A Dragon's Roar (Happy Lunar New Year's Eve)

Before the fist arrived, the intent preceded it, and it felt as if a mountain was pressing down on the courtyard, with dragons and tigers groaning softly.

Yu Tunzhou stared intently at Lu Huaiqing's fist, his body moving spontaneously. His spine grew taller and taller, and all his Inner Qi was concentrated in his fist. Although there was some stagnation, it was the powerful Inner Qi that forced it through. He struck first after being hit by Lu Huaiqing's fist!

The two fists collided with a muffled thud, and a powerful and unparalleled force surged through their arms.

Yu Tunzhou didn't retreat a step, let out a muffled groan, and took half the force of the punch. He then used the Taiji technique to deflect the remaining force onto his feet.

"Acceptable."

Lu Huaiqing's voice rang out.

Yu Tunzhou had already exhaled and made a sound, striking before Lu Huaiqing could throw his third punch. His fist followed his body, and his figure moved like a giant dragon riding the waves, unpredictable and elusive.

Lu Huaiqing nodded, making no attempt to hide his appreciation.

A martial artist must dare to attack.

However, the next moment, he dodged to the side, his arms twisting like dragon claws locking the clouds, his strength like coiling silk, easily subduing the Yu Tunzhou's Dragon Walks and Treads the Waves, using the force to throw him away.

Yu Tunzhou twisted in mid-air, landed on its feet and took several steps back, its eyes growing increasingly intense.

This move is remarkably similar to his Taiji.

"Continue."

Lu Huaiqing's gaze fell on the slowly flowing Fist Intent emanating from Yu Tunzhou.

Yu Tunzhou had just mastered the Subduing the Dragon and Taming the Tiger, so this was naturally not the true essence of the Subduing the Dragon and Taming the Tiger Fist Intent, yet it was gradually growing stronger with each impact of his punches.

As expected, this was not a single Fist Intent, but Yu Tunzhou's most fundamental Martial Dao will.

At this moment, this Fist Intent is merging into the Subduing the Dragon and Taming the Tiger...

No, it should be said that this set of Subduing the Dragon and Taming the Tiger Fist is being integrated into the Fist Intent of Yu Tunzhou!

The next moment, Lu Huaiqing once again took the initiative to attack Yu Tunzhou. His fist technique changed again, and Yu Tunzhou felt as if a dragon and a tiger were pouncing on him, making his body and mind tremble. But instead of retreating, the burning desire in his eyes became even more intense.

This is the Martial Dao he desires!

Thud--

The overflowing force of the punches swept around, raising clouds of dust.

In the courtyard, Li Jingxuan quietly moved his recliner to the side; he didn't want to ingest dust.

Dingguang covered his eyes with both hands, only daring to peek through the gaps at his senior brother being beaten up.

The battle lasted until noon.

Lu Huaiqing finally stopped the punch and nodded in satisfaction. "Good progress. Your Nature Cultivation has Meditative Concentration. The basics of Chain Forming Martial Arts are not difficult for you. Take a rest first, and we'll continue practicing punches this afternoon."

That's all.

Lu Huaiqing left with his hands behind his back, leaving Yu Tunzhou alone in the courtyard, still holding his fist stance.

Dingguang glanced at the sky and then went to the kitchen to start a fire.

A moment later, he poked his bald head out of the kitchen again, puzzled, and asked, "Senior brother, why aren't you moving?"

Yu Tunzhou remained in his fist stance, seemingly unchanged from before.

Li Jingxuan snapped out of his daze and glanced at the scene, his eyes revealing a strange look.

Lu Huaiqing was indeed very measured; on their first practice session, he had pushed Senior Brother Yu to a point where there was no room for error.

At this moment, Senior Brother Yu was completely exhausted, yet he still managed to maintain his fist stance.

It can be called --

Even a dead tiger cannot fall from its perch.

Li Jingxuan looked around, sighed, and had no choice but to get up and walk towards Senior Brother Yu.

When he got within ten feet of Senior Brother Yu, he suddenly stopped, as the Fist Intent emanating from the former spontaneously regarded him as an enemy.

The man may fall, but his fist remains; the fist may fall, but his spirit endures.

Senior Brother Yu is indeed a martial arts prodigy.

Li Jingxuan reached out and gently smoothed down Yu Tunzhou's fist stance, then lifted him up and slowly placed him on the recliner.

At this moment, Yu Tunzhou slowly closed his eyes, his breathing becoming calm and deep. His Fist Intent suddenly dissipated, but it did not disappear; instead, it rose and fell with his breath.

Li Jingxuan shook his head helplessly.

Looks like I'll have to cook lunch myself from now on.

That's fine, he was already tired of Senior Brother Yu's cooking.

Lu Huaiqing walked alone to the mountain peak.

Today was his first time practicing boxing, Yu Tunzhou was very satisfied with his performance.

It wasn't because Yu Tunzhou had already mastered the Body-like Great Elixir technique that learning the Chain Forming Martial Arts was so easy.

Rather, it is the spirit and energy that Yu Tunzhou displays within this context.

In Martial Dao combat, not retreating is the bottom line, and daring to fight is one's duty.

Based on the current progress, before they attack Luofu Grotto-Heaven, Yu Tunzhou will most likely be able to fulfill the agreement he made years ago.

Lu Huaiqing gazed towards a certain spot in the cave, silently reciting in his heart:

Master Lu, please wait a little longer.

The man deep inside the cave had long since stopped paying attention to the obsessive fellow. He instead looked at the boy on the recliner with amusement, clicking his tongue in amazement.

The Buddhist disciple lights the fire, the Daoist disciple cooks?

Are you here to suffer or to enjoy life?

What a blessing!

Night falls.

Yu Tunzhou, dragging his weary body, prepared to return to his room.

This person has exhausted all his strength, and his Inner Qi Seed has completely dried up, requiring him to replenish it through breathing exercises.

He gasped for breath, rubbed his mouth, and saw that his eyes were already bruised and black, making him look like a panda. This guy hadn't held back at all, and was aiming for his face every now and then; he was just short of getting a few groin kicks.

It was still very enjoyable, though.

Although he was physically exhausted, he felt an indescribable sense of exhilaration!

Every punch lands with a visceral impact, the purest physical collision. With each strike, it's as if something deep within the bones is being pulled upwards and grown!

After just three beatings today, his mastery of Subduing the Dragon and Taming the Tiger has reached a high level, but he is still a little short of achieving a true union of dragon and tiger.

In Lu Huaiqing's words, this "little bit" could mean several years, or it could mean tomorrow, for a martial artist.

Where are you going?

At that moment, Lu Huaiqing's voice came through, tinged with doubt.

Yu Tunzhou's steps froze.

Although it was really exhilarating to fight, I just can't keep going anymore!

"Come back," Lu Huaiqing urged. "First came learning boxing, now comes instruction. While your strength recovers, feel free to ask me anything about the five realms of cultivation, Nature Cultivation, or even the state of the world."

Yu Tunzhou secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It's not enough to just keep fighting.

Then came the surprise.

Can all my questions about spiritual practice be answered?

This is exactly what he needs and lacks right now!

In the courtyard, the two sat cross-legged.

Before everything began.

Lu Huaiqing asked Yu Tunzhou a question.

"Yu Tunzhou, do you know how big this world is?"

"Throughout the ages and across the vast expanse, that's all there is to it."

Lu Huaiqing looked up at the night sky and said slowly,

Remember this: no matter how big the world is, only what belongs to us is the real world.

Yu Tunzhou, stunned.

Even today, it seems that every wise person who encounters him likes to ask him this question, as they all want to tell themselves that the world is vast, far beyond their imagination.

Only the person before him was telling him that the world was really just like that.

Whether it's big or small, it doesn't matter.

Whether or not it has anything to do with them is what matters.

Yu Tunzhou wholeheartedly agrees with this point.

Next, Lu Huaiqing talked about the "Immortal Foundation" that Yu Tunzhou was most interested in and most in need of at the moment.

As a former Immortal Seed, and Immortal Seed who emerged from Luofu Grotto-Heaven, Lu Huaiqing meticulously explained the mysteries of Martial Fortune to Yu Tunzhou.

Besides expanding and strengthening the meridians and nourishing the Inner Qi Seed, Martial Fortune can also endow a martial artist's Inner Qi with a [suppressive] attribute.

When facing other martial artists who did not have Martial Fortune background, the clash of Inner Qi gives them an inherent advantage.

The more Martial Fortune gathers, the stronger this the Unseen pressure will become.

After that, it was the the Unseen Martial Dao.

Those who absorb the Martial Fortune will experience significant improvement, whether through comprehension or practice; this is the protection of the Martial Dao.

"Including today, the next battle for destiny will begin in six days. Be prepared."

"I hope you can maintain your advantage this time and absorb as much Martial Fortune as possible."

"Get some rest." Lu Huaiqing looked up at the night sky, stood up, and said, "We'll continue practicing tomorrow."

Yu Tunzhou stayed in the courtyard for a while longer.

After regaining some of his strength, he got up and went back inside.

The next day.

Practicing boxing.

The little monk covered his eyes.

Day three.

Practicing boxing.

The little monk sighed.

Day four.

I'll continue practicing boxing.

The young monk had gotten used to it.

Day 5.

Yu Tunzhou used the Azure Dragon Extends Its Claw, combined with the principles of Taiji, to transform his Inner Qi into a coiling force, and counterattacked, sending Lu Huaiqing flying.

Dingguang was feeding the fox cubs and didn't see it.

The little fox, wagging its tail, watched someone get beaten up while eating. Suddenly, it saw this and was shocked. Had the bad guy gotten stronger again?

Has the Human Race progressed that quickly?

Day 6.

As Yu Tunzhou and Lu Huaiqing clashed, a second roar of dragons and howls of tigers seemed to resound, but it could never be replicated.

That night.

After regaining his strength, Yu Tunzhou went straight to the mountaintop.

After using the [Spark Instruction] to inhale and exhale pure energy, quickly replenishing his Inner Qi Seed, his strength was almost fully restored.

He stood up and, atop the mountain, performed a set of Subduing the Dragon and Taming the Tiger Fist alone. From the stance to the final dragon-tiger combined strike, he completed the entire routine in one go, feeling his fist movements becoming increasingly fluid.

Until a dragon's roar echoed from the mountaintop.