Upon hearing this, Jiang Haoyang’s eyes instantly lit up, and his face flushed with excitement. "Thank you, Senior Brother!"

To receive personal instruction from a Huajin Powerhouse was an opportunity countless disciples dreamed of.

Yang Jing smiled and patted his shoulder. "Train hard, and don’t slack off."

Just then, a gentle voice came from the direction of the inner courtyard. "Junior Brother Yang, my father wants to see you in the inner courtyard."

Yang Jing looked up and saw Sun Ningxiang emerging from behind the inner courtyard’s Moon Gate. She wore a set of pale green training clothes, her hair tied back simply, her cheeks flushed with a healthy glow from her morning practice.

Seeing Yang Jing’s gaze, she nodded slightly and gestured for him to come forward.

"Thank you, Senior Sister," Yang Jing replied with a nod. After a quick word with Jiang Haoyang, he stepped into the inner courtyard.

Passing through the Moon Gate, he saw Sun Yong standing under the eaves outside the main house, his hands clasped behind his back, staring blankly at the old pagoda tree in the courtyard.

The morning light filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting down upon him and outlining his steady silhouette.

Hearing footsteps, Sun Yong turned around. His gaze lingered on Yang Jing for a moment, and his brow twitched as a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. ’Something about this kid’s aura feels different... Has he improved again?’

At this realization, Sun Yong’s eyes brightened. He waved his hand. "Perfect timing. My hands are itching for a fight. Let’s spar for a few rounds."

With that, he walked to the center of the courtyard and took the opening stance of the Mountain-Shattering Fist. "Come."

Yang Jing didn’t hesitate. He sank into his stance and also assumed the opening posture of the Mountain-Shattering Fist. The Inner Strength and physical power in his body circulated in unison, releasing an aura that was even more solid than the day before.

BAM!

Their fists collided, producing a dull thud.

Sun Yong felt a fierce yet resilient force travel up his arm, making his wrist go slightly numb. He was inwardly astonished.

’His physical strength has actually increased a whole level since yesterday! It’s like I’m not punching flesh and blood, but a solid block of bluestone. The impact makes my knuckles ache.’

"Good! Again!" Sun Yong’s interest was piqued. His fists flew faster, fully displaying the ferocious and domineering nature of the Mountain-Shattering Fist. The wind from his punches howled, making the surrounding air tremble.

Yang Jing responded with composure. His Punching Techniques remained simple and direct, but thanks to his enhanced physical strength, every strike carried the immense weight of a collapsing mountain.

When Sun Yong’s fists landed on his arm, they only managed to make him sway slightly. He couldn’t even be forced back half a step.

After more than a dozen rounds, Sun Yong gradually retracted his fists. His gaze was filled with amazement as he looked at Yang Jing. "Hiss... your improvement is astonishingly fast. Your current strength is no less than that of those veteran powerhouses who have been immersed in the Huajin Realm for years."

He paused, then added, "Of course, compared to a Martial Artist at the Peak of Transformation, you still have a ways to go in terms of the refinement of your Inner Strength and the subtlety of your techniques. But given time, it’s only a matter of when, not if, you’ll catch up to them."

Yang Jing also relaxed his stance. His forehead was beaded with sweat, but he felt an incredible sense of exhilaration.

During the spar, he could clearly feel the leap his strength had taken.

Yesterday, he would have been at a disadvantage after just ten moves against his master. Now, he could parry with ease and even managed to counter-attack once or twice.

’Even though Master probably wasn’t using his full strength, it’s still a clear sign of my own growth.’

"It is all thanks to Master’s daily guidance," Yang Jing said, cupping his hands, the excitement in his eyes unconcealable.

Progress verified through actual combat felt more solid than progress made through solitary practice.

Sun Yong waved his hand dismissively, his eyes filled with genuine admiration. "This is due to your own unique talent. It has little to do with my guidance."

Despite his words, he was growing more and more curious about Yang Jing’s talent.

’This rate of progress is simply unheard of. Just what kind of talent allows him to walk the Martial Dao so smoothly?’

He recalled the feeling of their exchange just now, his brow furrowing slightly.

From the very first time he’d sparred with Yang Jing, he had felt that this disciple’s body was much tougher than that of an ordinary Martial Artist. Recently, however, this feeling had become more and more pronounced. Especially today—Yang Jing’s physical hardness and stamina were a notch higher than yesterday, as if he had been completely reborn overnight.

"You..." Sun Yong pondered for a moment before he could no longer hold back his question. "Have you been practicing a body-strengthening martial art? Otherwise, how could your physical body improve so quickly?"

Yang Jing had no intention of hiding it. He nodded and said, "Master has sharp eyes. I have indeed been cultivating a body-strengthening martial art recently. I just broke through to the Mingjin Realm yesterday, which is why my overall strength has increased."

"Cultivating it concurrently? And you broke through to the Mingjin Realm?" Sun Yong was truly astonished this time, the hand stroking his beard pausing mid-air. "You’re already majoring in the Mountain-Shattering Fist and minoring in the Raging Wave Kicks. That’s already two martial arts. To add a body-strengthening art on top of that and still break through so easily? You must understand, the more arts you cultivate concurrently, the more mixed your foundation becomes, and the greater the difficulty in breaking through. Countless Martial Artists get stuck in the Mingjin Realm of a single art their entire lives, yet you... in such a short time..."

He found it hard to believe. Such talent was simply heaven-defying.

"Body-strengthening martial arts do temper the physical body, and their effect on one’s strength is indeed immediate." Sun Yong composed himself, calmed his emotions, and asked casually, "Which body-strengthening art are you practicing?"

He thought for a moment and came to a guess. "Last time, you killed Li Qianxiong of the Flying Horse Thieves. That scoundrel’s Iron Cloth Shirt is a decent body-strengthening art. I imagine that’s the one you’re practicing, right?"

But Yang Jing shook his head. "No. I did obtain Li Qianxiong’s Iron Cloth Shirt, but I have not practiced it."

He paused. ’My relationship with Master has long surpassed that of an ordinary master and disciple. He wouldn’t harm me. Besides, I only have half of the Indestructible True Skill, not the complete manual. There’s no harm in telling him.’