The next day.
It was a day off for his uncle, Meng Yongzhi, so the whole family sat together for breakfast, enjoying the warmth of a family gathering.
Meng Yiyi told Meng Yongzhi how Meng Chuan had beaten her boyfriend to a pulp.
After hearing that, Meng Yongzhi was speechless for a long while, feeling as if he were dreaming.
In less than half a year, Meng Chuan had created too many miracles: improving Guoyi Fist, being taken on as a direct disciple by a Martial Arts Master, and beating up a Yong'an Martial Arts University student while still in his first year of high school. Every one of those things was hard to believe.
"Chuan, how much qi-blood do you have now?"
"Over eight. I just haven't grasped Dark Jin yet."
Meng Yongzhi's lips trembled with excitement.
"Then... good!"
"Should I use my connections to get you into a better school?"
Meng Yongzhi had heard from others that the martial arts schools in high school taught far more than Ping'an Middle School.
"No need, Uncle. Teacher Luo is all I need."
"Good, good. If there's anything you need for your martial arts training, be sure to tell me."
Meng Chuan nodded.
Meng Yongzhi was so excited that he could barely sit still. He stopped eating and paced back and forth.
Just then, a report came from the television.
"Director Fang, the optimization of Yong'an City's Skynet system is complete. What does this mean for the citizens?"
On the screen, Fang Jianxing spoke eloquently, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"The further optimization of the Skynet system will, on the one hand, resolve..."
After hearing that, his aunt said with a smile,
"Technology keeps advancing. With Skynet around, ordinary people like us can finally feel safe."
Meng Chuan smiled and nodded, thinking, These things are all external. My own strength is what matters most. Only after I become a Martial Practitioner will I be able to protect my family better.
After breakfast, Meng Chuan returned to his room to practice the Stake Technique, while thinking about where to train.
Luo Family Baji was broad and powerful, with rapid, overlapping footwork. He needed to find somewhere spacious.
He was worried the rooftop would be too small. His fist technique wasn't yet familiar, and one careless misstep could send him tumbling off the edge.
The principal had given him a key to the school's Martial Arts Arena, but after thinking it over, he decided to train at the martial arts hall instead.
It had been a long time since he'd been to the hall. He could enjoy the lively crowd and, while he was there, check his current qi-blood level.
Although it was still the New Year holiday, Infinite Martial Arts Hall remained open as usual.
Teacher Luo was away on business and not there to oversee the hall. The cafeteria staff were also on holiday, so the hall wasn't serving meals.
When Meng Chuan stepped inside, he saw that there weren't many students around. Most were at home celebrating the New Year.
The moment they saw him, they hurried over to greet him.
"Greetings, Senior Brother!"
Meng Chuan accepted their greetings with a smile and nodded.
Liu Ru was alone at the far end, practicing her punches against a wooden dummy. Her fists blurred through the air, sending out a steady flurry of explosive cracks.
In her heart, nothing mattered more than making a good impression on Luo Guanyun.
She was preparing for the upcoming Martial Arts Hall Ranking Tournament, so she didn't have time to teach.
Meng Chuan greeted her before entering the Qi-Blood Testing Room.
[9.25]
It was a little higher than Meng Chuan had expected, perhaps because he had made a start in Luo Family Baji.
Based on the experience of those who had come before him, perfect Pao Fist combined with a great mastery of a third-rate movement technique could bring one's qi-blood to around 8.5.
The higher reading was partly due to how powerfully Luo Family Baji stimulated qi-blood, and partly thanks to the solid foundation laid by his Limit-Breaking Guoyi Fist.
After testing his qi-blood, Meng Chuan went to the Wooden Dummy Area and tried out Pao Fist, seeing how long it would take him to break through its limits.
He practiced two rounds, but his proficiency didn't increase. Meng Chuan patiently continued.
As he practiced, he pondered. More than half an hour later, a notification appeared on his panel: his proficiency had increased by 1%.
[Pao Fist: Perfect (1%) → (2%) Awaiting Limit Break]
[Limit-Breaking Trait: Heavy Strike (Beginner)]
The road to breaking through the limits was long. Meng Chuan planned to spend four hours a day practicing Pao Fist for the time being.
As his proficiency increased, Pao Fist could still boost his qi-blood even after reaching perfection.
It simply wasn't as effective as Luo Family Baji. Since raising his qi-blood was still his priority, Meng Chuan decided to spend most of his time practicing the new fist technique.
Time flew by especially fast while he was practicing.
Meng Chuan glanced up at the clock. It was already one o'clock. He checked his panel.
[Pao Fist: Perfect (8%) Awaiting Limit Break]
His progress was still pretty fast. Even if his proficiency grew more slowly later on, One Proof Eternal Proof would keep him from hitting a bottleneck.
Meng Chuan looked forward to the second trait he was about to gain.
After grabbing a simple bowl of noodles outside, Meng Chuan took the Medicinal Paste and returned to the Wooden Dummy Area to keep practicing.
Time slipped quietly by as he worked through his punches and kicks.
Suddenly—
"Not bad!"
A familiar voice came from behind him, and an arm draped over his shoulder.
Meng Chuan spun around and was delighted to find Fang Jianxing.
"Brother Fang, you're here! I saw you on TV this morning, and now I get to see you in person this afternoon."
Fang Jianxing wasn't wearing the white lab coat he'd worn last time. Instead, he had on a casual fleece-lined hoodie.
"Is that so? Don't tease me, Xiao Meng. Haha."
"I came here today to learn some fist techniques from you. So, are you going to teach me or not?"
"Of course! Brother Fang, go change first. Martial arts uniforms are looser, so they're more comfortable for training."
Fang Jianxing nodded with a smile.
"The people at the front desk already gave me my uniform. I'll go change now."
"Ah, I can only find time to work out during the New Year holiday. I only bought ten lessons, so you'll have to teach me well, Xiao Meng."
"No problem."
After changing, Fang Jianxing came back to Meng Chuan.
"You're impressive, Xiao Meng. When I first arrived, I heard everyone calling you Senior Brother?"
"Not really. I'm just benefiting from being the hall master's direct disciple."
Fang Jianxing nodded thoughtfully, then continued,
"Still, that's impressive. Becoming the hall master's disciple is an accomplishment in itself. Don't sell yourself short."
"By the way, isn't the hall master here today?"
"Teacher Luo is away on business."
Fang Jianxing nodded and said no more.
"Then, Brother Fang, let's skip the small talk and get started?"
"Xiao Meng, I practiced the National Compulsory Basic Fist Technique for a while when I was a kid. What should I practice now to benefit my body the most?"
Meng Chuan thought for a moment, then decided to teach him the Stake Technique.
"I'll teach you the Stake Technique, Brother Fang. My master said it's the foundation of all martial arts.
"On top of that, standing in a stake stance can greatly improve your core strength. It's perfect for someone like you who spends all day sitting at a desk."
"Sure, the Stake Technique it is. I've heard people say that if you practice fist techniques without the Stake Technique, all your efforts will come to nothing when you're old. Haha."
As he taught Fang Jianxing, Meng Chuan noticed something surprising.
Fang Jianxing struggled at first, but every time Meng Chuan corrected one of his movements, Fang Jianxing almost never made the same mistake again in his next practice.
That was one outward sign of excellent natural aptitude.
Since he had gone so long without exercising, Fang Jianxing's muscles trembled all over as he held the stance, but he gritted his teeth and kept going.
Meng Chuan helped wipe the sweat from his forehead and said with a smile,
"Brother Fang, you've got a knack for martial arts too. You picked up the Stake Technique so quickly. Ever considered giving up writing to take up martial arts?"
Fang Jianxing's face was flushed red as he struggled to speak.
"My... talent is only so-so. Learning martial arts... can only strengthen myself. Devoting myself to science can save more people!"
Hearing that, Meng Chuan couldn't help feeling a deep respect for him.
Fang Jianxing had already grasped the essentials of the stance, though he hadn't yet begun to master it. He didn't need Meng Chuan's guidance for the time being.
"Then keep practicing the stance, Brother Fang. I'll go practice my punches nearby."
Fang Jianxing was too tired to speak, so he could only nod in reply.
Meng Chuan saw Instructor Liu Ru stop practicing on the wooden dummy and went over to her.
"Sister Ru, care to spar?"
Liu Ru agreed and leaped onto a wooden dummy.
"Come on, Xiao Meng. You make the first move."
As a martial practitioner at the sixth Qi-Blood Pass, Liu Ru had her pride and refused to call Meng Chuan Senior Brother like the others did.
Besides, she had always held on to one thought: she wanted to become Luo Guanyun's direct disciple too!
Meng Chuan leaped onto a wooden dummy and took up the stance of Luo Family Baji. He wanted to use this real combat opportunity to grasp Dark Jin.
"Is this a new fist technique, Xiao Meng?"
It looked a bit like Baji Fist, but there were differences. Liu Ru guessed that the hall master had just taught it to him, and felt a twinge of jealousy.
"That's right. Be careful, Sister Ru."
Meng Chuan exploded forward with a Cun Step, closing in on Liu Ru. He used the Six Great Openings of Baji to launch into close-quarters combat.
Soft and hard, feints and real attacks shifted back and forth. For a time, Liu Ru was so restricted that she could barely move. Whenever she tried to reach out and unleash her strength, Meng Chuan drew her into a mire.
Liu Ru didn't dare use her full strength. Their qi-blood levels were too far apart, so she could only increase her strength little by little.
Fang Jianxing watched the two sparring intently from the side.
He simply gave up on practicing his stance, plopped down on the floor, and watched closely.
"Go, Xiao Meng!"
Meng Chuan was completely focused during the spar. Instructor Liu Ru was worthy of being a peak-level martial practitioner in the intermediate stage. No matter how his attacks shifted, she could easily deflect them.
As they darted and dodged, the two had already exchanged hundreds of blows.
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