Chapter 250 - 117: Two Huajin Masters in One School, an Excited Sun Yong

Yang Jing’s current Mountain-Shattering Fist seemed just as fierce and powerful as before, yet it held a faint, indescribable mystique.

As his fists cut through the air, the resulting currents seemed guided by an unseen force. His footprints on the bluestone slabs were shallower, yet his power felt more profound and condensed. It was as if each punch contained the weight of a mountain, yet was executed with perfect control, free of any sluggishness.

"This..." Xu Hong clicked his tongue in amazement.

He had been immersed in Dark Energy for years, and his perception of the Martial Dao was far beyond that of an ordinary disciple, yet he couldn’t fathom the changes in Yang Jing’s fist technique.

It never even occurred to him that Yang Jing might have broken through to the Huajin realm.

’How could breaking through to Huajin be so easy?’

’I’ve trained bitterly for years and failed to break through three times. Yang Jing joined the hall less than two years ago; how could he possibly have taken that step?’

He figured it was likely due to Yang Jing’s extraordinary talent. ’He must have reached the Peak of Dark Energy and comprehended the Mountain-Shattering Fist to a very high degree to achieve such a state.’

Xu Hong couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration and quiet joy. After Lin Yue was crippled, it was a relief that the Martial Arts Hall still had someone as outstanding as Junior Brother Yang Jing.

He couldn’t resist whispering to Qi Yun and Zhao Wenzheng beside him, "Junior Brother Yang Jing... he’s truly gotten stronger. In terms of mastery of the Mountain-Shattering Fist, I’m afraid he’s already surpassed me."

Hearing this, Qi Yun and Zhao Wenzheng both instinctively looked toward Yang Jing.

Qi Yun gazed at Yang Jing’s focused profile. The sunlight outlined his tightly pressed lips and the straight bridge of his nose. The wind from his punches lifted the stray hairs on his forehead, revealing a pair of bright, sharp eyes.

Her eyes lit up, and she nodded lightly. "He really is different. It feels like... Junior Brother Yang Jing has become more gallant. Mmm, and handsome."

Listening from the side, Zhao Wenzheng’s expression suddenly stiffened.

He clenched his fists and his mouth twitched, wanting to say something, but in the end, he just swallowed his words.

He knew full well that whenever Qi Yun looked at Yang Jing now, her gaze held a rare softness.

This realization was like a thorn in his heart.

From the very beginning, he had looked down on Yang Jing for his inferior aptitude, believing his breakthroughs to Bright Energy and Dark Energy were nothing but dumb luck.

Later, when he saw their master showing favor to Yang Jing, and Qi Yun paying him frequent attention, the jealousy in his heart grew even stronger.

After news of Yang Jing killing Li Qianxiong and wiping out the Flying Horse Thieves spread, and especially after Lin Yue was crippled, Zhao Wenzheng had come to a realization. It was as if his muddled brain had been punched awake.

Yang Jing’s strength was undeniable. He couldn’t be provoked. The most he could do was stay far away from him in the future.

The elders in his family even advised him to befriend Yang Jing, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

He had treated Yang Jing with such contempt back then; he just couldn’t bow his head and act friendly now. At least, not yet.

After exchanging a few more words, the group dispersed, each finding a spot to practice.

The duel with the Li Family was tomorrow, and no one dared to slack off. The sounds of fists cutting through the air rose and fell, and the atmosphere in the training grounds was even more tense than usual.

Time slipped by with each move and stance, and an hour passed before they knew it.

Suddenly, the Moon Gate to the inner courtyard creaked open, and Sun Yong walked out.

He was dressed in a navy-blue martial arts uniform, his gaze sweeping across the training grounds before finally landing on Yang Jing.

Sun Yong watched him execute the Mountain-Shattering Fist, punch after punch. At first, he was merely puzzled, but the more he watched, the more shocked he became. His pupils constricted, and his expression changed abruptly.

The force carried by his fists seemed no different from Dark Energy, but as he retracted his strikes, a faint Qi Force was projected from his body, landing on a wooden stake a dozen feet away and shaking the accumulated snow off with a RUSTLE!

’That isn’t Dark Energy!’

Sun Yong stared intently at Yang Jing, his eyes filled with disbelief.

’Huajin?’

’This kid actually broke through to Huajin without a word?!’

He blinked hard and bit his tongue, the sharp pain and coppery taste spreading through his mouth confirming he wasn’t dreaming.

His heart began to pound wildly, even more excitedly than when he himself had broken through to Huajin.

He knew Yang Jing was talented, but he had never imagined the boy could force his way into the Huajin realm at such a young age, and so quickly!

Sun Yong immediately strode toward Yang Jing, moving as if the wind were at his feet, and arrived at his side in an instant.

Yang Jing was in the zone with his practice when he sensed his master’s fervent gaze. He immediately stopped, bowed, and began to salute. "Greetings, Mas—"

He was only halfway through his bow when a powerful force suddenly gripped his wrist.

Sun Yong’s grip was immense, like an iron clamp, possessing an unquestionable strength.

"Come with me!"

Sun Yong’s voice held a barely perceptible tremor. Without bothering to explain, he grabbed Yang Jing and pulled him toward the inner courtyard.

The surrounding disciples were all stunned. They stopped what they were doing and exchanged bewildered glances.

"What’s wrong with Master?"

"Senior Brother Yang doesn’t look like he did anything wrong..."

"Master’s expression was so strange just now..."

"Did something happen to our Martial Arts Hall again? It’s really been one thing after another lately!"

Amid the murmurs, Sun Yong had already pulled Yang Jing through the Moon Gate and into the inner courtyard.

At the entrance to the main house in the inner courtyard, Sun Ningxiang was sitting in a wicker chair, holding a yellowed medical book. On the small table in front of her sat a cup of warm herbal tea.

She was engrossed in her reading and only looked up when she heard footsteps. She immediately saw her father, his face grave, pulling Yang Jing in from the front courtyard. His expression was even more tense than when he had learned of Lin Yue being crippled a few days ago.

Sun Ningxiang’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly put down her book and stood up, her face a mixture of alarm and confusion. "Father? Junior Brother Yang Jing? What happened?"

She had never seen her father so flustered; something was definitely amiss.

Hearing his daughter’s question, Sun Yong didn’t even turn his head. He just waved a hand at Sun Ningxiang with such force that his sleeve billowed.

Then he dragged Yang Jing straight into the study and slammed the door with a BANG, shutting out all the confused gazes.

Inside the study, sandalwood incense curled through the air.

Sun Yong released Yang Jing’s wrist and placed both hands on his shoulders. He stared at him with a burning intensity, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "Jing’Er, you... you’ve broken through to Huajin?"

Yang Jing looked at the unconcealed nervousness and anticipation in his master’s eyes, and a warmth spread through his heart.

He could feel that since breaking through to Huajin, he still hadn’t fully mastered the circulation of his Inner Strength. When practicing his fists, he would unconsciously reveal a hint of its edge, which his master would certainly be able to detect with his level of Cultivation.

Besides, the path of cultivation after breaking through to Huajin required even more guidance. He hadn’t planned on hiding it anyway.

Yang Jing nodded solemnly and bowed. "This disciple had a fortunate breakthrough last night. As it was already late, I did not have time to report it to Master."

"Fortunate?" Sun Yong’s mouth twitched, and then he couldn’t help but laugh. He clapped Yang Jing on the arm. "You kid, you’re too modest! How can one reach Huajin by mere fortune? That’s the reward you deserve for your solid talent and hard work!"

Confirming the news, Sun Yong felt a wave of heat rush from his heart to his head, sweeping away all the gloom that had been building up for days.

He almost burst out laughing but managed to suppress it. A matter of this magnitude couldn’t be announced just yet.

He took a few deep breaths to calm his turbulent emotions, his expression suddenly turning serious. "Jing’Er, listen. For now, you must keep your breakthrough to Huajin a secret. You can’t tell anyone, not even Qi Yun or Xu Hong."

Yang Jing paused, then realization dawned. "Master, you want to..."

"Exactly!" A cunning glint flashed in Sun Yong’s eyes. "In tomorrow’s duel, we’ll give that bunch from the Li Family a big ’surprise’!"

He paced a few steps, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk, feeling more and more elated as he thought about it. "The Li Family put up such a generous stake this time. I always felt something was off, like they were hiding an ace up their sleeve. Now that I have you as my trump card, whatever ace they have, they’ll have to fold!"

The gloom from Lin Yue being crippled and the apprehension about the Li Family’s strength all vanished into thin air in the face of Yang Jing’s breakthrough to Huajin.

Sun Yong turned back to Yang Jing, his tone solemn. "Don’t go to the front courtyard today. Just practice here in the back. I’ll personally train with you to ensure that before tomorrow’s duel, you’ve familiarized yourself with using Huajin as much as possible and can truly unleash the power of a Huajin Powerhouse!"

"Yes, this disciple understands!" Yang Jing replied with a cupped-fist salute, a fire igniting in his heart as well.

With his master’s personal guidance, he was confident he could grasp the mysteries of Huajin even faster.

Sun Yong looked at the tall, straight disciple before him, then thought of himself, and couldn’t help but chuckle. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothed out.

’Two Huajin masters in one school... Tsk tsk. In all of Yuhe County, which Martial Arts Hall can possibly compare to my Sun’s Martial Arts Hall? They can all step aside!’

The suppression of the past several days was swept away. He felt completely invigorated, as if he were ten years younger.

He pulled Yang Jing out of the study. "Come on, the backyard is spacious enough. I’ll have a good session with you and show you the true power of Huajin!"

The study door opened again. Sun Yong’s face had regained its usual composure, but the smile in his eyes could not be hidden.