Physical enlightenment begins with Xingyi Quan

The autumn colors in Yilin County are growing stronger day by day.

Chen Jianghe had been practicing standing meditation in the courtyard for nearly four hours.

In the four months since returning from the escort agency, he has completely immersed himself in ascetic training.

During the day, he would go to the martial arts school to practice boxing; at night, he would go home, prepare a medicinal bath, and then practice standing meditation, repeating this cycle day after day.

Two of the three portions of herbs for the bone-strengthening soup have already been used.

After using the first set, his stance training reached its peak.

After using the second set, the five forms of the Five Elements Fist could be rotated at will, and when the Ming Jin (vital energy) was unleashed, the sound of the muscles and bones resonating together became increasingly deep and resonant.

But the final push is still needed to break through that layer of hidden strength.

[Destiny: Diligence is rewarded by Heaven; success is inevitable]

[Current Skill: Three-Body Stance (Mastery)]

Progress: 23%

Current skill: Five Elements Fist (Minor Mastery)

Progress: 97%

[Effect: None]

Chen Jianghe slowly opened his eyes and looked out at the gray sky.

For the past four days, he has felt that there are eyes watching him in the alley.

Every time I walk home from the martial arts school, passing through those familiar alleys, I always feel like I'm being watched from the shadows.

His gaze was very discreet; if he hadn't mastered the stance training and possessed senses far exceeding those of ordinary people, he probably wouldn't have been able to detect it at all.

At first, I thought it was just the neighbors being curious, but after a while, the taste started to change.

Chen Jianghe thought of Zhang Mingyuan, who had died at his hands.

The Sun Moon Cult member, on his deathbed, roared, "The Deacon is nearby! The Cult will fight you to the death!"

It's been four months.

If the Sun Moon Sect really wanted to investigate, they might find some clues.

"The tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease..."

A cold glint flashed in Chen Jianghe's eyes.

He originally intended to steadily complete his training before breaking through to the Dark Force realm.

But it seems that some people don't want him to have a peaceful life.

There's only one serving of bone-strengthening soup left.

Chen Jianghe took the oil paper package out of a hidden compartment under the bed.

"We can't wait any longer."

If the hidden strength is not broken, it will eventually become the visible strength.

If the Sun Moon Sect were to send a true master of internal strength, or if they were to use their numbers to overwhelm the weak like in Black Wind Ridge, he might not be able to protect his mother and himself.

Only by making breakthroughs can we gain more confidence.

The medicinal soup was boiled, the dregs were filtered out, and it was poured into a large wooden barrel that had been prepared beforehand.

Chen Jianghe took off his clothes and stepped into the tub. The scalding medicinal liquid enveloped his body, causing a sharp, throbbing pain.

He took a deep breath and assumed the Tri-Body Pose in the bucket.

As breathing slowed, blood and qi circulated with each breath, and the medicinal properties seeped into the skin through the pores, causing a burning sensation.

Then it transforms into hundreds of warm, gentle streams, flowing through the meridians and washing away those delicate tendons that are usually difficult to connect.

After an unknown period of time, the effects of the medicine gradually weakened, and the water temperature dropped.

Chen Jianghe felt the heat within his body surging even more intensely—his qi and blood had accumulated to their peak!

He suddenly opened his eyes, leaped out of the bucket, and in the chilly autumn night courtyard, began to practice the Three-Body Stance!

The Five Elements Fist consists of five consecutive moves, each faster than the last.

The medicinal power surged wildly within the body for about half an hour before finally subsiding, transforming into a powerful, warm torrent of qi and blood that flowed back into the dantian and circulated along the Ren and Du meridians.

When the body's energy channels are open, qi and blood will naturally be generated.

Chen Jianghe slowly exhaled, raised his right hand, and lightly pressed it against the trunk of the old locust tree three zhang away.

There was no wind or sound.

A shallow fist print quietly appeared on the tree trunk, with smooth edges and half an inch embedded in the wood, as if it had been slowly "pressed" in by something invisible.

The hidden strength has been achieved.

[Destiny: Diligence is rewarded by Heaven; success is inevitable]

[Current Skill: Three-Body Stance (Mastery)]

Progress: 23%

Current skill: Five Elements Fist (Mastery)

Progress: 1%

[Effect: Contains internal strength, penetrating the body and disrupting meridians]

Chen Jianghe slowly withdrew his stance, feeling the completely different power within his body.

......

The next day, Chen Jianghe pushed open the door of the martial arts school and walked home as usual.

His steps were steady, his breathing normal. Only out of the corner of his eye had he locked onto two faint gazes in the shadows at the end of the alley.

They've arrived, just as expected. They've been following us for four days, and now they're finally about to make their move.

Twenty steps, thirty steps... After turning the first alleyway, he glanced at the pile of abandoned wooden crates on his left.

Someone was there. Their breathing was shallow and their heartbeat was suppressed; they were clearly a trained fighter.

Chen Jianghe remained expressionless and continued forward.

Fifty steps.

The second alleyway came into view. This one was narrower than the previous one, with mottled earthen walls on both sides. At the base of the walls were piles of broken pottery jars and rotten bamboo baskets discarded by who knows who. The moonlight couldn't shine in, and it was so dark that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

It's a great place to get hands-on.

Chen Jianghe paused slightly, as if he had tripped over something, and staggered half a step.

In that instant—from the shadows on both sides of the wall, two dark figures swooped down like owls!

A flash of light appeared in the darkness, aimed straight for Chen Jianghe's back and neck!

Fast, ruthless, and accurate – these are all deadly moves.

Chen Jianghe seemed to have anticipated this. His staggering figure suddenly twisted, and he slid through the gap between the two flashes of light like a fish. At the same time, he took out a bag of lime powder from his pocket with his right hand, and without even looking at it, he threw it behind him fiercely!

"What is that—ah!"

The screams rang out almost simultaneously.

The lime powder hit them head-on, catching the two men in black off guard. Their eyes were instantly blinded, and in their agony, their knife-wielding became chaotic.

Chen Jianghe had already turned around, and his fists, clad in brass knuckles, suddenly lashed out like a viper's tongue!

Five Elements Fist - Crushing Fist!

His left fist slammed into the chest of the man in black on his left.

The man in black shuddered, his eyes bulged, and he opened his mouth to scream, but only spat out a mouthful of foul blood mixed with pieces of internal organs.

The hidden force penetrated the body, shattering both the heart and lungs.

Although the man in black on the right was blind, he could pinpoint his location by sound and swung his single sword wildly, trying to force Chen Jianghe back.

Chen Jianghe neither dodged nor yielded. His right fist transformed from a collapsing strike into a drilling motion, rising from below. The drilling fist, like a cone, spun and pierced through!

The fist pierced through the gap in the blade's light, striking the opponent's ribs with pinpoint accuracy.

"Snap!"

The crisp sound of ribs breaking was clearly audible.

The hidden force seeped in through the gaps in the broken ribs, directly attacking the liver and spleen.

The man in black groaned and collapsed to his knees, the single-edged sword in his hand clattering to the ground.

Chen Jianghe stepped forward, grabbed his chin with his left hand, and with his right hand, his fingers like a knife, made a precise cut along the vein on the side of his throat.

Blood gushed out like a spring.

The man in black convulsed, his throat gurgling and his eyes filled with terror and resentment.

He stared intently at Chen Jianghe, and with his last ounce of strength, he hissed out a few words: "You...you've already reached the Dark Force stage...yet you still resort to such despicable methods...to deal with us, the Open Force stage...how are you any different from those evil demons and heretics!"

"Survival is the only way forward."

He crouched down and quickly searched the two men.

Each of them had five taels of silver in their pockets, and a wooden plaque of the Sun Moon Sect. The front was engraved with sun and moon patterns, and the back had the words "follower" written on it. Below that were smaller characters: one was called Zhao Si, and the other was called Qian Qi.

It really was the Sun Moon Cult. He put away the silver coins and casually tossed the wooden plaque into the nearby stinking ditch.

The injuries caused by hidden force are different from those caused by visible force. On the surface, there may only be bruises and marks, but the internal organs may be shattered.

He then took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket, which he had prepared specially.

He poured kerosene on the two corpses and the surrounding debris, lit a tinderbox, and tossed it gently.

"boom!"

Flames rose and spread rapidly.

Chen Jianghe retreated to the alley entrance, watching as the firelight engulfed the two corpses, completely covering up the bloodstains and signs of the struggle.

Thick smoke rose and spread across the night sky.

Faint voices could be heard in the distance—"Fire!" "Quick, put out the fire!"