"You, that's right, you! Where do you think you're hiding? Get your ass out here!"
Seeing him act this way, Cao Feng was startled for a moment, then the corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk. The bamboo cane in his hand shot past Zhao Tianxing's neck and, with a light *PAK*, tapped squarely on the corner of Chu Fan's forehead.
"HISS!"
Chu Fan felt a numbness at the corner of his forehead, followed immediately by a sharp, stinging pain. He grimaced, his hands subconsciously flying up to rub the spot.
Seeing this, the crowd on the sidelines all struggled to hold back their laughter. Their young faces flushed a deep crimson, and muffled, choked chuckles escaped their throats.
Even Li Qingxue, who was standing off to the side, couldn't help but raise a hand to cover the corner of her mouth, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes.
'What rotten luck,' Chu Fan cursed inwardly as he rubbed his forehead and reluctantly walked into the center of the arena.
He had wanted to watch the others practice the Fist Technique a few more times, but he didn't expect his turn to come so quickly.
Chu Fan composed himself, walked to the center of the arena, and took his position. He cleared his mind of distractions, then sank into his stance and began to execute the Twelve Forms Fist, move by move.
One step, one solid stance.
One punch, one intent!
Exhale!
Inhale!
Exhale!
Inhale!
[Twelve Forms Fist Experience Points +1]
After finishing one set of the fist form, Chu Fan was already panting heavily. He felt his muscles and bones ache all over, his qi and blood were churning, and his heart pounded like a war drum.
His vision swam with black spots, and his mind went completely blank...
It was as if all his Essence, Qi, and Spirit had been completely drained by this single set of the Fist Technique!
He had clearly executed the punches and steps with extreme slowness, without a single violent, storm-like movement...
Yet, after finishing one set of the Twelve Forms Fist, it felt as though all the strength had been wrung from his muscles and bones.
The exhaustion was just like what he'd felt before he transmigrated, after doing three or four straight hours of deadlifts at the gym!
The deadlift, one of the three major lifts, is a full-body compound exercise.
Not only does it require the coordination of multiple large muscle groups, but it also places an intense strain on the central nervous system. The neural load is immense, making it incredibly draining both mentally and physically.
Plenty of strongmen, for a whole week after a deadlift session, would have heads as heavy as lead and eyelids that felt weighted down, unable to even summon the energy to speak.
Therefore, unless a person was a glutton for punishment, they would never be crazy enough to do deadlifts for three or four hours straight.
But now, after practicing the Twelve Forms Fist, Chu Fan was well and truly experiencing that same feeling of doing deadlifts for three or four hours straight!
If Zhao Tianxing hadn't been there to support him, he was afraid he would have already collapsed to the ground!
Meanwhile, the smiles on the faces of the crowd had long since vanished as they watched him finish the set, replaced by expressions of utter astonishment!
Whispers began to ripple through the onlookers.
Even Cao Feng couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and stroke the short whiskers on his chin, a flash of surprise in his eyes.
This kid had just joined the Seven Stars Gang today, yet he'd gone through an entire set of the Twelve Forms Fist without getting hit by the cane once—aside from that one tap when he was trying to hide!
"Mm, not bad at all."
Cao Feng nodded slowly, his tone laced with a hint of praise. "Your forms are a bit stiff and clumsy, and the movements aren't very graceful, but aside from a few minor deviations, the overall sequence is actually correct."
Hearing this, Chu Fan just gave a faint smile and said nothing more.
'This seventeen-year-old body housed the soul of a man in his thirties, one who had gone through nine years of compulsory education, attended high school and university, slaved away as corporate cattle for six or seven years, and finally ended up deep in debt after starting his own business...'
'Putting aside any other abilities...'
'If my learning ability couldn't even surpass a group of illiterate drifters, that would just be pathetic.'
...
[Skill: Twelve Forms Fist (Uninitiated) (Trait: None)]
[Progress: (1/10)]
It only took ten Experience Points to reach the Entry-Level stage of the Twelve Forms Fist.
But to gain even a single point of experience, one had to genuinely complete the entire Fist Technique from start to finish. There were no shortcuts.
This rate of progress was far more difficult than it had been for the Firewood Splitting Saber Technique.
Chu Fan took a deep, ragged breath, sweat rolling down his cheeks. He couldn't help but ask, "Instructor, why do I feel more exhausted after one set of the Twelve Forms Fist than after working for a whole day and night straight?"
"You're supposed to be tired." A smile played on Cao Feng's lips.
He declared loudly, "Every time you practice the Twelve Forms Fist, you must circulate your qi and blood like a torrential river, then temper it with your Fist Intent as if it were refined iron..."
"Under such strain, the depletion of your body's foundation is naturally significant. You must rely on fine food for nourishment and quiet rest to recover. Otherwise, your qi and blood cannot be sustained."
"With your current physiques, you can practice the Twelve Forms Fist twice at most within two hours."
"After this set you just did, you'll need to rest for at least over an hour before you can practice a second time."
Among the eight who had joined the gang with Chu Fan, a young man couldn't hold back and asked, "What if we push ourselves and practice it three times within two hours?"
Cao Feng smiled faintly at the question, his tone casual yet laced with a chilling intent. "You can certainly try to practice it three times... but halfway through, you'll just suddenly drop dead. The gang will have someone collect your corpse for burial, so you don't need to worry about it."
As soon as he said this, the entire arena erupted in boisterous laughter, and the tense atmosphere from before vanished completely.
'Circulate qi and blood...'
Chu Fan nodded silently to himself.
The Boxing Manual had mentioned this as well.
But before, it had all been a confusing fog. After Cao Feng's explanation, it was as if he finally had a clue.
Cao Feng's gaze shifted, landing on Zhao Tianxing.
He said unhurriedly, "Among the disciples who have joined recently, Zhao Tianxing's muscles and bones are the most resilient, and his qi and blood are as vigorous as a tiger descending a mountain. He just doesn't know the method for circulating it. So, while his qi and blood are strong, they aren't refined, and he has yet to condense that Qi Blood Power."
"Once he starts practicing the Twelve Forms Fist, his breakthrough to the Blood Nourishing stage will definitely be the fastest among you."
"He's dealt with wild beasts in the mountains since he was a child, eating their fresh meat and drinking their hot blood. After growing up, he frequently fought with bears, tigers, and leopards... This is the natural advantage of being born a Hunter."
At this point, his gaze swept over Ling Feng, who was standing nearby, and he continued, "The way I see it, Zhao Tianxing's speed in breaking through to the Blood Nourishing stage will likely be much faster than even Ling Feng's."
Hearing this, Ling Feng's eyes narrowed slightly, but his expression remained impassive, and he said nothing.
In an instant, the entire arena fell deathly silent.
Even the rustling of leaves in the wind could be heard clearly.
Everyone's gaze toward Zhao Tianxing was suddenly filled with envy and jealousy.
Zhao Tianxing grinned, puffing out his chest proudly. He looked around with a heroic air and said, "Thank you for the praise, Instructor!"
Cao Feng then turned back to Chu Fan and the others. "People are different. The rest of you don't need to compare yourselves to Zhao Tianxing."
"Your muscles, bones, qi, and blood may be weaker, but as long as you diligently practice the Twelve Forms Fist and eat more beast meat for nourishment, over time, your bodies will grow stronger, and your qi and blood will become more vigorous."
"When your skill deepens, you'll be able to practice the Twelve Forms Fist ten times in a row and think nothing of it, so don't be discouraged."
"Just remember, when you're starting out, the biggest taboos are greed and haste. You must constantly observe the changes in your own body, perceive the depth of your fatigue, and not injure your foundation out of a momentary burst of diligence!"
"Yes!" Chu Fan and the others answered in unison, committing his words to memory.
In truth, even if Cao Feng hadn't said anything, Chu Fan would never have forced himself to practice a second time...
After finishing the set just now, he had felt the world spin as his vision went black.
If Zhao Tianxing hadn't been supporting him, he probably would have collapsed on the spot.
'How could I dare to try again?'
'How could I even be able to try again?'
Cao Feng then had Zhao Tianxing and the other six men come up one by one to demonstrate the Twelve Forms Fist.
Those six younger boys had never been exposed to Martial Arts and could barely read. When they performed the set, they were all stumbling and clumsy, making countless mistakes...
Right then and there, three of them were struck by the bamboo cane in Cao Feng's hand so hard they cried out in pain, their faces a mess of tears and snot.
When it was Zhao Tianxing's turn, the fellow was truly extraordinary.
His movements were as swift as a cheetah pouncing on its prey. Every gesture carried a hint of a wild beast's ferocity, and he had captured seventy to eighty percent of the Twelve Forms Fist's form and intent!
By the time he finished the set, his performance was even cleaner and more decisive than that of the "old-timers" who had been in the gang for over half a month!
Who would have thought that when he reached the Monkey Form, Cao Feng's bamboo cane would still come cracking down with a *PAK*.
"You've learned the Monkey Form of the Twelve Forms Fist very well, but this is the Monkey Form, not Monkey Fist, and it's certainly not a monkey performance!"
Cao Feng retracted his cane and said with a scolding laugh, "There's no scratching your ears and cheeks or making funny faces in the Twelve Forms Fist!"
The crowd chuckled.
...
After the instruction was over, Cao Feng's gaze swept across the faces of Chu Fan and the other newcomers. He waved his hand and said, "Tonight, after dinner in the mess hall, you can all go collect a bowl of medicinal soup. Don't miss the time."
"Each person can only collect one bowl per day."
"That medicinal soup is mixed with Blood Nourishing Powder. It's excellent for strengthening muscles and bones, increasing qi and blood, and helping you open the gate to the Blood Nourishing stage sooner."
"Even an ordinary person who doesn't practice the Fist Technique, if they drink one bowl a day for several months, their muscles and bones will become much stronger than average."
"After drinking the soup and resting for a short while, if you still have the energy, you might as well practice the Twelve Forms Fist again. The results will be twice as good for half the effort."
"As for the other wondrous benefits of the medicinal soup, you'll understand after you've had a few bowls."
After speaking, without waiting for Chu Fan or the others to reply, Cao Feng turned around with Li Qingxue and slowly walked away from the Martial Arts Arena, leaving only their two receding figures.
Zhao Tianxing quickly grabbed someone standing next to him and asked, "Can we really only get one bowl of that medicinal soup per day?"
The person nodded. "If you want more, you can pay for it. One bowl of soup costs one mace of silver."
"One mace of silver for a single bowl?" Chu Fan, who overheard from the side, was also stunned.
One bowl a day is thirty bowls a month.
That added up to three taels of silver!
'They had just joined the Seven Stars Gang. Aside from menial chores like splitting firewood and shoveling horse manure, they hadn't contributed to the gang in the slightest. How could they receive such generous treatment?'
'A job like his, splitting firewood, wouldn't even earn him two mace of silver a month, even if he worked from dawn till dusk.'
'What's more, he only had to split firewood for half the day!'
'And there were hundreds of new recruits and handymen just in this Sub-Branch alone.'
'One mace of silver per person, per day...'
'How could a single gang in Cyan Yang County possibly afford such a massive expense?'
Thinking of this, a sliver of unease rose in Chu Fan's heart...
Seeing the strange look on Chu Fan's face, the man chuckled. "Don't be so surprised. Once you break through to the Blood Nourishing Realm, you'll be considered a proper disciple of the Seven Stars Gang. Then you'll have to take on monthly assignments from the gang..."
"Even if you're ordered to fight other gangs to the death, you have to go when it's time to go."
"In the future, when you take on missions, the gang will take a cut..."
"This little benefit you're getting now is really nothing."
"What gang in the martial world runs a losing business?"
His words sounded reasonable enough, but the unease in Chu Fan's heart was still difficult to dispel.
'The Seven Stars Gang's treatment of its members was just a bit too generous.'
An image of his former life as a fisherman flashed through his mind...
The fish markets of Cyan Yang Ancient City were all controlled by the Blood Saber Sect. He had often dealt with those people to make a living, so he knew a lot about the sect.
'And the Blood Saber Sect? When had they ever offered such a good deal?'