Stance Training

Listening to what the other party said, Hu Long was reminded of something.

Previously, at the Extreme Fighting Boxing Club, that Coach Li who had once won a city-level championship seemed to have recommended that he could find a path to further his progress by passing an assessment.

It appeared now that this was the Tongbei Club under the Hu Clan.

After all, through what he learned yesterday, he understood that Huanyang City was the Hu Family's territory; naturally, no other faction would dare to openly poach talent.

As they approached, the people currently practicing noticed Hu Long and his group.

Seeing that Hu Qitian was leading them, everyone, including the coach, immediately stopped what they were doing, bowed in unison, and greeted:

"Good morning, Head Coach Hu!"

Hu Qitian merely nodded slightly, said nothing more, and led Hu Long and the others straight past them.

Once they had walked far away, a dark-skinned, lean youth in the crowd frowned and asked in a low voice:

"Who are those people? Why aren't they training with us? Besides, isn't everyone who enters here supposed to be an elite fighter who passed the assessment? How come there are a few young brats among them..."

"Shh, keep your voice down!"

The person next to him hurriedly pulled him back and whispered:

"That is Head Coach Hu Qitian. You're new here and don't know, but anyone he personally escorts is a direct descendant of the Hu Family. They aren't people we can discuss casually."

The youth watched the backs of the group as they walked away, lost in thought. After the coach on the side also offered a few words of explanation, he gradually began to understand.

"The Hu Family, huh..."

A sense of resentment welled up in his heart.

Everyone who could make it here was an expert who had undergone rigorous testing and possessed exquisite fighting skills. Who among them didn't have a bit of pride?

Yet, simply because the other party carried the surname Hu, they could stand in the same place as him—no, stand even higher than them. They even had to take the initiative to greet them upon seeing them.

"Don't think too much about it. Being born is a technical skill. Since we weren't born into such a family, we can only work twice as hard."

His companion on the side whispered a word of comfort.

He knew more than the others. Those direct descendants of the Hu Family were simply monsters; their speed of progress was beyond what they could imagine. It was best not to have any other ideas. He had once seen a student from the previous batch challenge Head Coach Hu. The result was that after taking a single punch, the student lost half his life and hadn't been able to get out of bed for a year.

No one cared about what happened behind them.

Soon, Hu Qitian led the group to a brighter room.

"Alright, there is one thing you need to pay attention to. As members of the Hu Clan, we are different from these outsiders; we practice the perfected Limit-Breaking Method! Regarding this information, try not to disclose it to avoid unnecessary trouble."

When mentioning those outsiders, Hu Qitian's tone carried a hint of the arrogance unique to clansmen.

People are just like that. No matter where they are, they will always divide themselves into different ranks. The high-achievers look down on the low-achievers, and the rich look down on the poor.

However, Hu Long's attention was focused on the other piece of information the man had mentioned.

"A complete Limit-Breaking Method?"

"Correct. While both are Limit-Breaking Methods, the others cannot compare to the complete version in terms of efficacy or cultivation speed; they are even countered by our own methods. After all, those people are outsiders, not of our own kin. We have already done more than enough by teaching them a Limit-Breaking Method; they should be grateful. We aren't running a charity, so naturally, we must keep a contingency in place."

Hearing Hu Long's words and recalling the information regarding the other party, Hu Qitian noted that this individual's potential was evaluated as extremely high. As long as he did not die prematurely, he could at least reach the Skin Refining Realm. It was necessary to establish a good relationship now. Therefore, Hu Qitian showed no impatience and explained matters meticulously.

Upon hearing this, the others also wore expressions of taking it for granted. As beneficiaries themselves, they naturally held no objections to such a situation. This mindset could not be considered wrong. While it would certainly be unacceptable in an ordinary world, in this world where the extraordinary manifested, even if a genius occasionally appeared among these commoners, it would be difficult to shake the foundation of the clan's rule. The clans were not isolated individuals, but a collective, intertwined and connected like the roots of a tree.

"In the path of Secret Martial Arts, the first realm to enter is Tendon Changing. Ordinary people need to practice techniques and master the application of force." Hu Qitian stood with his hands behind his back, returning to the main topic as he looked at the five of them. "However, that is too time-consuming and laborious. The time required just to temper a single combat technique to its peak is staggering. We have a simpler method: by practicing specific stake postures, we can accelerate this process. Once you have achieved success, you can then choose a combat art to cultivate, allowing you to rapidly temper your physique..."

As the other party spoke, Hu Long gradually began to understand. The conventional approach was to practice combat arts and exercise the body to gradually master force, which often required a vast amount of time to hone techniques to their peak. This was how Hu Long had been doing things until now. Stake postures, however, were different; they were more like a shortcut to mastering force, allowing one to first comprehend the force itself and then use it to nourish the body and temper the physique. This method was more efficient and allowed for faster progress.

"Is there any difference in strength between the two?" Hu Long asked. This was also a point of concern for him.

"It is said that the former provides a more solid foundation, which is why it was the first choice for geniuses of the old era. However, the cultivation process is too slow; often, one's body begins to decline before reaching a higher realm. This is the reason why stake postures were created. Therefore, logically speaking, there is no great difference in their essence; it is merely a matter of 'buying a ticket before boarding' versus 'boarding and paying for the ticket later.' The latter saves more time and allows one to go further," Hu Qitian said.

Seeing that Hu Long had no further questions, he continued, "Next, I will teach you a stake posture known as the Mountain Standing Stake. This technique is the fundamental basis of our Hu Family's cultivation."

Once Hu Qitian finished explaining the Mountain Standing Stake, Hu Long had a basic understanding of it. The Mountain Standing Stake was an introductory method for tempering one's foundation and cultivating energy. It was far better than those combat arts at grasping the body's power and force. Once mastered, one could bypass Tendon Changing and reach the Body Casting Realm. It was much faster and more efficient than tempering techniques one by one.

This stake posture was divided into nine levels, aimed at laying a solid foundation for subsequent Secret Martial Arts cultivation. Practitioners needed to use the Mountain Standing Stake as a base, combined with the unique Earth Vein Breathing Method, the essence-consolidating Black Stone Medicinal Bath, and the force-tempering Stone Moving Force Cultivation, progressing step by step to temper their physique.

Only when the Mountain Standing Stake is cultivated to the ninth-level perfection, with strength flowing through the body, is the foundation considered stable.

Only after reaching the perfection of the Body Casting Realm.

Does one become qualified to be taught the true subsequent inheritance of the Hu Family secret martial arts.

The true secret martial arts?

Hu Long thought of the Spirit Ape Secret Martial Art he had previously seen on Hu Zhenkui.

Clearly, barring any accidents, this must be it.

"Relax your body, don't tense up!"

"Lower your arms."

"Your breathing rhythm is off."

After a simple demonstration, Hu Qitian began teaching everyone the posture for the Mountain Standing Stake.

With his hands behind his back, his gaze swept over the group.

He pointed out the incorrect areas with precision.

Unlike his smiling demeanor from moments ago, he now wore a stern expression.

It made everyone feel a sense of trepidation.

This Mountain Standing Stake is divided into two parts: static and dynamic.

Coupled with specific breathing methods and techniques for exerting force.

Mastering it in a short time is no simple matter.

"Don't blame me for being heartless; secret martial arts cultivation allows for no mistakes. These were all tested and refined by our predecessors step by step. Once an error occurs, it will cause irreversible sequelae to your body, so you must keep what I say firmly in your hearts."

Hu Qitian said coldly.

Hearing this.

Everyone's expressions tightened.

They had not expected such serious consequences.

Immediately, each of them summoned their utmost focus and began to practice earnestly.