After lunch.

After having eaten to his fill and rested for a while, Min Hong once again rushed to the training area with his mother and grandfather. He felt really light after eating and resting from all that morning drilling.

​​

The afternoon spring sun was dazzlingly beautiful and its rays were very comfortable.

"Grandpa." Min Hong looked at his heroic grandfather, dressed in white robe. His heart was filled with awe. His grandfather had Killed many magic beasts that cultivates such as the spirit fox which was at Late Qi Sea stage. In terms of strength and skill, his father had already reached a high level. Even some Dan Formation stage experts had come and asked to be taken as his grandfather's disciple.

But his grandpa had rejected them all, he was already teaching his five children and only wants to concentrate on them. Moreover, the Min Family techniques couldn't be taught to outsiders. But for Min Hong? He would be taught daily!

"After you achieve 'One with Man' level in both the "Willow Leaf Palm" and "Chaotic Shadow Steps", I would teach you how to integrate both techniques into each other and spar with you a bit, so you can develop your own unique fighting style."

"The ability to integrate multiple techniques to complement each other's flaws, can also improve one's battle prowess and strength. Once you reach the Initial Warrior stage, I would take you along anytime I'm out hunting with your uncles so you can hone your fighting skills against those magic beasts." Min Tian spoke to the fanatic-looking Min Hong.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

After training in the Array of a Thousand Shadows for eight hours straight, the sun was only vaguely visible in the horizon. Min Hong was currently soaked in sweat as he landed.

He had been able to reach the 500th pole easily without touching stagnant iron weights and also not falling. But he was currently thoroughly exhausted and laid without clothes on the floor, gasping for every bit of oxygen in the air.

It didn't take long before he felt a wave of heat gushing from within his body and immediately this feeling refreshed him and lifted his spirit. Over these years of rigorous training he was already used to this feeling of being replenished by the energy hidden within his body.

He stood up from his sleeping position and walked up to his mother and grandfather who were looking at him with look of approval. A smile of pride appeared on his face, he was naturally very happy that his mother and grandfather could acknowledge the hard work he had invested in training.

"Let's end today's training here, you can resume your exercise and technique training tomorrow." Min Tian suddenly said before looking at the sun which just completed its descent before turning back to gaze at Min Hong who was still covered in perspiration. The amount of dedication, persistence and perseverance the latter had displayed today had caused even him to be somewhat moved.

Soon he sighed at the fact that the fear and feeling of being weak had forced this young boy to mature a lot faster than normal. But little did he know that the mentality and maturity of the person he usually called "Little one" had actually far surpassed his own.

"Erm, grandpa, you and mother can go back to rest first, let me stay just a little longer before returning home." Min Hong replied as he floated backwards and started to execute the "Willow Leaf Palm" techniques in front of the stunned gazes of Min Tian and Min Rou.

In response to Min Hong's actions, Min Tian and Min Rou could only helplessly shake their heads. Min Hong's improvement was very distinct, but to cause a sound with the Willow Leaf Palm was not an easy feat. Min Tian, himself had trained in it for almost two weeks before he finally succeeded.

After Min Tian quickly informed Min Hong that they were leaving, he turned around with his hands behind his back as he left with Min Rou. As he turned, a smiling expression bloomed on his face, the persisting mentality that Min Hong showed just now made him extremely pleased.

"This child possesses an unrelenting will power that even surpasses me at my prime, this shouldn't be too difficult for him…"

"Ka!" As this thought flashed across Min Tian's mind, a muffled, but clear "Ka" sound abruptly sounded out from behind. Immediately, his face went rigid as he staggered forward before looking at Min Rou, only to find a disbelieving but yet joyous expression on her face.

Yet, at this moment bright light sparkled within Min Tian's eyes, as he signalled Min Rou and they continued their descent from the mountain top. "it appears that it was not too difficult but a rather easy matter for him to accomplish…"

"A sound!"

In the training area, Min Hong stared blankly at his palm as an intoxicating look emerged on his little face. Yet when he raised up his head, he saw that the Min Tian duo's figure was already slowly walking out of the forest

"Heh heh! Tomorrow I will show grandpa and mother, I'm sure they would be pleasantly surprised." Min Hong grinned. He hastily tidied up his surroundings before dashing down the mountain and out of the forest and towards the Min Family Castle.

Two weeks later…

~Swish~

A young figure could be vaguely seen flashing across an array with several rapid tapping sound being emitted from that figure. Two other figures were standing opposite the array discussing with themselves.

"Father, do you think Hong'er would be able to reach the target?" the first figure asked in a melodious voice.

"I'm not sure, but he should have at least an 80% chance of doing so." The second figure answered in a slightly old masculine voice.

"Unh?!" He has that much of a chance?" the first figure asked in a surprised tone.

"If he hadn't gotten over excited last night, I would have only given him a 50% chance. But since he's an intelligent boy, I don't think he would make the same mistakes again." The second figure replied as the sun gradually rose, revealing the identities of the three figures.

The two speaking figures were naturally Min Tian and Min Rou, while the agile figure in the array was Min Hong who was currently training in the Chaotic Shadow Steps technique, using the Array of a Thousand Shadows. Min Hong had gotten to the 899th pole last night.

But because he was over excited, he missed the 900th pole, hit his head on an iron weight and crashed with a loud bang. He was strongly reprimanded by Min Rou, who was pissed at the fact that, Min Hong seemed to be less serious about the footwork training and was putting more efforts into the "Willow Leaf Palm" which he achieved 'One with Man' level two weeks ago.

Seeing how Min Rou felt, and noticing few traces of Min Rou's allegations, Min Tian had resolved the situation by telling Min Hong that if he didn't achieve 'One with Man' level in the Chaotic Shadow Steps this morning, he can forget about going out to hunt magic beasts with him in the future.

Seeing that one of his future hobbies was about to be stripped away before he even started, Min Hong solemnly decided that he would vent his anger by drilling himself to death if possible, to ensure that he met Min Tians demand. Moreover, this was actually the first time his grandfather had ever demanded anything from him.

"So, I can't afford to be lax about this issue. Mom is currently pissed, while grandpa also is a bit disappointed from last night." Min Hong thought as he leapt from pole to pole deftly dodging the iron weights like they weren't even there.

What he failed to understand was that, unlike last night, when he had to channel all his mind and body into his training before he could pass the 800th pole, today he could even afford to have his mind carried away by what happened a night before. This only shows that Min Hong was already very familiar with this footwork technique.

As if sensing that Min Hong wasn't paying complete attention to the training, Min Rou walked up to the array and struck the closest iron weight with her stick, Min Hong who was far in front quickly heard several collision sounds approaching him from behind, splitting a strand of his thought to sense what was going on behind him.

His eyes widened as he saw the iron weights randomly colliding with each other with a momentum that will spell at least two broken ribs. Min Hong quickly pushed all thoughts to the back of his mind; he had just passed the 900th pole and he can't afford to fail at this point.

He welcomed his mother's challenge, without pausing, he rapidly switched between several dodging stances and immediately he stepped on the 999th pole, the iron weight came whistling towards him at a faster pace than what he was currently moving at.

But he didn't panic, just as his foot touched the 999th pole he twisted his body in a 360 degree angle while the iron weight whistled past his face.

He then stepped on the 1000th pole, but just as he was about to rejoice, the iron weight that just passed him, just like a pendulum, came whistling backwards approaching him head on. He had only a tenth of a breath to get himself out of his current predicament and there wasn't enough time to dodge.

"Ka~Ka"

Min Hong didn't think twice before using the "Willow Leaf Palm" to halt the momentum of the iron weight and deflect it to the side, borrowing the absorbed force to exit the array. He looked as his grandpa and mother who were looking at him with slack jaws.

The reason why the Min Tian duo were shocked was because, not only did he get to the 1000th pole before managing to get himself out of the initial iron weight problem, but he could also deal with the aftermath and the most startling was the fact that he just broke through in the "Willow Leaf Palm" technique by making the second muffled sound.

One must know that Min Rou was angry when she struck the first iron weight, even someone who had reached the initial Qi Sea stage would find himself in a pinch, but Min Hong was able to calmly resolve the situation. This only shows how much of a monster Min Hong was.

"Pressure is a good source of motivation. Do well to remember that as you train and cultivate." Min Rou spoke with a satisfied grin on her face. This little brat had finally taken his training serious and achieved a double breakthrough, no matter how pissed she was, she couldn't hold back from grinning.

"Indeed, your mother is correct. Little one, you must take every chance of breakthrough you see, no matter the situation and condition." Min Tian added before he whispered into Min Hong's ear "Also, unless it is a life or death situation, when you piss off a lady, fall back and apologize. I repeat, fall back and apologize."

Min Hong nodded, as he took his grandpa's advice. He was Min Rou's son but she still struck the iron weight with force. One can only imagine what she would've done if he wasn't related to her. His scalp couldn't help but tingle at the fate of such person.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Alright! Since you've managed to achieve 'One with Man' mastery over both martial art techniques, up next is the sparring session." Min Rou spoke as she cracked her knuckles.

"Ahem! Rou'er, why don't you let me spar with Hong'er instead." As if sensing Min Hong's fears, Min Tian decided to take over the sparring session, or else Min Hong might suffer a tragic fate.

Min Hong could only sigh in gratitude when he heard Min Tian speak on his behalf while the stunned Min Rou was left frowning, she could easily figure out the reason behind Min Tian's decision. But he was still her father anyways, so she had no choice but to accept.