Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique

After probing the Black Tiger Gang's background, Cheng Heng began today's grueling training. His fate prompt said ten sessions a day, minor mastery in three months.

But he intended to speed up the process. The sooner he broke through to Bright Force, the better!

After all, in this chaotic age where human lives were as cheap as grass, only powerful strength gave one the capital to speak!

He found an open patch of ground and once again practiced the eighteen sets of movements in the Tiger-Subduing Stance Art. As his movements continually changed, aching, swelling, and numbness instantly swept through his entire body.

Cheng Heng remained unmoved by the pain, meticulously completing every stance movement.

[Tiger-Subduing Stance Art Initiation (11/1000): Ten sessions a day, minor mastery in three months, major mastery in one year]

Time passed bit by bit, yet Cheng Heng continued to train with his head down.

In the blink of an eye, ten days passed.

Over those ten days, Cheng Heng had arrived at the martial hall first every day and only left after dark. Such desperate diligence had already drawn the attention of quite a few disciples.

"This guy comes so early every day and leaves so late. He's got a real do-or-die spirit!"

"You don't know? He has Low-Grade Root Bone. If he doesn't keep training like this, breaking through to Bright Force will be difficult."

"He's been grinding himself to death for ten straight days. I wonder how much longer he can keep it up?"

Some admired him, while others dismissed it, believing he was merely trying to attract their master's attention and receive more instruction.

Cheng Heng cast all those discussions behind him and simply continued practicing the Tiger-Subduing Stance Art with unwavering determination.

[Tiger-Subduing Stance Art Initiation (110/1000): Ten sessions a day, minor mastery in three months, major mastery in one year]

Compared to those whispered remarks, Cheng Heng was far more delighted by the changes in himself.

After ten days of tempering through stance training, his once-thin frame had gradually become straighter and more upright. Beneath his training clothes, faint lines of muscle had begun to emerge, and his vigor and spirit were far stronger than when he had first entered the martial hall.

Wu Zhong slowly approached. Seeing Cheng Heng's diligence, he gave a slight nod and said,

"Cheng Heng, come here!"

Cheng Heng immediately stopped what he was doing and walked before his master.

Wu Zhong measured Cheng Heng's root bone once again.

After a moment, Wu Zhong's expression remained unchanged. "Your root bone has not changed. It is still low-grade, but your qi and blood are clearly much stronger than before. You now meet the minimum requirement for practicing the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique!"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Heng immediately said respectfully,

"Master, please teach me the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique!"

In truth, Wu Zhong was usually quite busy at the Tiger-Subduing Martial Hall. After teaching disciples the entry rules, he generally no longer involved himself in their cultivation.

Only those disciples in the martial hall with exceptional talent and potential received Wu Zhong's focused instruction.

According to the martial hall's customs, one of his formal disciples should have been the one to teach Cheng Heng.

Wu Zhong fell silent for a moment before finally nodding slowly.

Seeing that this boy had trained diligently without pause these past few days, he would lend him a hand.

The surrounding disciples immediately revealed envious looks. They had never expected this disciple with Low-Grade Root Bone to receive the same treatment as the truly talented disciples of the martial hall!

"However, the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique has many forms. I can only teach you the basics. Afterward, your Third Senior Brother will be responsible for your training!"

Cheng Heng was naturally overjoyed by such treatment. As long as he could enter the fist technique as quickly as possible, all he needed to do was keep grinding away. He did not care who was responsible for supervising him.

In all of Gaoyang County, only Wu Zhong had trained the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique to the Perfection Stage. If his master personally taught him the entry stages, it would naturally be many times faster than learning from anyone else!

Time was precious. Wu Zhong swept his gaze around the surrounding disciples and said sternly, "Real martial arts are not flowery fists and embroidered kicks. They are arts of killing. Watch carefully today!"

The many martial hall disciples immediately became solemn. They spontaneously formed a circle and began carefully observing Wu Zhong's instruction in the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique.

Wu Zhong's eyes gleamed as he swept his gaze over them. "Stance training tempers the foundation, while fist techniques raise combat strength. Only by combining the two can one be called a martial artist!"

"Watch closely!"

The moment his words fell, Wu Zhong's entire aura abruptly changed, as though he had transformed into a fierce tiger descending the mountain to devour men.

"The Tiger-Subduing Fist draws upon the might of a fierce tiger descending the mountain. It values hardness and ferocity, emphasizing steadiness like a mountain and fists like thunder. Medicinal power stimulates the limbs, while fist force penetrates through sinews and bones."

As he spoke, Wu Zhong lowered his body. His knees bent slightly, his hips drew inward, and his waist and back tightened straight like a full-moon bow.

As the force throughout his body erupted, even the bluestone ground faintly trembled. Suddenly, Wu Zhong sank his waist and twisted his hips, driving out his right fist. His knuckles protruded, and the wind from his fist tore through the air with a low howl as it cleaved forward—the Fierce Tiger Pounces on Prey form of the technique.

"When throwing a punch, the four limbs must be as one. Force rises from the lower body, passes through the legs to the waist, then pours into the fist!"

As he displayed form after form—heavy punches, upward palms, cleaving elbows, bursting kicks—the movements were plain yet solid and powerful. The heavy, fierce, domineering essence of the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique was fully revealed before the disciples.

As Wu Zhong drew in his stance, the surface of the wooden stake before him remained perfectly intact. Then, without warning, the whole thing exploded from within.

A Skill-Transforming Force expert!

One of the foremost figures in all of Gaoyang County!

The entire training ground fell deathly silent. Everyone was so shocked by the sight that they could not utter a word!

When they practiced fists normally, they mostly focused on every move and stance being proper and precise. Yet after seeing their master's demonstration today—turning complexity into simplicity, every strike lethal—they finally understood the true essence of the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique.

"Did you see clearly? This is the essence of the Tiger-Subduing Fist. Martial arts are for killing. What matters is being ruthless and merciless, striking at vital points. In a life-and-death struggle, you cannot relax for even a moment's breath."

"Yes!"

The many disciples answered in unison.

After watching the complete set of fist techniques, Cheng Heng felt as though his heart might leap from his chest. In the past, he had only heard of the wonders of martial arts. Today, seeing a master make a move with his own eyes, he truly felt martial arts' allure.

Cheng Heng took a deep breath. Watching Wu Zhong's receding back, he cast aside the countless distracting thoughts in his heart and began earnestly practicing the forms of the Tiger-Subduing Fist.

Until the sun set in the west and moonlight blanketed the earth.

[Tiger-Subduing Stance Art Initiation (111/1000): Ten sessions a day, minor mastery in three months, major mastery in one year]

[Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique Initiation (1/1000): Ten sessions a day, minor mastery in three months, major mastery in one year]

With the fate display appearing in his mind, the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique had finally officially reached initiation, greatly lifting his spirits.

Only then did he realize that the sky had already grown completely dark.

"Grrr..."

His stomach rumbled like thunder, and hunger instantly swept through his body. Cheng Heng hurriedly wiped the sweat from his brow and strode quickly toward home.

At that moment, even if a whole ox had been placed before Cheng Heng, he could have eaten it clean.

Cheng Heng was short on money. Disciples from well-off families who practiced martial arts generally ate four meat meals a day, then drank medicinal broth at night to nourish their qi and blood. Only then could their qi and blood increase rapidly.

What was more, Cheng Heng had only heard that in the Inner City, there seemed to be medicinal baths that cost dozens of taels of silver per barrel. After soaking in one, cultivation could advance a thousand miles in a day. That was true extravagance!

Looks like I need to hurry and find some way to make more silver. I don't need much—having meat to eat every day would be enough!

Cheng Heng thought to himself.