My Martial Arts Level Never Drops

’...What kind of monster is he?’

’Breaking through to Mingjin after only a month of training is one thing... but he’s also become this proficient with the Ox Demon Mountain-Opening Fist?’

’At this rate, it won’t be long before he reaches Minor Achievement, will it?’

Though astounded, Zhou Xing just smiled and said, ”A fine strike.”

Instead of retreating, he advanced, meeting the attack with a Wild Bull’s Horn Attack of his own.

He wanted to test the power of the other’s punch.

”BAM!”

The two fists met mid-air with an explosive crack.

It wasn’t just the dull thud of flesh on flesh, but a sound like a strike against a taut ox-hide drum.

After the exchange, Qin Fang’s expression changed. A massive force surged through his right arm like a tidal wave, forcing him to take three steps back!

Zhou Xing, however, hadn’t moved an inch, as if his feet were rooted to the ground!

But his eyes were bright. ”Good! Your Strength is indeed pure... Again!”

Qin Fang took a deep breath and charged forward again.

This time, he used the second Technique of the Ox Demon Mountain-Opening Fist: Mountain-Splitting Stone!

Qin Fang’s body tensed like a fully drawn bow. A series of CRACKLING sounds ran up his spine as he unleashed his right fist like a cannonball.

It was incredibly fast, carrying an unstoppable momentum!

But Zhou Xing didn’t dodge or evade the punch. He simply took a deep breath, his chest visibly swelling. The next moment, the fist slammed directly into his chest.

”THUD!”

It was another muffled thud of drumming skin and membranes.

Zhou Xing’s body only swayed slightly.

Qin Fang, however, felt a sharp pain in his fist, as if he’d just punched a solid iron pillar!

Qin Fang sucked in a sharp breath and instantly retreated.

His face was a mask of astonishment...

’I put my full power into that punch, yet Senior Brother took it head-on with his chest?’

’And he withstood it?’

’This...’

As he reeled in shock, Zhou Xing’s voice, tinged with admiration, broke the silence. ”You’re truly at the level of the Early Mingjin Stage.”

Zhou Xing nodded in assessment. ”But it’s not enough. Your Strength is still too rigid. Whole Force is supposed to be alive.”

With those words, he suddenly lunged. His body shot forward like a charging Wild Bull, his hand reaching out to grab Qin Fang.

As he moved, Qin Fang clearly heard a CRACKLING sound erupt from within Zhou Xing’s skeleton.

The sounds were so rapid they blurred into one.

’This is...’

’Muscle-Bone Thunder Sound!’

Zhou Xing’s speed was astounding. Qin Fang had no time to dodge and could only cross his arms in a desperate block.

”CRACK!”

This sound was much crisper.

The moment contact was made, Qin Fang tensed his entire body, but then he froze... The overwhelming force he expected never came.

But an instant after he subconsciously relaxed...

BOOM!

The hands on his arms unleashed a terrifying burst of Strength. Caught completely off guard, Qin Fang was sent flying, his feet leaving the ground.

Shocked, he managed to twist in mid-air and landed on his feet, but still stumbled back five steps before his back slammed hard against the courtyard wall, finally bringing him to a halt.

Once he was steady, his face was flushed red, and it took him a long moment to recover.

He could clearly feel the shock reverberating through his internal organs.

Qin Fang looked at Zhou Xing in disbelief.

’...He knew Zhou Xing had definitely held back. Otherwise, that single strike would have made him spit up blood!’

’Senior Brother... is he this strong?’

Fighting a Mingjin Martial Artist directly for the first time, Qin Fang was utterly shaken.

A smile played on Zhou Xing’s lips. ”Strength must be ’alive.’ Release it when you want to, and hold it back when you don’t. That’s how you create more variations in your Techniques.”

”Mingjin is indeed about cultivating a single, Whole Force, emphasizing an unstoppable advance. But ’unstoppable’ refers to the momentum when you unleash your power, not that you should become a literal bull, charging recklessly into any situation... You must make your Strength come alive. Release it when you wish, conceal it when you wish. Only then can you say you have truly mastered it.”

Zhou Xing looked at Qin Fang, his eyes shining, and sighed. ”But you’ve still far exceeded my expectations... A little over a month... Junior Brother, I think I’m starting to get jealous.”

A look of sheer wonder appeared in his eyes.