As a cultivator at the level of the Yellow Sparrow, one naturally understands that for most people, their True Qi or inner strength is essentially indistinguishable, simply a pure form of power. Only a few can infuse their beliefs and will into their True Qi or inner strength, making it immensely powerful.
The most common forms of this are "killing intent" and "rage," but both are double-edged swords. If not controlled, a cultivator's Dao heart could collapse into devilry, and a martial artist's mind might shatter into madness.
Cultivators like Xu Taiping, who can integrate their personal insights into their True Qi, are exceedingly rare.
"This breath, when integrated into fist techniques, becomes fist intent; into swordplay, sword intent; and into saber techniques, saber intent. With intent, your fists, swords, and sabers have spirit, far surpassing ordinary techniques," he murmured to himself.
Of course, the integration process is not so simple. Someone who has just picked up a sword cannot possibly comprehend sword intent. It's like a blacksmith forging iron; only through repeated hammering can one infuse this intent into their techniques.
"Bang!"
Just as the Yellow Sparrow was contemplating this, Fan Qi suddenly stepped forward on the stage and, swift as a gust of wind, appeared beside Xu Taiping, throwing a punch at his face.
What was different this time was that Fan Qi's punch was filled with a tumultuous rage and killing intent, like a horde of beasts enraged to their limits, roaring and howling at Xu Taiping, eager to tear him apart.
"Bang!"
Although Xu Taiping raised his fist to meet the punch, his own force crumbled upon contact, and he was sent stumbling back by the opponent's powerful blow.
Before he could regain his footing, Fan Qi's fist thundered towards him again.
"Bang!"
With a muffled sound, his force was shattered once more, his punch turned feeble and powerless, and he was sent flying backward with a single blow.
The difference between having fist intent and not was starkly evident.
"Boom!"
After steadying his breath, Xu Taiping had just regained his footing when Fan Qi was already upon him, leaning his body into Xu Taiping with tremendous force.
It was as if he had been struck by a mountain.
With a loud "bang," Xu Taiping was sent flying straight backward, crashing to the edge of the platform.
Had it not been for a desperate punch to the platform at the last moment, he would have been smashed right out of the ring.
And if his body, tempered over time, had not been resilient enough, he might have been shattered to pieces by Fan Qi's blow before even falling out of the ring.
"Boom!"
As Xu Taiping steadied himself, Fan Qi's fists came at him again, fast and furious, like an overwhelming tide.
The Fan family's boxing technique, though not as swift as Xu Taiping's Green Bull Fist, became ferocious and impenetrable when combined with Fan Qi's rage-filled intent, leaving no openings.
"Swish, swish, swish…"
Relying on his footwork and vision, Xu Taiping dodged several punches, but eventually, Fan Qi's flurry of blows cornered him, leaving no room to dodge, forcing him to take the hits head-on.
"Bang!"
Just like before, as soon as he threw a punch, its force was dissolved by Fan Qi's rage-filled intent, and he was once again sent crashing to the edge of the platform.
This scene left the Sixth Princess and others in the stands shocked.
Below the stage, the Yellow Sparrow frowned and thought to himself, "Turning one's insights into fist intent is indeed a difficult path."
However, Xu Taiping himself felt his condition improving.
For him, each of Fan Qi's dangerous punches unraveled the mysteries of the Green Bull Fist that had puzzled him before.
More importantly, terms like "fist intent" and "Dao heart," which had seemed elusive to him, were beginning to take shape.
The problem was, just when he felt close to grasping this profound and elusive intent, it would dissipate like a mirage, impossible to integrate into his own fists.
"Bang!"
At that moment, he was hit by another heavy punch from Fan Qi.
After struggling to his feet, the immense force in Fan Qi's punch, penetrating his flesh, violently shook his organs, causing his brain to reel.
And in that instant of dizziness, images of the valiant faces of the rangers like Fan Zhong and Qi Yan, along with their declarations of facing death:
"He Yuan comes to embrace death."
"Di Yi comes to seek death."
"Ran Yong comes to seek death!"
And the Yellow Sparrow's words—
"One must not underestimate these Mortal Bones. While we yearn for immortality in vain, they willingly embrace death for the righteousness in their hearts."
Suddenly, Xu Taiping, who had only been touched by these thoughts, felt a tangible grasp on something.
"Is it really the Sixth Princess's benevolence that makes these Mortal Bones willing to die? No, it's not. What makes them willing to die is their belief in righteousness, preferring death over abandoning their principles."
With this realization, the force in Xu Taiping's previously shattered punch suddenly reassembled.
Then, he threw a punch directly at Fan Qi's incoming fist.
"Bang!"
With a thunderous impact, both Xu Taiping and Fan Qi's bodies leaned back.
Although he didn't knock down Fan Qi, Xu Taiping's force was now stable and not broken by the assault.
Xu Taiping then straightened his body and raised his fists once more.
"I, Xu Taiping, may have become a cultivator, but I cannot lose the spirit of Mortal Bones. I will integrate it into my fist intent, and from now on, use this spirit to protect my Dao heart and justify my punches."
This thought was like the final quenching in a swordsmith's forging, solidifying Xu Taiping's previously wavering fist intent.
"Boom!"
With his fist intent solidified, Xu Taiping's force surged, and he threw another punch at the oncoming fist of Fan Qi.
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas