The Profound Method of the Twelve Forms Boxing for Tempering Qi and Blood and Refining Muscles and Bones

[Technique: Literacy Technique (Initiate) (Trait: None)]

[Progress: (1/100)]

[Technique: Twelve Forms Boxing (Not Initiated) (Trait: None)]

[Progress: (0/10)]

After flipping through the Fist Manual, had he actually gained the Literacy Technique?

Chu Fan's heart also leaped with surprise and delight.

The Mountains and Rivers Map now clearly displayed two additional techniques.

Like the Chopping Knife Technique he had learned earlier, the Literacy Technique had already reached the Initiate realm the moment it appeared on the map's panel.

As for the Twelve Forms Boxing, it was conspicuously marked with the words "Not Initiated."

Chu Fan slowly inhaled, suppressing the flicker of joy in his chest. He focused his mind on the Fist Manual and began committing the essentials of the Twelve Forms Boxing to memory.

This boxing method had quite an extraordinary origin. It had been created by predecessors who imitated the movements and spirit of twelve beasts and birds, blending them with their experience in actual combat. It was a Supreme Skill.

The so-called Twelve Forms were Dragon Form, Tiger Form, Bear Form, Snake Form, Bird Platform Form, Monkey Form, Horse Form, Chicken Form, Swallow Form, Xiong Form, Harrier Form, and Eagle Form.

These Twelve Forms were not twelve separate boxing methods.

Rather, they formed a seamless whole, corresponding respectively to the twelve Force Application Methods of movement, stillness, rising, falling, standing, stabilizing, folding, turning, lightness, heaviness, slowness, and speed.

For example, Dragon Form took the posture of soaring and sweeping freely across the sky;

Tiger Form learned its might and domineering power;

Monkey Form imitated its nimble and agile bearing;

Swallow Form emulated its skill in skimming across the air and threading through narrow gaps...

Every aspect of form and intent was incorporated into the offensive and defensive moves.

Combined with its unique stance training and Breathing Exercise method, it was not only a weapon for defeating enemies, but also a profound method for tempering qi and blood and refining muscles and bones.

Chu Fan pondered every word and sentence, imprinting the diagrams and profound principles in the Fist Manual one by one into his mind.

Unfortunately, after looking through it again and again for quite some time, he still did not receive the wondrous prompt that had appeared when he touched Li Qingxue's Cold Moon Solitary Shadow Saber.

Presumably, the Fist Manuals the people in the Library Pavilion had received were all rubbings and copies. Only by touching the original could he trigger the method of refinement.

If he had sufficient Spiritual Essence, then upon refining the original, he would be able to inherit the lifelong experience of the person who had created the manual.

At that time, cultivating the Twelve Forms Boxing would certainly yield twice the result with half the effort, sparing him many unnecessary detours.

He recalled the scene when he had touched the Cold Moon Solitary Shadow Saber that day. The words and images that had flashed through his mind had been the exquisite moves Li Qingxue had used while cultivating the Seven Stars Bead Cut.

Had his Spiritual Essence not been insufficient at the time, he would have already made that saber technique his own.

Thinking of this, Chu Fan turned his gaze toward the Library Pavilion steward.

He was a thin, withered old man with graying hair. At that moment, he was leaning crookedly against a bamboo chair, his head tilted back and his mouth slightly open. His breathing was even and deep, and he was sleeping soundly.

Chu Fan lightened his footsteps as he walked over. Bending down beside the old man's ear, he called softly, "Senior..."

"Hmm?!" The old man jolted violently and nearly sprang out of his chair.

As the saying went, "When people frighten people, they can frighten them to death"...

Startled into a furious leap of the heart by the unexpected voice, he opened his eyes and saw that it was Chu Fan. His gaze instantly turned fierce, as though he wanted to swallow the kid before him alive!

The old man gritted his teeth and asked, "What is it?!"

With an apologetic smile, Chu Fan cupped his hands and said, "This junior takes the liberty of asking, Steward, does this Library Pavilion have the original copy of the Twelve Forms Boxing?"

"You want to see the original copy of the Twelve Forms Boxing?" The old man's lips curled with mockery when he heard this.

"The original has always been personally kept by the Gang Leader. Apart from that old man himself, even if the Emperor of Heaven came here, he could forget about touching it in the slightest. Kid, you'd better give up on that thought as soon as possible!"

After a pause, he continued in a heavy voice, "Besides, you just joined my Seven Star Gang. If there are things you shouldn't ask about, don't go poking around blindly, lest trouble come from your own mouth and bring you a whole heap of problems!"

"Understood, kid. Thank you for the reminder, Senior." A trace of disappointment crossed Chu Fan's face as he bowed and retreated.

It seemed that there was no shortcut left to take with the Twelve Forms Boxing.

He could only study it diligently himself and refine it step by step.

Just as he sat back down in his original spot, Zhao Tianxing leaned over from beside him and pointed at a character in the Fist Manual. "Chu Fan, how is this character pronounced?"

Chu Fan turned his head and answered, "This character is pronounced 'xiong.' It refers to Xiong Form."

"Xiong was a small insect no longer than an inch, with six long legs. After every rainfall, it would often float across the surface of the water, moving in winding, curving paths, both light and swift."

When Zhao Tianxing heard this, his eyes went round, and his face was filled with heartfelt admiration. Clicking his tongue, he said, "Brother Chu Fan, you look as thin as a bamboo pole from the mountains, but who would've thought your belly was packed with so much knowledge!"

Chu Fan's face immediately darkened at those words. Furrowing his brow slightly, he said, "If you really don't know how to praise people, you can just not praise me."

"Ah, my apologies, my apologies!" Zhao Tianxing hurriedly waved his hands, a foolish grin spreading across his face.

He sat down on the chair to Chu Fan's right, then pointed at another character in the Fist Manual and scratched his head. "Then what does this character mean?"

"This is Bird Platform. It refers to a small eagle with an extremely short tail. People generally call it a Bald-tailed Eagle." Chu Fan pointed at the diagram as he explained.

"Isn't it drawn in the diagram? You grew up in the mountains as a hunter. Don't tell me you can't even recognize this Bald-tailed Eagle?"

"Ah! So that's what it is!" Zhao Tianxing slapped his thigh, suddenly enlightened.

He said, "Some hunters capture Bald-tailed Eagle chicks and raise them. After filing down the tips of their claws, they use them specifically to catch wild rabbits. I saw them several times in the mountains when I was younger!"

"It looked familiar just now. I just couldn't remember it for a moment!"

Chu Fan nodded slightly. "This wild Bald-tailed Eagle most loves to perch on high branches. It often keeps its head pointed downward and its tail raised straight up, its sharp eyes fixed on the ground. The moment it spots a cunning rabbit or wild bird, it dives down like an arrow released from a bow, never missing its mark."

The two of them flipped through the Fist Manual while occasionally whispering a few words to each other.

The unfamiliarity between them gradually faded, and a touch of comradeship emerged.

As the pages turned, the prompt [Literacy Technique Experience +1] kept appearing.

It was as if a warm current slowly surged through his mind, nourishing it in silent, imperceptible ways.

After more than an hour, the characters in the Fist Manual seemed to come alive, carving deeper marks into his mind.

[This reading session increased Literacy Technique Experience by a total of 25 points]

Chu Fan rubbed his swollen temples.

Even so, he still had not memorized more than half of the Fist Manual.

The writing was ancient and obscure, while the boxing moves were even more unpredictable, sometimes like a fierce tiger descending from the mountain, sometimes like a Spirit Snake emerging from its lair. To memorize every last bit, he feared it would take at least three to five days.

Moreover, even if he memorized it perfectly, it would still amount to merely talking about warfare on paper.

He needed an expert to guide him, breaking down and refining every move one at a time before he could truly grasp its essence.

Chu Fan's mind stirred, and he thought again of the progress of the Literacy Technique.

The Literacy Technique progressed much more slowly than the Chopping Knife Technique. After more than an hour, it had increased by only 25 points.

Even so, it would take only four hours to break through to Minor Accomplishment.

He simply did not know what wondrous use the Literacy Technique would have after breaking through.

As he pondered this, quite a few people in the Library Pavilion had already risen and begun walking outside.

Zhao Tianxing stretched lazily and said excitedly, "Brother Chu Fan, it's time for lunch. Let's go to the dining hall and fill our bellies first. After eating, we can go to the Training Ground to learn the Twelve Forms Boxing!"

His brows and the corners of his eyes were full of smiles as he spoke, and even his hands and feet could not help making a few gestures.

For a moment, Chu Fan could not tell whether he was so excited because he was about to learn boxing or simply because of that meal.

Before Chu Fan could think about it further, Zhao Tianxing continued on his own, "Do you know why I wanted to join the Seven Star Gang?"