Chapter 19 – Bitter Cultivation in the Deep Mountains Tempers the Heart

Time never ages, mountains and rivers remain eternal, as September heralds the beginning of winter.

In the blink of an eye, a century passes, and everyone will eventually turn to dust. As a man of vigor, how could Ye Kuang idly squander his years?

It could be said that since mastering the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms, his temperament had subtly sharpened, growing increasingly formidable.

The landscape unchanged, the green waters flowing endlessly, he boldly kept company with the Mountain Forest, echoing the song of September.

Every punch Ye Kuang threw was as sharp as tempered metal, fierce and powerful, resembling dragon fangs poised to devour their prey.

With a single step, he moved swiftly as a shuttle, yet stood as steady as ancient pines and cypresses, unshakable. Each footprint he left behind was marked with countless imprints.

When his fists and feet moved in unison, the very atmosphere shifted, shadows flickering in a whirlwind of motion.

As Ye Kuang’s form dissipated one after another, he stood alone in a corner of the Mountain Forest. Yet when the myriad shadows merged into one, he unified into a single entity, thrusting a palm forward.

A roar echoed!

Several golden dragon phantoms darted through the Mountain Forest, weaving and roaming freely. The scene was undeniably devastating.

The giant trees ahead were shredded as if clawed by countless talons, splintering into fragments that scattered in all directions.

Ye Kuang could clearly perceive the terror of the Eighteen Palms—still as death, but once set in motion, earth-shattering and heaven-shaking.

He couldn’t help but feel a surge of wild joy, yet quickly tempered it with solemnity.

If he encountered martial artists, there would be no need for explanation, but what if it were in a competition? The thought weighed heavily on his heart.

Possessing great power might not solely be for brawling and aggression; perhaps there were other merits to it.

In truth, his mindset remained that of an ordinary student, untouched by the deceit and intrigue of the martial world. Unless absolutely necessary, he would never resort to using the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms!

According to the manual, the sharpness of these palms surpassed even tempered metal. Once mastered to a minor degree, they could unleash an Earth-Shattering Shock, startling heaven and earth, moving even gods and ghosts to tears!

Now, Ye Kuang had only revealed a glimpse of their potential. One could only imagine how awe-inspiring this Ultimate Technique would be when fully perfected.

He then delved deeper into the world of martial practice, clearly preferring action over empty theorizing.

It must be said that his heart had always been supreme, and the sharpness of his palms complemented this Ultimate Technique perfectly!

His solitary pride resembled Wandering Dragons; by venturing into the Mountain Forest, he could grasp the whole from a single glimpse.

As the saying goes, he never questioned where the path led, focusing only on taking the first step today.

Ye Kuang: “Dragon Regrets!”

As his words faded, he stood firm, arms swirling with immense internal energy, while an aura of righteousness radiated outward.

Instantly, the heavens and earth shifted, wind and thunder dancing in a frenzy.

Whoosh… whoosh…

Countless soaring dragons circled within his palms before soaring into the sky.

Ye Kuang’s century of cultivated power played its due role, allowing him to contract and release energy as naturally as breathing, seamlessly fluid.

One of the essences of the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms lay in the mantra of “subduing.”

For without exceptional power, how could one tame the wild nature of dragons, let alone master the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms?

Although Ye Kuang’s power originated from the Great Revitalizing Pill, it now belonged to him entirely.

Thus, in execution, there was not the slightest hesitation, enabling him to wield it as effortlessly as moving his own limbs, controlling it with perfect ease.

Ye Kuang: “Flying Dragon in Sky, Dragon Appearing Field!”As the words fell, the dragon phantoms roaming the vast void clearly showed reluctance, yet they converged between his palms one after another.

This was precisely the location of the human body’s Dantian.

Dragons are inherently unruly, their roars unceasing. As countless dragon phantoms intertwined, they instantly transformed into a terrifying apparition of an enraged dragon.

Roar!

Ye Kuang: “Wild Goose Landing!”

With his sudden explosive shout, the dragon’s roar and tiger’s growl gradually ceased. In the blink of an eye, the area ahead lay in utter disarray.

Hiss… boom… rumble!

The earth could no longer withstand this earth-shattering force, exploding everywhere on the spot. Within a hundred-meter radius, it seemed as if it had become a bombing target.

Amidst the deafening reverberations, the ground within a hundred meters continuously fractured, as if countless explosives had been set off simultaneously!

Yet Ye Kuang’s breath remained steady and long, the gleam in his eyes flickering repeatedly.

He intended to summon the dragon phantom back into his palm, but the result was unsatisfactory.

This process felt as though it lacked a certain guiding force, leaving him somewhat powerless!

Ye Kuang couldn’t help but focus his thoughts inwardly.

Subduing Dragon?

What does it mean to subdue a dragon?

And how should one subdue a dragon?

Dragons, by nature, are solitary and proud. Even if they are not true dragons, how could they be controlled by others?

In a single thought, countless reflections arose. It is true that dragons are solitary and proud, but they are not invincible. This meant that his century of cultivated power had its merits!

Subsequently, he repeatedly combed through and summarized every subtle change in his palm strikes, observing the intricacies within.

For over a month, Ye Kuang devoted himself to deep contemplation, yet he struggled to fully unravel the mystery.

Since pondering it endlessly yielded no answers, it was better to cease thinking altogether.

Moreover, forcing what cannot be attained only leads to inner discord.

Ye Kuang then cast aside his doubts and prepared to catch fish to satisfy his hunger.

But when he arrived at the pond, he suddenly noticed a phenomenon.

A school of fish was frolicking in the pond…

Unexpectedly, his gaze became intensely focused, and he stood rooted to the spot.

Regardless of where the larger fish swam, the smaller ones would follow closely.

Boom!

Ye Kuang’s mind was struck by a thunderous realization, instantly enlightening him!

“Hahaha…”

He abruptly abandoned the idea of catching fish. Only at this moment did he finally understand the crux of the matter!

Ye Kuang then calmed his excitement and completely relaxed his tense state.

Dragon Regrets!

Flying Dragon in Sky!

Dragon Appearing Field!

Ye Kuang: “Wild Goose Landing!”

As his words fell, his palms thrust forward violently!

Rumble…

Countless dragon phantoms ravaged the surroundings, chaos erupted everywhere, and explosions resounded without end.

Yet Ye Kuang grew increasingly adept, as if he still held power in reserve!

The enraged dragon in his palm was now clearly within reach.

His strength seemed to harbor limitless potential, and this sensation left him utterly captivated!

By sheer chance, he had stumbled upon the hidden essence of the Eighteen Palms: that retaining residual strength is what demonstrates true power…

Regardless of the formidable enemy faced, each palm strike must leave room to spare—this is the core essence of the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms!

Hidden Dragon Unused!

For a moment, Ye Kuang grew somewhat exhilarated. His hands waved repeatedly, and countless dragon phantoms once again emerged from his palms, enveloping his entire body as if entwined by furious dragons.

The scene was visually stunning.

“Roar!”

But with a sudden roar, he was already traversing the heavens and the earth!At the same time, the birds in the Mountain Forest stirred at the sound, flapping their wings and soaring into the blue sky.

Yet inwardly, Ye Kuang was roaring: “Flying Dragon in Sky!!!”

With a swift leap, he stepped in a seven-star pattern, darting to the treetops, then shifting his footing to appear atop another canopy.

His speed was as swift as a thunderbolt!

Countless birds seemed to sense his menace, erupting into sharp cries and descending into chaos.

Ye Kuang bounded up and down continuously, shifting through countless positions like a great roc spreading its wings, boldly challenging the heavens themselves.

Leaping onto branches, he sought to catch the birds, only to find their agility and speed surpassed his own.

This immediately ignited his competitive spirit.

As Ye Kuang moved relentlessly, his century-cultivated power awakened with vibrant vitality.

If before he had merely absorbed it without fully making it his own, now he had truly activated this force.

The endless stream of sensations compelled him to unleash it without restraint.

As power surged forth, his speed grew increasingly fierce, even stirring the sixth form of the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms.

This discovery drove him to pursue even more fervently.

Yet the birds’ flight was truly too fast; even with his utmost effort, he fell short.

Ye Kuang: “Flying Dragon in Sky!”

He leaped upward with all his might, his body as if propelled by a mysterious force gliding swiftly, his century-cultivated power acting like a thruster, making his entire form incredibly light.

Riding the wind and scaling walls could hardly compare to this!

When Ye Kuang extended his posture once more, the Dragon Shadow Footwork beneath his feet made him tread perilous heights as if on flat ground.

Had anyone witnessed this scene, their jaws would surely have dropped in astonishment.

Instead, Ye Kuang’s entire focus remained on the birds, completely unaware that the more he employed his Movement Technique, the more adept he became.

For half a month, he spent his days in pursuit of birds!

Now, he could touch the birds’ wings but struggled to grasp them firmly.

This wasn’t due to a lack of speed, but rather his reaction time lagged far behind the birds’, causing his movements to always fall just short.

Though somewhat disheartening, this fully ignited Ye Kuang’s fighting spirit.

He suddenly let out a dragon-like roar, leaping up once more with such speed it resembled a dragon’s shadow ascending, becoming indescribable.

As for catching birds, it had become his primary goal for the time being.

What seemed like play was, in reality, a form of cultivation.

And arduous training in the deep mountains was also about cultivating the heart—one of the cultivator’s greatest adversaries, yet also their finest ally.

To temper this mindset, Ye Kuang had pondered long; rigidly practicing the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms step by step might not always yield double the results, but seeking a breakthrough through alternative means could indeed be a path to enlightenment.

Thus he reflected: Arduous training in the deep mountains also cultivates the heart!