Ox Demon

After completing a full set of stances, an incense stick's worth of time had already passed.

Qin Fang was slightly out of breath... He had already done three rounds of stances today, and now, without having taken a Blood-Qi Pill, the burden of holding the stance was still somewhat heavy for him...

His foundation was ultimately still too weak.

After he exhaled a mouthful of white mist and withdrew his stance, he saw the stunned expression on Zhou Xing's face.

He hesitated for a moment...

"Senior Brother?"

Only then did Zhou Xing come back to his senses. His expression complicated, he looked at Qin Fang. "You've only been practicing stances for... two days?"

Qin Fang shook his head. "Including today... three days."

Three days...

Only three days, and he had already reached the Initiation Stage?

If Zhou Xing had not misheard just now, the other party had even touched upon the edge of the "Skin-Membrane Drumbeat," hadn't he?

It was only because his physical foundation was too poor that his force was not yet penetrating enough and his breath not sufficiently long...

But he had clearly already grasped the method of exerting force.

All he needed was to build up his foundation.

...And that was not even the key point.

The key was... he clearly already showed signs of "Stance Fusion."

His martial skill had already become embodied!

Whether moving or still, his every action naturally carried the Stance Skill within it!

One had to know, this was no easy thing.

The logic was simple... If someone was used to hunching over with a collapsed back, would they permanently maintain a chest-out, head-up posture after one or two posture-correction lessons?

If someone was used to walking pigeon-toed, would they completely change the way they walked after being corrected once or twice?

No.

Because of habit.

And habits... were terrifying things.

"Martial Skill Embodied" and "Stance Fusion" meant thoroughly changing those habits.

It made a person unconsciously display the posture of a "stance" whether sitting, lying down, walking, or moving about.

Though that did not mean they were holding a stance every moment of every day...

The benefits it brought were obvious. It could make someone more spirited and give their body greater strength.

Most martial artists possessed some form of Stance Skill.

This was also one of the basic points by which one could tell at a glance whether someone had cultivated before.

That was why Zhou Xing was so shocked.

He had noticed something was off when Qin Fang had been chopping firewood.

Because Qin Fang had clearly been using the force-exertion method of Wild Ox Qi Force...

Though it was clumsy, though he did not understand how to apply it, though the force was "dead."

But the stance could not lie.

Especially since Zhou Xing himself had built his foundation with Wild Ox Force and had immersed himself in the Wild Ox Qi Force Stance for several years... There was no way he could be mistaken!

Three days...

Martial Skill Embodied?

What kind of damned talent was this?!

Even Zhou Xing was somewhat shaken.

Martial Skill Embodied had nothing to do with one's innate bones; it depended on comprehension.

He did not know what Qin Fang's innate bones were like, but in terms of comprehension... they were definitely astonishing.

It could even be called heaven-defying.

...No wonder Master had accepted him as a disciple.

Meeting Qin Fang's somewhat puzzled gaze, Zhou Xing finally let out a soft breath and nodded. "Very good. You've already reached the Initiation Stage in just three days... As your senior brother, I admit myself inferior to you in talent."

Qin Fang froze. He had not expected Zhou Xing to say something like that.

He hurriedly shook his head. "This little brother is still far behind. How could I compare to Senior Brother..."

"You needn't belittle yourself. When it comes to cultivation talent... I know my own limits."

Zhou Xing gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "Back then, Master also taught me the Wild Ox Qi Force Stance. It took me a full month before I could be considered initiated. To reach your current state of 'Martial Skill Embodied,' it took me nearly half a year..."

"Martial Skill Embodied?" Qin Fang looked utterly confused.

Zhou Xing patiently explained, "When the stance method naturally blends into your movements, stillness, sitting, and lying down... that is considered 'Martial Skill Embodied.'"

Hearing this, Qin Fang recalled what he had noticed today, and realization finally dawned on his face...

No wonder his waist had not hurt so easily while sweeping snow, and why he had discovered such a huge change in the way he exerted force while chopping wood.

So he had unknowingly achieved Martial Skill Embodied...

Without a doubt, this was the effect of Eternal Fruit of Dao!

Once cultivated, it would never regress.

Once the stance method reached the Initiation Stage, it would naturally reveal itself in one's daily activities...

...He had not expected Eternal Fruit of Dao to have such an effect?

Qin Fang secretly marveled.

"However, when I watched you exert force... it seemed a little dead. Haven't you learned any other martial arts?... That is, the 'Leaf Technique' Master mentioned?"

Zhou Xing suddenly asked.

Qin Fang came back to himself and obediently nodded. "Master has only taught me the stance method so far."

Zhou Xing nodded and said with feeling, "Master probably did not expect you to achieve 'Martial Skill Embodied' so quickly... You haven't seen Master these past few days, have you?"

Qin Fang nodded at that.

After Master had taught him the stance method the day before yesterday, he truly had not seen him even once during these last two days.

"If Master knew you had already achieved Martial Skill Embodied, he would probably be greatly shocked as well..." Zhou Xing sighed again.

Qin Fang did not know how to react, so he could only scratch his head.

After thinking for a while, Zhou Xing said, "Since that's the case... Hm, as your senior brother, I'll teach you a fist technique. Consider it a meeting gift."

"Ah?"

Qin Fang was a little dumbfounded as he stared blankly at Zhou Xing.

Honestly, he had never expected... things to develop like this?

Zhou Xing... was going to teach him a fist technique?

Looking at the somewhat dazed Qin Fang, Zhou Xing paused before slowly saying, "Although we have only just met, I can tell that you are a good person... Even while practicing martial arts, you thought to come help Master's Wife chop wood and sweep snow... The matter may be insignificant, but it is already enough to show certain things. I also trust Master and Master's Wife's judgment."

"Master's Wife said that once you enter this door, we are one family... You needn't overthink it."

He spoke the last sentence very slowly, as if there were another meaning beneath it.

Qin Fang blanked out. He remained silent for a long while before taking a deep breath and bowing. "Yes, this junior brother understands... Many thanks, Senior Brother, for imparting your skill."

Seeing Qin Fang like this, Zhou Xing understood the unspoken meaning in his words, and his eyes flickered slightly.

Very good. While investigating the case before, he had more than once marveled at the killer's calmness and decisiveness.

Now that he saw him, he truly was no ordinary person.

Having such a junior brother in the sect...

Might not be a bad thing.

As for the case...

...What case?

There were already seas of unsolved cases piled up in the yamen during this period.

Even the victims of the Iron Tiger Gang matter were not particularly concerned. Why should he, a coroner, care so much?

Besides.

The crime had happened two or three months ago.

The true culprit might very well have already left True Martial.

What did it have to do with his good junior brother?

"Hm, the fist technique I'm going to teach you is called the 'Ox Demon Mountain-Opening Fist'... The Wild Ox Qi Force Stance is one of the more widely spread low-grade foundational methods. Naturally, many people have also developed many Leaf Techniques based on Wild Ox Qi Force. This Ox Demon Mountain-Opening Fist is considered one of the best among them."

Zhou Xing swiftly entered teaching mode, and Qin Fang also took a deep breath and listened attentively.

"This fist technique combines fistwork, legwork, and movement technique into one martial art... I obtained it by chance later on. What it emphasizes is overwhelming force, heavy power, and an unstoppable advance. When attacking, one should resemble an ox demon—advancing only, never retreating."

"I'll perform it once first. Watch carefully."

After speaking, Zhou Xing took off his soap-colored uniform, revealing the clothes beneath.

The next moment, he assumed a stance.

"Ox Demon Mountain Opener emphasizes broad, sweeping movements. Throughout it, imagine your body as a great bow: your body is the bow itself, while your fists and feet are arrows!"

The moment his words fell, he threw out a punch. With a tremendous BOOM, the air exploded!

This was...

Skin-Membrane Drumbeat!

Qin Fang's eyes suddenly lit up.

Then he saw Zhou Xing's fists and feet shoot forth like arrows, even shattering the drifting snowflakes in the air!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!~

The wind from his fists howled.

Qin Fang thought of what Master had once said.

The sign of the Bright Force Peak was "Bones-and-Tendons Resonance, wind from the fist, stones shattered beneath the feet"!

Zhou Xing was clearly holding back at this moment, yet even so, force surged beneath where he stepped, blowing away the snow that had not been fully swept from the ground!

"Force cannot be used dead. Different moves require different kinds of force."

"For example, whipping force..."

His right hand suddenly lashed out. Whoosh—the wind howled, his arm like an iron whip, almost forming a Black Shadow as it blasted into empty space, the wind from his fist shredding the snowflakes.

"For example, drilling force..."

He twisted his waist and drove his left fist straight ahead.

Hiss!~

His fist was like a steel drill, suddenly surging forward.

"For example..."

As Zhou Xing spoke, he practiced his fist technique, leaving Qin Fang dazzled...

Too strong!

Master might perhaps have been stronger than Senior Brother Zhou Xing, but Master had only been holding a stance at the time, so it had not been so obvious visually.

But now, seeing Senior Brother Zhou Xing's fists and feet, Qin Fang felt as though even breathing had become difficult...

He could sense it: if any random punch or kick from Zhou Xing so much as touched him, he would likely end up with shattered bones, vomiting blood, and dying!

This was...

Fist!

A moment later.

Zhou Xing withdrew his stance and exhaled deeply. White mist shot from his mouth like an arrow for one or two meters before finally dispersing.

"Did you see it clearly?"

He looked at Qin Fang.

Qin Fang took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and carefully recalled it. Finally, he honestly shook his head. "I didn't remember some of the moves too clearly..."

"It's alright. Take it slowly. I'll teach you move by move now."

Zhou Xing smiled and nodded.

Just then, Master's Wife's voice drifted over.

"You two, stop practicing for now and come eat first."

The two of them subconsciously looked over.

Then they exchanged a glance.

Zhou Xing smiled. "Alright, let's eat first. We can continue after we've eaten."

Qin Fang's eyes shone. "Alright!"

The two senior and junior brothers tidied themselves up a little, then went to eat...

"Wow, Master's Wife, your cooking is still the best... It smells so good!"

"You little monkey, if you want to eat, then come often." Master's Wife smiled kindly as she scolded him.

"Then it's settled... Eating my own cooking every day, I'm almost sick of it..."

Zhou Xing burst into laughter.