Chapter Twelve: The Thrusting Fist

Rules are like an iron cage—unless you have the power to break them, you must obey, or else face ruthless suppression.

Jiang Fan flicked his sleeve and turned to leave. The two young maids followed closely behind, unconsciously straightening their backs. Watching their retreating figures, Jiang Hua’s face darkened.

"Young master, it’s best not to provoke him in the future," Liang Shan advised. "He has the old master’s favor and received the Profound Dao Diagram. Three years ago, I reached perfection in the eighteenth image, but since then, I haven’t advanced at all. In terms of cultivation, I’m at the peak of Qi Training, able to contend with those at the Innate level. Yet just now, Ninth Young Master’s strength was only a hair weaker than mine!"

"Impossible!" Jiang Hua retorted. "His progress in cultivation is on par with mine, and he lacks talent. Not long ago, he hadn’t even completed Foundation Establishment. Even if he’s broken through, he couldn’t possibly be at this level!"

"In truth, he is still far behind me," Liang Shan admitted, taking a deep breath, "but in the art of the Surging Fist, he has at least reached the third stage, able to unleash fourfold power, while I, after decades of study, remain stalled at the first."

"He’s grasped the third stage of Surging Fist? How can that be?" Jiang Hua was shocked. "The explosive might of Surging Fist is terrifying, but it’s also the most difficult to comprehend. Even with your twenty years of expertise, Uncle Liang, you’ve only mastered the first stage. How could he possibly reach the third?"

"That’s why, young master, you should avoid crossing him," Liang Shan urged again. "And his Arrow Step technique is nearly mastered as well, just a hairsbreadth from perfection!"

"This...!" Jiang Hua gritted his teeth.

In East Peace Pavilion—

"Thank you, young master!" Xiao Qing knelt with heartfelt sincerity.

"You serve me, so it’s only right that I stand up for you," Jiang Fan said, helping her up. "No matter what happens in the future, you must tell me at once. Do you understand?"

"Yes, young master!" Xiao Qing was moved to tears. "You are the best young master in the world!"

"No one compares to our young master!" Xiao Qian declared matter-of-factly.

"That’s a compliment I’ll gladly accept!" Jiang Fan laughed. "Now, off to prepare the meal!"

"Yes, sir!"

The two maids scampered joyfully to the kitchen.

Jiang Fan no longer felt like reading. He set himself in stance and began to practice the Surging Fist.

This was a fearsome fist technique, especially when paired with the Profound Dao Diagram, capable of unleashing terrifying power—yet extremely difficult to master.

The Surging Fist consisted of nine forms, each representing a higher stage of force application.

Through fistwork, one comprehended the secret of stacking power.

The first stage, using eighty percent of one’s strength, doubled the impact, achieving an explosive force equal to 1.6 times one’s own power.

That was only the beginning.

The second stage, still rooted in eighty percent effort, achieved triple the burst; and so it continued, until the ninth stage, where eighty percent strength could be multiplied tenfold.

This technique was akin to the "Ninefold Thunder Blade" created by the Thunder God of the Devouring World, though the Thunder Blade’s foundation was sevenfold one’s own power.

By comparison, the Surging Fist surpassed even the Ninefold Thunder Blade.

In his previous life, Jiang Fan had already comprehended the third stage of the Surging Fist.

At the third stage, one could amplify their strength fourfold, equaling 3.2 times their base power.

A single punch roared like thunder, shaking the trees and sending leaves fluttering down.

As Jiang Fan practiced, he coordinated his steps, treading the Five Elements, tracing the Seven Stars, and moving through the Nine Palaces.

By lunchtime, he drew back his fists, standing with a frown and murmuring, "Still haven’t grasped the fourth stage."

He shook his head helplessly, knowing well this was not something to be accomplished in a single day.

Just as he was about to enter the main hall, someone arrived outside—it was Jiang Shan.

"Ninth brother, are you hurt?"

"Third brother, so you’ve heard?" Jiang Fan smiled. "Fortunately, you gave me a Marrow Cleansing Pill, allowing me to complete Foundation Establishment in one go. Otherwise, I’d have suffered at Sixth Brother’s hands."

"As long as you’re fine." Jiang Shan replied, "Sixth Brother is another matter—debauchery’s sapped his strength and dulled his wits. He’ll never amount to much, only cause minor troubles. But..."

He hesitated.

"Third brother, you mean Second Brother, don’t you?" Jiang Fan said with a smile.

Jiang Fan’s grandfather was the family patriarch. The old man had three sons: First Uncle Jiang Zhengren, Second Uncle Jiang Zhengde, and Third Uncle Jiang Zheng’an.

First Uncle had one son and two daughters. The eldest daughter was the first in this generation, the younger daughter was the fifth, and the son was the third, Jiang Shan.

Second Uncle Jiang Zhengde had two sons and three daughters: the second brother, fourth sister, sixth brother, seventh sister, and eighth sister.

As for Third Uncle Jiang Zheng’an, he was Jiang Fan’s father, with one son and one daughter—Ninth Brother Jiang Fan, and Tenth Sister Jiang Yuqing.

There were also collateral branches, but they were not part of the main line.

Such a great clan inevitably harbored intrigue and rivalry.

First and Third Uncles were on good terms; Second Uncle was ambitious.

"Since you understand, there’s no need to say more," Jiang Shan said. "If you run into trouble, come find me."

"Thank you, third brother."

"What’s the use in being formal with your own brother?"

"I’ll be sure not to stand on ceremony in the future. Third brother, we’ve just finished cooking—join me for a meal?"

"No, I have other engagements. Another day, we’ll share a drink."

Jiang Shan waved and departed.

"Second Uncle’s family..." Jiang Fan mused to himself. "They’d best not make trouble for me."

His life passed in tranquil routine.

On ordinary days, he cultivated, read books, and chatted with the two maids. Life was far from lonely, and he even found joy in it.

In the blink of an eye, ten days passed, and finally his parents returned.

They had been away from home for half a month.

"Mother, you both look so travel-worn. Was it an unsuccessful trip?" Jiang Fan asked as he personally brought a basin of water for washing.

"It really was troublesome!" Nangong Yue replied. "On the way there, we ran into bandits and your father had to kill them, burying them on the spot. On the way back, we encountered three waves of river monsters. If your father’s cultivation weren’t strong, we might not have made it home."

"How could there be so many river monsters?" Jiang Fan frowned. "Our Hundred Rivers Prefecture is famed for its many rivers, but it shouldn’t be possible to encounter three waves of monsters on one journey. Has something happened?"

Jiang Zheng’an’s expression turned grave and solemn. "This is clearly a test by the river monsters. Something major is likely to happen soon. Xiao Fan, you must not leave home for a while, especially not outside the city."

Jiang Fan nodded, then pointed upward. "Won’t the authorities do anything?"

"The world is too vast—how could they possibly control everything? For now, it’s just minor river monsters causing disturbances, nothing worth the higher-ups’ attention," Jiang Zheng’an explained. "Don’t worry. After all, this is the Great Song Dynasty’s realm—even if a great demon stirs trouble, it will be suppressed."

After washing up, he sent Xiao Qian and Xiao Qing to guard the door, then the family withdrew into the house.

Nangong Yue took out a purple-gold box from her bundle. When she opened it, there were several porcelain bottles, cushioned with cotton to prevent collisions.

"Mother, what kind of elixirs are these?" Jiang Fan couldn’t resist asking.

"These are all elixirs of great use to you," Nangong Yue replied with a smile. "After hearing about your situation, your grandfather spared no effort to help, along with a set of jewelry. He sent three bottles of Essence Pills, ten pills per bottle—the best medicine for the second stage of the Profound Dao Diagram."

The Profound Dao Diagram had three stages: the first six images, the middle twelve, and the final eighteen, corresponding to the realms of Foundation Establishment, Qi Training, and Innate cultivation.

"Will taking too many pills have side effects?" Jiang Fan’s eyes lit up, but he asked in concern.

"Generally, no," Jiang Zheng’an answered with a shake of his head. "You’re in the body-forging stage. During this process, one is constantly refining muscles and marrow. Even if the pills hold impurities, they’ll be expelled. Of course, you mustn’t overdo it—if too many impurities accumulate, your progress will be blocked, forming a great barrier that can hinder future breakthroughs. In fact, for the twelve images of the second stage, six pills are sufficient."

He paused, then continued, "The third stage, starting with the nineteenth image, is a major bottleneck—many scions of noble families stall there. The Dragon-Tiger Pill can increase your chances of breaking through by thirty percent. It’s extremely valuable, so we’ve prepared two just in case."

"As for the Great Origin Pill, it’s for the final eighteen images—only six pills!"

"With these medicines, Xiao Fan, with your extraordinary comprehension and enough effort, perfecting the Profound Dao Diagram is no difficult feat!"

"Even without immortal fate, you’ll be a force to be reckoned with in the prefecture!"

"Your grandfather pulled many strings for these elixirs. You must remember this favor," Jiang Zheng’an concluded.