Fists Like a Bull

Dawn gradually broke.

After winter began, the days had grown much shorter.

Lin Zheyu had already held his stance for nearly two hours. His face was flushed and his breathing slightly labored, but he still seemed to have strength left.

"That's enough."

Liang Song told him to come over and have some tea.

Lin Zheyu straightened up, shaking out his slightly sore legs and arms, a thrilled smile appearing on his face.

He had made it.

He could finally practice Martial Arts.

"Your foundation was so poor, yet you've trained yourself to this point in a month. Your perseverance and comprehension are both quite good."

Liang Song assessed him, reasonably satisfied with Lin Zheyu.

After taking a sip of tea, he continued, "First, let me explain what the martial path is."

Lin Zheyu sat quietly, listening with utmost focus.

"The martial path is, in essence, training the sinews, bones, and skin externally, while cultivating a breath internally."

"To master Martial Arts, you must first temper your skin, flesh, and fascia."

"By tempering the skin, flesh, and fascia, you make the muscles solid and full, the sinews strong and powerful, the fascia resilient in its contraction and extension, your explosive force fierce, and your resistance to blows formidable. This is the Flesh Refinement Stage of the martial path."

"Once the skin, fascia, sinews, and flesh have been trained well, you then proceed deeper into Bone Forging."

"Bone Forging works from the outside inward, tempering the bones throughout the body, making them increasingly hard and strong, enhancing penetrating power, and allowing them to withstand greater bursts of force."

"When the bones are trained to great mastery, one can achieve Bone Refinement Like Iron, incomparably hard!"

"Bone Forging will be somewhat difficult for you. Without the tempering of your sinews and bones from childhood, reaching Bone Refinement Like Iron will be very, very difficult."

"What I described above was external training of the sinews, bones, and skin. Next comes cultivating a breath internally."

"The breath spoken of here refers to breathing and circulation. After the sinews, bones, and skin have been tempered, your control over your body improves further, allowing you to begin practicing special breathing and circulation techniques."

"Through special breathing and circulation techniques, the Five Internal Organs can be tempered and strengthened. Your breathing becomes deep and enduring, while your physical strength, explosive force, and endurance reach an exceedingly terrifying level. This is Viscera Refining."

"The first three realms of the martial path are Muscle Training, Bone Forging, and Viscera Refining."

"For where you are now, knowing the first three realms is enough. The realms beyond are still far too distant for you, so I won't tell you yet, lest you aim too high."

Liang Song spoke calmly.

He rose to his feet and removed the outer garment draped over him, revealing his undershirt and smooth, defined muscle lines beneath.

Seeing this, Lin Zheyu hurriedly got up and followed him.

"It isn't suitable to use blades or weapons in the Inner City, so I'll teach you the Wild Bull Fist."

"This is a Cultivation Method spread far and wide, suited to someone like you who began practicing Martial Arts halfway through life. Its fist techniques are fairly powerful, but easy to learn and difficult to master."

"At profound levels, it strengthens the inside and fortifies the outside, hardens the bones, and can reach Viscera Refining Realm Completion."

"The Wild Bull Fist has eight basic moves and 128 variations. I'll perform it once. Familiarize yourself with it first."

Liang Song said as he assumed a stance.

Lin Zheyu noticed that once Liang Song became serious, his limp seemed as though it had never existed.

"Wild Bull Fist, Wild Bull Fist—it is a fist technique born from the wild bull."

"The essence and true meaning of this fist technique lie in the word 'wild.' When training, imagine yourself as a wild bull. When you throw a punch, forge straight ahead without hesitation, fearing nothing."

Liang Song spread his legs slightly and lowered his body into a stance. An invisible aura spread from him.

"This is the first form, Wild Bull Charge!"

Liang Song stomped down fiercely with his right foot, and the muscles in his legs abruptly exerted force.

Mighty power surged from his legs, transmitted through his waist as the link and into both arms.

His upper body tilted slightly, and his fists shot forth carrying overwhelming force, like a pair of bull horns charging forward.

In that instant, every muscle in his body erupted. Power flooded into his arms, transforming into a terrifying offensive that slammed into the wooden post in the courtyard.

The wooden post crackled, thin fractures appearing across it.

"So powerful!"

Watching the formidable force behind Liang Song's punch, Lin Zheyu could not help clicking his tongue in amazement.

"Wild Bull Fist, Wild Bull Fist—the word 'wild' runs through it from beginning to end."

"Do not allow the slightest hesitation when you punch!"

Liang Song's voice rang out as he continued demonstrating for Lin Zheyu.

"This punch is Wild Bull Horn Thrust. The center of force lies in the waist; the strength of the waist and abdomen is..."

"This punch is Wild Bull Tail Swing..."

As he watched Master Liang demonstrate, Lin Zheyu's eyes gleamed.

This was true Martial Arts!

The immense force bursting forth from every punch and every form filled him with yearning.

Very soon, the full set of fist techniques was complete.

Liang Song stopped and asked, "What do you think?"

"Very powerful!"

Lin Zheyu's heart surged with excitement. Cupping his fists, he bowed and said, "Please teach me, Master!"

"No need for so much ceremony. Scholars just love all these cumbersome formalities."

"First, follow me through the entire set once. Let me see how good your comprehension is."

Liang Song broke the Wild Bull Fist down and slowly explained it to Lin Zheyu.

Under Liang Song's instruction, he learned with great seriousness.

Practicing Martial Arts was far more difficult than he had imagined. It required mastering how different muscles exerted force, how they were trained, and then growing stronger through constant practice.

Lin Zheyu immersed himself in the Wild Bull Fist, and time flashed by.

"Very good. Your comprehension is not bad."

Liang Song praised him.

Lin Zheyu had good comprehension. With only a little guidance, he could grasp things fully, making him easy to teach.

Moreover, his perseverance was exceptionally steadfast.

After more than four hours of training, even with several rests in between, Lin Zheyu's strength had been completely drained. Yet he had gritted his teeth and persisted throughout.

"Perform the Wild Bull Fist from beginning to end. I'll point out your shortcomings," Liang Song said.

"Yes!"

Lin Zheyu answered.

After more than four hours of study and training, his body was already soaked in sweat.

The intense depletion of strength, combined with the buildup of lactic acid, left every inch of him aching fiercely.

Yet Lin Zheyu did not hesitate in the slightest and began training once more.

Almost there!

Lin Zheyu felt that he was about to reach his limit!

After reaching his limit, if he persisted for another minute or so and broke through it, he would gain one unit of Source Power.

Heaven Rewards Diligence

Name: Lin Zheyu

Source Power: 2

Skills:

Wild Bull Fist (Uninitiated 3%)

Lin Zheyu looked at the data in his consciousness, his heart filled with boundless excitement.

Just as he had imagined, Martial Arts could be entered into the skill panel.

With intense excitement, Lin Zheyu assumed the stance of the Wild Bull Fist.

He stomped down fiercely, and the muscles in his legs abruptly exerted force, transmitting it through his waist as the link and into both arms.

His upper body tilted slightly, and his fists shot forward with overwhelming force, like a pair of bull horns charging out.

First form, Wild Bull Charge!

The moment his fists blasted forth, Lin Zheyu felt pain shoot through the muscles in his waist, legs, and arms.

"Hiss, I've cramped up!"

The Lin Zheyu who had looked so imposing just moments ago was now sitting on the ground without a shred of dignity.

His body twisted in strange ways as he tried to ease the cramping sensation.

"Haha..."

Seeing this, Liang Song could not help laughing aloud.

The boy was nearly collapsing from exhaustion, yet he still insisted on showing off.

When the body had been overtrained, using the explosive Wild Bull Fist could easily cause muscle cramps.

"Rest for a while. Your body is nearly at its limit," Liang Song said.

Stepping forward to Lin Zheyu's side, Liang Song reached out and kneaded and massaged the cramped areas a few times. Lin Zheyu immediately felt the pain vanish.

"Thank you, Master."

Lin Zheyu got up and stretched his sinews and bones, relaxing the muscles all over his body as he planned to continue later.

His body was almost at its limit. He could not give up just like that.

As long as he broke through his limit, he could obtain another unit of Source Power.

Lin Zheyu listened as Liang Song explained some basic knowledge of the martial path while relaxing his body.

Before long, he felt that his muscles had loosened up enough.