When I was seven, I endured hellish training at a Siberian training camp. Back then, my body hadn't fully developed, and that kind of oppressive regimen severely impacted my physical frame. Although I later studied internal martial arts under my Master, the profound deficiencies from my youth kept my potential low. Even after reaching the internal arts limit—the absolute physical peak for a human—my physical conditioning was still significantly inferior to men like 'Dolgortrov'.

Before breaking through to the Grandmaster realm, a person can only reach their personal physical limit, never surpass it.

Training requires moderation.

Think of some athletes who push themselves relentlessly every day for the sake of results, for medals and rankings. In their youth, they dominate the arena. Yet, many of them find their bodies collapse by middle age.

Of course, athletic training isn't that extreme.

Consider some Muay Thai practitioners; some among them are pure madmen, machines. In their twenties, they are terrifying. But many of them don't even live past forty, and if they do live longer, they might need a cane! This is because their potential was so brutally exploited that even their life force was prematurely depleted.

Internal martial arts, however, are different!

Chinese internal arts are miraculous because their primary objective is not killing, but nurturing life (Yang Sheng)!

First, nurture life, then kill.

While Muay Thai masters might fade by forty, the peak for an internal arts expert is often around that age. Especially for a Grandmaster of internal arts, even at eighty or ninety, they still possess terrifying strength that can make one's heart tremble. Any internal arts Grandmaster, provided they are not slain in combat, generally lives well past one hundred years.

This illustrates the life-preserving effects of internal martial arts.

Certainly, internationally, ancient Indian Yoga, which also boasts a long history, possesses marvelous effects. While it cannot rival internal Chinese martial arts, the difficulty of Yoga is slightly lower, resulting in more practitioners. However, the vast majority of SS-level experts, or Grandmasters worldwide, practice internal Chinese martial arts.

"Once you reach the Grandmaster realm, you can transcend the physical limit," Teng Qingshan couldn't help but reveal a slight smile.

The internal arts limit means achieving complete control over every single muscle.

The Grandmaster realm, however, allows for the mastery of the strength residing in the muscles, fascia, and bone structure. This explains why, using the same body, a Grandmaster exerts far greater power.

"But progressing step-by-step through daily practice of the 'Three Stances,' the 'Five Elements Fist,' and the 'Twelve Forms,' gradually solidifying the bones, increasing fascial resilience, and enhancing muscle density—this speed is agonizingly slow," Teng Qingshan sighed. "Fortunately, my Master passed down to me the supreme secret technique of Xing Yi Quan: the 'Tiger Form Divine Passage Art'."

Chinese internal arts encompass numerous styles. Besides the Three Great Internal Arts, there are also Pi Gua Quan, Wu Zu Quan, Hung Gar, Tongbeiquan, Wing Chun, and many others.

But why are Xing Yi Quan, Baguazhang, and Taijiquan hailed as the Three Great Internal Arts, while the others are considered a tier below?

Does this mean the other styles cannot produce Grandmasters? No, Grandmasters are born in other lineages too, and they have many students.

The true distinction lies in the quality of the Grandmasters!

Grandmasters of the Three Great Internal Arts are generally stronger than Grandmasters from other internal styles! This is because once practitioners of other styles reach the 'Grandmaster realm,' they must proceed slowly, step-by-step, for incremental improvement. The lineages of the Three Great Internal Arts, however, each possess secret techniques—techniques only accessible after attaining the Grandmaster realm!

These techniques allow for rapid escalation of a Grandmaster's power, and only a Grandmaster can practice them.

They are: the Xing Yi Quan secret art, Tiger Form Divine Passage Art; the Taijiquan secret art, Mysterious Tortoise Bedrock Strength; and the Baguazhang secret art, Fish Dragon Transformation.

The Tiger Form Divine Passage Art was passed down by the Xing Yi Quan Grandmaster 'Ji Jike' during the late Ming Dynasty. Legend holds that Grandmaster Ji Jike kept a pet tiger, even sleeping alongside it. After prolonged observation, at the venerable age of one hundred, he created this epoch-making secret technique—the Tiger Form Divine Passage Art.

Speaking of bone, tiger bone is the most famous; tiger bone steeped in wine is the most nourishing. This illustrates the formidable nature of tiger bone.

Practicing the Tiger Form Divine Passage Art is akin to becoming a tiger, enhancing the density and firmness of one's tendons and bones.

To cultivate the Tiger Form Divine Passage Art, one must already be a Grandmaster and proficient in the Tiger Form within the Twelve Forms. Only then can this technique be studied. This set of secret arts is imparted exclusively to core disciples within the Xing Yi Quan lineage.

"Let's try it first."

Teng Qingshan suddenly flattened himself, resembling a human-tiger in repose on the ground. Although low, in reality, only his hands and feet were touching the earth; no other part of his body rested on the floor. The muscles of his body could not exhibit the slightest tremor, and he also needed to control his breath and internal energy.

At times his back arched slightly, at others he lowered himself, his spine coiling and uncoiling like a great dragon rising and submerging.

As the spine rose and submerged, the muscles in his hands and feet also engaged.

The circulation of breath and internal energy had to coordinate perfectly with the movements. Energy flowed from the bone structure of his fingertips, through the arm bones, section by section, transferring into the core. Respiration induced peristalsis in the internal organs, and the robust energy of his internal force caused his sinews and bones to vibrate. Teng Qingshan constantly adjusted, striving to match the records described in the Tiger Form Divine Passage Art.

The movements appear simple, but in reality, they are incredibly complex!

It is far more arduous than practicing the entirety of the 'Xing Yi Twelve Forms.' A subtle error in respiration, even a slight deviation, renders it incorrect. A minor mistake in controlling the internal energy also invalidates the process.

Trial after trial, adjustment after adjustment!

The body posture, respiration, internal energy circulation, control over sinews and bones...

Numerous aspects coordinating, constantly adjusting, until perfection was achieved.

"HooHoo" Teng Qingshan's entire body began emitting a sound akin to a tiger's heavy breathing—but it wasn't snoring; it was the sound of his bone joints colliding and vibrating.

"A marvelous sensation."

Teng Qingshan felt as if he had transformed into a tiger, simply resting there. Initially, it required intense mental effort and labor to deliberately control his tendons, bones, muscles, breath, and internal energy. But eventually, he slipped naturally into that state.

A tingling numbness pervaded his body; his bones felt an itch.

That was the feeling. After this one session of practice, an entire day had passed unnoticed.

"Hah." Teng Qingshan rolled over and stood up, sensing the power coursing through him, his eyes lighting up. "I didn't expect that just one day of training would improve me this much. My physical conditioning has increased by at least one or two tenths."

He could distinctly feel the magnitude of this improvement.

He also knew that the greatest gains are usually seen at the beginning of practice; the rate of improvement diminishes later on.

"The technique created by Ancestor Ji, the Tiger Form Divine Passage Art, is truly astonishing. The movements seem simple, yet they are infinitely complex. It captures merely the sleeping posture of a tiger, yet it is ten, even a hundred times more complicated than the entire Tiger Form within the Twelve Forms. The coordination of posture, breath, internal energy flow, and sinew/bone control... I wonder how long Ancestor Ji experimented before devising this."

Teng Qingshan was deeply moved.

Although there is no definitive consensus on the first patriarch of Xing Yi Quan, Ji Jike holds the highest status among all Grandmasters in Xing Yi Quan history. Many lineage members refer to him reverently as 'Ancestor Ji.'

** Days passed, and Teng Qingshan became entirely immersed in the Tiger Form Divine Passage Art. His physical conditioning improved at an astonishing rate, a speed that only deepened his admiration for Ancestor Ji. Half a month flew by. During these fifteen days of training the Tiger Form Divine Passage Art, the initial massive gains of one or two tenths had dropped to an almost imperceptible level by the fifteenth day. However, over these fifteen days, Teng Qingshan's overall physical conditioning had effectively doubled compared to before.

Doubling physical conditioning means an increase in overall combat strength far exceeding tenfold.

"Being so absorbed in practicing the Tiger Form Divine Passage Art, I forgot to check on my younger brother, 'Qing He'," Teng Qingshan mused with a slight smile. Truthfully, when he first fled back into the country, Teng Qingshan had been anxious about being killed by 'Sharpshooter' or 'Body Crusher,' so he desperately hoped to see his brother 'Qing He' before any confrontation.

But now...

Having reached the Grandmaster realm and practicing the Tiger Form Divine Passage Art, Teng Qingshan could essentially be considered standing at the very pinnacle of the human world, his strength increased by many times over his pre-breakthrough level.

Naturally, Teng Qingshan felt no urgency, which is why he hadn't rushed to find his brother.

"Let me first catch up on the situation outside," Teng Qingshan entered his room, booted up his computer, connected to the broadband, and contacted 'Elena' using the same method as last time.

"Elena!" Teng Qingshan typed on the keyboard.

A moment later—

"Ah, Wolf, you've finally contacted me! That’s been over a month. I was worried you were dead," Elena typed back from far-off London, sitting barefoot before her computer, dangling her fair feet as she vented her frustration.

"I was recovering from injuries," Teng Qingshan typed back with a smile.

"Are you fully healed?" Elena asked worriedly.

"Completely. By the way, what's the situation outside now?" Teng Qingshan inquired.

A shadow of concern crossed Elena's face. After a moment of thought, she typed: "Wolf, you are formidable; you actually managed to kill both Sun Ze and Dolgortrov. You are now ranked number one among the fifty S-class assassins, labeled a 'Quasi-SS' level killer. Are you feeling very proud? But I have some terrible news you must hear."

"Go on," Teng Qingshan’s brow slightly furrowed.

"Perhaps the Redmayne family is enraged, or perhaps your massive surge in strength has made the Redmayne family fear your revenge. Regardless, the Redmayne family paid an exorbitant price to hire the world's number one organization, 'The Divine Kingdom,' to act. Two of The Divine Kingdom's Three Sovereigns, 'Shiva' and 'Vishnu,' are likely already in China, relentlessly searching for your whereabouts."

Teng Qingshan's complexion finally changed.

"Two of The Divine Kingdom's Three Sovereigns?" Even with his recent power boost, Teng Qingshan couldn't suppress a jolt of alarm.

The Three Sovereigns of The Divine Kingdom—these three individuals are reputed to be gods! Naturally, all three are SS-level assassins, absolute Grandmaster experts. Furthermore, the Three Sovereigns of The Divine Kingdom have been Grandmasters for many years. Being a Grandmaster for many years is a world apart from just having entered the realm.

Although Teng Qingshan, through practicing the Tiger Form Divine Passage Art, had doubled his physical conditioning—an achievement that usually takes a Grandmaster a lifetime—

The enemies were two-thirds of the Three Sovereigns, legends of invincibility in the dark world. For years, no one had managed to kill any one of the Three Sovereigns.

"To mobilize them for this, and to send two of them after me simultaneously. They certainly think highly of me!" While feeling the immense pressure, a spark of fighting spirit ignited in Teng Qingshan's core.

What Teng Qingshan didn't know was the reason two Sovereigns were dispatched: they feared that Teng Qingshan might have a master lineage within China. If another Grandmaster from the Xing Yi school were to emerge to assist him, the threat to The Divine Kingdom's Three Sovereigns would increase. Therefore, sending two provided a coordinated force for the pursuit, adding an extra layer of insurance.

'The Divine Kingdom' has never failed a mission it has accepted!