Chapter 39: Progress in Fist Techniques

Chen Jie never expected that he would actually get a bowl of soup; after all, this golden pheasant had been purchased with someone else's hard-earned money.

He hadn't shortchanged them by a single cent, but receiving an extra bowl of soup made him feel somewhat uneasy.

"Master, I shouldn't drink it..."

As Chen Jie spoke, looking somewhat conflicted, Physician Bai said, "Just drink it. This Phoenix Soup I formulated is a great tonic for martial artists. Aren't you practicing martial arts lately? This single bowl will save you at least six months of hard labor in cultivation."

"But Master, I already took the money..."

"Hehe, that money was what you earned from selling to Uncle Zhong. This soup is a gift from your Master to his disciple; there is no conflict. Just drink it."

At that moment, Wu Zhong, who was gnawing on a chicken wing nearby, said, "Drink it, Jiu Si. We're family; don't be so formal."

Wu Hong also added from the side, "Brother, literature is for the poor, but martial arts are for the wealthy. If you want to practice martial arts, it is difficult to achieve greatness without the help of such heavenly treasures."

Hearing this, Chen Jie fell silent. The Bai family matriarch also said, "Jiu Si is thin-skinned; stop persuading him. He will figure it out himself. We are all one family; there is no need to be so distant."

After everyone's persuasion, Chen Jie could no longer refuse, so he swallowed the soup in one gulp.

The soup contained no salt, yet the flavor was extremely delicious, accompanied by a unique, refreshing fragrance of medicinal herbs.

As soon as the soup entered his stomach, Chen Jie felt his abdomen grow warm, radiating heat from the inside out.

Looking at the others, they were all covered in beads of sweat, as if they had just stepped out of a sauna.

Wu Hong said to Chen Jie, "Jiu Si, don't just stand there dazed. Follow my lead and perform a few sets of boxing; don't let this medicinal power go to waste."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie immediately followed Wu Hong to perform the Taizu Long Fist. With every punch and stance, executed with precision, Chen Jie felt that strange heat within his body begin to flow into his limbs and bones, and his overall strength visibly increased.

*Is he absorbing the medicinal power?*

Thinking this, Chen Jie began to adjust his breathing while performing the forms. Using the breathing technique of the Spring Nourishing Formula in coordination with the Taizu Long Fist, Chen Jie found that the medicinal power was being absorbed even faster, and his execution of the Taizu Long Fist actually became increasingly proficient.

Wu Hong finished two sets of boxing and had absorbed all the medicinal power. He stopped there; because his strength was great, he only needed one set to absorb this amount of medicinal power, and the second set was merely to lead Chen Jie.

He was acting as a drill instructor to standardize Chen Jie's movements.

Standing still, Wu Hong noticed that his grandfather's and mother's faces were very flushed, their complexions revitalized, and even the wrinkles on their faces had diminished significantly.

Heavenly treasures and nourishing substances could be used by martial artists to strengthen bones and increase strength, while ordinary people who drank them could replenish their vital energy, eliminate ailments, and prolong their lives!

However, since ordinary people lacked cultivation methods, they could only absorb one or two tenths of the medicinal power through physical instinct, which was still enough to strengthen their bodies.

Physician Bai looked at Wu Hong and asked, "Are you finished? What about Jiu Si?"

Wu Hong replied, "Jiu Si hasn't broken through his bottleneck yet, and his physique is weak. To completely absorb this medicinal power, he would need to perform at least twenty sets of boxing. However, if it takes too long, it will be difficult to absorb it all; he'll likely only absorb about eighty percent."

Physician Bai nodded upon hearing this.

Immediately following, Chen Jie was seen continuing his Taizu Long Fist.

One time, two times, three times...

As he watched, Wu Hong suddenly let out an "Eh?"

Physician Bai asked, "What is it?"

"Jiu Si's comprehension is quite impressive. He has actually reached the entry level of this boxing style, and he is already very close to proficiency."

Hearing this, Physician Bai said, "If he reaches proficiency in Taizu Long Fist, wouldn't that mean he is close to entering the Skin-Grinding Realm?"

Wu Hong explained, "In Taizu Long Fist, proficiency makes one a skilled practitioner in the countryside. A minor achievement allows one to enter the Martial Skin-Grinding Realm, a great achievement leads to the Flesh-Tempering Realm, and perfection means one has touched the edge of Hidden Strength."

"Jiu Si, his comprehension of this boxing style is so profound. Impressive, truly impressive!"

Wu Hong couldn't help but marvel. Just then, as Chen Jie finished his tenth set, he suddenly stopped and exhaled a breath of turbid air. He felt completely transparent throughout his body; he had actually absorbed all the medicinal power.

Wu Hong watched from the side in shock. To absorb such strong medicinal power in only ten sets of boxing?

*This talent is a bit too strong. But when I performed the bone-feeling test that day, I only felt an average aptitude?*

However, Wu Hong soon shook his head and smiled. Bone-feeling could only provide a general idea; a few people belonged to the type whose innate talent was not apparent—also known as being "internally gifted."

Such people appeared to have mediocre bones, but once they practiced martial arts, they progressed by leaps and bounds, even surpassing geniuses. These were the most formidable people.

And his brother Jiu Si was very likely such an internally gifted person.

Thinking this, Wu Hong's mind began to race. *He's my brother; should I find an opportunity to bring him to the yamen to be a constable with me?*

That way, he would have a helper.

But there was no rush; his grandfather had finally found a successor, so he should let him learn martial arts first.

"Jiu Si, how do you feel?"

Wu Hong approached to ask. Chen Jie replied, "It's all absorbed. I feel... I feel like I could kill an ox with a single punch right now!"

Looking at his fist, he felt brimming with power.

Wu Hong said, "Mm, Jiu Si, your talent is good. And I saw that your Taizu Long Fist is almost at the proficiency stage. Once you reach proficiency, your strength should be considered half-step Skin-Grinding. In the countryside, you'll be quite a skilled hand."

"I must thank Brother Wu for passing on the technique."

Wu Hong said, "Let's not talk about that."

As the two were talking, Wu Zhong set down the last chicken bone, stood up with bloodshot eyes, walked into the courtyard, and began to box.

His set of boxing was vigorous and powerful. After finishing the set, he exerted strength with both arms and actually lifted a millstone in one go. The millstone weighed several hundred pounds, yet Wu Zhong lifted it with one hand effortlessly.

Chen Jie's eyes widened. *Is this even a human?*

Wu Hong said from the side, "My father has been stuck in the Flesh-Tempering Realm for a long time. As he aged, his strength declined, but this has restored about seventy to eighty percent of it."

Chen Jie asked, "Strength can decline like that?"

Wu Hong explained, "Of course. The saying 'boxing fears the young' is no joke. Ming-Jin (Bright Strength) uses the power of muscles and skin, both of which age easily, so strength naturally regresses. Haven't you heard the saying 'a chaotic punch can kill a master'?"

Chen Jie nodded.

"Therefore, Ming-Jin martial artists are also known as 'outer gate' martial artists; it isn't long-lasting, as it relies on youth. To slow down the decline of strength, one must reach An-Jin (Hidden Strength). An-Jin trains the tendons and bones, which age more slowly than skin and muscle, so the decline in strength is slower."

"And to prevent strength from declining due to the passage of time, one must reach Hua-Jin (Transforming Strength). Hua-Jin trains the blood and marrow; the movement of blood and marrow generates internal strength, which can prevent aging from affecting one's power."

Hearing this, Chen Jie secretly memorized the information. *So that's how it is.*

Thinking of this, he suddenly thought of something and turned to look at Wu Hong. "Brother Wu, what level of strength have you reached?"

Wu Hong smiled. "A little bit stronger than my old man."