Tai Chi!

A small boat soared into the sky from the bamboo grove in the west courtyard, and stopped in mid-air just before flying over the western cliff.

Liu Yu stood on the boat and looked at the figure practicing boxing on the stone platform by the cliff.

In the morning mist, Zhou Hao moved nimbly, his fists flying all around him.

His straight punches were like arrows, his palm strikes like knives, and his forward thrusts with his fingers seemed to flash like sword light...

"It's been three months already, Changsheng Brother Changsheng has only been practicing his fist techniques at his residence, not accepting any outer sect missions. Doesn't he plan to complete the trials soon?" Liu Yu muttered.

Yun Yuchan, the fastest-improving cultivator in their West Courtyard, had successfully killed a Yaksha at the Myriad Phenomena Realm half a month ago.

After bringing back the Yaksha's corpse, Yun Yuchan has qualified to participate in the inner sect assessment and is currently preparing. She is expected to become an inner sect disciple this month.

Yun Yuchan's progress has greatly stimulated all the outer disciples of the West Academy, and many of them have already gone to the underground Abyss World to hone their skills.

Although the Abyss World is dangerous, it contains all kinds of rare minerals. Even the fur and scales of those demonic beasts and earth demons are good materials for refining magic weapons, which can be exchanged for merit points from the sect.

Liu Yu's main focus is on formations, which takes the most time in the early stages. However, with guidance from a master, he is not in a hurry.

But Liu Yu had personally witnessed Zhou Hao killing the three-headed Myriad Phenomena Old Demon in the East Sea.

Now that Zhou Hao has entered the Myriad Phenomena Manifestations Realm of Qi Refining and has learned supernatural powers and secret techniques from the sect, killing Myriad Phenomena Realm Yaksha should not be difficult for him. Why hasn't he made a single move?

It should be noted that the sect allocates 100 jin of Origin Liquid to outer disciples every ten years, while inner disciples receive 500 jin.

Furthermore, becoming an inner disciple grants three thousand merit points and an additional opportunity to study the Myriad Forms Hall.

"Senior brother probably doesn't care. He even gave us 1,000 merit points to exchange for the Puppet Mansion." Liu Yu shook his head and urged the flying boat to leave Fool's Peak.

Today is the day he consults his master once a month.

Stone platform on the edge of the cliff.

"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"...

With a push and a kick, Zhou Hao unleashed a flurry of punches, one after another, like a string of pearls. The force of his punches surged in front of him like waves, or like a line of water droplets, before finally bursting forward.

"Laugh!"

A fist-shaped shadow transformed into a streak of azure light, sweeping across the sky and seemingly cracking the very fabric of space, before directly striking the boundless clouds beyond the cliff.

"Buzz~~~"

A ripple appeared out of nowhere at the edge of the clouds and mist. A stream of blue light fell onto the ripple, revealing layers of runes. The entire stone platform on the cliff edge trembled, and only then did the fist force contained in the blue light dissipate.

"You've mastered the ' Linked Pearls Arrow ' technique!" Zhou Hao's face lit up with joy.

The Linked Pearls Arrow is a signature move from the "Hundred Weapons Boxing Manual." Zhou Hao has integrated his understanding of the true meaning of the Droplet Great Dao and the profound mysteries of the secret techniques within the Xuanwu Great Divine Ability into it, thus surpassing the predecessor who created this Earth-rank fist technique in terms of realm.

"Earth-rank fist techniques, or even human-rank fist techniques, if used well and with a sufficiently high level of understanding of the Dao, may not necessarily be inferior to heaven-rank fist techniques in terms of power."

Zhou Hao put away his boxing stance and walked back to his residence with a carefree air.

"In these three months, I have thoroughly mastered the sixty-three martial arts manuals, and the profound mysteries of the Dao that I have comprehended have been incorporated into these ultimate moves. It's time for me to go see my master."

When Daoist Kong Fang asked him to exchange for these manuals, he gave him a token to enter and exit the Thousand Treasures Hall, but he didn't say when Zhou Hao should go. He only said that he should go to the Thousand Treasures Hall after he felt that he had fully comprehended all these fist techniques.

Now, the time has come.

Soon, a large golden fish flew out from Fool's Peak and headed towards Ten Thousand Fires Valley, where Thousand Treasures Hall was located.

Ten Thousand Fires Valley is about 100,000 li away from Fool's Peak. The surrounding continuous mountain peaks and rocks are fiery red, and from a distance they look like flames, hence the name ' Ten Thousand Fires Valley '.

It is said that beneath the Ten Thousand Fires Valley lies a core of blazing fire drawn directly from the Earth's core, and the Thousand Treasures Hall is located at the very center of the Ten Thousand Fires Valley.

After Zhou Hao entered the Myriad Phenomena Realm of Qi Refining, he could control the Golden-Scaled Boat even faster, covering a distance of 100,000 miles in just a few breaths.

High in the sky, Zhou Hao could see palaces and mansions on the mountains surrounding Ten Thousand Fires Valley.

Those were the residences of cultivators skilled in weapon crafting within the sects.

With the token given by the Daoist Kong Fang, Zhou Hao traveled unimpeded all the way to the most magnificent palace in the valley.

Led by the disciple on duty, Zhou Hao arrived at a hall.

Just as they were about to enter the hall, they saw that besides the Daoist Kong Fang, there was also a man in black robes and with black hair.

Seeing his extraordinary demeanor and dignified air, Zhou Hao assumed he must be a high-ranking member of the sect. He stood in front of the hall and did not go in to disturb his master's conversation with the man in black robes.

"Come in since you're here."

The voice of the Daoist Kong Fang could be heard coming from inside the hall.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Hao entered the hall and respectfully bowed to the two men, saying, "Master."

Daoist Kong Fang nodded slightly and said to him, "This is our Mysterious Heaven Sect's leader, ' Immortal Feng Yu '."

Sect Leader!?

This Immortal Feng Yu is in charge of a top-tier immortal sect that dominates the Profound Heaven Realm. His status is definitely no lower than that of the county marquises in the Xia Clan Great World, and may even be higher.

"Greetings, Sect Leader," Zhou Hao said respectfully.

"This is Senior Brother Kong Fang's disciple?" Immortal Feng Yu glanced at Zhou Hao, a hint of a smile in his eyes. "I heard that he received many gifts from various sects after using Senior Brother's jade slip."

Zhou Hao felt slightly embarrassed, and at the same time, he was secretly surprised that the sect leader would call his master "senior brother".

"I've already waived 10% of the interest they owe me, what more do you want?" Daoist Kong Fang rolled his eyes. "All things considered, they've still made a profit."

"Senior Brother is unusually generous," Immortal Feng Yu said with a smile. "I won't disturb Senior Brother's teaching of his disciples any longer. As for what we discussed earlier, please let me know once you've prepared everything."

"No rush," Daoist Kong Fang shook his head and said, "We can still wait for several hundred years, then we can talk about it later."

"It's good that you know what's going on." After saying this, Immortal Feng Yu smiled gently at Zhou Hao, then got up and left the hall, drifting away gracefully.

Only the master and disciple remained in the spacious hall.

"Have you mastered all sixty-three manuals?" Daoist Kong Fang looked at Zhou Hao. "I was guessing it would take you a year, but you've already comprehended them all in just three months?"

Zhou Hao nodded.

"Show me a few moves of your fist technique," said Daoist Kong Fang. "Go ahead and use them. This Thousand Treasures Hall is a Immortal Artifact; don't worry about damaging it."

"Yes." Zhou Hao moved swiftly, like a startled dragon, and instantly arrived in the center of the hall. He then opened his arms and legs and unleashed a set of Twelve Beast Form Fist.

"It does have some charm," Daoist Kong Fang nodded to himself.

As he watched, the surprise in his eyes grew stronger. When Zhou Hao used the fist techniques from the Hundred Weapons Boxing Manual, especially the "Linked Pearls Arrow" move, he was suddenly shocked, and his eyebrows rose.

"Strange, very strange," Daoist Kong Fang exclaimed in surprise, looking at Zhou Hao who had withdrawn his fist and stood up.

"Back in the Myriad Forms Hall, I saw that although your fist technique contained profound and mysterious elements, your foundation was too weak. When you encountered someone of lower cultivation level or strength than you, you could still overpower them with your physical strength or even magical treasures and supernatural abilities. But once you encountered someone of similar strength, you were easily suppressed instead."

Zhou Hao nodded.

As Daoist Kong Fang said, his previous approach to both boxing and weaponry was one of forceful and powerful tactics, aiming to overcome all other techniques with sheer strength, which was also a consideration of playing to his strengths and avoiding his weaknesses.

"I had you study these sixty-three secret manuals precisely to help you build a solid foundation."

"The most important of these are these two boxing techniques. One is the Twelve Beast Forms, which contains all the methods of generating power in the body. Once mastered, the whole body will feel relaxed and free, and everything will be at your command."

"The other style, the Hundred Weapons Fist, although its moves do not include tigers or cranes, and its methods do not involve the Five Elements, can transform all fist techniques into a hundred weapons, making full use of every part of the body."

"Laying a solid foundation is the most crucial thing, and there's no room for laziness. It would take an average person several years, or even more than a decade, to reach your current level."

Daoist Kong Fang exclaimed, "I originally estimated that it would take you a year, which was already an overestimation of your abilities. I didn't expect it to only take three months."

Zhou Hao listened to the Daoist Kong Fang's sighs and his heart was slightly moved.

"Master's estimate was quite accurate. If it weren't for the fact that Blue Flower had taken root on Yuanhai Island, it would have really taken a year to make up for the previous foundation."

It turned out that during these three months, although Zhou Hao was reluctant to use that drop of Blue Flower Water Pearl, he would always focus his mind on his Purple Mansion Origin Sea while practicing his fist techniques and circulating the <Heavenly River Record>.

Gradually, he discovered that after the Blue Flower took root, although the previous Blue Flower Space disappeared, the water vapor and mist generated by the Blue Flower were still there, only condensing and accumulating in the flower buds, eventually forming water droplets.

As the moisture and mist accumulated, a significant portion of it would permeate and spread within his Purple Mansion space, nourishing Zhou Hao's body along with his Origin Power, and subtly nurturing his soul.

In just three months, Zhou Hao's divine sense has increased from covering a range of 600 li to covering 800 li, a rise of nearly 30%.

Moreover, it allowed him to resonate perfectly with the various Daos of heaven and earth, and with a little concentration, he could enter a state of enlightenment. Its miraculous function was far greater than when Blue Flower was in the sea of consciousness.

It is precisely because of these reasons that Zhou Hao was able to achieve in just three months what ordinary people would need to spend more than ten years of hard work to reach.

"The art of boxing begins with simplicity, progressing to complexity by learning from the strengths of various schools. Then, it returns to simplicity, extracting the essence and imbuing it with one's own principles."

Daoist Kong Fang looked at Zhou Hao and said, "Your current accumulation is barely enough. Since that's the case, I will teach you a set of boxing techniques."

"Master, what kind of boxing style will you teach me?"

Zhou Hao looked expectantly at the Daoist Kong Fang: "Is he a celestial being?"

He had previously seen several immortal-level fist technique manuals in the Dao Treasury Hall.

The merit points required to exchange for some of these books are comparable to those required for a magical power.

To be able to receive instruction directly without having to spend merit points is truly wonderful.

After all, he hadn't done any outer sect missions, and his merit points were only a pitiful six hundred points left.

With these merit points, you could easily exchange them for a set of Heaven-Rank Fist Techniques.

"What celestial or heavenly ranks?" Daoist Kong Fang laughed. "You disciples just love to fixate on those so-called high-level secret techniques and arts."

"Little do people know that whether it's the Immortal Rank or the Heavenly Rank, their essence is simply the application of the Dao contained within the cultivation method."

"If you master a complete Dao, you can create all kinds of Earth-rank techniques with ease, and even Heaven-rank techniques will only require a little more effort."

"But if one comprehends a great Dao, then even immortal-level techniques are nothing special."

Zhou Hao nodded in agreement.

indeed.

Just like now, if he were to combine the True Meaning of the Dao and the profound mysteries of the Domain Realm of the Dao that he has comprehended, and create a few sets of fist techniques, and take them to the Great Wild Plains, even the five major overlord clans would collect them as their clan's secret techniques to be passed down.

"Master, what kind of boxing style will you teach me?" Zhou Hao asked.

"This fist technique was perfected by your master over the past thousand years."

"If you can comprehend it thoroughly, then becoming a Earth Immortal of the Void Return in the future will be no problem at all."

Daoist Kong Fang solemnly declared, "This style of boxing is called ' Taiji Fist '!"

... Taiji Fist??

Zhou Hao looked at the Daoist Kong Fang.

He really wanted to say something.

Master, I've been practicing Taiji Fist since I was a child...

"Tai Chi is also one of the great principles."

The Daoist Kong Fang spoke in a serious tone.

"This is different from the Droplet Great Dao that you have come to understand; it is the Dao of Heaven and Earth and Nature."

"Tai Chi is a technique, that is, a skill for application. The ' Tai Chi Great Dao ' is the way of applying this technique."

"Compared to the Way of Nature, the application of techniques like Tai Chi and swordsmanship is far more profound and extremely difficult to comprehend. Even just getting started is incredibly challenging!"

"This set of Taiji Fist took me nearly thousands of years to perfect, and it was completed a thousand years ago."

"After you practice and carefully contemplate it, even if you don't ultimately reach the Dao of Taiji, it will be enough for you to understand the operation of Yin and Yang and overcome the bottleneck of the myriad Myriad Phenomena of the Chiming Nine Heavens Map."

"Yes." Zhou Hao nodded solemnly.

With a flick of his wrist, the Daoist Kong Fang took out a scroll of animal hide and handed it directly to Zhou Hao.

Zhou Hao respectfully accepted it, and upon touching it, he felt its soft warmth and knew that this animal hide was no ordinary item.

"Read the boxing manual first. If you don't understand anything after you've finished reading it, ask me again," said Daoist Kong Fang. "Come to me once a month from now on. When you have my permission, you can go out and hone your skills again."

"Yes." Zhou Hao replied respectfully, then opened the animal skin boxing manual.

"Taiji means primordial (circular), and it is inseparable from this circle, whether inside or outside, up or down, left or right."

"Taiji means square; regardless of whether it's inside or outside, up or down, left or right, it never deviates from this square..."

The densely packed small characters on the boxing manual felt like pearls of wisdom to Zhou Hao.

At that time, Zhou Hao did not realize the significance of many of the things that True Person Daoyi taught him when he was young.

But when he compared it with the boxing manual, he immediately felt enlightened.

Lost in thought, he held the boxing manual in one hand and stretched out the other to draw circles in front of him, practicing as he watched, entering a state of enlightenment...