Chapter 247: Chapter 116: Breakthrough to Huajin, Injuring from a Distance

As they spoke, the fierce battle in the arena raged on.

Li Mengchao’s movements were like lightning as his hands shifted through various seals, the might of the Vajra Hand Seal on full display.

A faint golden glow emanated from his palms. At times, they came crashing down with immense force like great boulders; at others, they struck like vipers from cunning, indefensible angles.

Facing the combined assault of ten Dark Energy masters, he remained completely at ease. The force of his palms precisely repelled his opponents, yet he cleverly held back, for they were, after all, his own family’s Elders and Guest Ministers. It would be unseemly to injure any of them.

BANG!

He slapped his palm onto the wrist of the last Guest Minister, a master at the Peak of Dark Energy. The man felt a fierce, spinning power surge through him, numbing the entire side of his body. He staggered backward and cupped his hands. "Young Master, your skills are superior. I admit defeat."

With that, all ten Dark Energy masters were defeated. Shock was written on every face, yet not one of them was seriously injured.

Li Mengchao relaxed his stance. Though his breathing was slightly ragged, his gaze grew even sharper.

He scanned the arena, and wherever his gaze fell, no one dared to meet his eyes.

The training ground fell silent, then erupted into low murmurs of admiration.

A few personal guards, whose families had served the Li Family for generations, stared at the imposing figure in the arena, their eyes filled with adoration. ’To fight one against ten, with masters at the Peak of Dark Energy among them... Such strength is practically godlike!’

The defeated Elders and Guest Ministers were even more profoundly shaken.

They all knew Li Mengchao had been holding back. After all, though defeated, none of them were seriously injured, which proved he had been carefully controlling his strength.

’The Eldest Young Master’s current strength is far more formidable than we ever imagined!’

Feeling the reverent gazes upon him, Li Mengchao felt a surge of pride. He grew even more eager and impatient for the fist-fighting duel five days from now.

...

「Three days later.」

The night was as black as ink in Yang Jing’s small courtyard in Tongyi Square.

A bit of broth remained in the earthenware bowl on the table. Yang Jing had just finished dinner, having devoured nearly two pounds of high-grade Exotic Beast Meat.

He now felt a scorching heat coursing through him, as if a ball of fire were burning within his Dantian and meridians. His limbs felt suffused with boundless energy.

The Dark Energy surged through his meridians like a river about to burst its banks.

"Finally... I’ve reached the Peak of Dark Energy," Yang Jing murmured, a fiery glint in his eyes.

After days of arduous training, coupled with the insights gained from sparring with his master, he had finally perfected his Mountain-Shattering Fist by the time he left the Martial Arts Hall this afternoon. His Dark Energy had reached its absolute limit.

’Tonight, I will break through to the Transforming Energy realm!’ 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Yang Jing took a deep breath, pushed open his door, and walked out into the courtyard.

With a thought, a panel materialized before his eyes, clearly displaying the progress of his three martial arts—

[Great Success of Mountain Shattering Fist (999/1000)]

[Great Success of Raging Wave Kicks (415/1000)]

[Indestructible True Skill: Initiate (198/200)]

Yang Jing had been training like a madman. Not only had he brought his Mountain-Shattering Fist to the Peak of Dark Energy before the duel, but he had also practiced the Indestructible True Skill to the verge of breaking through to the Bright Energy realm—a pleasant surprise.

A breakthrough in this exceptionally high-quality True Skill would undoubtedly give his overall strength a significant boost.

Moonlight spilled onto the snow-covered ground, casting a cold, clear glow.

Yang Jing stood in the center of the courtyard, a thin layer of snow dusting the ground around his feet.

He slowly closed his eyes, his breathing gradually slowing as he sank into a state of perfect calm.

The sound of the wind, the distant barking of dogs, even the faint clatter of his cousin washing dishes in the kitchen—all faded from his senses. All that remained was the torrential Dark Energy surging within, circulating through his meridians along the pathways of the Mountain-Shattering Fist.

Yang An emerged from the kitchen carrying the last earthenware bowl. Just as he reached the door to the side room, he saw Yang Jing standing motionlessly in the courtyard.

He stopped in his tracks, not daring to make a sound.

Tonight, Yang Jing seemed to be shrouded in an invisible aura. Though he was merely standing still, he exuded an oppressive sense of coiled power, completely different from his usual self.

He leaned against the doorframe, holding his breath, his gaze locked on Yang Jing.

A moment later, Yang Jing slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were startlingly bright in the moonlight, as if two embers were burning within them.

He spread his feet slightly, sank his waist, and assumed the opening stance of the Mountain-Shattering Fist. His fists, palms facing each other, rested near his Dantian. The posture seemed unremarkable, yet it contained immense power.

"HAH!"

With a low cry erupting from his throat, Yang Jing moved.

The Punching Techniques of the Mountain-Shattering Fist flowed from him. At times, they were fierce and domineering, like a tiger descending a mountain. At others, they were heavy and steady, like a great boulder sinking into a river.

The force of his fists stirred the air in the courtyard, whipping the loose snow on the ground into small white vortexes.

Inner Strength coursed through him. With every punch, a faint resonance of bone and blood could be heard, as if an invisible mountain were slowly rising at his back.

Yang An was mesmerized. In the moonlight, his cousin’s figure seemed to flicker in and out of sight. Amid the whistling gale of his fists, he could almost hear the roar of shattering mountains.

He clenched his fists, his blood boiling with excitement. ’If I could ever be that skilled, I would die a happy man!’

Just then, the nature of Yang Jing’s fists suddenly changed.

In an instant, the smoothly surging Dark Energy within him underwent a metamorphosis. It was a completely natural change, encountering no obstacles or bottlenecks, as if it were simply the inevitable next step.

Immediately after, a brand-new form of strength was born, spreading throughout his body. The once-fierce Dark Energy felt as if it had been tempered a thousand times over, becoming more condensed, sharper. Its quality had leaped several levels, like common steel suddenly transforming into a divine, master-forged weapon that could cleave through iron as if it were mud.

’Transforming Energy!’

Realization dawned in Yang Jing’s mind, and a flash of ecstasy lit his eyes. He didn’t stop, but instead integrated this newborn Transforming Energy into the Mountain-Shattering Fist.

He could feel it clearly: his Inner Strength was no longer confined to his body and fists but could now be projected completely outside himself at will.

With a mere thought, Yang Jing made a motion with his right fist. A condensed burst of Transforming Energy erupted, sweeping toward the stone table ten feet away like an invisible sledgehammer.

CRACK!

With a muffled thud, the waist-high stone table was struck by the invisible force, sent tumbling through the air before it crashed to the ground, splitting in two as stone shards flew everywhere.

Yang An stood at the door, so shocked his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. His mouth hung open, but he couldn’t utter a single word.

’Without even touching it? No, from ten feet away, he shattered the stone table with just a flick of his fist?’

’What... what kind of divine power is this?’

He stared blankly at Yang Jing, who now stood still in the courtyard. The moonlight suddenly seemed dazzlingly bright. His cousin, it seemed, had truly become a legendary master of the Martial Dao.

Yang Jing had always been strong, but that was nothing compared to the shock of this moment!

Feeling the Transforming Energy surging within him, Yang Jing couldn’t help but smile.

’Transforming Energy!’

’This is Transforming Energy!’

’The wonders of Transforming Energy are far more incredible, far more powerful than I ever imagined!’

When projected, the Inner Strength seemed to draw in the surrounding airflow, amplifying the power of his Punching Techniques at no extra cost. When circulating through his limbs, it felt as if it were tempering his very flesh, and the might of each punch was now far beyond what it had been before his breakthrough.

’Projecting Inner Strength, harming foes from a distance... This is what it means to be a true master of the Martial Dao!’

...