First Practice

Fang Mo followed Ding Zhiyuan through the Martial Hall's central hall and into the front courtyard.

The trainees were either practicing fist techniques or training bitterly in stances. Each was focused on their own cultivation, as though everything beyond it had nothing to do with them.

Ding Zhiyuan led him before a young man who was not particularly tall but had sharp eyes.

"Senior Brother Miao, this is the newly arrived Fang Mo. He's here to learn martial arts!" Ding Zhiyuan introduced.

Miao Ping's gaze swept over Fang Mo. His eyes were cool and detached, devoid of emotion, as if they could see straight into a person's heart. Fang Mo felt an invisible pressure, but he did his best to remain composed and respectfully bowed to Miao Ping.

"Senior Brother Miao!"

"Zhiyuan, teach him how to loosen up first, then teach him the Tiger Subduing Stance."

Miao Ping's voice was flat, without the slightest rise or fall.

"Yes, Second Senior Brother." Ding Zhiyuan answered, then turned to Fang Mo. "Junior Brother Fang, come with me."

Fang Mo nodded. Though Miao Ping's attitude made him somewhat uncomfortable, he knew this was perhaps a rule of the Martial Hall. New trainees always had to undergo some testing and tempering. He decided not to dwell on it and instead focus on his training.

Ding Zhiyuan took Fang Mo to a relatively quiet corner and began teaching him how to loosen his body. Once Fang Mo had warmed up sufficiently, Ding Zhiyuan began teaching him the Tiger Subduing Stance.

Zhiyuan carefully imparted the Movement Technique, while Fang Mo gave it his full attention. His foundation in martial arts from his previous life allowed him to quickly grasp its essentials.

As he assumed the Tiger Subduing Stance, his legs spread apart like a tiger crouched amid the mountains and forests. Every breath matched his movements, steady and powerful.

"Junior Brother Fang, your comprehension is quite good!" Ding Zhiyuan praised. He then taught him the secret of breathing and exhalation. "Let your breathing rise and fall with the movements. When exhaling, sink your breath into the Dantian; when inhaling, draw strength through your entire body. Naturalness is best!"

"You must remember the Tiger Subduing Stance verse: Plant your feet upon the earth like a crouching tiger, ruling the forest, breath swallowing the Dipper. Spread both feet, steady as nails; the front leg bent like a bow, the rear leg driving forward. Hands shaped like claws before the chest, shoulders and elbows relaxed and sinking, power held within. Keep the waist and back straight, sink your force downward; the spine stands upright like a Dragon Bone..."

Fang Mo memorized the verse as he practiced, coordinating it with the breathing method.

In his previous life, he had practiced stance methods such as the Horse Stance, Wuji Stance, and Hunyuan Stance. He was no stranger to this and picked it up easily.

As the saying went, if one practiced fists but not inner work, one would amount to nothing even in old age. Inner work referred to stance training, which primarily nourished the body and built strength to enhance one's cultivation. Standing for long periods truly did increase strength, but in his previous life, he still could not beat a petty thug carrying a knife.

Following the movements, Fang Mo quickly found the rhythm and method, and his stance began to look convincing.

Just as he was immersed in it, glittering golden words appeared in the Bronze Mirror—

[Tiger Subduing Stance: Beginner (1/100)]

So it really worked!

Fang Mo was secretly delighted. This mysterious Bronze Mirror was useful. With such divine power, as long as I keep cultivating, I'll definitely succeed!

His confidence immediately surged, and he began cultivating with even greater effort and focus.

Ding Zhiyuan watched from the side, surprise flashing through his eyes. When he had learned the Tiger Subduing Stance, he had struggled terribly. It had taken him an entire day just to make his movements proper, and who knew how many kicks from his senior brothers he had endured. Yet Fang Mo had merely listened once, received a little guidance from him, and was already standing with proper form.

However, seeing that Fang Mo had stood for only twenty or thirty seconds, his face already drenched in sweat and his legs shaking violently, he thought to himself: This Junior Brother Fang's body really is terribly weak.

"The Tiger Subduing Stance takes thirty-six breaths for a minor circulation and seventy-two breaths for a major circulation. But don't worry too much about that—if you can't take it anymore, just stop!"

Hearing Ding Zhiwu's words, Fang Mo gritted his teeth and held on even though his legs shook like a sieve. With a body like his, he had to put in several times more effort than others.

His body truly was too weak. He had not even completed half of thirty-six breaths before he could no longer bear it.

His legs felt as though they were cramping, the soreness so intense it was unbearable. His breathing became ragged, making it impossible to maintain deep, long, fine breaths. His stomach began to cramp, and every muscle in his body twitched fiercely. He desperately clenched his teeth and endured.

"Every drop of sweat is a step toward becoming strong!"

He told himself this, forcing himself to persist.

When he completed the final breath, he could finally endure no longer. He collapsed, sitting on the ground and panting heavily.

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Miao Ping had also been observing Fang Mo from time to time. He had initially been surprised as well—Fang Mo's movements were very standard. But when he saw Fang Mo nearly collapse before even completing one cycle of breaths, a trace of scornful amusement appeared in his eyes. He turned away and stopped paying attention.

Ding Zhiyuan walked over and pulled Fang Mo up. "Don't sit. Get up and move around, or you'll injure your muscles and tendons. You've done quite well. It's rare for someone's stance to be this standard on their first try. Rest for a while, then try again!"

"Thank you, Senior Brother Ding, but I can do it myself!"

Fang Mo hurriedly thanked him, then began slowly walking around and patting his legs.

"Alright, keep practicing, then. I need to go train too!"

Ding Zhiyuan did not insist further. After saying that, he went off to practice his fists as well.

[Tiger Subduing Stance: Beginner (2/100)]

Fang Mo looked at the information displayed on the Bronze Mirror, excitement flashing in his eyes. It had only increased by one point, but he felt as though his body had improved. A warm current rose within him, nourishing his body and speeding his recovery.

His heart was filled with curiosity about this mysterious Bronze Mirror. What exactly was it, to possess such wondrous power?

After moving around for a while and allowing his body to recover, he resumed his stance training. Unaware of the passing time and heedless of fatigue, he practiced again and again.

He had long since lost count of how many times his sweat had soaked through his clothes, yet he still did not stop. Fang Mo understood very clearly that although he possessed divine power, he still needed to practice over and over again. There was no room for falsehood in this.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The Cloud Plate sounded, and everyone stopped training one after another.

"Junior Brother Fang, stop practicing. It's time to eat!"

Ding Zhiyuan came over and called out to him.

"Alright, Senior Brother Ding. I'll go after one more round!"

Fang Mo wiped away his sweat and replied with a smile.

"Let's go! Training needs a balance between work and rest. You can't overdo it, or you'll hurt your body!"

Ding Zhiyuan stepped forward and grabbed Fang Mo.

"Alright!"

Fang Mo no longer refused. Smiling, he said, "Senior Brother Ding, you go on ahead. I'll wash my face and come over!"

"Fine, hurry up!"

Only then did Ding Zhiyuan release Fang Mo and head toward the dining hall with the other disciples.

"Junior Brother Ding, why bother with him? Let him train if he wants. Does he think training like his life depends on it will do any good? Without the proper aptitude, he could train for a lifetime and it would all be wasted!"

"I say he'll last a few days at most. Once he sees no results, he'll definitely leave. The martial path isn't something just anyone can walk!"

Several students laughed in succession.

Ding Zhiyuan said, "Don't say that. We're all fellow disciples. Junior Brother Fang is working very hard!"

None of them had bothered to lower their voices around Fang Mo. He heard every word clearly, but he paid them no mind, merely heading calmly to the pool to wash his face.

[Tiger Subduing Stance: Beginner (7/100)]

The changing number on the Bronze Mirror bore witness to his sweat and perseverance.

He knew that the true path of a martial artist had only just begun.

And the ridicule of those onlookers was no more than whispers in the wind, unable to shake the boulder in his heart.

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