Ape Demon Three Styles

Li He browsed through the bookshelves.

Just as he prepared to pull out a book regarding Federation martial arts, his peripheral vision inadvertently swept across the edge of the shelf.

A fist manual caught his attention. There was a claw-mark-like imprint on the spine, bearing an eighty-percent resemblance to the Ape Demon Iron Body Technique he had been practicing.

Li He's heart stirred; as if guided by a ghost, he reached out and pulled the booklet from the shelf.

The cover was emblazoned with four blood-red characters: Ape Demon Three Styles. The title page featured an illustration of an Ape Demon throwing a punch, and a fierce, violent fist intent surged forth through the simple lines.

Li He continued to turn the pages.

He discovered that this was a fist technique originating from the same source as the Ape Demon Iron Body Technique! Earth Shaker, Heaven Lifter, and Void Breaker—three moves in total, progressing layer by layer.

Li He's eyes lit up; this was practically a close-quarters killing technique tailor-made for him.

He looked toward Uncle-Master Yuan Hong behind the desk.

Yuan Hong was keeping his head down, immersed in an ancient text, completely unaware of his actions.

But Li He knew that the appearance of this fist manual was no coincidence.

He had already looked through this section of the shelves, and there had been no such fierce fist technique here. It was likely that Uncle-Master Yuan Hong had intentionally placed the manual here to make it easy for him to find.

He bowed deeply toward Uncle-Master Yuan Hong.

Afterward, Li He clutched the fist manual and walked to an empty space in the corner to read it carefully. When he reached an exciting part, he couldn't help but throw a punch, creating a whistling sound as it cut through the air.

The sound was piercing.

"Kid, if you want to practice martial arts, go to the Martial Arts Arena; don't do it in the library!"

Li He's fist froze in mid-air, and the whistling sound came to an abrupt halt.

Only then did he realize he had been too absorbed and had caused a disturbance in the quiet Scripture Pavilion.

"Apologies, Uncle-Master. This disciple got carried away. I shall head to the Martial Arts Arena at once."

He tucked the Ape Demon Three Styles close to his body and walked quickly out of the Scripture Pavilion.

He did not return to the Martial Arts Arena.

This Ape Demon Three Styles was fierce and overbearing, and it made quite a bit of noise. If he practiced it in the Martial Arts Arena, it would inevitably attract onlookers and gossip.

Especially Senior Brother Lin Feng, who had just reminded him that morning not to be too greedy. If he saw him practicing a new fist technique, there would undoubtedly be another earnest, long-winded lecture.

Li He did not want to waste time explaining, so he turned his feet and circled to the back of the Scripture Pavilion.

This was a secluded open space, backed by a high wall, with a few old trees with sparse branches nearby; the ground was scattered with dead leaves and gravel.

Few people came here usually, making it the perfect place to practice.

"This is the place."

Li He looked around, confirming no one was there.

He took a deep breath, sank his waist, and sat into his stance. He first set up the posture for the Ape Demon Iron Body Technique, his spine like a dragon, shoulders dropped and elbows tucked, letting his qi and blood surge to warm up.

Once his stance was stabilized, Li He began to practice the Ape Demon Three Styles.

In less than five minutes, he had mastered the basics.

Whoosh!

His fist edge tore through the air, emitting a sharp, whistling sound.

[Ape Demon Three Styles: Entry (0%)]

The fierce wind from his punch caused the branches of the large tree in front of him to tremble slightly.

"What a great fist technique!" he praised inwardly.

These three styles were a perfect match for his minor-completion Ape Demon Iron Body Technique. Every time he exerted force, the Iron Bone deep within his muscles and bones resonated in harmony.

He focused his mind and practiced it over and over again.

He did not notice at all that, above his head, a surveillance camera was silently pointed at him.

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

Inside the Scripture Pavilion.

Yuan Hong's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze piercing through the wall and landing on the figure sweating like rain and whistling with fist wind in the open space behind.

"Good kid, this comprehension is truly excellent," Yuan Hong praised in a low voice. "This Ape Demon Three Styles is not wasted on you."

At the same time.

In the inner room of the martial arts hall.

"Cough, cough, cough."

Yuan Shan leaned back in a wide chair, the violent coughing causing an unnatural flush to rise on his face. Yuan Lingling stood obediently to the side, holding a bowl of medicinal soup in her hands.

"Grandfather, drink your medicine quickly."

Yuan Shan waved his hand, signaling for a moment.

In the corner of the screen, which monitored the open space behind the Scripture Pavilion, Li He was practicing that fierce and domineering fist technique over and over again. His movements were fluid, and his momentum was astonishing!

"Cough, cough, cough..." After another bout of coughing, Yuan Shan finally took the medicine bowl and sipped the bitter concoction.

"Grandfather, what kind of fist technique is Junior Brother Li He practicing? It looks quite different from what our martial arts hall teaches," Yuan Lingling asked.

"This is called the Ape Demon Three Styles," Yuan Shan replied, his eyes filled with deep confusion.

He was all too familiar with this fist technique.

It was one of the signature skills of his junior brother, Yuan Hong. When Yuan Hong was young, he had relied on this set of techniques to earn the resounding reputation of Yuan Three Punches on the front lines of the Abyss.

"Isn't that Grandfather Yuan Hong's technique?" Yuan Lingling said in surprise. "But doesn't Grandfather Yuan Hong never teach anyone? Even when Father wanted to learn it back then, he was scolded away."

Yuan Lingling's confusion was also Yuan Shan's confusion.

Years ago, Yuan Hong had participated in a battle where almost his entire unit was wiped out. He returned dragging a half-crippled body, and ever since then, he had locked himself deep within the Scripture Pavilion, shunning all living people.

Why would he show such favor to Li He, of all people, and pass on his signature skill?

Yuan Shan could not fathom it.

Li He's comprehension was indeed good, and his temperament was steady, but had Yuan Hong not seen enough geniuses in his time? Furthermore, a fifth-grade bone structure could not be considered a true genius.

"Sigh."

After the confusion came a sigh.

Yuan Shan had wanted Li He to take it one step at a time and build a solid foundation first. Especially with a deficiency in his roots, he needed to progress gradually so that his future path could be longer.

He had even specifically instructed Lin Feng to remind Li He often not to bite off more than he could chew. As it turned out, this kid Li He had too much of his own mind and had insisted on finding his own opportunity in the Scripture Pavilion.

"The Ape Demon Martial Way's circulation of qi and blood runs counter to the White Ape Martial Way. Not only do they not promote each other, but they actually hinder one another. Sigh, it seems he is destined to be unable to inherit my martial way. It is a matter of time and fate."

Yuan Shan shook his head and stopped paying attention to Li He.

"Grandfather, actually, I think Sun Ao is quite good. Although he is a bit arrogant, his temper can be tempered. Plus, he comes from a large family; he has talent, insight, and resources," Yuan Lingling said.

On the screen, Sun Ao defeated Jin Yongsheng and Shi Lei in one move, vaguely giving off the feeling of being the number one person under Lin Feng. He was also a solid first-rank martial artist.

"Sun Ao, is it..."

Yuan Shan fell into deep thought.

The next morning.

The disciples on the Martial Arts Arena did not begin their morning exercises as usual. Instead, led by the senior brother Lin Feng, they lined up neatly and walked toward the depths of the martial arts hall.

All the disciples were lined up in order, and even the usually laid-back Sun Ao stood straight. Because today was the day the hall master, Yuan Shan, would teach in person.

Soon, everyone arrived at the enclosed area specifically used for practicing footwork.

From the more traditional Plum Blossom Stakes, Quicksand Pits, and Boulder Beach, to the modern Holographic Combat Pod, everything was available.

Yuan Shan stood at the front of the line. Although his face was pale, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and an invisible majesty enveloped the entire field.

His gaze swept over the disciples, pausing slightly on Li He and Sun Ao in particular.

"Today, I will teach you a set of footwork. This footwork is called—Ape Trace Steps!"

As his voice fell, Yuan Shan's figure moved slightly.

He tapped his feet lightly, and his body seemed to lose all weight, sliding several meters in an instant and landing within the Plum Blossom Stakes formation.

Yuan Shan's movements were light and agile, turning with ease as if a nimble ape were leaping through the branches of a forest. His trajectory was erratic, yet it carried a unique sense of rhythm.

His figure darted and shifted within the formation. Before long, he had circled the field, leaving behind trails of afterimages. Finally, he leaped up and landed on the highest Plum Blossom Stake, his breathing as steady as before.

"So fast!"

"So agile!"

The disciples watched, dumbfounded, letting out bursts of exclamation.

"These Ape Trace Steps are one of the Ancient Martial Arts footwork techniques of our Yellow Mountain Martial Arts Hall. The key to it is the word 'agile'."

"This footwork is not for long-distance charging, but for close-quarters entanglement, dodging, and shifting, helping you seize the initiative in battle."

As Yuan Shan explained, he demonstrated again in slow motion, breaking down the details one by one: the shifting of the center of gravity, the force from the ankles, the twisting of the waist and hips, and the coordination of breath.