Treading the Void (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Zhou Jingfeng pondered briefly before speaking slowly, "Your master currently has three techniques in hand, all suitable for your present cultivation, each with its own focus. The first is called Mountain Crushing Fist."

Zhou Jingfeng picked up his teacup, took a sip, and continued, "This fist art is derived from Iron Mountain Fist. Not only are the fist techniques more exquisite and complex, but what's rarer is that it comes with a specialized method for circulating inner breath. The fist's power and inner breath complement each other—it's a truly superior boxing art that cultivates both internal and external aspects. If you can master it to great completion, achieving a balance of hardness and softness, breaking through to the Bone Forging Realm on this foundation will face no obstacles."

Upon hearing the words "Mountain Crushing Fist," Ma Jun, standing by the side, had an almost imperceptible twitch at the corner of his eye. He had long coveted this Mountain Crushing Fist and had repeatedly begged his master to teach it to him, but Zhou Jingfeng always said his Iron Mountain Fist foundation was unstable, his force impure and mixed, far from the level required to cultivate Mountain Crushing Fist. He never expected that on the very first day the junior apprentice brother entered the sect, the master would voluntarily offer to teach such a supreme art! The gap... was simply too great. Yu Kan, meanwhile, kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, as still as an old monk in meditation.

Zhou Jingfeng extended a second finger and continued his introduction, "The second technique is called Gale Saber Technique. Iron Mountain Saber emphasizes overwhelming force to overcome skill, with a heavy and fierce saber momentum, but it falls slightly short in variation and speed. This Gale Saber, however, takes its meaning from a gale sweeping fallen leaves. It retains the sharp lethality of a heavy saber without an edge, while incorporating the speed of a violent storm and the dense, unbroken changes in saber momentum! In terms of pure power alone, it surpasses Iron Mountain Saber by several degrees."

Zhou Jingfeng paused, then raised a third finger: "The final technique is a superior movement art I acquired during my early travels, called Eight-Step Cicada Chase! This movement art does not emphasize endurance for long-distance travel; it specializes in explosive bursts and agile shifts over short distances. Once executed, within eight steps, it is as swift as the wind and as changeable as lightning. If cultivated to a high level, you can even, within the last two steps, rely on a mouthful of pure inner energy and mysterious footwork to briefly borrow force from the air, treading on emptiness itself—truly profound and wondrous!"

Zhou Jingfeng's introduction unfolded before Chen Yue like three distinct yet equally captivating scrolls of martial arts. Each one made his heart race with longing, and he wished he could start practicing immediately. Chen Yue hesitated briefly, then raised his head, his eyes shining brightly as he looked at Zhou Jingfeng: "Master, this Mountain Crushing Fist, Gale Saber Technique, and Eight-Step Cicada Chase... can this disciple cultivate all three at once?"

"???"

As soon as Chen Yue said this, Yu Kan and Ma Jun, standing by, both froze, their expressions instantly solidifying before turning incredibly strange. The two exchanged a glance involuntarily, both seeing a strong sense of déjà vu in each other's eyes. This scene... how familiar it was, and right here in this very courtyard.

"Ah Yue! Don't be ridiculous!" Father Chen's face turned pale with fright as he quickly shouted to stop him. Although he didn't understand martial arts, he could tell from Hall Master Zhou's earlier words that he was clearly letting his son choose one of three powerful techniques to learn first. How could he be so greedy as to demand all of them from the start? Chen Shan was terrified that his son's reckless request might anger Hall Master Zhou, who had just extended a helping hand to them.

Hearing Chen Yue's request, Zhou Jingfeng's brow instinctively furrowed. A martial artist's cultivation valued focus and specialization; the worst taboo was biting off more than one could chew. Ordinary disciples would exhaust their energy studying and practicing a single martial art; trying to advance on all fronts often led to mediocrity in everything and wasted years. However, just as a reprimand was about to leave his lips, Zhou Jingfeng's mind suddenly flashed with Chen Yue's terrifying learning speed—the ability to reach his current level in three basic martial arts just by watching them once, without any guidance.

Zhou Jingfeng pondered for a moment before speaking slowly: "Cultivating all three at once... it's not impossible. But Chen Yue, you must understand that human strength has its limits. Dividing your focus in martial arts can easily lead to twice the effort for half the result."

Seeing that the master hadn't immediately lashed out and was instead speaking gently, Ma Jun quickly chimed in, "Yes, junior apprentice brother, in cultivation, greed leads to waste, this..."

"However—" Zhou Jingfeng suddenly changed his tone and continued, "Since you have this ambition and are willing to study all three at once, your master won't stop you. After all, these three techniques will be passed down to you sooner or later. Exposing you to them early and letting you experience their difficulty for yourself isn't a bad thing." Chen Yue's talent was too high, his progress too fast. Although his temperament was steady, a young man was bound to have some arrogance. Letting him tackle three martial arts at once—if he could truly advance on all fronts, he would be a prodigy and a blessing for Iron Mountain Hall. If he fell short, it would instead make him personally realize the profound difficulty of martial arts. Either way, it was a worthwhile experiment.

Ma Jun was choked by the master's sudden turn, his unfinished words stuck in his throat, his expression somewhat awkward. He opened his mouth but ultimately dared not say anything more, only muttering inwardly that the master was far too indulgent with this newly accepted junior apprentice brother! Back then, begging for just one Mountain Crushing Fist was a mountain of difficulty, yet the junior brother got three just by asking...

Chen Yue was also slightly stunned. He had expected a harsh reprimand from his master, but after some thought, the master had actually agreed. This unexpected result filled Chen Yue with joy, and he immediately bowed: "This disciple thanks Master for his approval! I will diligently cultivate and not disappoint Master's high hopes!"

"Mm!" Zhou Jingfeng nodded and instructed Yu Kan, "Yu Kan, you will first demonstrate Mountain Crushing Fist for Chen Yue. Pay attention to clearly showing the fist techniques and the key points of force circulation, along with the oral formulas, to lay a solid foundation for your junior brother."

"This disciple obeys!" Yu Kan responded solemnly, walked out of the hall, and came to an open space in the courtyard. He took a deep breath, his eyes instantly becoming focused and serious, his entire aura shifting. "Watch closely!" Yu Kan shouted softly, and his figure suddenly moved! He saw his fists loosely clenched, not placed at his waist, and the next moment, the fist struck!

"Woom!" Within Yu Kan's fist momentum, there was a faint sound of wind and thunder, clearly showing he had initially merged his inner breath with the fist's power. Each punch carried not only heavy force but also a trembling, penetrating energy, as if it could pass through the surface and directly injure the internal organs! As Yu Kan demonstrated, he clearly recited the core oral formula of Mountain Crushing Fist, along with the breathing coordination, force transitions, and many other key points and taboos.

After completing the set of Mountain Crushing Fist, Yu Kan withdrew his stance and stood still, his breathing slightly hurried, with visible sweat on his forehead. He looked at Chen Yue and asked gently, "Junior apprentice brother, Mountain Crushing Fist has complex moves and many changes in force. Is there anything you don't understand? Your senior brother can demonstrate it again for you."

Chen Yue did not answer immediately, as if still savoring what he had just seen and heard, his eyes turning to the panel.

[Mountain Crushing Fist (Not Yet Started)]

Almost at the same time, a familiar prompt flashed on the panel.

"New technique detected. Would you like to spend two silver taels to simplify Mountain Crushing Fist?"