Striking the Azure Heavens Above, Scooping the Emerald Waters Below (Second Update)

"Swallow Return Fist is the Basic Fist Art of the Swallow Form Fist lineage. Swallows excel at flight: striking the azure heavens above, scooping the emerald waters below, dodging and turning with exceptional agility.

The verse goes: Turn and scoop the water, lift the kidneys and brace the waist; flash aside and spread the wings, calm the heart and nourish the brain. Bore into the sky and watch the crown, scoop the water and watch the feet; draw forth kidney essence, Swallow Form crowns the armor.

"Whether it is the ordinary martial art Swallow Return Fist or the True Skill Grade Swallow Form Fist, once you grasp these four key principles, you will have understood the essence of this fist art."

To learn a fist art, one first learned its principles. Lu Chenzhou listened with meticulous attention. As he taught his signature skill, Ji Xuantong was entirely in his element, speaking in an endless stream.

Once the theory was explained, it was time for practical training.

Ji Xuantong led Lu Chenzhou to the wooden stake area.

"You've already mastered Sea-Skimming Body. Start practicing Swallow Return Fist directly on the wooden stakes. Combine the fist art with your movement skill, just as your Black Tiger Fist pairs with Mountain-Crossing Body, and you'll get twice the result with half the effort. Watch carefully."

Swallow Return Fist was not some exclusive martial art; it had existed since ancient times.

Ji Xuantong did not keep it to himself either, calling the other students over to watch as well.

"Those who haven't learned it, pay attention. Those who have, come review it."

Du Men and the others secretly rejoiced.

If not for instructing Lu Chenzhou, Ji Xuantong rarely gave them guidance during public lessons. Shi Ruyu usually substituted for him, ensuring the value of the core classes.

Today, they had gotten to ride on his coattails.

Ji Xuantong soared like a swallow and landed atop a wooden stake.

"Swallow Return Fist has twenty-four forms. Sixteen of them are best practiced in conjunction with movement skills and footwork. The first form, Golden Swallow Spreads Its Wings..."

Lu Chenzhou watched without blinking.

"So this is Swallow Return Fist!"

Ji Xuantong demonstrated, and everyone followed along.

The other students training nearby also came over one after another.

That afternoon, the martial hall brimmed with the scent of sweat and striving.

"Lu Chenzhou, how's your learning going? Show everyone a few moves?"

Ji Xuantong wanted his personal disciple to put on a proper display.

"Alright, Teacher."

Lu Chenzhou stepped onto the stakes and began practicing Swallow Return Fist. At first, he was somewhat unfamiliar with it, his movements stiff and sluggish, but when he applied the mindset of Black Tiger Crossing the Mountain to his practice, he gradually got the hang of it.

At last, he drew in his stance and stood still.

"It was mediocre. Sorry for making a fool of myself."

The crowd fell silent.

Outsiders might not know, but the students did.

Lu Chenzhou had never practiced Swallow Return Fist before, had he?

He had reached Initiation in just one afternoon. How were those students who had attended more than ten—or even dozens of—classes supposed to bear that? You called this making a fool of yourself?

Du Men's heart twisted again. He had thought he had accepted it, only to realize that was because he had underestimated Lu Chenzhou's upper limit. Lu Chenzhou had held back far too much when sparring with him. They were people from two entirely different worlds.

Ji Xuantong was thoroughly satisfied.

"Not bad. You learned quickly. Learn more from Lu Chenzhou. With Flying Swallow Skimming the Sea, once movement skill and fist art are practiced to profound heights, they become one seamless whole."

Lu Chenzhou had just begun learning it, yet he already performed better than many who had studied it before.

Worthy of being a personal disciple. Old Ji felt his eye for people had been spot-on.

Lu Chenzhou looked toward the Martial Dao Tree.

Swallow Return Fist: Initiation (18%)

So fast. Entering Initiation with these third-rate ordinary martial arts no longer puts any pressure on me. Thinking back, Black Tiger Fist took ten classes just to reach Initiation last year. Cultivation is a complete system. As my cultivation grows stronger and I master more martial arts, learning ordinary martial arts will only become easier and easier... Of course, the Martial Dao Tree deserves immense credit!

Black Tiger Crossing the Mountain, Flying Swallow Skimming the Sea.

Lu Chenzhou had already mastered two Form Imitation routines.

Though they were both ordinary martial arts, their principles were interconnected. Later, with the more profound Tiger Form Fist and Swallow Form Fist, he could draw inferences from one instance and comprehend the whole through mastery.

Spring is warm and flowers are blooming; the swallows have returned. Another day, I should visit Stone Lake Park and watch swallows scoop water. Perhaps I can recreate that Fortune-Touched Insight state from that day.

That marvelous, intoxicating sensation of being borne atop the Black Tiger.

Lu Chenzhou would never forget it for the rest of his life.

I have the Martial Dao Tree. Perhaps Fortune-Touched Insight isn't something as unattainable as it is for others. As long as the right conditions and timing are present, I can recreate it.

It was getting late.

Lu Chenzhou prepared to head back.

Qin Zheng had said they would get together over the weekend, but after hearing that Li Linling was free this weekend, he had eagerly invited his senior sister to a movie and completely forgotten about it.

Before he left, Ji Xuantong said,

"Study hard. Next month's Martial Arts Academy Exchange Tournament won't be a problem."

"I'll do my best."

Lu Chenzhou was determined to claim those hundred thousand yuan.

Now that he had entered martial arts school, he no longer had to worry about basic martial arts supplements. But he still lacked money. First, he needed to help support his household. Second, as his cultivation rose, the martial arts supplements distributed freely by the school were becoming insufficient. He could not keep asking the hall master for more.

One could not treat another person's gifts as something rightfully owed.

In the old days, martial artists had needed to buy vast quantities of precious medicinal herbs and tonics to refine into great medicines and pills. Now, martial arts pharmaceutical companies had turned them into more scientific supplements.

But they were all expensive.

The school only distributed the most basic Qi-Nourishing No. 1, which cost twelve thousand yuan per box. Some peers from martial arts families or university Genius Classes also took Bone-Strengthening No. 1, Organ-Nourishing No. 1, Mingshen No. 1, and other supplements, priced anywhere from ten thousand to a hundred thousand yuan.

Before leaving, Old Zhang stopped Lu Chenzhou.

"Chenzhou, my app is nearly ready to launch. Remember to help me make a showing when the time comes. I want to use you as a key promotional figure. Next month's Martial Arts Academy Exchange Tournament will be an opportunity. We definitely won't have many users early on... but I have money. As long as you're willing to come, I'll transfer a hundred thousand yuan to you upfront."

Old Zhang truly wanted to start a business.

He would begin with a free platform, attract some users, then gradually add paid features while drawing in more outstanding young Martial Warriors.

His standing was not high enough for him to know anyone in the genius circle.

But Lu Chenzhou could manage it.

No matter what, he had to pull Lu Chenzhou in.

Lu Chenzhou did not agree immediately.

"I'll think about it. Mainly, we have closed management, and I only get one day a week to use freely. Besides, I can't just take your hundred thousand without doing anything, right?"

Old Zhang nodded.

"Think it over carefully. You wouldn't be taking it for nothing. I think highly of your potential and believe in the fame you'll have in the future. If you run into any trouble, contact me anytime."

"Thank you."

"No need for politeness. We're fellow disciples, after all. It's only right."

Fang Mountain at night was deep and tranquil.

Dragon City High School.

Lu Chenzhou returned to school.

After practicing Heaven Stance at the training grounds, he found several classmates gathered together, discussing something with great enthusiasm. When he asked, he learned they were talking about the Summer Examination in July.

Martial arts high schools generally did not hold examinations every month.

That was because learning martial arts was unlike academic subjects; monthly fluctuations were not very great. Only in the first three stages might one make noticeable progress every month. After that, it slowed down.

Above the Fourth Stage, progress came one tiny bit at a time.

Thus, there were only two major examinations each year.

The Summer Examination in July.

The Winter Examination in January.

Failing one examination would place a student on the school's observation list.

Failing two examinations meant expulsion.

Martial arts school students consumed considerable resources every year.

That was why this was a place of true survival of the fittest.

It was unlike some students living in the ivory tower of academic universities, muddling through until graduation before discovering they had learned nothing, left with nothing but complaints against heaven and resentment toward others.

It was only April now. There were still three months before the Summer Examination.

The students had already begun feeling anxious.

Though Lu Chenzhou's cultivation ranked near the bottom, he was not worried. The Summer Examination assessed each person according to their specific circumstances. As long as his progress over the past half year satisfied the school, he could pass. Otherwise, transfer students like him, who had joined midway, would be at far too great a disadvantage.

After finishing his training and returning to his dormitory, Lu Chenzhou found a new message.

Ji Feiyan: Junior Brother, train hard. I look forward to seeing you at next year's Fang Mountain Martial Arts Tournament. Bring glory to our Dragon City University of Martial Arts and Flying Swallow Martial Hall.

Please keep reading, vote with monthly tickets, and send recommendation tickets.