The corner gives the wooden martial arts master, whose martial arts are equivalent to a harem.

The two martial artists, one tall and one short, resembled backpackers, their backpacks and luggage jingling steadily as they ran.

As you traverse the dense primeval forest, all the signs of modern society seem to be swallowed up by this green hell.

As Ling Feixing moved steadily along, he would occasionally turn back to observe Gu Chuanhen's footsteps.

Even the long hours of training for athletes cannot compare to the benefits of internalizing martial arts skills. Even after nearly two hours of non-stop, Gu Chuanhen was not as exhausted as a dead dog.

Then, Fei Xing slowed his pace slightly, and Gu Chuanhen also slowed his pace, calming the turmoil in his body with steady and subtle humming and hawing sounds.

Sweat soaked his clothes. Just as Gu Chuanhen was about to take a sip of water, Ling Feixing swiftly picked a few wild fruits and tossed them to him.

The wild fruit is oblong in shape and appears grayish-white with a slight purplish tinge.

"Bringing you to Shennongjia also means teaching you wilderness survival skills. Although some techniques are not as good as your fists for martial artists, whether you are a stranded hiker or a martial artist, you must know what you can and cannot eat, and most importantly, 'fresh water is a precious resource,' so it is best not to use fresh water reserves if possible."

This fruit is called "August Explosion," scientifically known as *Akebia trifoliata*, and tastes better than Schisandra chinensis.

Another important point is that in the wild, where temperatures can change rapidly, staying dry is crucial to prevent hypothermia.

"But I can't control whether I sweat or not, Teacher." Gu Chuan opened his mouth wide and ate the fruit. The delicate sweetness filled his mouth, and he couldn't help but praise, "Delicious."

Ling Feixing watched Gu Chuanhen eat the wild fruit, smiled slightly, and approached. Then, he channeled his inner strength into his palm and touched Gu Chuanhen's clothes.

With a soft "snap," the moisture on the clothes was squeezed out by a force as strong as hitting a cow across a mountain, and with a few splashes, the sweat fell into the soil to nourish the wood seeds.

Gu Chuanhen thought this idea could be used to open a laundry shop, using manpower instead of machines to "dry" clothes.

"This is the hidden strength that is different from the visible strength. Although you have mastered the Bajiquan small frame to the bone, it still belongs to the category of visible strength. I have not yet taught you the cultivation method of hidden strength. You cannot achieve the initial state of no leakage by closing the pores through internal cultivation. But don't worry, you can start this path when I teach you Xingyi kung fu."

"Ming Jin An Jin? Wu Lou? Teacher, this seems to be the first time you've told me these things." Gu Chuanhen didn't know these specialized terms in martial arts, but he could understand the meaning of "Wu Lou" from the literal meaning.

This term often appears in novels with themes like fantasy or cultivation.

Ling Feixing began to explain the meaning of martial arts terms to Gu Chuanhen as they moved forward.

"Simply put, Ming Jin is external force. This external force is manifested in every aspect of life, from picking up a cup and unscrewing a bottle cap to grabbing and holding. These are all forms of force. People who have not systematically studied can only use inconvenient and inflexible 'force' by practicing. The source of force is muscles, but not all of them."

Ming Jin, however, is different. It is the integration of the body's power. The so-called power originating from the ground is the beginning of a "power chain". It starts from the feet, passes through the legs to the waist, is transmitted to the back and shoulders, then to the upper arms and forearms, and finally is released into the fists and palms. When Ming Jin is mastered, every movement can generate the full force.

In other words, even without relying on the power chain of transmission, even if one jumps into the air, the force of the whole body can still be successfully exerted, because at this time, the martial artist's initial "strength" is born. This is what martial artists refer to as "power". When strength and energy combine, it means that the generated force becomes the bridge structure for the transmission of the power of the whole body's muscles.

And the force can also be hidden within the power exerted, becoming additional strength.

The story of Shakyamuni throwing an elephant with one hand, which was mistakenly attributed to Bodhidharma, is a manifestation of Ming Jin (a type of internal strength). Modern martial artists have also attempted to throw elephants with one hand, but apart from those with sufficient physical strength, most of them need to use internal strength as an aid.

Therefore, Ming Jin (manifested strength) is the starting point of martial arts, because this introductory stage cultivates internal strength, from which one can then practice secret techniques. Every style of martial arts has its own internal strength, such as the pulling cross-shaped strength in Bajiquan and the short, sudden inch strength in Wing Chun. Martial artists who haven't yet developed internal strength can only imitate and learn these internal strengths in order to execute them in their fists.

Once one enters the realm of Ming Jin, the martial artist's own strength will thoroughly understand the strength within these martial arts techniques, transforming this strength into resources for "growth." When sufficient resources are available, the martial artist will begin to refine these resources, discarding the unnecessary impurities and retaining the essence suitable for themselves. Then, they can create their own unique strength. Of course, this unique strength can also be taught to disciples for them to learn.

Many people in modern times have also created their own unique styles of strength. For example, Master Li Zhenfan's "Gangrou Liushui Jin" (meaning "flowing water strength of hardness and softness") can be used to practice his secret boxing style, "Gangti Roushen" (meaning "hard body and soft body"), and can also be used in the fighting style of Xingyi Zuanquan (meaning "drilling fist"). Or Master Zhang Baojun's unique strength, "Taiji Jin" (meaning "Tai Chi strength"), is a kind of ever-changing strength that can be transformed into any kind of strength in the world. Then, by combining different strengths and simulating natural changes, one can create the most difficult secret boxing style in history, "Yin Yang Shen Xiu" (meaning "Yin Yang Divine Beauty").

If we focus on martial arts, the cross-shaped force can be seen as a unique force of Bajiquan, and the inch force can be seen as a unique force of Wing Chun. In short, unique force is an important aid used to strengthen moves and practice exclusive secret techniques.

As for hidden strength, as the name suggests, it is not obvious because it is hidden. In short, it is the strength generated by the muscles, bones, skin, blood, and internal organs.

The beating of the heart, the peristalsis of the stomach and intestines, the flow of blood, the expansion and contraction of the lungs with breathing... the slight movements of the internal organs due to muscle contraction, ligament stretching, changes in abdominal pressure or body position, and the heat generated during human activity... and so on and so forth.

These are all the "power" that needs to be integrated when forming hidden strength, and this "power" within the body is what Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to as "original qi". Internal power and original qi together constitute the combination of strength and qi, but this is a strength hidden in the body.

Children from martial arts families, or those who become disciples of renowned masters at a young age, cultivate their inner strength during childhood. This allows them to develop internal strength (暗劲) earlier than they develop external strength (明劲).

But for someone like you who started learning martial arts relatively late, cultivating Ming Jin (a type of internal strength) first is the best approach.

There is no inherent order between the two; the order depends on the circumstances. Therefore, both the obvious and the hidden strengths can be considered the first stage of entry into the field, and subsequently, each can be considered the second stage.

At this point, Ling Feixing gazed into the distance, seemingly recalling the route, confirming it before slowly moving forward, and then continued speaking.

"The two forces, Ming and An, are the integration of the body's internal and external aspects, the training and strengthening of the body's internal and external aspects, and the foundation for controlling the body. Through the practice of the secret fist, it becomes a deeper transformation of the body."

"No leakage" refers to achieving more efficient internal circulation through the use of internal force. The initial stage of no leakage relies on internal force (yin jin), while subsequent stages require the cultivation of internal force and the application of secret techniques.

Ling Feixing's words were simple and plain, which Gu Chuanhen could naturally understand. However, he couldn't imagine it.

He couldn't imagine what he would look like when he was in the state of Ming Jin and An Jin, and he couldn't imagine whether he would be able to throw an elephant with one hand when that time came.

However, he could understand some of the inner workings of martial arts.

Practicing martial arts is like a proactive form of "evolution," but it doesn't originate from the genetic level. This is because martial artists cannot pass on the physique modified by secret techniques to the next generation. Therefore, it is merely an evolution that an individual acquires through "training"—far exceeding that of ordinary people.

The thought of "evolution" immediately brought to mind Xiang Bofu, whom Ling Feixing had introduced on the train. This guy definitely evolved all by himself, without taking any humans with him. His muscles were a hundred times stronger than an average person's, which could be described as superhuman strength, but what's with his muscles generating electricity? Are you going to become a magnetic field madman too?

Shaking his head to clear his mind of this extraordinary talent, Xiao Gu steadily followed Ling Feixing.

"So what happens after the light and darkness?" he asked curiously, following behind Ling Feixing.

"When Ming Jin (manifest strength) is perfected, the body has the foundation to cultivate An Jin (hidden strength). Only when both Ming and An Jin are perfected can one begin to cultivate Hua Jin (transformation strength). At this time, the strength within a martial artist's body will merge with the two strengths, evenly covering the entire body inside and out. You can imagine it as a fruit powder dissolving in water. In Taoist terms, Hua Jin is the ability to return from the acquired to the innate Qi through cultivation."

Only those who reach the level of "Transformation of Internal Energy" can be considered true martial artists.

As for what happens after you reach the Transformation Realm, I'll tell you once you've perfected the Hidden Realm.

This made Fei Xing very happy, and even the last syllable of his voice had a slightly upturned tone.

But Gu Chuanhen was clearly not that happy. His face was filled with doubt and confusion, and his confusion was also filled with incomprehension. These could be described as question marks, but they were all shrouded in unease.

He looked around and felt that it was roughly the same.

Because the green hell on both sides of the body was like a boundless desert, but the branches and leaves, so dense that they could be described as "blocking out the sky," painted the sky with color. Although sunlight did fall, it was instantly torn apart by the rising thick fog.

Deep mountains and old forests have always been the dwelling place of mountain spirits and monsters, and the birthplace of strange tales; mist can also give rise to a fear of the unknown in people's hearts.

So, when fog rolls up in the deep mountains and forests, does it make one think of the demons and monsters that lurk in the fog, eating people for pleasure?

However, if riddle tellers are added at the right time, the fear of the unknown can be doubled.

"Hmm? This feeling? Yes, this place is not so simple. I can sense the gathering of difficult-to-kill creatures."

The Bajiquan practitioner seemed lost in thought, ceasing his use of powerful language, remaining silent, and then focusing all his strength on using his domineering intent to touch that object of feeling.

"Hmm? What is this feeling? Why does this feeling become stronger the closer we get to Shennongjia? Although it rises and falls like the tide, which limits many things, the upper limit is large enough to accommodate me and Bajiquan to fight with all our might."

This tide is something else.

The Great Sage, seemingly detached from the situation, began to mutter to himself about what he had perceived. Suddenly, his expression changed slightly, and a playful smile crept onto his face.

"I thought it was some kind of heinous demon or evil monster? Turns out it's just a fledgling demon who's just gained sentience. Heh, how does it feel to be bound by this 'tide'?"

"Great Sage Splitting Palm, what exactly did you and Bajiquan sense? How come there are still demons and monsters? Isn't this Shennongjia instead of some kind of demon mountain and monster cave?" Gu Chuanhen thought to himself, unconsciously swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

The figure of Ling Feixing standing in front of him was as solid as a mountain, giving people an absolute sense of security.

But at this moment, she deliberately spoke in a sinister tone.

Ling Feixing deliberately used a question that Gu Chuanhen had once asked her as her opening remark.

"Xiao Gu, do you remember when you first asked me if ghosts and gods existed in this world?" "Yes... there is such a thing."

"There are no ghosts or gods, because seeing is believing and hearing is deceiving. I have never seen any so-called ghosts or gods, so I do not acknowledge their existence. However, I do acknowledge the existence of 'spirit mediums' in shamanistic culture."

I also acknowledge that "Taoist arts" are real. The Li Lingdang I mentioned is the martial artist who practices Taoist arts. She once showed me her progress in combining Taoism and martial arts.

Using the Taoist classic "Huangting Jing" to visualize the inner landscape and then taking the state of seeing the divine as a foundation, she used her martial arts skills to create an external manifestation of the divine court within her body. She used this method to drive away the so-called immortals from a little girl in front of me who wanted to go to school rather than become a shaman.

I also saw that immortal being—a large, gray rat, bigger than a cat. It was quickly routed by Li Lingdang's Martial Arts Divine Court.

At that time, the two of us were chasing it when we saw it use a bewitching technique to regain its strength. It lured a night cat and then devoured it. It used its rat teeth to bite open the neck, then held the cat's head with its forelimbs and bit open the skull and bones while biting. It sucked out the cat's eyes, fur and flesh, and then swallowed the brain with its tongue.

They then disemboweled the animal, removed its heart and liver, and ate it all up, leaving only scraps of flesh and bones after they had eaten raw meat and drunk blood.

You know the cat-eating rat from "Black Cat Detective," right? It's something like that.

"Nonsense! The childhood nightmare in 'Black Cat Detective' was clearly the praying mantis bride! I don't remember the cat-eating rat at all!" Gu Chuanhen thought to himself.

He frowned, realizing that things were not so simple.

Then, Ling Feixing recounted another bizarre old story, the veracity of which is unknown.

"You know the legend of the Wild Man of Shennongjia, right?"

"I know," Gu Chuanhen said, observing his surroundings even more carefully.

He hadn't realized it before, but now he was aware that he and Ling Feixing had ventured deep into the heart of Shennongjia.

This is a restricted area, distinct from scenic spots, where hikers are prohibited from entering.

"On the cliffs of Banbiyan in Shennongjia, dark red patches are still clearly visible, which locals call the 'Blood-Soaked Cliff.' In 1947, herb collector Li Changming claimed to have witnessed a giant ape tearing apart a black bear with its bare hands. The bear blood splattered on the rock face seemed to have frozen time, remaining unchanged for years. After testing, geological experts discovered that these red spots were actually iron-containing metabolites from some unknown organism, and their composition was significantly different from that of existing primate blood, which is chilling."

She quoted the contents of the article without embellishment as an introduction, then glanced back at Gu Chuanhen, her smile becoming increasingly wicked.

"If the sorcerers are a group of small animals whose intelligence is no less than that of humans and who have cultivated special abilities, then could some of these animals transform into beings far surpassing their own kind, just like us martial artists? Could these 'small animals' that have transcended the limitations of their own species be described as 'monsters'?"

Immediately after the word "monster" was uttered, the rising mountain mist suddenly churned.

A humanoid silhouette is charging towards us with tremendous speed.

Gu Chuanhen was initially somewhat afraid, but upon seeing the newcomer, his fear of the unknown transformed into awe of the giant beast.

The humanoid silhouette was pale with blood-stained hair, its body was strong and imposing, its muscles bulging as if cast in bronze and iron, as wide and powerful as a double-door refrigerator, and its taut blue veins resembled earthworms wriggling under the skin.

Its arms are longer than its knees, and its legs—or rather, its hind limbs—are slightly shorter than its body. Yet, even with its hands supporting it on the ground, it is already nearly 2.3 meters tall. One wonders how tall it would be if it stood upright.

Its face is covered with hair, but it does not obscure its features. Its lips protrude more than its eyes and nose, but it still has three or four parts human-like features. However, the remaining six or seven parts are monkey-like, like a primitive ape-man in the process of evolution.

"What?! King of the Apes?!" Gu Chuanhen subconsciously thought of some movies and TV series he had watched before.

For example, there's the gorilla that escaped from the cave where Master Ren was hiding in "Mr. Vampire"; the "strange beast" gorilla that carried a cauldron around in "The Eagle Shooting Heroes"; the white ape that hid scriptures in the 2001 TVB series "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber"; and the six-eared macaque that transformed into a giant gorilla in "The Monkey King: The Legend of the Condor Heroes"...

Seeing Gu Chuanhen's astonished expression, the white-haired ape-man forced a friendly smile, gently patted Gu Chuanhen's head with his huge hand, which was as big as a washbasin, and then handed Gu Chuanhen a piece of bear paw. After Gu Chuanhen took it without daring to breathe, he caught the large bunch of bananas that Ling Feixing threw to him.

It didn't even peel it, just threw it into its mouth and chewed it vigorously, making "miamiamia" sounds as it gestured to Ling Feixing that it was delicious.

"This highly skilled senior in boxing is the Tongbei Quan master I told you about, who lives in seclusion in Shennongjia. He is also the giant ape who tore a black bear apart in 1947." Ling Feixing grinned at Gu Chuanhen with a wicked smile. "You will be sparring with him for the next month."

Gu Chuanhen looked at the "master senior's" height of about three meters, and then thought about his own height of 1.6 meters, which was not yet fully developed.

He pointed at his own nose as if facing a nine-headed worm.

"Sparring with this senior? Really? His arms are almost longer than my whole body! I could only manage to hit his knees if I jumped up, okay? Am I really worthy of sparring with this senior? Teacher, are you mistaken about something?"

He no longer cared about what had happened to his senior; all he cared about now was whether he could leave Shennongjia alive.

Ling Feixing smiled confidently.

"We will win."