Chapter Thirty-Three: Exactly This Feeling

Before making any preparations, Chen Xian did not dare to rashly test this idea.

Mingjin refers to the strength of a fist—unyielding, robust power. If such force were to explode within the hand, it would likely injure the palm, causing blood vessels to rupture and muscles to tear from the violent energy.

Therefore, even though Chen Xian was eager to verify his hypothesis, he restrained himself.

He lifted his gaze toward the distant horizon. The sun was already setting, leaving only a lingering glow on the skyline.

Around him, the continuous crackling of firecrackers filled the air, yet Chen Xian found the sound remarkably beautiful.

At this moment, each burst seemed like a note in a lively melody, echoing in his ears.

“Looks like tomorrow will be good weather after all! Tomorrow’s the day to try it!” he murmured.

With the sun shining, his extraordinary power could continuously generate a flow of vital energy and blood—the foundation of the human body.

If any accident were to occur, at least there would be some measure of protection.

Chen Xian’s eyes rested on the sunset’s glow, his mind wandering as he softly spoke to himself.

If he could make the mingjin explode within his palm without damaging the muscles and blood vessels, that would be ideal.

But if injury did occur, having abundant vital energy would help accelerate the healing of torn muscles and ruptured vessels.

This was why Chen Xian chose not to test his idea immediately.

As the medical texts say: “All that a person possesses is but qi and blood.”

Qi and blood sustain the essence of life; the body’s organs rely on them to function properly.

Thus, qi and blood are the very manifestation of life force.

Now, with his extraordinary ability to increase qi and blood by basking in sunlight, even if his body suffered damage, it could be repaired swiftly under sufficient sunlight.

Lost in these thoughts, night slowly fell, and the firecracker sounds faded without him noticing.

Gradually regaining focus, Chen Xian gathered his scattered thoughts and began tidying his room.

Soon, Chen Qiqi’s crisp voice came from the living room, signaling that his parents had returned.

After organizing the room, Chen Xian stepped out.

He saw his father seated comfortably on the sofa, holding a teacup with a content expression, while his mother was busy preparing dinner.

Chen Xian smiled and asked, “Dad, when do you get your holiday this year?”

Chen’s father looked up at him and replied with a faint smile, “I still have to work a few more days, probably not until the twenty-something.”

Chen Xian nodded without surprise—this was consistent with previous years.

His gaze shifted to his mother and Chen Qiqi bustling in the kitchen.

Chen Qiqi wore an apron, looking like a well-behaved child, which brought a wave of emotion to Chen Xian.

Though the atmosphere was warm now, if their mother found out about Chen Qiqi’s phone, it would surely mean a scolding.

After all, this wasn’t the first time Chen Qiqi had been caught.

Chen Xian felt a headache coming on. The origin of Qiqi’s phone was difficult to explain to their parents, so the burden fell on him.

Silently, he prayed that Qiqi would keep the phone well-hidden and not get discovered anytime soon.

He planned to bring up the phone issue at dinner to prepare their mother.

In a year or two, as a high schooler, it would be reasonable for Qiqi to have a phone.

After all, Chen Xian himself had one in high school.

Before long, dinner was ready, and the family of four gathered around the table.

Chen Xian picked up some food and said thoughtfully, “Mom, after Qiqi graduates from ninth grade, I plan to buy her a phone.”

Qiqi’s hand trembled, nearly dropping her chopsticks. She glanced at their mother stealthily.

Seeing no reaction from her, Qiqi relaxed.

“Well…” their mother replied with a smile, “That’s fine. I was thinking of giving her your old phone after she graduates, but if you want to buy her one, then forget it.”

Chen Xian nodded with a smile.

Qiqi pouted, lowering her head to pick at her rice quietly.

Though their mother was stricter with Qiqi, especially forbidding phone use, once she reached high school, things would be different.

With advancing technology, some schools were integrating tech into teaching.

Without a phone in high school, life could be inconvenient.

As for the money to buy the phone, Chen Xian was hardly short.

During his university years, his monthly allowance was usually more than enough, and he rarely spent much outside of food.

Now, with his extraordinary power, he hardly ate except on rainy days.

So he saved up quite a bit.

Even though Chen Xian claimed he didn’t need money, his parents still deposited funds monthly into his account.

They said boys had many expenses outside and should always have some money.

If by chance… two people’s money wasn’t enough…

At the time, Chen Xian did not understand what his mother meant, but now he realized she was already thinking about his future life’s big matters.

He could only smile wryly.

His four years of university were mostly spent entangled in dreams.

Besides studying, he devoted all his time to researching dreams and martial arts.

He had little thought for anything else.

Among classmates, only a few roommates knew him well; others he could barely recall by name.

Clearly, his mother’s plans were destined to be thwarted.

Chen Xian’s appetite was small; meals did not take long.

This dinner was a preemptive measure to soften his mother’s stance, so when Qiqi’s phone was inevitably discovered, it wouldn’t seem so sudden to blame him.

After dinner, his parents watched TV in the living room.

Chen Xian returned to his room.

Normally, at this hour, he would be peering at the stars through a telescope.

Since learning of the Cult of Worship from the official martial arts website, he had become wary.

Though he had observed the stars through the telescope for three years without incident, he could not guarantee safety indefinitely.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, he decided to stay clear of it for now.

Picking up the Tai Chi boxing manual again, he reflected on today’s faint revelations.

It was this manual that inspired his sudden idea of the mingjin explosion during the firecracker bursts.

This showed how invaluable the principles recorded in the manual were to him—even if he had yet to grasp anything earth-shattering.

Inspiration did not come all at once; it required continuous accumulation before bursting forth.

...

As night slowly passed into dawn, Chen Xian woke early and practiced the Dragon and Tiger stance in his room.

In martial cultivation, except for divine martial artists, no realm is ever truly secure once attained.

If one stops cultivating after reaching a level, their skills will inevitably fade.

Like fitness enthusiasts who must exercise continuously to maintain their abs, otherwise the results disappear.

After circulating his qi and blood for a while, Chen Xian heard his parents preparing breakfast.

Though they had to work, his parents were already up.

At the table, Chen Xian and his parents ate breakfast together.

Chen Qiqi was still asleep; neither Chen Xian nor their mother woke her.

As a ninth grader on vacation, she deserved the rest.

...

Downstairs, Chen Xian watched the morning sun slowly rise in the east, his expression brightening.

“Finally, it’s up!” he thought.

He had been waiting for the sun.

Only under the sun’s radiant light could his extraordinary power boost his qi and blood and strengthen his vitality, giving him confidence to test his theory.

Since the community courtyard was not his own balcony, and people were already moving about—some exercising, jogging, practicing martial arts, or rushing to work—Chen Xian did not go shirtless.

Instead, he wore a short-sleeved shirt exposing his arms.

Sun exposure on his arm was enough for his test.

Facing the sun, Chen Xian extended his right hand, stirring his qi and blood to generate a fierce force.

Under his control, this force surged through his flesh, blood, and sinews, rushing toward his right arm.

Veins bulged on his arm as if something was moving beneath his skin.

Guiding the force, it gradually converged in his palm.

“Snap!”

Chen Xian clenched his fingers, and the force suddenly exploded in his palm.

The air at his palm’s center seemed crushed and burst, producing a sharp crack.

In the cold winter, a white heat wave radiated from his palm, rippling outward in circles from his fist.

At the same time, the exploding force fragmented into many tiny, uncontrollable strands, darting wildly within his palm.

A prickling pain spread across his palm.

Tingling...

Numbing...

Stinging...

For a moment, it felt as though electric currents were flowing through his hand, each sensation intense yet bearable.

Chen Xian’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

“This change... yes, this is it,” he thought.

“The ultimate edge of strength, a balance of hardness and softness.”

Feeling the erratic force in his palm, his eyes brightened as he carefully observed its transformation.

Originally fierce and unyielding, once the force exploded in his palm, its scattered fragments lost some sharpness and gained a softer quality.

After a short while, the sharp pain faded, and the chaotic force slowed as if losing momentum.

One second, two, three...

About a minute later, the force dissipated completely.

Though Chen Xian had not yet fully comprehended the art of hidden force, he was not disappointed.

He knew he was on the right path.

What remained was only time.

If once was not enough, he could try again and again.

In martial cultivation, the greatest fear is to find no path or to stray from the right one.

As long as the path is true, progress will follow steadily.

After reflecting on the force’s changes, Chen Xian withdrew his arm and opened his palm.

What was once rosy and glossy was now flushed red, with several dark spots in the center.

He understood these changes well.

The exploding force had torn blood vessels in his palm, causing bruising beneath the skin.

He had anticipated this.

Turning his palm toward the sun, he began to generate more qi and blood there, channeling it to the palm to repair the damage.

“The force has lost its pure hardness. It already feels somewhat like hidden force. Maybe after a few more tries, I can truly grasp hidden force!” Chen Xian thought as he circulated his qi.

“Unfortunately, I can’t try with this hand again today. I wonder if the injuries will fully heal by tonight.”

“Should I try my other hand?”

The thought tempted him, but he ultimately abandoned it.

The injured hand needed rest; he did not know how long the healing would take.

Better to keep one hand functional.

Though unlikely, one must always guard against the unexpected.

“Today, I’ll just rest it. If I can do this once a day, it won’t take many attempts before I understand hidden force.”

Looking at his reddened palm, Chen Xian sighed.

“Hidden force is within reach. This holiday, I should be able to finish the tendon transformation.”

“After that, it’s time to consider the refinement of force.”

“But to refine force and truly comprehend one’s divine intent—to embody mind and intention in every punch...”

“What is divine intent? I have yet to realize it.”

“Maybe during this holiday, I should go out and travel, see the mountains and rivers, and behold the vast world.”

In less than a year since acquiring his extraordinary power, Chen Xian had surpassed mingjin and was on the brink of grasping hidden force.

This progress was remarkably rapid.

Yet it also meant he lacked the long-term insights and experiences that others accumulated over years.

This left him unsure of how to cultivate refined force.

Moreover, refining force was not something one could achieve alone by staying at home.

“I wonder how many days it will take to truly understand hidden force?” he pondered quietly.