Surging Wave Palm

After returning home, Zhang Yuan told Zhang's Mother that he had joined the Raging Whale Gang.

He had considered hiding it from her at first. After all, roaming the martial world with a gang carried great risks, and he did not want her to worry.

But after becoming a Battle Hall disciple of the Raging Whale Gang, Zhang Yuan could no longer be as free as before. If he went out every day, he needed a proper reason.

Rather than rack his brains weaving lies, he might as well tell her the truth.

Zhang's Mother did not get angry after hearing him out. She sighed. "Yuan'er, you've grown up. You're fully capable of making your own decisions."

"Mother believes the decision you made is the right one. I only hope that you will protect yourself from now on."

"No matter what happens, keeping your life is the most important thing!"

Zhang Yuan nodded. "Don't worry. I told you I'd bring home eighteen wives as beautiful as flowers and jade for you."

"And have another eighty grandsons and granddaughters, right?"

Zhang's Mother did not know whether to laugh or cry. "You child, you only know how to make Mother happy!"

Though she said that, it was clear she was still very happy.

That matter was thus put behind them.

Early the next morning, before dawn had broken, Zhang Yuan left home and headed out of the city for Whale Fortress by the Celestial Steed River.

He changed into an Azure Sturdy Shirt.

Zhang Yuan was currently a Provisional Disciple of the Raging Whale Gang. He needed to earn the Battle Hall's approval within three months before he could become an Official Disciple.

Then he would be able to change into white robes.

After presenting his identity plaque, verifying his identity, and passing through layer upon layer of checkpoints, Zhang Yuan entered the grounds of the Raging Whale Gang's Linhe Branch once more.

After completing his admission procedures yesterday, Chen Zhize had taken him around Whale Fortress, inside and out.

He had also introduced Zhang Yuan to several gang members.

So when he arrived today, Zhang Yuan went straight to martial master Dong Yuanwei. "Disciple Zhang Yuan greets Instructor Dong!"

Dong Yuanwei was a Battle Hall Instructor, specifically responsible for teaching new disciples cultivation methods, Martial Skills, and gang rules.

This martial master had a burly frame, a face covered in thick whiskers, and an imposing presence.

Since the two had met yesterday, Dong Yuanwei did not waste words. He asked directly, "Zhang Yuan, when did you enter Strength, and what cultivation method did you learn?"

Zhang Yuan answered respectfully, "This disciple entered Strength half a month ago and cultivates the Boulder Foundation Skill."

"The Boulder Foundation Skill?"

Dong Yuanwei nodded thoughtfully. "Mm, it's a fine foundational cultivation method."

He abruptly raised his right palm and shouted in a deep voice, "Don't move!"

The next instant, the martial master suddenly stepped forward and slapped Zhang Yuan's unguarded chest.

A stream of gentle force instantly poured into Zhang Yuan's body.

Then came a second palm, a third, a fourth...

Dong Yuanwei shifted positions as he moved, striking Zhang Yuan more than a dozen times across his chest, abdomen, back, shoulders, arms, and other areas.

Stirred by the force of those palms, Zhang Yuan's blood and qi churned while his sinews and bones rang.

Yet he suffered no injury whatsoever.

"Eh?"

Dong Yuanwei withdrew his palm and stood solemnly, his pair of leopard eyes brightening slightly. "Your natural physique is quite good, and your foundation skill is practiced solidly. Who did you learn this cultivation method from before?"

Zhang Yuan hesitated.

The origins of the "Boulder Foundation Skill" he cultivated were truly difficult to explain.

"Forget it."

Before Zhang Yuan could answer, Dong Yuanwei waved his hand. "Once one enters the sect, we do not ask about one's origins. Pretend I never asked."

"Come with me!"

Zhang Yuan followed him to the Martial Arts Field within Whale Fortress.

Dozens of youths in sturdy shirts already stood solemnly on the Martial Arts Field.

Most were around Zhang Yuan's age, and the oldest did not appear to be over twenty.

When Dong Yuanwei brought Zhang Yuan over, everyone's gazes immediately focused on them.

Most of the looks directed at Zhang Yuan carried curiosity.

"This is Zhang Yuan, a new disciple who has joined the Battle Hall."

Dong Yuanwei gave a brief introduction, then had Zhang Yuan stand beside the formation.

"Disciples, the Raging Whale Gang's introductory martial arts are mainly divided into the Surging Wave Palm, the Wave Cutting Blade, and the Rippling Steps."

The Battle Hall Instructor's resounding voice echoed across the Martial Arts Field, clear to every ear. "Starting today, I will first teach you the Surging Wave Palm. Watch the demonstration!"

He immediately began demonstrating the Surging Wave Palm before the dozens of disciples.

Every stance and movement was methodical and precise, seemingly orthodox and unremarkable.

Yet after only a few moves, wind and thunder erupted from level ground!

As Dong Yuanwei's palms struck out again and again, streams of invisible force surged and roiled around him, like massive boulders crashing into once-still waters and raising wave upon wave of stormy billows.

The disciples standing at the front could not help revealing frightened expressions as they retreated one after another.

They feared being caught in Dong Yuanwei's palm force!

Yet the Battle Hall Instructor controlled his power exceptionally well. The palm wind only circled back and forth within five feet of his body.

Even if they had not retreated, they would not have been harmed in the slightest.

At the side, Zhang Yuan watched without blinking, unconsciously clenching his fists.

Aside from the "Boulder Foundation Skill," he had never encountered true martial arts before. At most, he had secretly watched Hunter Gao practice fist techniques and saber arts.

If the "Boulder Foundation Skill" had helped Zhang Yuan step through the gate of martial cultivation,

then Dong Yuanwei was now leading him into the inner halls, allowing him to experience the splendor of the martial path!

Zhang Yuan felt that joining the Raging Whale Gang had been entirely the right choice.

He stared fixedly at Dong Yuanwei, afraid of missing even half a stance of the latter's demonstration, doing everything he could to commit it to memory.

Though Zhang Yuan knew very well that the Battle Hall Instructor could not possibly teach it only once.

A short while later, Dong Yuanwei withdrew his palms and gathered his breath.

His gaze swept across every youth present before finally settling on Zhang Yuan's face.

The Battle Hall Instructor said in a deep voice, "The Surging Wave Palm has twelve forms in total. I will first teach you the first three."

"The key to this palm technique lies in..."

Once the actual lesson began, Zhang Yuan listened with even greater absorption.

Zhang Yuan had started late on the martial path. Though entering Strength overnight proved his talent and natural physique, he clearly still had far too many gaps to make up in the basics.

Take the "Boulder Foundation Skill," for example. Without the annotations, Zhang Yuan could not understand much of its contents.

The coming three months were precisely his best opportunity to rise up and catch up!

Dong Yuanwei's instruction did not end until noon drew near.

The Battle Hall Instructor said, "After lunch, practice on your own this afternoon. I'll come check on you. Anyone who slacks off can get the hell out early!"

With that, he left directly, leaving behind a group of youths whose sinews and bones had gone weak.

Many lost their energy and ran to the shade beside the Martial Arts Field, collapsing onto the ground all at once.

Zhang Yuan was likewise drenched in sweat and parched, feeling as though the blazing sun above would roast him alive.

Yet his spirit was not the least bit weary. Instead, he felt an indescribable thrill.

After a morning of study, Zhang Yuan had already gained a preliminary grasp of the first three forms of the Surging Wave Palm.

This was the first Martial Skill he had ever learned!