Two days to Hidden Strength.
Jia Qingshan felt that Wu Ming was repeatedly overturning his understanding. It had taken him nearly ten years to go from practicing the Three-Body Stance to comprehending Hidden Strength, yet the other man had succeeded in merely two days.
Even using Gene Evolution as an excuse, it was still far too inconceivable, making him question Wu Ming again and again.
Wu Ming had no choice but to reveal the secret: he relied on Spiritual Force to correct his movements, even observing the changes in the patterns of his muscles from within, constantly adjusting himself into the most perfect posture.
Such meticulous powers of observation were naturally invincible when used to aid martial arts practice.
After hearing this explanation, Jia Qingshan was finally speechless. However, his desire for a Spiritual Force talent only grew stronger.
By then, Wu Ming had carefully experienced the Hidden Strength techniques he had newly mastered, yet doubts arose in his heart.
"Master," he asked, "compared to Bright Strength, Hidden Strength seems no different in terms of power, aside from making punches silent. Is that normal?"
He had originally believed that the Hidden Strength of Xingyi Quan was related to the Hidden Strength exertion techniques recorded in the future's Ninefold Thunder Blade, which was why he had chosen this Internal Martial Arts style.
But now, it seemed Xingyi Hidden Strength did not possess the ability to stack force.
"On the surface, that's correct." Jia Qingshan nodded. "However, Hidden Strength isn't as simple as you think."
"Please enlighten me, Master." Wu Ming's expression turned serious.
"Xingyi Quan's force has three realms: Bright Strength, Hidden Strength, and Transforming Strength."
Jia Qingshan slowly said, "You have already experienced the essence of Bright Strength. It is the force produced when you unify your entire body and throw a punch—the absolute limit of your body."
"That should be a good thing, but it is also the problem." He glanced at Wu Ming. "You should have noticed that after entering Bright Strength, every punch you threw produced a sharp crack?"
Wu Ming nodded. Back then, every one of his punches had boomed loudly, creating an imposing display, and he had been quite pleased with himself.
Yet after comprehending Hidden Strength, those sounds had instead vanished.
"Actually... those sharp cracks are warnings from your body."
Wu Ming was immediately startled.
Before he could ask, Jia Qingshan explained, "Unifying the entire body is certainly a good thing, but the force created by these powers is too fierce and leaves no room for buffering. Every punch you throw sends that force rebounding into your tendons, bones, and joints."
"Over time, it will leave hidden injuries."
After a pause, he looked at the attentively listening Wu Ming and continued, "But Hidden Strength is different. Going from Bright Strength to Hidden Strength means adding more supple force to harmonize the fierce force."
"While preserving its power, it also neutralizes the backlash against the body. That is why punches using Hidden Strength make no sound."
Wu Ming finally understood. Only then did he learn that Bright Strength could injure its user, while Hidden Strength would not.
However, recalling the question in his heart, he asked again, "Other than that, does Hidden Strength have any other effects? For instance, can it unleash power greater than Bright Strength?"
"Of course." Jia Qingshan gave him a leisurely glance. "Otherwise, why do you think Hidden Strength ranks above Bright Strength? Just because it makes no sound?"
Wu Ming's eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "Please clear up my doubts, Master."
"Hidden Strength can certainly unleash greater power, but it does not rely on stronger force."
Jia Qingshan explained, "Bright Strength affects the muscle groups involved in the body's ordinary mechanisms. Those muscles are visible and accessible; even ordinary people can use them, though they cannot unify them."
"However, the human body also contains many deep muscles and fascia that are never used in daily life. Those areas remain dormant for an entire lifetime, and Bright Strength alone cannot awaken them."
"Only Hidden Strength can penetrate deeper into your body, awaken and mobilize this deeply buried potential. At that point, you will naturally be able to exert power beyond your body's limits."
As he spoke, he glanced at Wu Ming. "You have only just stepped through the threshold of Hidden Strength. Your force has not yet had time to touch those deeper powers, so naturally you cannot sense its wonders."
"Once you thoroughly train this force, Hidden Strength will naturally sink deep into your tendons and bones. Then you can unleash several times your current power and reach Dark Force Completion."
Jia Qingshan smiled. "That is also my current realm. It has earned me the title of Xingyi Quan master, and in the path of Internal Martial Arts, I have reached the ultimate boundary."
"So Master has reached Dark Force Completion?"
Wu Ming blinked. "The ultimate boundary? But didn't you say there is still the realm of Transforming Strength above Hidden Strength? What exactly is Transforming Strength?"
"In this era, Transforming Strength has already become a legend. I do not know much about it either."
Jia Qingshan shook his head. "I only know that in ancient times, this realm was also called Grandmaster. Its standing in martial arts was comparable to that of a sage in the scholarly tradition. One might not appear even once in a thousand years."
Wu Ming was somewhat surprised. The status of a Transforming Strength Grandmaster could actually rival that of a sage of the scholarly tradition?
He could not help asking, "Master, which Transforming Strength experts existed in ancient times? And what extraordinary abilities does this realm possess?"
"To my knowledge, there are two confirmed ancient Grandmasters. The most recent was True Man Sanfeng of Wudang."
Jia Qingshan said, "The other was Bodhidharma. Apart from these two, the other records cannot be verified and can only be regarded as legends."
Zhang Sanfeng! Bodhidharma!
Wu Ming's pupils contracted. Both of them were extraordinary figures in Huaxia's history. So they had actually been Internal Martial Arts Grandmasters?
"As for the wonders of Transforming Strength... Dark Force Completion is already the limit of all Internal Martial Arts. Beyond that, one can only rely on one's own comprehension."
Jia Qingshan said, "Although I have learned some things about Transforming Strength, they may not be reliable. Just listen to them."
"Please instruct me, Master."
"The ancient texts describe Transforming Strength as 'mind and body as one, the flesh free and unrestrained.' In my understanding, if Hidden Strength means force reaching the Microscopic Level and controlling the muscles, then Transforming Strength means force transforming and becoming omnipresent, granting an even deeper level of control."
Jia Qingshan's tone gradually grew heavier. "By modern scientific explanations, it means the mind influencing the cells, perfectly developing the potential of every cell in the body—the so-called freedom of the flesh."
"According to certain ancient records, a Grandmaster who mastered Transforming Strength could, even with the physical qualities of an ordinary person, lift a cauldron with sheer strength, run as fast as a galloping horse, and unleash power at least ten times greater than Dark Force Completion!"
"My current maximum burst is around four times. According to this description, if I could master Transforming Strength, I could unleash more than forty times my normal power."
Wu Ming sucked in a cold breath. A fortyfold burst? Was that something an Earthling could achieve?
One had to know that ancient Grandmasters were not even Apprentices!
Of course, Jia Qingshan had also said that these were merely records from ancient texts and might not be reliable. After all, ancient people themselves loved to exaggerate when recording such matters.
But even so, Wu Ming's heart was stirred by this power.
If he could become a Transforming Strength Grandmaster... then he would have an overwhelming advantage against any Earth Martial Artist, including Hong and the Thunder God!
Before you continue