Chen Fan had reached a decision, and with a mere thought, he infused it with additional experience points.
A spark of inspiration flickered through his mind, followed by an oddly familiar memory.
[Promise Type: lv0 (54%)]
"Indeed," Chen Fan quietly mused.
A subtle, almost imperceptible smile graced his lips as this small boost in experience propelled his progress halfway forward.
Could this unlock new abilities?
With that thought in mind, he continued to channel experience points into it.
In an instant, a comforting warmth flowed through him, alleviating the aches that had plagued his body.
This sensation felt strangely familiar.
"Could it be for strengthening my body?" Chen Fan pondered as he glanced at the panel.
[Promise Style: lv1 (1%), Characteristic: Physical Strength Level 1]
As anticipated, level 1 in the Promise Style increased physical attributes by a mere point, a stark contrast to the advancements brought by the [Basic Archery] skill. It was an outcome he had expected given the difference in complexity.
"I wonder if the first-level Wuji style meets Uncle Zhang's expectations," he wondered aloud, adjusting his posture slightly while keeping a close watch on Zhang Ren's reaction.
"Um?"
The next moment, as Zhang Ren's gaze fell upon Chen Fan, his pupils contracted visibly.
"This kid indeed possesses talent," he contemplated. For most individuals, mastering the Promise Style took at least a week, and even the exceptionally gifted might require two or three days. Yet here was Chen Fan, appearing proficient on his very first attempt.
With further practice, he might even master the complete Tai Chi pose.
Zhang Ren shifted his gaze to Zhao Feng, his eyes reflecting approval. Despite Zhao Feng's comparatively weaker innate talent, his unwavering perseverance was evident. He silently competed with Chen Fan, demonstrating that hard work could compensate for limited natural aptitude.
"Why?" Chen Fan furrowed his brow slightly.
Was it still not yielding results?
He glanced at the remaining 14 experience points and, with a thought, assigned another point to [Promise Form].
This time, a single experience point propelled his progress by a third.
He continued, adding two more points consecutively.
In an instant, the comforting warmth enveloped his entire body once more, dispelling the fatigue.
[Promise Style: lv2 (0%), Characteristic: Physical Strength Level 2]
His physical attributes improved, and he gained an abundance of experience.
In this moment, remaining motionless was no longer torturous but a unique form of relaxation for both body and mind.
"This kid!" Zhang Ren's eyes widened instantaneously, disbelief etched across his face.
Had Chen Fan not been present, Zhang Ren might have doubted his own eyes.
"How on earth did this guy do it?" A voice within him cried out. A short while ago, Chen Fan was a beginner, and yet now, he had achieved a level that had taken Zhang Ren almost a month to reach. Was this young man some sort of prodigy? His aptitude was astonishing!
Unaware of Zhang Ren's thoughts, Wang Pingping found it peculiar that he was observing Chen Fan so intently.
"It seems sufficient for now. Fortunately, there's no pressing need to continue upgrading," Chen Fan reflected, returning to reality and noticing the astonished expression on Zhang Ren's face. He feigned confusion and asked, "Uncle Zhang, what's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
Zhang Ren cleared his throat and responded, "It's nothing; just maintain your posture."
"Alright," Chen Fan replied, casting Zhang Ren a curious glance. He was beginning to think that standing in the Promise Pose for an hour after archery practice might be a wise choice.
Finally, the hour came to an end. Zhao Feng collapsed on the ground, utterly fatigued and in pain, while Chen Fan appeared even more invigorated than before.
"Brother Fan, aren't you tired?" Wang Pingping couldn't help but ask.
"Yeah, Brother Fan, why do you seem more refreshed?" another chimed in.
"Huh?" Chen Fan scratched his head, genuinely perplexed. "I'm not sure, but it just feels comfortable standing like this."
"Is he serious?" Several people exchanged bewildered glances. Could it be that, after nearly exhausting themselves, Chen Fan claimed to feel comfortable? If they hadn't witnessed it themselves, they might have thought he was fibbing.
"He is different from you."
The voice of the man with a limp resonated, "You haven't started yet, so feeling tired is only natural, kid." A faint twitch at the corner of his mouth hinted at amusement. "You're already qualified to learn the Tai Chi style."
"What!"
Zhao Feng and their comrades stood there, mouths agape, frozen in utter disbelief.
"!"
Chen Fan's expression mirrored their astonishment. His voice trembled with excitement as he stared at the man with the limp in disbelief. "Uncle Zhang, are you serious? I've already begun, and I can learn the Tai Chi style?"
"Yes," the man with the limp affirmed, nodding with a knowing smile. "Next, I'll teach you the basic gestures and footwork, and eventually, the Tai Chi poses themselves."
"Thank you, Uncle Zhang! Thank you so much!" Chen Fan's excitement was palpable, a blend of genuine gratitude and a touch of dramatic flair.
"Oh my God, is Brother Fan really starting now?"
"No way! Didn't Uncle Zhang say it takes most people a week or two to get started?"
"I'm so envious. We couldn't even last half an hour. Chen Fan gets to learn the Tai Chi pose, and I'd love to do the same."
Envy colored the voices of several in the group.
The man with the limp considered explaining that this was merely the initial step, not the actual initiation. However, he decided against it, not wishing to make Chen Fan overly proud or complacent.
Zhao Feng cast a complicated look at Chen Fan, a wry smile quirking the corner of his mouth. He had hoped to keep pace with Chen Fan by enduring an hour, but it was clear he had a long journey ahead.
Still, he couldn't afford to give up.
"Alright, next, I'll instruct you in the basic gestures—fist, palm, claw, and more. Once you're familiar with these, you'll establish a strong foundation for practicing basic boxing, palm techniques, Tai Chi, and other advanced forms."
After delivering these instructions, the man with the limp glanced calmly at Chen Fan, wondering if the young man could absorb and retain it all.
They all lined up, and the introduction to the basic gestures proved somewhat more engaging than the previous stance. However, it didn't take long for the multitude of unfamiliar names to leave everyone feeling bewildered.
Who could have anticipated that a single palm could be divided into five distinct shapes: Yang palm, Yin palm, vertical palm, inverted palm, and horizontal palm? To add to the complexity, there were also two variations of the standing palm.
Chen Fan struggled to absorb it all.
With so much to learn, it seemed like it might take less than a week to become familiar through repeated practice.
He glanced at the additional line of small characters in the skill column.
[Basic Gesture: lv0 (0%)]
Perhaps it was time to invest more points.