Chapter 23: Practicing Martial Arts

Returning to the spot previously arranged for new disciples,

he saw three people and looked at Niu Laoshi, "Have the others not come yet?"

Niu Laoshi replied steadily, "Not yet. I reckon they'll be a bit late. As for you, you didn't come yesterday because you were busy."

Cheng Feng brushed it off: "There was something at home yesterday; I didn't finish until midnight."

Niu Laoshi asked curiously: "What do you do at home that keeps you busy so late?"

"I'm from Liujiacun, I was back home dealing with farm work," Cheng Feng said indifferently.

Upon hearing this, Niu Laoshi didn't ask further and guided Cheng Feng: "On your first day, they should assign you an instructor. Ninth Senior Brother Zhang Zhuo arranged for Qian Ming before; if nothing goes wrong, you should be taught by him too."

Cheng Feng was curious: "Has he taught you all? What is he like?"

Niu Laoshi didn't speak, but gave Cheng Feng a look.

Following Niu Laoshi's gaze, a man with a stern expression and a tense face walked toward Cheng Feng's side.

Cheng Feng's heart skipped a beat; it seemed this one was quite strict.

That was fine, too; he preferred more work and less oily, boisterous behavior.

He took the opportunity to glance at his Panmian; it was still the data from last night. After doing it twice with Zhang Caier, a new piece of information appeared on the Panmian.

Name: Cheng Feng

Lifespan: 16 (62)

Talent: More Children More Blessings

Skills: Fishing (Proficient 89%) +

Archery (Beginner 2%) +

Fortune Point: 2

The Fishing skill remained the same because he was too busy to practice.

The Archery skill increased by one percent because he had a bow and arrow at home, and it increased through demonstrating and explaining it over and over to Lao Da and Lao San.

But perhaps hindered by his aptitude, the growth was truly too slow.

Fortune Point: 2. Cheng Feng calculated this based on the number of times he had done that deed with Cai'er.

One point per time; whether that is the case remains to be verified when he goes back tonight.

At that time, a "+" sign appeared behind the percentages for both Archery and Fishing skills.

Cheng Feng was considering whether to add them, but after some thought, he decided to wait until he got home.

It wouldn't be good if something changed while he was here at the Martial Arts Arena.

He wasn't in a rush; if the points really did come from "he-he" with Cai'er,

then that would truly be wonderful.

While Cheng Feng was pondering, Qian Ming walked over. This was also a youth, about sixteen or seventeen years old, but his temperament and gait showed he had achieved success in martial arts.

Qian Ming stood before Cheng Feng and introduced himself: "You must be Cheng Feng, right? My name is Qian Ming. From now on, I am the instructor for you six newcomers. If you have any issues or can't make it in the future, just let me know in advance."

Cheng Feng hurriedly cupped his hands: "I am Cheng Feng, greetings, Instructor Qian."

Qian Ming waved his hand: "No need for such formalities. Once you pass the three-month assessment period, we can formally exchange greetings."

Cheng Feng thought to himself: "Right, hierarchy is everywhere."

However, Cheng Feng could understand. Ninth Senior Brother Zhang Zhuo said that Wang Tieshan had opened the Martial Arts Hall for over twenty years and had only nine Inner Sect Disciples in total.

Although Cheng Feng didn't know the realms beyond Skin Refining, he was certain that the further one went, the harder it became.

Otherwise, there wouldn't only be nine Inner Sect Disciples.

Qian Ming first showed concern for Cheng Feng: "Have you eaten breakfast?"

Seeing Cheng Feng nod,

Qian Ming got straight to the point: "If you've eaten, then let's begin. It's good to digest. In the future, you must eat more breakfast. Never practice martial arts on an empty stomach; that has no effect."

Qian Ming first checked the progress of Niu Laoshi and the others over the past few days, letting Cheng Feng watch first.

Then he started teaching Cheng Feng from the beginning, letting Niu Laoshi and the others compare their own progress.

This was more efficient.

Standing face-to-face, Qian Ming demonstrated and explained to Cheng Feng: "What you are practicing first is Stance Training. It mainly involves movements and postures coordinated with breathing. Use the stance posture to experience your own breathing and the flow of blood. Once the Stance Training is complete, you can mobilize your own latent strength, possessing a burst of power. Relying on this strength, you can move objects several or even dozens of times your own weight. This is the Strength Refining Realm."

Cheng Feng asked: "Then what is the standard for my assessment?"

Qian Ming looked at Cheng Feng with appreciation: "You've hit the nail on the head. Other Martial Arts Halls usually use eight times one's own body weight to test the effectiveness of Stance Training, but here at our Tieshan Martial Arts Hall, it is ten times. Ten times your own body weight counts as passing."

Speaking of this, a trace of pride even appeared on Qian Ming's face.

Cheng Feng calculated to himself: his physique was roughly one hundred and ten jin, and ten times that was one thousand one hundred jin. And this was before practicing Stance Training; if he practiced Stance Training and then supplemented his diet crazily, his weight would definitely soar.

He certainly wouldn't reach two hundred jin, so a middle ground would be between one thousand one hundred and one thousand five hundred jin.

The pressure was a bit high.

Is this Stance Training really that powerful?

In his previous life, Cheng Feng had heard the story of a mother lifting a car to save her child.

This could also be considered this kind of burst.

Cheng Feng became more and more curious.

This kind of Martial Dao was truly too powerful.

Qian Ming explained the precautions again and encouraged Cheng Feng and the others, saying that once they passed the assessment, they would be considered one of their own.

Then he taught Cheng Feng the basics of the basics: "Ordinary people cannot feel the flow of blood, so you must first practice moving stances. That is, coordinating postures and breathing to guide and feel the flow of blood."

Qian Ming taught Cheng Feng move by move. For the entire day, Cheng Feng practiced this set of Stance Training called the Horse-Fixing Stance.

Simple reaching, lifting arms, turning, kicking, combined with timed sounds like "heng," "ha," "xi," and "mu"—a similar pronunciation—left Cheng Feng drenched in sweat and his arms and legs sore after just one set.

Cheng Feng had truly learned something new this time.

After a full day, Cheng Feng had only practiced three times.

Qian Ming instructed, "You aren't familiar with it when you first start practicing, so you shouldn't practice for too long; only by becoming familiar with the movements day by day, combined with vigorous vocalization effects, is it optimal."

Cheng Feng cupped his fists, "I have been taught."

He then asked, "The Martial Arts Hall Master once said my body still needs a few doses of medicine to make up for some deficiencies; could the instructor please provide some guidance?"

Qian Ming was quite used to this situation: "Just go to a medical clinic and find a physician to prescribe you a medicinal formula; the Martial Arts Hall Master usually gives this advice to those who have had deficiencies in their internal organs, which is common among disciples from the countryside, and it isn't very expensive."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Feng's doubts were resolved, and he hurriedly thanked him.

Qian Ming did not take credit and left once he saw the time.

After the person had gone far away, a voice came from beside Niu Laoshi: "What's he acting so arrogant for? Isn't it just because he came a few months earlier than me? In the future, I can also be an instructor and drink more medicinal soups."

After chatting in detail, Cheng Feng learned that when one has been an instructor for a long time, there are also medicinal soups subsidized by the Martial Arts Hall, which is considered a way to encourage instructors.

After all, in martial arts, if you do not advance, you retreat.

After asking, Cheng Feng distanced himself from that person; Cheng Feng felt he was not worth associating with, so it was best to stay away.

Walking slowly home, Zhang Caier had already prepared the meal at home.

There were vegetables, meat, rice, and soup.

Cheng Feng was very satisfied; he was indeed very hungry after practicing for a day.

He wolfed down his food.

Zhang Caier would occasionally pick up food for Cheng Feng, a smile appearing on her face.

What was Cheng Feng running around for before?

It was just so that he would not be entangled in these trivial matters.

To have a sufficiently stable rear.

A safe harbor where he could hide from the wind and rain at any time.

He only needed to focus on practicing martial arts.

Once his martial arts were successful, he could protect himself and his family.

Watching his woman beside him picking up food for him and being considerate of him,

Cheng Feng was very satisfied.

Truly very satisfied.

Having arrived in this world for over half a year, he could finally steady himself and proceed according to his own ideas.