The Bond Between Old Comrades

After trying Thunder Fist with eighteen streams of Star Power, Fang Yuan began attempting it with thirty-six streams.

This time, however, he failed. His punch did not produce any explosive force.

"Uncle Wang, my Thunder Fist with thirty-six streams of Star Power didn't produce any force. What's going on?" After two unsuccessful attempts, Fang Yuan turned to ask him.

Wang Hongjun explained, "That's normal. Thunder Fist has certain strength requirements. Under normal circumstances, a Lv.1 Awakener only has enough strength to perform Thunder Fist with eighteen streams of Star Power. To use thirty-six streams, you'll have to wait until your strength improves."

"About how much strength do I need?" Fang Yuan pressed.

"No one's measured it precisely. But most people at the gym whose Star Power level has reached Lv.2 can perform the thirty-six-stream Thunder Fist. A strength of 23 or 24 should be about enough."

After explaining, Wang Hongjun asked, "Have you memorized all the Star Power circulation diagrams for Thunder Fist?"

"Yes."

"Then let's stop here for today. Go home and practice slowly, but don't rush it. Thunder Fist relies primarily on explosive power, so the recoil on your body is considerable too. In an actual fight, after using Thunder Fist once, it's best not to use it again for a short while. Otherwise, you might shatter your own arm," Wang Hongjun cautioned.

"Is it really that extreme? Doesn't that mean I can only throw one punch?"

"It's not quite that strict, but you really do need to avoid using it repeatedly in a short period. It's best to use Thunder Fist only when you're completely confident, to ensure a one-hit kill."

"Okay, I understand."

"Go back and take your time practicing. Ask me if there's anything you don't understand."

"Okay. Thanks, Uncle Wang. I'll head downstairs, then."

"Go ahead." Wang Hongjun nodded.

After Fang Yuan went downstairs, Wang Hongjun looked toward the door to the next room. "Old Fang, that son of yours is something. His talent is so good I'm a little envious."

The door to the next room opened.

Fang Zhenguo emerged, his left arm in a cast and sling. "Thanks, squad leader. My family really has run into some trouble. Now you've even had to teach that brat of mine Thunder Fist..."

"Don't mention it. How many years have we known each other? Half our lives. You've never asked me for anything before. Now that you have, there's nothing I wouldn't give you."

As Wang Hongjun spoke, he brought over a guitar case from the corner. "I got what you wanted. An SVD, with a newly replaced stock. Its accuracy is guaranteed within eight hundred meters. But it's best not to use this unless you have to. If they find it, you'll be in serious trouble."

"I know what I'm doing." Fang Zhenguo opened the guitar case, took a look, and closed it again.

"Let me drive you home."

"No need. It's been too long since I handled one of these. I need to try it out."

With that, Fang Zhenguo picked up the guitar case with one hand, slung it over his shoulder, and said goodbye.

After going downstairs, Fang Yuan did not hurry home.

Instead, he found a training room in the gym and began practicing the eighteen-stream Thunder Fist on a punching bag.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Thunder Fist packed one hell of a punch.

His fists slammed into the punching bag, making even the gym's steel beams shake.

The noise was so loud that everyone in the gym heard it.

The banging made their hearts pound, as though those fists were striking the beams right above their heads, sending tingles across their scalps.

At first, Fang Yuan circulated his Star Power one stream at a time.

As he continued practicing, his Star Power circulated faster and faster.

By the end, eighteen streams of Star Power erupted simultaneously, forming a vortex of Star Power as he punched.

Bang!

The faster his Star Power circulated, the more powerful Thunder Fist became.

Once he became proficient with the eighteen-stream Thunder Fist.

Fang Yuan began setting his sights on the thirty-six-stream Thunder Fist.

His current strength stat was too low to practice the thirty-six-stream Thunder Fist.

According to Wang Hongjun, his strength needed to reach 23 or 24.

For an ordinary Awakener, there was no point even considering it before their Star Power level reached Lv.2.

Fang Yuan, however, was different.

First, Fang Yuan checked his current stats panel.

Name: Fang Yuan

Star Power level: Lv.1

Stats: Strength 19, Agility 19, Constitution 14, Spirit 20

Superpower Trait: Unknown Trait A20392

Star Slot Trait: Advanced Agility Enhancement

Rage Points: 470

Star Power martial techniques: Thunder Fist

Skills: Military Physical Combat Technique Lv.2 (92/100), Gliding Step Lv.2 (19/100), Parkour Lv.0 (1/10)

After examining the stats panel, he noticed the new "Star Power martial techniques" field.

There was also a new "Parkour" entry among his skills.

It must have come from the few parkour wall-vaulting moves he had performed while chasing that hooded man with a brick that day. Even that had shown up.

However, this parkour skill was only Lv.0, which essentially meant he had not even learned the basics.

After checking his skills.

Fang Yuan turned his attention back to his Rage Points and strength stat.

So far, none of his four stats had exceeded the level cap.

He did not know whether Rage Points could break through it.

After careful consideration, Fang Yuan spent 100 Rage Points, which turned into a mysterious energy that surged into his muscles, raising his strength to 20.

The plus sign beside strength was still there, so it looked as though he could break through the level cap.

However, he was unsure how many Rage Points it would cost to add one point after exceeding the cap.

This was a good opportunity to test it.

Fang Yuan spent Rage Points to increase his strength again.

His strength stat flashed gold and rose once more, reaching 21.

Seeing that his strength had broken through the level cap.

Fang Yuan was ecstatic and hurriedly checked his Rage Points.

His Rage Points had dropped to 270.

Breaking through the level cap did not change the Rage Point cost.

Each stat point still cost 100 Rage Points.

"My cheat is way too overpowered!"

Fang Yuan could not help swallowing. Having come this far, he went all the way, spending all his Rage Points on increasing his strength.

His strength stat flashed gold, rising straight to 23.

His four stats became: Strength 23, Agility 19, Constitution 14, Spirit 20.

Wang Hongjun had said earlier that performing the thirty-six-stream Thunder Fist required a strength of 23 or 24.

Now that his strength met the requirement, Fang Yuan eagerly stood up and began gathering his power.

Thirty-six streams of Star Power erupted, pouring into his fist.

He aimed at the punching bag and threw a punch!

Bang!

With a resounding crash, his fist punched through the bag.

The punching bag burst, spraying the rubber and cloth scraps inside like snowflakes.

The chain suspending the bag snapped, and the entire bag flew away, slamming into the wall with a bang that made the gym shudder.

The sound of the punching bag bursting carried out, as though something had exploded.

Manager Liu rushed over in a panic. "Wh-what happened?"

Somewhat embarrassed, Fang Yuan pointed at the burst punching bag and smiled sheepishly. "Used too much force. It's fine, it's fine. Um... deduct the cost of the punching bag from Old Fang's wages. I've got something to do. I'll be going now."

With that, Fang Yuan ran off in a flash.

The punching bags at the Thunder Martial Arts Gym were expensive. Their outer covers were all cowhide, and each one cost at least several thousand.

If Fang Zhenguo found out that so much had been deducted from his wages, he would probably go berserk.

Fang Yuan hurriedly made his escape.