Chapter 276: Chapter 122: Gains from the Prize, Physical Enhancement
He knew Brother Jing was practicing a profound martial art. Sometimes, when he got lost in watching, he could vaguely grasp a sliver of insight into cultivation that helped his own training.
When he saw Yang Jing assume a tortoise-like stance—shoulders pulled in, back and waist sinking as if he were curling into a ball—Yang An couldn’t resist trying to copy him.
But the moment he bent over, his chest tightened, his breathing fell out of rhythm, and his shoulders ached intensely. How could he ever hope to be as steady and natural as Yang Jing?
Yang An gasped, quickly straightening up. He rubbed his aching shoulders, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Yang Jing.
The posture was next to impossible, yet Brother Jing performed it with an effortless, innate-seeming skill. No wonder he had become a Huajin Powerhouse at such a young age.
Just then, Yang Jing’s movements in the center of the courtyard suddenly accelerated!
The once rock-steady stances became swift and nimble. A bear’s crouch flowed into an eagle’s soar; a tiger’s pounce linked seamlessly with an Ape Climb. The transitions between movements were several times faster than before, yet his breathing remained perfectly rhythmic, without a hint of disorder.
Faint popping sounds seemed to echo in the air—the sound of his qi and blood circulating at high speed as his body broke through its limits.
The heat radiating from Yang Jing grew more intense, and the rising steam seemed to distort even the moonlight.
At the very peak of this roaring of qi and blood and billowing steam, Yang Jing felt his entire body relax. A tremendous power surged from the depths of his bone marrow, instantly flooding his limbs and torso.
He had reached the Mingjin Realm of the Indestructible True Skill!
The instant he broke through, he could clearly feel his body undergoing a drastic transformation.
His muscle fibers grew denser and tougher. His body seemed to be plated in a faint, jade-like luster, and even his organs felt as if they had been steeped in warm water, spreading a comfortable warmth throughout him.
More noticeably, a layer of dark brown, viscous impurities began to slowly seep from his skin, emitting a faint, foul odor. This was the accumulated filth and impurities being expelled as the Cultivation Technique tempered his physical form.
Yang Jing’s heart leaped with joy.
The physical enhancement from breaking through to the Mingjin Realm with the Indestructible True Skill was even more significant than the refinement he experienced when breaking through to the Huajin Realm with the Mountain-Shattering Fist!
It wasn’t that Mountain-Shattering Fist was weak. Rather, the Indestructible True Skill was of an exceptionally high grade and specialized in tempering the body, a stark contrast to Mountain-Shattering Fist’s focus on explosive bursts of Inner Strength and overpowering foes with ferocious attacks.
His body now was like a piece of finely forged steel, stripped of all dross, leaving only pure resilience and power.
He didn’t stop, continuing to practice the stances of the Indestructible True Skill.
After his breakthrough, his movements became even more fluid and natural. Each stance possessed a rhythm that blended hardness and softness, and the harmony between his Inner Strength and his physical body was much greater. It felt as if he could unleash terrifying power with a simple gesture!
The dark brown impurities continued to seep from his skin, making him look as if he’d been dredged from a muddy river, yet it did nothing to diminish the vibrant vitality radiating from him.
To the side, Yang An watched, dumbfounded.
His eyes widened as he stared at the greasy, blackish substance appearing on his cousin’s skin. His stomach churned, but he didn’t dare make a sound and disturb him.
Seeing Yang Jing’s focused expression and sensing that the power in his stances was several times greater than before, Yang An had a vague feeling that this was not a bad thing—it might even be a good one.
He practiced for nearly another hour. Only when the flow of his Inner Strength had stabilized and the changes to his body had fully settled did Yang Jing slowly relax his stance and open his eyes.
He didn’t immediately go to wash himself. Instead, he stood quietly in the courtyard, eyes closed, carefully sensing the changes from his breakthrough.
His entire body felt like a volcano poised to erupt. Every inch of his muscle thrummed with explosive power. His blood surged through his veins, creating a faint rushing sound like a great river, and his abundant vitality felt as if it would burst from his frame.
He slowly clenched his fist, his knuckles letting out a sharp CRACK. The sound was deeper and more powerful than ever before, as if a single punch could shatter solid bluestone.
Forcing himself to ignore the sticky, foul-smelling impurities on his skin, Yang Jing tapped his arm.
Outwardly, his skin was still its normal color—in fact, it looked even smoother now that the impurities were gone. The feel, however, was completely different. Its hardness and resilience were far greater than before his breakthrough with the Indestructible True Skill, possessing a strange quality that was both firm and supple.
’Good! This is incredible!’ Yang Jing couldn’t help but marvel.
With the foundation of a body at the Mingjin Realm of the Indestructible True Skill, combined with his Huajin-level Inner Strength, his power had just taken another huge leap forward.
Only then did he look down at the dark brown filth covering his body. He frowned slightly and strode toward the well in the corner of the courtyard.
’If I don’t wash this off soon, I might pass out from the stench.’
Seeing him move, Yang An rushed forward. "Brother Jing, I’ll go get you some hot water so you don’t catch a cold!"
Soon, the sound of SPLASHING water echoed from the well under the moonlight.
Having washed away the filth, Yang Jing stood in the courtyard, his body seemingly shrouded in a faint, lustrous glow. His eyes were bright, his aura was stable, and he now possessed an air of unfathomable depth he hadn’t had before.
He slowly closed his eyes, silently attuning himself to the power surging within him. His Inner Strength and his physical form seemed to have reached a delicate new equilibrium, lending an ineffable sense of coordination to his every movement.
He instinctively raised his hand, assuming the opening stance of the Mountain-Shattering Fist. He felt a power far more condensed than before gather at his fist. The very air seemed to compress under the force, emitting a low hum.
’If I were to face Li Mengchao now...’ The thought flashed through Yang Jing’s mind, and his gaze sharpened.
Li Mengchao’s Vajra Hand Seal was powerful, but it relied on Inner Strength to activate. It was strong on defense but lacked agility.
Now, not only was his Huajin Realm Inner Strength more refined, but his body had also been tempered by the Indestructible True Skill. His strength, speed, and defense had all taken a qualitative leap.
Yang Jing ran a simulation in his mind. ’In a direct confrontation, my first punch could shatter his Vajra Seal and disperse his protective Inner Strength. At a minimum, he would suffer minor injuries, possibly even serious ones.’
’A second punch would undoubtedly shatter all of his defenses and damage his internal organs.’
’A third punch... with just thirty percent of my strength, I could leave him critically injured and on the brink of death. If I had the intent to kill, it would be more than enough to take his life.’
’And if I launched a surprise attack with my Huajin-level speed, a single punch to a vital spot would be an easy one-hit kill. He wouldn’t even have a chance to react.’
This assessment wasn’t born of arrogance, but of an absolute, overwhelming advantage in power.
There was already a significant gap between the Half-Step Huajin realm and the true Huajin Realm. Now, with the added enhancement of a body in the Mingjin Realm of the Indestructible True Skill, the gap between him and Li Mengchao was as wide as the heavens and the earth. Even though his opponent cultivated a top-tier True Skill like the Vajra Hand Seal, in front of him, Li Mengchao was nothing but a pushover!
