Stance Breakthrough (Seeking Recommendations)

Bang!

Cole's body slammed heavily to the ground. For a moment, he could not even make a sound, as though he had been knocked unconscious.

"Cole... lost?"

"He's a Natural Human, one of the top students in the class."

The surrounding students fell silent. Only after a long while did someone mutter.

"Wait, didn't Fang Xing say that before, he only had a flash of inspiration and couldn't consistently throw Cannon Fists?"

"You believe that? How is that any different from a top student claiming they didn't do well on a test?"

"That makes so much sense..."

"A Xing, you actually took down Cole?"

Liu Wei stepped forward and patted his best friend on the shoulder. "How did you get so good?"

"Of course, it's because I've trained diligently and persistently."

Fang Xing spouted the correct sort of nonsense, then smiled at Bai Lianyi beside Liu Wei and casually tucked his right hand behind his back.

Cole's physical condition was actually stronger than his. He had only lost in terms of techniques and moves.

Fang Xing had only won this time because he caught him off guard at the start and struck with all his strength. His fist still hurt a little now.

"Fang Xing, you're really amazing. I look forward to sparring with you next time."

Bai Lianyi spoke softly and weakly. "Remember to go easy on me..."

"Sure. We can improve together."

Fang Xing nodded.

After school.

On the riverbank embankment.

Holding two bottles of soda, he tossed one to Liu Wei. "Actually... I think Ouyang Qianqian suits you better."

"Glug glug... Ah, that hits the spot!"

Liu Wei drained it in one go before saying, "Actually, I think the gap between Ouyang Qianqian and me is too wide... After all, she's a Natural Human, while I'm just a Biochemical Human with nothing to my name... As for Bai Lianyi... fine, I'm joking. I haven't been getting close to her lately because I want to pursue her. Though I do have a bit of a crush on her. Bai is a nice person, and the part-time jobs she's shared lately have all paid pretty well..."

"So it was for part-time work? Looks like you haven't forgotten your dream."

Fang Xing nodded.

"Of course. I've been secretly working hard too, even if I can't compare to you." Liu Wei flashed a broad smile.

"Oh, right. There's a job opening at Glory River Mansion. Want to take it?"

Fang Xing suddenly asked.

"Glory River Mansion? Could it be..." Liu Wei shuddered involuntarily.

"That's right. It's Gu Yun's." Fang Xing nodded. He had deliberately found this job.

He had really gone to great lengths for Liu Wei.

After all, they were classmates and had the same breaks.

If he ran into Bai Lianyi again at Glory River Mansion... surely he would wake up then, right?

...Sigh. This is as far as I can help you, brother.

Fang Xing sighed inwardly.

"That Gu Yun hits really hard..."

Liu Wei hesitated.

"But she pays."

Fang Xing answered as though it were only natural.

"I suffered like hell last time..."

"But she pays."

"I... I... Fine, isn't it just for money? I'll go!" Liu Wei gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

"Now that's the spirit."

Fang Xing nodded.

Glory River Mansion.

Villa, Training Ground.

"Let's make this clear first. Turn on the Gravity Suit before we spar with you."

When Liu Wei saw Gu Yun with her hair tied into a small braid, he hurriedly waved his hands.

"Don't worry, don't worry... This time, I'll definitely master the Demon Blade and completely control this Demonic Nature!"

Gu Yun gripped a Wooden Blade, brimming with confidence.

"Come on!"

Liu Wei had learned his lesson this time and immediately held his wooden staff in front of himself.

"Good!"

Gu Yun gave a sharp cry and slashed out with her Wooden Blade.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Her attack was even faster than last time, and one blade shadow after another appeared in the air.

The three blade shadows seemed to strike without any order, chopping down on Liu Wei's wooden staff at the same time.

—Triple Layered Blade!

Whoosh!

A shadow flashed, and the wooden staff vanished.

"Huh? Where's my staff?"

Liu Wei's eyes widened. Then he cried out miserably and was sent flying by a slash.

"Kill!"

Gu Yun was clearly getting carried away again. She stomped a small foot down on Liu Wei's chest as he lay unable to rise, then brought her Wooden Blade down toward his throat.

Even a Wooden Blade could inflict severe injuries on such a vital spot!

Clang!

At the critical moment, another wooden staff flew over and blocked the Wooden Blade.

A faint dark red seemed to fill Gu Yun's eyes. With a flash of blade light, the wooden staff was sent flying, and she turned to face Fang Xing as he rushed toward her!

"Ha!"

Fang Xing stepped into a bow stance. A layer of silver-white nano protection covered his fist, as though he were wearing a Fist Glove.

Bow Stance Cannon Fist!

One move was enough to conquer the world!

This was naturally the move he was most proficient in now.

Bang!

The silver-white fist collided with the Wooden Blade. Fang Xing only felt a powerful force rush toward him, forcing him back several steps.

Gu Yun looks like a little girl, but she's actually stronger than Cole!

Has she already broken through to the Second Realm of martial arts and begun tempering her bones and tendons?

Without the Protective Suit, I'd have to be an idiot to use my fist against a blade, even a Wooden Blade!

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Fang Xing's mind. He took a deep breath and prepared to have the Protective Suit cover his entire body.

But Gu Yun trembled slightly, and much of the crimson in her eyes faded. Looking at Fang Xing, a trace of satisfaction appeared on her face. "A Basic Nano Protective Suit? Very good... Now this is what you call professional. I can strike with full force too, without worrying that I might accidentally hack you to death!"

"Wait, wait!"

Fang Xing inwardly cried out in alarm. Just as he was about to speak, Gu Yun turned off the Gravity Suit. A trace of bloodlust and excitement appeared on her delicate little face. "Kill! Kill, kill, kill!"

Half an hour later.

The middle-aged man from last time appeared in the Training Ground. His gaze rested for a moment on Fang Xing's Nano Protective Suit before he looked at Fang Xing and Liu Wei. "That Protective Suit is pretty good, but don't wear it next time. It feels different when you strike it, and the training effect is different too... But we'll let it slide this time. Letting off steam once in a while isn't bad."

He smiled. "You practice the Military Body Boxing Twelve Forms, right? Aside from the first punch, which has some promise, the rest are still somewhat rough. I can give you two some pointers. Hmm, twenty minutes... But this time, I'll have to charge the standard rate."

Fang Xing and Liu Wei exchanged a glance. "Please instruct us!"

"When I first started practicing martial arts, I learned the Military Body Boxing Twelve Forms too. But I preferred leg techniques, so let me first demonstrate the Battle Axe Leg..."

The middle-aged man kicked through the air.

Snap!

The air seemed to split apart. An invisible gust from his leg swept past, and a wooden post several meters away suddenly exploded, revealing a deep blade mark.

"That's incredible... Uncle, you're definitely a true Professional, aren't you?"

Liu Wei was dumbstruck by the sight.

He had seen Bai Lianyi's Battle Axe Leg before, but he knew that compared to Uncle Gu, it was nothing worth mentioning.

"Nothing special. Later on, I gave up studying the Military Body Boxing Twelve Forms. Although its moves are concise, it's easy to learn but difficult to master... Still, if cultivated to a profound level, its Military Dao Intent is quite formidable."

Uncle Gu smiled and began explaining. "The essence of this kick lies in..."

Twenty minutes later.

Fang Xing and Liu Wei left, both still wanting more.

"So this is guidance from a real Professional?"

Liu Wei rubbed his chin. "It feels a little worse than Xia Long Teacher's, but we paid less. Didn't we get the short end of the stick?"

"It's still better than practicing on our own... Xia Long Teacher isn't just a Professional; he's a dedicated education worker with extensive teaching experience. How could they be the same?"

Fang Xing shook his head.

He could tell that Uncle Gu was rather frugal, so he had used instruction to make up for the additional compensation for their injuries.

But regardless, Liu Wei might not know it, but Fang Xing himself had definitely come out far ahead.

The changes in the Attribute Panel were proof enough!

Military Body Boxing Twelve Forms: 76/100 (Beginner)

Not bad, not bad. This is overall improvement...

But I'm still no match for his daughter. I have to keep working hard.

Fang Xing silently made up his mind.

Time flew by.

During this period, Fang Xing constantly drank medicine and trained. He occasionally went out to work with Liu Wei, and spent his free time gaming online. His days were incredibly fulfilling.

This day.

Happy Home District.

Inside the Training Room.

Name: Fang Xing

Age: 16

Profession: Martial Artist

First Realm: Skin and Flesh (Skin Refinement: 43/100)

Military Body Boxing Twelve Forms: 86/100 (Beginner)

Great Dragon Stance: 99/100 (Beginner)

Gate of Heavens: 59/100 (Locating)

"The last bit of Nutrient Fluid..."

Fang Xing opened his mouth and swallowed the final 20 milliliters of D3 Nutrient Solution, then began practicing the Great Dragon Stance.

He forgot himself and the world, immersing himself in the stance as he continuously circulated his Qi-Blood.

Three hours later.

Something mysterious happened.

Roar! Roar!

The circulation of his Qi-Blood abruptly accelerated, as though it had broken through some barrier.

Then, the bones throughout his body quivered. Countless sounds overlapped, seeming to form a dragon's roar!

Great Dragon Stance: 1/100 (Proficient Level)

"Leveled up?"

Fang Xing was delighted. He felt that his stance had improved by leaps and bounds.

Even more astonishingly, every movement he made now carried a mysterious quality.

"My previous stance was crude, far too crude. It was honestly unbearable to look at..."

After making a slight comparison, Fang Xing felt there were many areas where his stance could be improved.

He even felt that after making these improvements, the speed at which he refined his Skin and Flesh would increase greatly!

The next day.

First Realm: Skin and Flesh (Skin Refinement: 44/100)

Looking at the one-point increase in Skin Refinement progress, a satisfied smile appeared on Fang Xing's face.

"A Proficient Level Great Dragon Stance really can't be compared to the Beginner level... By this estimate, I can probably gain one point of proficiency per day or so... My cultivation speed has increased dramatically."

"If merely the Proficient Level is already like this, what about higher levels? The future is bright, the future is bright!"

"As expected, the only thing standing between me and success was a Golden Finger."