Learning the Palms
"Kid, want to learn the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms?"
Hearing this question surprised Ji Boying slightly, but he quickly accepted it.
Hong Qigong was generally a generous person.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have so easily taught Guo Jing the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.
"Would you be willing to teach me, sir?"
Seeing Ji Boying's smile, Hong Qigong curled his lip.
"Don't think of the old man as so stingy. If you're so generous, do you think I, the dignified Hong Qigong, would fall behind you?"
"That's wonderful! Who wouldn't want to learn the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms? I'd love to learn since you're willing to teach me."
Ji Boying's words always made Hong Qigong feel comfortable.
Hong Qigong had already learned a great deal of exquisite martial arts from Ji Boying, and felt that he had gained a great advantage, so he didn't feel any bleeding at all.
Hearing that Ji Boying was willing to learn the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. That's just how he is; he's always worried about others suffering losses.
After making some preparations, Hong Qigong began to explain the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms to Ji Boying.
Unlike his teaching of Guo Jing, Hong Qigong did not immediately begin with practical skills, but instead focused on explaining the underlying principles.
First, I will explain the operating principles of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, recounting its essence and origins verbally.
Then it was mentioned that Qiao Feng, the leader of the gang back then, had mastered the Twenty-Eight Dragon Subduing Palms. Few heroes in the world could withstand three or two of his moves. His aura was overwhelming, and all the heroes were helpless.
However, I later realized that the last ten moves of the Twenty-Eight Dragon Subduing Palms were extremely complicated.
Although it contains some exquisite moves, its essence is already contained in the first eighteen palms.
If you master the first eighteen palms, you can perform the last ten palms without being taught. If you don't master the first eighteen palms, the last ten palms will be superfluous.
Because this palm technique was passed down by Qiao Feng's master, he could not change it without permission. So he asked Xu Zhu to simplify it, thus enabling the eighteen palm techniques to be passed on to the Beggar Gang.
"Qiao Feng, the leader of the Clan back then, was truly a hero."
Ji Boying deliberately sighed.
Hong Qigong opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, but could only let out a long sigh.
"Sigh, truly a hero..."
Seeing Hong Qigong like this, Ji Boying praised him sincerely again.
"Even the legendary Boss Qiao was a hero back then, and Boss Hong wouldn't let him steal the spotlight. Aren't you a true hero in this world as well?"
"Hey, I'm no hero at all, just a gluttonous fool."
Hong Qigong waved his hand modestly.
"How can he not be a hero? I think there are quite a few heroes in the Beggar Gang's Sect. Gang Leader Hong has always led his brothers on the front line of the fight against the Jin, protecting countless people. Such merit is no less than that of Chief Qiao back then."
Ji Boying's sincerity is well-deserved by Hong Qigong.
"Don't flatter me, it's useless. The only two skills I can pass on to you are the Dragon Subduing Palm. The Dog Beating Staff Technique is absolutely out of the question."
Hong Qigong was a little embarrassed by the praise, and smiled as he changed the subject.
After saying that, he performed the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms from beginning to end.
He certainly has insight and teaching ability, perhaps because he has traveled the world for many years and occasionally encounters people with whom he has a connection, and then he teaches them a few moves.
He not only explained the concept of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms to Ji Boying, but also demonstrated the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms as a whole from beginning to end, so that Ji Boying could have a general understanding of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.
If Ji Boying could master the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms in this way, the transitions between the palm techniques would be smoother, and the entire set of palm techniques would be more seamless and unified.
Unlike Guo Jing, who lacked the talent to master all Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms directly, he could only climb step by step from simple to complex.
"Is the 'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms' technique simplified?"
"Simplify."
"'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms' is being simplified... Simplification successful... 'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms' → Waving Palm."
Ji Boying gently waved his left palm, feeling a palm force completely different from the Heart Severing Palm gather at the edge of his palm.
"Come, let me tell you, the first move of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, 'Regretful Arrogant Dragon Has Regrets,' is all about the word 'regret'..."
Hong Qigong assumed a stance, ready to demonstrate his skills.
Ji Boying smiled and raised his hand.
"The word 'regret'? Is that how it is?"
As he spoke, he casually swung his palm forward.
It didn't knock down any pine trees, but a powerful palm strike dissipated in the air, turning into a gust of wind that made Hong Qigong's tattered clothes rustle.
Hong Qigong stared, mouth slightly agape, frozen in place.
"Ah, you?"
Ji Boying thought that Hong Qigong had not seen clearly, so he swung out another palm.
As expected, the Arrogant Dragon Has Regrets. It exerts three-tenths of its strength and withdraws seven-tenths, its power flowing continuously like the ocean tide.
With Ji Boying's martial arts skills, although he had only just mastered the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, he had already gained a great deal of understanding.
The regret in the phrase "the Arrogant Dragon Has Regrets and regrets" is not unique to the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. Many exquisite martial arts also employ this technique of exerting three parts of force and withdrawing seven parts, or exerting four parts of force and withdrawing six parts.
The key is not how much is given and how much is received, but how it is given and how it is received.
The most exquisite martial arts are like the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. It seems to exert only three-tenths of its strength, but it can unleash twelve-tenths of its power. It leaves seven-tenths of its strength so that it can be controlled freely and can also conceal even greater power behind it like the tide.
If you use only three-tenths of your strength in those less refined martial arts techniques, you'll only have three-tenths of your power left. The remaining strength is just to prevent yourself from getting tired of a move and having no time to change tactics, so that your opponent can seize your weakness. In this way, the power is naturally insufficient.
Ji Boying's Heart Severing Palm was a profound palm technique that required the application of internal energy. In addition, most of the internal energy cultivation and sword techniques he practiced were derived from the true meaning of Daoism.
Their pursuit of the perfect harmony and effortless control of Tai Chi is naturally ingrained in their very being.
Therefore, Ji Boying was able to grasp the essence of the Arrogant Dragon Has Regrets technique as soon as he started learning.
"Good lad, the difficulty in understanding the essence of Arrogant Dragon Has Regrets' lies in its precise execution. The moves themselves aren't complicated, and it's not surprising that you've mastered them with your talent. However, 'The Flying Dragon in the Sky in the Sky' involves leaping into the air and attacking downwards, which is a bit more complex. Watch closely..."
Hong Qigong was about to disassemble and demonstrate again when Ji Boying interrupted him.
Ji Boying lightly touched the ground with his toes and leaped into the air.
With a slight bend in his arm, an extremely powerful palm strike descended from the air, its force immense.
It is clear that Ji Boying has completely mastered Flying Dragon in the Sky.
Before Hong Qigong could even offer his praise, he noticed that Ji Boying hadn't stopped moving after landing.
The left palm is round and powerful, the right palm is straight, and both hands are extended together, like an impregnable wall, clearly Seeing Dragon in the Field.
After completing a defensive move, the left hand smoothly hooks inward, while the right hand strikes out, pulling left and pushing right—a sequence that connects to the Seeing Dragon in the Field Hidden Dragon, Do Not Use.