The Legend of Min Hong

_Morning. Just as the sky lit up, while the whole of Soaring Cloud Village was still hidden in the darkness before dawn…

_Soaring Cloud Village, Min Family Castle_

Swoosh! A young man reacted on instincts, throwing off the warm and comfy covers, jumping off his bed and putting his clothes on. All this was done in less than three breaths. At this time most of the family members and servants, were still sleeping.

The young man between six and seven years of age, with a slim body and a childish face. He wasn't super handsome but still good-looking. His eyes were especially clear and full of life and vigor.

"Just a bit longer and my meridians will appear, then I'll be able to cultivate the [Rain Dragon Meridian] technique.

This young man was Min Hong. a year ago, his grandpa, Min Tian; the family head of the Min Family, decided that since he was going to embark on the cultivation journey, they should do something about the feeble body he was born with.

His grandpa then chose to give him some body building exercises that will gradually strengthen his feeble body, to avoid growing a feeble 8 great meridian.

Thus, every morning, he would do some basic push ups, stretches and a bit of jogging on a mountain located in the forest, opposite the crop fields. This continued for about four months, before the energies from the magic beast meat which was stored in hidden parts of his body decided to start showing their usefulness.

Anytime he trains and his muscles become soft from the constant exercise, the energies stored in his body will gradually seep into his flesh, muscles and bones. And over time, Min Hong feeble and pale body was gradually toning and gaining color.

But today, Min Hong who turned six, three months ago has started some intense body building exercise.

In the wee hours of this morning, stood a lonely mountain where Min Hong usually ran atop. The mountain peak was currently still covered by fog that blurred one's vision.

"Huff huff~"

Within the dense forest behind the mountain peak, a sudden and intense gasp rang out. Upon taking a closer look, a tiny figure was currently hanging from a thick and sturdy branch using both of his hands. This tiny body borrowed the pulling force from his hands to move up and down repeatedly.

As he made these movements, his body formed strange poses; the Kind that utilizes all the muscles, exercising all of them simultaneously. Furthermore, tied to his hands and ankles were several deep-black iron weights, which kept swaying, adding more weight to his body, causing the tiny figure to drip in sweat.

Sweat rolled into his eyes causing a stinging pain that made him clench his jaw with conviction. He could already feel the pain stemming from overexertion. At this point, most people would definitely take a break and rest.

However, he remembered what his grandpa told him; "Only during this time, will one be able to break through his limits. Hence he must endure."

He absolutely can't afford to let go! For a sturdy meridian he would give anything. For the coming of age ceremony in about four years' time, he must not let go!

The sensation you feel when you approach your limits leaves you nauseous. However, Min Hong gritted his teeth and endured. Suddenly, he felt a strange heat spreading from within his body, and suddenly he was refreshed and his spirit lifted.

It was the unabsorbed energy from the spirit fox meat he ate last night.

Yesterday at noon, Min Tian had Killed a spirit fox magical beast and sent it to Min Rou so she can prepare it for Min Hong, because he had noticed the change in Min Hong's body and concluded that it must be the efficacy of the magic beast energy Min Hong had consumed.

It must be said that the energy of the spirit fox was indeed useful towards Min Hong. Within a few days of training, Min Hong could clearly sense that his strength and speed had doubled.

The energy of the spirit fox meat dissipated not long after, this wasn't because the energy was weak, but because Min Hong's body is still in the middle stage of the strengthening process, thus he was still unable to completely absorb all the energy.

However, the rest of the energy hid itself in the deepest part of his body and only when Min Hong is pushed to his extremes, would it finally be squeezed out and devoured by his starving body.

As the warmth from the energy slowly seeped into his body, Min Hong could feel every inch of his body rejoicing as all the fatigue and aches in his body was replaced by invigorating energy.

"Hia!" Min Hong flipped from the tree and landed steadily. He quickly stretched his body and popping sounds rang through his body. To his delight he found out that his muscles were now tougher.

Min Hong gripped his tiny fists to feel the power surging through his muscles, a grin of delight broke out on his face.

"Hmm!" "Not bad."

As Min Hong was busy relishing in his new-found strength, a voice echoed from beside him. He quickly turned his head to see Min Tian and Min Rou standing on a tree branch. Min Tian was clothed in a plain white robe, while Min Rou was clothed in a blue attire.

The duo landed and emerged from the fog and Min Hong could make out a doting smile on both their faces.

"Grandpa! Mother!" Min Hong excitedly called out as he saw the duo standing underneath a tree.

Min Tian nodded as he approached Min Hong before he said "Your body is currently sturdy enough to produce a quality meridian, it seems you really benefitted from the energies of the magic beasts you ate."

"It's all thanks to grandpa for hunting magic beasts and mother for preparing them for me" Min Hong spoke as he looked at the duo with a gratified expression across his face.

"The spirit fox is merely an initial Qi creation stage beast, even if someone else ate it, it should still take them at least three months to get to your current strength. This is the result of your perseverance and dedication." Min Tian sighed softly before looking at Min Hong.

He had naturally noticed how hard Min Hong had pushed himself over the last year. Several times had he seen Min Rou's red eyes and even though he didn't say anything his nose still felt itchy most times.

"Since your body is now durable, you can throw away the iron weights. Although, you can't train in cultivation techniques yet and your meridians are yet to appear, we can still impart a palm and footwork technique to you." Min Tian said smilingly.

Immediately he heard this, Min Hong's sagged eyes flared up instantly. He had only been training body building exercises and didn't even know any martial art technique. Thus, should he get into a fight, he would have had no choice but to rely on brute force.

Therefore, in his heart, he was very eager to learn these martial arts as he was the only one in the Min family third generation yet to involve in any form of martial path. However, because of his frail body, Min Tian or Min Rou had yet to give him any martial art. Now that his chance has finally surfaced, he was naturally euphoric.

"All martial arts and cultivation techniques in the world are grouped into 5 grades namely; Mortal, Royal, Earth, Sky and Heaven. With their quality being; Low tier, Middle tier, High tier and Top tier" Min Rou explained.

"The [Jade Dragon Primal Body] for instance is a Top-tier Royal grade technique and if cultivated appropriately, it could rival Low tier Sky grade techniques. Which is why I told you not to reveal it to anyone under any circumstance."

"The [Rain Dragon Meridian] technique belongs to the Mid-tier Royal grade and these are the best techniques I've ever come across all my life."

"Although they're categorized in that order, if a Top tier Mortal grade martial art was pitted against a Low tier Royal grade martial art, the Mortal grade art will be completely crushed." Min Tian added.

"Grandpa, what martial art grade are you imparting to me?" Min Hong asked eagerly.

"What I am about to teach you is an ordinary martial art, as you haven't met the requirements to learn any ranked martial art. But, once you reach the King stage of body refining or the Qi Sea stage, I will teach you a suitable one." Min Tian ruffled Min Hong's lush, black hair as he spoke.

Min Hong nodded; he wasn't upset that he was learning an ordinary palm technique. He understood that he had to take things step by step to build a solid foundation, and that's for most people. It was already an exciting opportunity to learn a palm technique. After all, he had not even unlocked a single meridian yet.

"Even though martial arts have different grades, the most important factor lies with the user himself, an ordinary palm technique can become a lethal force in the hands of a strong user. Therefore, the greater one's strength, the more powerful the martial arts "attack become."

"Moreover, asides myself, this martial art was first learned by your mother and I believe you should do the same. I will demonstrate the palm technique to you whilst your mother will teach you the footwork technique." Min Tian looked towards Min Rou who was tidying her son's clothes.

"This palm technique is called the "Willow Leaf Palm". Come use all your strength and speed to attack me."

Min Hong didn't stand on ceremony, he discarded the iron weights and dashed forward before delivering a solid punch at Min Tian.

As he faced Min Hong's full-powered punch, Min Tian nodded in satisfaction before deftly stretching forth his palm to meet with Min Hong's fist and gently sliding his palm across Min Hong's arm to deflect his fist, before following up with a palm attack of his own. Three muffled sounds were made, the first was low, with the second and third a bit more audible.

Min Hong flew backwards while a stinging pain spread across his chest. After he landed, he looked at Min Tian in shock.

"How was it?" Min Tian asked as he was looking at Min Hong's shocked adorable face.

"I felt all the force in my fist disappear" Min Hong was still bewildered by what just happened while Min Rou just stood there smiling.

"Do you know why I was ranked above your Uncle Chen and Uncle Jin?" Min Rou asked as she looked at her son who shook his head sideways.

"It was because of this martial art and this is a secret between father and I. But, since you're going to learn this martial art, it's only normal that you're told" Min Rou explained while the "father and daughter" duo wore cunning smiles.