Chapter 1: The Injured Elder
The young boy took a step forward, his bare feet heavily landing on the cracked ground. Although there were some small scattered stones on the surface, he seemed completely oblivious to them
Rong Kaixuan hurriedly entered the thicket, and for some reason, after hearing his father's words, it felt as if a heavy stone was lodged in his heart, making it impossible for him to express his pent-up frustration.
Rong Kaixuan pressed his lips tightly together, and due to the excessive force, the color of his lips turned pale white
He stared at Rong Kaixuan with bloodshot eyes, instantly giving him goosebumps
Rong Yiyang's expression changed dramatically, and he immediately shouted, "Nonsense, I won't allow you to act recklessly." He looked up at the distance and said, "Every year, our Rong family's predecessors patrol the outskirts of the mountains and forests, so there won't be any dangers. However, who knows what crises lie deep within the mountains? Even the martial masters dare not venture deep inside. If you go in, it would be like a meat bun thrown to a dog—there's no return."
This question is one that even he himself cannot answer
More than a year of countless attempts has exhausted his patience and hope
Then, he thrust his tightly clenched fists forward with a resounding force
Call ... ...
A faint sound of air being pierced echoed in the void, a sound produced by the shockwave of a fist reaching a certain speed as it struck the air.
He looked at the boy's expression. Although he already had the answer in his heart, he couldn't help but ask with a final glimmer of hope: "Kai Xuan, how is it?"
Rong Kaixuan stared wide-eyed in astonishment; before him stood an elderly man with white hair, who had appeared there at some unknown time. The old man's face was smeared with blood, and even more unbelievable was the fact that only a small portion of his body remained.
With a light sigh, the middle-aged man fell silent for a moment and said: "Kai Xuan, forget it, perhaps you do not possess the talent to become a martial artist. Sigh, in fact, our family lives this way, and it is already much better than many others."
Not far away, a middle-aged man walked over slowly and stood beside him. The middle-aged man's features were very similar to those of a youth, though he appeared considerably older.
With a final roar, the youth delivered his tenth punch
Rong Kaixuan was taken aback, and he lowered his head
The middle-aged man let out a bitter smile and said, "Child, sometimes one must accept their fate." He paused and continued, "Since you became aware of your surroundings, I have taught you the martial arts of the Rong family, yet until this year, you have not been able to condense even a trace of true energy. Alas, perhaps this is destiny."
Although Rong Kaixuan wanted to evade, the old man's speed was simply too fast. Moreover, after a gentle pat, Rong Kaixuan's consciousness suddenly became hazy; his head tilted, his body fell, and he elegantly lost consciousness just like that
Scenes of myself boxing and the moments of my father's teachings continuously emerge in my mind
For the direct descendants of the Rong family, such an outcome is essentially equivalent to living a life of indulgence and eventual demise. Even some of the powerful collateral relatives enjoy a far more glamorous existence than he does
This young man has diligently practiced martial arts since childhood, never once slacking off. However, it seems that heaven has never favored him; even today, as he approaches the limit age of fifteen, he is still unable to condense true energy
The reason for naming it "Triumph" naturally contains a certain unspoken wish that resides within his heart.
The young man suddenly raised his head, looking at his father in astonishment, and said: "Father, what are you saying? Are you asking me to give up?"
Hehe, you want me dead, trying to take my things. Even if I end up benefiting outsiders, I will absolutely not let you succeed
Rong Yiyang, one of the direct descendants of the Rong family
However, although he was born into a direct lineage, he left his family decades ago because he was unable to condense true energy before the age of fifteen, and came here to manage a remote farm belonging to the family
The power of this punch is nearly equivalent to that of a true martial artist's martial prowess
Although his features cannot be described as handsome or charming, his pair of sparkling eyes is particularly bright. In his eyes, there is a fullness of determination and decisiveness
His fists were clenched tightly, though he did not know when it had happened. He made a decision in his heart: even if he had already surpassed the age of fifteen, he would absolutely not give up on his martial arts training
Suddenly, a flash of light appeared before him, and a figure materialized before Rong Kaixuan like a ghost.
Below his chest, there was nothing left, not even the organs seemed to have drained away completely
Thus, when he saw his son walking towards the thicket, Rong Yiyang finally felt at ease
At this point, even the most unwilling Rong Yiyang had no choice but to give up
However, under this scorching sunlight, a young man stood in the square with his bare torso, head held high and chest out. His body was adorned with healthy bronze skin, from which beads of sweat the size of mung beans emerged under the intense sunlight
He sat slowly on the ground next to the largest tree in the low forest
However, with each punch he threw, he exerted all his strength. After ten consecutive punches, although his momentum and spirit reached their peak, they could not be sustained.
However, while wishes are beautiful, reality is harsh
A low roar erupted from his mouth, akin to the roar of a dragon or the howl of a tiger, filled with masculine strength
The direction in which Rong Kaixuan departed was opposite to the dense forest behind the manor. Those shrubs, which were as tall as a Qi person, were planted under the orders of Rong Yiyang, and over several decades, they developed into a considerable expanse.
He strode forward with one punch after another, each step he took exuding a bold momentum of unwavering progress and resolute determination. The fiercer his punches became, the faster his speed, and the more intense his aura.
Rong Kaixuan raised his eyebrows and suddenly said, "Father, you are right. In fact, every time I exert myself in training over the past year, I have been able to sense something. But I just lack that final push..." His eyes sparkled with a glimmer of insight as he continued, "Father, if I venture into the deep mountains for training, perhaps I will achieve a breakthrough."
Rong Kaixuan said in a deep voice: "Father, did you not once say that for us martial artists, only through tempering ourselves in life-and-death situations can we unleash our potential and progress further on the path of cultivation"
At the moment he spoke the last sentence, his voice was stern and his expression even bore a hint of ferocity
The old man let out a sinister laugh and suddenly reached out to pat Rong Kaixuan on the shoulder
His punch was incredibly powerful, as if he had unleashed all the energy and spirit within his body. The fierce wind from the punch echoed in the void, seemingly producing a piercing sound of explosion
He looked at his son before him, his gaze filled with an indescribable bitterness
The young boy lowered his head, pressed his lips together, and shook his head
He lifted his head, yet a hint of frustration and annoyance was evident on his somewhat stubborn face
Although he repeatedly reassured his son, the loneliness and regret within him could not be concealed in any way
Watching the direction in which he left, Rong Yiyang sighed and returned to the manor in solitude
Rong Yiyang shook his head in despair and said, "Child, with your talent and effort, you could have condensed true energy a year ago. However, each time the result has been just out of reach. Alas, perhaps this is fate. " He sighed and continued, "Moreover, in three months, you will turn fifteen. If by that day you are unable to condense true energy, your future in martial arts will not hold much promise. Therefore, giving up now and living a comfortable life as a wealthy man is actually not a bad option." He added, "Moreover, in three months, you will turn fifteen. If by that day you are unable to condense true energy, your future in martial arts will not hold much promise. Therefore, giving up now and living a comfortable life as a wealthy man is actually not a bad option."
If he finds himself in a situation of certain death, can he, in that moment, break through himself and refine his true energy
Drink ... ...
Rong Kaixuan nodded slightly and turned to leave. However, he did not return to his home, but instead slowly departed from the village, heading towards the low forest that was as tall as the Qi people.
Drink ... ...
Rong Yiyang then patted him on the shoulder and said, "It's getting late; you should go down and rest for a while. Ah, there are still three months left, we can make it if we try a few more times."
However, when he said this, he did not even hold out any hope for himself
After arriving here, Rong Yiyang fell into a state of despair. Although he did not completely abandon martial arts, he became somewhat self-destructive due to the absence of the ambition to strive for excellence. For decades, he still had not been able to gather even a trace of true energy.
He unwillingly said: "Father, rest assured, I will definitely be able to condense true energy."
Rong Kaixuan is merely a young man after all, and under the pressure of his father's imposing presence, the courage in his heart instantly diminished significantly
The blazing sun hangs high in the sky above the world. The red light shoots down to the ground like a rocket, igniting the earth and reflecting flames that boil like oil. The heat is suffocating, intense, and strangely oppressive, almost causing people's cells and fibers to tremble and burst.
However, ever since the birth of his son, he has placed all his hopes on this young man, Rong Kaixuan
After a long while, his breath finally stabilized
Nodding in confusion, Rong Kaixuan's body gradually relaxed
However, after delivering this punch, the young man's body staggered. He hurriedly stepped forward, managing to steady himself, breathing heavily.
However, this old man has not yet died
Rong Yiyang forcefully flicked his sleeves and said: "Those who can survive in life-and-death situations are indeed remarkable individuals, and they have achieved great glory. However, the number of those who perish in such circumstances is far greater; they do not even have the chance to leave behind a name. Hmph, listen carefully, I absolutely do not wish for you to venture into the deep mountains. That is not a matter of life and death, but rather a certainty of death. Do you... understand?" Hmph, listen carefully, I absolutely do not wish for you to venture into the deep mountains. That is not a matter of life and death, but rather a certainty of death. Do you... understand?"
Rong Yiyang reached out and pointed at him, his expression grim, saying: "What nonsense are you spouting, huh? As martial artists, when faced with life and death, we can indeed unleash our potential, releasing far greater power than usual, and even breaking through our own limitations to transcend realms is not uncommon. But do you know what it means to be in a situation of nine deaths and one life?" He said fiercely: "The so-called nine deaths and one life means placing oneself in an environment where death is certain. If one cannot break through, then death is inevitable. Heh heh, can you guarantee that you will definitely be able to break through?"