A dull thud echoed.

Qin Fang felt a massive, overwhelming force assault him. The point where their fists met felt like a solid block of iron!

...However, aside from a numbness in his fist, he felt nothing else.

Still, his body couldn’t help but retreat two steps.

As for Zhou Xing, a hint of shock appeared on his face... He had also felt his fist smash against hard iron, and a faint numbness spread through it.

Moreover, his opponent’s power had clearly exceeded his expectations, forcing him to take two steps back as well before he could steady himself!

HISS!~~

He sucked in a sharp breath, looking at Qin Fang in disbelief.

"You..."

’Is this the Mid-Mingjin Stage?!’

’This Physique, this intensity... it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him at the peak of the stage, would it?!’

A sharp glint flashed in Qin Fang’s eyes. "Senior Brother, be careful!"

He pounced forward again!

His movements were incredibly fast, his fist shooting like a sharp arrow straight for Zhou Xing’s chest.

Zhou Xing no longer dared to be as careless as before and quickly began to take the fight seriously.

Both were using the Ox Demon Mountain-Opening Fist, a Fist Technique characterized by wide, powerful movements.

After months of arduous training, Qin Fang had long since brought his Ox Demon Mountain-Opening Fist to the level of Great Success. With every move, his body’s full power surged naturally, and he executed each Technique with practiced ease!

Combined with the booming Skin Membrane Drum Sound and the Muscle-Bone Thunder Sound resonating from his body, his presence was overwhelming!

Zhou Xing was mostly on the defensive, but his Fist Technique was also broad and powerful. As they traded blows with the same Techniques, the ground could no longer bear the force, and the bluestone beneath their feet began to crack!

The sight left Monkey, who was watching from the side, completely dumbfounded!

...It wasn’t the first time he’d seen Qin Fang in action, of course.

But in the past, when Master Qin made a move, it was always with an understated flick of the wrist that sent an Iron Nail flying, felling a man in an instant.

This was the first time he had ever seen him in this kind of close-quarters combat!

It gave off an intense, oppressive feeling!

’...I never thought that besides his skill with Hidden Weapons, Master Qin’s close combat... could be this terrifying?’

’He’s stronger than the boss!’

He thought, his heart filled with shock.

The trembling sounds from the two fighters grew louder and louder, as if a small thundercloud had gathered there.

Finally, after more than twenty exchanges...

"Alright, stop!"

Zhou Xing suddenly shouted as he retreated.

Qin Fang was in the middle of a forward charge, but upon hearing this, his body came to an abrupt halt.

Seeing this, Zhou Xing sucked in another sharp breath, a tingling sensation running through his teeth...

’...The last time we met, I taught him that his power shouldn’t be rigid, that he needed to practice Vitality.’

’...It seems he really took it to heart.’

’But isn’t this...’

’...taking it a bit *too* much to heart?!’

’With that level of Control over his strength, he’s only in the Mid-Mingjin Stage?’

’I’d believe it if you told me he was a veteran Mingjin Powerhouse who’d been immersed in the Late Mingjin Stage for years!’

Zhou Xing felt like he was running out of air, having sucked in so much of it!

’...What kind of monster is this?!’

He looked at Qin Fang with a complicated expression.

Qin Fang let out a light breath and said with a wry smile, "I’m still no match for you, Senior Brother..."

The fight had been short but incredibly satisfying. However, Zhou Xing had been through years of Body Refining and possessed a formidable Physique. While Qin Fang’s wasn’t weak, his own refinement was still shallow... He felt his bones weren’t as hard as his Senior Brother’s.

How could he know that at this moment, Zhou Xing’s entire body was aching, feeling as if he had just gone through another intense Body Refining session himself!

Hearing Qin Fang’s words made his eyelid twitch!

’This monstrous junior brother of mine fought me to this extent and still isn’t satisfied?!’

’Ten years, ten years!’

’My past ten years...’

He felt a retort stuck in his throat, but he couldn’t get it out.

In the end, he could only give a wry laugh and roll his eyes. "Alright, stop showing off. I get it, your Talent is high, okay?"

Qin Fang froze for a moment, then shook his head in embarrassment... He genuinely felt he was no match for his Senior Brother.

"But seriously... how did you train your Physique? ...You’re practicing the ’Wild Bull Hundred Forgings,’ right?"

Zhou Xing asked with a frown.

He felt his opponent’s body was abnormally hard... Could four months of normal Body Refining achieve this level?

It would be one thing if he had a special Cultivation Technique or something else.

But they were clearly using the same Cultivation Technique...

’So why are you so damn exceptional?!’

Zhou Xing felt a pang of jealousy.

Qin Fang asked, confused, "Yes... Is it very hard? I feel like it’s just okay. When I hit you, Senior Brother, my fist felt a bit numb... which shows my bones aren’t very hard yet."

Zhou Xing: "..."

That one sentence left him speechless.

’What else could I say?’

’That it’s normal for me, with ten years of practice, to be harder than him, with only four months?’

’Wouldn’t that just make me look like a complete loser?!’

’...Alright, fine. Compared to this junior brother...’

’...it’s not just me. Probably ninety-nine percent of the Martial Artists in True Martial County would be considered losers, right?’

’What a monster!’

It took Zhou Xing a while to reluctantly accept the fact that his junior brother was a monster.

The two brothers sat down at a stone table under a tree. Then, Zhou Xing’s expression turned serious again. "Your strength isn’t bad right now, but if you want to kill Wang Hu... it’s far from enough."

"Anjin Martial Artists aren’t that easy to kill."

His senior brother said gravely, "Once you reach the Anjin level in your cultivation, not only is the body’s ’force’ refined into ’Strength’—with killing power and destructive force far exceeding mere ’force’—but even the five senses are massively enhanced."

"Your hearing will be sharp enough to hear a needle drop indoors."

"Your sight will be keen enough to identify a fly falling from a hundred meters away."

"Even your senses of taste, smell, and touch... are all drastically improved."

"This is especially true for Wang Hu, whose Talent is extraordinary. He reached the Anjin level several years ago. I heard that after recovering from his recent injury, he’s become even stronger. He might have even touched upon a higher realm..."

Zhou Xing carefully explained the details about Anjin Martial Artists to Qin Fang.

This was precisely the information Qin Fang lacked, and he immediately began to listen intently.

But here, Zhou Xing suddenly paused. Qin Fang asked with confusion, "A higher realm?"