Teaching a Lesson: One Step, One Stance, One Fist, One Intent!

Ling Feng, however, seemed completely oblivious to the gazes around him.

He walked through the crowd without looking to either side, came before Cao Feng and Li Qingxue, respectfully bowed, and said in a clear voice, "Disciple Ling Feng greets Instructor Cao and Senior Sister Qingxue."

The young man was only fifteen. His body had yet to fully mature, but he already possessed a steadiness far beyond that of his peers.

It was only those Eyes that shone as brightly as an eagle's. Every glance carried a proud, intimidating air that made others uncomfortable.

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Cao Feng raised his eyelids slightly and cast him a casual sidelong glance without answering.

He strode toward the center of the Training Ground and said in a low voice, "Martial arts are the skills used to defeat enemies and preserve your life!"

"To defeat your opponent, even to take his life in a fight to the death, what does it depend on?"

"It depends on the strength in your fists being fiercer than a tiger's, the speed of your feet being faster than a hare's, the skill of your hands being subtler than a Monkey Form's, your punches being more accurate than an eagle's eyes, and the sinews and bones throughout your body being harder than a Stubborn Stone!"

"This 'Twelve Forms Boxing' is the foundation on which the Seven Star Gang was established. When practiced to its extreme, your body will sway like a weeping willow in the wind, your claws will resemble a fierce tiger rending mountain rock, and your palms will be like a Black Bear shaking a great tree!"

"It can also strengthen your Qi and Blood Force and temper your sinews and bones. Once your qi and blood have been refined until they are like Mercury, that will be the moment you knock open the great gate of martial arts!"

Cao Feng's gaze flashed like lightning as it slowly swept over everyone present.

At that moment, the aura around him suddenly changed!

The desolate, lonely air he had carried before vanished without a trace...

The seemingly dispirited middle-aged man suddenly erupted with terrifying Bright Light in his Eyes, like a fierce tiger lying in ambush suddenly opening its eyes!

That imposing might actually made everyone nearby afraid to meet his gaze!

He said in a low voice, "Today, I'll practice the 'Twelve Forms Boxing' from beginning to end. I'll explain every One move at a time clearly."

"Pull yourselves together. Watch carefully, listen closely, and remember it well!"

"How much you can comprehend and how deeply you can understand it will depend entirely on your own bone structure and comprehension!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the Training Ground immediately held their voices and restrained their breathing. Their Eyes opened wide, afraid of missing even the smallest detail.

"Roar—!"

A strange cry like a Dragon Roar burst from Cao Feng's mouth.

The sound was low at first, then grew increasingly high-pitched, as if a huge dragon were truly circling above the Training Ground!

He had merely assumed the Opening stance, yet the surrounding air seemed to be stirred by an invisible giant hand. It faintly gathered into a Dragon Form of Force of Qi that was almost impossible to see with the naked eye!

A pressure like a mountain collapsing swept out from Cao Feng in all directions.

Those standing nearby felt their chests tighten, as if they had been crushed beneath a boulder. Their faces turned deathly pale, and they retreated several steps in alarm before barely managing to steady themselves!

"Sink your waist, draw in your shoulders, tuck in your chest..."

"Strike like a Steel File, lower your hand like a Hook Pole!"

"Your two elbows must never leave your ribs, and your two hands must never leave your heart!"

"The Dragon Form has a dragon-subduing stance and a bone-searching method. It coils and circles forward and backward, rising and falling in endless changes!"

"The Tiger Form has a crouching tiger leaving its den stance and the courage of a predator pouncing on prey. It can strike with the hips and is also skilled at sweeping with the tail!"

"The Monkey Form has a method of shrinking force and the agility to leap across mountains. It is quick-witted and nimble, able to lighten the body..."

"One step, one stance!"

"One fist, one intent!"

As Cao Feng turned his body, he performed the Moves of the "Twelve Forms Boxing" one after another while explaining the essence of each form in a low voice.

His boxing style was sometimes like a Spirit Snake emerging from its hole, treacherous and bizarre;

at other times, it was like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, ferocious and unmatched.

After completing each form, Cao Feng would halt and carefully dissect the Breathing Exercise and exertion techniques contained within it.

From how to channel Force of Qi through the wind of one's fists to how to position one's steps, he taught everything without reservation.

His movements seemed unhurried, and every move and form was as clear as slow motion, yet wherever his Fists and feet passed, they stirred up the wuwu sound of air being torn apart.

At first, the sound was like silk ripping. Later, it became like a Steel Whip lashing the air, cracking sharply and making everyone's eardrums buzz!

The air currents around him flowed with his fists, sometimes gathering into the shape of a galloping horse, sometimes transforming into a swimming snake, displaying the spirit of the "Twelve Forms" to perfection.

Chu Fan squeezed into the front row of the crowd, his Eyes never blinking.

He stared fixedly at Cao Feng's every gesture, refusing to miss even the arc traced by his Fingertips or the spot ground over by his toes.

He felt that every move concealed endless profound principles and wished he could carve this boxing art into his very bones.

The people around him were the same...

Some furrowed their brows in deep thought, while others muttered under their breath.

Every one of them was focused, as if the only thing left between heaven and earth was that dancing figure in the Training Ground.

The time it took to burn a stick of incense passed slowly...

Cao Feng executed the final form, Bear Strike, and pushed both palms straight out, bringing forth a deep and weighty Force of Qi like a mountain.

Once the force of his palms settled, he abruptly withdrew his fists and stood upright, his body straight as a pine.

Looking at his face again, it was flushed and normal. His breathing was even and clean, and he had not even panted once.

It was as if the exhausting boxing art he had just performed had been nothing more than a casual stretch!

He walked slowly around the Training Ground and said as he went, "The Twelve Forms Boxing has twelve forms, but they aren't twelve different boxing styles."

"When the Bear Form reaches Major Accomplishment, it possesses the force to thrust upward and the strength to strike sideways with the shoulders!"

"When the Monkey Form reaches Major Accomplishment, the body becomes agile, moving and shifting with ease!"

"When the Snake Form reaches Major Accomplishment, it can extend and contract freely, turning and changing with speed..."

"If you want to master the Twelve Forms Boxing, you must not reach beyond your grasp, nor greedily pursue quantity and speed."

"The steadiest and quickest method is to choose a single form from these twelve, then plunge into it completely, like a stonemason in the deep mountains carving a stele—polishing it with ten years of effort repeated day after day, bathing it in countless drops of sweat!"

"Once you understand one form, you will understand all forms."

"If one form does not flow smoothly, the others will be difficult to practice!"

"You must remember this well: what truly matters is not the fist Moves, but the stance training beneath your feet and the methods of breathing."

"Stance training is like an old tree's roots coiling through the earth, while breathing is like a river surging forward. Only when both are refined can they merge with the fist Moves into one, then draw the Qi and Blood Force throughout your body together like rivers converging into the sea, ultimately giving birth to that mighty, unstoppable Qi and Blood Force!"

Chu Fan felt a thunderous boom in his mind, as if a pair of invisible Shackles had suddenly shattered. His vision opened wide, as though a gate leading to a new world of martial arts had been thrown open before him.

The profound principles that had left him lost in clouds and mist when he read the Fist Manual earlier became clear one by one after Cao Feng's guidance, as if the clouds had parted and the sun had appeared.

Warmth seemed to flow through his Limbs and Bones.

Every word spoken by this Chief Instructor seemed to carry the weight of a thousand catties, benefiting Chu Fan immensely.

At that moment, Cao Feng took a Green Bamboo Stick from Li Qingxue's hand.

The stick was about three feet long, emerald green all over, and looked perfectly ordinary.

His gaze swept across the crowd. The Green Bamboo Stick casually pointed toward someone, and he said in a low voice, "You, come out."

A Thin Youngster in the crowd trembled at the sound, and his face immediately paled.

He nervously squeezed out of the crowd with his head lowered, not daring to look directly at Cao Feng.

"How long have you been coming here?"

Cao Feng asked. His voice was not loud, but carried unquestionable authority.

The Thin Youngster bent at the waist and respectfully replied, "R-Replying to you, Instructor, I've been here for half a month."

Cao Feng nodded slightly and lightly tapped the Green Bamboo Stick against his palm, producing a crisp sound. "Since it has already been half a month, perform the 'Twelve Forms Boxing' One move at a time for everyone to see."

"Slow down. Wherever you make a mistake, I'll point it out."

"Yes!" The Thin Youngster's throat bobbed. He swallowed hard, and fine beads of sweat had already appeared on his forehead.

He took a deep breath, suddenly stepped forward half a pace with his Right fist, sank into his stance, and performed the Opening stance of the "Twelve Forms Boxing."

Who would have thought that when he had only reached the fifteenth move, the Green Bamboo Stick in Cao Feng's hand would lash out like a Spirit Snake emerging from its hole? With a sharp smack, it struck the boy's left leg squarely!

The boy's body shrank from the pain, and he nearly leaped into the air!

His face flushed bright red, but he clenched his teeth and forcibly held back his cry.

"Rise and fall like a dragon ascending to heaven, descend like a Hidden Dragon turning over the waves... When stepping with your left leg, you must sink your waist and sit your horse, then follow the momentum to throw your Right fist!"

Cao Feng's voice suddenly turned stern, as cold as ice scraping across a stone slab. "You made such a ridiculous mistake on the fifteenth move. After half a month of study, you're still this useless. Have you learned nothing from my teaching except to put it in a dog's brain?!"

The boy rubbed his injured left leg fiercely with both hands. His eyes were already red, tears spinning in them, but he did not dare argue a single word. He only lowered his head further.

"Continue!" Cao Feng snorted coldly.

The Thin Youngster did not dare delay. Enduring the pain, he continued performing the Moves one after another.

Cao Feng remained beside him without taking a single step away. When the angle of his punch was off, he tapped his wrist with the Green Bamboo Stick;

when his footwork became disordered, he used the Green Bamboo Stick to strike his ankle.

He corrected him while explaining the key points, showing no mercy in his words.

Chu Fan, Zhao Tianxing, and the others in the crowd held their breaths and stared unwaveringly at the Training Ground. They committed the boy's fist Moves and footwork, along with Cao Feng's guidance, to memory, secretly pondering and imitating them, afraid of missing the slightest detail.

By the time the Thin Youngster finished a set of "Twelve Forms Boxing," he had taken nine solid strikes from the Green Bamboo Stick.

Each welt was clearly visible. The pain made his body tremble uncontrollably, and in the end, tears rolled down despite his efforts to hold them back.

Seeing this, everyone around them felt their hearts tighten. They secretly wiped away cold sweat and did not dare slacken in the slightest.

The sun's shadow slowly slanted westward.

The light and shadows across the Training Ground gradually lengthened.

Another six people were called out by Cao Feng in succession, each performing the "Twelve Forms Boxing."

Among these six, some had learned it fairly well, while others performed it in utter disorder.

Yet even the one who had learned it best had taken at least three strikes from the Green Bamboo Stick.

The crisp sound of bamboo striking flesh rose and fell throughout the Training Ground, making everyone's scalps prickle.

Afterward, Cao Feng's gaze shifted and landed like an eagle's on the area where Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing stood. He said in a low voice, "The Eight People who arrived today, all of you come out!"

Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing exchanged a glance. Though they felt uneasy, they did not dare hesitate. They immediately stepped forward with the other six and stood in a neat line before Cao Feng.

Cao Feng lightly raised the Green Bamboo Stick in his hand and pointed it steadily at Chu Fan.

Chu Fan froze and moved two steps to the right.

Unexpectedly, the Green Bamboo Stick in Cao Feng's hand followed him like a shadow, still pointing steadily at him.

Chu Fan moved two more steps to the left.

But the Green Bamboo Stick seemed to have grown Eyes. It continued pointing at him without wavering.

His thoughts turned, and he stepped backward, placing Zhao Tianxing in front of him.

Zhao Tianxing: "..."

Everyone present: "..."