Through-Arm Fist

Qin Feng realized he had spoken out of turn and wisely shut his mouth to lie down and sleep.

Li Chuan did not mind; after washing up, he summoned his panel.

[Mountain-Holding Stance (Entry)]

[Proficiency: 110/500]

Practiced for one night and gained ten points of proficiency.

Li Chuan nodded to himself, satisfied with this progress.

Although it looked like a small amount, the advantage lay in perseverance.

As long as he persisted in practicing every day, the proficiency would not be lacking.

And... most importantly, the panel allowed him to directly cultivate the Mountain-Holding Stance to the minor achievement stage and complete the Gate-Knocking!

Martial arts training was divided into two steps. The first step was to accumulate energy and blood, using methods like stance training and dietary supplements to store energy and blood within the body.

Once the body, this "vessel," was full, one had to move to the next step.

Gate-Knocking!

Gate-Knocking was an act of mobilizing all the energy and blood in the body to launch an assault on one's own physical limits.

If successful, it would push the body to a new level: Bright Force!

This was why the breakthrough was called "Gate-Knocking."

It was not an easy task, nor was it something that would naturally happen with time.

It was risky!

The better one's innate talent, the higher the success rate of the Gate-Knocking.

For someone with low-grade talent like Li Chuan, the chance of succeeding on the first attempt was one or two in ten.

This was also why low-grade talent was considered to have a bleak future.

If breaking through to Bright Force was this difficult, how much more so for the subsequent Dark Force and Transforming Force?

But I am different. With the panel's "Proof Once, Proof Forever" attribute, as long as the proficiency is sufficient, the Gate-Knocking will succeed.

Li Chuan's eyes flickered, knowing this was another major function of the Primordial Jade Record.

It could even be said to be just as important as increasing proficiency.

Thinking this, Li Chuan's eyelids grew heavy.

He covered himself with a reed-flower quilt that was neither soft nor particularly warm, smelling the lingering scent of sweat at the tip of his nose.

From time to time, he could even smell the stench drifting from the outhouse outside.

The living quarters for outer-court disciples were merely habitable, not comfortable.

Li Chuan's thoughts drifted.

He heard that inner-court disciples lived in independent houses, covered in clean, fluffy cotton quilts that were exceptionally warm.

When would he be able to move into the inner court?

His eyelids gradually closed, and he fell into a deep sleep.

Li Chuan was awakened by the rustling sounds of Qin Feng.

Qin Feng was changing his clothes, and seeing him wake up, he apologized, "Sorry, Senior Brother Li. The time to teach the 'Through-Arm Fist' is coming up soon, so I have to head out immediately."

"Wait," Li Chuan called out to him, "I'll go with you."

Qin Feng was stunned for a moment, "...Alright."

The martial arts arena.

The sun had not yet climbed over the mountaintop, casting only dim light.

However, this could not dampen the passion of the many newly enrolled disciples.

Pine Wind Martial Hall recruited disciples once a month, and once they were settled, they would organize a martial arts instruction session.

They would teach the Pine Wind Martial Hall's signature fist technique, the Through-Arm Fist.

"Strange, usually the Master teaches the martial arts himself. Why has it been changed to the Second Senior Brother today?" Qin Feng muttered in a low voice.

Li Chuan followed his gaze.

A man with a square face dressed in a black training suit was standing on a high platform, surveying the crowd.

The Second Senior Brother of Pine Wind Martial Hall, Luo Zheng.

"The Master is not in the hall, so I will be teaching on his behalf today," Luo Zheng explained to the crowd.

His gaze slowly swept across everyone present.

All new faces... how is there an old man among them?

Luo Zheng's eyes landed on Li Chuan, his brows furrowing deeply.

Logically, the Through-Arm Fist was a martial art that every newly enrolled disciple had to practice.

Yet, Li Chuan had been in the academy for four months and had been absent every single time the fist techniques were taught.

As the second senior brother, he had some understanding of many of the disciples.

He knew of Li Chuan; his family background was average, and he had only managed to enter the martial arts academy through the support of his entire family.

However, after joining, instead of striving for self-improvement, he had become a good-for-nothing, spending his days carousing and drinking with Jiang Ting.

Because of this, his impression of Li Chuan was extremely poor.

Right then, Luo Zheng said with a cold face:

"The Through-Arm Fist is the foundation of this academy. Everyone, perk up and practice diligently, especially those who have been here for a long time!"

The disciples looked somewhat bewildered, not knowing who Luo Zheng was referring to.

Li Chuan was not a famous figure; he was only known among the senior disciples.

Only Qin Feng stole a glance at Li Chuan, knowing exactly who the second senior brother was targeting with those words.

Li Chuan's expression remained calm, showing no reaction.

Having lived two lifetimes, such words could no longer disturb his state of mind.

Luo Zheng took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and said in a loud voice:

"You likely already know something about the divisions of the martial path: Bright Force, Dark Force, and Transforming Force."

"The master's rule is that those who cannot break through to Bright Force within six months may not remain in the academy. I hope you all practice diligently and do not slack off."

Six months?

Li Chuan calculated his own situation.

He had been in the academy for four months, leaving him a deadline of two months.

If it were his predecessor, expulsion would have been a foregone conclusion.

But he possessed the Primordial Jade Record; breaking through to Bright Force in two months would not be difficult.

Luo Zheng coughed once:

"The instructors will teach you the stance training; that is not the focus of what I am here to teach. I am here to teach you martial arts."

"Senior Brother Luo." Hu Yuan arrived late and greeted Luo Zheng.

Luo Zheng smiled:

"Junior Brother Hu, come stand at the front. I was just about to teach the Through-Arm Fist."

If anyone else had been late, Luo Zheng would certainly have scolded them, but since the person who arrived late was Hu Yuan, it was a different story.

With superior aptitude and being a true genius, it was only natural for him to receive some preferential treatment.

Hu Yuan gave a polite smile and walked straight to the front row.

"Hu Yuan!" Qin Feng greeted him excitedly.

Hu Yuan glanced at Qin Feng and Li Chuan, saying indifferently:

"So it is Junior Brother Qin and Junior Brother Li."

He immediately turned his head away, having no interest in making conversation.

Qin Feng's face flushed red and he clenched his fists, but he dared not say anything more.

"Martial arts are also called the Gua Sect. Those who show off their skills in the pugilistic world are called Showy Fist, pursuing what is flashy and good-looking." Luo Zheng's voice carried across the entire field.

"Showy Fist is nice to look at, but it is useless in a real fight. What I am going to teach you is the 'Lethal Fist'."

"In other words, killing techniques!"

Luo Zheng's voice suddenly turned sharp:

"True martial arts have never been about flowery movements, but about defeating the enemy in a single strike."

"The perineum, the throat, the eyes—attack wherever they are vulnerable!"

Waves stirred in Li Chuan's heart.

What he wanted to learn was precisely killing techniques!

Luo Zheng assumed a fighting stance and explained:

"The Through-Arm Fist emphasizes 'avoiding the solid and striking the void,' ensuring the enemy cannot fathom where we intend to attack."

"You, come up here. I will demonstrate for everyone." Luo Zheng pointed to a thick-browed disciple.

"The first form of the Through-Arm Fist: Throat-Piercing Heart-Lock!"

No sooner had Luo Zheng finished speaking than he moved, his five fingers forming a spike, striking toward the thick-browed disciple's throat with the speed of a thunderbolt!

The thick-browed disciple turned pale with fright and hurriedly raised his hands to block.

Just as Luo Zheng's hand-spear was about to be intercepted by the thick-browed disciple, it suddenly shifted direction, lunging straight for his heart.

"If this were a real battle, you would already be dead."

Luo Zheng's five fingers formed a spear, lightly poking the thick-browed disciple's solar plexus.

"Did you see clearly? This is the essence of 'avoiding the solid and striking the void'—never let your opponent guess your move!"

"If he had dodged to the side just now, I could have followed through by turning the spear into an upward strike."

Luo Zheng's right hand moved, instantly flicking upward to pinch the thick-browed disciple's throat.

With just a light application of force, he could have crushed the man's windpipe.

"Did you notice anything? Every strike I made was aimed at a vital point. Striking without targeting vitals isn't martial arts; it's just flowery, useless posturing!"

"Remember, martial arts is a technique for killing!"

Next, Luo Zheng taught the Entangling Strike Style: Arm-Entangling Tendon-Severing, and the Heavy Strike Style: Rib-Breaking Mountain-Cleaving.

"I have taught you everything I can; how much you comprehend is up to your own ability."

Luo Zheng stood with his hands behind his back and said indifferently:

"It is normal to find it difficult. Do not think that martial arts is something easily mastered; even I took an hour to reach the entry level of the Through-Arm Fist back then."

Li Chuan could no longer hear Luo Zheng's voice; his entire focus was concentrated on the various moves of the Through-Arm Fist.

He extended his hands, imitating Luo Zheng's earlier Throat-Piercing Heart-Lock.

At first, he was stiff, lacking both form and spirit.

But after practicing it once, he suddenly began to look the part.

[Skill: Through-Arm Fist (Entry)]

[Progress: 1/500]