Learning Boxing

Chen Feng helplessly got up and walked towards the shopkeeper standing at the door.

Sun Qiang squinted and secretly observed. When he saw the shopkeeper let Chen Feng leave, he slowly got up. He no longer looked drunk; he was clearly sober.

"Hmph, you want me to pay... wait another five hundred years."

Sun Qiang whistled and was about to leave leisurely.

"Wait a moment!"

A servant stopped Sun Qiang, who had just stepped out the door.

"Esteemed guest, you haven't settled the bill yet."

"Settle the bill! Didn't the person who came with me settle it?"

Sun Qiang was shocked.

The servant shook his head and said, "He left without paying a single coin. The table of dishes plus two pots of wine cost Two Hundred Twenty Wen in total. Esteemed guest, please settle the bill."

"You let him leave without paying!"

Sun Qiang looked at the shopkeeper inside in disbelief.

Seeing his reaction, the servant's expression turned grim. He called over others and surrounded Sun Qiang.

"Are you trying to dine and dash?"

"Wait, wait, there must be some misunderstanding. Are you sure you recorded our table correctly? Did he really not pay? No, no!"

Far away from the restaurant, Chen Feng had already left, with nothing to his name.

To learn martial arts, his savings were almost depleted. Where could he get the spare money to treat someone to a meal and drinks? If he spent any more, he wouldn't even have food to eat.

"So Lin Yan also entered the Dragon Walk Martial Arts School... It seems I need to prepare early." Chen Feng's thoughts raced as he considered his options.

Noon, Dragon Walk Martial Arts School.

As the last set of exercises concluded, Chen Feng felt a brand new strand of power emerge within him. It was as thick as a strand of hair, yet very noticeable. It settled quietly in his Dantian, like a beam of light in the dark night.

It was Qi Blood Power.

This meant he was already a Quasi Martial Artist.

Zhao Shanyue praised him highly upon hearing the news.

"I didn't expect you to cultivate Qi Blood in just a few days."

"Thanks to Senior Brother Zhao's guidance, Chen Feng is immensely grateful."

The other youths in the courtyard were incredibly envious.

"How long has it been, not even half a month, and he's already succeeded? What does that make all my long training?"

"Didn't you say his Gen Gu was Zhong Xia? To be this fast, even Upper Grade Root Bone wouldn't be much better!"

"I, I really heard him right, Senior Brother Zhao said his Gen Gu was Slightly Superior."

"Oh no, we've been ignoring him these past few days, he won't hold a grudge against us, will he?"

"It's just a lucky breakthrough. He probably just researched the Breathing Method more deeply, which led to a rapid breakthrough. Wait until he has to temper his Qi Blood later, see if he can still be this fast. Maybe by the time you become a Martial Artist, he'll still be stuck at this realm."

"That makes sense. It seems I was overthinking it. He's just Zhong Xia Gen Gu."

The gazes of the crowd shifted from admiration to pity and disdain. Talent was a hurdle that could never be overcome.

However, despite their disdain, they maintained their pretense. They offered congratulations one after another, and the courtyard was filled with a harmonious atmosphere, everyone happy for Chen Feng's progress.

"Congratulations, Chen Xiong."

"Congratulations, Chen Xiong."

Chen Feng responded to each one.

[Fellow disciples' words are insincere... Experience +66]

Chen Feng: "..."

This system would sometimes chime in at inopportune moments.

"Alright, don't get arrogant or complacent. Condensing Qi Blood doesn't mean you'll definitely become a Martial Artist. You'll need to work even harder in the future."

"Chen Feng will keep that in mind."

"Follow me. Since you've condensed Qi Blood, there's no need to practice brute strength here anymore. You can start learning the real skills."

Zhao Shanyue said as he walked, Chen Feng following closely, listening carefully.

"Our Dragon Walk Martial Arts School can teach two skills: one is with the staff, the Subduing Dragon Staff Technique, and the other is with the fist, the Five Elements Fist Technique. Which one do you want to learn?"

"Fist, I'll learn the fist technique."

Chen Feng said without hesitation.

He chose to learn fist techniques for his own considerations--

Firstly, once a weapon is lost, a Martial Artist loses more than half their strength. However, Fist Cultivators are different; they rely only on their own hands.

Secondly, the path of a martial artist lies in refining oneself; weapons are ultimately external tools.

Lastly... weapons are too expensive, he couldn't afford them.

"Alright, martial arts can only be taught by Master. When we see Master later, I'll call him Master and you'll call him Hall Master. You haven't become a martial artist yet, nor are you a Formal Disciple, so don't call him casually. You must remember this."

"Chen Feng remembers."

They walked through the corridor and arrived at a training ground.

This area was much wider than the previous Blue Stone Slab courtyard. As soon as they entered, they saw a group of bare-chested men practicing punches, the Wooden Dummies clanging loudly.

Under the north eaves, sitting on a Grand Tutor Chair, was an old man exuding an imposing aura. A youth stood beside the old man, holding a staff, his sharp eyes occasionally sweeping across the courtyard.

Two maids also waited quietly to the side, holding tea.

"Master."

As soon as Zhao Shanyue crossed the courtyard threshold, he bowed to the old man. Chen Feng immediately lowered his head and respectfully called out, "Hall Master."

Hall Master Zhou Bingzhong was a renowned martial arts expert in Pingcheng, skilled in both staff and fist techniques. He had built a formidable reputation in his youth. The Dragon Walk Martial Arts School he founded had also become a top Faction in Pingcheng.

Zhou Bingzhong glanced at the two of them. Chen Feng's body tensed, feeling as if he were being stared at by a fierce tiger. This pressure, almost tangible, made it difficult for him to breathe.

However, he still kept his head respectfully lowered, not daring to make any improper moves.

[Endured the pressure of an Enlightened Martial Artist... Experience +1000]

"Hmm?"

A flicker of surprise flashed in Zhou Bingzhong's eyes.

"Good lad, you have courage. You could withstand it. Not bad. What's your name?"

Chen Feng was startled. Realizing he was being asked, he quickly replied.

"Replying to Hall Master, this junior is from the Chen Clan, my given name is Feng."

"Chen Feng... Not bad."

Hearing their Master's praise, the Staff-Wielding Youth and Zhao Shanyue looked at Chen Feng with a different expression. The apprentices practicing below also secretly paid attention to the scene.

"Shanyue, is this a new disciple?"

"Replying to Master, he joined seven days ago."

Seven days... The Staff-Wielding Youth's eyes flashed with joy upon hearing this.

Zhou Bingzhong nodded. "To generate Qi Blood in just seven days, you must have Upper Grade Root Bone. Shanyue, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"After touching his bones, I judged him to have Zhong Xia Gen Gu. Perhaps my cultivation is not advanced enough, please Master test him yourself."

Zhao Shanyue said with some embarrassment.

Hearing Zhong Xia Gen Gu, Zhou Bingzhong's joy diminished slightly, and a flicker of regret flashed in the Staff-Wielding Youth's eyes.

Judging root bones by touching them, how could it be so easy to make a mistake? Since Zhao Shanyue felt Zhong Xia, it couldn't be wrong. Even if it wasn't Zhong Xia, at most it was Middle Grade.

Far inferior to Upper Grade Root Bone.

After hearing it was Zhong Xia Gen Gu, the Other Trainees stopped paying attention to this side and focused on practicing their punches.

"Do you want to learn staff or fist?" the Youth asked.

"Replying to Senior Brother, he learns fist."

Zhao Shanyue answered for Chen Feng first.

After hearing this, the joy in the Youth's eyes dimmed further, and he looked uninterested.

Zhou Bingzhong stood up from his chair, retracting all his imposing aura into his body, appearing like an ordinary old man.

"Chen Feng, listen carefully, I will only say it once."

The remaining disciples also stopped what they were doing and quieted down, watching the Hall Master.

The Hall Master personally teaching fist techniques was a privilege only Formal Disciples who were already Martial Artists were qualified for. Everyone else could only listen once while the Newcomer learned, and they were not allowed to ask questions.

Chen Feng's eyes were bright and piercing.

"Disciple understands."