Five Animals Fist

Five Animals Fist

Passing through the martial academy's side gate, he arrived at the main courtyard.

Jiang Ning saw more than a dozen bare-chested men in the open space. Some were practicing their fists, while others hugged stone blocks to build their strength.

Noticing another newcomer to the martial academy, they merely glanced sideways at Jiang Ning before ignoring him and continuing with their own business.

That was...!

Jiang Ning's gaze sharpened, instantly drawn to the sight in one corner of the front courtyard.

There stood an enormous iron cage in one corner, and inside it, a striped tiger was curled up asleep.

The tiger was fully four meters long, radiating an immense sense of oppression.

Its thick limbs alone revealed the terrifying explosive power it possessed.

"Stop staring. Keep following me!" the burly man said.

Jiang Ning withdrew his gaze, nodded, and continued following behind him.

After crossing the front courtyard, the two soon arrived at the martial academy's rear courtyard.

Beneath the shade of a tree, an elderly man with a beard reclined in a rattan chair, leisurely fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan.

The old man appeared to be over fifty, yet instead of possessing the gaunt frame typical of old men, his limbs were far thicker than an ordinary person's, his body covered in dense, knotted muscles.

At his side stood a tall, slender woman dressed in a blue training uniform.

Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, and heroic spirit filled her brows. Her long swanlike neck was white as snow; one glance was enough to tell that she came from an extraordinary background.

After all, ordinary martial artists inevitably had dark skin. It was impossible for them to be as fair as snow as this woman.

"You're Jiang Ning?" The old man opened his eyes and looked at Jiang Ning.

"Yes!" Jiang Ning bowed. "This junior greets Senior Old Wang."

"You know your manners, at least. Not bad!" The old man nodded slightly, somewhat satisfied as he looked at Jiang Ning.

"Come here," the old man said.

At his words, Jiang Ning stepped before him, and the old man rose from his chair.

His palm landed on Jiang Ning's shoulder and gave a slight shake. Jiang Ning instantly felt as though he had been struck by lightning, the sensation spreading from his shoulder throughout his entire body.

At that moment, every bone in his body seemed as if it had been shaken apart.

The old man's palm then quickly swept over Jiang Ning's limbs, arms, chest, and back.

In merely a few breaths, the bone examination was complete, and the old man sat back down in his rattan chair.

"Your body is a little weak. Your aptitude is neither good nor bad, but you'll have no problem practicing the basics!" the old man said.

Jiang Ning was not surprised by that assessment.

What kind of people were suited to martial arts?

Those with broad arms and round waists, born with divine strength.

Or those born with hard bones and imposing builds.

He did not fit either description.

He was not disappointed by this. His reliance was not martial talent, but that miraculous panel.

Seeing Jiang Ning's steady expression, the old man nodded faintly. "Your temperament is acceptable too. Neither flattered by favor nor shaken by disgrace!"

Then he asked, "Can you read?"

Jiang Ning nodded. "I can!"

"Can you understand martial manuals?" the old man asked again.

Jiang Ning nodded once more. "I can!"

"Good. It's rare to get one who can understand a manual! If you practice martial arts but can't even understand the manual, barely recognizing a few big characters, then what the hell are you practicing fists for?" Satisfaction showed on the old man's face. "Go read through the manual a few times later. Try to remember the essentials of the fist forms, then come find me!"

"Thank you, Master!" Jiang Ning bowed.

The old man waved a hand. "It's too early to call me Master. We'll talk after you pass the assessment! Having just entered the martial academy, you're only a nominal disciple at best. If you can't pass the assessment within half a year, you'll have to roll up your bedding and leave!"

"To impart knowledge, resolve doubts, and guide me into the gate of martial arts—in my heart, that makes you my teacher! What's more, a nominal disciple is still a disciple. Since I am a disciple, I should address you as Master!" Jiang Ning said with utmost seriousness.

"As you like!" The old man waved his hand, then said to the woman in the fitted blue training uniform beside him, "Li Qing, take him to my study and give him the Five Animals Fist to read!"

"Yes!" The woman nodded, her gaze falling on Jiang Ning. "Follow me!"

"My name is Li Qing. You can call me Senior Sister Li from now on!"

After leaving the rear courtyard, the woman in blue martial attire spoke to Jiang Ning.

"Greetings, Senior Sister Li!" Jiang Ning smiled. "Senior Sister Li, my name is Jiang Ning!"

Seeing this, the woman's lips curved slightly as she smiled back at Jiang Ning.

With that smile, the two seemed to become a little more familiar with each other.

As she led the way, the woman said, "Junior Brother Jiang, you came to Blue-Wave Martial Academy to pass Academy Master Wang's assessment and become a true disciple of the academy, right?"

"Yes!" Jiang Ning nodded repeatedly, revealing a friendly smile.

"Then do you know how to become a true disciple of the martial academy?" the woman asked as they walked.

Jiang Ning kept pace with her and shook his head slightly. "I do not. Please enlighten me, Senior Sister Li!"

"What you are about to learn is the Five Animals Fist. To gain Old Wang's recognition, within six months, you must comprehend the subtleties of any one form—the tiger, bear, ape, crane, or deer—and reach the realm of major accomplishment. Only then will you qualify to become a true disciple of the martial academy!" the woman explained.

"Senior Sister, is major accomplishment difficult to attain?" Jiang Ning asked.

"Very difficult! Even for the children of wealthy families, or even great clans, reaching major accomplishment within six months is extremely hard!" The woman continued, "The Five Animals Fist is a low-grade martial art that has entered the ranks. Breaking through to major accomplishment requires extremely high comprehension! Back then, it took me nearly five months to comprehend the subtleties of the deer form and reach the realm of major accomplishment in one form. That was with my extraordinary relationship with Old Wang and his frequent guidance. Without Old Wang's guidance, it will be several times harder for you than it was for me."

"Senior Sister is truly amazing!!" Jiang Ning praised her without holding back.

Upon hearing this, a faint smile appeared at the corners of the woman's lips, and she looked slightly pleased with herself.

Even in the inner city, becoming a disciple of Blue-Wave Martial Academy was something worth boasting about.

Ever since she had become Wang Jin's personal disciple, she could clearly feel that her status within her circle had risen considerably.

After all, Wang Jin's strength made him one of Luoshui County's foremost experts, not to mention the deeper identity behind him.

Yet most people could not enter Wang Jin's martial academy even if they wished to. It was all because of factions; the identity behind Wang Jin made him a representative of the neutral faction.

She then said, "Since you call me Senior Sister, I will do my best to guide you over the next six months. As for how much you can comprehend, that will depend on your own aptitude!"

"Thank you, Senior Sister!" Jiang Ning gave his sincere thanks.

Since he had the chance to build a connection with Senior Sister Li, there was naturally no reason for him to refuse.

From the way Senior Sister Li had stood beside Academy Master Wang Jin earlier, it was clear that she was a core member of Blue-Wave Martial Academy.

From what he knew, any member who passed the Blue-Wave Martial Academy master's test and became a core disciple would soon become a ranked martial artist.

In other words, this seemingly youthful and beautiful girl before him might soon become a ranked martial artist—or perhaps she already was one.

Moreover, judging from her appearance and bearing, she was clearly not born into an ordinary family. Her extraordinary relationship with Academy Master Wang Jin alone showed that her background was far from ordinary.

Jiang Ning had even less reason to refuse.

Seeing Jiang Ning's expression, the woman nodded in satisfaction. Then she gave him another reminder. "After learning the Five Animals Fist, Junior Brother Jiang, you must carefully ponder its true meaning. If you can become a true disciple of the martial academy like me, only then will you be qualified to receive Old Wang's true inheritance and learn why our academy is named Blue-Wave Martial Academy!"

Hearing this, Jiang Ning immediately nodded solemnly. "This junior understands!"

"Good!" The woman nodded with satisfaction as well.

Before long, the two arrived at a study in a secluded corner of the martial academy.

"Wait outside for me!" the woman said.

Jiang Ning nodded.

The next moment.

The woman pushed open the study door and stepped inside.

Jiang Ning waited quietly outside, his heart filled with anticipation.

A martial arts technique was about to fall into his hands!

And it was a low-grade technique that had entered the ranks. From what he knew, even his eldest brother had not mastered a low-grade technique, which showed just how precious such a ranked low-grade technique was.

At this moment, he also understood why his eldest brother had insisted that he enter a martial academy. The difference between the two was simply too great.

A ranked low-grade technique was merely Blue-Wave Martial Academy's test. If he could pass the test, then according to what Senior Sister Li had said, he could truly come into contact with Blue-Wave Martial Academy's inheritance.

The words Canglang Saber Art undoubtedly represented this martial academy's true inheritance.

Thinking of that, Jiang Ning's heart yearned all the more.

Only a little over ten breaths passed.

Creak—

As the door was pushed open again, the woman reappeared before Jiang Ning.

"This is the Five Animals Fist manual!" The woman handed the slightly yellowed book in her hand to Jiang Ning. "Over the next few days, memorize everything in the manual properly. If there is anything you cannot understand, come find me. Once you have roughly memorized it, go find Old Wang. He will personally demonstrate it for you once!"

After saying that, the woman gave him another warning. "Remember, this manual must not be taken out of the martial academy. Before leaving each day, you must return it to me."

Jiang Ning took the manual and felt it, immediately getting a sense of it. This Five Animals Fist manual was not very thick.

He then shook his head slightly. "I won't need that long to memorize the manual. A cup of tea's time will be enough."

"A cup of tea's time?" The woman frowned slightly, her eyes full of disbelief as she looked at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning smiled and lightly tapped his temple with his index finger. "Senior Sister Li, I was born with Photographic Memory."

"Fine, then I'll wait here. If you can truly do it, I'll take you to see Old Wang afterward. You'll begin learning the fist today." The woman folded her arms and stood to one side. With the rise and fall of her breathing, she instantly exuded a tranquil, serene air, like a young deer resting in the forest.

Jiang Ning did not waste any more time. He opened the Five Animals Fist manual and began carefully reading from the first page.

[Literacy experience +1]

[Literacy experience +1]

Time slowly passed. For a while, the little courtyard was filled with tranquility, with only the rustling sound of wind blowing through the treetops.

The woman stood naturally and peacefully beside Jiang Ning, her manner tranquil and serene.