Chapter 56: Entry to Standing Post Skill

Soon, Jiang Cheng arrived at his home's doorway.

He adjusted his breathing, pretended nothing had happened, knocked on the door, and called, "Grandma, I'm back."

Inside, the sound of a lock being opened rang, the door opened, and it was the neighbor Chen Sao, whose complexion did not look good.

"Chen Sao is also here."

Jiang Cheng gave a faint smile.

"Come in first."

Chen Sao glanced toward the outside, and after Jiang Cheng entered, she closed the door.

"Xiao Cheng, I heard from Grandma that you went to see someone off?"

"Yes."

Jiang Cheng gave the Old Man a glance and nodded.

"Don't do that again in the future."

Chen Sao frowned, "Your friend, if he wants to return without being blocked, could get an Ordinary Member of the Martial Arts Hall for himself. What's the point of you delivering him? And this card can only be used by oneself, not by others, right?"

Jiang Cheng wore a look of resentment.

Chen Sao was still shrewd, and immediately saw the crux of the problem.

"Chen Sao, it's just a gamble; if those thugs notice, they might ask for a little less, considering I'm a Senior Member of the Martial Arts Hall," Jiang Cheng explained.

Chen Sao sighed at the words, "Xiao Cheng, I know you're kind‑hearted, but this area isn't safe at night; walking the night roads often leads to danger, just like two years ago when gang members were slashing each other on the street, some kept cutting here, and during the day the road was soaked in blood,

as the saying goes, it's not the ten thousand you fear, but the 'what‑if'; what if you run into those people? When they go berserk, they don't care whether you're a Senior Member of the Martial Arts Hall or not."

"Yes, Xiao Cheng, tell that kid Xiao Lu; if you're embarrassed, I'll speak to him for you," the Old Man added quickly upon hearing this.

Jiang Cheng wrestled with it for a moment, then could only nod.

"Chen Sao said it, so I won't deliver him anymore; after closing up, I'll return early."

Only then did Chen Sao's expression soften.

Jiang Cheng let out a sigh in his heart.

Fortunately, today he dealt with those three people of Liu Yang, otherwise there would be no chance in the coming days.

But because of that, finding time later to handle Jiang Xiong and the others, as well as the plan to train at night in the Martial Arts Hall, will be hard to carry out.

Take it one step at a time.

After finishing her meal at home, Chen Sao sat down to chat for a while before leaving; before she left, she reminded him a few more times, and it seemed she would supervise for the next few days.

Jiang Cheng was at a loss, both laughing and crying.

After the meal and a short rest, he began practicing the Standing Post skill.

Since there was not much Experience Value left to reach Entry, one hour was enough, of course, counting as a continuous hour without rest.

When the clock struck nine, Jiang Cheng's posture froze.

Standing Post skill, Entry.

At this moment, his understanding of the Limitless Post deepened a bit—posture, breathing, and so on.

Besides that, he vaguely felt his skeletal and muscular strength had increased.

It was a mysterious feeling, hard to describe, so Jiang Cheng decided to test it.

After a brief rest, Jiang Cheng resumed standing on the post.

The height remained the same as before.

Sure enough, something miraculous happened.

Usually after three or four minutes, his legs would swell, go numb, his lower back would ache, and an inner voice kept urging him to quit.

But now he only felt a slight soreness, which was completely tolerable.

After five minutes passed, he began to feel some pressure.

On the Panel, a message appeared: Standing Post skill Experience Value +1.

"My muscular strength has indeed increased, especially in the legs. Continue, and see how long I can hold on."

Jiang Cheng thought to himself, his eyes full of anticipation.

Six minutes.

Seven minutes.

Eight minutes.

Just as Jiang Cheng was about to give up, feeling each second like a year, the Panel flashed another message: Standing Post skill Experience Value +1.

"Huh…"

Jiang Cheng completely relaxed.

A smile spread across his face.

This is the effect of Entry to the Standing Post skill: the duration of holding increased by more than half.

And the speed of gaining Experience Value also accelerated considerably.

Holding for five minutes yields one point; holding to eight minutes yields another; if he can hold to ten minutes, could he gain yet another? Jiang Cheng's gaze turned to the Panel.

【Standing Post: Entry (2/300)】

If each session is only five minutes, 300 points of Experience Value require 1,500 minutes—no eating or drinking—for 25 hours.

If each session is eight minutes, the time shrinks to 1,200 minutes—no eating or drinking—for 20 hours.

If it's ten minutes, the required time is even less.

"Unfortunately, to stand for ten minutes requires at least a Proficient level of the Standing Post skill; even at the Entry level, achieving it won't happen often."

Jiang Cheng shook his head slightly.

Thus, the second calculation method seems more reliable.

Only after practicing the posture practice to a proficient level can one learn the Fist Technique of the Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall from Senior Brother Zhao.

"Looks like I have to keep grinding."

Jiang Cheng clenched his fist.

Calculating at two hours per day, it would take ten days—far too long.

To learn the Fist Technique sooner, he'll spend four hours each day on posture practice from now on.

To be honest, if one wants to strengthen the body, it still depends on this kind of basic training; Short Staff practice can boost constitution, but it focuses more on explosiveness and the use of weapons.

After practicing Double Staff for a while, Jiang Cheng finished washing up, lay on the bed, and soon fell into a deep sleep—perhaps from exhaustion, he didn't even dream.

The next day.

Jiang Cheng arrived early at the Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall and went up to the second floor.

The spacious place was completely empty.

"Looks like I'm the earliest one here."

He muttered to himself, placed the Double Staff on the rack, and began practicing posture practice.

Twenty hours—the line seemed etched into his mind.

Before long, footsteps sounded on the stairs; a man peeked his head out, surprised to see someone arrive earlier than himself. Upon recognizing the newcomer from the day before yesterday, his expression brightened a bit.

The Martial Arts Hall sees countless visitors; it's not that there aren't newcomers like Jiang Cheng—some even arrive first and stay the longest, yet later those people gave up.

He didn't think much; as he passed by, he nodded at Jiang Cheng, a simple greeting.

Gradually, the number of people in the Martial Arts Hall increased.

Several of them even went up to the third floor.

During a break, Jiang Cheng glanced at the wall clock; the hour hand had already passed nine.

He couldn't help feeling a bit strange.

It seems I haven't seen Senior Brother Zhao. In fact, whether he's currently guiding my posture practice doesn't matter; the main purpose is to let him know my posture practice has already reached Entry, so he can be mentally prepared—otherwise, when it becomes proficient in a few days, he might start questioning his own life.

After all, for an ordinary person, mastering posture practice usually takes two or three months, right? If one trains blindly, it would take even longer.

At that moment, a graceful figure descended from the third floor.

"Senior Sister Bai!"

A few Senior Members nearby seemed to have anticipated it, each shouting loudly.

"Senior Sister Bai, when I've been practicing the Fist Technique these past few days, I've felt a slight pain in my back—what's going on?"

"Senior Sister Bai, I feel my Fist Technique has progressed; could you train with me?"

"Senior Sister Bai…"

"Senior Sister Bai…"

(End of Chapter)