Embodying Myriad Traits, I Will Eventually Become Immortal - Part 4

What's more, his goal was to become a martial artist, then continue climbing higher.

Although Wang Yue was not the sort to hold grudges, he was still a child, his mind not yet fully mature.

Why increase the possibility of a rift forming between Wang Yue and himself because of Qin Mengya alone?

"Brother Chuan'er is pretty old-fashioned. You like greeting people with clasped fists."

When Qin Mengya saw that Meng Chuan had not stepped forward to shake her hand, she was neither upset nor surprised.

Instead, she smiled graciously, then stepped forward, took the chubby Wang Yue's hand, and happily headed inside.

"You two hurry up and change. I'll wait outside the changing room. Teacher Liu, the new instructor, is about to start class. She's really beautiful, so don't miss it!"

Meng Chuan followed behind them. Qin Mengya pushed Wang Yue along, and he kept turning back to make strange faces at Meng Chuan, as if trying to prove something.

Seeing Wang Yue's lovestruck expression, Meng Chuan could not help rubbing his forehead.

"This kid is hopeless. When I meet Wang Yue's dad at a parent-teacher conference someday, I should suggest he make a new account."

Inside the changing room, Meng Chuan received a new Infinite Martial Arts Academy trainee uniform.

It was the same bright blue one Qin Mengya had worn earlier. The fabric felt exceptionally soft and snug to the touch.

"As expected of a thousand per class. Even the training uniform they hand out is high-end, way better than the school uniforms."

After changing, Meng Chuan arrived at the Infinite Martial Arts Academy training ground and stood beside Wang Yue and Qin Mengya.

At the very center of the training ground stood Liu Ru, dressed in a dark blue martial arts uniform unlike the trainees' outfits.

Her lovely features wore no makeup, and even the martial arts uniform could not conceal her long legs.

Liu Ru clasped her fists and addressed the crowd.

"Today is my third day at the Infinite Martial Arts Academy. There are still many new faces I haven't seen before, so let me introduce myself again."

"Hello, everyone. I am Liu Ru, the academy's new trainee instructor. I am currently the head instructor's registered disciple, a Xingyi School martial artist at the sixth Vitality and Blood Gate.

"I am proficient in the Grand Unity Three Talents Stance. If you have any questions related to Xingyi, feel free to come learn and discuss them with me."

After listening to Liu Ru's introduction, Meng Chuan became curious about one thing.

Where was the head instructor?

A mere sixth-gate instructor was not worth a thousand per lesson.

Just as he was thinking about it, a middle-aged man draped in a black robe walked in.

He strode with the bearing of a dragon and tiger, radiating an indescribably imposing aura.

After stopping beside Liu Ru with his hands behind his back, he swept his sharp gaze across the entire training ground.

Other than Meng Chuan, every person who met his eyes immediately lowered their head.

The newcomer was none other than the head instructor of the Infinite Martial Arts Academy.

Qianyuan Thunderclap - Luo Guanyun!

"You're... the new kid?"

Luo Guanyun looked at Meng Chuan, the only one in the room who dared meet his gaze.

"Greetings, Head Instructor. Today is my first day here. My name is Meng Chuan."

Meng Chuan looked directly at the head instructor, standing with clasped fists, open and composed without being either servile or overbearing.

A martial artist needed courage and had to dare to recommend himself. If he was afraid of this and that, he might as well go home and farm. What martial arts was he practicing for?

"Your foundation's pretty solid, kid. Since this is your first day here, let me tell you something.

"For every ten days of classes you sign up for, you can take one hour of member lessons with me. Member lessons require advance booking. Just speak to Liu Ru, and she'll arrange a time for you."

Luo Guanyun spoke in Xilu dialect, and it sounded rather forceful.

After speaking to Meng Chuan, he left, followed closely by a trainee who had booked a member lesson for that morning.

"My sixty lessons cost sixty thousand. So that means sixty thousand to teach me for six hours?"

The earning power of martial artists shocked Meng Chuan once again.

"Those who still can't perform the Three Powers Stance, as well as those who can perform it but haven't yet entered the beginner stage, raise your hands so I can see."

More than half the people raised their hands, including Meng Chuan and Wang Yue. Qin Mengya had already entered the beginner stage of the Three Powers Stance.

"Good. The minority follows the majority. Today, we'll start with stance skill. Those who have already entered the beginner stage can practice while listening to me explain. You may gain new insights."

"First, I'll explain what stance skill is."

"Stance skill is the foundation of martial arts cultivation. As the saying goes, practice martial arts without practicing stances, and ten years of effort will amount to nothing."

"Our Infinite Martial Arts Academy belongs to the Xingyi School, and what we study are Xingyi Stance Techniques. All Xingyi martial arts in the world, even true techniques and peerless arts, originate from Xingyi Stance Skill—the Grand Unity Three Talents Stance."

"Today, I'll give everyone a simple breakdown of the beginner stance for the Grand Unity Three Talents Stance. New trainees can come to me after class to receive the complete illustrated guide."

"Broadly speaking, the Three Powers Stance is the union of Heaven, Earth, and Man."

"Applied to the individual, Heaven is the head, Earth is the hands, and Man is the feet. When the head, hands, and feet unite, that is the Three Bodies Form. Thus, the Three Powers Stance is also called the Three Body Stance."

"When performing the Three Powers Stance, pay attention to the following two points—keep the body aligned so the vital energy flows smoothly, and gather the spirit inward. Keeping the body aligned so the vital energy flows smoothly means..."

As Liu Ru spoke at length, some trainees who had never practiced the Three Powers Stance, including Meng Chuan, were left somewhat bewildered.

The material was too profound. Before even entering the beginner stage, they felt as though they were listening to a heavenly scripture.

However, Meng Chuan understood one principle—all Xingyi martial arts were rooted in the Grand Unity Three Talents Stance. He immediately raised his hand and interrupted Liu Ru.

"Teacher Liu, does the National Obligatory Basic Fist Art count as Xingyi martial arts?"

Upon hearing Meng Chuan's question, quite a few people in the room cast surprised looks his way.

They had not expected anyone here to ask about Child's Fist. Qin Mengya, who knew Meng Chuan, covered her mouth and giggled endlessly.

"Be serious, everyone. You're Meng Chuan, right? I can answer that. Strictly speaking, the National Obligatory Basic Fist Art does belong to Xingyi Fist. Its forms and sequences contain the Daoist Five Elements concept of the fire element found in Xingyi Fist."

Meng Chuan nodded thoughtfully. Focusing his mind, the panel appeared before his eyes. Was the final 1% of progress he lacked before breaking the limit supposed to be stance skill?

Martial Arts Limit-Breaking Panel

Martial Arts

National Obligatory Basic Fist Art: Perfected (99%) — Awaiting Limit Break

Limit-Breaking Trait: One Proof, Eternal Proof (Super)

Seeing that Meng Chuan had no more questions, Liu Ru continued.

"...Not focusing on external things, but concentrating your attention on your own body and constantly sensing its state—that is keeping the spirit inward. All right, these words actually aren't difficult to understand. Follow me and perform the movements. I'll repeat them as we go, so experience them carefully."

After Liu Ru finished speaking, she began demonstrating while repeating her earlier explanations. Meng Chuan followed her movements and began practicing the stance.

Because of Meng Chuan's earlier question, Liu Ru had been watching his movements. Seeing that he was following her well, she praised him.

"Not bad. This is the beginner key to the Three Powers Stance. Remember to come get the illustrated guide from me later. Practice more when you get home, and I believe you'll enter the beginner stage soon."

Meng Chuan gave her a bashful smile. After practicing a few more times with Liu Ru and memorizing the movements, he found a more open area and began practicing alone.

"Balance emptiness and solidity, let movement and stillness come naturally, keep the breath even, and seek strength within the stance."

He practiced for a long time but still did not enter the beginner stage, and the panel never recorded the Grand Unity Three Talents Stance.

Meng Chuan was not discouraged. He would take it step by step and build a solid foundation. What he was meant to gain would come sooner or later.

After sitting down to rest briefly, he suddenly wondered whether he could try integrating the Three Powers Stance into the National Obligatory Basic Fist Art.

Meng Chuan acted as soon as he thought of it. He gave it a try, but unfortunately, the results were far from ideal.

His footwork could not keep up with the rhythm of the stance, and he nearly tripped himself. Only the fist techniques in his hands remained impressive.

After all, he had practiced the National Obligatory Basic Fist Art for more than ten years. It could be said that it was carved into his DNA.

Liu Ru walked around the training ground, looking for trainees who needed guidance. When she reached Meng Chuan and saw him practicing fists while holding a stance, she frowned and said,

"Fist techniques and stance skill are indeed best cultivated together, but you're being too hasty, Meng Chuan. Your stance skill has not yet grasped its essentials or entered the beginner stage, so how can you combine it with fist forms? I think you should first enter the beginner stage of the Three Powers Stance before trying to combine the two."

Meng Chuan nodded to show that he understood. He actually knew this principle, but with the dawn of breaking the limit right before his eyes, he had become somewhat impatient.

Liu Ru did not want to dampen Meng Chuan's enthusiasm, so she comforted him afterward.

"I looked at your trainee profile. Both you and I have below-average aptitude. I entered the beginner stage in three days back then. I just watched your stance movements. If you work hard, I believe you can do it too."

By noon, Meng Chuan had not expected the Infinite Martial Arts Academy to provide meals as well.

They were all high-protein foods like beef, fish, and shrimp, available morning, noon, and night. He had simply missed breakfast.

After lunch, Meng Chuan felt his energy return. Without bothering to take a lunch break, he returned to the training ground to practice the stance, striving to enter the beginner stage of the Three Powers Stance as soon as possible.

Time slipped quietly away amid sweat, and the sky gradually darkened.

"Brother Chuan'er, Mengya and I are leaving first. Once you've practiced enough, head home early too."

Wang Yue had long since wanted to leave, but because he had to accompany Qin Mengya, he could only make the best of it.

"Bye-bye, Brother Chuan'er. We're leaving first."

Qin Mengya also waved goodbye to Meng Chuan. She had seen his hard work with her own eyes, and now she was starting to believe what Wang Yue had said.