Formless

No one knew how many people could naturally adapt to movements that defied the common sense of bones.

The Martial Dao truly was difficult!

However, his Blood Qi was special.

Absorbing the mist within that crack last time had seemed to open a door for him.

Even without any more mist for him to absorb, his Blood Qi seemed to have evolved, granting him far greater recovery than before.

Far beyond that of ordinary people.

It seems my chances of passing this Initiation examination are extremely high.

As Lin Xiaotian pondered in secret, he watched Senior Brother Tao's movements atop the post.

Then he verified them one by one.

There were also several people nearby who were not merely hotheaded fools. They, too, had noticed the differences in this Stake Skill.

Several of them furrowed their brows.

When Senior Brother Tao finished the first demonstration and gave everyone time to digest it, Lin Xiaotian swept his gaze over the disciples qualified to learn the stance technique and immediately understood.

Not everyone is a muddleheaded fool.

"Alright, after this first demonstration, you should have seen that this technique is not overly complicated."

"Some of you may even be secretly delighted, thinking it is too easy."

"Let me tell you, you are gravely mistaken. This technique is not simple in the slightest.

"If anything goes wrong while you practice it, do not force yourself too hard. Otherwise, you may very well suffer serious injuries."

At once, the trainees below began chattering among themselves. Their earlier casualness vanished as they began seriously weighing the gains and losses.

"Alright, I'll give you ten breaths' time to digest it properly. Then I'll demonstrate it a second time. This time, open your eyes and watch carefully."

Sure enough, the people below became far more serious. One by one, they restrained their delight, and their expressions gained several shades of gravity.

Senior Brother Tao looked over the reactions below. When his eyes landed on Lin Xiaotian, he even nodded at him.

Then, after ten breaths had passed, Senior Brother Tao gave a loud shout as a warning and began demonstrating once more.

This time, the people below watched with extreme focus.

Quite a few discovered problems they had failed to notice before, and their expressions immediately grew even more solemn.

"Ah, this... this footwork may look smooth, but I simply can't do it..."

"If I force myself to do it, my legs may not snap or break, but I'll definitely get injured..."

The relaxed atmosphere was gone. Instead, even the air seemed to have thickened, making it stifling to breathe.

Lin Xiaotian glanced at those young teenagers and smiled faintly.

So they had finally discovered how difficult it was. That confidence brimming over from before was about to come to nothing.

As he swept his gaze around, he suddenly noticed that the few who had first realized this technique was unusual had furrowed their brows even more deeply.

Lin Xiaotian sighed inwardly. There really were several sharp-eyed seedlings among them!

Senior Brother Tao's Stake Skill on the platform now appeared no different from the first demonstration, with the same routine and moves.

But if one looked carefully, one would discover that these movements already differed from before. It was not the same routine at all.

Lin Xiaotian understood that the core of this Stake Skill should be Blood Qi, along with several key points. Nothing else needed much attention.

In other words, it emphasized the inside rather than the form.

Apart from those few who had frowned, seemingly noticing something, everyone else remained completely unaware.

Before long, the second set was finished as well.

Senior Brother Tao directly announced in a loud voice:

"Take the time of an incense stick to digest it. After that, I'll demonstrate it one final time."

With that, he leaped down from the post.

The voices below immediately grew much louder as they discussed the differences in this Stake Skill with one another.

Senior Brother Tao walked straight over to Lin Xiaotian.

Lin Xiaotian blinked, unable to understand why Senior Brother Tao had come to him alone.

"Junior Brother, did you make out anything?"

Lin Xiaotian thought briefly, then honestly explained what he had just concluded.

"Haha, brilliant! I guessed Junior Brother would figure it out, and sure enough, you did."

"My extra care for you these past two days was not in vain."

Lin Xiaotian instantly understood. This burly senior brother who appeared so careless was not ignorant of everything.

He had long noticed Lin Xiaotian's unusual qualities, and not merely because of his sister's beauty.

"Junior Brother, the most important part of this Stake Skill is its mnemonic formula. It adjusts one's breathing through the formula, thereby affecting Blood Qi and drawing out its potential."

"There should be key points too, right? Senior Brother Tao, the moves in the middle changed each time."

At Lin Xiaotian's words, Senior Brother Tao gave a snort of laughter. "You really are impossible to fool."

Then his voice became serious.

"In this stance technique, those few places in the movements are key points. They all slightly defy normal human movements."

"With our mnemonic formula, those with Martial Dao aptitude can get through them. Unfortunately, the potential of most people's Blood Qi is insufficient."

Lin Xiaotian nodded, gaining a general understanding of the stance art. Then he asked again:

"Senior Brother Tao, even with a mnemonic formula that can stimulate Blood Qi, this kind of pain cannot be avoided no matter what, can it?"

Senior Brother Tao laughed heartily.

"Junior Brother is right. This pain is also part of the test. No matter how great one's potential is, if one cannot endure hardship, it will all be in vain in the end."

"Alright, the time is about up. I need to teach the mnemonic formula for this stance art."

"Please do, Senior Brother Tao." Lin Xiaotian's voice was gentle as he watched his senior brother return to the post. With a single leap, he landed atop it and assumed the Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg posture.

"Alright, everyone, time is up. With my first two demonstrations, I believe you should have remembered most of it by now."

"Next, I'll explain the key points of several moves. These are the core of the entire stance art. Add the mnemonic formula, and whoever can perform it will have passed."

Once he finished speaking, he began reciting the mnemonic formula.

Lin Xiaotian listened carefully. The more he listened, the more he felt that the Martial Dao of this world differed from everything he had heard of in his previous life.

Though it was called a Martial Dao technique, it felt more like using all sorts of means and methods to gradually strengthen one's Blood Qi.

It even gave him the feeling that, if cultivated to the end, this Blood Qi could evolve into divine powers.

The moment that thought surfaced, it gave him a fright.

From the memories in this body, he knew that divine powers did not exist in this world.

As he pondered, a great commotion suddenly rose around him, and the voices were filled with shock.

"Heavens, look! Senior Brother's stance art in this demonstration seems different..."

"It doesn't just seem different. It is completely different from the first two times, not the least bit alike. It is practically another Stake Skill altogether."

The murmurs grew more and more numerous as they all discovered how vastly different this final demonstration was.

At that moment, someone in the middle suddenly said:

"Look, the movements at the few key points Senior Brother just mentioned haven't changed. Everything else has."

"Oh... I understand. As long as we grasp those points, then add this mnemonic formula..."

"Thank you for the reminder."

As Senior Brother Tao continued his demonstration, more and more people began to comprehend the essence within it.

Lin Xiaotian listened quietly, watching Senior Brother Tao teach the mnemonic formula and complete the final demonstration, a smile curling onto his lips.

It seemed none of those who had come to learn were too foolish. After Senior Brother Tao's instruction and reminders, most of them had returned to their confident selves.

He just wondered how many would be crying later.

The corners of Lin Xiaotian's lips rose again.

"Alright, junior brothers and sisters. As long as you can successfully complete this stance art within three days, you will become disciples of our martial arts hall."