First Training

Fang Mo followed Ding Zhiyuan through the Martial Hall's Central Hall to the front courtyard.

The trainees were either practicing Fist Techniques or diligently training their stances. Every one of them was focused on their own training, as though everything beyond it had nothing to do with them.

Ding Zhiyuan led him before a young man who was not tall, but whose gaze was sharp.

"Senior Brother Miao, this is the newly arrived Fang Mo. He's here to learn martial arts!" Ding Zhiyuan introduced him.

Miao Ping's gaze swept over Fang Mo. His eyes were cool and detached, devoid of any emotion, as if they could see straight through a person's heart. Fang Mo felt an invisible pressure, but he did his best to remain composed and respectfully bowed to Miao Ping.

"Senior Brother Miao!"

"Zhiyuan, teach him how to loosen up first, then teach him the Tiger Subduing Stance."

Miao Ping's voice was flat, without the slightest rise or fall.

"Yes, Second Senior Brother." Ding Zhiyuan answered, then turned to Fang Mo. "Junior Brother Fang, come with me."

Fang Mo nodded. Though Miao Ping's attitude made him somewhat uncomfortable, he knew this was likely a rule of the Martial Hall. New trainees always had to undergo a measure of testing and tempering. He decided not to dwell on it and instead focus on his training.

Ding Zhiyuan brought Fang Mo to a relatively quiet corner and began teaching him how to loosen his body. Once Fang Mo had warmed up enough, Ding Zhiyuan began teaching him the Tiger Subduing Stance.

Zhiyuan taught him the body movements with care, while Fang Mo focused with all his might. The martial arts foundation from his previous life allowed him to swiftly grasp the essentials.

As he assumed the opening posture of the Tiger Subduing Stance, his legs spread apart, like a tiger crouching amid the mountains and forests. Every breath matched his movements, steady and powerful.

"Junior Brother Fang, you've got good comprehension!" Ding Zhiyuan praised him, then immediately taught him the secret of breath control. "Let your breathing rise and fall with your movements. When exhaling, sink your breath into the Dantian. When inhaling, draw strength through your entire body. Naturalness is best!"

"You must remember the Tiger Subduing Stance Incantation: Plant your feet firm upon the earth, like a crouching tiger; lord over the mountain forest, your breath swallowing the Dipper. Spread your feet, steady as nails; the front leg like a bow, the rear leg driving forward. Shape your hands like claws before the chest; let shoulders and elbows hang loose, power hidden within. Keep waist and back straight, let force sink downward; the spine like a dragon's backbone, centered and upright..."

Fang Mo memorized the incantation as he practiced, coordinating it with the breathing method.

In his previous life, he had practiced stance methods such as the Horse Stance, Wuji Stance, and Hunyuan Stance, so this was not unfamiliar to him. He picked it up easily.

As the saying went, if you practiced fists but not foundational training, all your effort would come to nothing in old age. Foundational training referred to stance work, which chiefly nurtured the body and strength to increase one's martial power. Standing for long periods really did build strength, but in his previous life, he still could not beat a street thug carrying a knife.

Following the movements, Fang Mo quickly found the rhythm and method, and his stance began to look quite convincing.

Just as he was immersed in it, glittering golden words appeared inside the Bronze Mirror—[Tiger Subduing Stance: Beginner's First Practice (1/100)]

So it really worked!

Fang Mo rejoiced inwardly. This mysterious Bronze Mirror was useful. With such a divine ability, as long as I keep cultivating, I will surely succeed!

His confidence immediately soared, and he began cultivating with even greater diligence and focus.

As Ding Zhiyuan watched from the side, surprise flashed through his eyes. When he had learned the Tiger Subduing Stance, he had struggled terribly. It had taken him a whole day just to make his movements proper, and he had no idea how many kicks from his senior brothers he had endured. Yet Fang Mo had merely listened once, received a little guidance from him, and was already standing with convincing form.

However, seeing that Fang Mo had only held the stance for twenty or thirty seconds before becoming drenched in sweat, his legs shaking violently, he thought, This Junior Brother Fang's body is truly weak beyond belief.

"The Tiger Subduing Stance takes thirty-six breaths for a small cycle and seventy-two breaths for a Great Heavenly Cycle. But you don't need to pay too much attention to that. If you can't endure it, just stop!"

Listening to Ding Zhiwu's words, Fang Mo gritted his teeth and held on even though his legs shook like a sieve. With a body like his, he had to put in many times more effort than others.

His body truly was too weak. He had not even completed half of the thirty-six breaths before he could no longer bear it.

His legs felt as though they were cramping, the soreness and pain almost unbearable. His breathing became rapid, making it impossible to keep it deep, long, and fine. His stomach began to cramp, and every muscle in his body twitched violently. He desperately clenched his teeth and persevered.

"Every drop of sweat is a step toward becoming strong!"

He told himself this, forcing himself to endure.

Huff!

When the final breath was completed, he finally could not hold on any longer. He collapsed, sat on the ground, and panted heavily.

Miao Ping had also been observing Fang Mo from time to time. Earlier, surprise had appeared in his eyes as well; Fang Mo's movements had been very standard. But when he saw Fang Mo nearly fail to endure even one round of breaths before collapsing, a trace of scornful amusement appeared in his gaze. He turned away and stopped paying attention.

Ding Zhiyuan walked over and pulled Fang Mo up. "Don't sit there. Get up and move around, or you'll injure your muscles and tendons. You've already done well. It's rare for someone to stand so properly on their first try. Rest for a while, then try again!"

"Thank you, Senior Brother Ding. I can manage on my own!"

Fang Mo hurriedly thanked him, then slowly began walking around and patting his legs.

"Fine, then keep at it. I need to go train too!"

Ding Zhiyuan did not insist further. After saying that, he went off to practice his fists as well.

[Tiger Subduing Stance: Beginner's First Practice (2/100)]

Looking at the information displayed on the Bronze Mirror, excitement flashed in Fang Mo's eyes. It had only increased by one point, yet he felt as though his body had improved. A warm current rose within him, nourishing his body and speeding up his recovery.

His heart was filled with curiosity toward this mysterious Bronze Mirror. What exactly was it, to possess such wondrous power?

After moving around for a while and letting his body recover, he resumed his stance training. Unaware of time and oblivious to fatigue, he practiced again and again.

He had lost count of how many times his sweat had soaked through his clothes, yet he still did not stop. Fang Mo understood perfectly well that although he possessed this divine ability, he still needed to practice over and over again. There was no room for falsehood in this.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The Cloud Board sounded, and everyone stopped training one after another.

"Junior Brother Fang, stop training. It's time to eat!"

Ding Zhiyuan came over and called out to him.

"Alright, Senior Brother Ding. I'll do one more round, then I'll go!"

Fang Mo wiped away his sweat and smiled.

"Come on! Training requires a balance between work and rest. You can't overtrain, or you'll easily injure your body!"

Ding Zhiyuan stepped forward and grabbed Fang Mo.

"Alright, then!"

Fang Mo stopped refusing and said with a smile, "Senior Brother Ding, go ahead. I'll wash my face and come over."

"Alright, hurry up!"

Only then did Ding Zhiyuan release Fang Mo and head toward the Dining Hall with the other disciples.

"Junior Brother Ding, why bother with him? Let him keep training. Does he think training himself to death will make any difference? Without Bone Structure, training for a lifetime is wasted effort!"

"I think he'll last only a few days. Once he sees no results, he'll definitely leave. The martial path isn't something just anyone can walk!"

Several trainees laughed as they spoke.

Ding Zhiyuan said:

"Don't say that. We're all fellow disciples. Junior Brother Fang is already working very hard!"

Those people had not even bothered to lower their voices, and Fang Mo heard every word clearly. Yet he paid them no mind, walking calmly to the pool to wash his face.

[Tiger Subduing Stance: Beginner's First Practice (7/100)]

The changing number on the Bronze Mirror was a testament to his sweat and perseverance.

He knew that the true path of a martial artist had only just begun.

And the ridicule of those bystanders was merely whispers in the wind, incapable of shaking the boulder in his heart.