Chapter 51

Yang Ji squatted beside the meteorite crater, puzzled and frustrated, and decided to stop thinking about it. He stood up and started practicing boxing to relieve his mood.

*Pang! Pang! Pang!*

Yang Ji didn't practice any specific routine; he was simply venting his frustration. He threw straight punches, hook punches, horizontal punches, and drilling punches. His strength was immense, causing the surrounding air to burst with each strike.

"This time, I'll head to Pingchuan City after I return!"

Yang Ji thought to himself.

"I'll participate in the literary examination first, then the martial examination. There's a month between the two, which is enough time for me to prepare."

Yang Ji calculated in his mind.

The literary examination was highly competitive, and most students were likely preparing intensely. However, Yang Ji wasn't particularly anxious. The literary examination tested one's long-term efforts, not last-minute cramming.

Over the past eight years, Yang Ji had studied diligently, without a break, and had already done all the necessary preparations and homework. He didn't need to cram like others.

Yang Ji had made up his mind and was about to end his journey and leave when suddenly—

"Hmm?"

Yang Ji's eyes opened wide as he sensed something unusual. "This feeling is... essence energy!"

As he said the last word, Yang Ji's eyes widened even more.

Yang Ji had started practicing boxing on a whim, but at this moment, he clearly felt a burning force flowing into his body. This force was different from the forest essence energy he had absorbed before, emitting a fiery and intense aura.

Although the nature was somewhat different, Yang Ji was certain that this energy, which flowed into his body through his feet from underground, was indeed essence energy.

There were many types of essence energy in the world, such as tree essence energy, ocean essence energy, thunder essence energy, and earth fire essence energy. However, all these energies that could be absorbed by martial artists and enhance their strength were collectively referred to as "essence energy" in martial arts.

The energy Yang Ji felt at this moment was undoubtedly essence energy!

"This energy... Could it be residual stellar essence energy!"

Yang Ji thought in disbelief.

Everything in the universe had spiritual energy, and the stars in the vast sky were no exception. This was the place where a star had fallen, so if there was any essence energy, it would naturally be stellar essence energy.

To verify his thoughts, Yang Ji increased the speed of his boxing practice. Sure enough, the burning energy that had been flowing into his body in thin threads suddenly accelerated.

"Could the essence energy of the star that Second Ox discovered not have completely dissipated?"

This thought flashed through Yang Ji's mind, surprising even himself.

Second Ox had discovered the fallen star a long time ago, and any essence energy should have dissipated by now. However, this wasn't absolute.

Yang Ji's heart raced, and he stepped from the edge of the crater toward its center. As expected, not only did the flow of the burning stellar essence energy accelerate, but the energy entering his body also became more concentrated, changing from thin threads to the thickness of chopsticks.

"It's really like this!"

This discovery filled Yang Ji with joy.

Although he had achieved "Fist Intent Unity," he lacked sufficient energy to advance to the "Martial Path Realm"!

Typically, experts who had achieved "Fist Intent Unity" needed half a year, or even a year, to fully enter the "Martial Path Realm."

Yang Ji didn't have much capital. His original plan was to participate in the literary examination and use the pill awarded from the exam to enhance his strength.

This was one of the essential reasons for Yang Ji's plan to participate in the literary examination. But with this discovery, he no longer needed to go through such trouble.

"Great! Stellar essence energy is far more powerful than forest essence energy. If I can absorb even a little bit, it will be equivalent to several days of my usual practice."

Yang Ji moved his limbs, clearly feeling that his strength had increased significantly in just a short time, which both surprised and delighted him.

Yang Ji didn't expect much residual energy to remain in the meteorite crater, but the essence energy of the stars was astonishing. Even a small amount was enough to propel him forward significantly.

*Pang! Pang!*

Yang Ji acted on his thoughts and immediately began practicing boxing at the bottom of the crater. At first, he had no specific routine, but then he took out the *Taihe Demon Tiger Fist* he had obtained from the Green Forest bandits and started practicing according to its records.

The *Taihe Demon Tiger Fist* was given to Zhao Wu by the Sixth Chief of the Red Eyebrow bandits. It not only recorded the techniques of the *Taihe Demon Tiger Fist* but also included a section written by the Sixth Chief about the Martial Path Realm:

"The first level of martial arts is practicing boxing. When your blood and qi are abundant, a slight movement can cause your blood and qi to rise, even drying the sweat on your clothes. This is considered the peak of the first level."

"Reaching this level, you can tear tigers and leopards, shatter gold and jade, and break stones. However, be cautious and avoid rushing. Ensure your blood and qi are stable before advancing to the next level to prevent heart fire and demonic possession. Strive for it!"

...

This passage was clearly not written for Yang Ji but for the deceased bandit "Zhao Wu" by the Sixth Chief, who cared for his subordinates.

"The peak of the first level of martial arts can dry the sweat on your clothes with blood and qi. I didn't know this. Being able to tear tigers and leopards and break stones... I still have a significant gap."

Yang Ji thought to himself.

Although his fist strength could break small trees, the hardness of trees and stone monuments was entirely different. With Yang Ji's strength, he could barely shatter a stone monument, but his fists would be severely injured. This was the difference in martial arts.

"I still know too little about the Martial Path Realm. In the future, I must find more books on martial arts to understand it better."

Yang Ji thought.

The text in the *Taihe Demon Tiger Fist* was clearly prepared by the "Sixth Chief" for "Zhao Wu." Zhao Wu was only at the first level of martial arts, and the *Taihe Demon Tiger Fist* only contained training methods for the first level, so there wasn't much other information.

Yang Ji recalled that although Zhao Wu had reached the first level, he clearly hadn't reached the peak where his blood and qi were abundant, drying his sweat and breaking stones. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to resist at the time.

Calming down, Yang Ji quickly flipped through the other contents of the book.

The concept of the *Taihe Demon Tiger Fist* was simple: through the "intent and spirit unity" of the boxing techniques, it promoted the circulation of blood and qi within the body, allowing for the rapid absorption of external essence energy and the strengthening of blood and qi.

Yang Ji had studied the "White Snake Martial Technique," "Bear Form Martial Technique," "Cloud Hands," and the "Fist Intent Unity Diagram." With the *Taihe Demon Tiger Fist* in hand, he could easily start practicing, following the instructions without much difficulty.

*Boom! Boom!*

Yang Ji clenched his fingers, unified his fist intent, and practiced the *Taihe Demon Tiger Fist*. Each move was powerful, fierce, and deadly, with a lethal and brutal flavor.

The Green Forest style emphasized bravery and ferocity. Yang Ji grasped this essence and quickly mastered the spirit of the fist intent.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Within a five-step radius, the air currents swirled, emitting fierce whistles. Yang Ji was like a human tyrannosaurus, creating a storm in a small area.

Yang Ji had always practiced the "Divine Dragon Bone Strengthening Pile Method" taught by Lu Ling. Now, switching to the renowned *Taihe Demon Tiger Fist* of the Green Forest, the effects were immediately noticeable.

*Hiss!*

Strands of burning stellar essence energy flowed into his body from all directions. At first, there were only seven or eight strands, but they quickly increased to over a dozen, then to thirty or forty, and finally, seventy or eighty strands of stellar essence energy flowed into Yang Ji's body from various points on the smooth surface of the crater.

Yang Ji again felt the burning sensation, but this time it wasn't just heat. As the fist intent circulated, he could feel his blood flowing faster in the direction of the intent.

"So hot!"

Yang Ji felt as if a flame was burning inside him, and the accelerated blood flow brought a boiling sensation. This was no longer just blood; the external essence energy continuously flowed into his blood, nourishing the millions of cells and filling them with powerful energy.

"Is this blood and qi?"

Yang Ji thought, frowning.

This was his first time experiencing the circulation of blood and qi. The friction and burning sensation of the blood and blood vessels brought a slight pain, which was extremely uncomfortable for someone trying it for the first time.

Yang Ji endured the slight pain and increased the speed of his boxing practice.

*Boom! Boom!*

The surrounding wind and air currents grew stronger, eventually producing a roaring sound. The blood in Yang Ji's body flowed faster, and with the circulation, a weak suction force was generated from within Yang Ji, doubling his absorption speed.

Half an hour passed...

An hour passed...

A fierce, cold, and bloodthirsty tiger roar could be faintly heard in the howling wind, growing louder and louder until it echoed through the mountains and forests.

After several hours, Yang Ji's boxing gradually reached the essence of the *Taihe Demon Tiger Fist*, forming a hazy, menacing tiger shadow around him. The absorption speed of essence energy also reached its peak.

The residual essence energy from the fallen star continuously merged with his blood and was then transported throughout his body, nourishing and strengthening his bones, organs, cells, and flesh.

Yang Ji's strength increased at an astonishing rate, steadily advancing from the tenth stage of breathing to the first level of the Martial Path Realm.

Time slowly passed, and Yang Ji could feel his bones and muscles becoming denser and stronger. He was completely immersed in the pleasure of his strength increasing.

"As long as this rate of growth can last for a day, plus the two months before the martial examination, I will definitely reach the Martial Path Realm before the exam!"

Yang Ji clenched his fists tightly.

This was the first time he had absorbed essence energy so smoothly and significantly increased his strength, making him both excited and nervous.

Yang Ji didn't expect much residual essence energy to remain in the crater, but if he could endure for a day, it would be an incredible gain, surpassing several months of normal practice.

Unconsciously, night fell, and the mountains and forests became quiet.

Yang Ji had completely forgotten about time, immersed in this precious opportunity to enhance his strength.