"How is it, have you felt anything?"
Instructor Zheng stood beside Fang Qingyu's fist and asked softly.
"Yes..."
Fang Qingyu nodded, trying hard to suppress his shock.
He hadn't expected that in just two days, martial arts would bring such a huge impact to him.
First, there was talk of meridians, and now it felt like time had stopped.
It was a bit too fantastical.
"This is a breathing technique used exclusively in combat. You think it's time stopping, but it's actually just focusing your attention on one point and exerting it extraordinarily."
Instructor Zheng, knowing what Fang Qingyu was thinking, explained indifferently.
"Breathing technique?"
Fang Qingyu mumbled with a frown.
"Yes, just now I wanted you to remember that feeling. Next, I'll teach you how to enter this state. Generally, the longer you can maintain this state, the longer you can fight."
Instructor Zheng said as he pulled Fang Qingyu to the side.
Holding up three fingers: "Inhale for three seconds, hold for two seconds, exhale for four seconds, and then cycle in rhythm with my knuckle tapping."
A rhythmic tap-tap sound came from the rack.
"When inhaling through your nose, expand your ribs, and when exhaling, contract your abdominal muscles."
Instructor Zheng suddenly gave a light punch to Fang Qingyu's side.
At the moment when he should have been out of breath, he neutralized the impact with precise control of his exhalation rhythm.
By the third complete breathing cycle,
that special frequency came upon Fang Qingyu once more.
Instructor Zheng, continuously tapping on the rack, slowed down again.
But the good times were short-lived.
In less than two seconds, Fang Qingyu exited that frequency once more.
His vision returned to normal.
"Remember how to practice just now?"
Instructor Zheng, seeing this, asked.
"Remembered."
Fang Qingyu nodded earnestly.
This was crucial, real-world combat material.
"Alright, continue practicing slowly. But remember, this is just a state of highly concentrated focus. Things that should be fast are still fast. If your body can't keep up with your reaction, you'll still get hit."
"Okay."
Fang Qingyu exhaled after listening.
Actually, he realized it the first time he entered this state; he threw a punch at Instructor Zheng.
But Instructor Zheng dodged it.
His body just couldn't keep up with his reactions.
Then, Instructor Zheng led Fang Qingyu to the punching post area.
"Before practicing weapons, first practice punching."
"Perform a set of basic boxing to see which fist technique suits you."
"Okay."
Fang Qingyu nodded in agreement.
After posing in the Hidden Dragon Posture, he activated the Martial Seed and performed a full set of basic boxing to the best of his abilities.
After silently watching, Instructor Zheng said, "You're more suited to Baji Fist."
"Sure."
Fang Qingyu immediately replied.
Even those who haven't practiced martial arts should have heard of Baji Fist.
Vigorous and swift, with extremely strong destructive power!
It fits his intentions perfectly.
"Alright, I can't teach Baji Fist, but wait here."
Seeing no objections from Fang Qingyu, Instructor Zheng turned and called someone over.
Fang Qingyu was left standing by the punching post, watching others practice.
He hadn't noticed it before in the regular class.
Now he realized how much stronger these people were.
Like Qi Hao, who looked fierce while practicing, probably able to intimidate the opponent with just his presence before even striking.
And though each punch on the post didn't sound loud,
Fang Qingyu felt that if a real person were standing there...
their skull might almost explode.
Moreover, everyone here was a Martial Arts Apprentice.
Unlike the regular class, where martial arts apprentices were sparse, most were regular labor professions.
The segregation between ordinary and formal was just right.
It didn't take long.
Instructor Zheng returned with another person.
Fang Qingyu was about to greet him but was stunned upon seeing the person.
"It's you?"
The newcomer also recognized Fang Qingyu and smiled.
"You know each other?"
Instructor Zheng, seeing this, showed surprise.
"Met once at the club."
The newcomer was a Red Profession...
Whisperer.
"You can call him Brother Zhao."
Upon hearing this, Instructor Zheng nodded and introduced them to Fang Qingyu.
"Brother Zhao."
Fang Qingyu nodded a greeting.
"It was supposed to be Lin Jiao, but he's unavailable. Fortunately, I, a humble Daoist, know a bit of martial arts and can teach you the basics of Baji Fist~"
Seeing Fang Qingyu's doubt, Brother Zhao further explained with a smile.
After speaking, he took out a stone from his arms.
"Before you begin training, you must first understand what it means to be initiated into the Baji Fist."
With that, he tossed the stone into the air.
When it fell in front of him.
Brother Zhao's left foot suddenly stepped forward a little, twisting his right hip like a spring.
Fang Qingyu didn't even see the trajectory of the movement, only noticing his right elbow cutting through the air from below to above with a swish, producing a thunderous sound the instant it contacted the stone.
The stone exploded into pieces in mid-air.
"If you want to practice Baji Fist, you must be tougher than your opponent, no matter what that opponent may be."
"So, do you still want to practice?"
Brother Zhao patted his elbow and asked with a smile.
"Practice!"
Fang Qingyu nodded, holding back his excitement.
He feared neither exhaustion nor pain, only fake training.
With such power, there's no need to hesitate.
"Alright, I'll teach you."
Then, Brother Zhao led Fang Qingyu to the side.
Lin Jiao stood there, watching Fang Qingyu's back...
Old Qin didn't lie this time.
Just from looking at him now, he's indeed a promising young fellow.
Even though the road ahead is tough...
There was no fear or hesitation in his eyes, only an overwhelming excitement and thrill.
On the other side.
"Brother, are you a Daoist?"
A few hours later, Fang Qingyu lay on the ground, eyes vacant, murmuring.
And Brother Zhao, also known as Zhao Feng, was squatting on the ground, applying something to Fang Qingyu's limbs.
During their Baji Fist practice, they'd gotten to know each other's full names.
Zhao Feng wasn't pretentious, and after a while, he allowed Fang Qingyu to drop the surname Zhao.
"Yes, how did you know?"
Zhao Feng seemed quite pleased as he made the application.
"You keep addressing yourself as 'poor Daoist'...it's hard not to know."
Fang Qingyu turned over, enduring the pain.
Don't be fooled by Zhao Feng's gentle demeanor and soft-spoken manner, he showed no mercy during training.
Fang Qingyu was now certain that there wasn't a single good piece of flesh on his body.
But it was all worth it...
[Detected the profession advanced skill "Baji Fist" activation in progress (15/100)]
The third advanced skill was in hand!
The second was just now's Dragon Sting Breath.
All of a sudden, there were two more skills to grind.
"Haha, how about it, still hurt?"
Zhao Feng asked gleefully.
"Much better, what's this medicine?"
Fang Qingyu slipped back into his training clothes.
"Medicine for bruises and contusions, it's for you. You'll need it for practicing Baji Fist next."
Zhao Feng casually tossed the medicine bottle to Fang Qingyu.
"Uh..."
Feeling a refreshing sensation on his skin, Fang Qingyu knew this medicine wasn't cheap.
He didn't know whether to accept it or not.
"Take it, it's not expensive."
"You can help other juniors training martial arts in the future too."
Fang Qingyu pondered, "Is this the fate spoken of in the Daoist sect?"
"Haha, you could say that."
Zhao Feng laughed heartily.
"Alright, I must go. The Lin Church will start teaching you tomorrow."
"Goodbye, brother."
Fang Qingyu could only wave from where he sat.
"Goodbye."
Zhao Feng seemed to leave in a hurry, quickly disappearing from the entrance of the Martial Arts Hall.
Only a few minutes until class dismissed at 12.
Soon, Qi Hao approached.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
"Qingzi, I apologize to you."
"?"
Fang Qingyu extended his hand, a question mark above his head.
Qi Hao placed Fang Qingyu's arm over his own shoulder, helping him up and leading him towards the door.
"I forgot to remind you not to choose Baji Fist..."
"Why?"
Fang Qingyu frowned slightly.
After practicing for over an hour, he still quite liked this martial art.
"Baji Fist is self-abuse, didn't you just experience that!?"
Qi Hao gave Fang Qingyu a surprised look.
Fang Qingyu certainly understood.
In just over an hour, Zhao Feng hit him with at least a hundred punches, all on the bones and some paralyzing spots.
But...
"Have you ever heard the phrase..."
"Whatever pain doesn't kill you, it only makes you stronger!!"