Chapter 249: Chapter 117: Two Hua Jin Masters in One School, an Excited Sun Yong

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The next morning, Yang Jing woke just as the sky began to lighten.

After breaking through to the Huajin Realm, his spirit had improved significantly. Even though he had gone to bed late, he felt no fatigue upon waking, only a body brimming with energy.

He pushed open the door and was greeted by the aroma of cooking meat.

Yang An was already up and busy in the kitchen. Seeing him, he smiled and said, "Brother Jing, you’re awake? Go wash up. Breakfast will be ready in a moment."

Breakfast was simple: a large basin of superior-grade Exotic Beast Meat stewed until tender and black, a bowl of horse meat, a dish of pickled vegetables, and a few white flour steamed buns.

Yang Jing didn’t stand on ceremony, sitting down and tucking in with gusto.

His appetite was excellent. In one go, he devoured the nearly two pounds of Exotic Beast Meat in the basin, leaving it clean.

It was only when he put down his bowl and chopsticks that he noticed something was off.

In the past, eating this much would have left him feeling stuffed. Last night, to break through to the Huajin Realm, he had eaten two pounds of superior-grade Exotic Beast Meat in one sitting and had felt bloated. But today, after finishing his meal, while he felt full, he was nowhere near uncomfortably stuffed. It was as if his digestive system had become much more powerful.

’It seems breaking through to the Huajin Realm didn’t just enhance my Inner Strength and physical fortitude, but also greatly improved my body’s efficiency at absorbing energy,’ Yang Jing realized.

Huajin Martial Artists required far more energy than those at the Dark Energy stage to begin with, so it made sense that his body would self-regulate and enhance its absorption capabilities.

"Your appetite is really good today, Brother Jing," Yang An said with a smile as he cleared the dishes.

Yang Jing smiled. "I guess so. Brother An, I’m heading to the Martial Arts Hall."

"Alright, be careful on your way!"

Yang Jing acknowledged him and pushed the door open to leave.

The sun was pleasant, casting a gentle warmth on his body. He took a deep breath, feeling the Huajin energy circulating slowly within him, and walked with a light step toward Sun’s Martial Arts Hall.

As he walked, he counted the days. It had been three or four days since he’d last visited Liu Maolin.

His fourth senior brother could now speak normally, but his injuries were ultimately too severe for any obvious recovery in the short term.

But then another thought occurred to him. Tomorrow was the day of the duel with the Li Family. The match was critically important, and he couldn’t afford any distractions.

’It wouldn’t be too late to visit him after the duel is over.’

Having made his decision, he refocused his gaze and continued on his way.

Most of the snow on the roadside had melted, revealing the dark brown earth beneath. It mixed with the slush, forming filthy rivulets that flowed slowly along the cracks in the stone-paved road.

Occasionally, a few flatbed carts passed by. They were covered with worn-out straw mats, and one could vaguely make out curled-up figures underneath.

It was the Officials, clearing away the refugees who had frozen or starved to death the previous night. The wheels crushed through the muddy water with a CREAK, sending a chill to the heart that weighed one down.

Yang Jing watched the carts recede into the distance, his brow slightly furrowed.

This was the way of the world—the strong preyed on the weak, and human life was as cheap as grass.

Although he had achieved some success on the Martial Dao, he could only protect himself and a few people around him. The notion of saving the world was far beyond his reach.

He took another deep breath, temporarily suppressing these chaotic thoughts, and focused his mind on the changes within his body.

The Huajin energy coursed slowly through his meridians like a gentle stream. With each circulation, it carried a soothing power that nourished his entire body.

Unlike the ferocious power of Dark Energy, this force was more harmonious, as if it were one with his body. With every move, he could faintly feel it tugging at the air around him.

Lost in this sensation, he arrived at Sun’s Martial Arts Hall before he knew it.

The servant disciples at the entrance were cleaning. When they saw Yang Jing approach, they all stopped what they were doing and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Senior Brother Yang!"

"Mm," Yang Jing nodded in acknowledgment and walked into the front courtyard.

Few disciples had arrived at the training ground yet.

Yang Jing walked to the center of the grounds, found a flat, empty space, sank into his stance, and began practicing the Mountain-Shattering Fist.

As his fists flew, his movements initially seemed no different than before—fierce, heavy, and powerful enough to make the air whistle.

But only he knew that every punch contained the profound mysteries of Huajin.

His Inner Strength projected from his body, creating subtle ripples as it scraped against the air, invisibly amplifying the power of his Punching Techniques.

In its circulation, it could also skillfully smooth over the stiffness of his own power exertion, making his techniques increasingly fluid and seamless.

The disciples who arrived one after another at the Martial Arts Hall watched with rapt attention, marveling to themselves, "Senior Brother Yang’s Mountain-Shattering Fist is getting more and more incredible!"

"Look at the force of his punches! He’s not even touching that wooden stake, but he can shake the snow off of it. Imagine how heavy that blow must be. If it hit someone, it’d probably pulp them with a single strike!"

They only felt that Yang Jing’s fist techniques were becoming more refined, but no one could see that he had already stepped into the Huajin Realm.

The gap between their realms was such that ordinary disciples could no longer perceive it.

As the sun climbed higher, the disciples gradually filled the training grounds.

Jiang Haoyang, a small bundle on his back, jogged into the front courtyard’s training ground. When he saw Yang Jing practicing, he immediately stopped, his eyes sparkling as he watched, his young face filled with adoration.

He clenched his fists, silently vowing to himself, ’I have to train hard, so I can be as amazing as Senior Brother Yang one day!’

Before long, Qi Yun, Zhao Wenzheng, and the others arrived.

Xu Hong was among them. He wore a thick cotton robe, his face still a bit pale. It was clear he hadn’t fully recovered from the toll of his failed breakthrough attempt, but his spirits were much better. As he warmed up, he watched Yang Jing practice, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

As the only disciple at the Peak of Dark Energy in Sun’s Martial Arts Hall, Xu Hong naturally had a more discerning eye.

At this moment, he stared at the focused Yang Jing, a slight arch in his brow.