Tiger-Subduing Stance Art

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

At this time, no one else had arrived ahead of schedule. Cheng Heng was the first to come.

The moment he entered, he saw Wu Zhong practicing fist techniques in the courtyard. Wu Zhong was practicing the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique; his entire body was like a fierce tiger descending the mountain. As he shifted through his moves, he exuded a Tiger-Subduing True Intent that weighed upon the soul.

This made Cheng Heng sigh once more. Martial artists in this world were not like those in his previous life, merely strengthening their bodies. Once martial arts were cultivated to a certain realm, they could truly become so miraculous.

It also filled him with even greater anticipation for martial arts training!

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

"You were the first to arrive. Not bad. Though martial arts place great importance on one's innate talent, later effort is equally important. For these first few days, I will personally instruct you."

Wu Zhong slowly approached.

Joy surged in Cheng Heng's heart, and he hurriedly cupped his fists. "Yes, Master!"

"Before learning martial arts, I will first explain some common knowledge."

"The martial hall I founded is called the Tiger-Subduing Martial Hall. The reason is the Tiger-Subduing Fist I just performed, 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, Major Achievement, and Completion. They correspond respectively to Bright Force, Hidden Force, and Skill-Transforming Force."

"Hidden Force and Skill-Transforming Force are still quite far off for 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 should be more than easy enough."

Bright Force, Hidden Force, Skill-Transforming Force!

This was the first time Cheng Heng had heard of the martial arts realms in this world. With his [Heaven Rewards Diligence] cheat, he would surely be able to achieve them as naturally as water flowing into a channel.

"Master, may I ask what the differences are between these three realms? Please enlighten me!"

Cheng Heng hurriedly asked.

Wu Zhong nodded slightly and said slowly, "Bright Force is the first realm of a martial artist. As the saying goes, a single sound is worth a thousand gold! That speaks of Bright Force. Once one breaks through, five or six ordinary people cannot get close. Every punch explodes with a crack. Strength issues from the skin, flesh, sinews, and bones; the moves are fierce and straightforward. It is the dividing line between ordinary people and martial artists."

"At the Hidden Force level, force turns inward and flows through all the body's meridians. The force is concealed within the internal organs, with softness carrying hardness within it. With a single strike, there may be no visible external wound, yet the fist force pierces the bones and bores through the organs."

"Once one reaches Skill-Transforming Force, one can 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 only at Skill-Transforming Force."

"Do not aim too high. First, set your sights on breaking through to Bright Force three months from now. For those with inferior innate talent, the chance of breaking through is basically only twenty to thirty percent."

"Breaking through carries risks as well. If you fail, it will cause irreversible damage to your body. If you fail three times, then you are basically destined to have no connection with martial arts. But do not lose heart. If you work diligently and endure hardship, there should still be a chance."

Hearing this, Cheng Heng's heart trembled. The success rate for someone with inferior innate talent to break through was actually so low!

"Your blood and vitality are weak right now. 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 drew a deep breath, focused his mind, and began watching Wu Zhong demonstrate the stance art with rapt attention.

"The most important thing in laying a martial foundation is blood and vitality. The purpose of practicing stance arts is to strengthen blood and vitality. Without blood and vitality as a foundation, one is merely a heap of loose sand. Once your blood and vitality have been tempered to their peak, it will be the opportunity to break through to Bright Force."

"Watch carefully."

Wu Zhong spread his legs slightly, wider than shoulder-width. He tucked in his chin, slowly lowered his knees, and demonstrated all eighteen stance movements in succession. His entire body settled like a mountain, his chest and abdomen rising and falling slowly with his breath as a heavy, fierce aura gradually rose from him.

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

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

The movements Wu Zhong performed so effortlessly were actually this difficult when Cheng Heng attempted them.

After only a few breaths, the muscles throughout his body began to twist, and his limbs no longer obeyed his commands.

By the ninth movement, waves of searing pain were already spreading through his muscles. There was not a single part of his body that was not sore and aching.

Cheng Heng clenched his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. He was already drenched in sweat, with only a trace of clarity left in his mind as he mechanically guided himself through the changing stance positions.

The brief eighteen movements took only the time it took to burn an incense stick, but to Cheng Heng, it felt as if an entire day had passed, every moment spent in torment.

Finally, as the last movement ended, a violet-gold light flashed through his mind:

[Fate: Heaven Rewards Diligence]

[Persevere without cease, and achievement shall come.]

[Tiger-Subduing Stance Art Beginner (1/1000): ten practices a day, Minor Achievement in three months, Major Achievement in one year]

[Martial Dao Space: Unlocked (Charging)]

He had succeeded!

His cheat had appeared!

When others broke through, they might be affected by their innate talent and fail. But Cheng Heng was different. As long as he kept grinding away, he would certainly be able to break through successfully.

This was the heaven-defying aspect of the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] Fate!

Persevere without cease, and achievement shall come!

Moreover, the Martial Dao Space below had changed as well. It displayed that it was charging, but it had not yet been unlocked.

However, Cheng Heng was not in a hurry. He had not yet fully figured out the heaven-defying nature of the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] Fate. The functions of the Martial Dao Space could be studied later.

Wu Zhong nodded slightly from the side. "Your perseverance is not bad. Keep it up. Though your innate talent is inferior, you may not be unable to break through to Bright Force."

With that, Wu Zhong slowly departed. In truth, those words were also meant to comfort Cheng Heng. On the path of martial arts, innate talent came first, followed by a vast investment of resources.

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

With neither innate talent nor resources, wanting to achieve anything on the path of martial arts was simply harder than ascending to heaven!

Cheng Heng watched his master leave. After resting briefly, he began cultivating the stance art again.

The fate had already shown that the stance art was at Beginner level. Next, as long as he continued grinding away with no distractions, breaking through to Bright Force would naturally follow like water flowing into a channel!

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

Several disciples in the outer courtyard greeted him, but he merely exchanged a few words with them before resuming his training.

Only when shouts rang out in the outer courtyard did Cheng Heng learn that the martial hall had prepared lunch for all the disciples.

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

"Junior Brother Cheng, it's only your first day here, yet you're already working this hard. Hurry and eat the steamed buns. Replenish your strength. Only with strength can you keep practicing."

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

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

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

Feeling waves of warmth spread from his stomach, Cheng Heng finally recovered some strength.

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

He began practicing the dull and tedious Tiger-Subduing Stance Art over and over again, until the sun sank westward and the other disciples in the courtyard had mostly left.

[Tiger-Subduing Stance Art Beginner (10/1000): ten practices a day, Minor Achievement in three months, Major Achievement in one year]