Profound Mystery of Strength

After gaining an initial grasp of the Earth Element Profound Mysteries, Hillman's Earth Element abilities underwent a qualitative leap. Whether forming shields or summoning Earth Spikes, he became increasingly precise, and his creations more solid. But he knew full well that this was nowhere near enough. Among the six profound mysteries in "Coiling Dragon," the Profound Mystery of Strength was one of the core sources of combat power within the Laws of the Earth. Ranked as an intermediate profound mystery, it focused on concentrating the earth's heavy power into a single point to unleash world-shattering might. It shared its roots with the Laws of the Earth: Heaviness he had previously comprehended, yet was deeper and purer, stripping away surface-level applications of energy to reach the essence of strength itself.

The Dragonblood Secret Manual stated: "The earth's might lies in its heaviness and its strength. The grandeur of mountains and the hardness of stone both arise from the concentration of the earth's strength." In his earlier sparring with the Spined Iron-Armored Dragon, Hillman had relied on the combination of technique and Earth Element abilities. Though the Earth Core Body-Tempering Flower had tempered his body, leaving his physical strength far beyond that of warriors at the same level, he had never managed to unleash its full might. Now that he had mastered the Earth Element Profound Mysteries and could precisely control earth element particles, it was the ideal time to comprehend the Profound Mystery of Strength.

One day, just as dawn began to break and before the darkness had fully faded, Mist Canyon was still shrouded in hazy gray shadows. Hillman walked through the morning dew to Rocky Shoal deep within the canyon. Once a battlefield where magical beasts had fought, it was strewn with rocks of varying sizes. The largest was the size of a small hill, formed entirely of hard black rock. Even an ordinary Half-Step Saint-level powerhouse's full-strength strike could leave only a shallow mark on its surface, making this an excellent place for his usual physical strength training. He sat cross-legged on a flat bluestone and first circulated the Mountain-Shaking Art, slowly guiding the Saint-level Battle Qi within him from his dantian throughout his limbs and body. Gentle, earthen-yellow Battle Qi nourished every meridian. His bones gave faint cracks, and his muscles relaxed, holding a strength poised to spring.

Once his Battle Qi was abundant and his internal energy had stabilized, Hillman slowly stood. He took a deep breath, drawing the canyon's damp air, mingled with the fragrance of earth, into his lungs and feeling refreshed. He sank his spiritual power into his dantian. Rather than letting it spread freely as before, he concentrated it intensely, carefully sensing the connection between his Battle Qi and the earth's strength. He recalled his sparring with the Spined Iron-Armored Dragon, the immense force of its descending claw, and the steady rhythm of Earth Pulsation in the underground cavern. The strength hidden beneath the earth was not a brute collision, but a restrained, ultimate eruption. In the past, whenever he drew upon the earth's strength, he spread it throughout his body. Though this improved his defense, it could not produce the strongest possible attack. The essence of the Profound Mystery of Strength was to gather that dispersed strength into a single point, like water droplets wearing through stone, destroying every obstacle with extreme pressure.

[Ding! The host has been detected touching upon the core of the Profound Mystery of Strength! Current affinity: 5%! Recommendation: combine the earth's heavy power with Battle Qi compressed into a single point, discard all flashy techniques, and break through with pure strength!]

The system's notification rang in his mind, and a thought stirred within Hillman. He decided to stop relying on the support of his Earth Element abilities and instead use his physical strength, combined with Earth Element Battle Qi, to comprehend the essence of the Profound Mystery of Strength. He walked up to the hill-sized black rock, extended his palm, and gently pressed it against the cold surface. He could clearly sense the densely arranged earth element particles inside, containing an immensely heavy power. Each particle was like a tiny star, radiating a steady, majestic aura.

Hillman drew a deep breath. The Saint-level Battle Qi inside him surged wildly, no longer spreading throughout his body but gathering entirely toward his right fist. He focused his spiritual power intensely, guiding the Battle Qi to compress and condense without pause. The earthen-yellow glow around his right fist grew denser and denser, even taking on a faint metallic sheen. The air over his knuckles hissed under the compression, while the surrounding earth element particles were drawn toward his fist, forming a visible vortex of energy.

At first, compressing the Battle Qi was extremely difficult. The slightest mistake would send it out of control and scatter it. Hillman tried dozens of times, each attempt ending in failure. The swelling pain in his fist made him grimace, and his arm muscles twitched slightly from excessive exertion. Yet he did not lose heart. He kept adjusting the output of his spiritual power, controlling the speed and degree of the compression. He discovered that tighter compression was not always better. There was a critical point; once he exceeded it, the Battle Qi would run out of control and backlash against him. Only at that critical point could it unleash its greatest strength, like a fully drawn bowstring, poised to release and achieve something extraordinary in a single stroke.

The sun gradually climbed, and most of the mist in Mist Canyon dispersed. Sunlight spilled through the clouds onto Rocky Shoal, illuminating Hillman's sweat-soaked figure. Beads of sweat the size of beans formed on his forehead, slid down his cheeks, and dripped onto the bluestone, spreading into small wet patches. His clothes had long since been drenched, clinging to his skin and outlining his solid muscles. His right fist had gone numb, and waves of soreness coursed through his arm. Yet his gaze grew ever more resolute, like a burning flame, revealing a tenacity that would not yield until he reached his goal.

Finally, after more than a hundred attempts, he found that critical point-the Saint-level Battle Qi within him was compressed to its limit and concentrated over the knuckles of his right fist, forming an earthen-yellow point of light the size of a pinprick. The air around it warped, and it radiated a heart-pounding pressure. Even the loose stones nearby trembled faintly, as though afraid of this power.

"Hah!" Hillman roared. Every muscle in his body bulged as though cast from steel, and his veins stood out like coiling dragons. The bluestone beneath his feet shattered instantly, scattering fragments as cracks spread in every direction. He summoned all his strength and, combining it with the Battle Qi gathered over his knuckles, drove a savage punch at the hill-sized black rock.

There were no flashy techniques in this punch, no dazzling light-only pure strength. The moment his knuckles struck the rock, there was no earth-shaking crash, only a muffled thud, like a rumble rising from deep within the earth, low yet filled with world-shattering might.

Then a strange scene unfolded. No cracks appeared on the surface of the seemingly indestructible black rock. Instead, starting from the point his knuckles had struck, it collapsed inward at a speed visible to the naked eye. Countless fine grains of powder seeped from its surface and flowed down like water, filling the air with the faint scent of stone dust. Within a few breaths, the hill-sized rock had turned into a thick heap of stone powder on the ground. A light breeze raised clouds of dust that looked like golden mist in the sunlight.

Hillman slowly withdrew his fist, and the earthen-yellow glow over his knuckles gradually faded. Feeling the ease in his arm and the strength surging ceaselessly within him, his eyes flashed with wild joy. He could clearly feel that his understanding of strength had entered an entirely new realm. The heavy power hidden within the earth now seemed his to summon at will, concentrating it into a single point to unleash irresistible might.

[Ding! The host has been detected mastering the core of the Profound Mystery of Strength-ultimate compression! Affinity with the Profound Mystery of Strength has reached 100%!]

[Congratulations, host! You have gained an initial grasp of the Profound Mystery of Strength! Close-combat power increased by 100%. Earth Element skills now carry a strength amplification effect. All attacks can trigger the "Armor Break" special effect!]

The instant the system's notifications ended, a new stream of information poured into Hillman's mind. He understood that the Profound Mystery of Strength could be concentrated not only over his knuckles, but also infused into a longsword or Earth Element skills. He understood how to combine strength with the Earth Element Profound Mysteries, making sand swords sharp as blades and stone shields indestructible. More importantly, he understood the path toward advancing the Profound Mystery of Strength-infusing Earth Power into his flesh, making his body as heavy as the earth and as hard as rock, truly becoming immovable as a mountain and capable of shattering a peak with one punch.

Hillman clenched his fists, feeling the surging strength within him, his heart filled with unprecedented confidence. He turned toward another corner of Rocky Shoal, where an even harder piece of dark iron rock stood. Pitch-black and as hard as refined iron, it was one of the hardest rocks in the canyon, difficult for even an ordinary Saint-level powerhouse to budge. He grinned, and in a flash, he stood before it.

This time, he did not deliberately compress his Battle Qi. He merely threw a casual punch. An earthen-yellow glow flashed over his knuckles and vanished, carrying the essence of the Profound Mystery of Strength.

"Boom!"

With a tremendous crash, the dark iron rock split apart. The broken faces were smooth as mirrors and gleamed with a metallic sheen. Fragments flew in all directions, striking the ground with crisp clatters.

"That felt good!" Hillman laughed heartily, feeling as though every pore in his body had opened as a sense of utter exhilaration spread through him.

Just then, a powerful dragon's roar came from the canyon entrance. The Spined Iron-Armored Dragon slowly approached with heavy steps, excitement gleaming in its blood-red eyes. It had clearly been drawn by the tremendous crash. Seeing the stone powder and the shattered dark iron rock on the ground, a flicker of surprise crossed its eyes. Then it gave a challenging roar, arching its enormous body slightly as the spines on its back glinted coldly, ready to spar.

At the sight, Hillman's fighting spirit soared. He tucked the Fine Iron Longsword at his waist and flexed his wrists, his bones giving a series of crisp cracks. Grinning, he said, "Old friend, you're just in time! Have a taste of the strength I've just comprehended!"

Before his words had faded, Hillman shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. The earthen-yellow glow around his right fist blazed, carrying immense strength as he punched toward the Iron-Armored Dragon's head.

The Iron-Armored Dragon roared and fearlessly raised its sharp claw, swiping to meet Hillman's fist.

The instant fist and claw collided, a terrifying shock wave of force spread outward from the two of them. Loose stones were hurled from Rocky Shoal, and the air tore with a piercing shriek. Even the distant trees swayed slightly.

This time, Hillman did not retreat so much as half a step. Instead, he stood firmly in place, his arm utterly motionless. The Battle Qi within him easily dispersed the recoil from his knuckles. He could even clearly sense that the force coming through the Iron-Armored Dragon's claw was greater than before, yet it still could not budge him in the slightest. The Spined Iron-Armored Dragon, however, was driven back three steps by the strength contained in his fist. Its enormous body slammed into the rock wall behind it, sending loose stones tumbling down and leaving a deep depression. It lowered its head to look at its claw, then looked up at Hillman, a trace of astonishment flashing through its eyes. Then it let out an even more excited roar, clearly stirred to greater fighting spirit by Hillman's progress.

Man and dragon plunged back into fierce combat. Dragon roars and the rush of punches echoed through the canyon, startling countless birds from the woods. Hillman moved nimbly, every punch carrying the essence of the Profound Mystery of Strength. At times, he concentrated it over his knuckles and delivered an irresistible blow; at others, he infused it into the force of his palm and struck with the weight of a mountain. Sometimes he infused strength into his Earth Element skills, making the Earth Spikes he summoned sharper and his stone shields sturdier. The Iron-Armored Dragon's attacks also grew fiercer, its claws tearing through the air and its long tail sweeping with army-scattering force, yet it could do nothing to Hillman.

After more than a hundred exchanges of fierce combat, Hillman seized an opening and drove a punch into the Iron-Armored Dragon's scales. A clang rang out, sparks flew, and a shallow white mark appeared on its armored scales. The Iron-Armored Dragon roared in pain, but did not retreat. Instead, it lunged even more fiercely, its sharp claw cutting through the air straight toward Hillman's face.

The sun sank in the west, spreading golden-red light over Rocky Shoal and stretching the shadows of man and dragon far into the distance. At last, they stopped, both panting heavily and bearing quite a few new wounds. Hillman leaned against the Iron-Armored Dragon's scales, feeling the warmth coming from its body, and a gratified smile appeared on his face.

"Old friend, your scales are still just as tough," Hillman said with a smile, his voice tinged with exhaustion yet full of excitement.

The Iron-Armored Dragon gave a low rumble and gently rubbed its enormous head against Hillman's shoulder, as though answering him, or perhaps complaining that he had struck too hard.

Hillman looked up at the sky. Like a vast ball of fire, the setting sun slowly sank beneath the horizon, dyeing the sky a dazzling golden red. His eyes shone with anticipation for the future. He had gained an initial grasp of the Earth Element and the Profound Mystery of Strength. Next came the Earth Travel Technique Profundity. He knew that his path to becoming a powerhouse had only just begun.

Mist gradually shrouded Rocky Shoal, gently enfolding the figures of man and dragon. Deep within the canyon, their breathing echoed alongside the occasional dragon rumble, peaceful and serene.