Chapter 4

Jiang Yi stood at the classroom door, dumbfounded, staring at Jiang Bao, who was writhing in pain on the ground. For a moment, neither of them could accept the outcome before their eyes.

On the Tianxing Continent, almost everyone practiced martial arts, and the martial arts system had a clearly defined and strict hierarchy. Arranged from low to high based on the characteristics of martial arts, the levels were: Zhi Ding Realm, Zi Fu Realm, Shen You Realm, and so on. Within each realm, there were nine levels based on the amount of yuan force, and the standards of power at different levels were vastly different.

For example, Jiang Yi was currently at the first level of the Zhi Ding Realm, roughly possessing the strength of one horse, capable of drawing a bow with a draw weight of one stone, equivalent to about 480 catties (120 kilograms). Jiang Bao, being at the second level of the Zhi Ding Realm, roughly possessed the strength of two horses, or 960 catties (240 kilograms).

There might be some variation in strength between different individuals, but in the face of the absolute advantage of yuan force, such differences were generally negligible.

However...

Jiang Yi, who originally had only 120 kilograms of strength, hastily circulated the yuan force of the River Water Decree. After integrating a strand of black yuan force cultivated from an unnamed mantra, he managed to push Jiang Bao back four to five zhang (about 13 to 16 meters) with a single move?

The martial technique Jiang Yi used reflexively was the "Tombstone Hand," a mid-grade human-level technique. Despite his astonishing insight from a young age, he had practiced this exceptionally difficult Tombstone Hand to perfection, and his skill in applying force had even made the Elder smile and stroke his beard.

However, without a substantial amount of yuan force and with his injuries not fully healed, he should have been extremely strained against an opponent with twice his strength. Moreover, how could he have dislocated Jiang Bao's elbow with such a hasty move?

Such a bizarre situation could only be explained by the perfect fusion of the black yuan force and the blue water-element yuan force of the River Water Decree, which significantly increased the power, leading to a sudden surge in strength!

However...

For yuan forces of different elements and colors to fuse, there were stringent conditions. At least at the Zhi Ding Realm, even a slight touch between yuan forces of different elements would cause serious problems. At best, it would lead to chaotic yuan force and a loss of control, and at worst, it could result in ruptured meridians, severe injuries, or even a burst dantian, rendering one a cripple. This was common knowledge on the Tianxing Continent.

"Ah, ah... Jiang Yi, you're finished! You damn bastard, you actually broke my arm! You're finished, you're dead this time!"

A voice filled with venom pulled Jiang Yi back to his senses. He glanced over and saw Jiang Bao, who was howling in pain and glaring at him with a fat, distorted face, clearly etched with hatred.

"Humph!"

Jiang Yi was instantly enraged. Among those who had beaten him yesterday, Jiang Bao had been the most vicious, leaving a large, still-swollen bump on his head. Moreover, after barely exchanging a few words today, this guy had attacked again, using the deadly Meteor Fist, clearly intending to beat him unconscious or even kill him...

With this thought, a fierce look appeared on Jiang Yi's face. Since he had already injured the other, he decided to finish the job. There was no point in holding back.

"I don't know if I'm finished, but... Jiang Bao, you're definitely finished today!"

He leaped to his feet and charged at Jiang Bao, his leg twisting like a snake whip, leaving a trail of afterimages as it swept heavily toward Jiang Bao's body.

A mid-grade human-level martial technique, the Snake Whip Leg!

Jiang Bao never expected this usually honest guy to suddenly turn aggressive and dare to attack him. Panic spread across his face. With his left hand severely injured and the excruciating pain already overwhelming him, he had no way to counter. He could only hold his left hand and wriggle on the ground, looking extremely embarrassed.

"Whoosh!"

Although Jiang Yi's yuan force was insufficient, his control over martial techniques was exceptionally proficient. Determined to finish off his opponent, he would not allow Jiang Bao to escape. He fully unleashed the Snake Whip Leg, his long legs striking Jiang Bao's back like venomous snakes.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

...

When Jiang Yi delivered his final kick, Jiang Bao rolled away a full zhang (about 3 meters) before stopping, screaming in agony. He endured the pain in his left hand and body, scrambling to his feet with a grimace, shouting, "Jiang Yi, you'll pay for this!" before fleeing down the mountain.

"Ugh..."

Jiang Yi did not chase after him. Instead, he looked at his legs in surprise. He had almost used his full strength in those kicks, yet they only sent Jiang Bao flying a zhang away? His strength was clearly much less than before, indicating that it had returned to normal...

Jiang Yi closed his eyes and carefully sensed the changes in his body.

At this moment, the yuan force in his meridians was entirely blue, formed by the River Water Decree, with no trace of black left.

Perhaps...

Jiang Yi pondered, "It seems there was too little black yuan force. After half an hour of practicing the unnamed mantra yesterday, I stopped due to poor results, so I only managed to cultivate a single strand of black yuan force, which I stored in my left arm. When I used the Tombstone Hand just now, that strand of black yuan force was probably consumed, which is why the Snake Whip Leg's power returned to normal afterward."

"Um... Regardless, I'll first count the medicinal fields and then thoroughly study this after completing the task!"

Jiang Yi's heart was racing, a sense of indescribable excitement filling his chest. He had accidentally discovered a way to enhance his strength, even though it did not change his slow cultivation of yuan force. However, it allowed him to easily defeat Jiang Bao, finally releasing the years of pent-up frustration in his heart.

He quickly and accurately counted the ginseng, finishing the fourth field in just over half an hour. Then, he rushed down the mountain, walking briskly despite his injuries, his spirit rejuvenated.

After reporting to Manager Xiang Rong, Jiang Yi hurried back to his courtyard. The courtyard was still quiet, and it seemed the young servant had not returned yet. However, Jiang Yi did not care and immediately entered his room, jumped onto the bed, and sat in meditation.

He intended to continue practicing the unnamed mantra he had learned in his dream, to refine more black yuan force for further study!

After about half an hour...

As expected, Jiang Yi successfully refined another strand of black yuan force in his dantian.

Those who had reached the Zhi Ding Realm could internally observe their bodies. Jiang Yi silently watched the mysterious yuan force, which resembled a one-inch-long hair, quietly residing in his dantian. The more he looked, the more adorable it seemed.

Jiang Yi was filled with excitement, as if this strand of yuan force, thinner than a hair, was a lifeline that could pull him out of a desperate situation!

"Next, let's try fusing it again!"

He carefully circulated the strand of black yuan force to the Heart Meridian of the left hand, then slowly circulated the blue yuan force of the River Water Decree from his dantian toward his left hand.

"Indeed... it fused perfectly again!"

Feeling the two different types of yuan force rapidly merging like twin brothers, Jiang Yi's face lit up with joy. He immediately leaped off the bed and struck the green stone slab beside it with all his might.

"Bang!"

The ground shook, and the hard green stone slab instantly split in two, with his left fist deeply embedded in the soil beneath it.

"The strength has indeed increased significantly. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to crack the stone slab. It must have added the strength of at least two horses!"

Jiang Yi pulled his arm out, ignoring the torn robe and the blood on his arm, his body trembling with excitement.

This was just a single strand of black yuan force...

If he continued to refine it, would his strength grow even more as the black yuan force accumulated?

"Practice! Experiment! Practice more, and try it several times."

Jiang Yi shook his head, forcing himself not to laugh, and sat down to meditate seriously. This time, he practiced for two hours before stopping.

"This black yuan force is really hard to cultivate. I only managed to refine six strands in two hours..."

Jiang Yi scratched his head in frustration but quickly dismissed his dissatisfaction. He stood up excitedly, sending black yuan force to his right fist and fusing it with the blue yuan force of the River Water Decree, then struck the green stone slab on the ground again.

"Bang!"

His fist once again sank into the soil beneath the stone slab.

Jiang Yi pulled his arm out and walked around the room excitedly. Suddenly, he stopped and thought of something: "If this black yuan force can increase the strength of my fist, it should work for my leg as well, right?"

"Whoosh!"

He looked at the already battered floor, chuckled, and stepped out of the room to the backyard. He sent a strand of black yuan force to the Kidney Meridian of his right foot and stepped on a green stone slab.

"Boom!"

The stone slab cracked, and half of his leg sank into the soil beneath it—this kick seemed even more powerful than his punch!

"Hmm... Let's try the knee!"

"Boom!"

"Let's try the elbow!"

"Boom!"

Jiang Yi was having a blast. As long as he fused a strand of black yuan force, the power of his techniques, when combined with the blue yuan force of the River Water Decree, increased two to three times.

"Next, where should I try? How about the head? But I haven't learned the mid-grade human-level Iron Head Technique yet. No matter, I'll just give a random headbutt..."

With two strands of black yuan force left, Jiang Yi randomly circulated one and fused it with the blue yuan force, letting it flow through his body. He felt like a nouveau riche who couldn't find enough places to spend his money.

However...

As he was about to try a new trick by sending the yuan force to his head, the fused yuan force passed through the攒竹穴 (Zan Zhu Point) near his left eye. Suddenly, his left eye flashed with a black light, and he blinked, only to find that the entire world had changed!

Jiang Yi stared at the unusually clear world, even able to see the fine hairs on the legs of a spider in the corner. Moreover, it seemed... the spider's movements were incredibly slow, like a slow-motion video.

"Damn!"

He quickly closed his eyes and opened them again, but the scene remained clear. Changing his angle, he saw a tiny insect in a dark corner, with seven black spots on its back, moving as slowly as a snail...

Jiang Yi suddenly had an idea and looked out into the distance. The scenery outside was equally clear, and he could even see the trajectory of a mosquito flying dozens of zhang away.

"Buzz—"

After about a dozen breaths, just as he was scanning the surroundings in surprise, he suddenly felt the objects in his left eye become blurry. Blinking again, his vision returned to normal. The spider in the corner was still visible, but he could no longer see the hairs on its legs...

"It must be the black yuan force again!"

Jiang Yi realized this and immediately sensed the strand of black yuan force, finding that it had indeed been consumed, leaving only blue yuan force in the meridians near his eyes.

"This black yuan force is truly amazing, even enhancing my vision!"

Jiang Yi struggled to suppress his excitement and circulated the last strand of black yuan force to the meridians near his right eye.

Sure enough...

The world became clear again, and time seemed to slow down...

"Amazing..."

Jiang Yi, like a child who had discovered a new toy, was incredibly excited. He scanned the room repeatedly, looking out the window, and felt the thrill of this new, vastly different world, finally bursting into wild laughter.

"Ha ha ha, treasure, this is truly a treasure, the heavens have eyes..."

Before Jiang Yi could fully explore and enjoy it, the black yuan force was consumed again, and the world returned to normal.

Trying again, he realized he had no more black yuan force left—after two hours of hard cultivation, the six strands he had accumulated were spent in just a few minutes.

"Practice! Practice!"

Jiang Yi rubbed his eyes, his young face filled with joy. He immediately sat down, determined to practice for longer, refine more black yuan force, and study its various functions.

After more than an hour...

This time, he was not woken by himself but by a dull thud at the door.

"Bang!"

A girl in a coarse dress stumbled into his courtyard, her face full of panic. She rushed in and shouted, "Young Master Jiang Yi, Young Master Jiang Yi! Come quickly, your servant girl has been beaten. If you don't go, she might not survive..."

"Servant girl!"

Jiang Yi's body trembled, his eyes snapping open, his face instantly turning fierce, like a lion with its mane bristling. He leaped to his feet and dashed toward the front yard, his mind racing with fury...