Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Yin and Yang

When he stopped, Jiang Ming felt an unmistakable increase in physical strength and power; it was definitely not an illusion.

"The numbness has spread throughout my body, and I'm not far from Muscle and Bone Resonance."

"Definitely not far!"

Jiang Ming was invigorated.

Wiping his forehead, he shook off a series of beads of sweat, only to notice someone else practicing nearby. It was a girl wearing a white practice uniform, her hair tied up in a ponytail, her skin fair and delicate.

He recognized her as Yun Xiyao from the next class, also a beautiful scenery in the school.

Jiang Ming paid no attention to her and turned to leave.

It was time for breakfast.

Yun Xiyao stopped her practice and glanced at him, murmuring, "Is he a student from the Second Level too? His Shock Fist is at least at the Great Success Realm, but I've never heard of him before."

She dismissed the thought and continued her practice.

Compared to Jiang Ming, her movements were graceful and captivating.

After breakfast, Jiang Ming bought a large bottle of water and returned to the park. Just as he was about to start cultivating, his phone buzzed with a message.

Wang Fatty: "Ming, it's time for class. Why haven't you come yet?"

Jiang Ming: "I'm cultivating at home, I won't be coming! I'm going to ask the teacher for a leave of absence and give it my all before the College Entrance Exam. You should stop wasting time too. If you reach the Martial Arts Second Realm, you'll definitely have a chance to get into one of the top ten universities!"

Wang Fatty: "I'm already trying my best, okay! The teacher is here, gotta go!"

Jiang Ming smiled.

His deskmate had greater potential than him but was a bit lazy.

After sending a message to the teacher, he put his phone on silent mode.

Looking up, Yun Xiyao had already left.

He continued practicing until noon before going home.

"I still haven't reached Muscle and Bone Resonance. This progress is too slow."

Jiang Ming frowned in thought.

After achieving Muscle and Bone Resonance, he still needed to reach the Micro Power stage before breaking through to the Martial Arts Second Realm. He didn't need to think to know that breaking through would be even more difficult.

He turned on his phone, gritted his teeth, and ordered a medicinal meal that cost ten thousand credit points even after the discount.

"So extravagant!"

Even though it wasn't money he earned himself, he still felt a sharp pain. At this critical moment, he couldn't afford to skimp.

After lunch, he returned to a secluded corner of the park.

As he cultivated, he felt a surging force within his body, the medicinal power of the meal. As he continued to practice, he rapidly absorbed this power and turned it into his own strength.

Time flew by when immersed in a specific task. Unconsciously, night had fallen.

The numbness in his body had disappeared.

This was a sign of further improvement.

Tianwu Calendar 9918, May 27, early morning, a corner of the park.

Jiang Ming was still diligently cultivating.

An old man approached and watched him practice with a strange expression on his face.

"He has reached the Perfection Realm of Shock Fist, yet he hasn't achieved Muscle and Bone Resonance."

"If he had great comprehension and terrible potential, it would explain it. But at his age, he should have reached Muscle and Bone Resonance."

"Even if his family background is poor and his nutrition is lacking, once he exhibits a Perfection-Level Shock Fist, the school would definitely provide financial support. No, with his mastery of Soft Fist and Military Boxing, he would receive subsidies in middle school, or even elementary school."

"This is really strange."

He stood there, hands behind his back, watching with increasing gravity, "He has taken the Shock Fist to its limit, and there is even a faint sense of transcending. This level of comprehension is extraordinary!"

Jiang Ming finally stopped and looked at him helplessly, "Old man, have you seen enough?"

Feeling watched while practicing, he felt uneasy.

He also took the opportunity to observe the elder who looked kind and amiable, with a cheerful smile and especially striking long eyebrows.

"No!" The elder laughed, "I'm just curious, you've already perfected the Shock Fist, so why haven't your muscles and bones resonated yet? This is the first time I've seen such a situation in my countless years of experience."

"It can't be that strange. While it's rare for someone in Pingyang City to perfect the Shock Fist, it's quite common in the world!" Jiang Ming shook his head.

"Calm and composed, and with a worldly view, good temperament." The elder praised, then said, "It is indeed quite common. I've seen an eight-year-old perfect the Shock Fist and reach the Bone Forging Extreme Realm before turning nine; I've also seen someone comprehend the essence of Shock Fist within seven or eight days and reach the Bone Forging Peak within a month. But your situation is different."

He paused and continued, "After all, you're not young. You should be a senior high school student, about to face the Martial Exam. Before this, your Soft Fist and Military Boxing should have already reached a perfected state, and after practicing the Shock Fist for so many years, you still haven't resonated with your muscles and bones, which is quite rare."

"I could've just had a sudden breakthrough!" Jiang Ming immediately understood what was going on.

It's a process to achieve perfection in Shock Fist, but a perfected eighteen-year-old student is not normal.

At the same time, he was also shocked.

Perfected Shock Fist at age eight and reached Bone Forging Extreme Realm at nine?

Comprehended the essence of Shock Fist within just seven or eight days?

Are these the geniuses of this world?

They're truly extraordinary!

"A sudden breakthrough?" The elder hesitated for a moment, then realized, "Right, that must be it!" However, he looked at Jiang Ming with even more astonishment, pondering, "I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity here, do you want to give it a try?"

"Old man!" Jiang Ming sighed, "There are only a few days left before the Martial Exam, and I still haven't resonated with my muscles and bones. I can't afford to waste time."

"I have a Peiyuan Pill on me, if you pass the test, how about I give it to you?" The elder smiled, "It won't take long."

"A Peiyuan Pill? The one that's said to be gentler than gene medicine, has no side effects, and is the best auxiliary elixir for the Bone Forging Realm?" Jiang Ming was surprised, "I've heard that a single pill is worth 200,000. Are you willing to give it away for just a test?"

"Of course!" The elder nodded.

"Then please tell me, old man?" Jiang Ming rubbed his hands, looking very pleased.

He cannot afford a 200,000 Peiyuan Pill.

"I like your money-loving look, haha!" The elder couldn't help but laugh out loud, then said seriously, "I have a body refining fist technique, watch carefully. If you can achieve minor success today, I will give you the Peiyuan Pill!"

As soon as his words fell, he began to perform his fist technique.

Jiang Ming raised his eyebrows: The elder casually took out a 200,000 Peiyuan Pill, he must be a high-ranked senior, and now he's demonstrating his technique, shouldn't his energy and demeanor be transcendent, on the level of the Nine Heavens? Why does he still look so loose and slouchy?

However, he also stared intently at the elder.

"This technique is called the Yin Yang Fist. Yang is external and strong, aggressive and fierce, yet it enters the body in reverse. Yin is internal and soft, adaptable as it endures storms, shoulders strength and aggression, using both strength and softness together as one, interchanging between Yin and Yang, to achieve the effects of refining the body, strengthening the organs, improving blood circulation, and washing the marrow."

"The principles contained in this fist technique are even deeper than those of the Shock Fist."

"Watch carefully!"

The elder was still practicing within a small space, back and forth.

Softness containing strength, the Inch Fist dominating; strength containing softness, everything turning as desired. Within the interplay of Yin and Yang, of strength and softness, the entire body is refined from the inside out.

After one round, the elder stopped, still smiling, "Have you understood? Do you need me to demonstrate it again?"

"I've understood and don't need to see it again!" Jiang Ming said as he closed his eyes.

The elder's eyes brightened, his interest growing even more.

At this moment, a storm of comprehension erupted in Jiang Ming's mind.

Countless thoughts transformed into little figures in the emptiness of his mind, practicing the Yin Yang Fist, even incorporating his understanding of the Soft Fist and Shock Fist.

After a while, Jiang Ming opened his eyes, assumed a stance, and said, "Old man, watch closely!"

After one round, he did it correctly, earning the elder's admiration.

Two rounds, he got the hang of it, and the elder nodded in agreement.

Three rounds, he achieved minor success, and the elder gasped in awe.

Six rounds, it seemed like great success, and the elder was overjoyed.

After ten rounds, he directly achieved perfection, and the elder's eyes widened in shock, rubbing his hands together as if he was a 3,000-year-old bachelor who had just seen an old pimp.