Sky Grasping Hammer

Afternoon

As the Ten-Year Cultivation Plan continued to ferment throughout the morning, the original senior-year schedule was almost entirely replaced.

With a grand wave of Zhang Haifeng's hand, the original academic classes were reduced to one or two math periods a day to keep their minds active. Nearly all other classes were shifted to online lessons, to be watched and studied at home in the evenings by the Martial Arts Class students.

This decision did not cause the slightest stir. On the contrary, quite a few students supported it and even suggested putting math online as well, since they could not learn it anyway.

After all, for martial arts students, out of a total score of 1,000, Blood Essence Level accounted for 500 points and martial skill proficiency accounted for 400. All the academic subjects—Chinese, math, foreign languages, history, geography, and so on—added up to only 100 points, merely 10% of the overall score. It was no wonder so many martial arts students paid so little attention to their senior-year academic classes.

Some even felt that if they awakened Martial Dao Spirituality and gained an extra 10% bonus to their total score, they might as well stop reviewing academic subjects altogether and focus solely on their Blood Essence Level.

Any increase of a single Blood Essence Level meant nearly fifty extra points. That was far better than painfully memorizing textbooks and grinding through exercises.

"So, Brother Li, why don't the two of us play some Dual-Personality Combat Tournament together tonight and relax? The virtuality is only 90%, so it can only simulate Apprentice combat at fixed Blood Essence Level 5, but maybe it'll help improve our martial skills."

Before the morning martial skill class, Zhou Yibai could not help trying to persuade Li Xijun to queue with him that night.

Still carrying a Bet Loan, Li Xijun naturally had no interest in that. He said directly, "Current virtual technology is fine for teaching knowledge in class or playing games, but if you really want to improve your martial skills, you should practice and spar honestly offline."

Zhou Yibai still wanted to try a little harder, but Zhang Haifeng had already entered the classroom. As his sharp gaze swept over the room, all the martial arts students quieted down and obediently took their places.

Only after seeing that the classroom had fallen silent did Zhang Haifeng satisfactorily activate the control screen on the wall. As the Martial Arts Classroom lights grew brighter, three humanoid bionic targets appeared in the center of the room.

"This afternoon is martial skill class. Same old rule: we'll first practice the True Martial Thirty-Six Forms. Stop thinking about Weapons like swords and sabers all day. This fist technique that coordinates Blood Essence and the Physical Body is what you should be learning most."

"Otherwise, when your Blood Essence Level meets the standard in the exam but you lose points because your strength and speed tests fall short, that's when you'll have something to cry about."

"Next, as usual, I'll demonstrate the forms once and teach you the killing move of the first form. Memorize it carefully."

As he spoke, Zhang Haifeng began his demonstration. Like an agile black bear, he moved through each stance, leaving Li Xijun greatly impressed.

The current seven foundational cultivation methods were already highly refined techniques for stimulating physical improvement and raising Blood Essence.

But meeting the standards in physical fitness and Blood Essence alone was not enough. In actual combat, true fighting power depended on how much strength and speed one could draw out from that powerful physique.

Generally speaking:

Level 5 required: 10 meters per second, 200 kilograms of punching force.

Level 6 required: 13 meters per second, 300 kilograms of punching force.

Level 7 required: 15 meters per second, 450 kilograms of punching force.

Level 8 required: 18 meters per second, 800 kilograms of punching force.

Level 9 had already reached: 20 meters per second, 1,000 kilograms of punching force.

Thus, a martial art like the True Martial Thirty-Six Forms—combining training methods and combat applications, simple to learn and highly versatile—became a key focus in martial skill classes for martial arts students across the country.

The entire technique centered on training methods that coordinated one's Physical Body and Blood Essence, with three killing moves serving as markers for the three stages of the True Martial Thirty-Six Forms.

According to what Zhang Haifeng had said in their second year, if one could master the first two killing moves, it meant that until becoming a martial artist, one would be able to control the Blood Essence and power of one's Physical Body with ease. Their movements would flow naturally, and they would pass the strength and speed tests of the College Entrance Exam perfectly.

Even taking the martial skill exam barehanded, they could score 320 to 350 points in martial skills.

If one mastered the third killing move, it would still be of great benefit to martial cultivation even upon reaching the Mortal Shedding Realm.

As he completed one move after another, Zhang Haifeng suddenly spread his arms, formed a circle, and pressed downward, taking a posture like White Python Shaking Scales. The rippling of his muscles carried a breathtaking sense of power.

The next instant, his stance abruptly changed. He raised his right hand, and with a thunderclap erupting from level ground, his sandbag-sized fist was already stamped into the humanoid bionic target's head. The entire target crashed into the Martial Arts Classroom wall with a boom.

"Did you see that? That was Sky Grasping Hammer, a killing move that integrated the strength of all the muscles into one force."

"Next, I'll break down the footwork and minor movements step by step. You'll follow along and practice."

Zhang Haifeng began his usual rounds among the students, explaining while correcting their movements.

This time, Zhou Yibai was positioned several spots ahead of Li Xijun, and Zhang Haifeng quickly arrived beside him.

With palms as large as fans, he adjusted Zhou Yibai's footwork and posture as though handling a toy. When Zhou Yibai finally threw the punch for the killing move, Zhang Haifeng easily tapped the joint connecting his arm and back with one finger midway through the motion. His arm rose slightly, the muscles in his back and thighs visibly trembled, and the sound of his fist slicing through the air instantly became exceptionally crisp.

How could the benefits of receiving hands-on guidance in reality compare to combat practice in a virtual martial arts game?

Zhou Yibai could spend half a year fighting in the virtual world and still not gain as much as he had from this one session of Zhang Haifeng's personal instruction.

Soon,

Zhang Haifeng reached Li Xijun's side. After watching for a moment, he revealed a highly satisfied expression.

Perhaps because his Spirit Level was relatively high, or perhaps because Li Xijun was already very familiar with the True Martial Thirty-Six Forms, after watching Li Haifeng's demonstration, he had figured out and practiced a trace of the true essence of Sky Grasping Hammer, that killing move from earlier.

In particular, while practicing the earlier forms, his integration of his own muscular strength was remarkably smooth.

Thus, only when Li Xijun gathered his unified force and unleashed the killing move did Zhang Haifeng find the right moment to extend a palm from behind him, pushing Li Xijun's body into a shudder.

Bang!

That instant, the punch shot out like lightning and tore through the air, its sound echoing throughout the entire Martial Arts Classroom. Quite a few students who had been practicing could not help turning around, surprise on their faces.

Your True Martial Thirty-Six Forms proficiency has increased from Proficient 87% to Proficient 90%.

"Damn! Brother Li, you mastered it?"

Zhou Yibai in front of him could not help crying out. He clearly remembered that Li Xijun's talent for learning martial skills had previously been about the same as his own.

"That just now only counts as minor mastery. Your foundation in the True Martial Thirty-Six Forms is indeed solid. Only when your punch erupts like thunder from level ground can it be considered major mastery."

"With martial skills, a teacher can only help you feel it. You have to practice it yourself and deliver it consistently before you can say you've mastered it and use it in actual combat."

"Remember that feeling just now. Only through more practice can you truly make it your own!"

Though he said that, Zhang Haifeng was still quite pleased to see someone in his class improve so quickly after his guidance, and he said a few extra words.

"And you, Zhou Yibai, practice properly. If you keep blurting things out during class, just wait until I call your parents!"

After turning to scold Zhou Yibai a few times, Zhang Haifeng was about to continue walking back and instructing the other students when—

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Three identical explosions rang out in succession as fist winds tore through the air, and the entire Martial Arts Classroom fell so silent that one could hear a pin drop.

Almost everyone in the classroom could not help focusing their gaze on the youth calmly throwing punches.

The Martial Arts Class students were astonished that someone in their class had such talent in martial skills, while Zhou Yibai could not fully suppress the envy and jealousy on his face.

Yet only Zhang Haifeng, a martial arts teacher of many years, noticed that Li Xijun's successive punches delivered their unified force with exactly the same power and posture, with scarcely the slightest variation. His eyes involuntarily widened, his pupils contracted, and as though he had suddenly realized something, his heart began pounding furiously.

However, this black-bear-like teacher showed no unusual reaction on the spot. He merely continued shouting for the students to train hard, while nonchalantly instructing the remaining students.

He was equally unruffled toward Li Xijun, whose performance had just been so striking.

Perhaps after others threw the move once with the teacher's help, they would still need to practice repeatedly to solidify it. But the trait of One Proof, Eternal Proof allowed Li Xijun to remember that feeling almost the instant he threw Sky Grasping Hammer and directly fix it in place.

And the reason he displayed it so openly was naturally to show off his talent, seeking his teacher's attention and the school's resources.

This world would not suppress or question martial arts geniuses, much less detect his Grand Luo Mark.

Especially with the Ten-Year Cultivation Plan underway, who knew how many astonishing geniuses from Great Yan to the Federation would be striving to become Martial Saints within ten years.

Was it not perfectly normal for Li Xijun to be a martial skill genius who learned everything at a glance?