Leaning against the wall, Galon clenched his fists, feeling as if his skin had thickened, covered with a layer of callus similar to when he first achieved the primary level of the Explosive Punch technique. "Such a significant change," he thought.
Standing straight, he felt his body much heavier, or rather, more stable. "The primary Explosive Punch technique merely enhances defensive power, while the intermediate second level, I recall, has a vibrating effect. I need to test this thoroughly."
He didn't linger and headed towards a row of testing rooms behind the training field. After looking around, he chose an empty room, entered, and carefully locked the door behind him.
Approaching a weapon rack, he picked up a curved dagger.
Shhh!
He stabbed the dagger hard into his left forearm. It didn't penetrate but merely grazed the surface, like hitting hard wood.
Gripping the dagger in his right hand, Galon gradually applied force, quickly exceeding 50 pounds, then 100 pounds, 150, 160, 170...
With a soft "shh" sound, the dagger's tip finally pierced the skin as Galon instantly eased the pressure, examining the puncture on his skin.
A small red dot slowly oozed a bit of blood, which quickly coagulated, resembling a needle prick wound.
Placing the dagger back on the rack, Galon squeezed his left arm where it had been pierced. "A resistance of 170 pounds means I won't get injured unless an opponent's bladed weapon impact exceeds this value. Blunt force is even easier to handle; probably even 200 pounds wouldn't be a problem."
Rubbing his palms together produced a rough, sandy sound, like metal scraping metal. "The martial arts of Baiyun Martial Arts Academy are indeed formidable. This is equivalent to the so-called Iron Shirt or Golden Bell Cover, right?"
"Next is to test the actual punching effect."
He moved towards a hanging sandbag, crouched, and threw a swinging punch.
Bang!
The sandbag swayed slightly but didn't fly far. However, the entire sandbag and its stand vibrated violently, as if an earthquake had hit the ground, buzzing madly.
Galon threw another straight punch, launching it like an arrow straight into the center of the sandbag.
Boom!
The sandbag was thrust backward fiercely, crashing down along with its stand, stirring up a cloud of dust that made Galon hastily cover his nose and mouth.
After the dust settled, Galon crouched to inspect the damage. The sandbag's metal stand, painted black and anchored to the ground with steel pins, had formed a "T" shape. Now, all the anchoring pins were pulled out undamaged.
Picking up a steel pin the length of a finger, Galon examined the other pins. "Is it the vibration? If it has this effect on fixed steel pins, what would it do to a person?"
Standing up, he stretched his arms wide in a chest-expanding motion. His back muscles, strong and flexible, moved under his skin like coiled steel cables.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and focused on the sensation of the punch he had just thrown. "It's the vibration... A very strong vibration."
He threw an imaginary punch, using a shooting form.
The punch tore through the air, emitting a slight whistling sound.
"The force creates a vibration, then induces a massive tremor in the opponent. Such an attack would be devastating to internal organs in living beings. I need to find an opportunity for a real test to understand my strength better."
He relaxed, his muscles settling down, realizing he had transformed from a skinny youth into a true muscular man in just a few months. "This change is indeed too great," he mused, trying to button his shirt to cover his chest muscles but failing due to the fit.
"I can't fully test my real strength at the martial arts academy with my fellow disciples. It seems I'll have to look elsewhere. With the situation with Jin Huan, the Silver Gossamer Castle, and my uncle all mixed up, it's a mess."
"There's no rush with my uncle's situation. Since Jin Huan discovered I killed 102, they'll surely probe soon. That will be a good test of my strength," he reasoned, flexing his fists. "Next, I just need to keep an eye on Gores."
Glancing at the downed sandbag stand, Galon shook his head and headed towards the door.
Four days later...
At home on Blue Tree Street.
"Brother, I'm going to BiBo Lake with my classmates tomorrow. Are you coming?" Eira's voice came from the next room.
"BiBo Lake again? Who's going with you?"
Galon was contemplating the progress of Tarry Mercury's case when he was interrupted by his sister's question, momentarily taken aback.
"Just some classmates and a few good friends from middle school. We're planning a barbecue there," Eira replied from the bathroom while combing her hair.
"What about mom and dad?"
"They're going to a company celebration party. Told us to sort out our own dinner."
"Again..." Galon shook his head, sitting at his desk to quickly finish his math homework, momentarily setting aside all student-unrelated matters to focus on the task at hand.
"So, are you coming or not?" Eira peeked from the door.
"Go ahead, I won't join. I've got things to do," Galon replied casually, "I'm busy."
"Suit yourself. There are almonds on the living room table for you to crack. I'm heading out now, need to prepare stuff for tomorrow," Eira huffed, retreating with deliberately loud footsteps before slamming the door shut.
Galon shook his head at his sister's childish behavior, resembling a primary school student, and continued working on his problems.
After half an hour, he finally looked up, sighing in relief.
"Math is simple, but the volume of work is quite a bit. Takes some time to finish everything in one go."
Closing his workbook, Galon stood up, stretching his back, and glanced at the clock. It was 9:43 AM.
"Time to head out."
He quickly changed into a T-shirt and jeans, pocketed some change, grabbed a handful of almonds from the table, and left, munching as he walked.
Exiting the building, he slowed down behind an elderly man descending the stairs. Recognizing the man who lived in the same building and often encountered on the stairs, Galon politely offered to let the elder pass first.
The old man, dressed neatly in a black suit and holding a walking stick, smiled appreciatively at Galon, who advised caution to avoid falling. As Galon passed, the elder's gaze followed him, admiring the young man's consistent politeness.
Feeling somewhat uneasy under the old man's gaze, Galon quickened his pace, leaving the building complex and heading towards the city center along Blue Tree Street. He noticed the usual sights: ox carts transporting bricks and wood, and the occasional pile of dung on the road.
Approaching the bustling city center, the crowd thickened. Passing by a street known for women's clothing and accessories, Galon unexpectedly encountered Caldo and Effie, a couple from his school, walking hand in hand. Caldo greeted Galon, trying to assert dominance by wrapping his arm more tightly around Effie.
Effie, comparing Galon's improved appearance to Caldo, felt a mix of regret and discomfort, especially when Caldo's bold public display of affection made her feel cheapened in front of Galon. She was embarrassed by Caldo's actions, which seemed to claim her in front of Galon and others, feeling like a prostitute exposed on the street.
The encounter left Effie feeling humiliated and degraded, a stark contrast to her previous image in front of Galon.