Chapter 39 - 39 39 s on Boxing Progress

Chapter 39: 39 Chapters on Boxing Progress Chapter 39: 39 Chapters on Boxing Progress Chen Jie never thought he would be lucky enough to score a bowl of soup; after all, that Golden Chicken was bought with real silver.

The money hadn’t shortchanged him in any way, but being given an extra bowl of soup made him feel a bit uneasy.

“Master, maybe I shouldn’t drink it...”

Chen Jie said hesitantly. Doctor Bai replied, “Drink it. The Phoenix Soup I concocted is a supreme tonic for Martial Artists. You’ve been training martial arts recently, right? This bowl of soup will save you at least half a year’s hard work in cultivation.”

“But Master, I accepted money...”

“Haha, that money was what your Uncle Zhong paid you; this soup is a gift from me to my apprentice. It doesn’t conflict, so drink it.”

At this moment, Wu Zhong, munching on a chicken wing, chimed in, “Jiu Si, drink up! We’re family—don’t be so formal.”

Wu Hong added, “Brother, martial arts thrive on wealth. Without the help of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, it’s hard to achieve greatness.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie fell silent. Doctor Bai interjected, “Jiu Si has thin skin; you all stop persuading him. He’ll think it through on his own. We’re all family, no need to overly distance ourselves.”

After everyone’s persuasion, Chen Jie couldn’t keep refusing, so he gulped down the soup in one go.

The soup didn’t have any salt, yet its flavor was extraordinarily delicious with a distinct herbal aroma—a truly unique taste.

Once the soup entered his stomach, Chen Jie felt his abdomen grow warm, radiating heat from the inside out.

Looking around, everyone else had beads of sweat running down their faces, as if they’d just taken a sauna.

Wu Hong then said to Chen Jie, “Jiu Si, don’t just stand there—come run some boxing drills with me. Don’t waste the medicinal power.”

Chen Jie heard him and immediately started practicing the Grand Ancestor Long Fist with Wu Hong. Punch by punch, move by move, with each precise stance, Chen Jie felt the strange warmth within his body flow into his limbs and bones, giving him a palpable increase in strength.

*Is this the absorption of medicinal power?*

Thinking this, Chen Jie began adjusting his breathing while practicing the Grand Ancestor Long Fist. By coordinating the Breathing Method from the Yang Chun Skill with the punches, Chen Jie found the medicinal absorption faster, and his execution of the Grand Ancestor Long Fist grew remarkably proficient.

Wu Hong had absorbed the medicinal power after two rounds of boxing and then stopped. His strength was considerable, so this level of medicinal absorption only required one round. The second was for the purpose of guiding Chen Jie.

He corrected Chen Jie’s movements, much like leading exercises in a gym.

Standing still afterward, he noticed that his grandfather and mother looked noticeably flushed, their complexion rejuvenated, with wrinkles on their faces greatly diminished.

Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures—nourishing substances that Martial Artists could use to strengthen their bodies and increase power. Ordinary people drinking it could replenish their essence, remove ailments, and extend longevity too!

However, ordinary people, without cultivation methods, could only absorb about ten to twenty percent of the medicinal power by relying on the natural mechanics of their bodies. Still, this was sufficient to fortify their health.

Doctor Bai looked at Wu Hong and said, “You’ve finished. How about Jiu Si?”

Wu Hong replied, “Jiu Si hasn’t crossed the threshold yet. His body is frail; to fully absorb this medicinal power, he would need to run at least twenty rounds of boxing. But with that amount of time, he likely won’t be able to absorb it all—maybe about eighty percent at best.”

Upon hearing this, Doctor Bai nodded.

Chen Jie continued practicing the Grand Ancestor Long Fist diligently.

Once, twice, three times...

Watching him, Wu Hong suddenly let out a noise of surprise. Doctor Bai asked, “What happened?”

“Jiu Si’s comprehension is astonishing! His boxing technique—he’s already reached entry-level skill, and he’s incredibly close to mastering it.”

Upon hearing this, Doctor Bai remarked, “Mastery of the Grand Ancestor Long Fist—that would mean he’s nearing the Skin Buff Realm, wouldn’t it?”

Wu Hong replied, “The Grand Ancestor Long Fist—mastery rates a countryside expert; Small Success allows entry into the Martial Arts Skin Grinding Realm; Great Success equates to the Refining Body Realm; Perfection teeters on the verge of Dark Force.”

“To think Jiu Si’s understanding of boxing is so thorough—impressive, truly impressive!”

Wu Hong couldn’t help but marvel. Just then, Chen Jie finished his tenth round of boxing, paused, and exhaled a turbid breath. He felt completely clear-headed, having absorbed the medicinal power entirely.

Wu Hong, watching nearby, was stunned. Such potent medicinal power—all absorbed in just ten rounds of boxing?

*This talent—it’s extraordinary! But during the bone assessment that day, I only perceived him as ordinary?*

But soon Wu Hong shook his head and chuckled. Bone assessments often offer generalized evaluations; a rare few hide their true potential—what people call latent brilliance.

These individuals appear unremarkable but, when they train, advance at lightning speed—even surpassing prodigies. They are the most formidable.

And his Brother Jiu Si might very well belong to this latent brilliance category.

*Thinking this, Wu Hong’s mind began calculating. Perhaps he should find an opportunity to bring Jiu Si to the government office to work as a constable alongside him?*

*That way, he’d have a reliable ally.*

*But there’s no rush. Grandpa’s found a disciple after all; best to let Jiu Si focus on learning martial arts for now.*

“Jiu Si, how do you feel?”

Wu Hong walked over and asked. Chen Jie answered, “I’ve absorbed it all. I feel... I feel like I could punch a bull to death right now!”

Looking at his fists, he felt brimming with power.

Wu Hong said, “Hmm, Jiu Si, your talent isn’t bad. From what I can observe, your execution of the Grand Ancestor Long Fist is nearing mastery. Once you achieve mastery, your strength would likely count as half a step into the Skin Buff Realm. Around here, that would make you a formidable fighter.”

“I owe it all to you for transmitting your skills, Brother Wu.”

Wu Hong replied, “No need for thanks, no need for thanks.”

The two chatted while Wu Zhong put down the last chicken bone, stood up, eyes bloodshot, and walked into the courtyard to practice boxing.

His movements were powerful and dynamic. After finishing his set, he flexed his arms and suddenly lifted a grindstone weighing several hundred pounds with one hand effortlessly.

Chen Jie watched him, his eyes wide with surprise. “Is this even human?!”

Wu Hong, standing nearby, commented, “My father’s been stuck in the Refining Body Realm for years now. As he gets older, his strength has declined. This time, though, he’s recovered about seventy to eighty percent of his peak.”

Chen Jie asked, “Even this level of strength can decline?”

Wu Hong answered, “Of course. The saying ‘boxing fears youth’ isn’t a joke. Ming Jin Martial Artists utilize the strength of their muscles and skin, which are prone to aging—naturally, their power diminishes over time. Surely you’ve heard of ‘wild punches defeating the master,’ haven’t you?”

Chen Jie nodded.

“That’s why Ming Jin Martial Artists are also called Outer Sect Martial Artists. Their strength doesn’t last; it relies heavily on youth. To slow strength decay, one must progress to Dark Force. Dark Force trains the tendons and bones—these age slower than muscles and skin, so the decline in power is less pronounced.”

“To avoid any decline caused by aging entirely, one would have to reach Energy Transformation. Energy Transformation focuses on the blood marrow, which creates Inner Strength. That way, aging doesn’t affect power.”

*Hearing this, Chen Jie quietly committed it to memory. So that’s how it works...*

Thinking about it, he suddenly thought of something and turned to Wu Hong, asking, “Brother Wu, what level has your strength reached?”

Wu Hong smiled. “A bit beyond my old man, that’s all.”