Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms

Early the next morning, Hyuga Qingchuan took the initiative to ask Hyuga Kaze to train him.

For now, the Quincy could not fully make up for his close-combat shortcomings, so he had to compensate in that area himself.

By the time the father and son arrived at the village's public training ground, many people were already working up a sweat.

Although quite a few clan residences had some basic training equipment, the space was limited and did not allow much room to move.

That was why more people preferred coming to the village training ground.

The facilities here were complete and the space was wide open. Besides, seeing everyone around them training desperately created an infectious atmosphere that naturally made people more motivated.

The two stopped before a wooden post in one corner of the grounds.

Hyuga Qingchuan's attention, however, was drawn to a training scene in another corner.

Two Uchiha Clan members!

The older Uchiha held three kunai between his fingers and casually tossed them into the air.

Immediately afterward, he threw another three kunai at an even faster speed, precisely striking the tails of the kunai falling through the air.

Then another three, and another three.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The crisp sounds of metal colliding rang out without pause.

The kunai in the air constantly changed direction, tracing dazzling trajectories before all of them were accurately nailed into the backs of several targets!

A very standard Uchiha-Style Kunai Throwing Technique!

That was insanely flashy!

Seeing this, the younger Uchiha boy beside him immediately began clapping and jumping with pride and delight.

Hyuga Kaze walked over to his son and followed his gaze.

"Using the Sharingan's exceptional perception to precisely strike specific points on airborne kunai, changing their flight paths."

He looked at the distant Uchiha Clan members and calmly commented:

"But you needn't envy them. In terms of pure perception, the Byakugan surpasses the Sharingan. With a few tricks, the Byakugan can do this as well."

"Watch closely!"

As he spoke, Hyuga Kaze pulled out a handful of kunai under Hyuga Qingchuan's astonished gaze.

He similarly tossed the kunai into the air.

Then he swiftly threw a second, then a third... The kunai collided and changed direction several times in midair. Though their trajectories were not as flashy or graceful as the Uchiha's, they ultimately nailed themselves just as accurately into the back of the wooden post!

Seeing Hyuga Qingchuan's astonished expression,

Hyuga Kaze looked smug. "When I was young, I figured this out myself after seeing an Uchiha classmate use this technique."

"Though I can't make it look as graceful as the Uchiha Clan does, that is because I'm not proficient with the technique, not because the Byakugan's perception is inferior to the Sharingan's."

He turned around, his expression becoming serious again, and patted his son's shoulder.

"But these things are merely icing on the cake. We possess the Byakugan, and Gentle Fist is our most solid foundation."

"As long as you thoroughly master Gentle Fist, becoming a Special Jonin in the future is assured. Even if your talent is a little lacking, becoming a Chunin like your old man won't be a problem."

Hyuga Qingchuan nodded.

Hyuga Kaze was right about that.

Though Gentle Fist did not have a high ceiling, its floor was not low either. It held major advantages among Genin, Chunin, and even Jonin.

But once one surpassed Jonin and reached Shadow Level, such a single method was no longer enough.

Giant summoned beasts, Susanoo, wide-range ninjutsu—no matter which one it was, it was difficult to imagine what Gentle Fist could accomplish against them.

Unless one could train it to the level of Kaguya's Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack.

Otherwise, no matter how gifted one was, the limit would be an Elite Jonin.

Seeing that Hyuga Qingchuan had taken his words to heart, Hyuga Kaze began explaining Gentle Fist.

"The core of Acupoint Sealing lies in shaping your chakra into needle force, sending it through your opponent's chakra acupoints and into their body, damaging their chakra pathway system or internal organs, thereby instantly paralyzing them or robbing them of their combat ability."

"But how can you touch your opponent's chakra acupoints in the simplest way possible during battle? That is the problem Gentle Fist techniques are meant to solve."

"And Gentle Fist techniques have been passed down through the Hyuga Clan for generations, continuously refined over hundreds and thousands of years."

"The core problem they solve is this: how to accurately touch those vital chakra acupoints on an opponent in fierce, rapid combat, using the simplest and most effective methods."

Hyuga Kaze looked solemn. "From the most fundamental Basic Gentle Fist to the Main House's secret Twin Lion Fists, the ultimate purpose is always to damage the opponent's chakra pathways and internal organs."

"The most profound technique that our Branch House can learn in the Gentle Fist system is the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms."

At this point, Hyuga Kaze took a deep breath, slowly assumed a stance in the training ground, and began demonstrating the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms move by move.

His movements were steady and fluid. Every palm strike carried condensed chakra; his palm wind howled, containing precise and powerful destructive force.

Hyuga Qingchuan held his breath and watched carefully.

The previous owner's learning ability had indeed been poor. After training for years, he had only barely gotten started with the most basic "Acupoint Sealing," while the other Gentle Fist techniques remained utterly incomprehensible to him.

But this time, with the abnormally powerful mental energy and perception he had gained after transmigrating,

he could clearly catch the method behind every one of Hyuga Kaze's palm strikes, the subtle flow of chakra, and the precise coordination of his footwork.

He absorbed this knowledge frantically, and his body even began unconsciously imitating the movements as he practiced along.

Hyuga Kaze demonstrated the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms over and over, while Hyuga Qingchuan focused intently and followed along again and again.

After several rounds of demonstration, Hyuga Kaze finished his form and asked:

"How was it? How much do you remember?"

Hyuga Qingchuan pondered for a moment, seeming to savor every detail from earlier.

"I think I remember all the moves, but it feels like... I haven't truly remembered any of them."

"The greatest taboo in martial arts is rote memorization. The key is understanding its essence and applying it flexibly."

Hyuga Kaze nodded approvingly, then his tone became somewhat complicated. "I just said that the Branch House can only learn the Thirty-Two Palms. In truth, it is a watered-down version of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms."

"However, if someone renders merit to the clan, the Main House will also grant them the remaining thirty-two palms."

His voice lowered, carrying a hint of barely perceptible helplessness and caution.

"Your old man was once given the chance to learn the Sixty-Four Palms. Once you've mastered the Thirty-Two Palms, I'll find an opportunity to... perform the Sixty-Four Palms once for you to watch."

He deliberately stressed the words "for you to watch." "Remember, I'll perform it for you to watch, not teach it to you."

"The Main House's secret techniques are strictly forbidden from being privately passed on."

Hearing this, Hyuga Qingchuan raised an eyebrow without changing his expression.

Forcibly dividing an inheritance that should have belonged to the entire clan and turning it into a reward—the Main House really knew how to play its cards.

He silently grumbled to himself. And judging by how cautious his father was, this reward was probably "one-time only," with passing it down to descendants strictly prohibited.

Still, this was not the time to dwell on it. He would learn it first and worry about the rest later.

For the rest of the day, Hyuga Qingchuan immersed himself in tedious yet fulfilling training, until evening arrived.

At last, heaven rewarded his diligence, and he received Heaven's favor.

[You trained diligently and received favor]

[...]