Chapter Three: Yin and Yang

When he paused, Jiang Ming felt with utter clarity that his physique had strengthened and his power increased—it was no illusion.

“The tingling has spread throughout my whole body. I must be close to the resonance of muscles and bones,” he thought. “It can’t be far now!”

Jiang Ming was exhilarated.

He wiped the sweat from his brow, flicking away beads of crystal-clear perspiration, and then noticed someone else practicing in the distance. It was a girl in a white martial arts uniform, her hair tied in a ponytail, her skin fair and radiant.

He recognized her. She was Yun Xiyao from the neighboring class, a striking figure who was something of a school celebrity.

Jiang Ming paid her no heed and turned to leave.

It was time for breakfast.

Yun Xiyao paused to glance his way, murmuring, “Is he a student from Second High? His Shock Fist is at least at the Grandmaster level—why haven’t I heard of him?”

She dismissed the thought and continued her practice. Compared to Jiang Ming, her movements were more graceful, almost flamboyant.

After breakfast, Jiang Ming bought a large bottle of water and returned to the park, ready to continue his training when his phone chimed.

Fatty Wang: “Ming, class has started—where are you?”

Jiang Ming: “Training at home. Not coming! I’ll ask the teacher for leave right away. I’m making a final push before the college entrance exams. You shouldn’t waste time either—if you reach the second stage of Martial Arts, you’ll definitely have a shot at the Top Ten Academies!”

Fatty Wang: “Hey, I’m already trying my best! The teacher’s here, gotta go!”

Jiang Ming smiled to himself.

His deskmate was much more talented than he was, just a bit lazy.

He sent a message to the teacher, then silenced his phone.

Looking up, he saw Yun Xiyao had already left.

He resumed his practice and only returned home at noon.

“I still haven’t reached the resonance of muscles and bones. This progress is too slow,” Jiang Ming frowned, deep in thought.

After achieving resonance, the next step was to refine his strength, and only then could he break through to the second stage of Martial Arts. It was obvious the next breakthrough would be even harder.

He opened his phone, gritted his teeth, and ordered a medicinal meal—even after a discount, it cost ten thousand credits.

“This is such extravagance!”

Even though it wasn’t his own money, he felt a deep pang of guilt. But at such a critical moment, there was no room for thrift.

After lunch, he went once more to a secluded corner of the park.

As he trained, he discovered a surging current within him—the medicinal energy from the meal. With each practice, he absorbed it rapidly, transforming it into his own strength.

When one is absorbed in something, time flows swiftly—before he knew it, night had fallen.

The tingling sensation in his body had vanished.

A sign of further progress.

May 27, Year 9918 of the Tianwu Era, morning, in the corner of the park.

Jiang Ming was still diligently training.

An old man approached, watching him intently, his expression deeply intrigued.

“His Shock Fist is at the Perfection level, yet his muscles and bones haven’t resonated.”

“If his comprehension is extraordinary but his aptitude is poor, even so, at his age, he should have reached resonance long ago.”

“Even if his family background is lacking and his nutrition insufficient, the school would surely support anyone who displayed mastery at this level. No—given his skill in Soft Fist and Military Boxing as well, he would have received subsidies even in elementary or middle school.”

“Truly peculiar.”

The old man watched with his hands behind his back, growing more and more solemn the longer he observed. “He’s pushed the Shock Fist to its utmost limit, almost transcending it. Such understanding… remarkable!”

At last, Jiang Ming stopped and glanced to the side, exasperated. “Sir, have you seen enough?”

Being stared at while practicing made him uncomfortable.

He took the opportunity to size up the old man—he looked kind and amiable, with a jovial air, and his longevity eyebrows were especially striking.

“Not yet!” The old man chuckled. “I’m just curious—your Shock Fist is already perfected, so why haven’t you reached resonance? I’ve seen countless people in my life, but this is a first.”

“That can’t be. Achieving perfection in Shock Fist is rare in our city of Pingyang, but it’s not unheard of in the world,” Jiang Ming replied, shaking his head.

“Not arrogant, not impatient, and you think beyond the local. Good temperament,” the old man remarked. “Indeed, I’ve seen an eight-year-old perfect the Shock Fist and reach the Extreme Bone Tempering stage by nine. I’ve also seen someone master Shock Fist in seven or eight days and reach the pinnacle of Bone Tempering in just over a month. But your case is different.”

He paused, then continued, “You’re not young—you must be a senior in high school, about to face the martial arts exam. By now, you should have long since perfected Soft Fist and Military Boxing. With so many years of training, yet still not achieving resonance, it’s truly rare.”

“Couldn’t I have just recently had a sudden breakthrough?” Jiang Ming immediately realized what the old man was getting at.

Training was a process, but for an eighteen-year-old student to perfect Shock Fist was unusual.

At the same time, he was stunned.

Eight years old, Shock Fist perfected; nine years old, Extreme Bone Tempering?

Seven or eight days to master Shock Fist?

So this was the level of genius in this world.

Truly extraordinary!

“A sudden breakthrough?” The old man was momentarily taken aback, then nodded in understanding. “Ah, that must be it!” But the way he looked at Jiang Ming was even more curious. He pondered, “I have an opportunity here—should I let him try?”

“Sir,” Jiang Ming sighed, “there are only a few days left before the martial arts exam. I still haven’t reached resonance. I can’t afford to waste any time.”

“I have a Vitality Pill on me. If you pass my test, I’ll give it to you. What do you say?” The old man grinned. “It won’t take long.”

“A Vitality Pill? The one that’s gentler than gene serums, has no side effects, and is said to be the best aid for Bone Tempering stage?” Jiang Ming was astonished. “I’ve heard one pill costs two hundred thousand credits. You’d offer that just for a test?”

“Of course!” The old man nodded.

“Then tell me about it first?” Jiang Ming rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

He could never afford a two-hundred-thousand-credit Vitality Pill.

“Look at you, eyes gleaming at the sight of money! Haha, I like it!” The old man laughed heartily, then grew serious. “I have a Body-Tempering Fist technique. Watch closely—if you can reach even the basic level today, I’ll give you the Vitality Pill!”

With those words, he shifted his stance and began to demonstrate.

Jiang Ming raised an eyebrow. A two-hundred-thousand-credit pill offered so casually—this must be a master. Yet as he watched the demonstration, the old man’s manner seemed almost lackadaisical, not at all the transcendent bearing one might expect.

Still, he watched intently, not daring to miss a detail.

“This technique is called the Yin-Yang Fist. The Yang aspect is outward, fierce and domineering, yet it turns inward; the Yin is within, gentle and yielding, shaped by adversity and supporting the fierceness with softness. Hard and soft, Yin and Yang, harmonize to temper the body, strengthen the organs, improve the blood, and refine the marrow and tendons.”

“The principles contained in this technique are deeper than those of the Shock Fist.”

“Watch carefully!”

The old man moved gracefully within a confined space, each motion precise and controlled.

Within the softness, there was hardness; his short punches were overbearing. Within the hardness, there was softness; his movements flowed seamlessly. Between Yin and Yang, between hardness and softness, his entire body—inside and out—was tempered.

After one round, the old man finished, standing tall. He smiled, “Did you understand? Need to see it again?”

“I understood—no need,” Jiang Ming replied, closing his eyes.

The old man’s interest was piqued, his eyes lighting up.

At that moment, a storm of insight erupted in Jiang Ming’s mind—a torrent of comprehension. Countless figures danced in his imagination, practicing the Yin-Yang Fist, integrating his understanding of Soft Fist and Shock Fist.

After a long while, Jiang Ming opened his eyes, set his stance, and said, “Sir, please watch carefully.”

The first round was steady and proper; the old man nodded in approval.

The second round showed growing proficiency; the old man nodded again.

The third round, he had already reached the basic level; the old man drew a sharp breath.

By the sixth round, he’d reached mastery; the old man was overjoyed.

By the tenth round, he had achieved perfection—the old man's eyes went wide, and he couldn’t help but rub his hands together, like an old bachelor spotting a madam after three thousand years.