Live Until Death, Train Until Death (Second Update)

Lu Chenzhou gazed at the Martial Dao Tree in his mind.

Over the course of three months, the sapling had grown thicker and taller.

On the trunk, faint characters flickered into view, yet they stubbornly refused to take shape. Lu Chenzhou knew this meant his mastery of the Dragon-Tiger Heaven Stance was insufficient; he had not reached Initiation.

Lu Chenzhou only had thirty class sessions. He sincerely asked:

"Teacher, can I learn one stance exercise per class? I only need to reach Initiation. That way, by the time I finish my sessions, I'll have initiated thirty kinds of stance exercises, and I can practice them myself at home."

Ji Xuantong was first taken aback, then smiled.

"Acupoints are linked together, like the skill trees in some games. Once you choose an acupoint stance exercise, you can only condense that one first. Only then can you use it as a starting point to develop and condense the acupoints connected afterward.

"Furthermore, the path of acupoints emphasizes going from shallow to deep, step by step. Starting with the acupoints in the hands and feet is the simplest. After that, the difficulty only grows greater. The hardest are the acupoints in the brain, and only top-tier powerhouses are qualified to open them."

Lu Chenzhou suddenly understood.

"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher. I was overthinking it."

Ji Xuantong waved his hand.

"It's nothing... Lu Chenzhou, you needn't rush for quick success just because you're worried you won't have money for later classes. That is a great taboo in martial arts. Just practice steadily and do your utmost. Let me put it this way: during these thirty classes, as long as you can open three acupoints, you'll be able to earn back those sixty thousand yuan!

"Opening acupoints benefits you for life!"

Lu Chenzhou clasped his fists.

"Chenzhou has been taught. Teacher, please continue."

Ji Xuantong was very satisfied.

For the entire next class, Lu Chenzhou practiced the stance exercise for the Zhongchong Acupoint. Ji Xuantong carefully demonstrated the twenty Stance Exercise Diagrams for him several times. Whenever he spotted Lu Chenzhou's mistakes, he immediately pointed them out, and if Lu Chenzhou repeated them too often, he would sternly reprimand him.

Strict teachers produced outstanding students. If you wanted to learn boxing, you had to endure being scolded.

At some unknown moment, the characters on the Martial Dao Tree finally took form.

Cultivation Method

Dragon-Tiger Heaven Stance: First Acupoint (1%)

After one round of instruction was complete, Lu Chenzhou glanced at the Martial Dao Tree.

"Does this count as initiating the stance exercise for the First Acupoint?"

He noticed that, unlike the Basic Fist Art and Black Tiger Fist on the leaves, the Dragon-Tiger Heaven Stance on the trunk did not have an "Initiation" designation.

The realms of acupoint stance exercises differed from the realms of martial arts.

As long as the First Acupoint's proficiency reached 100%, it would count as successfully condensing the Zhongchong Acupoint. He could then begin the condensation work for the Second Acupoint.

"Chenzhou, how does it feel?"

Ji Xuantong's way of addressing Lu Chenzhou had also begun to sound warmer.

After the first class, he had discovered that aside from his poor natural frame, he was satisfied with Lu Chenzhou in every other respect. He even felt the urge to take him in as a true disciple right away.

However, he remained very calm.

True disciples were valued for quality, not quantity.

Whether it was future exchanges with different martial halls or making one's way through society, true disciples could be said to be their teacher's public face. They still needed to be tested.

Lu Chenzhou answered honestly.

"Teacher, I feel very good. I think I've initiated this First Acupoint stance exercise. After class, I'll practice it more on my own and strive to condense the acupoint as soon as possible."

Ji Xuantong nodded and said loudly:

"Lu Chenzhou, remember this! If you say the Dragon-Tiger Heaven Stance is difficult, it really isn't. It is merely a Martial Artist's basic foundation and daily morning practice. What difficulty could it possibly have? That is why it has no Initiation, Proficiency, Perfection, and so on... As long as you learn it, that is enough.

"But opening acupoints is not the work of a single morning or evening. The Heaven Stance uses special movements to stimulate the acupoints, causing them to gradually take shape until they are finally opened and stabilized.

"Therefore, the Heaven Stance cannot be mastered overnight. The same is true even for geniuses of comprehension. Whether you continue learning under me in the future, whether you can become a Martial Artist, if you wish to practice martial arts, then you must make practicing the Heaven Stance an instinct as natural as breathing!

"The cultivation of the Heaven Stance cannot be interrupted for even one day!

"Live until death, train until death!"

Ji Xuantong's voice rang out sonorously and powerfully, stirring the heart.

Hearing this, Lu Chenzhou solemnly bowed.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master!"

At that moment, he completely acknowledged Ji Xuantong.

He suddenly understood the difference between a martial hall and an ordinary combat gym or fitness center. Martial Artists might charge dearly, but they were people with convictions.

Unlike that bald coach, who only wanted to trick him into buying classes. That was also why they were worthy of being called Martial Artists: they possessed the bearing of great masters and acted openly and uprightly.

The seed of martial arts in Lu Chenzhou's heart was growing vigorously.

He too would become a true Martial Artist!

Martial arts were conviction, principles, and truth!

Seeing that there was still time left in class and Lu Chenzhou had already grasped the Zhongchong Acupoint stance exercise, with only patient grinding work remaining, Ji Xuantong thought for a moment and said:

"I'll teach you a few other things with the remaining time. I know you've learned the Black Tiger Fist, so there's no need for you to learn our Flying Swallow Martial Hall's Swallow Return Fist for now. Greedily swallowing too much only leaves you unable to chew it. I suggest you use all thirty class sessions for guidance on new acupoint stance exercises. Videos of most third-rate martial arts can be found on the Martial Dao Association's official website, and you can also learn them from some cheap boxing coaches outside... Come, perform the Black Tiger Fist for me once."

"Alright, Teacher."

Lu Chenzhou had also wanted an expert to guide him in the Black Tiger Fist. After learning it from that cheap coach, he had basically practiced by himself while following videos.

He immediately threw himself into a complete set of punches.

After Ji Xuantong finished watching, he first nodded slightly in approval.

"Not bad. You're already very proficient. I heard from your father that you learned this at a combat gym. Reaching this level in three months without a famous teacher's guidance, I personally think you are no weaker than the ordinary prospects at those martial arts schools."

"You flatter me, Teacher. Senior Sister often gives me guidance too."

"You're being modest. With Shi Ruyu's current martial attainments, she isn't even as good as you at the Black Tiger Fist. I, Ji Xuantong, like people who are open and straightforward. There is no need for this."

Only he was qualified to say such things about a Seventh Stage Huali Realm expert.

Lu Chenzhou said:

"Teacher, I understand."

Ji Xuantong said:

"I'll perform the Black Tiger Fist once for you. Watch carefully. Where do I differ from you? Then perform it for me a few more times, and let me see how your comprehension is."

"Alright, Teacher... but class is almost over."

"It's fine. The time after this doesn't cost money. Consider it a gift from me."

Lu Chenzhou thanked Ji Xuantong.

He knew that the talent he had displayed was already having an effect. Next, he would use it as a fulcrum to pry open the gates of Pingjiang Martial University and step onto a larger stage.

Ji Xuantong truly deserved to be someone who had broken through the First Shackles.

What he truly excelled at was the Swallow Form, which belonged to the Form Imitation lineage. Yet his attainments in the Tiger Form still surpassed that bald coach's by countless times.

Once one reached the realm of a Martial Artist, ordinary martial arts of the Form Imitation lineage all connected by analogy. Understand one method, and ten thousand methods opened before you. It was truly enviable.

Lu Chenzhou observed carefully, then demonstrated for Ji Xuantong again.

Ji Xuantong continuously pointed out the omissions and flaws in his fist techniques. Before he knew it, Lu Chenzhou had already spent two hours in the martial arts room—equivalent to buying one class and getting one free.

It was not until the next member with an appointment knocked on the door for class.

Only then did Ji Xuantong look as though he had not had his fill.

Looking at Lu Chenzhou, whose progress was obvious, he coughed and said:

"You should go now. Since this is your first class, I won't strictly enforce the time. In the future, once the time is up, you may leave directly... unless I tell you to stay."

Lu Chenzhou felt embarrassed.

"This student understands!"

After leaving the martial arts room, he looked at the Martial Dao Tree panel.

Black Tiger Fist: Proficiency (51%) → Proficiency (58%)

"Teacher Ji's guidance for one hour is worth several days of practicing by myself. The ancients said that famous teachers produce outstanding students; it truly is so. The children of powerful Martial Artists are born winning at the starting line. With good natural frames, becoming a Martial Artist at eighteen is nothing strange."

People always said that even in modern Great Xia, martial arts clans and powerful families remained the hidden masters behind the scenes. Lu Chenzhou felt that perhaps there was some truth to it.

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