Chapter Three: Breaking Through to Bright Force!

“If I swallow it, I might break through to the Bright Strength level!”

“Once I reach Bright Strength, the body’s toughness will increase and the pain from the sudden surge of power will surely lessen!”

Qin Feng wasted no time; he swallowed the century-old snow ginseng in one gulp. Instantly, he felt a warm current rise within his abdomen.

“Hah!” Qin Feng sprang to his feet, gritting his teeth against the pain surging through his body, and swiftly began to practice the basic Arhat Fist.

With a punch, the air exploded with a thunderous sound, the force astonishing. For a martial artist, to unleash a punch that causes three cracks in the bones and an explosive sound in the air marks the entry into Bright Strength.

Qin Feng’s own strength had already reached this level, exceeding three hundred pounds—perhaps far beyond. Thus, with a single punch, the air detonated, the momentum impressive.

Now, all he lacked was the toughness of his body. As soon as his bones sounded three cracks, it would signify he had reached the Bright Strength realm.

Bright Strength is the foundational realm for martial artists. Through breathing techniques, training in fist forms, absorbing energy, and tempering the body, one’s strength can reach three hundred pounds.

A Dark Strength martial artist can mobilize all the energy and blood in the body, digest and absorb energy consumed, further enhancing themselves, reaching six hundred pounds of force.

A Transforming Strength martial artist can produce internal energy, tempering muscles, bones, and skin, causing the bones and muscles to sound together and producing the thunderous roar of tigers and leopards.

“Hah!” Qin Feng practiced the Arhat Fist, breathing deeply, rapidly absorbing the warm current generated by the snow ginseng.

As he moved, his muscles and skin tore, sending waves of agony through him, yet he pressed on, the pain battering his willpower.

“Hold on!”

“Hold on!”

“Strengthen myself, seize my own destiny—isn’t this the world I’ve always yearned for?”

...

The intense pain did not make Qin Feng retreat; instead, it exhilarated him and he slipped into a state of utter self-forgetfulness.

“Bang!”

“Bang!”

“Bang!”

Suddenly, Qin Feng’s body shuddered. He unleashed a punch—three cracks echoed from his bones, the force staggering.

“Phew!” Hearing the triple crack, Qin Feng drew back, exhaling the stale air he’d accumulated.

“At last, I’ve reached the Bright Strength level!”

“The pain in my body has indeed lessened, and my control over my strength has improved!”

He moved his limbs; though his flesh still tingled sharply, it was much better now.

After breaking through to Bright Strength, the next step is to keep tempering the body. When he achieves nine cracks in his bones and his strength reaches six hundred pounds, he will have reached Dark Strength.

“I am but a beginner now,” Qin Feng murmured, striding toward Xuanzhou City.

Three miles from Xuanzhou, five disciples from the Xuanhai Martial Hall were scanning their surroundings, searching for Qin Feng.

Qin Feng had been missing for two days. Chen Xuanhao, furious, had mobilized the entire hall to search the city for him.

“Senior Brother, look! Isn’t that Qin Feng?” Chen Hou, spotting a familiar figure, quickly addressed Senior Brother Xuan Youming.

“It seems so…” Xuan Youming scrutinized Qin Feng, finding him familiar yet unsure, so he hurried closer.

At this moment, Qin Feng was in utter disarray, his clothes tattered, stained with blood and mud.

“Brother Xuan!” Qin Feng greeted Xuan Youming with a smile.

Xuan Youming was Chen Xuanhao’s first disciple, honest and good-natured, and had always treated him kindly.

“How did you end up like this? Who hurt you? Tell me, and I’ll make sure they regret it!” Xuan Youming glared at Qin Feng, his rage plain.

“It’s nothing, Brother Xuan. Let’s hurry back to Xuanzhou, lest Uncle Chen worries!” Qin Feng said nothing of what had truly happened. Shen Huadong was the third young master of the Shen family, and with their backing, Xuan Youming could never hope to confront him.

Even Chen Xuanhao could do nothing against Shen Huadong.

The Shen family, with a Transforming Strength martial artist presiding, was formidable beyond comparison.

“But…” Xuan Youming wanted to say more, but Qin Feng patted his shoulder and strode ahead.

“Nephew, are you all right? Who did this to you?” Upon Qin Feng’s return to the Xuanhai Martial Hall, Chen Xuanhao rushed in, and when he saw Qin Feng’s battered state—clothes soaked in blood—his eyes contracted in anguish and fury.

“I don’t know. When I was out, I felt a sharp pain at the back of my head, blacked out, and remembered nothing else. When I woke again, I was on a deserted mountain,” Qin Feng replied, withholding the truth. He could see that Chen Xuanhao genuinely cared for him.

If Chen Xuanhao learned that Shen Huadong had tried to kill his former self, he would surely challenge the Shen family in desperation.

This was something Qin Feng did not wish to see.

Chen Xuanhao was only a Dark Strength martial artist, no match for the Shen family.

As for Qin Feng himself, he did not know the extent of his own power, but he was certain he had not reached the Transforming Strength realm.

A Transforming Strength martial artist can generate internal energy, tempering muscles, bones, and skin until the bones and muscles sound together, producing the thunderous roar of tigers and leopards—an immense force.

“Damn it! Damn it!” Chen Xuanhao roared in fury.

“Husband, now is not the time for this. We must summon Doctor Liu at once!” Wang Xiaohua, dressed in finery, saw Qin Feng’s wounds and spoke gravely, worried for him.

She did not dislike Qin Feng; in fact, she cared for him. But for him to marry her daughter was out of the question. Qin Feng’s status and strength were not worthy.

Chen Yunyun stood behind Wang Xiaohua, gazing at Qin Feng’s wounds, her beautiful eyes filled with concern.

She felt no affection for Qin Feng. Her concern was the sort one might show for a dying stranger encountered by the roadside.

“Yes, yes, summon Doctor Liu at once!” Chen Xuanhao snapped back to attention.

Doctor Liu was the hall physician at Xuanhai Martial Hall, renowned for his medical skills and mastery of body-tempering medicines. His status was so high that even Chen Xuanhao respected him greatly.

“Master, Senior Brother has already gone to fetch Doctor Liu,” Chen Hou said quietly.

“Young Master!”

“Young Master, are you all right?”

Wang Fu, Wang Bao, and Liu Hu hurried in, searching for Qin Feng’s figure. When they found him—especially seeing him covered in blood—they nearly collapsed in shock.

“Young Master, who did this? I’ll inform the Master and make sure those responsible pay!” Wang Fu quickly went over to help Qin Feng. His usually cheerful eyes now glinted with cold fury.

Wang Bao and Liu Hu, both burly and imposing, stood beside Wang Fu like two iron towers, their tiger-like eyes burning with anger.

Their fists clenched tight, veins bulging on their arms.