Fist Shaking the Universe

Stretching the tendons and pulling the bones, the Stake Technique leads to the path of martial arts.

His master had always taught him the importance of the Stake Technique, and he never once retreated due to the fatigue or monotony of standing in the stance.

The Xingyi Three Talents Stance and the Image-Form Dragon-Tiger Stance were the foundations of all martial arts in this world, including True Techniques and ultimate arts.

Although his master's teachings were profound, Meng Chuan summarized them into a single sentence.

The proficiency of one's Stake Technique represents the body's capacity to contain Qi-Blood; for instance, since his current progress is at 47%, the limit of Qi-Blood his body can contain is approaching the fifth Qi-Blood Pass.

After the founding of Great Chu, the Grand Ancestor used great perseverance to sweep away all obstacles, gathering all the Stake Techniques from every sect and school in the martial world.

He then established the Martial Arts Association, bringing together the techniques held by various families, and after decades of research to unify the myriad methods, these two world-shaking arts were created.

[Human Stance] is merely the simplest first realm of the Taiyi Three Talents Stance.

Beyond it lie the Earth Stance, the Heaven Stance, and eventually the Three Talents Unity.

Therefore, the Stake Technique is a lifelong practice, as his master had once instructed him.

"You must learn to enjoy standing in the stance now. Once you reach the level of a Martial Artist and begin the [Earth Stance], the friction and stimulation between your internal membranes and the stance will cause your whole body to itch and ache; only then will you realize how comfortable standing in the Human Stance was."

"The Human Stance is truly not difficult, and it doesn't have the various proficiency standards of fist techniques; the longer you stand, the higher your attainment. As long as you have entered the door, you have learned it; it is simply your fixed daily homework."

"The Stake Technique is a process of constant dripping wearing away a stone; there is no way to achieve quick success. Even the most invincible genius must plant themselves on the ground and grind it out!"

"The practice of the Stake Technique must not be interrupted for a single day, and it shall only cease on the day of your death!"

Master Luo's admonitions echoed in his mind for a long time.

Meng Chuan's internal understanding of martial arts was rapidly taking root and sprouting.

The New Year was approaching.

He pondered for a moment and set a short-term goal and a long-term goal in his heart.

His short-term goal was to strive to reach the sixth Qi-Blood Pass or higher within a year; currently, the cultivation of Qi-Blood was undoubtedly his top priority.

As for his long-term goal, he had a bold ambition: to collect all the martial arts in the world and break the limits of every one of them.

To truly achieve [All Traits Embodied]!

"In the new year, I will continue to spare no effort, using sweat to verify my path of martial arts."

February 13th, the seventh day of the first lunar month.

Meng Chuan's cousin, the biological daughter of his uncle Meng Yongzhi, Meng Yiyi, was coming home.

Since before the New Year, Xue Na had been calling every day, asking when Meng Yiyi would return for the holidays.

Meng Chuan's cousin, Meng Yiyi, was attending a cultural and scientific university in another city.

Although she was only a freshman, this society did not support idlers; even liberal arts students had to engage in intense competition starting from their first year.

Because of this, she missed the reunion on New Year's Eve, and it wasn't until after the third day of the lunar month that Meng Yiyi finally confirmed the time of her return.

Even during the holidays, Meng Chuan still woke up at four or five in the morning to go to the rooftop to practice martial arts.

He was exceptionally excited today because his proficiency in Pao Fist was about to reach perfection!

When Qi is abundant, a vigorous fire is born in the heart; when Qi is weak, the heart becomes clouded.

Pao Fist is a fire-attribute technique of the Xingyi Sect, emphasizing the indomitable momentum of a strike; no matter how powerful the enemy, I shall break all laws with a single punch!

[Pao Fist: Great Success (99%) Awaiting Limit Break]

With only the final 1% remaining, Meng Chuan closed his eyes and recalled the key points taught by his master.

"Sink your waist, collapse your stance, tighten your core strength, and let the opening and closing of your breath explode like a cannon blast!"

With the blessing of One Proof Eternal Proof, combined with Meng Chuan's long-term practice, he gradually grasped the crux of it.

In an instant, Meng Chuan's body moved.

He stepped forward fiercely with a Cun Step, his left hand drilling upward along his body, his elbow slightly lowered, his fist center drilling to the level of his forehead.

His right hand grasped the essence of the Pao Fist, his mind free of distractions, carrying an indomitable momentum as he suddenly raised it to his chest and struck out with force.

The sound of the cannon shook the sky!

It added a touch of festivity to the New Year.

Following this, Meng Chuan continued to exert force without hesitation, his feet shifting with the Cun Step to generate power, his hands bulging and striking with the Pao Fist. The sounds of cannons firing echoed incessantly, and he easily unleashed eight consecutive strikes!

At this moment, Meng Chuan's core area remained taut, continuing to tighten and exert force.

His wrists continued to twist inward to change the stance, his right hand drilling along his body to his forehead, his wrist twisting outward to generate power.

His left hand simultaneously twisted to his chest, and as his left foot stepped forward with a Cun Step, he unleashed his final strength to emit the last, earth-shattering roar!

"BANG!!!"

On the rooftop, the final ninth echo shattered the hazy dawn.

The electric scooters parked downstairs all sounded their anti-theft alarms in unison.

At this moment, Pao Fist had already reached perfection.

Meng Chuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked up at the Martial Dao Limit-Breaking Panel.

[Pao Fist: Perfection (1%) Awaiting Limit-Break]

[Limit-Breaking Trait: Heavy Strike (Primary)]

As Pao Fist broke through to perfection, before Meng Chuan could even savor the feeling of the breakthrough, his stomach let out a series of rumbles, and he felt a sudden wave of hunger.

This was a normal reaction caused by the body consuming massive amounts of nutrients during the process of significantly increasing Blood Qi.

"A while ago, after my Cun Step reached Great Success, I went to the martial arts gym to test my Blood Qi. It was 7.51, on the verge of breaking through 8 points to enter the Fourth Dao Blood Qi Barrier.

Plus, with Pao Fist reaching perfection today, the massive amount of Blood Qi provided by both combined will surely be enough to enter the Fourth Dao Barrier.

Moreover, such an intense hunger reaction indicates that the amount of newly generated Blood Qi in my body is enormous.

I'm afraid it won't be as simple as just barely entering the Fourth Dao."

Thinking of this, the hunger drove Meng Chuan to quickly put on his clothes and head downstairs to eat.

His uncle had gone to the police station for his shift early this morning, and his aunt was in the kitchen making breakfast alone.

Seeing his aunt cooking, Meng Chuan asked her to heat up a few extra steamed buns.

He then opened the refrigerator and took out chocolate, protein bars, Medicinal Paste, and everything else, devouring them all in no time.

After eating, Meng Chuan finally felt the hunger in his body subside by more than half.

A warm current began to radiate faintly from his stomach, then spread to every part of his body to provide nutrients. Since only a Martial Artist could perform internal observation of the body, Meng Chuan could only guess based on his sensations.

Seeing Meng Chuan raiding the refrigerator like a whirlwind, Xue Na asked in confusion:

"What's wrong, Chuan'er? Why are you so hungry?"

Meng Chuan explained patiently:

"I've made a small breakthrough in my martial arts, so I need to replenish my body's nutrients."

Xue Na seemed to understand:

"Oh, that's fine. Go ahead and eat first. After you're done, I'll brew some more medicinal soup for you."

"By the way, remember to take the cured meat and sausages your uncle bought to your master when you have time. They're made from premium black pork raised free-range on the mountain; they're delicious."

Meng Chuan nodded in agreement. He was just planning to call Master Luo in a bit to ask if he had time to teach him a new fist technique this afternoon, so he could bring the items to him then.

With another five hot steamed buns down his stomach, paired with high-protein beef stew, Meng Chuan felt completely comfortable at last.