"Keeping some secrets is good for you. Reaching this level at your age is commendable, but spreading the word might not be in your best interest. After a few more years of training, it will come naturally." Fei Baiyun patted Galon's shoulder.
"Alright, down to business. From today onwards, I will officially teach you the Baiyun Combat Technique, which is used for real combat."
"Yes, Master!" Galon's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Minutes later.
On the second floor of the practice hall.
Fei Baiyun and Galon stood opposite each other, the evening's red sunlight painting the carpet red.
"Your foundation is already quite solid, so I can start teaching from the beginning stance."
Fei Baiyun took a step forward into a bow stance, his right palm raised vertically, fingertips pointing diagonally upward. His left hand was clenched into a fist at his waist.
"This is the basic stance of Baiyun Combat Technique. Pay close attention," Fei Baiyun's voice was clear. He nodded to Garcia, who had just come upstairs, signaling him to close the staircase cover, and then continued.
"The basic moves of Baiyun Combat Technique consist of four actions: Whip, Charge, Stomp, and Shoot. These four moves cover offense, evasion, defense, and attack, and can be used in any combination. Let's start with the first move, Stomp!"
As soon as Fei Baiyun finished speaking, he stomped forward with one foot, leaning forward as if his entire body weight was on his leg.
Boom!
The floor trembled, and a buzzing echo filled the practice hall.
"Now, watch the Back Stomp!"
He pushed back with his rear foot, creating a faint whooshing sound. Even in flat shoes, the speed and power behind the move were evident. Just watching, Galon could imagine the deadly outcome for anyone struck in the abdomen by that kick.
"Stomping divides into Air Stomp and Solid Stomp. Air Stomp focuses on feinting, while Solid Stomp is about solidity. This move is to be combined with explosive punching techniques, applied to the feet. Your blood and energy should form a downward thrusting force in your legs, requiring tough blood vessels and internal muscles. Once stomped, it's not just an attack on the enemy but also creates an imposing aura, a surge of blood and energy. This requires coordination with breathing, in sync with your heart rate."
Fei Baiyun demonstrated several more times before letting Galon try. After quietly sharing the secret of coordinating blood flow and heartbeat, he observed from the side.
Incorrect posture was fine, but if the coordination of blood, breath, and heartbeat was off, a slap or kick would immediately correct it.
"The martial arts of Baiyun focus on the word 'sink'. No matter the action, the first thing to ensure is the center of your qi and blood must be stable and pressurized, then you can move your center according to the action to achieve a powerful burst effect."
"It's like a blocked faucet; just opening it a bit releases a powerful surge."
Galon began practicing the Stomp, step by step, coordinating heartbeat, breathing, blood flow, and more.
That night, returning home, his mind was still filled with the practice of Stomping. The power generated by combining the Baiyun Secret Technique with the Stomp was extraordinary.
The Baiyun Secret Technique, like an engine, the higher the level, the stronger the burst of power. Every move in Baiyun Combat Technique would correspondingly increase in power.
For several days, Galon immersed himself in learning the basic moves, as Fei Baiyun taught him all four forms in one go.
Whip allowed arms and legs to lash out fiercely like whips. Charge embodied the form of a charging elephant, used for dodging and attacking. Shoot was an instantaneous burst technique, allowing arms to thrust forward like sharp knives aiming at the eyes.
The techniques for combining the four forms, tailored responses to various opponents, were also found in books from the small library. These were the martial experiences of Baiyun's ancestors, with many variations and applications of the four forms, some extending into new major forms.
After mastering the basic moves and ensuring standard force application, Galon had time to consider attribute points.
A month had passed, and the final exams were easily managed. With his foundation, his performance was neither good nor bad, but his focus was on martial training.
The levels of Baiyun Secret Technique could be gradually increased with medicinal herbs, a matter of time and grinding. In contrast, mastering the Explosive Punch Technique required hitting wooden stakes and applying special medicinal solutions, not just a simple increase in levels.
November 2nd, noon.
Inside Baiyun Martial Arts School's main hall.
Galon, bare-chested, his skin slightly tanned from daily sun exposure, was drenched in sweat.
He stood in the center of the tempering room, surrounded by two students wielding thick wooden rods, relentlessly striking his back, chest, and arms.
With eyes closed, he focused on directing the blood and energy in his body to the struck areas, rapidly nourishing the injured muscles and cells.
"It's been a month since I started tempering the Baiyun Secret Technique and Explosive Punch Technique, and there's still no progress in skill levels. The difference is too vast compared to directly adding attribute points."
He shook his head inwardly. After closing his eyes, the dark view below now included attribute and skill columns.
Besides some changes in the attribute column, the skill column had merged Basic Combat Technique into Baiyun Combat Technique, reverting to beginner level.
In the attribute column, both strength and constitution had increased by 0.1.
Strength 1.78, Agility 1.10, Constitution 1.04, Intelligence 1.20, Potential 377%.
"The potential from the Bronze Cross Medal is almost negligible now, only increasing by about ten percent in over a month. It seems I need to find a new source of potential antiques."
He signaled the two sparring students to stop.
The pounding ceased, and both, sweating profusely, put down the rods and sat aside to rest.
"Galon Senior Brother, you're amazing. Our hands are sore from hitting, and you're still fine!" one student said admiringly.
"Keep practicing, and you might be able to do the same. It's just the Explosive Punch Technique that all official students can learn," Galon replied while considering how to allocate attribute points.
"The newly learned Baiyun Combat Technique can improve steadily with practice, no need for attribute points. I thought attribute points could elevate the Baiyun Secret Technique and Explosive Punch Technique after learning subsequent steps, but it turns out they can't. It seems martial arts requiring external aids for slow tempering can't be mastered overnight."
He had tried many times, but attribute points couldn't enhance Baiyun Secret Technique or Explosive Punch Technique. With this path blocked, the only use for attribute points was on personal attributes.
Remembering the extreme threat when facing a handgun and the rapid spread of poisoning, Galon steeled his heart, focusing on strength and constitution.
"Constitution determines resistance and recovery, as well as overall defense. From the tests, it felt like my organs had also strengthened considerably. The martial arts from the school don't train organs, and I haven't specifically trained them either. It
must be the slight increase in constitution making the difference."
Deciding to allocate all remaining points to strength and constitution, Galon's gaze fell on constitution. Within three seconds, the figure jumped from 1.04 to 1.34, a significant increase.
Galon felt a warm flow throughout his body, penetrating every corner in just a few seconds.
Opening his eyes again, he noticed sharper vision and more acute hearing. Lifting his right arm, his slightly dark skin became more refined, smooth and silky to the touch.
He then instructed the sparring students to leave, planning to practice a bit longer alone. They were used to his extra training and left, closing the door behind them.
Galon closed his eyes again, focusing on strength.
Strength jumped from 1.78 to 2.08.
He could feel his body expanding slightly. According to estimates, this increase was equivalent to adding a third of an adult man's maximum strength, or about 60 pounds.
"Last attribute point," he thought, intending to add it to constitution but paused, eyeing the skill column.
At that moment, the Baiyun Secret Technique symbol, which had slightly moved when constitution increased, caught his attention.
Baiyun Secret Technique: Advanced.
"Can adding constitution also elevate Baiyun Secret Technique's level?!" Galon was surprised and pleased. Without hesitation, he focused on Baiyun Secret Technique.
After three seconds, the technique leaped forward, advancing from Advanced to Major Achievement.
Baiyun Secret Technique, documented to have only three levels, had been pushed to a higher tier by attribute points.
Galon was thrilled. Just as he was about to stand, he felt a sudden pain throughout his body, his skin, muscles, and bones creaking. A scorching heat emerged in his abdomen, spreading slowly to his limbs. As the hot flow expanded, a cold stream followed, spreading throughout his body.