Within Seven Steps, the Gun Was Fast and Accurate

"Sea-Skimming Body?"

"A secret martial art?"

The students were shaken.

Secret martial arts were unique to each martial arts school. In ancient times, they were usually supreme arts passed down through generations within a master's lineage. To develop Martial Dao, Great Xia had made most ordinary martial arts inherited from olden times public online or taught them in schools.

The most typical example was "Black Tiger Fist."

Those worthy of being called secret arts were martial arts created by modern Martial Artists themselves and protected by exclusive intellectual property rights for life under national law. However, most Martial Artists donated them to their alma maters before their time ran out, allowing them to leave their names in the annals of history after death while the schools, in turn, blessed their descendants.

The deep foundations of top Wudas came from two sources.

First, the renowned sects and Martial Dao families of old.

Second, generations of Martial Artists scattered across the land, donating their secret martial arts.

Lu Chenzhou felt that Ji Xuantong was a truly good master.

As the saying went, "Teach fists but not footwork; teach footwork and the student will beat the master."

Many martial arts schools would not teach Movement Skills, much less a secret one.

Shi Ruyu said:

"Sea-Skimming Body is an ordinary martial art created by the master. Though it is only third-rate, it is the most suitable for you all and easy to pick up."

Everyone was delighted.

"Great! We're finally learning a Movement Skill martial art."

"I'm sick to death of Basic Fist Art."

"I wonder if, after reaching Perfection, we'll be able to leap across roofs and walk on water like in the lightness arts?"

The young people began to let their imaginations run wild.

Lu Chenzhou was also full of anticipation.

There were several third-rate Movement Skill martial arts on the Martial Artists Association's official website, such as "Plum Blossom Step," "Eight Trigrams Step," and "Wading Step," but Lu Chenzhou had not learned them.

Mainly because Black Tiger Fist itself contained some simple stepping techniques and Movement Skills, which were enough for him. Of course, the most important reason was that he had no money to hire a teacher for hands-on instruction.

Shi Ruyu could not help laughing.

"You all have quite the beautiful dreams! Remember, Movement Skill martial arts are ultimately only supplementary arts. If your blood and vitality rank cannot keep up, then even if you train one to Perfection, don't dream of walking on water.

"Besides, blood and vitality and martial techniques complement each other. If your physical condition is lacking, it is impossible to train a Movement Skill martial art to Perfection! Those situations in novels where someone excels in lightness arts but has no real combat power cannot exist in reality either. Physical improvement is inevitably all-around. At this stage, Dragon-Tiger Heaven Stance and fist arts are your very foundation!

"And people are always asking me why I don't teach the art of fighting with cold weapons?

"Then let me tell you now: cold weapons are also held in the hand. They are extensions and enhancements of the fists and palms. Besides, technology is so advanced now—how can cold weapons compare to firearms? Beyond seven steps, the gun is fast... within seven steps, the gun is both fast and accurate!

"If you become a Martial Artist, most cold weapons and even firearms commonly used by ordinary people will become useless against you. Of course, that is far too distant for you all.

"In short, foundational training comes first! Do not put the cart before the horse!"

Shi Ruyu's words calmed the students' restless hearts.

Lu Chenzhou also thought it made sense.

He had watched All-Nations Martial Arts Tournament matches. The competition did not prohibit cold weapons, yet few top Martial Dao experts used them. The bodies of top experts already surpassed every alloy weapon that humanity's current technology could forge. What use would they have for them?

Of course, quite a few ordinary Martial Artists still used Alloy Cold Weapons.

Sabers, swords, and exotic weapons—there was every kind imaginable.

Moreover, one type of cold weapon was rather special.

They were called "Martial Dao Divine Weapons," also known as "Legacy Divine Weapons."

It was said that they were miraculous weapons nurtured by Martial Artists with their own power in ancient times. The powerful figures of great families and sects had passed them down and nurtured them across long ages, until they possessed unfathomable might like that of gods and ghosts. However, these no longer counted as conventional cold weapons.

At their root, they were still born from the miraculous powers of Martial Artists.

Shi Ruyu began her demonstration, and Lu Chenzhou watched with rapt attention.

"Training Sea-Skimming Body most tests one's skill in three areas. First, the lower limbs must be fast. Second, the waist must be steady. Third, both arms must be nimble. If you have watched documentaries, you should have seen storm petrels flying over the sea amid raging wind and rain..."

Shi Ruyu's feet touched down one after the other as her body leaped up and down. The wooden-stake area beneath her swayed without cease. This was the place for training Movement Skills, far more complicated than ordinary plum blossom stakes. Lu Chenzhou had tried practicing fists atop them before, but he could not last long before falling.

Shi Ruyu's long legs stepped firmly atop them, while her arms swayed open.

Like a swallow perched on a power line, steady and secure.

"Sea-Skimming Body has eighteen secret forms. I will demonstrate them for you one by one now. Two of you, come attack me and see whether you can touch me."

Shi Ruyu looked over the crowd, her gaze falling upon the focused Lu Chenzhou.

Lu Chenzhou immediately said:

"I'll do it."

"We need one more."

Lu Chenzhou wanted to call Qin Zheng, but the fellow shook his head like a rattle drum.

"No, I'm way too bad."

Du Men stepped forward and said:

"Senior Sister, can I?"

"Come on, then."

The two immediately used every method at their disposal and struck at Shi Ruyu. The result was only natural: even standing on the ground, neither could hit Shi Ruyu as she moved across the swaying wooden stakes without a single leaf touching her body. As she dodged, Shi Ruyu explained the essential principles of the Movement Skill.

"The front foot leads the way, the rear foot follows; seek lightness and agility, distinguish advance from retreat. Crosswise or slanting, the form flies like a bird; bird wings clear and light, breath lifts upward—this is Flying Step, the core footwork of Sea-Skimming Body! Shake the whole body like a cannon; unleash crisp force, and a fish springs upright—this is Quaking Step..."

Everyone watched Shi Ruyu.

In that moment, she resembled a storm petrel amid the vast and boundless sea. Lu Chenzhou and Du Men's attacks seemed as fierce as crashing waves, yet they could not come anywhere near her.

Shi Ruyu skimmed across the stakes for a full quarter of an hour.

Fine beads of sweat had already appeared on Lu Chenzhou and Du Men. Seeing this, she spread her arms like a great roc unfurling its wings and leaped over the two of them, lightly touching down more than ten feet away. She came to a stop with the elegance of a cat landing on the ground.

"I have just demonstrated every stepping and kicking technique of Sea-Skimming Body in full. Next, I will break them down and teach you bit by bit. If there is anything you have not grasped, ask promptly. Do not pretend to understand when you do not, or you will only waste everyone's time."

"Yes, Senior Sister."

Elsewhere, in the Martial Dao room.

Ji Xuantong watched Shi Ruyu's performance and nodded repeatedly.

"I have only taught her for a few months, and she is already close to mastering it. Not bad, not bad. She is an uncut jade. If Lu Chenzhou can keep this up, then that will make two pieces!"

Suddenly, his phone rang.

On the other end was Ji Feiyan, his daughter.

"Dad, school is off for a few days. I'm coming home to stay for two days."

Ji Xuantong smiled.

"Come on back. Your mother misses you too."

"You don't?"

"...I do, you brat."

"Alright! I heard you took in a personal disciple. Perfect, I can meet her."

"Mhm. Her comprehension is good. In a while, ask my teacher Qingtian Cang whether he can make a special admission exception for her into Dragon City University of Martial Arts."

"No problem, but the old man has recently gone into brief seclusion."

"No rush. I need to observe her for a while too."

"Bye, Dad! Love you!"

At the training ground.

Lu Chenzhou had already begun trying Sea-Skimming Body. His foundation in this area was relatively weak, and Movement Skill martial arts were somewhat harder than Black Tiger Fist. His goal was to reach Initiation within a week.