Daoist Yellow Dragon

"Eight Trigrams Stance?"

"That's right."

Han Che nodded. Doing Five Force Fist first, then the stance, or the stance first, then Five Force Fist—it was just a matter of swapping the order.

Now that Feng Xiu's body had toughened up, with a sense of blood and qi and some flexibility to boot, using this to stabilize his lower body and practice the stance was perfect.

As he spoke, Han Che's gaze shifted to the shelf on the left, where two octagonal steel maces rested.

He reached out, grabbed them, and moved to a slightly more open area. He bent his knees slightly into a horse stance, gripping one mace handle in each hand.

Feng Xiu's expression lit up with interest, his eyes fixed intently. Following Han Che's footwork—a bagua-like stepping pattern that seemed to trace circles—the twin maces moved clockwise through the air.

After half a cup of tea's worth of instruction on the stance combined with the weapon technique, Han Che handed the maces to Feng Xiu. "Young Master Feng, give it a try. This method isn't difficult."

Feng Xiu took them and agreed. Mimicking Han Che's form, he first settled into a horse stance while swinging the twin maces in his hands, then stepped out in a "qian" character footwork pattern.

The moment he took the first step, Feng Xiu felt something off.

Below his waist and hips, both legs felt as if something were propping them up—not stiffness, but a warmth surging outward from the very cracks in his bones.

His knees and ankles grew heavier, and his entire lower body sank down.

After completing the four trigrams—Qian, Dui, Li, and Zhen—he felt like a tree that had taken root.

Watching Feng Xiu immerse himself in the stance, his footwork gradually falling into a smooth rhythm, Han Che gave an almost imperceptible nod, then quietly withdrew.

"This stance... has some substance to it."

Feng Xiu's expression shifted slightly. This feeling was vaguely familiar.

One form in the Vajra Skill subtly aligned with the principles of the Eight Trigrams Stance, except the Vajra Skill focused on nourishing qi, while the stance focused on solidifying the foundation.

Combining the two brought an unexpected delight, and he continued practicing the Eight Trigrams Stance.

The movements of his hands grew quicker and more urgent.

After walking the martial path for so many days, he now understood why Han Che insisted on pairing the stance with a weapon technique.

The weight of these twin maces was no small matter; he had to draw on the power of his sinews, bones, blood, and qi to swing them slowly.

With the specific bagua footwork moving his lower body, and the blood and qi power in his upper body suppressed and unable to be mobilized, the remaining qi had no choice but to surge toward his waist and hips.

This way, it both improved his grip strength in his arms and enhanced the stability of his lower body.

No need to say it—this was clearly one of Han Che's trump-card martial methods. In the old days, without a hundred taels of silver, you couldn't even learn it.

After completing a full set of Eight Trigrams Stance footwork, the warmth in his legs gradually faded, and Feng Xiu slowly came to a stop.

He exhaled a long, white stream of breath, a glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes. The blood and qi in his lower limbs hadn't fully dissipated yet, and a thick sensation—like muscles growing and filling the gaps in his skeleton—slowly spread through him.

[Life: 11]

[Spirit: 5]

[Strength: 7]

[Agility: 2]

[Skill Record: Eight Sections Vajra Skill (Perfected: Life +2, Spirit +2) Cannot be improved]

[Five Force Fist (Adept: Strength +3, Life +1, Spirit +2)]

[Eight Trigrams Stance (Adept: Strength +1)]

[Fusion: Not yet at Perfected stage, cannot be obtained]

"Jumped three stages just like that?" On the panel, the detailed data for the Eight Trigrams Stance appeared before his eyes.

Feng Xiu's brows furrowed slightly as he fell into thought.

"Fair enough. Martial arts start with blood and qi. So-called stance training is essentially meant to serve the refinement of sinews, bones, and skin."

Feng Xiu had a realization. This wasn't hard to understand. Five Force Fist had already laid the foundation, and he had used a flood of resources to push through the four stages of body refinement.

After learning to channel blood and qi into force and mastering the methods of power, going back to practice the stance naturally yielded twice the result with half the effort.

June 7th, early morning.

At dawn, Feng Xiu rose early to train. On the practice field, his sturdy, upright figure shifted through footwork patterns.

A full-body loosening routine of the Vajra Skill moved slowly under the rising sun. After completing one major cycle, the blood and qi in his body had grown considerably.

Only after learning the Internal Breath Method of Five Force Fist did Feng Xiu truly grasp the profound subtleties of martial cultivation.

This special technique, combining intent with breathing methods, even provided a massive boost to a health-nurturing skill like the Eight Sections Vajra Skill.

"Blood and qi, internal breath—at my current pace, I can only unleash Five Forces United six times."

After finishing the Vajra Skill practice, Feng Xiu picked up the twin maces again and continued training in the Eight Trigrams Stance.

"If I force a seventh strike, it will only damage my qi and blood foundation." Feng Xiu split his focus, making an overall assessment of the gradually strengthening qi-blood power within his own body.

The so-called Internal Breath Method was a high-level technique that unified the body's qi and blood, using breath as a guide to form an internal cycle, mobilizing both energy and physical force.

It was precisely because of this internal breath regulation, channeling qi and blood power into a single point, that the Five Force Fist could unleash its true destructive force!

Yesterday, it was also thanks to this move that he had beaten Han Che.

Thinking of this, Feng Xiu paused mid-step, increasingly feeling that Zhou Gang's skill was unfathomably deep.

With his current strength, the Five Forces in One could only be used as an active killing move, and it consumed a massive amount of qi and blood.

Once he used it, there was even a risk of collapse from exhaustion.

Now that he thought about it, when Zhou Gang casually split a stone table with a single finger, he had probably already turned the Five Forces into a passive instinct—every single move and strike carried terrifying power.

After finishing the Bagua Stake training, Feng Xiu reached out and swallowed a White Deer Pill, seamlessly transitioning into the Five Force Fist.

Within his body, a sudden surge of qi-blood fullness came, and then Feng Xiu's gaze turned sharp. His fist technique was fierce and violent, whistling through the air.

Every bone in his body trembled violently, his sinews, bones, and skin constantly stretching and tightening.

After a moment, he slowly withdrew his stance.

A long, white breath of air escaped from his nose. Inhaling the fresh morning air, his expression brightened, and he felt his entire body refreshed and invigorated, perfectly smooth.

Tap tap tap~

Just then, Uncle Zheng walked over and reported, "Young Master, he's arrived."

"Our people? Who?"

"Daoist Yellow Dragon."

Feng Xiu's face lit up with joy, but then he sensed something off. "Only him? What about Master Black? Hasn't he returned yet?"

Uncle Zheng shook his head. "Master Black said he still has some business to handle in Yulin Prefecture, so he sent Daoist Yellow Dragon ahead."

Master Black's skills allowed him to mingle with all sorts of people, and his business dealings were wide-ranging, so Feng Xiu didn't suspect anything. "Where is he?"

"In the reception hall."

"Quick, take me there."

At that moment, inside the reception hall.

Two maids with pretty faces held wooden trays, presenting cooling ice water, pastries, and flower tea, gently placing them on the wooden table.

Beside the table, on a chair, sat a girl about ten years old, dressed in yellow robes and wearing a black conical hat.

Her big, sparkling eyes stared at the delicate flower cakes and pastries on the table.

"Grandpa, I'm hungry~" The tantalizing aroma so close stirred her cravings, and the girl couldn't help swallowing a mouthful of saliva, turning her gaze to the white-bearded old man standing beside her.

"You child," the old man said helplessly. The host hadn't even arrived yet—these were just refreshments for polite conversation. How could you eat them now?

Then, forcing a stern tone, he scolded, "Didn't you eat breakfast this morning?"

"That porridge was so thin a chopstick could float in it. Now my stomach is just sloshing with water."

At the mention of this, the girl's face flushed with indignation. Her lips pouted as she argued back with conviction.

As she spoke, her eyes kept darting to the table. "Master Black gave us money, didn't he? Why didn't you buy something good to eat..."

"You still say that? If you weren't so lazy in your training, would I have to scrimp and save like this?" The old man glared at the girl.

"I don't care! I don't want to practice that. I'm hungry—I want to eat!"

Tap tap~

Just then, from outside the hall, came the sound of two hurried sets of footsteps.

The old man's expression stiffened. He quickly lowered his head to straighten his somewhat worn and sour-smelling blue robe, stroking his beard.

The girl's dark eyes darted around. Seizing the moment when he wasn't looking, she grabbed a flower cake and stuffed it into her mouth.

At the same time, she used her black hat to cover her face, hiding the bulging of her cheeks as she chewed.

"Honored One, Daoist Yellow Dragon—I've long admired your name."

As Feng Xiu entered the door, the first thing he saw was a frail, white-haired old man. His clothes were old, but his posture was straight, his features plain.

Yet he exuded a quiet, pine-and-cypress-like bearing, wearing a black hat shaped like a conical hat on his head.

He didn't quite fit the image of a ruddy-cheeked, white-haired immortal with an otherworldly air; rather, he seemed a bit awkward in the presence of a wealthy household.

Then, a smile spread across Feng Xiu's face as he reached out and grasped Daoist Yellow Dragon's hand.

"Lord Feng..."

Daoist Yellow Dragon's expression froze. Before he could finish his words, Feng Xiu's visibly enthusiastic manner left him somewhat at a loss.

"Ah, Honored One, you're too polite."

Daoist Yellow Dragon let out a dry laugh. Just as he was about to say something more, he saw that Feng Xiu's firm grip still hadn't let go, guiding him to the main seat on the left—the very spot where Zhou Gang had once sat.

"Your mastery of the Dao is profound, and your reputation has long spread through Yulin Prefecture. Though I have long dwelled in Green Rock, I am filled with nothing but admiration."

Feng Xiu settled into the family head's chair, turned his gaze to Daoist Yellow Dragon, and his face was piled high with sincere reverence.

The maidservant brought fresh tea. Feng Xiu waved his hand, signaling them to withdraw.

The hall fell silent. Daoist Yellow Dragon sat half-perched on the edge of his seat; with Feng Xiu not speaking, he too grew restless.

The highest official he had ever met in his life was the tax collector from Yulin Prefecture, and that was only when he came to collect incense money. A grand residence like the Feng Clan's—this was his first time entering one.

"Your journey must have been arduous, Master. I trust Master Black did not neglect you?" Feng Xiu asked with a smile at that moment.

"Not at all, not at all. Master Black's arrangements were most proper." Daoist Yellow Dragon quickly waved his hands. "It's just..."

He paused, glanced up at Feng Xiu, and seemed to hesitate.

"Master, speak freely."

Daoist Yellow Dragon took a deep breath, his expression as though he were weighing his words.

"When I arrived, I heard rumors in the city that I was some enlightened master, a reincarnated immortal... Might I ask if these were the work of Young Master Feng?"

As he said this, Daoist Yellow Dragon couldn't help but blush. Before arriving, he had heard the talk in the tea houses and wine shops.

Something about the savior of Green Rock City, a land-bound immortal who rescues the suffering—it nearly embarrassed him to death.

They even had a storyteller's biography for him, claiming that in a past life he was the reincarnation of a true dragon?!

I just happen to be named Huang Long, and style myself 'Realized One.'

Is this even about me anymore?!