Li Pancheng opened his mouth to speak, but ended up just sighing, leaving the words unsaid. Though Xue Na was clearly displeased, she had grown up with this brother and understood his character all too well. He possessed a stubborn pride—the kind that ran deeper than anyone else’s. An outsider might not notice it, but how could a childhood companion who had lived under the same roof for four or five years fail to see it? Since he had already spoken his piece, he would never ask them for help unless he was truly backed into a corner.
The three of them fell into a silent walk. Meanwhile, Hao Qi was occupied with thoughts of his bowl of broth, his pork ribs, and that quiet, long-haired young girl.
The quiet, long-haired young girl, Su Shiyan, had already finished her meal. Although she was a martial artist and had ordered a wide variety of dishes, she ate with a refined, tranquil grace. There was nothing crude about her; on the contrary, she moved with a rhythmic, lady-like elegance. This was the mark of a great family’s upbringing.
Having finished her food, she frowned at the bowl of broth and the ribs on the table. She checked the sky and the time, hesitating for a dozen seconds between leaving the cafeteria or waiting a little longer. Finally, she pulled a hand-copied manual of small-script calligraphy from her bosom and began to read, choosing not to leave.
*(Just ten minutes. If he’s not here in ten minutes... I’ll just feed the broth and the ribs to the cats.)*
Su Shiyan thought with a touch of malice. Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat. Her right fingers shifted slightly from the book, hovering near the hilt of the sword at her side. At her speed, she could draw and strike in the blink of an eye.
"The Third Young Miss’s Ice Heart Art has made further progress, it seems."
The aged voice sounded right beside Su Shiyan’s ear. She let out a breath of relief. Without looking around, she moved her lips. No sound emerged, but she knew the owner of that aged voice could read her words.
"Fourth Uncle, why have you come to the Lanying Republic? Is this about family business?"
"Heh, the family is far too removed from the Lanying Republic to have much contact here; that is precisely why the Third Young Miss was sent here to study, isn't it? What business would there be for an old man like me? I have come this time simply to deliver something to you."
Su Shiyan’s heart tightened. She knew that the old man speaking to her was a true expert possessing Inner Force—a master among the hundred thousand, someone who had transcended the world of the ordinary. Even within a powerful lineage like the Su Family, there were only five such individuals who served as the ultimate guardians of the clan. For a man of his stature to be sent to deliver an item, the weight of that object was self-evident.
"It is the Jade Skin Pill. Your grandmother has finally emerged from her seclusion. After ten years of toil and ten years of retreat, and having exhausted the rare treasures the Su Family has accumulated over the past fifty years, six pills were successfully forged. This is the foundation upon which the Su Family stands tall in the Qianshan Empire, our clan’s eternal, non-transferable treasure—the Jade Skin Pill. It is a treasure that can only be produced once every sixty years... This is what I have brought for you."
Su Shiyan was so startled she nearly jumped, but thanks to her long-term practice of the Ice Heart Art, she managed to maintain control, though her body still trembled slightly.
The Jade Skin Pill was the Su Family’s closely guarded secret. Legend held that a thousand years ago, an ancestor of the Su Family had survived a brush with death to discover the core formula in the ruins of an ancient sect. The process required countless rare materials, and the one refining the pill had to be an Inner Force expert who remained in a "dead-end" seclusion for ten years. These constraints alone spoke to the pill’s immense value.
The pill had only one effect: to cleanse the marrow and reshape the tendons, increasing a person’s innate constitution by several percentage points. Do not underestimate these points. This was not the kind of improvement gained through postnatal training or dietary therapy; this was an enhancement of one’s natural ceiling. Just as someone born to short parents would rarely grow tall without exceptional talent, that height was a natural limit. The Jade Skin Pill raised that natural ceiling. Even a few points of improvement, if exposed, could trigger turmoil within the martial arts circles of the Qianshan Empire and its neighboring nations.
Su Shiyan had been taught the common knowledge of martial arts at age three, laid her foundations at four, began internal arts at five, and external arts at six. Having practiced for over a decade, she understood the basic requirement for possessing Inner Force: one had to temper the body from the outside in until reaching its absolute limit, at which point internal energy would naturally erupt from within. However, everyone was different. If one likened a person’s body to a water bucket, their physical constitution was the wood that formed it. Some people had strong hearts but poor lung capacity; others had strong liver function but constricted blood vessels. These natural disparities meant many people’s "buckets" could never hold enough water. Only when the bucket was full—or nearly full—could one develop Inner Force. That was why Inner Force experts were so rare, found only among hundreds of thousands, or even millions.
But if one could improve their innate constitution by several percentage points, it meant their "bucket" became that much larger. Even if the proportions remained, the capacity to store energy increased. Once the stored energy exceeded the previous capacity, the person would immediately... possess Inner Force!
"Third Young Miss, sixty years ago, our family produced five pills. My four siblings and I consumed them, creating the prosperous era of five Inner Force experts for our family. In this modern society, although scientific progress has made practitioners more impetuous, it has also provided more resources. Money can buy things that were once unattainable. The previous batch of five was the most we had ever produced, establishing our status as the premier clan of the Qianshan Empire. This time, six were formed. Our prosperity will not only continue, it will exceed the past. Third Young Miss, the family has decided: one pill is yours. Accept it now."
Su Shiyan’s heart was in turmoil, but she remained cautious and polite. She rose, though not before casting a lingering glance at the broth and ribs on the table. She pouted slightly, then walked out of the cafeteria.
Once she reached a secluded path, a shimmering, orb-like pill appeared in her palm in the blink of an eye. The aged voice continued, "Consume this immediately. It will begin changing your innate constitution subtly over the next one hundred days. After that period, enter a 'dead-end' seclusion for one week. Keep your mind empty and free of thoughts to maximize the pill’s efficacy. Consume it."
Su Shiyan dared not delay. She knew the owner of the voice would never allow her to carry the pill away—both for her safety and to prevent any chance of the secret leaking. This pill concerned the rise and fall of her entire house; even the direct descendants of the family barely knew of its existence, often dismissing it as myth until now.
Su Shiyan swallowed the sphere. It melted instantly, turning into a nectar that slid down her throat. In a moment, it was gone. The aged voice sounded relieved, "My mission is complete. Third Young Miss, the family awaits the good news of your breakthrough into the Inner Force realm. Do not let us down."
"I shall obey the family’s teachings," Su Shiyan said, bowing deeply. Her voice finally audible, she whispered, "I will keep the Su Family close to my heart... I am ready to give my life for it."
*(One hundred days... I likely won't make it to that silly boy's birthday...)*
Unaccountably, Su Shiyan thought of that fool who had practiced a piece of worthless, garbage-tier fist technique to perfection...
***
**Chapter 7: On Kung Fu and Promises**
"Good man!"
Xue Na let out a sharp cry, her body surging backward. Her retreat was not a straight line, but a series of twists following a specific rhythm and pattern, preventing Hao Qi’s next strike from landing.
"The power flows from start to finish, continuous and unending. What talent, what diligence, what aptitude! Hao brother, you’ve actually brought this fist technique to the Great Completion stage. One more step and you’ll reach its absolute peak. Excellent!"
On the sidelines, Li Pancheng cheered loudly as his fiancée was forced back by a blow. Xue Na’s face darkened, but this was a martial sparring match. Though annoyed, she had her own martial integrity and would not simply throw a tantrum. Instead, she shifted her feet, gliding toward Hao Qi as if her feet were hovering just above the ground. Her speed was incredibly fast.
"Brother Hao, be careful! This is the Spirit Snake Footwork—fast and full of tricky angles!" Li Pancheng warned, knowing Hao Qi was only using a low-tier fist technique.
As the daughter-in-law of the Capital’s Li Family, Xue Na had the qualifications to practice their family’s martial arts. The Spirit Snake Footwork was one of them—a first-class agility technique by market standards.
Hao Qi, however, stood unmoved, watching Xue Na approach from every devious angle. He ignored her feints and strikes, focusing only on landing a single, steady punch at her head.
Xue Na had to retreat several times to avoid the hit. Without Inner Force, they relied only on physical strength and the techniques forged through their external arts—what was sometimes called "fake" Inner Force. This power was immense but unsustainable, lasting only as long as each strike. Unless one reached the Great Completion of their external art, they couldn't maintain that power. She could only bruise Hao Qi, but Hao Qi, having reached the Great Completion of his technique, could kill her with one blow to the head. Even in a friendly spar, being hit meant she had lost, and she was too proud to refuse to admit defeat.
After several exchanges, Xue Na was grinding her teeth. A year ago, when she and Li Pancheng returned to the Capital, she had subdued this brother of hers in just a few moves. To think that after only a year, he had mastered that "trash" technique and she could no longer suppress him!
Her main goal in returning was to convince Hao Qi to switch to a different art. She had even obtained a top-tier second-class technique from the Li Family, ready to be taught to him if he would just join the military under Li Pancheng. She knew his character well enough to trust his loyalty—he would be a prime asset for the Li Family.
But first, she had to beat him into submission. If he believed that a piece of "garbage" technique could lead to success, his personality would make it impossible to convince him otherwise.
With that thought, Xue Na gritted her teeth. She continued the Spirit Snake Footwork, but her arms began to twist as if they had no bones. Even her neck warped into a strange angle. Suddenly, she lunged recklessly toward Hao Qi’s oncoming fist. Just before the blow could connect, she twisted her neck, letting the fist graze her hair while her arms whipped toward Hao Qi’s body like snakes.
"Boom!"
An explosive sound rang out, but it wasn't Xue Na’s arm hitting Hao Qi. A figure had flashed between them, one hand catching Hao Qi’s arm, the other pushing Xue Na back seven or eight paces, nearly causing her to tumble to the ground.
"Stop this nonsense! Are you trying to cripple yourself by using the Spirit Snake Fist in your current state!?"
It was Li Pancheng. Hao Qi was shocked; in the blink of an eye, Li Pancheng had crossed twenty meters to insert himself into their fight. He had left a small crater where he had been standing. The speed, the power, the control—it defied Hao Qi’s understanding of an ordinary person. Was this... Inner Force?
Li Pancheng turned to Hao Qi immediately, cupping his hands with a faint smile. "Pardon my rudeness, Brother Hao. My wife was reckless, forcing the use of the Spirit Snake Fist. Please, wait a moment."
He walked over to Xue Na, patting her body rapidly with his hands. As he did, his palms grew increasingly red, and steam rose from his body. After a minute, he relaxed his breathing, and Xue Na spat out a mouthful of blood.
As soon as she recovered, Xue Na looked at Hao Qi and said, "I won, didn't I?"
Hao Qi sighed helplessly. "Yes, Big Sister, you won. Just now... Brother Li, have you already reached the Inner Force realm?"
Xue Na shook her head, her face full of pride. "No, not yet. He only broke through to the Quasi-Inner Force Expert level this year. It’s nothing. With your diligence and talent, if you switch to a different art, you could reach the Quasi-Inner Force level soon, too."
*That isn't even an Inner Force expert yet?*
Hao Qi was stunned. In his nine years here, he had read many martial arts books, especially the school curriculum. He knew what a Quasi-Inner Force Expert was: someone who had forged their body to its absolute limit, controlling every inch of their blood, strength, and perception. They could condense their power into the Dantian, forming a sphere of energy, and use their Qi and blood to repair old injuries. Generally, one such expert could hold their own against a hundred men.
In Hao Qi's mind, these were the "Golden Core" or "Invulnerable" masters from the martial arts novels on Earth. Yet here, they were merely called "Quasi-Inner Force Experts"... How powerful, then, was a true Inner Force expert?
Li Pancheng regained his composure. When he opened his eyes, a flicker of light seemed to emanate from them, making Hao Qi look away. The light vanished as quickly as it appeared. Li Pancheng smiled. "Brother Hao, you can likely guess why we came. I won't perform a clumsy show here. How about I tell you about the levels of martial arts, Quasi-Inner Force, and the true Inner Force realm? Consider it my apology for my wife’s rudeness."
Hao Qi was overjoyed. "I would be honored to listen."
Li Pancheng looked at the sky and laughed. "It’s getting late. I assume you haven’t had dinner? My wife and I have already booked a meal. Why don't we go together?"
Hao Qi hesitated for only a moment before nodding, though he felt a pang of regret for the broth and ribs he had left behind in the cafeteria.
The three of them drove to a bustling street and followed Li Pancheng into a quiet alleyway. At the end stood a quaint, antique-style restaurant. Li Pancheng walked in like a regular, leading them into a room scented with sandalwood. Without a word to anyone, the staff began serving a lavish spread of exquisite dishes within minutes.
"The medicinal cuisine here is among the best in the Capital Circle. Brother Hao, you practice a hard external fist style, which drains the body significantly. You should eat plenty," Li Pancheng said, before picking up his chopsticks. He chewed with a sound like a grinding blade and swallowed without further conversation, his chopsticks a blur of movement.
Hao Qi, already ravenous, didn't stand on ceremony. He ignored all manners and ate with everything he could reach, his mouth never stopping.
All three were martial artists; even Xue Na had a healthy appetite. Together, they consumed five tables' worth of food, including rare delicacies and exotic meats. Hao Qi estimated the meal cost at least one or two hundred thousand credits. Since he wasn't paying, he ate his fill—roughly twice what Xue Na ate, though still only half of what Li Pancheng consumed. He was secretly astonished by Li Pancheng’s capacity.
After the meal, staff brought tea and withdrew silently. Li Pancheng drank deeply before saying, "Forgive my lack of decorum. Since achieving the Quasi-Inner Force level, my metabolic demand has spiked. Ordinary food simply doesn't provide enough nutrients. This, of course, is part of what I want to tell you."
Hao Qi cupped his hands. "I am all ears!"
Li Pancheng waved a hand dismissively. "Don't be so serious. Treat this as a family meal. My wife is your sister, which makes you my brother-in-law. No need for such formalities."
"Martial arts... there is simply too much to say. I could talk for days and nights and still not finish. Let me begin by explaining the levels of a martial practitioner."