Stance Training

The morning had two major classes, both taught by Instructor Tie Kuang. The first was a theory class, and the second was a practical session.

Currently, Xian Wu and the others were in the practical session, held in the academy's large training grounds.

"Training fists without training skill leads to an empty life in old age!" Instructor Tie Kuang lectured the neatly lined-up students.

"Does anyone know what 'skill' means in this context?" Instructor Tie Kuang asked, looking at the students dressed in luxurious attire.

For the scions of noble and influential families, this question shouldn't be difficult.

Poor scholars, rich warriors; these individuals should have started their martial arts journey at a very young age.

Of course, some disdained martial arts and instead pursued the more profound path of a Spirit Master.

"I know, it means Martial Skill!"

"No, no, skill refers to internal cultivation, which is Soul Force."

"You're all wrong, skill means kung fu, it means time!"

The noble disciples began to argue.

Tie Kuang narrowed his eyes. It seemed the noble disciples in his class had spent all their time eating, drinking, and having fun. They couldn't even answer such a simple question. Truly, each generation was worse than the last, which was disappointing.

Xian Wu stared blankly at the wooden dummies behind Instructor Tie Kuang, wondering if Sacred Orchid Academy also taught Wing Chun.

Glancing around the training grounds, he noticed many special pieces of equipment, such as large water vats, sandbags, a forest of posts, and sand pits.

Xian Wu's eyes lit up. As if struck by an idea, he quickly raised his hand and shouted, "Instructor, I know! Skill refers to post training, basic skills."

"You know squat!"

"Shut up, stop spouting nonsense. You haven't even trained martial arts, how dare you voice your opinion?"

The noble disciples looked down on Xian Wu, the country bumpkin, even believing he didn't deserve to be in the same class as them.

"Quiet, all of you, be quiet!" Tie Kuang restored order to the classroom.

"What this student just said is correct. Skill refers to post training." Tie Kuang turned and pointed to the equipment in the training grounds. "See? For the next two months, besides physical training, you will train in every single one of these."

"Well answered. What's your name?" Instructor Tie Kuang asked, turning back.

"Instructor, you forgot. Yesterday you even took off his cloak to inspect him."

"That's right, he's the infamous 'Pants-Stripping Fiend', very popular among the new students."

"Exactly, no one in our class doesn't know him, haha..."

Hearing the words "Pants-Stripping Fiend" mentioned by someone in the class, Xiao Ning'er, at the front of the female students, blushed slightly.

The thought of Xian Wu's disheveled state yesterday made her unable to suppress a giggle.

With his cloak removed, Xian Wu looked sunny and handsome, with an honest face, completely unlike someone who would do such perverted things.

Yesterday... it must have just been a misunderstanding.

Besides, he had answered the question that those spoiled brats couldn't.

Based on that alone, Xian Wu was a hundred times better than those good-for-nothings.

"Instructor, someone is disrespecting your authority and disrupting class order! If you don't punish them, we'll all follow suit in the future."

Xian Wu raised his hand to report.

If it weren't in class, he would have used his Demon Left Hand to show those bastards how the Pants-Stripping Fiend stripped pants.

Instructor Tie Kuang frowned, not expecting Xian Wu to lodge a complaint in public.

If he didn't punish those who had been shouting earlier, his authority as an instructor would be completely undermined, and the students would no longer respect him.

What a capable kid. With one sentence, he dealt with those brats who bullied him.

"You... you, and you, all stand out!" Tie Kuang called out a few names. "Run a hundred laps around the training grounds, right now, immediately!"

Under Instructor Tie Kuang's stern roar, those noble disciples dejectedly walked out of the ranks and obediently went to run.

Tie Kuang thought: This move is powerful, but for a moment of satisfaction, he's offended so many noble disciples. It will be difficult to manage the class later. Moreover, he might be cornered and beaten after class.

Xian Wu, however, was unconcerned. He was already looked down upon by the sycophants in the class, so offending them or not made little difference.

If those bastards wanted to corner him after school, they were welcome to try. He guaranteed they'd all go home with their pants down.

Exposing the Demon Left Hand is a bit tricky... then I'll lure them to the Trial Grounds and kill them all!

If people don't offend me, I won't offend them. If they offend me, I will definitely offend them. The men of my Xian family are not easily bullied.

After punishing a few bad apples, Tie Kuang had the students line up and practice horse stance.

He demonstrated as he instructed, "The horse stance is the most basic posture for practicing martial arts. The ancients said, 'Stand for three years before entering the gate.'"

"Spread your feet slightly wider than your shoulders, squat your body halfway, like me. Your posture should be like riding a horse, stable like the Sacred Ancestor Mountain Range."

"Don't underestimate the horse stance. A well-executed horse stance strengthens the kidneys and waist, fortifies muscles and bones, replenishes Blood Essence, and enhances Soul Force."

"Furthermore, the horse stance stabilizes your lower body, improves your balance, and makes you less likely to be knocked down."

"Remember, unless you have practiced special Martial Skills, never let an opponent knock you down. Once knocked down, you are not far from defeat and death."

Xian Wu deeply understood this, having watched many fighting competitions before his transmigration.

In general, those who train in standing combat styles like boxing and Muay Thai will be easily defeated by practitioners of Judo and wrestling.

Power originates from the earth. Once you're on the ground, with your feet off the floor, you can't even unleash a tenth of your full strength.

When he was in middle school, Xian Wu learned some martial arts in PE class, like Xiao Bajiquan and the simplified 24-form Tai Chi.

Therefore, he had a good grasp of the horse stance.

After Tie Kuang finished his demonstration, he began correcting each student's horse stance one by one.

What left Xian Wu speechless was that the instructor went straight to the female students without a second thought – a total pervert.

Tie Kuang was very gentle and patient with the female students, but extremely rough and even brutal with the male students.

"Why are you lifting your butt so high?" Tie Kuang reprimanded before kicking Lu Piao into a face-plant.

"Are you doing a horse stance or taking a dump? Why is your upper body leaning so far forward?" Nie Li was pushed from the front and sent flying backward.

Du Ze, Wei Nan, Zhang Ming, and Zhu Jun Xiang, among others, were all brutally dealt with, without exception.

Finally, it was Xian Wu's turn.

Tie Kuang circled Xian Wu once and found his horse stance to be very solid and steady.

While it wasn't as good as the instructor's, it was the best among all the students.

"Trained before?" Tie Kuang asked in a low voice.

Xian Wu nodded. "Learned a bit from a neighbor."

"What kind of crap did you learn!" Tie Kuang suddenly unleashed a sweeping kick towards Xian Wu's chest.

Xian Wu had been anticipating Tie Kuang's sudden attack and quickly intercepted with Wing Chun's "Double Block Hands."

With a "bang," Tie Kuang's lower leg bone made intimate contact with Xian Wu's forearms.

Although Xian Wu's block was beautiful, he was still sent flying by the immense force of the kick.