Chapter 25: The Second Awakening

In the valley nestled beneath the precipice, a fierce struggle unfolded between man and ape. Blows rained down, each collision resounding with immense force. Qin Mu's arms grew numb under the onslaught, the demonic ape pressing its advantage, slowly forcing him onto the defensive.

Before long, he found himself battered and bruised, his face a tapestry of purple and blue. Yet, the ape, despite its ferocity, held back, never delivering a truly lethal blow, reserving just enough strength to continue the sparring.

"Eat! Grow strong!" the ape bellowed, its fist thundering towards him. Within that single strike pulsed nine distinct forces, none other than the third style of the Thunder Sound Eight Styles: Nine Dragons Control Wind Thunder. As it attacked, it urged Qin Mu to devour more, to grow as powerful as itself.

"Divine Firmament Heavenly Eye, open!" Qin Mu roared, his vital energy surging into his eyes. Within his pupils, the first layer of the Nine Heavens Open Eye Law, the Heavenly Gang array pattern, materialized, adding another, ethereal layer to his gaze.

With the Divine Firmament Heavenly Eye activated, the world before Qin Mu transformed. Everything became starkly, profoundly clear, revealing a hidden order. Even the ape's incoming fist, in his enhanced vision, was a marvel to behold.

He could perceive every minute vibration of the ape's fur in the air, even the intricate dance of the great tendons and muscles beneath its skin, and the precise trajectory of its power! The Blind One's transmission of the Nine Heavens Open Eye Law had peeled back the veil of superficial reality, allowing him to grasp the ebb and flow of power, both his own and his opponent's, reaching a realm he had never conceived.

Qin Mu met the ape's formidable fist with his own. As their strikes were about to collide, Qin Mu's fingers suddenly lashed out in quick succession, each one snapping through the air with a piercing whistle, like the twang of a mighty bowstring.

This was the second style of the Thunder Sound Eight Styles: Finger Flick Shocking Thunder Pipa Hand. Grandaddy Horse's fist techniques were not limited to closed fists; they encompassed exquisite finger techniques as well. Qin Mu's first finger flick struck the ape's massive fist, and instantly, the ape felt the power within its strike dissipate.

His second finger flicked out, and the ape felt a violent tremor run through the great tendons within its arm!

With the third finger flick, the ape's muscles also began to shake violently, a flicker of unease crossing its mind.

As Qin Mu's fourth finger struck, the ape's arm was involuntarily thrown high into the air, exposing a crucial opening in its defense.

The fifth finger flick landed squarely on the chest of the colossal beast. The ape felt as though it had been struck by hundreds of Great Ruins barbarian bulls at once, its body sent hurtling backward, out of control!

Qin Mu stared in stunned silence. Was the Blind One's Nine Heavens Open Eye Law truly this potent? It wasn't his martial moves that were so formidable, but his eyes. Using the Divine Firmament Heavenly Eye, he had effortlessly seen through the ape's shifting power and trajectory, identifying the weakness within its fist. His first finger had struck precisely at that flaw, completely neutralizing the ape's earth-shattering strike!

*Hoo—*

Just as he was lost in thought, the ape roared back to life, a single fist sending Qin Mu flying. It then leapt into the air, clasping its hands together, and hammered down towards Qin Mu. The earth trembled as Qin Mu's body impacted, creating a deep crater.

The ape landed with a heavy *thump*, its fist aimed for the pit. But before its strike could land, Qin Mu's finger, from the depths of the crater, flicked out once more, striking its fist.

In the next instant, the ape's massive body bounced high into the air. Qin Mu leapt out of the pit, pursuing the airborne ape.

Nine Dragons Control Wind Thunder!

*Bang bang bang*, a series of violent impacts echoed through the valley. The ape's colossal form was struck repeatedly, falling like a meteor, crashing through more than ten large trees.

After what seemed like an eternity, Qin Mu and the ape found themselves at the summit of the mountain cliff, lying on the ground, panting heavily. They had exhausted their strength, unable to continue the fight.

While incredibly powerful, the Divine Firmament Heavenly Eye consumed a tremendous amount of vital energy. Even with Qin Mu's deep cultivation, it was difficult to sustain for long periods.

After a moment of rest, the ape sat up, raising a large thumb and pointing to itself. "I," it grunted, "brother!"

Qin Mu also sat up, shaking his head. "I," he corrected, "brother. You, younger brother."

The ape's face contorted in anger, its fist clenched, arms covered in bulging muscles. "I," it insisted, "strong!"

Qin Mu grabbed one of its fingers, swung it up, and slammed it heavily onto the ground. "I," he declared, "even stronger!"

The ape flipped back onto its feet, and the man and ape were locked in battle once more, only to quickly run out of strength, lying down again, panting in unison.

Having recovered some of his energy, Qin Mu stood up and began to demonstrate the Thunder Sound Eight Styles on the cliff top. The ape also sat up, watching intently, its eyes never leaving him.

Yesterday, Qin Mu had only shown it the movements once, allowing it to grasp only the general outline. Now, Qin Mu meticulously displayed every detail of the Thunder Sound Eight Styles, simultaneously explaining the nuances of force exertion for each move.

This demon ape was an exceptionally fast learner. Within a few hours, it had completely mastered the Thunder Sound Eight Styles, leaving Qin Mu's scalp tingling. He couldn't help but wonder if he would still be able to defeat this behemoth if this continued.

*This guy is a martial arts prodigy! Can a different beast truly possess such spiritual intelligence? Can it even cultivate?*

Qin Mu pondered for a moment, then sat down, beginning to teach the ape how to breathe and exhale, transmitting his own "Overbearing Body Three Elixir Skill" to it.

The ape mimicked his actions, learning the breathing and exhaling techniques. The "Overbearing Body Three Elixir Skill" was, in fact, the most basic guiding skill, its practice method incredibly simple: merely circulating vital energy.

Before long, the ape had essentially mastered the guiding skill, its breathing and exhaling steady. This was, in part, related to its nature. It only consumed vegetation, possessed a quiet disposition, and its mind was remarkably simple and pure, allowing it to grasp the guiding skill in such a short time.

*This guy... truly a martial arts genius,* Qin Mu thought, genuinely impressed by the ape's rapid mastery. "Big blockhead," he said, "cultivate well. Tomorrow, I'll come find you again for another fight." With that, he leaped from the mountain cliff, heading back towards the village.

The ape watched him go, then sat down again, muttering softly, "Little, small one..."

Over the next ten days, Qin Mu returned daily to spar with the ape. After their battles, the ape would invite him to share fruits, and Qin Mu would guide its cultivation. Furthermore, he even taught this ape Granddaddy Cripple's Steal Heaven Divine Leg techniques.

The ape was originally proficient in fist techniques, but its leg skills were lacking. However, after learning the Steal Heaven Divine Leg, its leg techniques became exceptionally tricky. Even Qin Mu would suffer losses if he wasn't careful.

Qin Mu's strength advanced rapidly, but the ape's progress was equally terrifying. Soon, its vital energy achieved minor accomplishments. When sparring with Qin Mu, if Qin Mu didn't use the Divine Firmament Heavenly Eye, he couldn't gain any advantage; on the contrary, he would fall into a disadvantageous position.

That afternoon, after sparring with the ape, Qin Mu returned to the Mute One's blacksmith shop as usual to help. Following the Mute One's instructions, he sat by the furnace, tending the fire.

Within his Spirit Embryo Divine Treasury, his vital energy, like fire, tempered his Spirit Embryo. Everything seemed as it had before, until, at this moment, his Spirit Embryo suddenly began to frantically absorb the golden light from the golden sea within the Divine Treasury. Countless golden rays surged into his Spirit Embryo.

Qin Mu was at a loss, completely unaware of what was happening.

The Mute One, unable to see what was occurring within his Spirit Embryo Divine Treasury, naturally had no idea of the extraordinary transformation unfolding within Qin Mu's body.

The Spirit Embryo absorbed more and more golden light until, suddenly, the little figure ceased absorbing and stopped circulating vital energy, falling into a deep silence.

Qin Mu attempted to rouse his Spirit Embryo, but it remained motionless.

*Is the Spirit Embryo... dead?*

The youth felt a wave of unease. After a long time, his Spirit Embryo slowly began to recover, waking up.

Qin Mu breathed a sigh of relief and continued tending the fire. Just then, he felt his vital energy become incredibly fierce. As the Spirit Embryo breathed and exhaled, its vital energy ignited. When this fiery vital energy flowed out of the Spirit Embryo Divine Treasury, it astonishingly did not extinguish!

Qin Mu leaped up in fright, hastily stopping his tending of the fire. But it was too late; his clothes had spontaneously ignited!

The Mute One, who was nearby, immediately grabbed a large water jar and dumped it over his head, extinguishing the flames.

When the Mute One lifted the water jar, Qin Mu was left soaked, looking like a drowned chicken.

The Mute One stared in disbelief, examining the burn marks on Qin Mu's clothes. He hastily dropped his iron hammer and the metal strip, then rushed towards the Village Chief like a flying projectile, gesturing wildly.

The Village Chief was surprised. He quickly had the Deaf One and the Mute One carry him over. "Mu child," he said solemnly, "try tending the fire again!"

Qin Mu, unaware of the Village Chief's gravity, resumed tending the fire. Within his Spirit Embryo Divine Treasury, his vital energy once again transformed into a furnace of flames, enveloping his Spirit Embryo.

Next, a wave of heat surged from his body, and the temperature of his skin rapidly rose!

The Village Chief's eyes brightened. He patiently guided him, "Mu child, keep your mind steady. Focus your intent. Use your palm as a knife and strike out once for me to see!"

Qin Mu's mind was clear of distractions, his eyes fixed solely on the furnace fire before him. His vital energy burst forth naturally, and with his hand as a knife, he struck out.

*Hoo—*

His palm actually emitted a fiery glow, like a burning blade slicing down!