Black Ape Fist

The Martial Arts Arena was bathed in the midday sun.

When Zhou Yun stepped into the sandy arena, a few people were already practicing their martial arts.

"Yesterday, I threw eight hundred punches and stood in the horse stance for three hours, yet I only received a 'low-D' rating. What would it take to get a higher evaluation?"

Zhou Yun felt the abundant blood and qi surging within his body. He no longer felt the agonizing pain from yesterday; the soreness in his muscles had all but vanished, and he felt full of vigor.

Perhaps today, he could throw a thousand punches, hold the stance for four hours, and test the limits of his golden finger.

"The Black Stone Martial Hall is most famous for its Black Ape Fist. The moves are ruthless and unforgiving; once a strike is launched, it is a killing blow aimed at vital points like the throat, eyes, and heart."

Zhou Yun gradually steadied his lower body. With each inhalation and exhalation, he utilized a specific breathing technique, and his feet began to glide across the ground.

He extended one arm, using his shoulder and neck to generate force. The power traveled from his waist to his shoulder, condensed through his arm into his fist, and was finally unleashed in a single strike.

Bang!

A dull thud echoed through the air. Zhou Yun threw several more punches in succession, finding an outlet for the overflowing power within him.

Bang, bang-bang!

Zhou Yun felt his chest expand. A surge of potent energy coursed through his limbs, eventually gathering into solid blood and qi that returned to his dantian before flowing through his entire meridian system.

He could vaguely sense seven gates of blood and qi within his dantian. It seemed that once these seven barriers were filled, he would be able to officially knock on the door of the Bright Force realm.

"The seven barriers, also known as the Seven Martial Gates. I have already filled three, and the blood and qi rewarded by my golden finger have just been exhausted."

Zhou Yun calculated that with at most five more wisps of blood and qi, he could officially step into the threshold of the Bright Force.

This speed was nothing short of miraculous. One had to realize that some people might spend their entire lives without ever entering the Bright Force realm, and even geniuses of the Inner Courtyard like Lu Meng would need at least several months, if not a year, to attempt the breakthrough.

Yet for him, it would take less than seven days.

"Continue!"

Zhou Yun resumed his punching, and his horse stance remained rock-solid; aside from the necessary footwork, his legs did not waver in the slightest.

The number of people in the Martial Arts Arena dwindled until only one figure remained, still throwing punches.

Just then, Zhang Hu happened to pass by.

He saw Zhou Yun drenched in sweat and took two steps forward, but then he gritted his teeth, turned around, and left the area.

Zhou Yun noticed Zhang Hu's departure but said nothing, simply continuing to throw every punch and hold every stance with focus.

Time passed quickly, and the arena began to fill up again. Once the Outer Courtyard disciples finished their chores, they usually came here to practice for a few hours.

However, most did not stay for more than half a day. Firstly, their bodies could not handle it, and secondly, they knew their own talent; breaking into the Bright Force was as difficult as ascending to heaven, so most were just drifting through life.

With this time, they might as well use the reputation of the Black Stone Martial Hall to find work outside and earn some extra money—why wouldn't they?

"Make way! Master Liang is coming to teach!"

Suddenly, a group of Inner Courtyard disciples entered the arena, shouting to clear a space.

In the center of the area they cleared, a martial arts master in his fifties walked in. His gaze was as sharp as an eagle's as he looked calmly at all the Outer Courtyard disciples.

His arms, bulging like mountain ridges, and the sheer vitality radiating from his entire being created an invisible pressure just by him standing there, making some feel as though they could hardly breathe.

"Master, the area has been cleared."

A young man in a training robe bowed respectfully.

"Good. You are all students of my Black Stone Martial Hall. Although I, Liang Wanshan, am busy with many affairs, I try my best to set aside time to come to the Outer Courtyard and explain the paths of martial arts, hoping to provide you with some guidance."

Liang Wanshan walked to the center of the arena, settled his stance, gathered his qi, and began to demonstrate the signature technique of the Black Stone Martial Hall—the Black Ape Fist.

By this time, Zhou Yun was already standing to the side, carefully observing the movement patterns of this Transformation Force grandmaster.

He was not only the founder of the Black Ape Fist but also the man who had single-handedly turned the tough nut of the Black Stone County martial scene into a three-way split.

It was said that Master Liang was a grandmaster who had returned home from Xiang City, one of the twelve cities of the Great Jing. On his first night back, he visited other martial halls and, using his own strength, defeated several of them, eventually leaving only three in Black Stone County.

Although three remained, after that night, they all deferred to the Black Stone Martial Hall.

The other two halls had kept a low profile over the years; it was rumored that if they saw a disciple of the Black Stone Martial Hall on the street, they would take a detour.

This, in itself, spoke to the immense power of Grandmaster Liang.

"The most difficult aspect of the Black Ape Fist to grasp is its 'change'."

Liang Wanshan's punches were extremely fast. He would appear to attack the upper body, only to suddenly cut into the center. It was impossible to discern his intent, and the force of his fists was incredibly fierce.

More importantly, even while executing such dense techniques, he remained as calm as still water, explaining the essence and mysteries of the fist to the surrounding disciples without ever losing his breath.

One had to know that for a martial artist, the most important thing when striking was that "breath." If Zhou Yun were to demonstrate like this, he would never be able to speak, for fear of leaking that breath.

Not to mention the Dark Force, even the Bright Force could not reach such a realm.

Gradually, it was more than just the fist technique.

Liang Wanshan moved like a towering black ape, kicking up clouds of sand and dust in the arena. His figure darted through the swirling grit, moving so fast that the ordinary disciples who had not yet broken through could not even track his movements.

"The Black Ape Movement Technique!"

A disciple couldn't help but exclaim, and the others watched intently, desperate to catch even a glimpse of Liang Wanshan's footwork.

Zhou Yun sighed to himself, for this Black Ape Movement Technique was something only Inner Courtyard disciples were permitted to study.

Yet, Master Liang was demonstrating it right here among the many Outer Courtyard disciples, clearly showing no stinginess with his own unique skills, hoping to see if there were any undiscovered geniuses among them.

But then again, could his observation of this movement technique today count toward his daily settlement?

Perhaps, he might even be able to learn the Black Ape Movement Technique directly?

Thinking of this, Zhou Yun began to observe the demonstration by this Transformation Force master with even greater focus.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Liang Wanshan's lesson drew to a close.

"Is there anyone who saw my movement technique clearly? You may come up and demonstrate it once."

Liang Wanshan scanned the Outer Courtyard disciples, and seeing that no one stepped onto the Martial Arts Arena, he did not say much.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, one of the Outer Courtyard disciples raised his hand high and stepped out from the crowd.

"Me! I'll do it!"

Under the gaze of everyone, Zhang Hu swallowed hard, gritted his teeth, and walked into the Martial Arts Arena.

"Oh? You want to try?"

Master Liang seemed interested and signaled for the surrounding Inner Courtyard disciples to step back.

"Hmph, a clown seeking attention."

An Inner Courtyard disciple muttered disdainfully, but he was met with the calm gaze of the Transformation Force master and immediately shut his mouth, too frightened to say another word.

Zhang Hu took a deep breath, cast aside the distracting thoughts in his mind, blocked out the noise of the outside world, and recalled the Black Ape Movement Technique he had just witnessed.

He assumed the starting stance, which was seven or eight parts similar to Master Liang's, causing the crowd to pay closer attention.

Following that, Zhang Hu suddenly opened his eyes wide, his Black Ape Fist erupting with a startling momentum, each strike sharp and fierce, creating a whistling sound in the air.

Then, he began to move.

His body moved like a black ape, prowling across the Martial Arts Arena, his fists seemingly imbued with a hint of the black ape's essence. The range of his strikes grew wider, and if he could just hold on for another moment, it seemed he might grasp the true essence of the Black Ape Movement Technique.

"What? Could this kid have actually learned it?"

Lu Meng, standing on the outer edge of the Inner Courtyard disciples, couldn't help but mutter, "That's impossible. I didn't learn it even after a month of study, and isn't it said that one needs at least Bright Force?"

Many Inner and Outer Courtyard disciples began to whisper, and some even started trying to curry favor with Zhang Hu on the spot.

Master Liang cast an approving look, likely not expecting to find someone with such aptitude in the Outer Courtyard.

But it was only for a fleeting moment, for this Transformation Force master had already seen Zhang Hu's limitations.

Zhou Yun watched Zhang Hu on the arena and couldn't help but feel happy for his childhood friend from the bottom of his heart, but anyone with a discerning eye could see that Zhang Hu was already at his limit.

"Just a little more, just a little more..."

Zhang Hu forced himself to hold his breath and blood, pushing through the Black Ape Movement Technique; even if it wasn't the complete version, the toll on his body was immense.

After all, he had not yet reached Bright Force.

"Pfft!"

Suddenly, Zhang Hu spat out a mouthful of blood, his vision went black, and he collapsed to the ground.

Zhou Yun immediately rushed forward, hoisted him onto his back, and hurried toward the Common Dormitory.

"Not yet reached Bright Force, what a pity."

Liang Wanshan left behind these words and departed with the Inner Courtyard disciples.