Chapter 93: Fist Technique

The next day.

Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall, second floor.

Watching Jiang Cheng's Standing Post for over ten minutes, Zhao Xiangyu wore a surprised expression.

He recalled that a little over a week ago, Jiang Cheng had just entered the Standing Post.

Then, after a week, the Standing Post became Proficient.

To think, he had taken two months to reach that.

"Senior Brother Zhao, I feel like I can't hold on any longer," Jiang Cheng said.

"Alright, I believe you."

Zhao Xiangyu forced a wry smile.

He vaguely sensed that this Jiang Shidi might well be the martial prodigy his master had spoken of.

Others need ten years of study; he needs only one.

It gets even more exaggerated later.

"Senior Brother Zhao, can you teach me the Fist Technique now?" Jiang Cheng asked with a smile.

"Of course I can."

Zhao Xiangyu fell silent for a moment, gathered his thoughts, and said, "The Fist Technique taught at our Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall is called Flying Crane Fist."

"Flying Crane Fist?"

Jiang Cheng was taken aback.

"So it's not Flying Eagle Fist?"

Zhao Xiangyu smiled.

"Actually the reason is simple: our master, the Old Man, thought the name 'Flying Crane Martial Arts Hall' sounded unpleasant, so he swapped the crane for an eagle, making it 'Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall' to sound more imposing."

"I see."

Jiang Cheng suddenly recalled another place, Dragon Xing Martial Arts Hall, so their Fist wouldn't be called Snake Form Fist, would it?

Zhao Xiangyu's voice rang out.

"Flying Crane Fist is a branch of Crane Fist, derived by mimicking a crane's flight, leaping, wing spreading, striking, and other movements. It consists of three parts: cultivation methods, routine drills, and combat techniques. I'll explain it all to you now; it's fine if you don't understand fully, just get a vague impression."

"Yes, Senior Brother Zhao."

Next, Zhao Xiangyu both explained and gave a live demonstration.

Jiang Cheng could follow at first, but later it felt like listening to a celestial script, and he almost yawned.

Yet his eyes remained fixed on the Panel ahead.

Finally, the moment Zhao Xiangyu finished speaking, a line of small text instantly appeared on the Panel.

【Flying Crane Fist: Not Yet Entered (0/1000)】

Jiang Cheng's spirit instantly surged.

At last, a new skill was unlocked, and it's a Fist Technique.

Unfortunately, it's not Secret Martial Arts.

But there's nothing to do for now; he can only start training it.

"Jiang Shidi, how does it feel?"

Zhao Xiangyu asked with a smile.

"I don't understand."

Jiang Cheng gave a wry smile.

"That's normal; we were the same at first, then gradually understood. Come, follow me and run through the routine once. The Flying Crane Fist routine doesn't have many moves—only about twenty—so practicing a few times will let you memorize them."

"Mm."

Jiang Cheng nodded repeatedly.

"First form, Crane Emerging from the Forest, Splitting Pressure Palm..."

After completing the whole set, the Flying Crane Fist's Experience Value rose slightly.

"So, after a thousand repetitions, would it reach Entry?"

Jiang Cheng thought to himself.

One set just now took two or three minutes; a thousand sets would be about three thousand minutes, roughly fifty hours.

The time is indeed long, but considering this is a complete Fist Technique, not a Standing Post or Soft Skill—basic foundations—it's reasonable for the Entry time to be lengthy.

If it were Secret Martial Arts, the required Experience Value for Entry would be higher and the time even longer! After practicing for over an hour, Senior Brother Zhao only then went to instruct others, and at that moment, Lin Quanliang stepped forward on his own.

"Jiang Shidi, have you started learning Flying Crane Fist?" he said with a smiling grin.

Regarding equipment, he knew he was far behind Jiang Cheng.

However, as for Flying Crane Fist, he had been at Entry for several years; according to Senior Brother Zhao, his Proficiency in Flying Crane Fist was only a year or two, which was quite good among the many members.

"Senior Brother Lin, you came at the right time; I've forgotten the next few forms, teach me quickly," Jiang Cheng said with a smile.

"Sure, which form?"

Lin Quanliang eagerly welcomed the request.

The entire morning was spent practicing the Fist.

Flying Crane Fist Experience Value increased by nearly fifty points.

Before leaving, Senior Brother Zhao handed over a Fist Manual, asking Jiang Cheng to keep it safe and not share it, and also reminded him not to neglect Standing Post; once Standing Post is mastered, practicing Flying Crane Fist will be twice as effective.

Upon hearing that, Jiang Cheng's eyes lit up.

That means, with Standing Post Proficient, completing a set of Flying Crane Fist adds a bit of Experience Value.

If Standing Post were at Mastery, the same set would add two points? But achieving Mastery in Standing Post isn't easy either.

Jiang Cheng looks at the Panel.

【Standing Post: Proficient (0/1000)】

The Experience Bar grew more than threefold, reaching one thousand points.

Under Entry conditions, standing post for ten minutes yields 3 Experience Value points.

He just stood for ten minutes and only got 1 point; if less than ten minutes, there is no Experience Value at all.

Calculating at 1 point per ten minutes, 1000 points would require 10,000 minutes, 166 hours! Of course, if the standing post time is longer—say twenty or thirty minutes—the efficiency of gaining Experience Value rises considerably, but the minimum would still be about half that time, i. e., over 80 hours.

After such a long time, Flying Crane Fist would already be at Entry.

"How about trying weighted standing post after we get back?"

Jiang Cheng's mind flashes.

Once his Standing Post reaches Proficient, his foundation is solid; he need not worry about bodily injury from inaccurate posture.

If he practices with weight first to grind the Standing Post to perfection, then later training Flying Crane Fist would be like taking off from the ground, right? After lunch on the street, Jiang Cheng returns home and begins his speculation.

He first hides an Iron Staff behind his back, then starts standing post.

In less than ten minutes—about seven or eight minutes—the Experience Value increased by one point.

"Useful!"

Jiang Cheng is instantly overjoyed.

He rests two or three minutes, then adds another Iron Staff.

This time a little over six minutes, the Experience Value increased by one point.

When ten minutes passed, the Experience Value rose by two points.

Jiang Cheng feels indeed much more fatigued.

At nine minutes he grits his teeth and persists.

But the benefit is obvious: it cuts the time in half, effectively doubling efficiency.

Two Iron Staffs together weigh five or six jin; if the load is ten jin, efficiency improves further, and ordinary people can usually bear weight up to about 10% of their body weight without issue.

"Come back and try."

Jiang Cheng glances at the time; it's past twelve, time to set up the stall. After finishing the stall, he can practice properly later.

Staff Method, Standing Post, Fist Technique—each is important, and time becomes increasingly scarce.

He pushes the cart onto the street; before reaching the stall, he spots an old acquaintance at the neighboring stall.

Lu Zicheng.

"Jiang Cheng."

Seeing Jiang Cheng arrive, Lu Zicheng greets him proactively, asking, "What, are you surprised to see me?"

"A bit."

Jiang Cheng replies honestly.

"Hahaha."

Lu Zicheng laughs proudly twice, "I heard most people from the Wild Wolf Gang have left, everyone's setting up stalls, so I came too. But this old spot is hard to grab; I was here before dawn, almost lost it."

Suddenly, he lowers his voice, sighs, "Days without Stall Fee are few; I heard the Stall Fee is going up again."

(End of Chapter)