"..."
Zhong Qin stood stunned, watching the man before her initiate the Xingyi stance. Though the fist had yet to move, the momentum suddenly shifted—his presence looming like a towering mountain, his fists poised like Hidden Dragons about to emerge, showcasing formidable mastery.
Soon after, the Hidden Dragon emerged from the abyss, shaking the earth and causing mountains to crumble.
Shen Hex moved and punched, the fist moved with the body and the body followed the fist, fluidly and naturally, exuding a supreme beauty, a supreme power.
Though there was no True Qi running, nor any Gang Qi revealed, the sense of supreme power was unmistakable, as if he had mobilized the entirety of his physical strength.
Zhong Qin gazed at him, seemingly watching through his clothes, seeing his flesh, his muscles, even observing his organs and bones, how they operated within him, how they erupted, how they were harnessed to strike.
As if every inch of his muscle, every drop of blood, every organ and every bone, even every cell, surrendered to his will, completely controlled by him, subject to his whims.
Zhong Qin knew this was a real yet illusory perception; she had no x-ray vision, how could she see through clothing to witness his flesh, let alone his organs and bones?
The reason for this illusion was that through the fist technique, he mobilized his power to the utmost, showcasing the ultimate execution, which resulted in such an extreme display that even as an observer she experienced such a marvelous illusion.
Dragon Subduing Skill, Dragon Subduing Skill!
To subdue one's inner dragon, to control the body with the mind, to govern power with will.
He achieved it, no True Qi was moved, nor Gang Qi seen, yet purely with his flesh he accomplished it, his body completely under the dominion of his mind and will, led as he desired.
A grandeur that demands respect, a generation of Grandmaster.
This was Zhong Qin's feeling at that moment.
Watching the man before her, she felt the shift in ambiance, transforming from an ordinary youth into a serpent dragon emerging from the sea, even striking the air triggered towering waves.
For an indeterminate time, suddenly a faint roar awoke Zhong Qin from that wondrous state.
Awakened in an instant, she returned to her senses, looking at the man who had already ceased his movements, standing steady as a mountain, with only a slight redness on his complexion and sweat accumulating on his brow.
"This…"
Zhong Qin's eyes narrowed, then exclaimed aloud, "Condensing Inner Strength?"
Exclaimed in disbelief.
Truly hard to accept, because Shen Hex's appearance signified the return of blood and Qi after condensing Inner Strength, slightly emanating from the body.
Meaning, he had only now just condensed Inner Strength, only just now!
How is this possible?
Martial Arts Cultivation, condensing Inner Strength, is almost the beginning, followed by opening the Dantian with Inner Strength to transform True Qi, only then becoming a qualified Tier One Martial Cultivator.
For a novice just condensing Inner Strength, unable to generate True Qi, how could he unleash such fist technique, how could he possess such Martial Dao skills?
Zhong Qin was filled with doubt. Yet Shen Hex offered no explanation, instead asking her, "Did you understand?"
"..."
Zhong Qin was stunned, then suddenly awakened, realized she had made a mistake, probing someone's privacy without familiarity.
This is a taboo in interpersonal interactions.
Professionals value privacy highly because their professions are diverse, abilities are exceedingly peculiar, many relate to critical matters, even life and death, strangers probing recklessly is highly taboo.
Fortunately, Shen Hex did not seem to mind, easing her tension slightly, while she sorted her thoughts.
A youth who had just condensed Inner Strength, yet possessed such Martial Dao skills, even resembling a Grandmaster, such circumstances are abnormal.
But in the context of a Professional, it could be reasonably explained, for Professionals have abilities far from conventional understanding; perhaps his profession significantly enhances his Martial Dao skills, or he has an advanced Xingyi Specialization?
Whatever his circumstances, it was his affair.
Her own state mattered more.
Zhong Qin gathered her thoughts, met Shen Hex's gaze, somewhat embarrassedly admitted: "I was somewhat distracted before, didn't see clearly, could you…"
"Certainly!"
Shen Hex responded: "But the trial lesson has ended, continuing requires payment."
"Huh?"
The words momentarily puzzled Zhong Qin, then she realized, cautiously asked: "What's the fee?"
Shen Hex smiled: "Your True Qi has already filled your Dantian, success with the Dragon Subduing will transform True Qi to Gang Qi, fifty thousand yuan, I guarantee you succeed."
"Fifty thousand?"
Zhong Qin was stunned, somewhat incredulous.
"What's the matter?"
Shen Hex looked at her: "Is it too expensive?"
"No, no!"
Zhong Qin quickly waved her hand, opened her personal terminal: "Add my contact, I'll transfer now."
Fifty thousand, guaranteeing True Qi transforms to Gang Qi, this price is already below market rate.
Though True Qi transforming to Gang Qi is a transition from Tier One to Tier Two, involving the mind-body relationship, it's highly challenging to grasp, many Martial Arts Professionals of ordinary aptitude remain stuck at this juncture.
The most direct method to overcome this barrier is upgrading, directly using Professional Experience to advance skill level, then not only True Qi to Gang Qi, but even Gang Qi to Yuan could be readily achieved.
Besides this, there are medications and Professional Items, all capable of overcoming this hurdle, not an insurmountable chasm.
But Zhong Qin did not prefer these means, and accurately speaking, most Martial Arts Professionals avoid these methods to overcome the Gang Transformation bottleneck when alternatives exist.
Because these methods are akin to shortcut growth, whether upgrading through experience or medicinal breakthroughs, they involve relying on outside forces, causing substantial negative impact on Professional Advancement.
Expecting high quality outcomes from someone who relied on medication upgrades during advancement?
So unless out of options, most Professionals hope to overcome barriers through personal effort, at least at low tiers this applies.
But many endeavors lack guaranteed success, thus affluent low-tier Professionals often seek famous instructors at martial arts schools.
Though coaching by instructors is leveraging outside forces too, it doesn't greatly affect Professional Advancement as self-effort is partially involved, enabling many low-tier Professionals to surpass.
This has led to rising fees in martial arts schools and among Martial Artists, with some unscrupulous schools deliberately reserving knowledge, scheming to compel learners to buy more lessons, thus profiting greatly.
According to Zhong Qin's knowledge, personalized guidance at martial arts schools, ensuring True Qi to Gang Qi transformation, generally costs above six hundred thousand yuan, if the instructor is a Tier Four Martial Artist, or an exceptional Martial Arts Professional, the price may even double.
Though Shen Hex had only condensed Inner Strength now, his exhibited fist technique indicated Martial Dao skills scarcely falling short of a Tier Four Martial Artist, fifty thousand private coaching fee seemed a grand opening discount.
Therefore…
"Thank you for your patronage!"
Observing the transaction information on her personal terminal and tax deduction notification, Shen Hex nodded with satisfaction, unbuttoned his shirt as Zhong Qin observed in shock: "Let's begin then!"