Five Forms Fist

"Martial techniques are a warrior's skills. They're different from ordinary fighting techniques—they're deadly moves."

"For example, the Whirlwind Leg martial technique of the Chu Family, one of the Seven Great Noble Families; the Blazing Palm martial technique of the Sacred Family, one of the Three Peak Families; and the Heavenly Frost Fist martial technique of the Wind Snow Family, the foremost of the Three Peak Families, and so on."

"They're incredibly powerful. Once you make a move, you're sure to leave your opponent badly injured."

"Martial techniques may be powerful, but they're also very difficult to cultivate."

"Using a martial technique consumes Soul Force, and warriors generally don't have much of it."

"That's because warriors with strong Soul Force have all gone on to become Spirit Masters."

"Most warriors only have one martial technique. Having two already makes you a genius. With so little Soul Force, martial techniques are both difficult to cultivate and difficult to use."

"Spirit Masters are different. They can freely use the martial techniques of the spirits they've fused with."

As Xian Wu took notes, he thought it over. Warriors were like the fighters in Honor of Kings, while Spirit Masters were like the mages.

If a fighter didn't buy magic resistance gear, a mage would probably beat them to a pulp.

Of course, if the fighter played well, they could still easily handle a mage without magic resistance gear—like Han Xin or Zhao Yun.

Which was stronger ultimately depended on how well a person cultivated. Every profession had its own strengths.

There was no strongest profession in the world, only the strongest people.

Still, Spirit Masters were more versatile. Warriors' skills were too limited, while Spirit Masters could change their skills by switching spirits and gain even more powerful abilities.

Practical class.

After half an hour of horse stance and half an hour practicing the Six Character Mantra, Instructor Tie Kuang began teaching everyone something "new."

"I want to commend our class representative today. Not only did he hold his horse stance steadily, but he also practiced the Six Character Mantra quite well. He must have put in plenty of practice after class." Instructor Tie Kuang praised him.

"Although it's a little early to teach you this, I'll make an exception and teach it ahead of time to reward our class representative."

With that, Instructor Tie Kuang performed a set of punches right there.

Clap, clap, clap...

The students all applauded in unison. Instructor Tie Kuang's moves were so impressive that the air seemed ready to burst with every punch.

After finishing, Instructor Tie Kuang clasped his hands behind his back and introduced the technique. "This set is called Five Forms Fist, named after the five animals it imitates. Can you tell which five animals they are?"

"An eagle!" Lu Piao raised his hand.

Du Ze wasn't about to be outdone. "There's a tiger."

"A snake," Xiao Ning'er said softly.

"A... a bird!" Nie Li said, his face and neck turning red, as if he'd been reading porn.

Instructor Tie Kuang twitched his eyebrows. "What else? Whether you're right or wrong, you've named four forms. There's still one left!"

One more form?

The students looked at each other and began discussing it, but nobody knew what the last one was.

"A leopard!" Xian Wu raised his hand.

How did he know?

Because when he was a child, he'd watched an animated series called Shaolin Legend, whose main character practiced Five Forms Fist.

Instructor Tie Kuang was surprised. His class representative really was something else—he could even tell a tiger from a leopard.

"Correct!" Instructor Tie Kuang applauded and revealed the answer. "The five forms of Five Forms Fist are the dragon, tiger, leopard, crane, and snake."

"Dragon Fist trains the form, Tiger Fist trains the bones, Leopard Fist trains strength, Crane Fist trains the essence, and Snake Fist trains the breath."

"Now we'll start with Dragon Form Fist. Everyone, spread out in formation and follow along!"

Dragon Form Fist used expansive, sweeping movements to strike from a distance. Its dragon claws were especially powerful; a graze could injure you, and a brush could kill you.

The students' dragon claws were still too immature, though. They couldn't even manage to grab anything.

To prove he wasn't bragging, Instructor Tie Kuang picked up a rock and crushed it in his dragon claws, drawing a chorus of cheers.

Xian Wu curled his lip disdainfully. His Demon Left Hand could do that too.

"Class representative, tomorrow during practical class, go to the equipment room and borrow thirty-six iron woks. We'll practice dragon claws tomorrow!" Tie Kuang said, stopping beside Xian Wu with his arms crossed.

Then he turned to the students. "We won't learn the next set of fists until you've mastered the dragon claws."

Xian Wu didn't show off his own demon dragon claw.

A tree that stood above the forest would be brought down by the wind; a bank that jutted out would be battered by the current.

He didn't want to reveal his Demon Left Hand just yet. It wasn't a cultivation talent, and people would easily envy him for it.

The dismissal bell rang. Before Xian Wu could make a run for it, Instructor Tie Kuang grabbed him and held him in place.

"Could you have some dignity? You're my class representative! If you don't care about your reputation, I still do!" Tie Kuang said, his face dark with frustration.

Every day you bolt the moment class ends. Are you some kind of glutton?

Tie Kuang hooked an arm around Xian Wu's neck. The savory smell from his armpit made Xian Wu roll his eyes.

"Come on, your instructor's treating you to a nice meal!" With that, Tie Kuang dragged Xian Wu toward the academy exit.

Xian Wu hadn't wanted to go, but he couldn't very well embarrass Tie Kuang in front of everyone.

Du Ze, Zhang Ming, and the others watched Xian Wu enviously. They were all commoners—why did he get such special treatment?

"Come on, Nie Li. Brother Piao will treat you to a nice meal too." Taking his cue from Tie Kuang, Lu Piao hooked an arm around Nie Li's neck and followed behind.

"Instructor Tie Kuang."

"Instructor Lu Ye."

On the way, Xian Wu ran into many instructors heading out of the academy. Tie Kuang nodded and greeted each one, acting very affably.

"Who's this kid? A relative of yours?" asked the instructor named Lu Ye, curious.

Tie Kuang ruffled Xian Wu's hair and answered proudly, "He's my class representative, a young man with good martial talent."

"Oh? Which noble family is he from?" Instructor Lu Ye looked Xian Wu up and down and spotted his Wang Mazi-brand trousers.

Wang Mazi Tailor Shop often came out with strange new styles, but it really was a store specializing in noble attire.

The boy's top was a little worn, but anyone who could afford Wang Mazi-brand trousers was probably from some noble family.

"A noble family? Can't you tell from his clothes?" Tie Kuang asked, puzzled. Had the old fellow Lu Ye gone blind with age?

Lu Ye froze at that. A commoner? That commoner must have plenty of money to wear noble trousers. Had he stolen them from some noble classmate?

With that prejudice in mind, Lu Ye found Xian Wu more and more unpleasant to look at.

"I advise you to choose a noble student as your class representative instead. A commoner isn't suitable." Lu Ye flicked his sleeve and turned into an alley.

Xian Wu narrowed his eyes. He didn't know what he'd done to offend the instructor, but the man had certainly looked down on him.

Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of it. Don't bully a poor young man.

Without money or connections, you really did get looked down on everywhere. If Vice Dean Ye Sheng were his godfather, that old bastard would probably have changed to a completely different, fawning attitude.

After leaving Academy Street, Tie Kuang led Xian Wu to a luxurious restaurant.