[Detected Martial Art Eligible for Deduction: "Mystic Eagle Stance." Begin Deduction?]

Chatting as they walked, they returned to the outer courtyard.

At some point, Mei Shuangfeng had changed into a clean, fitted martial outfit.

Seeing this, Xu Chuan immediately took his leave.

After he had gone, Mei Shuangfeng tossed over an exquisitely embroidered satin pouch.

"The remaining money I owed you from yesterday. Open it and count it yourself."

Shen Xiuhan took it, opened the pouch for a glance, then put it away carefully. Cupping his hands, he said, "Thank you, Master."

"It was a fair deal. What is there to thank me for?"

Mei Shuangfeng stood with her hands behind her back and said, "When first learning the martial path, one's foundation is of utmost importance. For the next few days, I will personally instruct you."

"I'll trouble Master to put in the effort!"

Warmth stirred in Shen Xiuhan's heart.

A few days ago, when he had heard Chen An talk about learning martial arts, it would have been a lie to say he had not been envious.

And yesterday, after witnessing Mei Shuangfeng's unfathomable footwork on the ice, his yearning for the martial path had climbed to its peak.

Now, he could finally have his wish fulfilled.

"To lay the foundation of martial arts, one must first nourish and build one's qi and blood."

Mei Shuangfeng's gaze settled on him, her voice cool as a spring. "But how does one nourish the blood?"

"One must first practice stance work, guiding the blood back through the meridians and sensing the flow of qi and blood. Then one strengthens the grand circulation. Only when the qi and blood surge forth, boiling like soup, can one enter the martial path!"

The moment her words fell—

Mei Shuangfeng lightly tapped off with her toes, shooting into the air like a hunting eagle, soaring several zhang high!

As she descended, she extended both arms before her at shoulder level, curling her fingers into claws, the Laogong acupoints in her palms facing each other from afar.

Her aura drew inward, her intent guarded her twin claws, and her entire body froze in a strange stance.

"This is the Mystic Eagle Stance of my Mei Martial Hall, inspired by the saying: 'The Mystic Eagle soars to the heavens, shattering bones to seize dragons!'"

Mei Shuangfeng's cool voice pierced through the howling winter wind, like a clear cry ringing through the nine heavens.

Her body began to shift through the stances with flowing, cloudlike grace, one form after another.

"When standing a stance, never become like rotten wood, rigid and stiff!"

"Turn your palms into claws, send your strength through your fingertips, focus your spirit, and steady your qi!"

"Visualize a thousand-jin square stone before your chest. Under the pincer strike of your claws, raise it inch by inch to your chest. When the Laogong acupoints begin to feel scorching and swollen, draw your hands inward..."

Just as Mei Shuangfeng demonstrated the stance work, something abruptly shifted before Shen Xiuhan's eyes:

Deduction...

The system had triggered?!

Shen Xiuhan's heart leaped. Without hesitation, he silently called out in his mind:

'Deduce!'

[...Insufficient intelligence accumulated. Deduction can only begin after fifteen days.]

Just as expected...

Shen Xiuhan's lips pressed together faintly.

But...

Though this "Deduction" could not be used for now, it was not without gains.

Within Shen Xiuhan's field of vision—

Every time Mei Shuangfeng demonstrated a stance, the system seemed to make an imprint, flawlessly etching a human-shaped stance formed from pale golden motes of light!

One form, two forms, three forms...

A full twenty-eight intricate stances were all engraved before his eyes.

Mei Shuangfeng withdrew her stance and stood upright. Drawing in her qi, she swelled her chest and abdomen, then exhaled a long stream of white vapor three feet away like a sharp sword.

Her phoenix eyes shifted as she looked at Shen Xiuhan, who stood frozen in place.

"Your turn."

"Go through the movements I just showed you once. This stance method is obscure. It does not matter if you cannot remember it all. If you can imitate a cat while drawing a tiger and assume a few of the stances, that will do."

Shen Xiuhan gathered his thoughts and cupped his hands solemnly.

"...Understood!"

He stepped onto the wooden post and began reproducing the stances according to those pale golden figures in his mind.

Shen Xiuhan had thought he would merely be imitating a cat while drawing a tiger, copying an answer.

But once he truly assumed the stance, he realized that these seemingly simple postures were astonishingly difficult!

The muscles throughout his body twisted taut like hemp ropes, straining against one another. His shoulder blades, waist, abdomen, thighs, and ankles—every part of him was locked in a struggle.

It was as if countless invisible threads were tugging at his sinews and bones from every direction.

He barely held on until the third stance before his entire body ached as though splitting apart. His legs gave way, and he crashed down with a thud.

"Mm, not bad." Mei Shuangfeng nodded slightly. "For your first time practicing stances, being able to assume three forms already places you above average in the martial hall."

This counted as above average?

Shen Xiuhan panted heavily, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and asked, "Master, when the senior brothers and sisters in the martial hall first practiced stances, how many could they assume?"

"There are six in the inner courtyard. All of them could manage more than three stances."

Mei Shuangfeng stood with her hands behind her back. "There is no use overthinking it. The greatest taboo of the martial path is impatience."

"Master these three stances today. Add two or three more each day, and within ten days, you will be able to perform a complete set of stance work. Then, you may attempt to sense your qi and blood."

"Yes, Master!"

Mei Shuangfeng watched him repeat the three stances twice. As his movements grew increasingly proficient, she nodded in satisfaction.

"Go practice with the others."

A master could lead one to the gate, but cultivation depended on the individual.

After Mei Shuangfeng left, Shen Xiuhan performed the stances another three times.

He now had a fairly clear understanding of his own innate aptitude.

Four words summed it up.

Utterly ordinary.

If he followed the usual path of training, he would likely need four or five months before he could sense his qi and blood.

Therefore...

Accumulating "intelligence" to deduce the Mystic Eagle Stance had become urgent.

Though he did not know exactly what mysteries "Deduction" held, judging by its name, it was most likely a simulated practice that would deepen his understanding of the true essence of the technique.

For him, it was undoubtedly a martial tool capable of defying heaven and changing fate!

Of course, he could not neglect his stance practice while accumulating it.

Otherwise, if he appeared to do nothing every day and then suddenly made great progress in martial arts, people would inevitably grow suspicious.

With that thought, Shen Xiuhan gritted his teeth, stepped back onto the wooden post, and continued practicing!

More than an hour passed.

Following the methods of the other outer courtyard disciples, Shen Xiuhan practiced one round, then rested for a moment.

By the end of the morning, his progress had been much faster than he had expected.

He had completely mastered the first three stances and had begun attempting the fourth.

This bit-by-bit progress gave him ever more motivation, and he threw himself into it wholeheartedly.

After an unknown amount of time, Xu Chuan's booming voice suddenly rang out in the courtyard.

"Time for lunch!"

As soon as his words fell, the outer courtyard disciples stopped their movements in twos and threes.

Some gathered together to chat, while others moved toward the center of the courtyard.

Before long, several disciples emerged from the inner courtyard carrying enormous steamers.

The steamers were placed in the center of the courtyard. Once the lids were lifted, heat billowed forth and white mist swirled through the air.

A rich fragrance of wheat instantly spread everywhere.

Inside the steamers, large white buns made from fine sorghum flour were plump, soft, and fluffy, enough to make one's mouth water at first sight.

The outer courtyard disciples throughout the martial hall immediately crowded around in a noisy throng.

"Two per person, no taking extra! If that isn't enough, bring your own rations..."

Xu Chuan stood before the steamers with a whip in hand, shouting loudly like a shepherd watching over his flock.

The tuition the disciples paid to the martial hall originally included one midday meal.

But martial artists tempered their sinews and bones, expending enormous amounts of energy. How could two steamed buns possibly fill their stomachs?

Thus, everyone had prepared their own provisions.

But how could dry rations compare to white-flour buns steaming hot in the air?

"Junior Brother Shen, these are yours."

There were still quite a few left in the large steamer. Xu Chuan handed him four buns and laughed heartily.

"Most newcomers do not know to bring their own food, so there is an exception on the first day—you may collect two extra buns. But starting tomorrow, you will have to figure it out yourself."

Shen Xiuhan's eyes lit up. He hurriedly accepted them and cupped his hands. "Thank you, Senior Brother."

"What are you thanking me for? Those are the rules Master set."

"Then thank you, Master, for your consideration."

"Haha, you brat!"