"281282283"
Fang Qingyu maintained his breathing rhythm, silently counting in his mind.
His physical attributes had skyrocketed today, and he had also lasted much longer than yesterday when performing the fitness exercises.
He kept counting until a new notification popped up before his eyes.
Only then did Fang Qingyu slowly lower his feet.
Congratulations. Your occupational Basic Skill "Dragon Flag" has reached Lv. 2 (0/200). Reward: 1 Attribute Point.
"Hm?"
"It didn't reach the max level this time?"
Fang Qingyu looked surprised. He had originally thought that the fitness skills all maxed out at Level 2.
Now it seemed that the difficulty was probably a factor as well.
That was actually a good thing.
It meant he could keep grinding.
The goal had been achieved.
Fang Qingyu took a shower and went straight to sleep.
Every day was so fulfilling that he had no need to worry about sleep at all.
The next day.
Chenfeng Martial Hall.
Qi Hao had been waiting at the entrance since early morning. When he saw Fang Qingyu park his electric scooter, he walked over with a wounded look.
"Qingzi."
"What's wrong?"
Seeing his expression, Fang Qingyu asked curiously.
"You joined the Formal Class without even telling me?"
Qi Hao's gaze grew increasingly resentful, like a neglected wife.
"I was planning to give you a pleasant surprise."
Fang Qingyu smiled and punched him lightly on the shoulder.
"Ha, the way you did it was definitely a surprise."
Qi Hao slipped an arm around Fang Qingyu's shoulders, and they walked toward the entrance side by side.
"Who can advance from an ordinary person to the Formal Class in just ten days or so?"
"Can't they?"
Fang Qingyu was stunned by his words.
Qi Hao stopped and thought for a moment. "Uh, there are, but very few. Those people are all legends now."
"Legends?"
Fang Qingyu raised an eyebrow.
That sounds a little exaggerated.
"They really are legends. You'll understand in the future. Come on, come on, I'll take you to find Coach Zheng first."
Qi Hao eagerly pulled Fang Qingyu into the martial hall.
Fang Qingyu followed him inside, his gaze subconsciously locking onto Instructor Qin. After thinking for a moment, he pulled his hand away from Qi Hao's.
"Uh, wait a moment. I'm going to see Instructor Qin."
Instructor Qin was standing there. When he saw Fang Qingyu approach, he raised an eyebrow.
"You're not going to class in the Formal Class. What are you doing here?"
Before Instructor Qin could react, Fang Qingyu quickly bowed. Then he straightened up with a smile and said, "Thank you very much for teaching me these past few days, Instructor Qin."
Instructor Qin looked somewhat gratified, but soon put on a stern expression.
"Even if you thank me, there's no way I'm refunding your tuition."
"Now get to class."
Fang Qingyu's lips twitched as he nodded.
"Got it."
"Pfft."
Qi Hao watched from a distance, holding back his laughter as he waited for Fang Qingyu to return.
"Do you know what Instructor Qin's nickname is? Not many people dare to go back and look for him after leaving his side."
"What?"
Fang Qingyu asked instinctively.
Then, as if remembering something, he asked, "By the way, what's Instructor Qin's full name?"
"Qin Hui. His nickname is Poison Tongue."
Qi Hao answered both questions at once.
"Oh."
After memorizing his full name, Fang Qingyu followed Qi Hao to the Formal Class area.
The biggest difference between this place and the ordinary class was that it had many weapon racks, and the striking posts here were different too.
The Formal Class striking posts were dark brown all over, their surfaces covered in fine, ring-shaped patterns.
They had an extra layer of natural, oily luster compared to the ordinary class's posts.
Coach Zheng was standing in front of the striking posts.
Qi Hao led Fang Qingyu over to her and gave her a military salute.
"Coach Zheng, the new student has arrived!"
Coach Zheng nodded and waved at Qi Hao. "Go train on your own."
Then she turned to Fang Qingyu.
"You. Come with me."
Fang Qingyu followed her curiously to an office behind a folding screen on the other side.
"Let me see your ID card again."
After Coach Zheng sat down, she looked at the computer and held out her hand toward Fang Qingyu.
Fang Qingyu handed her his ID card.
A moment later,
Coach Zheng shut down the computer, took a sheet of paper from the drawer, and placed it on the desk.
"In the Formal Class, you'll need to sign two agreements for what you're about to learn. See whether you can accept them."
"All right."
Fang Qingyu took the papers curiously and began reading.
One was a Confidentiality Agreement, and the other was an official agreement.
The main point of the Confidentiality Agreement was that he could not reveal anything learned in the Formal Class to anyone. Violating it would result in a hefty fine and legal liability.
Fang Qingyu had guessed as much when he heard about the agreement.
It was nothing unexpected.
The second agreement, however, made Fang Qingyu frown slightly. He looked up at Coach Zheng.
"To enter the Formal Class, do I have to join this Regulatory Bureau?"
"You're only joining in name. Read it before you ask questions."
Coach Zheng did not even look up. Clearly, she had heard that question many times.
Fang Qingyu could only read through it patiently.
Only then did he understand what was going on.
Everything taught in the Formal Class consisted of killing techniques.
Therefore, the agreement stipulated that unless there were special circumstances, Formal Class students would receive an additional penalty if they deliberately injured someone.
Secondly, they had to register with the Regulatory Bureau so their information could be located at any time.
It was similar to the way locksmiths were registered.
Fang Qingyu could understand that.
So he signed his name without hesitation.
Then he handed the documents back to Coach Zheng.
"Let's go."
"Do you want to train in unarmed combat or with weapons?"
Coach Zheng put away the documents and rose to lead the way outside as she asked.
"Uh..."
"Can I train in both?"
Fang Qingyu followed behind her and asked the question he had thought of long ago.
He really liked fist techniques.
But he also understood the principle that a longer weapon had the advantage.
If possible, Fang Qingyu wanted to learn fist techniques along with one weapon.
That way, he would be better equipped to handle any situation.
"Sure, as long as you can learn them."
Unexpectedly, Coach Zheng nodded readily.
Seeing that she agreed, Fang Qingyu was eager to begin the training that followed.
"Come. Hit me."
Before they even reached the striking posts, Coach Zheng turned to face Fang Qingyu and said casually.
"?"
Fang Qingyu froze at her words.
"I told you to hit me. Then hit me."
Coach Zheng knitted her delicate brows, her presence intimidating despite her lack of anger.
Fang Qingyu could only brace himself and raise his fist, driving it toward her face.
Smack—
Coach Zheng directly slapped Fang Qingyu's wrist, frowning as she scolded him.
"Is this how Old Qin taught you the basics of actual combat?"
Fang Qingyu shook his hand. The red mark on his wrist had already begun to swell.
Hearing this, he cast aside every other thought and focused completely.
He drew a deep breath. His heel suddenly drove into the ground, and his left fist traced an arc straight toward Coach Zheng's ribs.
Smack—
Coach Zheng slapped him again, waiting ahead of time at the unavoidable point along his fist's path and striking his forearm.
Fang Qingyu felt as if someone had pressed the pause button. The force in his entire arm strangely collapsed into numb soreness.
"Hold your breath."
Coach Zheng suddenly stepped forward, her right hand hovering against his abdomen and moving upward.
"Feel the vibration in your chest."
Fang Qingyu was just about to open his mouth when she flicked a finger against his collarbone.
That light tap seemed to flip some kind of switch. His obstructed breathing suddenly flowed smoothly down into his dantian, and his spine straightened like a spring being recalibrated.
"Thunder begins at the heels and is released through the waist and hips."
Coach Zheng's thumb pressed against his lower back again. "When you inhale, expand the intercostal muscles. When you exhale, sink your coccyx. Now punch again!"
Amid the rhythmic pressure, Fang Qingyu caught a certain frequency.
Coach Zheng, who had been speaking, seemed to fall into suspended time before his eyes.
The next second.
Punch!!
On the page for Martial Arts Apprentice in the skill chart, the panel also changed quietly.
Occupational Advancement Skill "Dragon Hibernation Breath" detected. Activation in progress (1/100) Activation Experience +1
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