The public safety in this world was far more chaotic than in his previous life. However, being a Martial Arts Student provided a certain degree of security, at least on the surface.
As for the chaos beneath, he, a mere student, had no way of knowing.
After the two returned to their spot and rested for a bit, they sparred for another hour or so.
"Taihang Thirteen Palms, progress at one hundred percent!
Inner Strength: 5 Years + (Points can be added)
Opened Acupoints: None
Advancement Points: +1
This Advancement Point can be used to increase the purity of your Inner Strength or to open major acupoints throughout the body."
As the system panel flickered with light, a new line of information appeared.
Zhao Rui was pleasantly surprised. 'I can increase my Inner Strength? If I secretly learn a hundred or so techniques, won't my Power become heaven-defying?'
'The future looks bright!'
The moon hung high in the sky and the breeze grew cool. The already deserted riverbank became even more desolate. Seeing it was getting late, the three of them packed up, got on their bikes, and left.
Back home, Zhao Rui eagerly rushed into his room to check the system panel.
"Name: Zhao Rui
Age: 18
...
Cultivation Techniques: Cyan Cloud Palm (Mastery) +
Cloud Hand Star-Picking (Proficient) +
Taihang Thirteen Palms (Mastery) +
Taihang Four Symbols Technique (Replicable)."
'Why is the Taihang Four Symbols Technique here? Isn't that the Inner Power Cui Jian practices?'
Zhao Rui thought for a moment and began to understand.
The Martial Arts of this world were divided into External Skills and Inner Power. As the name implied, External Skills were the techniques, but these techniques weren't the flowery, useless moves from his previous life.
They weren't just for show, lacking any real power.
In this life, every move and stance of a Cultivation Technique was paired with a specific Qi Circulation Method to channel the vast Inner Strength within the body, creating a Force that was far beyond ordinary.
As for Inner Power, it was a type of Inner Breath Cultivation Technique that involved Breathing, performing a Circulation, and opening the Eight Extraordinary Meridians to form a cycle of Inner Strength within the body.
This kind of Cultivation Technique produced what was commonly known as Inner Strength, or True Qi.
The more profound one's Inner Strength, the greater the power of the techniques they executed.
Similarly, the more refined the method for executing techniques, the faster and more voluminous the output of Inner Strength, resulting in greater combat strength.
The two were complementary; one could not exist without the other.
Some Martial Arts in this world only had techniques, requiring one to learn a separate Inner Power for Support. Others only had Inner Power without specific techniques.
And some had both, not needing to rely on others.
There was no inherent superiority or inferiority in this; it was simply a matter of whether parts were lost during the Martial Dao's transmission or were never created in the first place.
The Cyan Cloud Palm that Zhao Rui was currently learning at school was a type of Martial Arts that only had techniques, with no associated Inner Strength.
However, the signature skill he learned from the Martial Arts Hall, Cloud Hand Star-Picking, came with its own Inner Power Qi Circulation Method called the Misty Divine Skill.
It was considered a Martial Art that cultivated both internal and external aspects.
As for the origin of the name Misty Divine Skill, according to his senior brothers, their master had changed it himself because he thought the old name, "Cloud Qi Formula," sounded bad.
'Who knows if that counts as betraying one's master and ancestors.'
The Taihang Thirteen Palms he had obtained from Cui Jian was also of this type. Its Inner Power was called the Taihang Four Symbols Technique.
Seeing this name, Zhao Rui now understood. The panel most likely copied the External Skill first, and only then would it select the opponent's Inner Power.
That was probably why the Taihang Four Symbols Technique had appeared on the panel.
Having figured this out, Zhao Rui decisively used an Advancement Point on his Inner Strength.
"Inner Strength: Six Years!"
Zhao Rui felt a wave of warmth wash over his body, as if a master was infusing him with their Inner Power. Silky streams of heat traveled through his limbs and bones.
And as his body changed, the Advancement Point in his mind quietly vanished.
'Only one year?'
Zhao Rui was slightly disappointed, but it was to be expected. In fact, it could even be considered an incredible, heaven-defying boost.
You can't expect to achieve success overnight in this world.
Zhao Rui shook his head and gave a helpless smile, feeling he had been a bit too impatient.
After using the point, he also gained a general understanding of the panel's function. The system panel could learn and copy other people's Martial Arts and Heart Methods, but it seemed the highest level it could reach was likely Mastery.
After completely learning a Martial Art, he would gain one Advancement Point. This Advancement Point could be used to increase Inner Strength or open the acupoints throughout his body.
'The only question is, are there requirements for the Martial Arts? Does any random Martial Art grant one year's worth of Inner Power Cultivation?'
That was something he would need to slowly research later, after the college entrance exams were over.
Now that he understood the panel's function, a weight was finally lifted from Zhao Rui's heart.
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, and the Cultivation Method and techniques of the Taihang Thirteen Palms automatically surfaced in his mind.
After meditating with his eyes closed for a moment, Zhao Rui's eyes flew open. His feet flashed, his palms struck like the wind, and his body lunged forward with the ferocity of a tiger descending a mountain.
"Thousand Ridges Locking Clouds, Ten Thousand Valleys Listening to Pine... Huilong Zhejian, Silent Extinction of Thousand Mountains!"
Zhao Rui executed the Palm Technique, his aura as majestic as a mountain. It felt as if nothing, not even a mountain of knives or a sea of fire, could withstand the crushing pressure of his peaks.
It had the feel of one force breaking ten thousand techniques.
The overwhelming, straightforward feeling of crushing opponents with sheer momentum was incredibly satisfying to Zhao Rui.
'No wonder Cui Jian fights like a madman, charging around recklessly. Turns out, executing this Martial Art just feels damn good!'
It was unlike his own Cyan Cloud Palm, which was elusive and full of techniques that used softness to overcome hardness.
The space in his room was too small. After performing it once, Zhao Rui found it wasn't enough, so he ran outside to the small grove along the river near his residential complex and practiced it to his heart's content several more times.
He instantly felt refreshed and invigorated, a sense of release welling up in his chest that made him want to roar at the sky.
Fortunately, he managed to suppress the urge in time, regulating his Breath and returning to a state of calm.
After briefly regulating his breathing, Zhao Rui slowly walked back home.
Ever since he started high school, his parents rarely managed him. For one, he was sensible, and for another, he practiced Martial Arts and was quite independent.
So when Mr. and Mrs. Zhao Jincheng saw him rush out and then slowly return, they didn't say much.
The days before the college entrance exams were monotonous, yet both boring and fulfilling.
In a flash, the weekend arrived. As a Martial Arts Student, he had one day off from class.
It was a time to rest and recuperate, to regulate both body and mind.
Early in the morning, while Zhao Rui was still in the small grove doing his Morning Practice, he received a call from Bai Xuening.
"Sun Boran is coming tonight. I've arranged to meet with him at 2:30 this afternoon. Get ready."
The girl's voice was as pleasant as ever.
Zhao Rui was surprised. "You can contact him directly?"
"Didn't I tell you? My master and his master know each other. We've known each other since we were kids... Ugh, anyway, just come with me. And don't you dare tell anyone else!"
"No problem!"
Zhao Rui agreed with a smile. He hadn't expected the young lady to have such connections.
After hanging up, Zhao Rui continued his Morning Practice. Progress in Martial Arts was a matter of slow accumulation for a sudden burst. Even with the best peerless Martial Arts, reaching the Transformation Realm still required diligent and arduous training.
For the past few days, he had been using his evenings to spar with others, either with his third senior brother at the Martial Arts Hall or with Bai Xuening.
As for Cui Jian, he had been completely squeezed dry of potential and was naturally cast aside.
Because of this, Cui Jian had pestered Zhao Rui for a long time, accusing him of being fickle.
He said that now that Zhao Rui had Bai Xuening, he didn't want him anymore!
After saying that, Cui Jian got his wish and faced off against Bai Xuening, only to get beaten to a pulp.
After these few days of sparring, his Yong Chun Inquiry had reached 80/100, and Cloud Hand Star-Picking was at 75/100. He estimated that in another day or two, he would be able to replicate them completely.
By then, his Cloud Hand Star-Picking would reach the Master Level, and his Inner Qi could begin to perform a Grand Circulation.