Six Harmonies Mind Boxing

As the sun rose and set, as the tides surged and ebbed, in the blink of an eye, it was Chen Yuan's fifth day studying martial arts at Huo Academy.

The blazing sunlight shone upon his bronze skin. Sweat glimmered brightly, scattering again and again with each punch he threw.

He loosened his waist and sank his hips, kept his tailbone centered and upright. He focused intently on feeling every stance movement. His footwork flowed like drifting clouds and running water, while his probing fists were solid and powerful, all trace of a beginner's awkwardness gone.

As he calmed himself and felt it out, a loose current of qi gathered continuously toward his chest during the stance practice. It carried a faint burning sensation, yet remained hollow and uncondensed.

Just a little more, and it would fully solidify, allowing him to step into the beginner realm of the Rock-Solid Stance Technique.

After one round of stance practice, Chen Yuan was already drenched in sweat. He walked beneath the awning and wiped himself down with a towel, intending to adjust his condition before making another push toward mastering the Rock-Solid Stance Technique.

He would strive to break through today.

With a thought, the panel appeared:

[Comprehension: 10]

[Physique: 30]

[Cultivation: None]

[Techniques]

[Rock-Solid Stance Technique (Not Yet Initiated): 9/10]

[Dao of Survival Points: 4]

[Evaluation: You keep a low profile, do not make enemies, and understand the principle of concealing your brilliance and biding your time. You have already caught a first glimpse of the Dao of Survival. Dao of Survival Points +3 per day.]

After three days of accumulation, his physique had risen to 30. It should already have reached the standard of Grade C-Lower.

And through his relentless, diligent cultivation, he could also feel slight improvements.

He could train longer, train better, and eat more.

Sun Chengjie had long since been resting beneath the awning. With a bitter face, he came over to strike up a conversation.

"Ah, it's only been four or five days, and I'm already running out of motivation. After one round of stance practice, all I want to do is rest. But Brother Chen, you still haven't shown any slackness. You really have perseverance."

Chen Yuan smiled. "Grit your teeth and hold on. If we can break through the Skin Realm, we can at least find a more respectable job with the Gu Family. Isn't that better than going home to farm?"

Indeed, most people only had enthusiasm for three minutes, let alone for something as arduous as martial arts training.

Like the other senior brothers in the academy, only two or three truly trained diligently. The rest had long since developed lazy hearts.

Especially when they encountered bottlenecks in training, only to watch those geniuses charge ahead as though entering an empty realm, singing triumphantly all the way, they felt even more insignificant and powerless. Their will to advance gradually wore away.

Chen Yuan asked himself honestly: if not for the system, if he did not know that persistence alone would let him surpass everyone, he probably would not have been able to maintain his current state either.

Sun Chengjie sighed. "I heard Yu Yan entered the beginner stage of the stance technique two days ago. Altogether, it only took him two and a half days. The other two will probably make it within the next couple of days too, while I haven't even touched the threshold."

Chen Yuan did not feel any urgency.

Yu Yan possessed Grade B-Lower physique, a full level above his own. His comprehension was surely not poor either, and he received seven taels of silver a month in support. It was only natural that his progress outpaced everyone else's.

He said calmly, "Focus on yourself. Right now, you should set your sights on the Zhou Brothers and strive to surpass them as soon as possible."

Thinking of the Zhou Brothers, Sun Chengjie finally forced himself to rally. After answering, he went back to training.

He did not want to fade into the crowd and let those two rub his face into the dirt.

Xue Anping listened silently from the side and rather agreed with Chen Yuan's idea of choosing one's competitors.

Comparing himself to Yu Yan without knowing his own limits would only damage his morale.

What he needed to do now was—surpass Chen Yuan.

He too rose and resumed his stance practice.

He already had a feeling that within three days, he would surely enter the beginner stage.

After resting for a quarter of an hour, Chen Yuan felt that he had recovered. He took a deep breath, found a corner, planted his feet, and continued practicing the stance technique.

After one round, heat surged upward. The wisp of white qi in his chest grew hotter. Though it was still hollow and uncondensed, he could see progress.

If one round was not enough, then two!

Chen Yuan gathered his focus and sank his qi into his dantian, practicing once more. He repeated every movement at least twenty times. By now, they had become incomparably familiar.

The heat within him rose again, growing stronger, stronger, and stronger!

At the end of the stance practice, it finally condensed completely, transforming into a faint thread of blood qi that lingered in his chest.

[Rock-Solid Stance Technique (Beginner): 0/500]

There was no discomfort at all. Instead, his chest felt pleasantly warm, and cold qi could no longer easily enter his body.

However, Chen Yuan was the only one who knew of this change.

Not far away, the silent youth Xue Anping was still sweating like rain.

Naturally, Chen Yuan understood what he was thinking.

Unfortunately, Chen Yuan's persistence and effort surpassed his by even more.

After practicing another round to consolidate his gains, Chen Yuan found his senior brother Tao Ping and cupped his hands.

"Senior Brother, I have entered the beginner stage of the Rock-Solid Stance Technique. Please inform Master."

Tao Ping looked Chen Yuan over, slightly surprised.

This fellow's progress was a notch faster than he had expected.

It seemed he truly had not slacked off these past few days. A trace of approval flashed through Tao Ping's eyes as he nodded.

"Very good, Junior Brother Chen. Come, show me two forms first."

Chen Yuan nodded. He stepped forward, sank his shoulders and dropped his elbows, assuming the opening stance of the Rock-Solid Stance Technique.

Before he had practiced for even half a minute, Tao Ping smiled and waved a hand. "That will do. Junior Brother, your foundation is quite solid. Come with me."

He then led Chen Yuan toward the Inner Court.

Chen Yuan nodded and followed. He had never been to the Inner Court before.

The Inner Court was where Master Huo and his wife lived their daily lives. The space was not large, and only disciples like Tao Ping, who had earned deep trust, were qualified to enter.

Yet the moment he stepped into the Inner Court, Chen Yuan saw Master Huo personally instructing a youth. The boy was also practicing the Rock-Solid Stance Technique. He had not yet entered the beginner stage, but he was not far from it.

Chen Yuan recognized the youth. He was Xu Heng, a disciple who had joined Huo Academy two days ago. He had tested as having Grade B-Upper physique and immediately won Master Huo's favor, becoming his personal disciple.

He had heard that not only had his tuition been waived, but Master Huo had personally paid to cover his food supplements and medicinal supplements as well. He clearly valued him greatly.

Chen Yuan watched for a while and noticed that even stern, unsmiling Master Huo had a smile in his eyes when teaching Xu Heng.

Only after Xu Heng finished a set of stance practice did Master Huo turn his gaze toward Chen Yuan and Tao Ping.

Tao Ping stepped forward and smiled warmly. "Junior Brother Xu is progressing rapidly. He truly is fine material. Junior Brother Chen has also just entered the beginner stage of the Rock-Solid Stance Technique and wishes to ask Master to teach him its combat applications."

Only then did Master Huo look at Chen Yuan. He had some impression of this disciple with the best physique among those sent by the Gu Family, and he gave a slight nod of encouragement.

Entering the beginner stage in four and a half days counted as above average.

Under ordinary circumstances, it might have been a small pleasant surprise. But now that Xu Heng was here, it seemed insignificant.

"Good. Watch carefully."

After speaking, Master Huo assumed an opening stance, then looked toward Xu Heng.

"Your Rock-Solid Stance Technique is close to entering the beginner stage as well. Take this opportunity to learn together."

"Yes!" Xu Heng seemed somewhat nervous and hurriedly nodded.

Then he smiled at Chen Yuan and nodded in greeting.

He was quite polite. Chen Yuan returned the smile.

Still, Chen Yuan could not help feeling that some rules truly did not apply to geniuses. Xu Heng could learn the combat applications before even entering the beginner stage of the stance technique.

He had even guessed that although this was nominally a lesson in the stance technique's combat applications for him, with Xu Heng learning alongside him, Master Huo would undoubtedly focus his attention on Xu Heng.

"Watch closely. My combat art is called Six Harmonies Mind Boxing. It emphasizes balancing hardness and softness, uniting the inner and outer. The so-called Six Harmonies are divided into the Inner Three Harmonies and Outer Three Harmonies. The Inner Three Harmonies are heart united with intent, intent united with qi, and qi united with strength. The Outer Three Harmonies are hands united with feet, elbows united with knees, and shoulders united with hips. Every move and style must adhere closely to these Six Harmonies. Take this opening move, Eagle Catch, for example."

Master Huo stepped into the centerline, his hands forming claws as they shot out fiercely. Like a great eagle pouncing upon prey, they were swift as lightning and incomparably sharp.

Chen Yuan stared without blinking, not daring to miss a single detail.

As the exquisite moves were demonstrated, time slipped away unnoticed.