Daily Cultivation

After resting for a while and finding nothing else to do, Jiang Liu knocked on Wang Zhuang's door and called him out into the small courtyard.

Wang Zhuang introduced the locations of the various halls and the duties each was responsible for along the way, finally arriving at the Meal Hall. The food provided by the Meal Hall was fairly decent. One meat dish and one vegetable dish, with all the rice they could eat.

The meat seemed to be from some kind of unknown domesticated beast. After eating it, Jiang Liu felt a warm current spread through his entire body, leaving him pleasantly warm all over.

Jiang Liu and Wang Zhuang ate with great gusto. Once they were full, they returned to the small courtyard where they lived. Seeing that it was still early, Jiang Liu went through a set of Fierce Tiger Fist. Watching Jiang Liu practice, Wang Zhuang looked on with great interest. Then, his own hands began to itch, and he started practicing as well.

Wang Zhuang practiced White Crane Fist, a relatively rare and nimble style of boxing. After Jiang Liu finished his set, he saw Wang Zhuang's massive frame performing the agile White Crane Fist and found it rather comical.

Seeing Jiang Liu struggling not to laugh, Wang Zhuang rolled his eyes irritably. "I don't want to practice this either, but it's what my family specializes in. There's nothing I can do. If I don't practice it, my father will beat me, which is why I wanted to join the Fallen Blossom Gang and learn other cultivation methods."

"So it's your family's inherited fist technique! Sorry, brother!" Jiang Liu said apologetically.

"It's fine. I'm already used to being laughed at by those bastards from the Li Family and Fu Family. But Brother Jiang, you practice Fierce Tiger Fist, right?"

"Yes! I just bought it off the street and practiced it blindly. Once I learn a new cultivation method, I won't practice it anymore. Is there something wrong with this fist technique?" Jiang Liu asked, pretending not to know.

"There's nothing particularly wrong with it, but you'd better not use it carelessly! I'm afraid it'll bring you trouble. I seem to remember a Fierce Tiger Gang in the west of the city that practices Fierce Tiger Fist. I'm worried they'll come looking for trouble with you," Wang Zhuang said kindly.

"I see. Then I won't practice it anymore," Jiang Liu said.

"You don't need to fear them, though. We belong to the Fallen Blossom Gang, after all. The Fierce Tiger Gang wouldn't dare come here and cause trouble recklessly. They're just a third-rate little gang."

"Besides, the Fierce Tiger Gang failed to keep their own fist technique safe. If it's leaked outside now, that's their own problem! Why should they come after us? If they dare come, I'll beat them to death!" Wang Zhuang declared, thumping his chest grandly.

"Thank you, Brother Wang! I just won't practice this Fierce Tiger Fist anymore! Come on, let's keep practicing. I'll practice Basic Fist Technique! We happen to start basic cultivation tomorrow," Jiang Liu said.

"Alright! Let's practice Basic Fist Technique together," Wang Zhuang replied.

After completing a set of Basic Fist Technique, Jiang Liu felt utterly refreshed! With a thought, a deep-blue screen appeared.

Auxiliary System:

Name: Jiang Liu

Realm: Body Refinement (Skin Tempering)

Fierce Tiger Fist (Beginner 25/100)

Alchemy (Beginner 37/100)

Basic Fist Technique (Not Initiated 2/10)

Jiang Liu felt that his methods of exerting force in the fist moves and the speed at which his qi circulated had both improved. It seemed practicing Basic Fist Technique had quite a few benefits. He could practice it more whenever he had spare time.

Jiang Liu exchanged some more insights on boxing with Wang Zhuang, then they each washed up and rested.

The next day.

Before dawn had fully broken, Wang Zhuang knocked on Jiang Liu's door. "Brother Jiang, get up! The Training Hall is gathering!"

"Alright! I'll be right there." Jiang Liu hurriedly washed up, then followed Wang Zhuang as they ran to the Training Hall.

The Training Hall was located in a smaller plaza to the left of the central square.

When Jiang Liu arrived, he saw thirty or forty youths already standing in the plaza! Every one of them wore short training clothes: fitted blue jackets with narrow cuffs on top, black narrow-legged trousers below, and their hair tied with strips of cloth in various colors to distinguish which hall they belonged to—white for Rising Eagle Hall, green for Scattered Eagle Hall, red for Hunting Eagle Hall, and black for Shadow Eagle Hall.

Jiang Liu and Wang Zhuang were dressed the same way. This was the standard attire for Training Hall apprentices. They consciously took their places at the back.

At that moment, a sturdy middle-aged man slowly approached, followed by two gang members from the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. He stopped among the apprentices, clasped his hands behind his back, and said, "I am your master for basic cultivation. You may call me Master Ma!" After speaking, he swept his gaze lightly across the crowd.

Master Ma continued, "You are this year's one-year Training Hall apprentices. Since you are able to cultivate here, I believe you all know that the chance to enter was not easily won."

"You only get one chance. Whether you cultivate diligently is your own business. Those who fail the assessment at the end of the term will be expelled from the gang immediately!"

"If you have cultivation questions, you may ask me. Don't bring trouble to me. If you fall into my hands for causing trouble, you'll be expelled from the gang at once! No one's pleas will be of any use! Of course, if there truly are conflicts that need settling, you may also issue a challenge. We have a Life-and-Death Arena here!"

"So-called martial practice is circulating one's qi and blood throughout the body, stimulating the body's potential and invigorating the qi and blood. Generally speaking, the richer one's qi and blood, the greater one's combat power. Of course, there are exceptions for certain special constitutions!" As he spoke, Master Ma circulated his qi and blood. A crushing pressure instantly blanketed the entire plaza, rushing toward them like the roar of a fierce tiger.

Several apprentices in the front were immediately crushed to their knees! The rest, including Jiang Liu and Wang Zhuang, gritted their teeth and endured. Master Ma continued to forcefully circulate his qi and blood until not a single apprentice in the plaza could remain standing. Only then did he withdraw it.

"Now you have experienced the pressure of qi and blood! If I had wanted to kill you just now, would you have had the strength to fight back?"

"So cultivate with persistence and endure hardship. Only then will you have the strength to fight back when facing an enemy. Martial practice requires suffering. If you cannot endure it, then don't practice. Even if you do, you won't amount to anything. If you want comfort, go home."

"The beginning of martial practice is divided into four realms: Skin Tempering, Flesh Hardening, Bone Tempering, and Blood Exchange. Once Blood Exchange is complete, you can begin working toward Entry Grade."

"Now follow me and practice Five Elements Fist!" With that, Master Ma performed a set of Five Elements Fist.

After finishing, he instructed the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall member beside him, "Xiao Qing, distribute the manuals. Everyone may learn this Five Elements Fist, but it must not be passed on to others. If word gets out that it has been taught outside, the Fallen Blossom Gang will reclaim it from both the learner and the teacher."

"You have the time it takes for one incense stick to burn to familiarize yourselves with the manual. It's fine if you don't understand it. Follow me in practice later, and after that, you'll need to put in more effort practicing on your own." After speaking, Master Ma told Xiao Qing to light the incense.

Ding! Five Elements Fist Technique discovered! Would you like to record it?

As soon as Jiang Liu finished flipping through the Five Elements Fist manual, the system reacted! He immediately answered yes in his mind!

Five Elements Fist (Not Initiated 0/10)

Seeing that the incense had burned out, Master Ma said, "Alright! Time's up. Those who haven't memorized it can go back and continue memorizing later. Now follow me and practice."

With that, he began demonstrating the Five Elements Fist moves one by one, slowing down every stance and strike! The apprentices began practicing along with him as well! Facing the rising sun, the group of apprentices performed their fist forms. Before long, every one of them was drenched in sweat, yet no one stopped.

After leading them through the routine three times, Master Ma told the apprentices to practice on their own. If someone's movements were not standard, he would call a Miscellaneous Affairs Hall member over to assist. If they were still not standard after a second attempt, they would be served with sticks.

They practiced together until noon before being dismissed to head to the Dining Hall for a meal. It was still one meat dish and one vegetable dish, except there was now an additional bowl of medicinal soup. After Jiang Liu drank the soup, the fatigue from his morning training vanished at once.

That afternoon, they continued practicing Five Elements Fist. Afterward, the meal was still one meat dish and one vegetable dish, along with a bowl of medicinal soup.