Gu Yang beamed with joy after receiving praise from his father. Then, Gu Qingfeng looked at him and said, "Since you've entered the later stage of skin refining, today I'll teach you the complete Collapsing Mountain Fist."
"The complete Collapsing Mountain Fist?" Gu Yang was taken aback.
He had been practicing the Collapsing Mountain Fist for years and knew it was not a profound technique, just a low-level martial art. Typically, martial arts of this caliber could only reach perfection within the skin-refining realm. Gu Yang was confident the version of the Collapsing Mountain Fist he'd been practicing was flawless. So, when his father mentioned teaching him the "complete" version, he was naturally confused.
Gu Qingfeng explained, "The Collapsing Mountain Fist is more complex than you think. I entered the Blood Refining Realm with this martial art. With your talent, it's only a matter of time before you break through the Blood Refining Realm. Since you've made a breakthrough today, I'll teach you the complete Collapsing Mountain Fist. Train well."
Without further explanation, Gu Qingfeng began demonstrating his newly enhanced Mountain Collapsing Fist to Gu Yang. After breaking the technique's limits, it had transformed. Every aspect—breathing techniques, blood circulation, and energy mobilization—was refined and different.
As Gu Qingfeng demonstrated, Gu Yang's eyes gradually widened. Each subtle adjustment made a world of difference.
At the final punch, Gu Qingfeng's qi surged like wolf smoke, and his powerful strike seemed capable of collapsing mountains.
"Boom!"
A thunderous sound accompanied the punch. A fierce wind swept through the area, and the rockery several feet ahead shattered into countless pieces. Gu Yang was completely stunned.
Standing in front of such power, he suddenly felt insignificant. The joy and pride he'd felt after breaking through the skin-refining stage vanished in an instant. Until now, he'd never truly witnessed the might of a Blood Refining Realm warrior.
After completing the set of techniques, Gu Qingfeng calmed his turbulent blood and qi. He glanced at Gu Yang, who was still in a daze, and smiled faintly.
"This is the complete Collapsing Mountain Fist," Gu Qingfeng said. "Originally, it was a low-grade martial art, but after breaking through its limits, it's now comparable to a mid-grade technique. If you master it, you'll be able to directly enter the Blood Refining Realm."
Gu Yang finally snapped out of his stupor and asked in amazement, "So, did you create this version of the Collapsing Mountain Fist?"
"I wouldn't say 'create'—I simply built on the foundation laid by others," Gu Qingfeng replied modestly. However, Gu Yang knew how difficult it was to break the limits of a martial art.
Filled with admiration, Gu Yang suggested, "Since this martial art is your innovation, calling it the Collapsing Mountain Fist seems inappropriate. Why not rename it the Gu Family Fist?"
"Gu Family Fist!" Gu Qingfeng paused, then nodded approvingly. "Very well, let's call it Gu Family Fist."
The Gu family needed their own signature martial art to cement their standing. While the original Collapsing Mountain Fist was widely practiced, it wasn't distinct enough to be a symbol of the Gu family's strength. However, after breaking its limits, the technique had evolved, and naming it Gu Family Fist was fitting.
As soon as Gu Qingfeng spoke the new name, his attribute panel appeared, and the original "Mountain Collapsing Fist" was replaced with "Gu Family Fist."
Gu Qingfeng realized that martial art names were flexible—changing them wouldn't affect their power, but it was still a significant moment for the family.
…
In the following days, Gu Qingfeng focused on cultivating silently, using Blood Refining Pills to enhance his strength. He also spent time mentoring Gu Yang and the Gu family guards, imparting martial techniques.
The warriors had joined the Gu family not only for resources but also to learn advanced techniques. Gu Qingfeng was generous in sharing his knowledge, though he kept the most advanced aspects, such as the secrets of breaking martial limits, to himself for now. Once his strength improved further, he would consider teaching them these advanced techniques.
For now, Gu Qingfeng relied on the Blood Refining Pills, which significantly reduced his training time, allowing him to make rapid progress. Unfortunately, such pills were rare and difficult to obtain. Other, more common pills had negligible effects and often carried toxic side effects, so Gu Qingfeng had avoided using them.
With the help of the Blood Refining Pills, he steadily advanced to the intermediate Blood Refining Realm.
…
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Gu Qingfeng had used all the Blood Refining Pills, and his cultivation successfully advanced to the intermediate Blood Refining stage. His strength had reached a new level, though he regretted that his lifespan hadn't increased. This made it clear that only by breaking through to a higher realm would his life span extend.
One day, a Gu family guard entered.
"This subordinate greets the master!" the guard saluted.
"You're here. What's the matter?" Gu Qingfeng asked calmly.
The guard was Meng Peng, a capable warrior in charge of the Gu family guards. Before joining the family, Meng Peng had been a well-known independent martial artist.
Meng Peng respectfully reported, "Master, I've received news that Yun Pavilion will hold an auction in three days, and there are rumors that mid-grade martial arts will be up for sale."
"Mid-grade martial arts?" Gu Qingfeng's expression shifted.
He had long instructed the guards to investigate the whereabouts of mid-grade martial arts. Finally, they had found something.
"Do you know the origin of this martial art?" Gu Qingfeng asked.
Meng Peng shook his head. "Yun Pavilion is keeping the details secret. They deliberately spread rumors about the mid-grade martial arts, but nothing more is known for now."
Gu Qingfeng fell into deep thought.