Chapter Seventy-Seven: Perfect Force

Ten days later—

A gentle sea breeze stirred, the waves rippling across the surface. Kou Li stood with one foot half-immersed in the surf, memories of his battle with Diao Fengsheng drifting back—the deadly techniques of the Diao family’s scattered hand, Eight-sided Shoulders.

The shoulder is the root joint among the three segments of the arm, the terminal point of force. Shoulder and hip combine for stance, shoulder and knee for power; though unremarkable, it is the most vital node in generating strength.

The Eight-sided Shoulders of the Diao family fist, in truth, integrate the scattered hand’s martial methods into the shoulder—“Shoulder throws, waist supports, hips act together,” charging headlong, unstoppable.

Scenes of Diao Xiansheng employing the Eight-sided Shoulders replayed endlessly in Kou Li’s mind. Each attempt, though unsuccessful, made the force clearer, gradually splitting into eight streams.

Rear hand and rear shoulder—one sinks, one drops, hips power forth: this is the straight shoulder.

Chopping hand presses down, body advances, shoulder hard as a mountain: this is the pressing shoulder.

Shoulder and arm together, falling shoulder, step turns, back powers forth: this is the falling back shoulder.

Combining yin and absorption, drawing energy inward, hips thrust forward: this is the falling forward shoulder.

The shooting shoulder…

The rising shoulder…

The firm shoulder…

The reverse shoulder…

Each shoulder strike changed the upper body within a hair’s breadth, yet the submerged lower body, affected by the sea, caused the water to explode, whirl, and surge, ultimately blending into the sinews, plunging downward with a thunderous sound. Using both feet as the frame, the waves blasted apart, scattering into countless droplets, shooting in all directions.

If this force were directed at an opponent, even if he sat atop a tall warhorse clad in armor, it would topple both horse and rider.

Fifth stage of Bamboo Hand—Sea-breaking Force achieved!

At that moment, two figures emerged from the forest by the shore. One carried a crude vine basket filled with branches, dry leaves, and odd mushrooms.

Kou Li drew a deep breath and carried the two fat fish he’d caught by the sea over. Before he even approached, he heard Young Master Huang’s complaints—her legs scratched by vines in the forest, how far she’d walked, how exhausted she was.

Over the past ten days, Young Master Huang’s performance had been nothing short of disastrous: fire extinguished, fish burnt, clothes ruined while washing, falling asleep on watch, let alone hunting—she nearly became prey herself.

He had once been wary of this mysterious, flamboyant woman disguised as a man, but now it was clear she was nothing but a bungler.

“What are you staring at? If you keep looking, I’ll gouge your eyes out,” Young Master Huang snapped, baring her teeth. In the past, she would never have made such an “uncouth” expression, but on this deserted island, there were no rules to bind her.

The trappings of high walls and grand houses had not followed them here.

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“How many things did she ruin today?” Kou Li asked with a blank expression.

“None! Today Sister Huang helped me pick plenty of wild mushrooms,” Lin Su’e replied with a smile, her eyes curved like crescent moons.

“Aren’t all the wild mushrooms in this forest poisonous? Can they really be eaten?”

“Don’t underestimate my Cousin Lin. She’s a master of medicine, able to balance and neutralize the toxins in these mushrooms. What do you know?” Young Master Huang boasted, as if she had accomplished it herself.

Surviving on this deserted island, the relationship between the two women had advanced rapidly.

Kou Li couldn’t help but swallow. These past days, they hadn’t quite eaten raw meat, but hadn’t tasted a single vegetable; he longed for it desperately.

The same sound of swallowing came from beside him. Young Master Huang, tall and proud, was secretly swallowing as well.

The shipwreck had happened not far from the island, so every tide brought driftwood and debris: pots for boiling fish, spatulas, axes for chopping wood, all gifts from the sea.

The mushroom stew with fish filled all three with delight. Kou Li didn’t even leave the fish bones, crunching them between his teeth.

“Cousin, be careful of the fish bones. If there’s not enough, I can cook more,” Lin Su’e said worriedly.

“Don’t mind him. This guy must have mastered the Tiger Form, his bones turned to tiger’s bones, his whole body itchy and aching for something to grind his teeth on,” Young Master Huang yawned, sprawling lazily on the ground with no regard for appearances.

“You seem to know a lot,” Kou Li countered.

“I also know you’re troubled right now. You can unleash the power of the Tiger Fist, but to reach the ultimate perfection, you still feel lost. Am I right?”

“Go on.”

“Why should I tell you?”

“I’ll chop wood and take night watch next.”

Young Master Huang perked up instantly. “Deal!”

The two chores she hated most on the island: one was rough work, the other servant’s duty—neither suited her, a person of noble birth. Sleeping till noon was her proper way, but to avoid “eating for free,” she had to grit her teeth and do them.

All thanks to this annoying fellow!

“Fine, out of kindness I’ll give you a tip. To reach mastery in fist technique, you must shift from striking to training, tempering your own strength. The most crucial step is choosing your unique force.”

“Choosing?”

“Didn’t your master teach you? Training and striking are two sides of the same coin. Choosing your unique fist force works the same way. Since your Tiger Fist is a bone-refining art, the unique force you comprehend must focus on bone refinement. Depending on your supplementary fist arts, the resulting internal energy will differ.”

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“Dragon Transformation—refining the spine to perfection, leaping and pouncing like a swimming dragon; requires mastery of a bone-refining fist and proficiency in skin-refining techniques.”

“Bone-searching Method—separating tendons and bones, breaking veins and flesh, claws like halberds, skin like hooks; needs mastery of a bone-refining palm technique and proficiency in a skin-refining fist.”

“Iron Shirt with Fiery Temper—body as hard as iron, skin tinted purple, impervious to fists and kicks, unafraid of ordinary blades; secret skill of North Arhat Temple, requiring mastery of skin-refining and bone-refining fists, plus the temple’s unique slapping technique.”

“Axe-swinging Force—sinew and bone bound together like a tightly lashed axe handle; otherwise, one swing and the axe would scatter. Applied to the human body, bones must pop from the flesh, arms swinging like axes, breaking all stances; needs mastery of bone-refining fist, proficiency in tendon-refining fists, and supplementary internal soft force to turn softness into hardness.”

“The most suitable for you, and the simplest, is Beast Form. The force cultivated can mimic the hunting and killing methods of the most dangerous creatures in the wild; needs mastery of animal forms and a certain level in internal fist arts.”

“There’s more…”

Though Young Master Huang had grown up in luxury with almost no survival skills, when it came to fist force, she was adept in every school—she could explain Mo Yi’s Blade Force, Luo Yanzong’s Strange Wave Power and Cold Snap, all simply and clearly.

What she spoke of must be the deepest secrets of the martial world, yet she revealed them effortlessly. This woman was far more than a mere gilded cage bird.

“…As for that Diao fellow’s Whirlpool Force, it was never truly perfected. The real Whirlpool Force is like a hidden current surging beneath the sea, able to break an opponent’s guard. His supplementary fist arts wound the spirit, but are not orthodox; otherwise, you wouldn’t have had a chance to strike back.”

Kou Li ignored her provocation, pondering seriously which unique force to choose. In terms of difficulty, Beast Form was simplest, and by her account, it was merely an intensified version of the Tiger’s murderous intent.

Dragon Transformation could be combined with the essence of Dragon Form, strengthening movement and technique to the extreme, elevating his combat style.

Or Axe-swinging Force—the most potent unique force…

Suddenly, Kou Li’s mind stirred. He nearly overlooked the most fundamental aspect—the deepest realm of fist arts is the Four Great Refinements for opening the Martial Immortal Gate, his true goal.

Though Bamboo Hand has no specific moves, its force flows through the body, segment by segment, also a bone-refining art. To break through the bone refinement of the Four Great Refinements, it is the synergy of these two fist arts’ internal energies.

Kou Li had already been told of Bamboo Hand’s unique force by Luo Yanzong. Their complementarity was most vital. After all, failure in the Four Great Refinements means fractured sinews and bones, with no second chance.

Thus, the unique force choice for Tiger Form already had a name—

Young Master Huang watched Kou Li’s thoughtful expression and suddenly revealed a charming smile. No matter how high the fist arts, the heart is higher; first, let’s give him a taste.

Mastery in fist arts, with potential rivaling the best southern martial artists, was well worth her effort to recruit.

Meanwhile, in the heart of the island, deep in the wild forest, tiny footsteps sounded in the darkness, and one by one, figures less than half a foot tall emerged, puffed up and proud.

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