Tai Chi

The sun sank in the west, hiding behind Green Mountain, while golden afterglow spread across the sky.

A hint of night had already appeared in the east.

Chen Feng had spent the whole afternoon wandering the market before finally returning to the martial arts school.

Along the way, the students watched him with admiration and envy. Whenever he happened to meet one of the school's instructors, they greeted him warmly as well.

By the time he reached the dormitory, Chen Feng was still thinking about what Senior Brother Yao had said that afternoon.

"At least twenty liang a month, with all kinds of cultivation resources included."

Chen Feng had never seen so much money.

Even after selling the Blood Condensing Pill, he had barely had twenty liang in his pocket.

Yet his senior brother had said that just by virtue of being a Personal Disciple, he could earn twenty liang a month for doing nothing, no matter which faction he took a post with.

That was the influence of the Dragon Walk Martial Arts School.

Even though Chen Feng had only just stepped into the Martial Artist realm,

he could still enjoy such treatment.

He had heard that Third Senior Brother had once helped with an Escort Mission outside the city. The amount he earned in a single trip was beyond Chen Feng's imagination, and that didn't even include the spoils he took from the bandits along the way.

Chen Feng stood before the dormitory door, silent for a moment.

Then he couldn't help laughing aloud.

What was wrong with him?

His head was full of money, money, money.

So vulgar.

He was a Personal Disciple now. He ought to broaden his horizons. He was no longer the pitiful fellow who used to worry about going hungry.

Chen Feng took off his shirt and began practicing his fist technique in the courtyard.

If his heart wouldn't be still, then he would get moving.

Let his Qi Blood boil, his body sweat, and his mind empty out. Then he wouldn't think about so much.

Chen Feng stood with his feet apart and assumed the Starting Posture.

He still remembered the system's announcement that day—

The Twenty-Four Form Tai Chi Fist had undergone some changes.

After studying it further, Chen Feng hadn't noticed anything unusual. But ever since joining the martial arts school, he really hadn't practiced Tai Chi Fist in quite some time.

Chen Feng's gaze darkened.

He stood firm, his aura drawing inward, as imposing as an abyss and a towering mountain, Immovable as a Mountain.

Wild Horse Parts Mane, White Crane Spreads Wings, Grasp the Knee and Twist the Step...

Chen Feng's arms slowly traced circles. They seemed soft and powerless, yet concealed a heavy Fist Force.

Even the air around him was gently drawn along,

flowing slowly with the movement of his hands.

Chen Feng's steps shifted lightly, neither hurried nor slow. Empty stance, T-stance, and cross-steps changed back and forth.

One foot touched down lightly, the other planted firmly.

His figure was like a willow in the wind, his Vital Energy flowing in perfect harmony.

Like Flowing Clouds and Water, smooth and unimpeded.

The slower his punches grew, the more their power showed.

Hand Waves the Pipa, Grasp the Sparrow's Tail, Single Whip...

If anyone had been watching, they would have thought Chen Feng was breathing in rhythm with Heaven and Earth, his chest rising and falling in time with each punch and withdrawal.

It was like an art, beautiful and soothing.

Movement Hidden in Stillness, Hardness Hidden in Softness.

The panel Chen Feng hadn't brought up was quietly changing.

[Twenty-Four Form Tai Chi Fist (Perfect)]

[Tuna Gong (Perfect)]

The two entries kept flashing.

Turn Around, Parry, and Strike, As if Sealing and Closing...

After completing the form, Chen Feng slowly exhaled a breath of Turbid Qi, and his eyes seemed to hold a golden glow.

A long-missed sound rang in his ears—

[You have comprehended "Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique."]

Chen Feng called up the system panel and found that both Tuna Gong and the Twenty-Four Form Tai Chi Fist had vanished from it.

[Name: Chen Feng]

[Experience: 18275]

[Cultivation Techniques: Five Elements Fist, Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique]

With a thought, he focused his awareness on the newly appeared "Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique" on the panel.

Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique: Gather Qi and nurture the origin, harmonize yin and yang. Once mastered, it can control Xuan Yuan Jin, making Qi follow the will, whether attacking or defending, as one wishes.

[Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique]: Initial Glimpse (0/1000)

Chen Feng was stunned. The first level of Five Elements Fist had only taken five hundred experience points to max out, but this Profound Origin Technique required a whole thousand!

Didn't that mean it was even more powerful than Five Elements Fist?

Without hesitation—

He maxed it out right away!

There was no point keeping this experience. He might as well turn it into strength.

[Experience: 17275]

[Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique]: Minor Success (0/1500)

Chen Feng felt his mind clear in an instant. As he breathed in and out, his Qi Blood surged, like the moon pulling at the tides. Waves of ecstasy swept over him.

Amazing!

Keep going!

[Experience: 15775]

[Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique]: Entering the Hall (0/2000)

Again!

[Experience: 13775]

[Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique]: Mastery (0/2500)

Max it out!

Chen Feng pressed on in one breath, pouring all his experience into it. For the first time, his stored experience dropped below ten thousand.

[Experience: 8275]

[Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique]: Perfect (3000/3000)

The moment Chen Feng maxed out the technique, his mind gave a sudden buzz and consciousness slipped away. His thoughts went blank, as though... he had merged with this world!

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Feng slowly came to.

Night had completely fallen.

Chen Feng's nostrils flared as he drew in a deep breath...

"M-my god!"

The ecstasy shot straight to his crown. His body trembled uncontrollably, his eyes rolled back, and his legs jerked straight out. The pleasure was so intense that he actually passed out.

The next day, at first light,

bursts of strange laughter rang out from deep within the martial arts school.

"Heh... heh..."

Chen Feng leaned against the dormitory door. He had spent the whole night lying outside.

He braced himself on the door and shakily got to his feet.

He swore to himself that next time, he absolutely wouldn't max out a technique all at once.

Especially not an internal technique that could circulate on its own.

The aftereffects were too intense.

He had nearly failed to come around.

Maxing out the Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique had been like swallowing ten catties of powerful tonics. It had nearly burst him apart.

Of course, the benefits were just like taking ten catties of tonics, too.

A Tai Chi Xuan Yuan Jin had now emerged inside Chen Feng. It circulated on its own through his meridians, nourishing his body.

Every cell in his body seemed to be soaking in a nutrient solution,

screaming with ecstasy from the depths of his soul.

That wasn't all. Chen Feng could also vaguely sense that the technique let his inner breath flow without end, giving him far greater stamina than other Martial Artists of the same rank.

At the same time, it strengthened his sinews and organs, and helped him heal from injuries!

Practice was the only way to know for sure.

Chen Feng lightly bit the tip of his finger. A few drops of bright red blood welled up. They were glossy and crystalline, unlike the dull blood of an ordinary person.

In only a few short breaths,

the bitten wound had completely healed, without leaving so much as a scar.

Well, that was worth all the experience I'd spent.

Chen Feng's eyes gleamed with delight.

This Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique was truly full of mysteries.

"Junior Brother, you got up so early just to buy things?"

Yao Xingzhi followed behind Chen Feng.

The two of them had wandered through shop after shop in the Inner City.

"Senior Brother, you didn't have to come along."

Chen Feng looked this way and that. Today was the ceremony where he would formally become a disciple, and he had to prepare a disciple's gift.

The customs of taking a master in this world were much the same as in his previous life.

Under the usual process, there was a step where the disciple presented a Tu Xiu to show his sincerity.

Although his master had said that simply showing up was enough, Chen Feng understood the most basic rules of human interaction. He couldn't treat the discipleship ceremony carelessly.

Watching Chen Feng carry Cured Meat, Yao Xingzhi couldn't help speaking up:

"Didn't Master say you didn't need to prepare anything?"

Chen Feng shook his head.

"This is a disciple's gesture of sincerity. Master may not care, but I still think it's best to bring something."

Yao Xingzhi nodded, thoughtful.

After speaking, Chen Feng entered a Pastry Shop.

The fresh, sweet fragrance of pastries mingled with a faint scent of Osmanthus and honey, drifting gently into Chen Feng's nostrils. It wasn't cloying; instead, it soothed his heart.

Only one young woman stood behind the counter.

She wore a plain cloth skirt, and a wooden hairpin loosely held her hair at the temple. Her features were clear and gentle, her skin fair as snow. She looked no more than twenty.

Standing there, she was like a magnolia reflected in water.

Clean and easy on the eyes.