How Can This Be Allowed? Extra Training Tonight!

"Could it be that his compatibility with this martial art is high?"

Zhou Hai nodded to himself, feeling that this was probably the case.

Although Fang Chen's moves were improving quickly now, that did not mean his innate aptitude was good.

Innate aptitude mainly affected the circulation of blood and qi, as well as breakthroughs through bottlenecks.

If blood and qi circulated slowly, one's realm would rise slowly.

If bottlenecks were difficult to break through, it meant one might very well be stuck in a single realm forever.

That was why people with poor innate aptitude generally could not go far on the path of martial arts.

This was also why everyone valued innate aptitude so highly.

After all, on the path of martial arts, the gap between every realm was enormous.

But some people might display extraordinary talent and exceptional comprehension in a particular martial art.

That was compatibility with a martial art.

Such a thing was mysterious and profound. No one knew what it was related to; one could only say that it was innate.

Zhou Hai had not expected to encounter one today.

"Fang Chen is improving so quickly in his moves. Given my current situation, it's impossible for me to catch up to him."

People always loved comparing themselves to others, and Zhou Hai was no exception.

Even knowing that Fang Chen had high compatibility with this martial art, he did not want to lose to Fang Chen so easily.

"I need to seek guidance. That's my advantage."

Zhou Hai smiled and walked over to Wang Yanshan.

"Senior Brother, there are a few places where I don't understand how to link the moves. Do you have time to give me some pointers?"

Wang Yanshan stopped what he was doing and said with a beaming smile, "Of course. Just ask me anything you don't understand! No matter what, I've reached minor mastery in Tiger Subduing Fist, and I'm even close to major mastery!"

Zhou Hai was slightly surprised.

He had not expected Wang Yanshan to be so close to reaching the Second Realm, the Sinew and Bone Realm.

However, breakthroughs in martial arts were incredibly difficult. It was also possible that Wang Yanshan would remain in the First Realm forever.

He stopped dwelling on it and voiced his confusion.

"Senior Brother, how should I smoothly transition and link the first move into the second?"

"I always feel like my movements are very awkward."

Wang Yanshan thought for a moment and said, "How about you demonstrate it for me first?"

Hearing this, Zhou Hai immediately began demonstrating Tiger Subduing Fist before Wang Yanshan.

Wang Yanshan frowned, thinking it over, yet he seemed somewhat unsure how to put it into words.

"Well... you... it's just..."

Wang Yanshan's explanation came in fits and starts and was rather muddled. After listening, Zhou Hai felt as though he understood but did not understand at all, lost amid clouds and mist.

Seeing Zhou Hai frown, Wang Yanshan smiled.

"Junior Brother Zhou, don't fret. I think you'll definitely get started faster than the others!"

Zhou Hai asked curiously, "How many days did the fastest person take to get started?"

Wang Yanshan thought for a moment and said, "Even the fastest probably needed two or three days."

"Don't worry. Getting started isn't that difficult. Feel it out a little more, and you'll understand."

Zhou Hai nodded and said no more.

He returned near Fang Chen and continued practicing Tiger Subduing Fist.

Zhou Hai assumed his stance, but he could not help thinking to himself,

If it were Fang Chen, how many days would he need?

He shook his head.

How had he let someone else affect him so easily?

On the path of martial arts, one ought to constantly challenge oneself.

With a will this fragile, how could he possibly go far in martial arts later on?

Zhou Hai silently encouraged himself, deciding to stop paying attention to Fang Chen and practice on his own.

As he continued rehearsing the moves, Zhou Hai found that there were some parts he simply could not figure out.

Even after asking the others, he still could not fully understand them.

The moves felt somewhat awkward when performed, yet no one could clearly explain where the crux of the problem lay.

He was even beginning to consider seeking out Hong Decheng.

Unfortunately, the master only taught and gave guidance on designated days.

Usually, he was extremely lazy and basically never gave anyone pointers.

"Alas."

Zhou Hai sighed inwardly.

"I'm still too impatient. Fang Chen has completely thrown off my rhythm."

He kept taking deep breaths, trying to calm himself as he continued practicing Tiger Subduing Fist.

"That's right. I just need to take it slowly. No matter how compatible Fang Chen is with this martial art, he can't possibly get started in a single day."

Zhou Hai found his inner calm again.

"No matter how capable Fang Chen is, he should still need two or three days! I shouldn't be too far behind him. There's nothing to be impatient about!"

Thinking this, he inexplicably felt that even the moves he practiced had become a little smoother!

The afternoon passed just like that amid the practice of fists.

Having completed another round of Tiger Subduing Fist, Fang Chen looked delightedly at his Proficiency Panel.

Host: Fang Chen

Martial Arts: Tiger Subduing Fist (Not Yet Initiated 8/10)

Source Energy: None

The Source Energy section still displayed "None."

The information Fang Chen received from the panel was that Source Energy could only be obtained after a martial art had been perfected.

It could be used to repair martial arts, as well as break the limits of martial arts.

The purpose of breaking a martial art's limits was simple.

If one had mastered several blade arts, one could use the Source Energy obtained from those blade arts to break the limits of and deduce one of them further.

It was similar to combining and upgrading.

Repairing martial arts was just as the name implied. If he obtained an incomplete martial art in the future, he could use Source Energy to restore it.

However, both functions were far too distant for him at present.

His current focus was the progress of Tiger Subduing Fist.

Martial Arts: Tiger Subduing Fist (Not Yet Initiated 8/10)

He only needed to practice it two more times before successfully getting started!

In other words, he could get started with Tiger Subduing Fist today!

"This speed should count as fast, right?"

Fang Chen did not know how fast the others were, but he felt that with the panel's assistance, he should not be too bad.

By this time, the disciples had gradually begun leaving the martial arts hall.

Seeing that Fang Chen was still practicing, Qin Yun could not help thinking,

"Too much is as bad as too little. Junior Brother Fang is practicing so diligently that it may instead be harmful."

"Perhaps he knows his innate aptitude is poor, so he wants to work harder."

"I should remind him."

Qin Yun walked over and said with a smile, "Junior Brother Fang, you're not leaving yet?"

Seeing that it was Qin Yun, who had given him the Blood Qi Pill, Fang Chen smiled as well. "My innate aptitude is poor, so naturally I have to work harder."

"Thanks to Senior Brother's Blood Qi Pill, I was able to practice Tiger Subduing Fist several more times today."

Qin Yun nodded in satisfaction.

"It's good that you like it, but martial arts practice requires a balance between work and rest. One round of Tiger Subduing Fist takes quite a while, and if it gets too late, the road won't be safe. You should head back earlier."

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother. I won't stay too late."

Fang Chen cupped his hands and saw Qin Yun off.

Then he returned to his spot and properly assumed his stance.

He had tried it that afternoon. Carelessly throwing out the moves did not earn any proficiency.

He had to be utterly serious while practicing, and he could not miss a single step. Only then would his proficiency increase.

Being slow was not a problem, so long as he tried his best to be precise.

But he could not make unnecessary mistakes just to perform the moves faster.

Every move contained many details: the exertion of his muscles, the length and rhythm of his breathing, and the links between each move.

All of them had to be performed as accurately as possible.

Thus, one full round of Tiger Subduing Fist actually took quite a while.

Fang Chen ran through every move of Tiger Subduing Fist in his mind once more.

He began practicing with complete concentration.

Before he knew it, his whole body had immersed itself in a peculiar state.

The image of Hong Decheng practicing Tiger Subduing Fist surfaced in Fang Chen's mind.

The moves in his hands gradually synchronized with Hong Decheng's movements.

He felt a flood of insights suddenly surge into his mind.

"So this is how the moves connect here!"

"Using force like this is actually smoother!"

"I understand. I shouldn't rush this move out. I need to borrow force from my waist and hips!"

Fang Chen felt inexplicably refreshed all over. The more he practiced Tiger Subduing Fist, the smoother it became!

The wind from his fists rang out in a continuous stream, as though he had truly gained a trace of a fierce tiger's bearing!

Meanwhile,

Zhou Hai in the distance was also practicing his fists bitterly, feeling inexplicably irritated.

"Does Fang Chen really need to be this hardworking?"

"Someone faster than me is actually more diligent than me. How can this be allowed?"

"Damn it, I was originally planning to visit Yihong Courtesan House!"

"Miss Shishi might even be waiting for me!"

"No, I'm not going tonight! I'm training extra!"