Physical enlightenment begins with Xingyi Quan

Chapter 61 Reaction (Please subscribe! 10,000 words per day!)

It was as if the sky over Yilin County had been pierced overnight.

The news of Chen Jianghe's transformation into a martial arts master spread like a cold wind in December, howling through the dilapidated streets and alleys of the outer city and sweeping over the towering walls of the inner city.

"An eighteen-year-old—at the Transformation Realm?"

"Is this for real? Didn't Chen Jianghe only reach the Dark Force realm a few months ago?"

"It's absolutely true! The Chen family sent men to capture him, and two skilled internal energy practitioners borrowed from the Zhao family were crippled and disabled by him in just three breaths! The steward, Chen Fu, was so frightened that he knelt down and kowtowed. When he was carried back, his crotch was soaked with sweat!"

"Master Li is at the half-step Gang Jin level, and his disciple is already at the Hua Jin level at eighteen—this Xingyi martial arts school is going to turn the world upside down!"

The main hall of the Chen family residence.

After listening to Chen Fu's tearful and incoherent report, Chen Qingyi was deeply moved.

The teacup slipped from my fingertips.

"Snap—!"

"Transform—energy?" His lips trembled as he uttered those two words.

Chen Fu lay prostrate on the ground, his forehead pressed against the floor tiles: "Master, Master—it's absolutely true—Ding Er's ribs are all broken, his internal organs are displaced, and he's barely hanging on—Ding Qi's right arm is completely useless, his shoulder blade is shattered, and his tendons are severed—"

Chen Jianghe—he just raised his hand and took a step—this old servant, this old servant felt as if the sky had fallen, and couldn't breathe—”

"Eighteen years old — Transformation of Internal Energy —" Chen Qingyi repeated, his eyes unfocused, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

He slowly leaned back, as if his spine had been removed, and slumped into the large armchair, no longer able to maintain the airs of the head of the family.

"I—I, Chen Qingyi—was blind—" he murmured, his voice hoarse, filled with endless regret and self-mockery, "Mudfish Bay—that wrecked boat in Mudfish Bay—actually hid a true dragon—and I—and I personally pinned the title of a unicorn on a piece of rotten wood—hahahahahahaha—"

The laughter was shrill and echoed in the empty main hall, sending chills down one's spine.

"Grandpa! Grandpa, what are you doing!"

Wang, who was sitting to the side, suddenly stood up, her tone both urgent and angry, "Please don't say that! Wanglong is the darling of our Chen family's direct line, the grandson you personally nurtured and on whom you placed your high hopes! He was only temporarily harmed by that illegitimate son and lost an arm, but his foundation is intact and his talent remains!"

She paused, lowering her voice, which carried its usual sharpness and calculation: "What is Chen Jianghe? A bastard son who crawled out of a stinking ditch in Mudfish Bay! His mother is a lowly fisherwoman, and his father is a good-for-nothing man, probably a short-lived ghost who's already lost his life!"

"If he can be so ruthless to his own clansmen today because of personal grudges, who knows what he might do when he gains power and turns against the family, trampling all of us into the mud?"

Wang's words were like a bucket of ice water, splashed into Chen Qingyi's muddled mind.

He shuddered, and his unfocused gaze gradually sharpened.

Chen Qingyi's voice returned to its steady tone, even colder than before: "You're right."

He paused, then continued, "Wanglong is a direct descendant of the Chen family and the future head of the family. He's only experiencing a temporary setback. The Zhao family has already agreed to help Wanglong reconnect his tendons and bones and rebuild his foundation in internal energy! It will only take some time."

He straightened his back, sat back down in the grand chair, and swept his gaze over the silent crowd below. He sneered, "Chen Jianghe? A rebellious son who knows no respect for his elders and disowns his clan! Even if he's managed to reach the Transformation Realm by sheer luck, it's nothing but the bravery of a brute, a rootless duckweed! The future of my Chen family still rests on Wang Long! Once Wang Long recovers and returns to his peak, my Chen family will still be a prominent family in Yilin County, still able to associate with the five great families!"

The inner city, the residences of the five great families.

When the news arrived, the reactions varied, but all were equally solemn.

The Qian family's study.

After hearing the steward's report, Qian Shouyi's hand, holding the teacup, paused in mid-air for a long time.

He slowly put down the teacup, his always squinting eyes flashing with a sharp light, which finally turned into a complex sigh.

"An eighteen-year-old at the peak of internal energy cultivation—Li Chengyue has truly trained a fine disciple." He muttered to himself, "Luckily, my judgment was still good, and I acted quickly. A hundred taels of gold and two Bone Tempering Pills—this deal was worthwhile!"

"Ancestor, Chen Jianghe accepted the gift, but we haven't seen him make any further moves. Should we—" the steward asked cautiously.

"A gesture? What gesture do you need?" Qian Shouyi waved his hand, interrupting him, his tone more solemn than ever before: "Providing timely assistance has established a bond. This young man is resolute and clear about right and wrong. Since we showed goodwill first, he won't become an enemy of the Qian family without reason. As for controlling or recruiting him—"

He shook his head, a businessman's shrewdness and pragmatism on his face. "Such people are like dragons hidden in the abyss, their will as firm as iron. They are not meant to be confined to a pond, nor can they be bound by money or power. Forcing them to join will only create discord. Maintaining goodwill and friendship may open up more avenues and foster closer ties in the future. This is the way to ensure long-term success."

He looked at the steward and instructed, "Pass on my message: the entire Qian family must not antagonize the Xingyi Martial Arts School or Chen Jianghe. If you encounter them on the street, give them a wide berth. Also—our young members of the Qian family will still participate in the martial arts tournament as usual, but if they face Chen Jianghe—it's not shameful to admit defeat."

The steward bowed and replied, "Yes, Ancestor."

The Sun residence, the martial arts training ground.

"Good lad! That's fucking awesome!" Sun Hanshan pounded on the stone lock made of refined iron beside him. "That old bastard Zhao Wuji's face is probably green by now, hahaha!"

A member of the Sun family below chimed in with a smile, "Our ancestor was wise to send out the house deeds so early. I admire your foresight."

Sun Hanshan's laughter stopped abruptly, his tiger-like eyes glaring: "Admire my ass! I just think he's a decent guy! What does that have to do with my judgment?"

.

He paused for a moment, then said, "But this kid is really to my liking. He's decisive and ruthless, clear about his debts and grudges, and he accepted the land deed but made it clear that he wouldn't move. He'll take advantage of any opportunity, but he'll never get on board easily—slippery yet principled."

He looked at the disciple and said, "Tell your underlings that the Sun family has no grudge against the Xingyi Martial Arts School. If you meet them in the future, just behave yourselves. But if anyone is blind enough to provoke them—I'll break their legs first! As for the martial arts competition—we'll just watch the show."

Li House.

Li Changfeng sat upright in the quiet room, listening to the report, and remained silent for a long time.

A calligraphy scroll lay open in front of him, its ink still wet, bearing the four characters he had just written: "Hidden Dragon in the Abyss".

"At eighteen, he has reached the Transformation Realm—a hidden dragon has emerged from the abyss." Li Changfeng spoke slowly, his voice steady. "This boy possesses a temperament that is both resolute and decisive, ruthless yet composed. He is no ordinary person and cannot be controlled."

Shen Heng, standing below, said in a deep voice, "Patriarch, that guest elder's token—"

"His acceptance of this gesture signifies his tacit agreement to a future relationship," Li Changfeng said. "That's enough. Issue the order that the Li family and the Xingyi Martial Arts School have no past grudges or present animosity. No member of the Li family is permitted to initiate hostility towards them. However, if they clash with the Zhao family, the Li family—will remain neutral."

"Yes," Shen Heng replied, then hesitated for a moment, "What about the martial arts competition?"

Li Changfeng's gaze fell on the sharp hook at the last stroke of the character "渊" (Yuan), "Let's see how this dragon emerging from the abyss stirs up the winds and clouds."

The Zhao residence, a secret room.

Zhao Wuji's face was ashen, his chest rising and falling slightly beneath his purple-gold python robe, and his usually dignified eyes were now bloodshot, suppressing a terrifying storm.

"Transformation into a high-level expert—eighteen years old—transformation into a high-level expert—" he repeated in a low voice, carrying a chilling aura.

Below, Zhao Wushi and several core elders held their breath, sweat beading on their foreheads.

"What a fine Li Chengyue! What a fine Chen Jianghe!" Zhao Wuji slammed his palm on the wooden table beside him!

"Snap!"

"First, my master, at the half-step Gang Jin level, fought against five families and severely injured Zhou Kun! Then, my disciple, at the age of eighteen, at the Hua Jin level, brazenly crippled a member of my Zhao family and slapped the Chen family in the face!"

Zhao Wuji's beard and hair stood on end, and he laughed in fury, "Do you really think my Zhao family is made of clay? Do you really think I, Zhao Wuji, can't lift a sword?!"

Zhao Wushi hurriedly said, "Brother, please calm down! Although this boy has advanced to the Transformation Realm, he is still a newcomer to this realm, and his foundation is not yet stable. My nephew, Li Tian, ​​has been at the Transformation Realm for more than three years. His foundation is solid, his martial arts skills are proficient, and he has also mastered the secret techniques of our Zhao family. He is rarely matched among his peers! He will definitely be able to suppress this boy at the martial arts competition!"

"Indeed!" an elder with a sinister face interjected. "That Chen Jianghe only broke through by chance; how can he compare to Young Master Li Tian's years of arduous cultivation? On the martial arts arena, fists and feet have no eyes; Young Master Li Tian accidentally injured him severely, even crippling his cultivation. No one can find fault with that! No matter how domineering Li Chengyue is, would he openly interfere in the competition of juniors?"

Zhao Wuji's chest heaved as he slowly suppressed his raging fury.

"Send the order to Li Tian: at the martial arts competition, I want Chen Jianghe... dead! I want the entire Yilin County to see that offending the Zhao family, no matter how talented, is futile!"

"Yes!" Zhao Wushi replied.

"Also," Zhao Wuji's gaze swept over everyone, "send another generous gift to the Zhou family. Zhou Kun is seriously injured, and the Zhou family harbors considerable resentment; we must keep them firmly under our control. Tell the Zhou family head that as long as the Zhou family stands with the Zhao family, they will undoubtedly receive a share of the benefits in the future!"

"clear!"

"Go and prepare." Zhao Wuji waved his hand, and after everyone left, he stood alone by the window, looking towards the outer city, his eyes blazing with killing intent.

Outer city, Xingyi Martial Arts School.

Under the old locust tree in the backyard, Li Chengyue was still slumped in the bamboo recliner. His complexion was better than a few days ago, but he was still pale.

He squinted, half-asleep, listening to Su Derong's animated account of how the news of Chen Jianghe's mastery of internal energy was spreading like wildfire, how it had shaken the entire city, and how the various families were reacting.

Behind Su Derong, Zhou Yong, Wang Gui, Zhao Tieshan, and He Shouzhuo worked together to carry two large food boxes containing steaming roast chicken, braised meat, and a whole jar of wine, filling the air with their aroma.

"Master, haven't you noticed? Now, when people talk about our Xingyi Martial Arts School and Jiang He, their eyes are completely different!"

Su Derong's face beamed with undisguised joy and pride. "It used to be that dilapidated martial arts school," he exclaimed, "but now it's a Xingyi martial arts school that harbors a true dragon! As a result, our escort agency has been getting more jobs these past few days. Some of our old clients who used to avoid us are now actively seeking us out!"

Li Chengyue lifted his eyelids, glanced at him, and smirked, "Look at you, so smug. This is nothing."

Chen Jianghe came from his home and was taken aback by the scene.

Su Derong stepped forward and patted him heavily on the shoulder, everything was understood without words.

Zhou Yong, Wang Gui, and others clasped their hands in a salute, their eyes filled with admiration and excitement.

He Shouzhou stood a little behind, looking at Chen Jianghe who was surrounded by the crowd, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

There was admiration, envy, and a touch of sadness.

He had toiled for three years to reach the level of Dark Force, while his junior brother had already achieved Transformation Force in one step.

But he quickly adjusted his mood and felt more happy for the martial arts school and his fellow students.

In chaotic times, the more powerful individuals a martial arts school has, the safer everyone will be.

Li Chengyue suddenly looked at Chen Jianghe, a playful smile playing on his lips: "Kid, you've now reached the Transformation Realm. Although you're young, you're quite a figure in Yilin County. How about it? Should I go to the trouble of putting on a grand Transformation Realm ceremony for you, sending out invitations far and wide to invite all the important people from both the inner and outer cities, to really make a name for you, and also—to intimidate some of the petty scoundrels?"

Chen Jianghe shook his head. "Master, there's no need. Empty fame and fortune are of no benefit to cultivation. The stability of the martial arts school and the escort agency is the most important thing right now."

Li Chengyue's eyes showed even greater approval. He nodded and slowly said, "It's good that you think this way. Remember what I said: they fear me because they fear my half-step Gangjin cultivation and my ruthless fighting spirit. Today they respect you because they respect your eighteen-year-old Transformation Realm cultivation, your future potential, and even more so your decisive and clear-cut methods of killing and distinguishing between gratitude and resentment."

He paused, his voice low: "In this world, there are many who add flowers to brocade, but few who offer charcoal in the snow. But ultimately, what makes others dare not easily trample on you, what makes others feel awe and want to befriend you, is only one thing—"

He swept his gaze across the crowd: "Strength."

"In chaotic times, money, power, relationships, and promises can all vanish in an instant. Only these fists and this skill are what you can truly rely on. Jianghe's breakthrough today is a joyous occasion, but even more so, it is a responsibility."

Su Derong and the others straightened up and replied in unison, "Disciples will remember Master's teachings!"

Li Chengyue smiled with relief, though he looked somewhat tired.

He slowly reached into his pocket, fumbled for a moment, and pulled out the dark, heavy iron plaque of the Xingyi School, handing it to Chen Jianghe.

"I gave you this token once before. Now that you've reached the Transformation Realm, you're even more qualified to hold it." Li Chengyue looked at him, his eyes filled with complex emotions—pride, expectation, and a hint of barely perceptible melancholy. "The Xingyi School offers a wider world and a more complete lineage. The techniques for refining skills after reaching the Transformation Realm, the methods of internal cultivation, and even the key to breaking through to higher realms are all within the school."

Chen Jianghe accepted the iron plaque with both hands; the two characters "形意" on it were ancient and vigorous.

"Disciple understands." Chen Jianghe said in a deep voice, carefully putting away the iron plate. "Once this matter is resolved and the martial arts school and the escort agency have overcome the current crisis, disciple will set off for the sect."

Li Chengyue nodded, his gaze deep, as if piercing through the night to see far beyond. "The road ahead is still long!"

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