Chapter 24: Genius_2
The induction ceremony for a formal disciple was far less elaborate than that of a personal disciple and required little formality.
Chen Yuan performed the disciple's salute before the gathered senior brothers and sisters, briefly getting acquainted with them.
Afterward, the courtyard returned to its usual calm.
The disciples resumed their activities, some continuing their martial arts practice, others awaiting Li Yue's ongoing evaluations or tending to their respective tasks.
Li Yue, however, kept Chen Yuan and Zhao He by his side, providing Chen Yuan with instructions on what to focus on after entering the Strength Refinement stage.
"With your mastery of Swallow Wing Boxing, entering the introductory Strength Refinement stage, your next step is to use the Strength Refinement Manual to further hone your control over your energy and strength. When you reach the minor accomplishment stage, you will be eligible to begin studying the Swallow Wing Boxing Sutra under my guidance. That will set you on the path to achieving Strength Refinement mastery, and even the Blood Condensation stage."
"That said, you've just broken through. Right now, it's important to stabilize your progress and remain composed. Practicing the manual is far more challenging than the guiding techniques of boxing. Even those with exceptional talent cannot expect immediate results, so there's no need to rush into learning the manual just yet."
"However, as someone who has entered the Strength Refinement stage, you can be considered a minor figure in the martial world. If you rely solely on your guiding techniques and raw physical strength, you'll lack the skills needed to protect yourself."
"Therefore, before introducing you to the manual, I recommend that you first master the practical applications of boxing techniques."
Li Yue provided Chen Yuan with guidance on his future martial cultivation, then delved into the nuances of boxing practice.
In martial arts, training is generally divided into three components: refining techniques, internal cultivation, and combat techniques.
Refining techniques focus on guiding the practitioner's movements and exercises to temper the body and enhance the circulation of vital energy and blood. Internal cultivation involves breathing techniques and advanced control over the body's energy and blood, building on the foundations of refining techniques. Combat techniques, meanwhile, focus on the practical application of martial arts in real-world combat scenarios.
Li Yue proceeded to elaborate on the details of combat techniques.
As the name suggests, "fighting techniques" naturally refer to methods of combat.
However, in the context of martial arts, techniques involve far more than simply punching someone. They are intricately tied to the routines and movements of foundational guided exercises.
These techniques are a refined skillset that enables a practitioner to fluidly mobilize their body's energy during combat, allowing for continuous and unyielding attacks against an opponent.
It is far more sophisticated than merely using brute force to strike.
More accurately, martial arts techniques should be referred to as "methods of combat."
Take the Little Swallow Wing Fist as an example:
Its 36 fundamental moves primarily serve to guide and enhance the flow of internal energy and blood. However, by making specific modifications to the basic routines, these movements can evolve into genuine combat techniques suitable for real-world fights.
Chen Yuan, who has been practicing for over two months, is no stranger to this concept.
He understands that the fighting techniques of Little Swallow Wing Fist are essentially combat skills derived from subtle alterations to the foundational moves, guided by key insights.
Moreover, he previously heard from Zhao He that external trainees at the martial hall, even if they fail to reach the foundational "Refined Force" level, would still be taught these fighting techniques before leaving, ensuring they have practical skills for survival.
However, for those external trainees who still have potential to enter the Refined Force realm, the martial hall typically refrains from teaching them the combat methods too early, lest they become distracted and lose focus.
Now that Chen Yuan has successfully advanced and feels confident about reclaiming his butcher shop business, he naturally has a strong interest in mastering these techniques.
Thus, when Li Yue mentioned the subject, Chen Yuan was immediately attentive.
Li Yue did not disappoint his expectations.
He began directly explaining the combat techniques of Little Swallow Wing Fist:
"The 36 fundamental movements of Little Swallow Wing Fist, when applied to combat techniques, can produce 12 different variations. Each variation involves combining several moves to accelerate the mobilization of energy throughout the body, enhancing the power, speed, and precision of your attacks."
"Among these 12 variations, there are three primary killing moves."
"They are Flying Swallow Strikes Body, Swallow Returns to Nest, and Swift Swallow Pierces Curtain!"
As he spoke, Li Yue stepped forward and demonstrated the techniques of Little Swallow Wing Fist right in front of Chen Yuan.
While performing the movements, he diligently explained the key points of each variation.
Chen Yuan focused intently on the demonstration.
However, before he could observe for long...
A message entered Chen Yuan's mental sea through the HuangTing Jade Manual.
[Detected supplementary content for the technique "Little Swallow Wing Fist." Recorded!]
[Parsing...]
[Parsing successful. Integration into the recorded "Little Swallow Wing Fist" technique diagram is possible. Perform simulation?]
Chen Yuan felt a slight stir in his heart but showed no outward reaction. His gaze remained fixed on Li Yue while he silently and skillfully muttered, "Simulate!"
[Simulating...]
[Estimated simulation time: one quarter-hour.]
Chen Yuan did not pay further attention to the Jade Manual's activity. He focused entirely on continuing to absorb Li Yue's teachings on the combat techniques.
...
Uncertain of how much time had passed, Chen Yuan eventually exited the martial hall, accompanied by Zhao He.
"Junior Brother, there's no need to delve too deeply into combat techniques for now. You've just broken through to a new stage, so your primary focus should remain on consolidating your gains," Zhao He advised as they walked.
"Although Yunshan City isn't exactly peaceful, now that you're an official disciple of the martial hall, you hold a certain status. Others won't dare provoke you easily, and no one will act against you without cause."
"But remember, your physical foundation is the true cornerstone of how far you can progress in martial arts. It must not be overlooked."
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother. I will keep it in mind," Chen Yuan replied with a nod.
Zhao He, familiar with Chen Yuan's steady temperament, felt assured that his words were sufficient and refrained from further elaboration.
After a brief moment of thought, Zhao He added, "If I recall correctly, didn't you mention that you've already separated from your family and currently lack a stable livelihood?"
Chen Yuan nodded, unsure of Zhao He's intent in bringing up this topic.
"In that case, you might want to plan ahead," Zhao He continued without hesitation, explaining, "At the Refined Force level, both breathing techniques and guided exercises go hand-in-hand. Especially after achieving mastery in Refined Force, each time a martial artist practices their forms, the circulation of energy throughout the body is extremely taxing. Without sufficient replenishment, not only will it hinder progress in your realm, but it could also harm your health."
"And ordinary food cannot compensate for such depletion. Only certain medicinal herbs or the blood and flesh of rare beasts or exotic creatures can meet these needs."
"Therefore, cultivation at this stage is incredibly costly," Zhao He continued. "I don't know how much savings you have, but I suggest finding a well-paying job."
Is that really the case?
Chen Yuan's thoughts grew more focused.
Zhao He's father was the leader of a gang, not a figure of immense wealth but still someone with significant resources.
For someone like Zhao He to consider Refined Force cultivation to be a major financial burden, the cost must indeed be extraordinary.
However, this realization only solidified Chen Yuan's determination to reclaim his butcher shop business.
While the shop's income might not fully cover his future cultivation expenses, it would certainly provide substantial support.
"Perfect. Now that I've achieved Refined Force and learned combat techniques, it's time to take action…"
Chen Yuan's gaze shifted toward the street where his rented house was located. Zhang Hong, the person who had taken over his butcher shop, also lived nearby.
Snapping back to the present, Chen Yuan thanked Zhao He again. "Thank you, Senior Brother. I'll keep that in mind."
Zhao He, unaware of Chen Yuan's inner resolve, seemed to recall something and added, "If you truly can't find a suitable job, feel free to come to me. I might have some connections."
Chen Yuan nodded, making a mental note of the offer.
Not wanting to linger, he bid Zhao He farewell and headed toward his home.
According to Li Yue, a Refined Force martial artist with a firm grasp of guided fist techniques already had a solid foundation in combat methods.
Once he mastered the variations of the techniques, learning effective combat techniques would not be difficult.
Thus, Chen Yuan decided to spend the next few days diligently practicing the killing techniques of the Little Swallow Wing Fist.
As for what came after…
It was time to reclaim what was rightfully his.