Zhou Jingfeng pondered briefly before speaking slowly. "Your master currently has three martial arts techniques that suit your needs, each with its own strengths. The first is called Mountain Crushing Fist."
Zhou Jingfeng picked up his teacup and took a sip before continuing. "This fist technique evolved from Iron Mountain Fist. Not only are its moves more intricate, but it also comes with a dedicated method for circulating inner breath. The force of the fists and the inner breath complement each other, making it a superior art that truly cultivates both inside and out.
"If you master it, balancing hardness and softness, it will provide a solid foundation for breaking through to the Bone Forging Realm, with no obstacles to speak of."
At the words "Mountain Crushing Fist," Ma Jun, who stood to one side, twitched at the corner of his eye, though the movement was barely noticeable.
He had long yearned to learn Mountain Crushing Fist and had begged his master to teach it to him many times. But Zhou Jingfeng always said that his foundation in Iron Mountain Fist was still shaky, and his power was too mixed and impure. He was nowhere near ready to practice Mountain Crushing Fist.
He had never expected that on the new junior disciple's very first day, his master would offer to teach him such a peerless art! The difference... was simply too great.
Yu Kan, meanwhile, kept his eyes lowered, as if an old monk deep in meditation.
Zhou Jingfeng raised a second finger and continued, "The second technique is called Gale Saber Technique. Iron Mountain Saber focuses on overpowering skill with strength. Its strikes are heavy and fierce, but it lacks a little in variation and speed.
"Gale Saber, on the other hand, takes its inspiration from a gale sweeping fallen leaves. It preserves the fierce lethality of a heavy, blunt-edged saber while adding the speed of a sudden downpour and an endless, intricate variety of saber techniques! In sheer power, it surpasses Iron Mountain Saber by far."
Zhou Jingfeng paused, then raised a third finger. "The last is a superior movement technique I acquired while traveling in my youth. It's called Eight-Step Cicada Chase! It isn't designed for endurance over long distances, but specializes in explosive bursts and nimble changes of direction over short distances.
"Once you use it, within eight steps, you'll move as fast as the wind and shift as quick as lightning. If you master it, then in the final two steps, you can briefly borrow force in midair with a single breath of pure inner strength and a subtle footwork technique, walking on air. It is truly wondrous!"
Zhou Jingfeng's introduction seemed to unfurl before Chen Yue three distinct yet equally captivating visions of the martial way. Each technique filled him with longing. He wished he could start practicing them at once.
After a moment's hesitation, Chen Yue raised his head and looked at Zhou Jingfeng with shining eyes. "Master, Mountain Crushing Fist, Gale Saber, Eight-Step Cicada Chase... Could this disciple practice all three at once?"
"???"
At Chen Yue's question, Yu Kan and Ma Jun, standing nearby, froze. Their expressions turned instantly strange.
They exchanged a glance, and both saw the same strong sense of déjà vu in the other's eyes.
This scene... how familiar it was—and in this very courtyard, no less.
"Ah Yue! Don't be foolish!"
Father Chen went pale with fright and hurriedly cut in. Though he knew nothing about martial arts, he had understood Zhou Jingfeng's meaning: his son was supposed to choose one of the three powerful techniques to learn first.
How could he expect to learn them all right from the start?
Chen Shan feared that his son's heedless request might offend Master Zhou, who had just come to their aid.
When Zhou Jingfeng heard Chen Yue's request, his brows instinctively knitted together. For a martial artist, the key was specialization; the worst thing was biting off more than one could chew.
An ordinary disciple would have to pour all his effort into studying and practicing even a single martial art. Those who hoped to advance in everything at once usually became mediocre at all of it and wasted their years.
Yet just as Zhou Jingfeng was about to reprimand him, Chen Yue's terrifying speed of learning flashed through his mind—the ability to bring three basic martial arts to their current level after seeing each just once, without anyone's guidance.
After a moment's thought, Zhou Jingfeng spoke slowly. "Practicing three techniques at the same time... isn't impossible. But Chen Yue, you must understand that a person's strength has its limits. Splitting your attention across several aspects of martial arts can easily leave you working twice as hard for half the result."
Seeing that his master hadn't immediately rebuked the boy and was instead speaking in a gentler tone, Ma Jun quickly chimed in. "That's right, junior brother. In practice, trying to learn too much at once will only leave you with a shallow understanding. This..."
"However—"
Zhou Jingfeng abruptly changed tack and continued, "Since you have the ambition to study all three at once, your master won't stop you. After all, I'll be passing these three techniques on to you sooner or later. There's no harm in starting early and letting you experience their difficulty for yourself."
Chen Yue's talent was extraordinary, and his progress astonishingly fast. Though he was steady of temperament, a young man could hardly be expected to escape a measure of pride.
Letting him try all three martial arts at once would show whether he could truly advance in each. If he could, he would be a prodigy—a blessing for Iron Mountain Hall. If he found himself unable to keep up, then he would learn firsthand how profound and difficult martial arts could be.
Either way, it would be a worthwhile experiment.
Ma Jun was so caught off guard by his master's sudden change of heart that he nearly choked. The rest of his sentence stuck in his throat, and his expression turned awkward.
He opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn't dare say anything more. He could only grumble to himself that his master was far too indulgent toward this newly accepted junior brother!
Back then, he had struggled mightily just to beg for Mountain Crushing Fist, yet the junior brother had asked for three—and was getting all three...
Chen Yue was also slightly stunned. He had expected a stern lecture from his master, but after a moment's thought, Zhou Jingfeng had actually agreed.
The unexpected outcome delighted Chen Yue. He immediately bowed. "Thank you, Master, for granting my request! I'll practice diligently and won't disappoint you!"
"Mm!"
Zhou Jingfeng nodded, then instructed Yu Kan, "Yu Kan, demonstrate Mountain Crushing Fist for Chen Yue first. Make sure you clearly show the moves and the key points of how the force is channeled. Use the verbal formulas as well, and lay a solid foundation for your junior brother."
"This disciple obeys!"
Yu Kan replied solemnly, then walked out of the hall to an open space in the courtyard.
He drew a deep breath. His gaze instantly became focused and intent, and his whole bearing changed.
"Watch closely!" Yu Kan barked, then sprang into motion!
His fists were loosely clenched, but not held at his waist. The next instant, he struck!
"Whoosh!"
A faint rumble of wind and thunder followed Yu Kan's fists. It was clear that he had begun to fuse inner breath with the force of his blows. Each punch was not only heavy and powerful, but carried a quivering, penetrating force, as if it could pass through the body's surface and injure the organs within!
As he demonstrated the technique, Yu Kan clearly recited Mountain Crushing Fist's essential formulas, along with its breathing patterns, methods for shifting force, and numerous key points and taboos.
When he finished demonstrating the full set, Yu Kan withdrew into a standing posture. His breathing was slightly ragged, and beads of sweat glimmered on his forehead.
He looked at Chen Yue and asked warmly, "Junior brother, Mountain Crushing Fist has complicated moves and many changes in how its force is applied. Was there anything you didn't understand? I can demonstrate it again."
Chen Yue didn't answer right away, as if still mulling over what he had just seen and heard. Instead, he looked at the panel.
[Mountain Crushing Fist (Not yet learned)]
Almost at the same time, a familiar prompt flashed onto the panel.
"New martial art detected. Would you like to spend two silver taels to simplify Mountain Crushing Fist?"
Before you continue