Red Thread Fist

The voice passed through the central hall and entered the backyard.

Shi Lei, who had been training his strength by holding a ball, was startled. He hurriedly tossed aside the Stone Ball and rushed before Zhang Lingshan. "You mastered it? Perform it once and let me see."

"Alright."

Zhang Lingshan immediately performed the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture once.

All the Registered Disciples watched without blinking. Zhang Lingshan's Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture was graceful and fluid, every movement linking together with incomparable smoothness, forming a seamless whole.

It was as though this was how the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture was meant to be performed, and everyone else had been doing their Standing Posture wrong.

There was even an indescribable, ineffable charm hidden within it.

Shi Lei was dumbstruck.

He realized that Zhang Lingshan's attainments in the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture surpassed even his own. But how long had the other man been cultivating it?

"I'll go call Master right away."

Shi Lei hurriedly turned and ran, charging out through the backyard's rear gate.

He crossed the street.

Another residence stood opposite.

Shi Lei knocked on the door and called out, "Disciple Shi Lei requests an audience with Master."

"Wait."

A servant immediately went to report it.

A moment later, the courtyard gate opened, and Shi Lei was invited inside.

Shi Lei strode quickly into the courtyard, where he saw his master sipping tea. He hastily bowed. "Master, Zhang Lingshan has mastered the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture!"

"Hmm?"

Hong Zhengdao leaned forward in surprise. "Mastered it? It hasn't even been a month, and he has already mastered it? Could my luck really be this good—did I somehow pick up a genius for nothing?"

With that, he drained his tea in one gulp and took great strides toward Zhang Lingshan.

"Perform it once." Hong Zhengdao ordered.

Zhang Lingshan cupped his hands and acknowledged the command.

A moment later.

Hong Zhengdao burst into laughter. "Good, good! It is as natural as if formed by Heaven itself, with yang energy arising on its own. You truly have mastered the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture. Congratulations—you have officially entered my, Hong Zhengdao's, school."

"Thank you, Master!"

Zhang Lingshan hurriedly bowed.

Hong Zhengdao smiled. "Come. Next, I will personally impart martial arts to you."

With that, he brought Zhang Lingshan to the courtyard where he had lived before.

Shi Lei and the other disciples watched the two men's backs, all revealing expressions of envy and jealousy.

Hong Clan Martial Hall was divided into two large residences.

The outward-facing one was the residence where they had always practiced martial arts and Standing Posture, with the Hong Clan Martial Hall sign hanging outside.

The inner one was the main residence.

Only disciples most favored and trusted by Hong Zhengdao could casually visit the main residence. Anyone else who wished to enter had to report first.

Yet Zhang Lingshan had only just mastered the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture, and he was already allowed to follow Master to the main residence to receive instruction.

What extraordinary treatment that was.

He had gained Master's favor the moment he entered the school. How could that not stir envy, jealousy, and resentment?

Zhang Lingshan did not know this rule. He merely followed honestly behind Hong Zhengdao until they arrived at the courtyard where Hong Zhengdao lived.

"This is my private residence. It is only the two of us, so you need not be restrained."

Hong Zhengdao sat down with a smile and had Zhang Lingshan sit as well. He asked, "What do you expect from learning martial arts? Why must you learn martial arts?"

Countless thoughts immediately surfaced in Zhang Lingshan's mind.

Learning martial arts was surely for self-protection, for protecting one's family, for becoming stronger, for living a better life.

But he did not want to answer that way now.

He wanted to know something more concrete, so he said, "This disciple once saw an Evil Spirit and was deeply shaken, his mind and soul trembling violently. I heard that martial artists with abundant qi and blood are immune to all illnesses, while the strong can even Exorcise Evil and Suppress Calamities. This disciple also wishes to become a strong man who can Exorcise Evil and Suppress Calamities."

"Exorcise Evil and Suppress Calamities?"

Hong Zhengdao froze for a moment, then laughed. "Xiao Shan, you are still young and have seen too little. There are ten thousand roads to Exorcise Evil and Suppress Calamities, and learning martial arts is the least efficient and most difficult among them."

"But this disciple knows only this one road. I hope Master will grant my wish!"

Zhang Lingshan said heavily.

Hong Zhengdao nodded. "You are right. Given our background, learning martial arts is the only road available to us. The other roads may be good, but they are not meant for mud-legged commoners like us."

Zhang Lingshan's heart tightened.

Hong Zhengdao was the strongest person he currently knew, and he was renowned throughout Jin City's Outer City.

Yet even he called himself a mud-legged commoner.

Then Zhang Lingshan was even more mud-legged than a mud-legged commoner.

How vast was the gap between people like them and those of the upper class? It was surely a Heavenly Chasm, a gulf beyond measure!

"Xiao Shan."

Hong Zhengdao suddenly grew solemn. "If you wish to Exorcise Evil and Suppress Calamities, then I can only regretfully tell you that learning my martial arts will not accomplish that. Unless you can comprehend the Unknowable Realm."

"What is the Unknowable Realm?" Zhang Lingshan asked in confusion.

Hong Zhengdao said, "Take the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture you mastered as an example. Though you have mastered it and can perform it as smoothly as drifting clouds and flowing water, traces can still be found.

"The Unknowable Realm is a realm without traces to follow. Once cultivated to that point, every movement carries an unfathomable Momentum.

"This realm is also called 'Momentum,' and it is also called the Perfection Realm."

As Hong Zhengdao spoke, longing filled his eyes. "Sadly, though your master has cultivated for over fifty years, I have still failed to cultivate the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture to Perfection. To develop Momentum is harder than climbing to Heaven. Thus, this road is basically impassable. I am telling you in advance as a warning. Are you certain you still wish to learn?"

"I do!"

"Good. Then I will now impart to you the supreme art of our school, the Red Thread Fist."

As Hong Zhengdao spoke, he extended a palm before Zhang Lingshan. "Watch carefully."

He secretly circulated his qi.

Zhang Lingshan saw red lines emerge from Hong Zhengdao's wrist, swiftly spreading to his five fingers.

In the blink of an eye, Hong Zhengdao's fingertips had turned so red that they seemed ready to drip blood.

Whoosh!

Hong Zhengdao suddenly reached out and grabbed the cup on the table.

With a light squeeze.

The cup instantly shattered into four pieces.

With a gentle twist of his fingers, the cup turned into white powder.

"How is that?"

Hong Zhengdao smiled. "Once our school's Red Thread Fist is mastered, qi and blood surge forth from the fingertips. Splitting mountains and cleaving rocks becomes as easy as reaching into a bag for something. With a single finger or hook, one can crush an enemy's bones. If one wounds others with the fist technique, the force can seep into their heart and spleen, making the enemy wish for life but unable to die."

"So powerful."

Zhang Lingshan praised, "When Master just gathered strength and condensed his blood, I actually felt a wave of heat rushing toward me. Every hair on my body stood on end, as though life and death rested on a single thought from Master."

"Your senses are rather sharp."

Hong Zhengdao was extremely surprised. He thought that perhaps Zhang Lingshan was particularly compatible with the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture, and the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture was the foundation of the Red Thread Fist.

It was understandable that he possessed such perception regarding the Red Thread Fist.

Since that was the case, there was no need for further nonsense.

Hong Zhengdao rose and walked to an open area in the courtyard. "All martial arts are divided into Cultivation Methods and Combat Techniques. I will now teach you the Cultivation Method of the Red Thread Fist."

With that.

He removed his shirt. His Legs rooted themselves firmly as he assumed the opening stance of the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture, his palms shooting upward to cross above his head.

"Watch the red lines on my arms and body carefully. Those are the points where force is released. Remember them well, and you can achieve twice the result with half the effort. If you practice incorrectly, not only will you achieve half the result with twice the effort, you will also injure yourself."

Hong Zhengdao reminded him as he demonstrated.

"Yes!"

Zhang Lingshan hastily answered, watching with meticulous attention and without blinking.