Twelve Forms at Minor Accomplishment, Yet So Overbearing?!

"We have practiced Twelve Forms Boxing together for over half a month. The moves and footwork of this boxing art should already be etched into your bones."

Chu Fan said, "When you act like this before someone whose Twelve Forms Boxing is better than yours, aren't you plainly telling them what move you'll use next?"

"Once I know the move you intend to use, I can naturally strike after yet arrive first, knocking you down in a single move."

"True!" Zhao Tianxing suddenly came to his senses.

Though he usually seemed somewhat unreliable, his mind was exceptionally sharp.

With just those few words from Chu Fan, he immediately understood—he had been too bound by Twelve Forms Boxing, and had instead let the art tie his hands and feet.

If he had not used Twelve Forms Boxing, but another boxing art instead, he would never have been defeated so easily!

At that thought, delight appeared on Zhao Tianxing's face. "Sure enough, sparring more is the way to go. A single phrase awakened the dreamer!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he drew a deep breath and settled into the stance of Twelve Forms Boxing, as steady as an old tree with roots coiled deep in the earth.

But this time, he revealed none of the postures of the Twelve Forms Boxing.

Seeing this, Chu Fan's expression grew a shade more solemn.

Tianxing's actual combat experience far surpassed that of ordinary Blood Nourishment martial artists. He could not afford to be careless!

His fingertips curled slightly. The essence of flowing waves and Tiger Pounce circulated all over his body—this was the sign of Twelve Forms Boxing at Major Accomplishment: Form and Intent Unite, every gesture in harmony with Boxing Principles.

"Watch out!"

Zhao Tianxing gave a low shout. "This time, I'll treat you as one of the tigers and leopards. I'll show you the intent of a life-and-death struggle!"

He had long made his living in the mountains and forests, battling tigers, leopards, bears, and other beasts year-round. His Blood Qi thundered through his body like rolling thunder.

His shoulders sank slightly. His left arm faintly exuded the savagery of Tiger Form, while his right arm carried the sharpness of an eagle's talons. The tips of his feet touched the ground, light and nimble as a monkey...

These were precisely the three forms he had cultivated to Minor Accomplishment: tiger, eagle, and monkey!

Then, as though his feet did not touch the ground, he lunged forward at blinding speed!

This time, he ignored the routines of boxing. Guided wholly by a hunter's instinct for actual combat, he went straight for the center. His right hand curled into a claw, wrapped in the cold wind as it clawed at Chu Fan's face!

Within the force of his fist was the fierce valor of a mountain beast pouncing upon its prey!

Having discarded the opening posture of his punch and shed the traces of set moves, his coordination between Monkey Form and Eagle Form was several degrees sharper and more tyrannical than before!

"What speed!"

Chu Fan was slightly startled.

With Zhao Tianxing's current Blood Qi and physique supporting these three forms at Minor Accomplishment, their speed and might far surpassed those of anyone else at the same level!

At that critical moment, Chu Fan lightly spun on his feet, his body suddenly turning like a Kite Somersault.

Swish!

Zhao Tianxing's eagle claw brushed past Chu Fan's right cheek.

At first glance, Chu Fan's dodge seemed somewhat cramped, as though that "eagle claw" had nearly caught him squarely in the face!

Yet after sidestepping, he raised his right hand, blocking Zhao Tianxing's eagle claw in case it changed midway, while his left fist drove straight toward the lower edge of Zhao Tianxing's right ribs!

In Chu Fan's previous life, this move had been called the Exploding Liver Fist!

Though the punch seemed weak, it was bolstered by Qi and Blood Force. If it truly landed, the sparring match would end at once!

Whoosh!

Zhao Tianxing reacted with astonishing speed. The eagle claw of his other hand transformed into a Bear Form Chop Fist, chopping down with a punch that struck Chu Fan's wrist squarely.

At the same time, the eagle claw of his right hand changed into Monkey Form. With a move called Monkey Steals Peach, it went straight for Chu Fan's crotch.

"..."

Chu Fan had never expected that this guy would use such a move in a mere spar.

He only wanted to blow Tianxing's liver apart.

Tianxing, meanwhile, wanted to steal his peach!

Helpless, Chu Fan could only sidestep and evade once more.

His left arm wound around Zhao Tianxing's right wrist. His fingertips struck like a snake flicking its tongue, clamping down on the latter's Pulse Gate—

Snake Form's Entangling Silk Force!

Snake Form at Major Accomplishment could overcome hardness with softness. It could break hardened techniques and easily neutralize underhanded moves like Monkey Steals Peach!

Zhao Tianxing felt his wrist bones go numb and inwardly cried, This is bad! Yet rather than retreating, he advanced instead!

His left arm suddenly swept across. The merely Entry-level Bear Form's Leaning Mountain Force erupted without warning, and his body, like a massive boulder, smashed rapidly toward Chu Fan!

Chu Fan felt a fierce surge of Blood Qi rushing at his face, as if a mountain wall were about to crush him. He immediately spun and changed his stance, using the clever turn of Harrier Form to avoid Zhao Tianxing's Leaning Mountain Force.

But the hand that had been gripping Zhao Tianxing's Pulse Gate had no choice but to withdraw as well.

"Hahahahaha!"

Zhao Tianxing laughed loudly, his right palm transforming into an eagle claw once more as it clawed at Chu Fan's chest!

Though his Eagle Form had only reached Minor Accomplishment, it incorporated a hunter's techniques for climbing mountains and gripping rock faces.

Moreover, his Knuckles had grown thick and hard as iron from years of drawing a bow. When he clawed out, the wind from his fingers actually produced a sharp screech that tore through the air!

Yet Chu Fan did not panic. His left hand formed a fist and struck upward, smashing Zhao Tianxing's right wrist with Tiger Form Collapse Force.

A wild and violent force surged through him. Zhao Tianxing felt as though a giant hammer had struck his wrist. Amid the unbearable pain, his arm uncontrollably swung upward!

"How is that possible?! Chu Fan's Qi and Blood Force isn't much weaker than mine!"

Horror covered Zhao Tianxing's face as he retreated three steps in succession.

"It's over."

Seeing Zhao Tianxing lose focus, Chu Fan sank his shoulder and rammed straight forward with Bear Form's Leaning Mountain Force!

His consecutive moves seemed simple and slow, but they actually contained the ability of Eyes Can See Tiny Things attained after Twelve Forms reached Major Accomplishment, as well as precise control over his strength!

Bang!

Before Zhao Tianxing could react, he let out a muffled groan. It was as if a giant bear had slammed into him; his feet left the ground as he flew backward!

Though Chu Fan's physique was not as tough as Zhao Tianxing's, he had now condensed a thread of Qi and Blood Force.

In this head-on clash, a single Bear Form Leaning Mountain Force sent Zhao Tianxing's Blood Qi churning, leaving him extremely uncomfortable!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After his feet touched the ground, Zhao Tianxing staggered backward repeatedly, his soles leaving deep footprints in the earth!

Fortunately, Chu Fan did not pursue him.

Otherwise, if Chu Fan had attacked again while his Blood Qi was churning and he was in such discomfort, he definitely would not have been able to block it!

Huff! Huff!

Zhao Tianxing panted repeatedly and exclaimed, "Unbelievable! Your Twelve Forms at Minor Accomplishment seems as though it has fused into one whole!"

"My three forms at Minor Accomplishment are simply worlds apart from your Twelve Forms at Minor Accomplishment!"

"Twelve Forms at Minor Accomplishment is actually this overbearing?!"

But he did not know that this was not the difference between three forms at Minor Accomplishment and Twelve Forms at Minor Accomplishment.

It was the gap between three forms at Minor Accomplishment and Twelve Forms at Major Accomplishment!

Chu Fan smiled but did not explain.

His actual combat experience was indeed still somewhat lacking.

Though he could handle martial artists at the Blood Nourishment realm, if his opponent did not use Twelve Forms Boxing, he would need to spend more effort.

The reason he could defeat Zhao Tianxing so easily was ultimately because Zhao Tianxing was also using Twelve Forms Boxing.

Even though Zhao Tianxing no longer used opening postures and tried his best to erase the traces before launching his moves, in the eyes of Chu Fan, whose Twelve Forms Boxing had reached Major Accomplishment, every move he made was still easy to see through.

"So powerful..."

Zhao Tianxing sighed again. "So Twelve Forms at Minor Accomplishment can actually be this overbearing! It seems I must work twice as hard and quickly cultivate the remaining nine forms to Minor Accomplishment as well!"

"..." Chu Fan opened his mouth, but in the end chose silence.

"Again!"

Zhao Tianxing slammed his fists together with a bang.

There was a streak of ruthlessness in his bones. He hated losing more than anything.

He did not envy Chu Fan's talent or strength, but he possessed a drive that only grew fiercer with every battle.

"Come!"

Chu Fan crooked his fingers at him.

Their Blood Qi surged as they fought fiercely in the cold wind.

Both had condensed a thread of Qi and Blood Force. When they fought like this, even the sound of their fists colliding was like war drums being beaten!

Night fell.

Blood-red moonlight spilled in through the window, shining upon the Saber Manual on the table.

[Literacy Technique Experience +1]

Chu Fan flipped Ninefold Thunderclap Saber to its final page, then gently closed the Saber Manual and shut his eyes.

[This reading session has increased Literacy Technique Experience by a total of 26 points]

The exchanges with Zhao Tianxing that morning, and every scene of Cao Shi teaching Ninefold Thunderclap Saber that afternoon, flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

Though he had practiced Twelve Forms Boxing a few fewer times today, his gains had been immense.

His spar with Zhao Tianxing had shown him his shortcomings in offense, defense, and footwork;

And the Ninefold Thunderclap Saber that Cao Shi had taught him hand in hand—even if it was only shallow saber moves before Entry—had benefited him greatly.

Chu Fan reviewed the gains from the day, then slowly rose to his feet.

Tonight, he had to try condensing his second thread of Qi and Blood Force...