Practicing Martial Arts

"Whoo~~"

A ring of scalding air flowed out, stirring up a fierce wind. His qi and blood circulated ever faster, and the nimble essence within the moves gradually became clear to him.

[Crane Form Grand Stance +20!]

[Crane Form Grand Stance +20!]

Wang Xuance's figure was like a white crane, light and unrestrained, his bearing soaring and spirited.

[Crane Form Grand Stance: 900/1000 (Beginner)]

Several days of bitter training had finally brought him closer to the proficient level, and the loosening sensation at the Jiuwei acupoint had grown increasingly distinct.

By now, Wang Xuance's build had already shot up to over seven chi tall. His arms were thick as rafters, and his bodily strength was astonishing.

He had the look of dragon-elephant colossal strength, while also possessing the nimbleness of the crane form and the long, unbroken endurance of turtle and snake. Without realizing it, his martial power had multiplied.

"White Crane Returns to the Cave!"

"Crane Claw Capture-Kill!"

His muscles were knotted like iron thorns twining together. Punch after punch blasted out, filling the courtyard with fist edges and rolling up clouds of dust.

[Crane Form Grand Stance +10!]

[Crane Form Grand Stance +10!]

[Crane Form Grand Stance +10!]

"Buzz~~"

The next instant, a profound and subtle warm current was born out of nowhere inside his body. It flowed through his tendons and meridians like a spring breeze bathing him, and his qi and blood began to grow viscous at a speed visible to the naked eye.

When his qi and blood became like mercury, and a drop of blood resembled a mirror's surface, that would be the right moment to break through the profound pass.

[Crane Form Grand Stance]: 0/3000 (Proficient)

"Looks like I still underestimated my own talent. There isn't much time..."

"Forget it. Today is already the last day of rest and bathing. I'll think about it once I get to the Mountain Sea Guard!"

Today, the Mountain Sea Guard seemed especially solemn. Deputy squad leader He Linfeng stood atop the high platform, his eyes like lightning. After the Mountain Sea Guard personnel had finished assembling...

"Everyone!"

A fierce shout rang out from the platform, shaking several people's eardrums until they ached. They all sighed inwardly that the strength of someone who had stepped into the "Three-Knock Blood Pass" truly was not something those at the second knock of the blood pass could compare with.

"Outside the city right now, fish and dragons are mixed together. Several small cities in Blue Orchid Continent have been swept by plague, and large numbers of martial men have already begun leaving. And as one of the largest cities in all Blue Orchid Continent, White Light City is naturally their first choice!"

"And now, to enter the outer city, one must have identity documents. Those fleeing martial men cannot get into White Light City, and they are very much showing signs of taking to the wilds as bandits, becoming sand raiders!"

After speaking, he stretched out a hand and pointed, his voice ringing with authority.

"This is the outcome of trying to walk the sword's edge!"

Wang Xuance looked in the direction his finger indicated, and his expression could not help changing drastically.

Xu Dalin and Song Damao, who had previously come looking for him to hunt muntjac-antler deer, were lying on the ground in an exceedingly bizarre posture.

Their eyes were bloodred, their hands and feet twisted and folded like fried dough twists. What shocked him most was the thin, level wound at their throats.

It had pierced straight through their necks and churned their spines to pieces. Clearly, the person who struck had methods that were savage, sinister, and fickle.

"These two went out of the city together to hunt muntjac-antler deer and were surrounded and killed by sand raiders. By the time I found them, everything on them had been robbed clean, and they were already dead!"

"So, recently, all of you had better stay peacefully in the city and practice martial arts. Unless necessary, you are not to leave the city. Otherwise, bear the consequences yourselves!"

He Linfeng swept his broad sleeve, and a surge of qi and blood, abundant as mercury, rolled over the stage below.

Struck by that rush of qi and blood, everyone nearly staggered and fell.

"Don't make more trouble for me. Otherwise, I'll let you know what it means to wish you were dead!"

"Enough. Today, I will demonstrate the Crane Form Grand Stance once. Watch carefully. In the coming months, I will demonstrate it once each month!"

One second he gave them a "strike to the head to wake them," and the next he "handed over a sweet date." Wang Xuance somewhat failed to understand the situation.

In the nearly one month he had spent in the army, aside from practicing the bestowed stance work and fist techniques on his own, there had been nothing like today, with a senior "personally teaching by example."

Though he felt it was strange, the opportunity was rare, and no one wanted to miss it. The benefits to be gained from observing once far exceeded what ordinary people could imagine.

They all widened their eyes, catching He Linfeng's every move, terrified of missing something that would cause them to fail to smoothly step into the Three-Knock Blood Pass.

"The Crane Form Grand Stance is White Light City's most ordinary foundational stance technique. It was derived by extracting and evolving the three postures of a white crane hunting, flying, and coming to rest!"

"Within it, the two words emphasized most are 'empty' and 'soft': empty wings and feathers in flight, soft wings hiding the edge."

"So long as you train this stance technique to perfection, you will be able to comprehend the profundity of what I have said!"

"Watch closely!"

"First form: White Crane Shakes Its Feathers!"

In an instant, He Linfeng's entire aura abruptly changed. His eyes were like an eagle's, sharp and flashing with brilliance. When his gaze swept over Wang Xuance, it was as if a fierce tiger had fixed its stare on him, and his heart shuddered for no reason.

The armor robe he wore suddenly billowed round and full without any wind. His two feet nailed themselves to the ground, the great dragon of his spine snapped and trembled, and everyone heard a series of bang, bang, bang tremors.

A vast, surging aura rolled out, like the snorting of warhorses before battle.

"Spirit Crane Returns to Its Cave!"

"Crane Claw Capture-Kill!"

At times, his figure pounced with ferocious killing force; at times, he was like the surface of a lake, hiding murderous intent beneath its calm; at times, he was like an old pine, untoppled by wild winds, steady and unmoving no matter how they blew...

He demonstrated all six forms for everyone, each move precise and proper.

His figure had already stopped, yet the wind on the drill ground had not. The fierce gusts scraped painfully across everyone's faces, but without exception, the burning excitement in every pair of eyes proved that each of them had gained something, more or less.

"Do not think that this Crane Form Grand Stance is only stance work and cannot be applied in real combat. Once you step into the Three-Knock Blood Pass, you will obtain a saber art, and then you will understand the subtleties of this stance work!"

"Train hard and diligently in your stance work. This is the time for you all to lay your foundation and forge the roots of your martial path. You absolutely must not speak lightly of giving up!"

"All right, continue training!"

As before, Wang Xuance slowly set up his stance work in a corner of the drill ground, his mind comprehending the key points of He Linfeng's exertion and withdrawal of force just now.

When power moved, it was like a long wind swaying; when force relaxed, it was like the wind ceasing after rain. Between motion and stillness, blood and qi circulated endlessly, unbroken and ever-renewing.

In an instant, every sound in the surrounding environment revealed itself in his heart: the light wind rustling the treetops, dust drifting and stirring, the violent breathing and exhalations of the people around him. Everything became traceable.

Moves followed force; strength rose from the ground.

His feet fixed downward like an old tree's coiling roots, standing alone despite wind and rain.

His arms were like the feathered wings of a crane, rolling and trembling with hidden killing intent.

Across his skin and fascia, a hundred veins swelled. His whole body was like a furnace of qi and blood, giving off a "whoosh, whoosh" sound.

The force he released exploded through the air with "pa, pa" cracks, drawing envious looks from the people around him.

"Tsk, tsk. Another one who's grasped the essence of stance work!"

"He looks like he isn't even as old as us. His talent definitely isn't weak!"

"Heh heh, someone this outstanding must be properly acquainted with later!"

"Oh, come on, with the way you are, he won't even bother with you..."

"And how are you any better than me? Look at your fists and feet—your force is full of problems..."

On the viewing platform, He Linfeng looked toward Wang Xuance, who was practicing martial arts with focused concentration, and slowly nodded.

"This boy has an excellent temperament and a firm will. If he enters the ranks of the soldiers in the future, he will surely be an outstanding young talent!"

"I just don't know whether he can complete the assessment smoothly..."

At this moment, the young man's mind was calm and settled as he silently comprehended the details of He Linfeng's strikes in his mind. Wave after wave of wondrous understanding flowed through his heart.

In that instant, the Crane Form Grand Stance, which had not improved for a long time, began to advance slowly!

[Crane Form Grand Stance +30!]

[Crane Form Grand Stance +30!]

Because each Fire-Core Jujube he refined required several days of rest afterward, allowing his body to expel the hidden fire-poison force within, the Crane Form Grand Stance had always progressed slowly after breaking through to the proficient realm.

Today, after this bout of sudden enlightenment, as his mind expanded, his comprehension of martial arts deepened by several degrees, and the advancement of the Crane Form Grand Stance naturally followed.

The sun blazed high, and the fire poison was fierce.

But on the drill ground, without exception, everyone had set up their stance work and was silently practicing. Only violent gasps and the low hum of qi and blood striking fascia remained!

"Buzz!!"

Suddenly, a bare-chested youth let out a loud laugh.

"Haha, I've finally stepped into the Two-Knock Blood Pass!"

Before his words had even fallen, several more people broke through on the spot, making He Linfeng on the viewing platform feel greatly gratified, as if thinking, "The young can indeed be taught."

"Huff, huff..."

[Crane Form Grand Stance: 1200/3000 (Proficient)]

The hunger coming from his belly left Wang Xuance truly unable to muster any spirit. His legs felt as heavy as if filled with lead, and the soreness and weakness throughout his body made him clearly feel that on the path of martial arts, talent, opportunity, resources, and diligence were all indispensable.

"Clang, clang, clang—"

"It's here, time to eat!"

An old man holding a large ladle and wearing cotton armor swayed into the drill ground. Behind him, six errand boys each carried an iron bucket, following closely in his steps.

"It's finally here? Whew~~ I'm so hungry I'm almost out of strength!"

Wind seemed to rise beneath Wang Xuance's feet as he hurried impatiently toward the old man.

"Here it is. Food left behind by the Eighteen Guards. You lot are blessed now. Today, all of you eat your fill!"

"Thirty-year Sand Toad with Hundred-Jue Grass!"

"Fruit soup stewed from Wood-Yellow Fruit!"

"Braised Rock-Armored Ox beef!"

A full six large dishes were carried onto the drill ground, and the crowd swarmed forward with big bowls to get their rice.

After Wang Xuance received his portion, he had only taken a few bites when he felt his whole body turn burning hot and restless, the power of his qi and blood beginning to surge.

"This food must start at no less than a hundred taels of patterned silver. So the difference in treatment between becoming a true soldier or not was actually this huge!"

What he had eaten in the past had only been some Red-Eared Pig meat with coarse rice, large portions that filled the stomach, nothing that could compare to today.

"Looks like the situation has shifted! Barbarians outside, chaos within, and on top of that the plague in Blue Orchid Continent—the military is bound to be the first to bear the brunt!"

Wang Xuance shoveled down a few mouthfuls, sweeping the contents of his bowl clean like a tornado scattering clouds, then yanked off his outer clothes and, without caring about appearances, set up his stance and began to train.

"White Crane Shakes Its Feathers!"

"Spirit Crane Returns to Its Cave!"

[Crane Form Grand Stance +50!]

[Crane Form Grand Stance +50!]