Sparring Partner

Zhou You, after finishing up his family matters, returned to the Martial Arts School at noon.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to tell his mother to have Song Fugui deliver oil regularly, making sure he showed his face often.

This action was a warning to the Wild Fox Gang that he protected the oil seller Song Fugui, so they shouldn't think about seeking revenge later.

Upon returning to the outer courtyard, Zhou You's status was no longer the same as before; he was now a formal apprentice.

On the way, he encountered several new faces – new students who had paid their fees and joined the school recently, just like he had yesterday.

These new students were looking around curiously, full of confidence about the future.

"So this is what a formal apprentice who has cultivated Internal Force looks like. They don't seem particularly fierce."

Zhou You overheard a few new students whispering and shook his head with a smile.

Formal apprentices had their own private rooms, spacious and tidy, with servants cleaning them daily.

The rooms were furnished with tables, chairs, and tea sets. When he felt like it, he could open the window and look out at the pleasant surroundings, with trees and bamboo in the flowerbeds.

If he got thirsty in the middle of the night, there was a small stove under the windowsill where he could boil water for tea himself.

Thanks to Senior Disciple Brother Shen Sijing's personal sponsorship, the food, clothing, housing, and transportation for every apprentice were all high-quality goods, making their lives comfortable.

Just the clothing, shoes, and socks for one season came in five or six different fabric materials, enough to fill an entire large wardrobe.

If they didn't want to go out, they could even have meals delivered from the kitchen, and someone would clear away the dishes afterward.

This was much more comfortable than the life of a new apprentice.

Zhou You was more concerned about cultivation. Could formal apprentices receive direct guidance from the Martial Arts School Head?

After becoming a formal apprentice, many of the Martial Arts School's resources were opened up to him.

Senior Disciple Brother Lu Qiang was truly the number one workhorse of the Martial Arts School.

Zhou You had originally thought that this Senior Disciple Brother only served as the introductory instructor for new apprentices, but after becoming a formal apprentice, he learned that this was just one of his many roles.

In addition to guiding new students, he also had to instruct formal apprentices in their cultivation.

Furthermore, he had to manage and sort out the Martial Arts School Head's businesses both inside and outside the city.

It was no exaggeration to say that this Senior Disciple Brother managed more than half of the Martial Arts School's affairs, holding multiple positions.

The Martial Arts School had a history: the Martial Arts School Head had arrived in Gongliang City alone years ago, bringing only Lu Qiang with him. Their relationship was far deeper than that of father and son.

"Working this hard, can he handle it?"

Zhou You wondered inwardly.

Fortunately, Lu Qiang was a Qi and Blood martial artist; otherwise, with this workload, he would have collapsed long ago.

A few days later, Senior Disciple Brother Lu Qiang summoned him.

"Now that you have cultivated Internal Force, you are qualified to be accepted into the Jianxiong Martial Arts School. However, remember, this is just the beginning."

Lu Qiang sized up Zhou You, surprised by how quickly he had recovered.

Even with half a Mountain Lord Life-Replacing Pill, Zhou You's ability to expel the Phantom's evil energy and return to normal physical function in just a few days far exceeded his expectations.

"Senior Disciple Brother, please guide me on how to cultivate next."

The other formal apprentices had been cultivating for a long time and were already quite experienced, practicing elsewhere.

As a newcomer, Zhou You had to receive his first lesson from the Senior Disciple Brother.

"Entering Internal Force has opened the treasure trove of the physical body, allowing you to tap into your potential and exert strength far beyond that of ordinary people."

"However, this treasure is not for you to squander, but to utilize more effectively for yourself."

"Internal Force originates from the potential of the physical body. By meticulously examining the details along the muscle fibers, blood vessel pathways, and skeletal structure, you can refine your Internal Force to be perfect and natural."

Lu Qiang said this and then drew a needle from his sleeve.

This needle was made of fine steel, its eye as small as a sesame seed, almost invisible when held between his fingertips.

The tiny eye was just large enough for a single strand of hair to pass through.

"Watch carefully. Shattering a stone with Internal Force is not a skill, but being able to condense Internal Force to the thickness of a hair and pass it through the needle's eye without damaging the fine needle is truly reaching the skill of 'dripping water wears through stone'."

Lu Qiang flicked his index finger, and the Internal Force whistled through the air, transforming into a subtle, slender thread that precisely passed through the needle's eye.

The steel needle landed in Zhou You's palm. He examined it back and forth; there wasn't the slightest trace of damage on it.

With Lu Qiang's strength, his Internal Force would have shattered even a fine needle forged from fine steel into dust.

From this, it was evident that his mastery of Internal Force had reached a state of perfection.

"Senior Disciple Brother, once Internal Force reaches this stage, can I then touch upon the threshold of Qi and Blood?"

Zhou You asked.

Lu Qiang poked him on the forehead. "Too ambitious, you deserve a beating. Focus on your cultivation."

The implication was that the stage of Internal Force alone was enough for him to cultivate for some time, and Qi and Blood were still a distant prospect.

Zhou You, however, thought to himself, Is it really too ambitious?

With the system panel in his possession, he would take it one step at a time, and he refused to believe he wouldn't reach the conditions for the Blood Qi Gate.

The cultivation of Tiger Subduing Fist from LV10 to LV20 still involves the original one hundred and eight stances, but with the addition of many oral secrets.

After cultivating Internal Force, how can it be applied to the stances to multiply its power?

What are the secrets to strengthening and refining Internal Force, and how can one cultivate to achieve twice the result with half the effort?

As the saying goes, "True teachings are but a word, false teachings fill ten thousand books."

The Martial Arts School's teaching method basically follows this pattern: gradual progress and step-by-step release of information.

In fact, it's useless for new apprentices who haven't even cultivated Internal Force to learn this; it would only cause them trouble.

There was once a case circulated within the Martial Arts School.

A new apprentice, who was slow to break through to Internal Force and saw his deadline approaching, couldn't help but have wicked thoughts. He climbed over the wall to secretly watch the formal apprentices train and managed to catch a glimpse of their methods.

He thought he had found a treasure and tried to cultivate by imitating their actions. As a result, he injured his internal organs, vomited blood incessantly, and died the very night he was brought home.

Every new apprentice is taught this case as a warning.

The booklet Zhou You possesses contains Lu Zhigang's records of cultivating Wild Goose Formation Fist, detailing the gradual process over the years.

"By the way, when refining Internal Force, the worst thing you can do is work in isolation."

"Sometimes, when your practice isn't up to par, your movements become distorted, and it's very easy to injure yourself."

"When you spar with a sparring partner, you can learn from each other's strengths and weaknesses. If you get injured, you can also give each other massages and bone setting."

Zhou You frowned. If that were the case, wouldn't all secrets be revealed?

He still needed to cultivate Wild Goose Formation Fist and couldn't let outsiders know. If he spent all day with a sparring partner, it would be impossible to keep it a secret.

However, he also knew that Lu Qiang's words made a lot of sense.

"You've just become a formal disciple. I'll assign you a sparring partner. Li Hao, come here."

Hearing Li Hao's name, Zhou You thought to himself, what a coincidence!

When Li Hao was called over and heard about the sparring partner arrangement, his expression was a little hesitant.

Lu Qiang said to the two of them, "You two are the latest to become formal disciples, and your skills are still shallow. It's perfect for you to be paired together."

"Li Hao, you take Zhou You under your wing. He'll be sparring with you in the eighth training ground from now on."

In the outer court, the Senior Disciple Brother's orders were not to be questioned!

Despite his reluctance, Li Hao had no choice but to cup his hands and agree, "Zhou You, from now on, you and I are sparring partners."

Each pair of sparring partners shared a training ground. Before Zhou You arrived, Li Hao had the eighth training ground all to himself.

However, Lu Qiang's assignment of Zhou You to him shattered his personal space.

After learning the inside story, Zhou You deeply understood Li Hao's feelings.

After all, if it were him, he would also prefer to have a spacious training ground all to himself rather than having a sparring partner around all the time.