Luo Family Baji

"That, uh... can Ping'an Middle School really contain a great Buddha like you?"

Yu Kaidong thought it was way too outrageous. A sixteen-year-old first-year student who had already reached the Fourth Dao Blood Qi Barrier—could that really be the product of an ordinary high school?

"Really. If you don't believe me, ask my sister."

Yu Kaidong turned a pleading gaze toward his girlfriend. He couldn't believe it was true.

But Meng Yiyi stiffly nodded in confirmation.

He fell silent for a moment, then said, "Transfer schools, Xiao Meng. I can ask my teacher to recommend you to the Preparatory Class at Yong'an Martial Arts University."

"Your future is limitless. The waters at Ping'an Middle School are too shallow to raise a flood dragon."

"No, it's fine. I have my own plans."

The teaching at Martial Arts Schools and university preparatory classes was far superior to that at Ping'an Middle School.

But on the one hand, he had made an agreement with Principal Zong. On the other, preparatory classes were fully residential, and students couldn't leave campus, which would make it inconvenient for him to practice with Teacher Luo at night.

Teacher Luo rarely taught him during the day. She had to train and earn money herself; she couldn't spend all her time hovering around him.

So dropping out and following Luo Guanyun around to learn martial arts wasn't a viable option either.

Seeing that Meng Chuan had his own ideas, Yu Kaidong said no more.

Huayun Mansion, Villa A003.

Luo Guanyun had called Meng Chuan around noon, asking him to come by in the afternoon when he had some free time. Meng Chuan gladly accepted.

Inside the villa's Martial Arts Room.

"Not bad. I can see your blood qi is practically overflowing from your body. You've firmly reached the Fourth Dao."

"It's my fault. I've been busy lately and forgot to remind you. When a martial practitioner moves from the initial stage of the first three Qi-Blood Passes into the intermediate stage, they need a lot of nourishment. It's good that you noticed this yourself."

That was a sign of a martial practitioner's strong control over their own body. Luo Guanyun nodded repeatedly, her face full of approval.

"I'll skip the idle chatter. From here on, train hard and keep working toward Northern United University and the Yuanshen Thunder Seed Method!"

"As for the fist method you'll be practicing next, you'd better prepare yourself."

Hearing Teacher Luo say that only made Meng Chuan more curious about the new fist method.

"I'm ready, Teacher."

Luo Guanyun said calmly, "Xingyi is broad and profound. Its most representative branches are Shaolin and Wudang."

"Shaolin fist methods emphasize striking with fists and feet. They're renowned for their strength and vigor, their plain, unadorned style, and their effectiveness in combat."

"Wudang fist methods follow the principles of the Yi. Their purpose is to cultivate the body and spirit, nurture one's nature and preserve one's life. Combat and defense are merely a pretext. They emphasize the interplay of emptiness and fullness, and the balance of hardness and softness."

"I combined the strengths of Shaolin's Long Fist with the shifting between emptiness and fullness in Wudang Taiji, then added the close-range techniques of Yueshan Baji. I created a top-tier second-rate fist method."

"Since Baji Fist is its foundation, I named it Luo Family Baji Fist."

"Luo Family Baji trains the body with long and short-range techniques, emptiness and fullness, while nurturing the internal organs. It's one of the best preparatory fist methods for the Yuanshen Thunder Seed Method."

Meng Chuan was stunned. He hadn't expected Teacher Luo to be so formidable. Three schools in one—now that was something.

"Luo Family Baji is different from ordinary second-rate fist methods. Most second-rate methods can only reach the Sixth Qi-Blood Pass when mastered. They can't break through the Seventh and enter the advanced stage."

"But once Luo Family Baji is mastered, you're guaranteed to break through the Seventh Qi-Blood Pass. You may even have a chance to comprehend Hua Jin. Keep in mind, Hua Jin is usually exclusive to first-rate martial arts."

"Of course, it's also much harder to practice. To give you an idea, it's at least ten times harder than Pao Fist. You'll have to be ready to practice again and again without finding the knack."

Meng Chuan wasn't intimidated.

"No problem, Teacher Luo. I can do it!"

His confidence came from the panel and One Proof Eternal Proof. As long as he trained hard, he'd have no trouble getting started.

"Good. I'll demonstrate it first."

Luo Guanyun stood in place and assumed the opening stance.

"This is a fist method I created myself, so unlike Pao Fist and Cun Step, it doesn't have a matching footwork technique."

"Your Cun Step isn't mastered yet, so you can keep practicing it. Or, once you've completely learned Luo Family Baji, I can teach you another footwork technique."

"You haven't even entered the intermediate stage as a martial practitioner, yet you've already realized that fist methods should be practiced alongside footwork. So I don't need to worry about that. For now, you can continue practicing Luo Family Baji with Cun Step, so you won't lose your footing in real combat."

"Enough chatter. Stand facing me and learn."

Meng Chuan stepped forward.

"Let's begin, Teacher."

"I'll go slowly. Watch closely and get a feel for it."

Luo Guanyun stood upright, her left hand clenched into a fist and her right hand resting against the tiger's mouth of her left. Her body gradually flowed into motion.

"With Luo Family Baji, the opening stance is where you begin gathering your momentum. Use that force of presence to overwhelm your opponent and seize the initiative from the very first move!"

Then Luo Guanyun began demonstrating the full sequence.

"Remember, don't forget the bow stance you learned with Pao Fist. When you strike left and right, don't focus only on your hands. Remember to turn your body in coordination with the bow stance."

"These are Baji's Six Great Openings: Ding, Bao, Dan, Ti, Kua, and Chan. It also incorporates Wudang Fist's balance of hardness and softness, and the shifting between emptiness and fullness, combined with the long-fist techniques of Luohan Block, Force, Chong, and Point."

"I'll do it once more. Try following along. It's fine if you make mistakes; I'll correct you as we go."

Inside the Martial Arts Room.

When Meng Chuan first began practicing, his movements were extremely clumsy.

Luo Guanyun patiently corrected his form again and again.

An hour passed. Thanks to One Proof Eternal Proof, Meng Chuan's Luo Family Baji gradually began to take shape.

It really was the most top-tier of second-rate fist methods. It had been a long time since Meng Chuan had worked up such a sweat.

He stole a glance at the Martial Dao Limit-Breaking Panel. The new fist method wasn't listed yet. It seemed this new method really was difficult.

But he wasn't discouraged. If anything, he looked forward to it even more.

Luo Guanyun had never taught this self-created fist method to anyone else, and now she was getting into it too.

"Tired? If you're not, keep going."

Meng Chuan wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"I'm not tired. Let's go, Teacher Luo!"

"Good! Keep at it. Let's try to get you started in one go today!"

Meng Chuan was fired up too. He didn't believe he couldn't get started today.

As a Martial Arts Master of the Third Great Limit, Luo Guanyun seemed to have endless energy.

She demonstrated for Meng Chuan, corrected his movements nonstop, and occasionally explained the key principles behind Luo Family Baji.

"Right! I've been emphasizing the core contraction that generates power! Every punch must draw its force from your waist and core. Let your fighting instinct drive you, and unleash a punch that surges forward without hesitation!"

"You haven't comprehended Dark Jin yet. Pao Fist is an extremely hard and fierce fist method, so it's difficult to grasp Dark Jin through it."

"But Luo Family Baji is different. Pay close attention to its penetrating force. Your punches should drive their power deep into the bones and marrow, just like this."

"Watch closely! Your footwork matters too. This fist method isn't just about Baji's close-range fighting; it also incorporates Shaolin's Long Fist. In real combat, you have to respond to the changing situation and adapt your techniques accordingly."

"When the enemy advances, use Cun Step to create distance and strike with Long Fist. When the enemy retreats, use Wudang Coiling Jin to keep them in your grasp, then unleash quick punches with Baji's close-range strikes!"

Meng Chuan's movements gradually began to take shape. After giving him some more pointers, Luo Guanyun suddenly swung her elbow and crashed it into a wooden post.

"Watch closely."

The post was sent flying in an instant. Then it suddenly exploded midair, scattering splinters everywhere!

Luo Guanyun's presence was ferocious.

"Did you see that? That's the power of Luo Family Baji!"

Meng Chuan nodded. He had glimpsed some of its principles.

It combined powerful outward force with devastating internal damage. Luo Family Baji really packed a punch!

"Keep going! As you punch, think carefully about how you can use force the way I did."

Teacher and student kept practicing, as though they had forgotten the passage of time.

Six in the afternoon.

"How's it going, Chuan'er? Have you gotten started?"

"Almost!"

Meng Chuan felt he was right on the verge of getting started.

"Then push a little harder! Come on, keep up with my movements!"

Teacher Luo sometimes stayed where she was and used Luo Family Baji to face enemies coming from every direction. Other times, she led Meng Chuan onto the wooden posts. Her steps were aggressive, each step unleashing a punch, shaking the air until it hummed!

By eight that evening, Meng Chuan was running low on stamina. His punches were gradually growing weak.

Luo Guanyun looked at her nearly exhausted student and smiled with satisfaction.

"Your foundation's quite solid. You're just about there."

Meng Chuan bowed gratefully to Teacher Luo.

"Thank you for all the effort, Teacher Luo."

Luo Guanyun waved a hand.

"It's nothing. Take a rest and think it over carefully. Remember the key points I went over today."

"I have something to do, so I'll head out first."

At the door, Luo Guanyun suddenly turned back as something came to mind.

"Remember to lock the door when you leave. Don't go leaving it unlocked like last time, damn it!"

Luo Guanyun had somewhere to be that evening, so she left first.

Meng Chuan sat cross-legged in the Martial Arts Room, regulating his breathing as a thought surfaced in his mind.

Teacher Luo is so good to me.

Once he had finished regulating his breathing, he focused intently on the panel.

Luo Family Baji: Beginner (6%) Pending Limit-Breaking

Limit-Breaking Trait: Huntian (Intermediate)