Combat Techniques

The next day.

Lu Hao woke up early, ate, and headed to the training room to adjust his state, practice his stance, and wait for the arrival of his combat techniques instructor.

He didn't have to wait long before he heard the sound of the door opening.

Lu Hao looked up to see a middle-aged man with a kind face, smiling at him while wearing a light-white martial arts uniform.

"Hao'er, this is the combat techniques instructor I found for you. Just call him Teacher Li. He was an old classmate of your mother's, and there isn't a single basic combat technique he doesn't know. You can learn from him with complete confidence; you definitely won't go astray."

Bai Qiuyao, standing to the side, introduced him.

"Hello, Teacher Li," Lu Hao said, performing a martial arts salute.

"Hmm, your lower body looks quite stable. Your horse stance training is decent, and your blood-qi is good too. Sister Bai, your son has great talent."

Li Siyuan observed Lu Hao for a moment before speaking.

"Of course. Look at whose son he is—could the son of your Sister Bai have poor talent? He's all yours now; I still have to head to the Detective Bureau."

"Alright, don't worry, Sister Bai. I'll definitely whip this kid into shape for you."

After saying this, Bai Qiuyao left, leaving the two of them alone in the training room.

"Lu Hao, right? Let me introduce myself briefly. I was in the same class as your father and mother. Your father had the best talent and is already a Grandmaster, and your mother is a Fifth-Rank."

"I could say I have the lowest cultivation of the three, still at the Fourth-Rank. I work as a practical combat instructor at Donglin Martial University. While my cultivation isn't as high as your parents', they can't compare to me when it comes to the understanding of various basic combat techniques."

"Ever since I realized my talent wasn't top-tier, I've dedicated half my life to basic combat techniques. If a basic technique exists on the market, I've practiced it."

"So, in terms of understanding basic combat techniques, I can rank in the top ten in Huaxia. That's exactly why Donglin Martial University invited me to be a practical combat mentor."

"I heard from Sister Bai that you want to practice the blade for your cold weapon?"

Listening to Teacher Li's introduction, Lu Hao couldn't help but marvel at the kind of instructor his mother had found for him. A top-ten combat instructor in Huaxia—this was the benefit of having connections.

"Yes, Teacher Li, I do intend to practice the blade."

"Good. Don't rush into blade techniques. Today, I'll start by teaching you basic leg techniques. Leg work is the foundation of everything; if your leg work is poor, no matter how well you practice other things, it's useless."

Li Siyuan didn't say anything more and began to teach Lu Hao leg techniques.

"The practice of leg techniques first lies in stability!"

"If you can't stand steadily, you'll fall with a push and retreat with a kick; your leg techniques will just be for show."

"Only by standing steadily can you run fast, kick accurately, and strike hard!"

"If your stance training hasn't reached the Stability Realm, no matter how well you practice leg techniques, they will only be performance routines... This is why it's best to wait until your stance training reaches the Stability Realm before practicing combat techniques."

Lu Hao nodded. This was also why Bai Qiuyao had only invited someone to teach him combat techniques after he had broken through in his stance training.

"The Stability Realm of stance training is the foundation for many combat techniques."

"Standing steadily isn't just about the literal meaning. Reaching the Stability Realm also means your body's coordination can be well-controlled."

"It prevents you from kicking out, missing your target, and ending up tripping yourself instead."

"Martial combat techniques are different from traditional martial arts routines. Martial arts routines focus on performance and aesthetics."

"But combat techniques focus on explosive power and lethality."

"The purpose of combat techniques is to kill the enemy; therefore, they are also known as killing arts. Everything in combat techniques serves the purpose of killing the enemy. How to kill faster and better is the core of combat techniques."

"In basic leg techniques, the core elements are gathering force, explosive force, and sticking force."

"Gathering force means concentrating all the blood-qi in your body into your legs so that your attacks can cause maximum damage."

"Explosive force is when you release that power the moment you strike the enemy. Otherwise, if the enemy is knocked back or sent flying during the fight, they will dissipate your force mid-way. If you use ten parts of force, only five parts will actually affect them."

"And the final one, sticking force, is about sticking to the enemy, preventing them from leaving your attack range, and not letting them retreat to dissipate your force."

Listening to Li Siyuan's explanation, Lu Hao immediately gained a deeper understanding of basic leg techniques. Gathering force, explosive force, and sticking force—there was still a lot to practice.

"Come, look at this sandbag. Let me demonstrate for you."

As he spoke, Li Siyuan led Lu Hao to a sandbag. Li Siyuan took a step forward with his left foot and kicked his right leg toward the sandbag with lightning speed.

With a bang, the sandbag burst open.

"Did you see my strike? The moment my leg made contact with the sandbag, the point of impact exploded instantly. That is explosive force. When your leg techniques are accomplished, every move will gather force at a single point—what many call 'point-explosion'."

"When you reach explosive force, your leg techniques are considered 'small success.' Sticking force is the hallmark of 'great success' in leg techniques. Once an enemy faces someone with great success in leg techniques, they won't be able to escape once they are entangled."

Next, Li Siyuan began to break down the leg techniques, teaching Lu Hao step by step. Lu Hao followed along, learning move by move.

The sound of kicks and strikes against the sandbag echoed through the training room...

In the evening.

"How was your practice with Li Siyuan today?"

Bai Qiuyao asked while putting food on Lu Hao's plate.

"It was pretty good. Teacher Li explained things very thoroughly. Today, I've basically mastered gathering force; next, I'll slowly work on mastering explosive force."

"Hmm, not bad. Gathering force is quite simple, and beginners usually pick it up quickly. However, the subsequent explosive force requires a long time to cultivate, and as for adhesive force, that relies on insights gained from actual combat."

"By the way, Mom, is it true what Teacher Li said, that his basic combat techniques are ranked in the top ten in Huaxia?"

"It's true. Li Siyuan didn't have great talent and got stuck at the Fourth Realm, unable to break through. Because of that, he spent nearly 20 years researching basic combat techniques; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say his basic techniques are in the top ten in Huaxia."

"However, his set is only useful against martial artists in the lower three realms. After reaching the Fourth Realm, one starts cultivating mid-grade combat techniques, and the power of those mid-grade techniques is incomparable to basic or low-grade ones."

"That is why Li Siyuan is currently in a state of being neither here nor there, only able to remain at Donglin Martial University to teach students."

"Is that so? Then, since Teacher Li has reached the Fourth Realm, why doesn't he delve into mid-grade martial arts?"

"Li Siyuan's Fourth Realm was ground out through time and resources; his actual combat blood-qi is practically non-existent. Cultivating mid-grade combat techniques would be twice the effort for half the result, so he gave up on it."

After dinner, he returned to the practice room.

Lu Hao took out a large basin, filled it with water, and prepared to practice his stance training.

This was something Li Siyuan had taught him: if he wanted his stance training to break through to the Void-Standing Realm, he needed to tread on water. Once he could tread on water without it rising above his knees, and control his center of gravity so he wouldn't fall in, he would have reached the Void-Standing Realm.

It was just like the light-body water-treading technique seen in movies.

As soon as Lu Hao stepped onto it, before he even had a chance to set his stance, he tumbled into the basin, soaking his entire body. Lu Hao took off his wet clothes and continued to attempt his stance training.

After all, stance training was the foundation.