Tiger-Subduing Stance Art

Early the next morning, Cheng Heng arrived at the martial hall early, dressed in the newly issued training uniform.

At this time, no one else had arrived at the martial hall. Cheng Heng was the first.

The moment he entered, he saw Wu Zhong practicing martial arts in the courtyard. Wu Zhong was practicing the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique. His entire body resembled a fierce tiger descending the mountain, and as his moves shifted, he exuded a Tiger-Subduing True Intent that weighed heavily upon the soul.

This made Cheng Heng marvel once more. The martial artists of this world were not like those of his past life, merely training their bodies for fitness. Once martial arts were cultivated to a certain realm, they could become so wondrous.

It made him look forward to practicing martial arts even more!

Before long, Wu Zhong slowly finished his routine and finally noticed Cheng Heng standing to one side in a daze.

"You were the first to arrive. Not bad. Though martial arts place great importance on root bone, diligence in the later stages is equally important. For these first few days, I will personally instruct you."

Wu Zhong slowly approached.

Cheng Heng's heart leaped with joy, and he hurriedly cupped his fists. "Yes, Master!"

"Before we begin martial arts training, I will first explain some common knowledge."

"The martial hall I established is called the Tiger-Subduing Martial Hall. The reason is the Tiger-Subduing Fist I demonstrated just now, which is a mid-grade martial art."

"The Tiger-Subduing Fist is divided into the Tiger-Subduing Stance Art and the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique. This martial art is further divided into Beginner, Minor Achievement, Perfection Stage, and Completion. They correspond respectively to Bright Force, Hidden Force, and Skill-Transforming Force."

"Hidden Force and Skill-Transforming Force are still far beyond you. If you can successfully break through to Minor Achievement and step into Bright Force within three months, then in Gaoyang County, earning yourself a bowl of rice will be more than easy."

Bright Force, Hidden Force, Skill-Transforming Force!

This was Cheng Heng's first time hearing of the martial realms in this world. With the cheat known as [Heaven Rewards Diligence], he would surely advance as naturally as water flowing into a channel.

"Master, may I ask what distinguishes these three realms? Please enlighten me!"

Cheng Heng hurriedly asked.

Wu Zhong nodded slightly and said slowly, "Bright Force is a martial artist's first realm. As the saying goes, a thousand gold cannot buy a single resounding crack! That refers to Bright Force. After breaking through, five or six ordinary people cannot get close to you, and every punch explodes with sound. Strength issues from skin, flesh, tendons, and bones; the moves are fierce and straightforward. It is the dividing line between ordinary people and martial artists."

"Upon reaching Hidden Force, one's strength turns inward and flows through the body's meridians. The force hides within the internal organs, combining softness with hardness. With a single strike, there may be no external wound at all, yet the fist force penetrates the bones and pierces the organs."

"Once one reaches Skill-Transforming Force, one can truly become a first-rate figure in Gaoyang County. Even the masters of the five great martial halls, after practicing martial arts for half their lives, are merely at Skill-Transforming Force."

"Do not aim too high. Set your sights first on breaking through to Bright Force three months from now. For someone with Low-Grade Root Bone, the chance of breaking through is only twenty to thirty percent."

"Breaking through also carries risks. If you fail, it will inflict irreversible damage upon your body. If you fail three times, then you are essentially fated to have no connection with the martial path. But do not lose heart. If you are diligent and hardworking, you should still have a chance."

Hearing this, Cheng Heng's heart trembled. The success rate for those with Low-Grade Root Bone was actually this low!

"Your qi and blood are currently weak and sparse. You must begin by learning the Tiger-Subduing Stance Art. Once your foundation is solid, I will teach you the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique."

"Yes!"

Cheng Heng took a deep breath, focused his mind, and began carefully watching Wu Zhong demonstrate the stance training.

"For martial arts Foundation Establishment, qi and blood are the most important. The purpose of practicing stance training is to strengthen one's qi and blood. Without qi and blood as a foundation, one is merely a heap of loose sand. Once you temper your qi and blood to its peak, that will be the opportunity to break through to Bright Force."

"Watch carefully."

Wu Zhong spread his legs wider than his shoulders, slightly tucked in his chin, and slowly lowered his knees. In succession, he demonstrated eighteen stance-training movements. His whole body seemed to sink into a mountain, his chest and abdomen slowly rising and falling with his breaths, while a heavy, fierce aura gradually rose from him.

He had clearly cultivated the stance training to the Perfection Stage!

Watching Wu Zhong slowly finish, Cheng Heng hurriedly began imitating him according to the memories in his mind. By the second movement, he already felt the world spinning around him.

Movements Wu Zhong had performed so effortlessly proved this difficult when it came to Cheng Heng.

After only a few breaths, the muscles all over his body began to twist, and his limbs no longer obeyed him.

By the ninth movement, waves of intense pain were already radiating through his muscles. Not a single part of his body was free from soreness and pain.

Cheng Heng clenched his teeth, veins bulging across his forehead. His entire body had long been soaked in sweat, and only a shred of clarity remained in his mind, mechanically guiding him as he slowly shifted through the stance-training postures.

The brief eighteen movements took no more than the time it took to burn an incense stick, but to Cheng Heng, it felt as though an entire day had passed, every moment spent in torment.

Finally, as he completed the last movement, a violet-golden light flashed through his mind:

[Fate: Heaven Rewards Diligence]

[Persevere without fail, and achievement will surely follow.]

[Tiger-Subduing Stance Art Beginner (1/1000): practice ten times a day, achieve Minor Achievement in three months, Perfection Stage in one year]

[Martial Dao Space: Locked (Charging)]

He had succeeded!

His cheat had appeared!

When others attempted a breakthrough, their root bone might affect them and cause them to fail. But Cheng Heng was different. So long as he kept grinding away, he would certainly break through smoothly.

That was the heaven-defying power of the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] fate!

Persevere without fail, and achievement would surely follow!

Moreover, the Martial Dao Space below had also changed, displaying that it was charging, though it had not yet unlocked.

However, Cheng Heng was in no hurry. He had not yet fully studied the heaven-defying power of the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] fate. The functions of the Martial Dao Space could be researched later.

Wu Zhong nodded slightly from the side. "Your perseverance is not bad. Keep it up. Though you have Low-Grade Root Bone, you may not necessarily fail to break through to Bright Force."

With that, Wu Zhong slowly departed. In truth, those words were merely meant to comfort Cheng Heng. On the path of martial arts, root bone came first, followed by the support of vast resources.

Wu Zhong had seen far too many poor families like Cheng Heng's in the Outer City.

Without root bone or resources, trying to achieve something on the martial path was simply harder than ascending to heaven!

Cheng Heng watched his master leave. After resting for a moment, he began practicing the stance training once again.

The fate already showed that he had entered the Beginner stage of stance training. From here on, as long as he devoted himself wholeheartedly and kept grinding away, breaking through to Bright Force would naturally follow like water flowing into a channel!

Until noon, Cheng Heng barely stopped at all, doing nothing but repeating the Tiger-Subduing Stance Art over and over.

A few disciples in the outer courtyard greeted him, but he only responded with a few words before resuming his training.

It was not until shouts rang out in the outer courtyard that Cheng Heng learned the martial hall had prepared lunch for all the disciples.

Only then did Cheng Heng stop training and join the long line to collect food.

"Junior Brother Cheng, it is only your first day here, yet you are already working so hard. Hurry and eat these steamed buns. Restore your strength—only with strength can you continue training."

When it was Cheng Heng's turn, he discovered that Fourth Senior Brother was handing out steamed buns. Receiving two large, white buns, Cheng Heng hurriedly thanked him.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Cheng Heng had long been so hungry that stars danced before his eyes. He immediately began wolfing them down, stuffing an entire large steamed bun into his stomach in just two or three bites.

Feeling waves of warmth rise from his stomach, Cheng Heng finally regained some strength.

Yet after resting for less than a moment, Cheng Heng looked at the other disciples, who were gathered in twos and threes to rest, then straightened up and found a secluded spot.

He began practicing the dull and flavorless Tiger-Subduing Stance Art over and over, until the sun sank in the west and nearly all the other disciples had left the courtyard.

[Tiger-Subduing Stance Art Beginner (10/1000): practice ten times a day, achieve Minor Achievement in three months, Perfection Stage in one year]