Five Elements Fist: Beginner

The so-called Five Elements Fist encompassed the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, corresponding respectively to the lungs (metal), liver (wood), kidneys (water), heart (fire), and spleen (earth). The five elements formed a cycle of mutual generation and mutual restraint.

This cycle stimulated potential and generated vitality and blood! When cultivated to the utmost, it could cleanse and temper all five viscera and six bowels, allowing one to bear even more vitality and blood! It laid a solid foundation for reaching Entry Grade.

Jiang Liu read the introduction to the Five Elements Fist, then closed the fist manual and practiced another set in the courtyard. With a thought, a dark-blue light screen appeared before his eyes.

Auxiliary System:

Name: Jiang Liu

Realm: Body Refinement (Skin Tempering)

Fierce Tiger Fist (Beginner 25/100)

Alchemy (Beginner 37/100)

Basic Fist Technique (Not Yet Beginner 2/10)

Five Elements Fist (Not Yet Beginner 5/10)

Jiang Liu's face lit up with delight. He had not expected such great benefits right after joining the Fallen Blossom Gang! Today, he had gained experience five times from the Five Elements Fist! Tomorrow, he could reach the Beginner level.

Jiang Liu understood that too much was as bad as too little, so he did not continue cultivating and went to rest.

The next day.

Jiang Liu got up early. After washing up, he went out and knocked on Wang Zhuang's door. Once Wang Zhuang had finished washing, they went together to the training ground and found that quite a few people had already arrived! They hurriedly warmed up and began practicing the Basic Fist Technique!

When Master Ma arrived, he found that everyone had already begun cultivating the Five Elements Fist! Satisfied by the sight, Master Ma nodded without saying anything and left, leaving behind disciples from the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to watch over them.

After practicing two sets of the Five Elements Fist, Jiang Liu stopped! He was panting like an ox and drenched in sweat! He had no choice but to stop! If he continued, he feared he would damage his foundation!

This is about the same as yesterday! After two sets, my body can't take it anymore! Wang Zhuang did three sets and still looked more relaxed than I did! My physical condition is still far too poor! I have to find a way to buy more medicinal soup.

After resting for a while, Jiang Liu began practicing the Basic Fist Technique. He had only completed one set when it was time for lunch.

Lunch was still one meat dish and one vegetable dish. The meat was different from yesterday's, and the vegetables were fresh as well! Only the medicinal soup was the same! It seemed the meat and vegetables changed every day.

That afternoon, Jiang Liu again stopped after two sets of the Five Elements Fist and practiced one set of the Basic Fist Technique! After dinner, he returned to his own small courtyard and continued until he had finished another set of the Five Elements Fist.

At once, he felt a current of warmth flow through his entire body. His whole body felt pleasantly warm, as though he possessed inexhaustible strength! Jiang Liu knew that the Five Elements Fist had reached the Beginner level!

With a thought, a dark-blue light screen appeared before his eyes.

Auxiliary System:

Name: Jiang Liu

Realm: Body Refinement (Skin Tempering)

Basic Fist Technique (Not Yet Beginner 4/10)

Five Elements Fist (Beginner 0/100)

Jiang Liu felt that the interval between breaths had grown longer, while his heart seemed to beat with greater force. For the time being, he could not sense any obvious changes in his liver, spleen, or kidneys! But the body's evolution was a gradual process! Jiang Liu simply could not notice it so quickly yet.

The following day,

Jiang Liu diligently cultivated the Five Elements Fist at Apprentice Plaza.

Master Ma came, looked over the apprentices' cultivation, and was about to leave. "Hmm? What's that one called?" Master Ma turned and asked Xiao Qing.

Xiao Qing took out the register and checked it. "That one is Jiang Liu from Hunting Eagle Hall! What is it?"

"Call him over here! I want to ask him something!" Master Ma said.

"Alright!" After answering, Xiao Qing ran over to Jiang Liu and said, "Jiang Liu, Master Ma is calling for you!"

Hearing this, Jiang Liu stopped and walked over to Master Ma. He cupped his fists and said, "Master Ma, were you looking for me?"

"You're Jiang Liu, right? Have you practiced the Five Elements Fist before?" Master Ma asked.

Jiang Liu replied, "No, Master Ma. I only began practicing it after coming here!"

"Oh? Has your Five Elements Fist reached the Beginner level?" Master Ma asked doubtfully.

"Yes. After I went back last night, I kept practicing, and somehow I reached the Beginner level!" Jiang Liu said, feigning an honest and simple expression.

"Good! I never thought my luck would be this good, to have an apprentice with such talent under me this year! When your Five Elements Fist reached the Beginner level, did you feel any changes?" Master Ma asked with satisfaction.

"There weren't any obvious changes. It just seemed like I could hold my breath longer, and my heart seemed to beat faster! Other than that, there was nothing much!" Jiang Liu replied.

"Mm! That is normal! Continue cultivating, and your other viscera will change as well! Xiao Qing, make a note of it! Give Jiang Liu another bowl of medicinal soup tonight! Put it under my special quota!" Master Ma instructed.

When Xiao Qing heard that, he looked at Jiang Liu with a face full of jealousy! Master Ma's special quota was limited! Every portion given away meant one less portion remaining.

Unused special quota could be saved! Now that Jiang Liu had taken a portion, it meant Xiao Qing and another Miscellaneous Affairs Hall member would have less extra income.

Master Ma also knew perfectly well what tricks were involved. He warned Xiao Qing, "Whether I can advance further this year depends on Jiang Liu. Don't try any tricks on me. If I find out, watch your hide!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qing hurriedly said that he would not. He would definitely carry out Master Ma's instructions.

Jiang Liu's face brightened with joy. He cupped his fists toward Master Ma and said, "Many thanks, Master Ma. I will definitely cultivate diligently!"

"Alright, go back and continue cultivating!" With that, Master Ma left with his hands clasped behind his back.

That evening, not long after Jiang Liu returned to his small courtyard, a Miscellaneous Affairs Hall disciple indeed came to call him to the Dining Hall for medicinal soup! Wang Zhuang watched Jiang Liu leave with a face full of envy.

When Jiang Liu arrived at the Dining Hall, he found five people already waiting inside! One of them was a short, squat man glaring furiously at him.

Jiang Liu ignored him and silently waited to one side! Since no one spoke to him, he listened to their discussion and learned that they had all paid to purchase extra medicinal soup. Jiang Liu's portion, meanwhile, had been taken from the younger brother of that short, squat man.

After waiting for a while, Miscellaneous Affairs Hall members began distributing the medicinal soup. Once they had finished drinking, everyone went their separate ways.

The moment Jiang Liu stepped out of the Dining Hall, he saw the short, squat man blocking the way! The man glared at Jiang Liu and said, "You're Jiang Liu, right? If you know what's good for you, give up that portion of medicinal soup yourself, or you'll suffer some flesh-and-blood pain!"

Jiang Liu sneered. "I'd like to give it up! The question is, would Master Ma agree? Why don't you ask Master Ma for me tomorrow?"

The short, squat man said, "As long as you come here! Don't drink the medicinal soup—give it to my little brother instead! I'll still pay you the same amount! What do you say?"

Jiang Liu said, "Since you have so much money, you can just buy it outside! Why are you fixated on my portion?"

The short, squat man said, "If I could buy it outside, I would have done so long ago. This is medicinal soup meant to go with the Five Elements Fist. Without the prescription, it can't be bought at all. So? Agree, and there'll be benefits for you. You'll have one more friend, and you'll get silver too."

Jiang Liu said, "Since it can't be bought outside, then your money is useless to me. Why would I sell it to you? A friend? I don't even know who you are. Cut the nonsense. I don't have time to chatter with you." With that, Jiang Liu walked around the short, squat man and left.

The short, squat man watched Jiang Liu's retreating back, clenched his fists, and said viciously, "Jiang Liu, is it? I'll make you understand the consequences of offending me!"