Chapter 5: Significant Progress

Tianhai No. 2 Middle School

Lin Qi drove into the campus; it was nearly six o’clock, the sky just beginning to lighten.

With the opening ceremony canceled, the number of students arriving at school had become sparse.

Lin Qi arrived at the martial arts classroom, entered the password to unlock the iron door, and found it brightly lit, with sounds of training already echoing from several people inside.

“It’s only the second day of school, and they’re already pushing themselves?”

When the others noticed Lin Qi’s arrival, they seemed to feel pressure and trained even harder.

In the changing room, Lin Qi stared at his reflection, watching his chest and muscles rise and fall with each breath, as if brewing something within.

“My body has been transformed; my proportions have become much more refined.”

“When the fusion rate increases further, the changes in my physique will become even more obvious.”

Lin Qi clenched his fist, realizing he had grown stronger—he now felt it might be possible to enter the elite class.

He changed into his martial arts uniform and began standing Zhuang .

He clasped his hands in a circle, relaxed his shoulders, kept his elbows horizontal, hollowed his armpits, bent his elbows to embrace…

The moment he stood, he felt something different: warmth spread through his stomach, streams of heat surged from his spine to every part of his body, clearing blood vessels without a single obstruction, swift as tiny snakes darting.

The speed was much faster than before.

Concepts of the Hunyuan Zhuang surfaced in Lin Qi’s mind, spawning new insights.

Reverence keeps the spirit from scattering; caution is like standing at the edge of a deep abyss; borrow boundless intent, fill the body with essence, seek truth in emptiness, never lose balance or harmony…

Before, he’d found it obscure; now, he began to understand its meaning.

In moments, his face flushed red, his body burned hot, sweat poured down like rain.

【You gained new insight into Hunyuan Zhuang; training efficiency increased significantly; Blood Qi +0.2!】

【Blood Qi: 5.4 → 5.6】

…

Seeing the Blood Qi increase on his panel, Lin Qi’s expression brightened.

“My talent really has improved—this is incredible.”

“It’s only been a short while, and my Blood Qi has already risen by 0.2.”

“In just one day, my Blood Qi jumped from 5.2 to 5.6—this is insane. It would’ve taken months before.”

Lin Qi clenched his fist and stared at the 1% fusion rate on the template.

If the fusion rate increased further, his martial talent would grow even stronger, and the enhancement effect would become even more powerful.

…

As time passed, during Lin Qi’s standing Zhuang , other classmates gradually arrived at the martial arts classroom.

“Big Brother Qi, you’re here so early again!”

Jiang Tao soon entered the martial arts room.

Lin Qi nodded slightly in greeting.

“No wonder he’s Big Brother Qi—one of the most driven guys in class.”

Jiang Tao walked over, dropped his backpack, changed into his martial arts uniform, and sighed inwardly.

As he watched, his expression changed slightly, a question forming in his mind:

“Strange—Big Brother Qi’s Blood Qi seems to have broken through again. How did he do it?”

Jiang Tao looked curious.

“Did you notice? Lin Qi’s aura doesn’t seem weak—he looks like he’s broken through.”

Someone nearby asked curiously.

This confirmed Jiang Tao’s suspicion—had Lin Qi gotten the spa treatment yesterday?

They said the first session always worked well—relaxing meridians, filling Blood Qi—but could it really be this effective?

…

An hour later, the entire class had arrived; the spacious martial arts room buzzed with noise.

Lin Qi finished standing Zhuang , wiped the sweat from his body, felt the surging heat within—endless strength replenishing his exhaustion, leaving him utterly unfatigued.

“Ding ding ding!”

The class bell rang; Wu Kang’s figure appeared precisely at the door.

“Hunyuan Zhuang was developed to strengthen the body, sense Blood Qi, and control Blood Qi—but the human body has limits; standing two or three hours a day is already the maximum.”

Wu Kang strode through the crowd with the bearing of a dragon and tiger, immediately beginning his lecture.

“That’s why fist techniques emerged—they not only assist in body conditioning and muscle control, but also serve for combat.”

“Pillar training combined with fist techniques strengthens the body, senses Blood Qi, until the muscles and organs continuously transform, adapting to the Badao source energy, before one can learn techniques to actively absorb it.”

“For this reason, our Xia Nation has derived from ancient fist styles five elemental fist forms—the five foundational fist arts.”

“The five elements are: Dragon, Tiger, Crane, Monkey, Snake.”

“All students, after establishing a solid martial foundation in junior high, must learn all five fist forms, then carefully choose the one most suited to them for deep practice.”

“Today’s lesson: the Tiger Fist!”

Many eyes lit up; students quickly gathered closer to watch, Lin Qi included—he trained the Tiger Fist, and chances to observe his teacher demonstrate up close were rare.

Wu Kang stepped into the center of the crowd and unleashed his aura, stirring up a gust of wind.

He spread his fingers, curling them into claws.

His eyes locked forward, instantly transforming into that of a tiger.

“The Tiger Fist emphasizes form as fist, intent as spirit, Qi as force—when enraged, glare fiercely, neck taut, eyes locked like a tiger stalking, as if a furious tiger bursts from the forest, claws tearing mountains.”

Wu Kang moved with agility, like a tiger pouncing on prey, aura fierce and overwhelming.

“Roar～”

He bellowed, a tiger’s roar, his tiger claws striking, sending shockwaves through the air.

“Tiger Emerges from Cave!”

“Black Tiger Grabs Heart!”

!

“Hungry Tiger Pounces!”

“Furious Tiger Pierces Forest!”

As each technique was executed, he seemed to truly become a tiger—claws striking, air trembling like sonic blasts.

Lin Qi watched, eyes gleaming.

Up close, he could even see Wu Kang’s lean muscles bulging, veins coiled like steel cables around his arms, waves of heat radiating toward him.

“No wonder he’s a third-stage martial artist—this speed is too fast. We couldn’t block a single move against Teacher Wu.”

Someone exclaimed.

“Huh～”

After completing one round, Wu Kang retracted his aura and returned to calm.

“Everyone, begin practicing!”

As if echoing tiger roars in their ears, the students scattered to find open space and began training.

Lin Qi recalled every movement Wu Kang had demonstrated, then began practicing the Tiger Fist himself.

He curled his fingers into claws, struck out—his mind instantly replayed Wu Kang’s key points, even the entire sequence of his movements.

“Form as fist, intent as spirit, joints as power source, Qi as force—fist technique fierce!”

“The tiger is king of beasts; its roar subdues all creatures. When a tiger charges through the forest, winds shift, mountains tremble.”

“Bang! Bang! Bang!!”

He’d practiced countless times; the movements were second nature—but he felt fatigue and muscle ache, yet paid it no mind.

The more he practiced, the more energized he became; his eyes glowed like a tiger’s, radiating sharp light.

Wu Kang walked among the students, slow in pace, yet no one could touch him.

He observed everyone’s practice.

He didn’t single out individuals, but noted common problems to address collectively in the next class.

Of the fifty-plus students, he had a rough sense of each person’s level—only a handful might achieve mastery; most were at the minor proficiency stage.

Unconsciously, he reached the corner—and one student’s fist technique caught his eye.

“It’s Lin Qi!”

The class’s foundational skills master, the student with the best fundamentals—he was Wu Kang’s favorite.

He’d warned him yesterday to pay attention to his body.

But now, watching Lin Qi’s Tiger Fist—powerful, fluid, with no sign of obstruction—his Blood Qi flowed freely.

At this moment, Lin Qi was lost in the fist form.

Blood Qi surged, power channeled to his fingertips, striking like a hungry tiger pouncing.

“Roar～”

His aura peaked—he roared aloud, a tiger’s howl.

【After observing Wu Kang’s demonstration, you gained new insight into the Tiger Fist; Fist Skill +2.5%】

【Through practicing the Tiger Fist, you gained new insight; Fist Skill +2.5%】

【Fist Skill: First Stage 80% → 85%】

…

Lin Qi stabilized his stance and looked at his panel.

Is this what it feels like to be a genius?

Too powerful.

It directly raised his fist technique realm by a huge margin, leaving only 5% to reach Great Completion.

The fist technique realm is divided into four stages: 30%, 60%, 90%, 100%.

Corresponding to Entry, Minor Completion, Great Completion, and Perfection.

Wu Kang, watching at the same time, showed a look of surprise—had Lin Qi’s Tiger Form Fist improved so much?

……

(End of Chapter)