CHAPTER 127: MOMENT

The Imperial Fist technique was built upon a deceptively simple concept. There were no elegant flourishes, no flamboyant movements—just pure, concentrated force. With every punch, the power a warrior generated would be condensed into a single focal point, as if the very air bent to their will.

Yet this was merely the surface.

The true brilliance of the technique lay in its deeper application—the acceleration of bone refinement, the most arduous and foundational process in a cultivator’s journey.

According to age-old legends, the technique had been devised by none other than the founding emperor of the Golden Dragon Empire himself. It had been a desperate answer to a desperate problem.

From the darkest fringes of the world, demons surged forth in waves—invading, pillaging, multiplying with a speed that defied logic. Their growth was unnatural, their strength rising with each blood-soaked battle. Human warriors, by contrast, were painfully slow to cultivate. Their bodies resisted transformation, and those few who awakened to the path of power struggled with sluggish progress.

So the emperor, driven by fury and necessity, had gathered the wisest scholars, the most daring cultivators, and the most innovative alchemists. Through decades of research, trials, and sacrifice, the Imperial Fist was born—an art that would let humanity rise swiftly, forcefully, brutally, to meet the demonic threat head-on.

And now, far removed from that era of blood and steel, that same legacy pulsed within the veins of a determined boy.

---

Time passed like flowing water. Day bled into night, then into weeks. Under Damien’s silent watch, an entire month slipped by in the blink of an eye.

Little Yu continued to train in silence, away from the eyes of the world. His arms grew taut and defined—not bulky, but hardened, shaped by repetition and grit. His small frame no longer looked fragile. Muscles rippled slightly beneath his skin, each movement honed with unrelenting precision. He never once complained. Never once hesitated.

Every night, after tucking his sister into bed, he would return to the small patch of dirt inside their humble hut, assume the horse stance, and begin punching the air with slow, focused intent.

Whoosh. Whoosh.

The air seemed to resist him, as if acknowledging the strength behind each strike.

Damien watched, arms folded and brow furrowed. In the beginning, his curiosity had been mild—just another kid, swinging fists. But as the days passed, that curiosity morphed into something else... a growing unease, tinged with awe.

"This boy..." Damien murmured to himself, eyes narrowing. "His progress is monstrous."

He wasn’t exaggerating.

Yu’s body had reached a state most aspiring cultivators would take years to achieve. And more than that—there was a spark in his movements. A hidden rhythm. A pattern too precise to be accidental.

Damien’s thoughts swirled with questions.

And yet, alongside that awe, another emotion had begun to rise within him.

Restlessness.

No matter how hard he tried, there was no way out. This strange palace, or world, or illusion—whatever it was—had trapped him here without explanation. Not even his accelerated cognition could decipher the exit. No doors. No clues. Just this ever-looping dreamscape where time passed yet nothing truly changed.

"A month already..." he muttered, glancing at the pale moonlight that spilled through the wooden cracks. "And still no way forward."

But as his eyes drifted back to the hut and the boy inside—fists swinging, body sweating, will unbroken—he couldn’t help but pause.

Perhaps...

This boy wasn’t just practicing the Imperial Fist.

Perhaps the boy was the key.

While Damien’s mood grew increasingly anxious with each passing day, the smile on Yu’s face only became brighter, more vibrant—like a budding flower slowly blooming under the sun. Against all odds, in just a month’s time, Yu had managed to refine nearly twenty percent of his bones to the strength and density of iron.

Every strike of his fist now carried over 200 kilograms of raw force—enough to break bones and crush stone. With such newfound strength, he finally dared to venture deeper into the wilderness, exploring more dangerous areas and collecting rare herbs that once eluded him.

Not only had his physical prowess improved, but even the household atmosphere had transformed. Little Mei, ever attached to her brother, had become more lively, her face often aglow with joy. With the extra coin Yu earned, he began to spoil her—fruits, trinkets, and even the distant promise of the fabled chocolate cake, which had become something of a sacred dream for her.

That morning, like any other, Yu stepped outside their secluded hut, donning a simple but sturdy set of beast hide armor. The pelt of the Iron Tooth Boar clung to him like a second skin, offering ample protection from the poisonous flora and accidental cuts from stray beast claws. It was rugged, worn, and stitched with care—testament to the many battles he’d already endured.

His entire frame was wrapped in the hide, leaving only his face visible. Two bright, lantern-like eyes peered out from beneath the hood, flickering with resolve and intelligence.

He stood quietly at the gate, staring at the mist-covered forest path. The sun had only begun to rise, casting a golden haze across the trees. Yet despite the beauty of the scene, Yu’s brows remained furrowed. A strange heaviness gnawed at his chest—a creeping premonition that clung like a shadow.

Ever since he had awoken this morning, something had felt wrong. The air seemed too still, the breeze too cold. It wasn’t fear, not exactly, but an unsettling sense of dread that left him restless and unsure. As if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to change.

Just as he was lost in thought, a bubbly laugh broke through the tension like a beam of sunlight piercing through storm clouds.

"Hehehe!"

From behind him, Little Mei came stumbling forward, her tiny feet dragging along the dirt as she hugged her favorite worn-out doll. Her long black hair was a mess, strands sticking to her cheeks. Her eyes were only half open, still caught in the haze of sleep. A long strand of drool hung lazily from the corner of her mouth, soaking into her collar.

"Big brooo... I dreamed of cake again..." she mumbled with a silly smile, rubbing her eyes as she leaned on him for balance.

Yu chuckled softly, the weight in his chest lightening just a little.

"Is that so?" he crouched and patted her head. "Then let’s make that dream come true soon."

Despite the looming unease, he couldn’t help but smile at her. For her sake, no matter what happened—he would endure.

But neither of them realized: the quiet peace they cherished was already on borrowed time.

However, upon seeing Yu fully dressed and ready to set out, little Mei’s face bloomed like a sunflower chasing the morning sun. Her sleepy eyes sparkled with excitement, and her drooling mouth suddenly dried up with determination.

"If everything goes well," she chirped, gripping her doll tightly, "today I’ll finally get to eat that cake!"

She ran up and tugged at his leg with a grin stretching from ear to ear.

"Brother! Don’t forget what you promised—bring the chocolate cake with you!"

The words hit Yu like a hammer to the chest.

A flash of realization dawned on his face.

So that’s why I’ve been feeling so uneasy this morning, he thought bitterly. The oppressive weight in his chest wasn’t some supernatural omen—it was financial ruin waiting to strike in the form of a fluffy, frosted dessert.

Indeed, if he went through with his promise, the chocolate cake would devour his entire month’s savings in a single bite.

His lips began to twitch uncontrollably.

Raising a foodie little sister is a high-level cultivation path in itself...

He sighed inwardly, already seeing his pouch grow lighter.

Just then, Mei tilted her head, eyes wide with curiosity. Her small fingers clutched the hem of his boar-hide overcoat.

"Brother, is something wrong?"

Yu was thankful for the mask that covered half his face—otherwise, the twitching of his lips and the horror in his eyes would have exposed him completely.

Snapping out of his daze, he crouched down and gently ruffled her hair, letting out a soft chuckle.

"Don’t worry, little sister. I’ll definitely bring a chocolate cake for you."

Even though a part of his soul cried in protest, his voice carried only warmth.

Mei tried to act tough and crossed her arms in protest, but the moment Yu pinched her cheek, her defenses melted. She pouted in defeat, cheeks puffed out like a squirrel storing food. Her tiny fists balled up in protest, but even that only made her look more adorable.

Yu couldn’t help but chuckle again. Despite the financial ruin and the muscle-tearing training, this little ball of sunshine was worth it.

Meanwhile, hidden in the ethereal layer between the spiritual and physical world, Damien stood silently, watching the scene unfold. His arms were crossed, and his expression unreadable. But there was something strange glimmering in his eyes—an emotion that flickered between nostalgia and reverence.

He didn’t know why, but as he watched the siblings interact, a powerful sense of déjà vu gripped his chest.

This scene... I’ve seen this before...

The gentle affection. The unspoken sacrifices. The mask worn to shield one’s weakness. It all pointed to one truth he could no longer ignore.

There was no mistake.

Little Yu... was none other than the Divine Strength Saint.

His supposed teacher.

A living legend of brute force and indomitable will, revered by many and feared by more.

And yet, here he was—still a child, hiding behind a leather mask, worried more about cake money than cultivation techniques. It was almost absurd.

But Damien didn’t laugh.

Instead, a quiet reverence settled into his heart.

It was the kind of moment that history books never recorded.

The kind of moment that made gods feel human.