Examine Scriptures! Minor Accomplishment Arhat Fist!

Cao Yi carefully observed Su Haoran and found that he was not putting on an act, but had truly entered the Initial Realm of "Unity of Mind and Spirit" described in the Meditation Scripture!

That calmness, that focus, could never have been faked.

"This boy... has quite a Spiritual Root." Cao Yi remained impassive, yet a trace of approval had already arisen in his heart.

To cultivate the Meditation Scripture to this extent while so hungry and exhausted—such temperament and comprehension were outstanding even among Sweeping Monk Disciples, and even among many newly initiated Formal Disciples.

He was a fine seedling.

The scripture recitation continued for one incense stick.

When Cao Yi called for them to stop, most of the servants had recited until their mouths were dry and their spirits utterly drained.

"Alright, that is enough for today. Go collect your meals."

As though granted a pardon, the crowd scrambled to their feet and surged toward the dining hall.

"Su Haoran, stay behind." Cao Yi suddenly spoke.

Su Haoran, who had been about to stand, froze. He felt somewhat uneasy, but still answered respectfully, "Yes, Martial Uncle."

Only after everyone else had left did Cao Yi slowly rise from his meditation cushion. He walked over to Su Haoran and asked evenly, "How long have you been initiated?"

"Reporting to Martial Uncle, three months and seven days," Su Haoran answered truthfully.

"Did you study the Meditation Scripture on your own?"

"Yes."

Cao Yi nodded and gave him a deep look, his gaze carrying a barely perceptible hint of admiration.

He did not ask anything further. Instead, he took three steamed buns wrapped in oiled paper from the sleeve of his Monk Robe and handed them over.

"Take them."

Having gone hungry all day, Su Haoran froze for a moment and instinctively swallowed.

These steamed buns were several sizes larger than the coarse grain steamed buns they usually ate. They were made from white flour, warm to the touch, and carried the sweet fragrance of grain.

"Martial Uncle, this..."

"You performed well today. This is your reward." Cao Yi's voice held approval. "The Meditation Scripture is the foundation. Only by calming the mind can one steady one's nature. You have talent. Do not waste it."

With that, he turned and slowly departed, leaving only his retreating figure behind.

Holding the three heavy steamed buns, Su Haoran felt a warm current rise in his heart.

In three months, this was the first time he had experienced Human Relationships, and the first time he had tasted the benefits brought by displaying his talent!

He clasped his fists toward Cao Yi's back in salute.

"Thank you, Martial Uncle!"

After collecting his own Dinner Portion and returning to his bed, Su Haoran did not hesitate in the slightest. He immediately began to Gobble Up.

The three steamed buns had clearly been Cao Yi's own portion. The freshly steamed white flour buns were soft and delicious, and every bite brimmed with happiness.

After finishing with two coarse grain steamed buns, a warm current rose from his stomach and swiftly spread through his Limbs and Bones.

There was no oily food such as fish or meat, but he was finally full!

This was the first time since Su Haoran had transmigrated three months ago that he felt what it was like to be "full"!

It felt as though he had inexhaustible strength throughout his entire body!

The exhaustion and soreness accumulated from labor also dispersed by more than half beneath the wash of that warm current.

The long-term hunger state flickered for a moment, then vanished as well.

Su Haoran clenched his fist, feeling the unprecedented abundance of strength within him. A gleam flashed in his eyes.

"Now!"

He was full and had strength. It was time to cultivate the Kung Fu that could make him a Martial Monk—Arhat Fist!

The night was deep, and snores rose one after another inside the Servant's Quarters.

Su Haoran quietly got up and felt his way through the darkness to a small Open Space behind the building.

He took a thin booklet from his robes. It was the illustrated manual for Arhat Fist.

However, a new problem appeared.

The moonlight was dim, and everything around him was pitch-black. He could not make out the little figures' movements or the Meridian Energy Circulation routes in the manual at all.

Su Haoran frowned. Was tonight's plan going to Fall Through?

Unwilling to accept that, he tucked the manual back into his robes, closed his eyes, and tried hard to recall what he had skimmed during the day.

Before today, his memory of this manual had been vague. He could only remember the rough Move Outline, while many details could not be reproduced at all.

But this time, when he focused his mind and tried to recall it, a miracle happened!

The Arhat Fist manual actually appeared page by page in his mind with perfect clarity!

The posture of the first move, "Child Monk Salutes Buddha"; every pull of the little figure's muscles in the illustrations; the Force Application Route marked beside it; even the varying darkness of the Ink Mark—all of it was crystal clear and vividly before his eyes!

"This is... the effect of improved comprehension!"

Su Haoran was overjoyed!

He understood now. The breakthrough in the Meditation Scripture had not only raised his comprehension from 1 to 3, but had also enormously strengthened his memory and mental power!

This was practically a cheat tailor-made for him!

Without another moment of hesitation, Su Haoran suppressed the excitement in his heart and slowly assumed a stance in the darkness.

Following the incomparably clear manual in his mind, his body took up the opening stance of the first move of Arhat Fist.

Though his movements were still somewhat raw and stiff, every move was incomparably precise, without the slightest deviation.

In a Chaotic World, people were like ants. To survive, to live well, one could only grow stronger!

Becoming a Martial Monk and eating one's fill were merely the first step!

In the darkness, Su Haoran's punching figure was raw, yet it carried an unshakable tenacity.

One never knew the passing of years in the mountains. In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

From that day onward, Su Haoran received Cao Yi's special care. Though Cao Yi no longer directly gave Su Haoran his own white flour steamed buns as before, the number of coarse grain steamed buns had doubled from two to four.

As a result, Su Haoran had some extra strength and could persist in practicing Arhat Fist after finishing a day's chores.

At dawn, in the Labor Courtyard of Prajna Temple, Su Haoran held his breath and focused his mind, planted his horse stance, and continued cultivating according to the illustrations.

Hoo!

He first visualized Chan meditation and entered a State of focused mind. Then he twisted his waist and threw a punch, exerting force throughout his body as his fist tore up a gust of wind in the air.

Then came Extended-Foot Thrust Punch, Withered Tree Roots Entwined... and the other sixty-one moves, each unfolded in turn.

If an outsider had seen it, they would likely have thought Su Haoran had spent at least five years grinding away at this Arhat Fist!

After completing the set, Su Haoran wiped the sweat from his forehead. Feeling a warm current rise through his body, joy immediately appeared on his face.

He knew that his Arhat Fist had begun to show results!

Name: Su Hao

Lifespan: 9 years

Cultivation Method: Meditation Scripture (Minor Accomplishment 42%), Arhat Fist (Minor Accomplishment 1%)

Comprehension: 5 (Mediocre Talent)

Sure enough, after a month of Su Haoran's unremitting efforts, the Arhat Fist that had not even reached Initiation before had broken through the Initiation stage in one stroke and directly reached Minor Accomplishment!

What delighted Su Haoran most was that his previous guess had come true. As his comprehension rose once more, his lifespan had also increased by a full two years alongside Arhat Fist reaching Minor Accomplishment!

"Sure enough, learning martial arts to strengthen the body really can increase one's lifespan!"

"In that case, with my comprehension, so long as my martial arts keep breaking through, perhaps my physical body can become like a Golden Body Sarira, remaining incorruptible for a thousand years!"

Su Haoran was immensely satisfied.

One had to know that although Arhat Fist appeared to be a common foundational martial art, its difficulty was not small at all. Those with ordinary talent could practice for a year and at most barely reach Initiation.

Yet with the boost from his comprehension, Su Haoran's Arhat Fist had broken through Initiation and reached Minor Accomplishment after merely a month. Every gesture and movement was supremely practiced, as natural as if formed by heaven itself!

Even his once-thin frame had grown considerably sturdier. Where his ribs had once protruded from his chest and abdomen, faint lines of muscle could now be seen.

This kind of visible daily progress filled Su Haoran with excitement.

But very soon, a rumbling sound interrupted his reverie, and hunger once again rose from his stomach.

Clearly, after Arhat Fist broke through to Minor Accomplishment, its consumption had increased. The four coarse grain steamed buns that had barely been enough to fill him were now nowhere near enough.

"I must quickly find a source of energy—meat would be best—or it will greatly slow the progress of Arhat Fist!"

Su Haoran soon made up his mind and prepared to find the Errand Room Supervisor to ask for some work.

Poor scholars and rich martial artists; without enough food, even a man forged of iron would become a weak-legged shrimp.