Triggering the Basic Fist Mission

Lin Hao reached out and held Jiang Chao back, shaking his head.

After three years as classmates, he knew Bai Cheng very well too.

Bai Cheng was acknowledged as the best in their class, the student in the entire school with the best chance of getting into a top martial arts university.

He came from a poor family. On the surface, he seemed proud, but deep down, he felt deeply inferior.

He always liked to talk about the teachers' praise and the importance the school placed on him.

Yet he was extremely sensitive about things like "family background" and "connections," unable to tolerate even the slightest mention of them.

It was as though anyone mentioning them was poking at his sore spot.

As far as Lin Hao was concerned, there was no point trading words with someone like Bai Cheng.

Just then, the school bell rang, suppressing the smell of gunpowder in the air.

The students lined up, and Lin Hao and Jiang Chao took their places among them.

Before long, their practical combat teacher, Zhou Lie, strode over.

Zhou Lie stood nearly 1.9 meters tall, with broad shoulders and a thick back. His training uniform's sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, exposing crisscrossing old scars left by battles with demonic beasts.

He was a retired martial artist who had fought on the frontier. With the cultivation of a Two-Star Martial Artist, he had the most practical combat experience of any teacher at the school.

"Quiet, everyone."

Zhou Lie's voice carried a deep, penetrating force, and the somewhat noisy training ground immediately fell silent.

"We have practical combat class all morning today. First, warm up with three rounds of the Mountain-Subduing Basic Fist to loosen up your muscles and bones. Then pair up for sparring, and I'll work through the finer points with you."

The Mountain-Subduing Basic Fist was an introductory combat fist technique promoted nationwide by the Dragon Country General Bureau of Martial Arts, consisting of twelve forms.

Every move was a basic block, straight punch, or kick, without any flashy flourishes, yet they formed the foundation of all advanced killing techniques.

Following Zhou Lie's commands, the entire class took their stances, opened their forms, sank their waists, and punched. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, their fists whistling through the air.

Lin Hao punched along with the commands, but his mind was watching for any activity from the system.

Last night's main mission had involved cultivating the Basic Eighteen Forms of Qi and Blood.

Then this Mountain-Subduing Basic Fist should trigger a mission too.

Yet after he finished one full set, his mind remained silent, without even a hint of a mechanical voice.

Lin Hao's brows furrowed slightly.

What was going on?

Did it need some specific situation before it would issue a mission?

He followed along through the second and third rounds, making every movement as precise as possible.

But even after all three rounds, the system still showed no response whatsoever.

This only deepened his confusion.

"Stop."

At Zhou Lie's command, everyone finished their forms at the same time.

"That's enough warming up."

Zhou Lie swept his gaze over everyone before it settled on Bai Cheng in the front row. "Bai Cheng, step forward."

"Yes!"

Bai Cheng immediately stepped forward, his back ramrod straight and his face brimming with unconcealed high spirits.

Zhou Lie nodded at Bai Cheng, then addressed the students. "The greatest taboo in actual combat is practicing moves without practicing adaptability. Fight like that, and it's all empty flourishes. The moment you run into a demonic beast, you'll panic."

"Today, Bai Cheng will demonstrate. Is anyone willing to come out and spar with him? I'll break down the details of offense and defense for you on the spot."

As soon as he finished speaking, the ranks fell silent. Everyone instinctively averted their eyes, unwilling to step forward.

Everyone knew that Bai Cheng loved showing off when he sparred and never knew how to hold back.

Quite a few students had ended up covered in bruises after practicing with him.

He would merely offer a casual, "Sorry, I didn't control my strength."

So, while detailed guidance from Mr. Zhou was certainly a rare opportunity,

if they got injured and it interfered with the major exam a month away, the loss would outweigh the gain.

Seeing that no one responded, Bai Cheng's lips curled into a smug smile.

He looked at Mr. Zhou Lie, his tone boastful. "Mr. Zhou, perhaps everyone still lacks confidence in applying their moves flexibly. How about letting me pick an opponent myself?"

As he spoke, he turned his head, his gaze settling on Lin Hao and Jiang Chao in the ranks.

"How about having Jiang Chao or Lin Hao come up and spar with me? I've never had the chance to practice with those two before. Today's perfect for giving them an opportunity."

Hearing Bai Cheng's suggestion, Zhou Lie nodded. "All right. I haven't given Jiang Chao and Lin Hao much guidance in practical combat, either. Let them give it a try."

Standing in the ranks, Lin Hao pressed his lips together slightly.

His and Jiang Chao's qi and blood had consistently ranked at the bottom of the class.

Zhou Lie had never worked through the finer details of combat offense and defense with them.

At most, he corrected their movements in the Mountain-Subduing Basic Fist.

Still, he did not think Mr. Zhou Lie was being biased.

After all, they had not even fully grasped the principles of generating force in the Mountain-Subduing Basic Fist.

Discussing adaptability in combat at this stage was building castles in the air.

Beside him, Jiang Chao did not think that much about it. Staring at Bai Cheng, he flung his jacket to the ground and was about to step forward. "Bring it on! You think I'm scared of you?"

Lin Hao also stood up and stopped Jiang Chao. "Let me go first."

Jiang Chao looked at Lin Hao and lowered his voice. "This guy doesn't know how to pull his punches. Don't you have the martial artist exam in a month? Let me handle it."

"No need." Lin Hao smiled. "Who wins and who loses isn't decided yet."

Jiang Chao froze at that, but seeing the confidence in Lin Hao's eyes, he said, "All right! You go first, then. Good luck! Beat the best in our class."

He had not deliberately lowered his voice, and the surrounding students heard every word.

A wave of quiet snickering immediately rose from the ranks.

Bai Cheng's qi and blood value was almost 1.3. How could Lin Hao possibly be his match?

Hearing Jiang Chao's words, Bai Cheng's expression soured. "You think you can beat me?" he sneered. "It makes no difference which of you goes first. I'll have both of you carried off horizontally anyway."

"Bai Cheng."

Zhou Lie frowned, his voice deepening. "This is sparring between classmates. Stop short of hurting each other. What are you saying things like that for?"

Bai Cheng stiffened and hurriedly lowered his head. "Yes, Mr. Zhou. I'll keep it within bounds."

Just then, Lin Hao lifted his foot and took a step forward.

At last, the system's voice rang out in his mind.

[Main mission issued. Host, please check promptly.]

[Main mission: Build a foundation in fist techniques, reach the profound through mortal combat]

[Mission requirements: Raise proficiency in the "Mountain-Subduing Basic Fist" to 100% perfection. Complete a cumulative total of 10,000 standard offense-and-defense drills, thoroughly grasp the offensive and defensive principles of every form, adapt them to actual mortal combat in all scenarios, and develop muscle instinct.]

[Mission time limit: 100 days]

[Mission rewards: Ten years of practical experience fighting demonic beasts on the border front lines; full unlocking of instinctive fist technique responses]

Lin Hao was overjoyed.

Sure enough, it was just as he had expected.

Accepting Bai Cheng's challenge really could trigger a mission.

He knew very well the weight of ten years of fighting experience on the border.

Mr. Zhou Lie had spent five years on the border and was already Jiangcheng No. 2 High School's ace practical combat teacher.

Of those who could survive ten years of fighting on a border surrounded by demonic beasts, which one was not a ruthless figure who had clawed his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood?

That kind of experience, honed between life and death, was something no amount of money could buy.