Chapter 45: The Inch Force Fist (Sixth Update)

Xin Lang spent quite some time in contemplation, practicing repeatedly until he had finally and fully mastered the art of hidden force. Suppressing the excitement that surged within him, he opened the Level-Up Device, only then recalling to check its recent changes.

He looked over his own character status:

User of the Level-Up Device: Xin Lang!
Level: First-rank Martial Artist!
Experience Points: 207!
Martial Skills: Mortal-grade, low-level martial art "Hundred and Eight Palms of the Dragon", Mortal-grade, mid-level martial art "Thousand and Eight Palms of the Dragon", Mortal-grade, high-level martial art "Ten Thousand and Eight Palms of the Dragon", Mortal-grade, low-level martial art "Dragon Claw Through the Heart", Mortal-grade, mid-level martial art "Dragon Claw Rending the Heart", Mortal-grade, high-level martial art "Dragon Claw Shattering the Heart", Mortal-grade, low-level martial art "Seventy-Two Tiger-Subduing Fists", Mortal-grade, mid-level martial art "Falling Leaves in Autumn", Mortal-grade, high-level martial art "Wild Wind Scattering Leaves", Earth-grade, low-level technique "Inch Force Fist".

Weapons and Equipment: None!
Pet Beasts: None!
...

“At last, I’ve advanced to a first-rank martial artist!” Xin Lang cried out inwardly, elated.

Although he hadn’t learned the "Inch Force Fist" with the Level-Up Device, through diligent training over this period, he had nonetheless mastered this earth-grade, low-level technique.

“Hm? Why do I have 207 experience points now? I remember I only had 106 before advancing, and with the 100-point reward I just received, it should be 206, right?” Xin Lang wondered, but he could not find the reason.

“207 experience points, that’s quite a lot. Should I use them to level up myself, or should I unlock other functions first?” Xin Lang hesitated inwardly.

“I’ll level myself up first!” Xin Lang finally decided to raise his rank by one.

At this moment, the level-up button beneath Xin Lang’s character image had already lit up, no longer the dull gray of inactivity. Struggling to contain his excitement, Xin Lang pressed the upgrade button. Immediately, the Level-Up Device issued a prompt: “Upgrading to second-rank martial artist requires 100 experience points. Do you wish to proceed with the upgrade?”

“One hundred experience points? Damn, so from now on, each advancement will require one hundred experience points!” Xin Lang exclaimed inwardly.

But the level still had to be raised. Just as Xin Lang was about to select “yes,” a sudden voice interrupted him!

“You little bastard... I’ve finally caught up with you again…” Ouyang Buzhong, hair disheveled and clothes tattered, emerged from the forest.

Over the past ten days, Xin Lang had tormented him to the point of wasting away, his martial artist’s aura long gone. Only his fierce, venomous eyes still held a glimmer of spirit.

“You’ve come at just the right time! Perfect, you can help me practice my fists!” Xin Lang grinned at the sight of Ouyang Buzhong.

Having just mastered hidden force, Xin Lang was eager to test its power on someone.

“You little bastard, this time I won’t let you escape!” Ouyang Buzhong snarled.

Each time, Xin Lang had acted so convincingly, letting himself take a few hits, always seeming to be just within Ouyang Buzhong’s grasp. But Ouyang, blinded by his thirst for revenge, had failed to realize he had fallen into Xin Lang’s trap.

Ouyang Buzhong no longer bothered with words; he charged straight at Xin Lang.

“Earth-grade, low-level technique—Mountain-Shaking Palm!”

The force of Ouyang Buzhong’s palm grew ever more powerful, seemingly on the verge of advancing to the second tier of hidden force—Vibrating Zen Force.

Watching Ouyang Buzhong’s “Mountain-Shaking Palm” swing toward him, Xin Lang felt no fear. Though he did not know the technique himself, he had thoroughly memorized its patterns.

Xin Lang watched Ouyang Buzhong in silence. Just as the palm was about to strike him, he moved at last—“Earth-grade, low-level technique, Inch Force Fist!”

Boom! Palm and fist collided in the air!

Two streams of hidden force clashed directly, the surrounding air vibrating violently. The force sent both Xin Lang and Ouyang Buzhong reeling backward several steps!

Ouyang Buzhong staggered back five steps, while Xin Lang retreated seven.

Ouyang Buzhong exclaimed in shock, “Hidden force? You…you’ve mastered hidden force…you’ve advanced to a martial artist?”

“Haha, I have you to thank for your generous assistance these days! If not for you, even with half a year, I couldn’t have achieved hidden force!” Xin Lang laughed.

“So…all along you were acting? You deliberately let my hidden force strike you?” Ouyang Buzhong was stunned to the core.

“If I hadn’t experienced hidden force firsthand, how could I have mastered it in so short a time?” Xin Lang replied.

“You…you…you’re mad!” Ouyang Buzhong had never heard of such a reckless method of cultivation.

Xin Lang said, “Now that I’ve mastered hidden force and become a martial artist, you’re of no further use to me. If you don’t want to die, then show me your full strength!”

“You little bastard, you’ve just barely mastered hidden force. Do you think you can kill me with your half-baked earth-grade technique? Dream on!”

Ouyang Buzhong had been a martial artist for many years. Throughout, he had never thought much of Xin Lang, always considering him a minor figure.

“Hmph, still so blind to reality, even at this point!”

The two clashed again. This time, Xin Lang did not face Ouyang Buzhong head-on. Having fully grasped all of Ouyang’s moves, he easily dodged every palm, never letting Ouyang land a hit.

Bang, bang, bang…

Xin Lang landed more than a dozen punches, sending Ouyang Buzhong flying!

Ouyang Buzhong crashed to the ground, hidden force raging inside his body, wreaking havoc on his internal organs. With a spurt, he coughed up a large mouthful of blood.

Xin Lang looked down at him with a sigh. “Is that all you’ve got? How disappointing.”

“No, I can’t lose! I’m going to kill you!” Ouyang Buzhong’s eyes burned red with fury. “Give me one more chance, I’ll finish you this time!”

Having just mastered hidden force, Xin Lang found the fight unsatisfying, his fighting spirit unquenched. He pulled a vial from his person and tossed it to the fallen Ouyang Buzhong. “Before I kill you, I’ll give you one more chance! Don’t disappoint me again this time!”

Ouyang Buzhong caught the vial. “What is this? Hmph, trying to poison me, are you? I won’t fall for it!”

“Heh, if I wanted to kill you, I could do it with a flick of my finger. Do you think I need to poison you?” Xin Lang said. “This is a treasure-grade potion! Drink it, and it will heal your wounds, restoring you to your peak condition!”

“A treasure-grade potion! You made this? Wait…was the ‘Sevenfold Rejuvenation Pill’ also made by you?” Ouyang Buzhong exclaimed in shock.

“Haha, it took you long enough to figure it out! Yes, the ‘Sevenfold Rejuvenation Pill’ was crafted by me!” Xin Lang replied.

“You…you’re a level-seven potion master?” Ouyang Buzhong stammered.

“No, to be precise, I should be called a level-nine potion grandmaster!” Xin Lang answered with a mysterious smile.