichuan had cultivated Hidden Force, and the realm that had once been hazy and unknowable was now before his eyes, completely clear to him. "Manifest Force uses sinews and bones to strike others, while Hidden Force uses the heart to strike others. Their power cannot be mentioned in the same breath. If Hidden Force is not released, so be it—but once released, it must hit its mark. Otherwise, it only drains one's own mental and physical strength. The physical strength consumed when the mind erupts is more than ten times that of moving sinews and bones!"

Chen Jichuan stretched his limbs and experienced his Hidden Force.

The smile on his face would not fade.

Hidden Force struck others.

It was vastly more powerful than merely striking with fists, feet, sinews, and bones.

He had only given it a small trial just now, yet he already understood its might. The Immortal Register showed it even more clearly: he had been stuck at Level 5 for a long time, but after cultivating Hidden Force, he had immediately broken through to Level 6.

"Even if one trains external arts and Manifest Force to their utmost, one can only reach Level 5."

"But once Hidden Force is comprehended, one instantly reaches Level 6."

"A difference of one level."

"Yet in truth, it is the difference between heaven and earth."

Chen Jichuan looked at the Immortal Register panel, and joy filled his heart all the more.

He had only just cultivated Hidden Force, yet he already knew the road ahead. So long as he thoroughly cultivated Hidden Force, extending it from his fists and feet to every part of his body, then when he fought, his entire body would become one seamless whole, force spraying like needles from every part of it. That would be a higher realm still.

To be able to see the road ahead.

To Chen Jichuan, that was the same as having it within reach. He had ample time to study it. If one lifetime was not enough, he could live another. Decades, centuries—he could train and contemplate without cease. What was there to fear about failing to achieve mastery?!

"Congratulations, Patriarch!"

When Wang Mingzhang, Lu Qing, and the other two heard that Chen Jichuan had truly cultivated Hidden Force, they were so excited and delighted that no words could describe it. They repeatedly congratulated him.

The four of them had spent their entire lives immersed in martial arts.

They had long mastered Manifest Force.

Like Lu Changshou, they had all been trapped outside the gates of Hidden Force, cultivating bitterly for years without success. They had thought they too would die with regrets like the old sect master, never expecting joy to fall from the sky today and allow martial artists such as themselves to witness Hidden Force with their own eyes.

"This life."

"Was worth it!"

Zhou Dasheng threw back his head and let out a long howl.

Sun Hanjiu beside him was also beside himself with excitement. His white beard trembled wildly as he shouted, "The Patriarch's comprehension of Hidden Force is a joy for our Chen Sect and a joy for all fellow martial artists. I suggest that we choose an auspicious day and hold a grand feast for heroes from north and south, announcing this joyous matter to the martial world. First, to spread the Patriarch's peerless prestige. Second, to display the might of our Chen Sect. Third, to let martial artists beyond our doors know that there is still a road beyond Manifest Force, encouraging our fellow wanderers of the martial world!"

He had always loved liveliness most.

The last lively occasion on Taiqing Mountain dated back ten years, when the old sect master Lu Changshou had died and martial artists from every direction had come to pay their respects.

"..."

Chen Jichuan looked at the excited Sun Hanjiu, and the smile on his face stiffened.

Seeing this, Lu Qing tugged at his third junior brother, who was still prepared to go on with a flood of grand words.

"Uh—"

Sun Hanjiu was tugged by Lu Qing and could not help freezing. Then he saw the look on his patriarch's face and inwardly cursed himself twice.

In his excitement, he had actually forgotten that his patriarch disliked these worldly affairs the most.

His throat suddenly went dry, and he hurriedly forced a smile onto his aged face. "A suggestion. This disciple was merely making a suggestion."

"It is indeed worth celebrating."

"But forget about hosting a grand feast for heroes from north and south. It is not as though we are convening a martial arts assembly. Our own people can simply have a meal together; there is no need to make such a display."

Chen Jichuan truly was filled with great joy.

Though he had always disliked such formalities, today he made an exception.

The moment Sun Hanjiu heard this, his face blossomed into a smile. He hurriedly replied, "Everything shall be as the Patriarch commands. Leave this matter to me—I will certainly summon all those old brothers!"