Start with push-ups to gain experience

Chapter 386 Unlocks New Skills: The Profound Meaning of Palm Techniques

Ma Jianguo glanced around at his old friends, then his gaze fell on Fang Cheng, and he said in a deep voice:

"You should already know something about aristocratic families and extraordinary individuals, and know that their sources of power are varied."

"Some are born with innate bloodline talents, which are uniquely endowed; others are due to some special encounter that accidentally triggers a mutation, thereby gaining superhuman abilities."

"But in any case, to truly explore its potential, one must ultimately deepen their perception and control over the origin of their own superpowers through 'meditation'."

"And the Qigong in our traditional martial arts, especially the key breakthrough from the 'True Yuan Casting Cauldron' level to the 'Internal Landscape Manifestation', also requires a 'visualization method' similar to 'meditation'."

At this point, Ma Jianguo paused, considering his words carefully.

“I mentioned this method to you when you first came to the research association.”

"While the two methods of meditation have some similarities, they are fundamentally different. I cannot describe the specifics to you right now."

"Just remember one thing: a martial artist's 'visualization method' is the condensation and sublimation of the three treasures of 'essence, energy, and spirit' into one. It is to cultivate one's life energy to the extreme, thereby reaching the state of 'unity of heaven and man'."

Ma Jianguo emphasized, "..."
"In this process, the main reliance is on the martial artist's own persistent hard work, rather than innate bloodline or accidental mutation, nor is it on illusory gods and Buddhas."

Wu Dewang also added at the appropriate time:
"In the thousands of years of Xia Kingdom history, there are very few martial artists who have reached the highest level of 'inner vision manifesting outwards' with verifiable records. Most of them only exist in legends."

"In the past two hundred years, only Senior Li Guizhen has been officially confirmed to have reached this level."

"Even if he possesses a talent inherited from a certain family or a talent resulting from a mutation, it would only be icing on the cake and speed up his cultivation."

"So, Acheng..."

Ma Jianguo took over the conversation, looking at Fang Cheng with eyes full of affirmation and expectation:

"You don't need to worry about abnormal test results in the future, or being treated as an outcast by the special search team. The path you're walking is actually the same as Senior Li's—the purest and most orthodox path of martial arts!"

He paused, as if remembering something, and then continued:
"Isn't my son going to have his second medical exam for the Special Investigation Team soon?"

“When the time comes, I’ll accompany him to the Special Investigation Team headquarters and say hello to the old acquaintances there so that you can also be registered as an ‘inheritor of ancient martial arts’.”

"This way, even if you show some extraordinary abilities in the future, you will have a reasonable explanation, which can save you a lot of unnecessary trouble."

"Correct!"

Zhang Haixiang patted his chest, his voice booming:

"I also have a few of my good-for-nothing disciples in the special search team. I'll give them a heads-up and see who dares to cause trouble for the future pillars of our martial arts research association!"

"That's right, anyone who dares to touch you will first have to ask us old bones if we'll allow it!"

Wu Dewang and Chen Zizhen nodded in agreement, expressing their full support.

They had previously speculated about Fang Cheng's background, but now all doubts had vanished.

Aside from his astonishing martial arts talent, the young man before him was humble, polite, and gentle in his dealings with others.

If someone were to say that he is a psychopathic, ruthless killer, they would never believe it, even if they were beaten to death.

"Haha."

Dong Yunchuan then echoed with a smile:
"Acheng, with us old guys backing you up, you can practice your skills with peace of mind."

"Ideally, one day I'll reach the legendary 'Inner Vision Manifestation' level, and take everyone to the Special Investigations Team headquarters to open the eyes of those guys who look down on martial arts practitioners and teach them a lesson!"

Fang Cheng felt a warmth in his heart, then solemnly stood up and bowed deeply to his teachers, clasping his hands in a fist salute:

"Thank you all for your trouble."

This was precisely his main purpose in accepting the invitation to attend the martial arts research association gathering and showcasing his skills.

With these highly respected and well-connected seniors as my backing, my future actions will undoubtedly be much more convenient.

Ma Jianguo smiled and waved his hand: "We're all family, no need for such formalities."

After this heartfelt conversation, the atmosphere became very warm.

The old men sat down again around Fang Cheng and continued to discuss their experiences and insights in martial arts training.

Fang Cheng listened attentively, occasionally asking questions, and felt enlightened and greatly benefited.

I thought of the difficulties I encountered when I was specifically learning karate.

Although he had mastered all the moves and techniques to a high degree, he was still unable to unlock the relevant skills.

So, he took the opportunity to ask several martial arts masters for advice:
"Dear instructors, I used to practice boxing and Sanda, and my style was more aggressive and wide-ranging. But in actual combat, I found that this style sometimes lacked flexibility and variation."

“I’ve also been trying to practice karate lately, but I still feel like I’m missing the point with the ‘hand chop’ technique. It’s like I’ve hit a bottleneck.”

"Therefore, I would like to learn the essence of palm techniques in traditional martial arts from my teachers, hoping to further improve my combat skills."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded slightly.

"Acheng, your idea of ​​learning palm techniques to improve your fighting skills is correct."

Professor Wu Dewang adjusted his glasses, then smiled and said:

"However, you've chosen the wrong research direction."

"You should know that karate, formerly known as 'Tang Shou', was first transmitted from our Xia Kingdom to Ryukyu, and then from Ryukyu to Japan."

"Its core fighting techniques draw heavily on our White Crane Fist. So, if you want to truly understand and master the hand knife technique, you should first look at its origins."

Fang Cheng's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately stood up and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Wu Dewang:

"I humbly request your guidance, Uncle Wu."

"it is good."

Wu Dewang also became interested and readily agreed: "Let's go over there, and I'll demonstrate it for you."

The group then went to the open space in the courtyard and excitedly watched the two instructors teach.

"I won't go into the details of fist techniques."

Wu Dewang glanced at the corner of the courtyard, at the limestone rockery that was missing a large chunk.

Recalling Fang Cheng's inhuman punch back then, I wisely refrained from showing off my limited skills before an expert.

He cleared his throat and began his formal explanation:
"White Crane Fist, as an important representative of Southern martial arts, is essentially about imitating the body shape and movements of a white crane. Its palm techniques are actually more unique and more important than its fist techniques."

As he spoke, Wu Dewang had already assumed a stance, his body slightly lowered, his arms outstretched, and his demeanor suddenly changed, truly exuding a carefree and unrestrained air.

"Look, this is a 'crane beak palm'!"

Before he finished speaking, he brought his five fingers together, slightly bent, resembling a crane's beak, and with a flick of his wrist, struck forward with lightning speed.

The movement was swift and brief, carrying a sharp, forceful wind, aimed directly at the vital point.

"This is a 'palm swing,' which simulates the crane's wing flapping strike!"

He swung his arm horizontally, palm facing outward, using the edge of his palm as the point of force to draw a beautiful arc and slash horizontally.

The movements appear gentle, yet they contain a skillful force that uses softness to overcome hardness.

"And there's the 'slicing palm,' the force of which is like a knife..."

"'Pushing the palm' utilizes the unity of waist and stance to generate penetrating thrust..."

"The core of these moves lies in the combination of short bursts of force and arc-shaped power, combined with our school's unique 'sound-like' breathing technique, which can be both hard and soft, and is infinitely varied."

Wu Dewang explained and demonstrated at the same time.

As his palms moved in and out, he would occasionally let out a clear, melodious crane cry, which blended with the whistling wind from his palms.

There is a vague sense of a crane's cry echoing across the sky and resounding throughout the wilderness.

The demonstration of a set of palm techniques was graceful and fluid, showcasing the style of a master.

Fang Cheng watched intently, and suddenly a sense of enlightenment dawned on him.

He discovered that the palm techniques of White Crane Fist are indeed similar to those of Karate's hand strikes and penetrating strikes in terms of power generation principles and attack routes.

The swinging palm and the slicing palm are almost variations of the hand knife; while the crane beak palm is exactly the same as the piercing palm concept.

Previously, I had only focused on standing still and performing chopping motions with my hands.

However, it overlooked the changes in fingers and feet, and even the coordinated exertion of force throughout the body.

Perhaps this is the reason why the skill has never been unlocked.

"Uncle-Master Wu." After watching Wu Dewang demonstrate all the basic moves, Fang Cheng pondered for a moment and asked:
"Do palm techniques in traditional martial arts also include finger techniques and claw techniques?"

"Good question."

Wu Dewang nodded approvingly:

"In a broad sense, that is indeed the case. The fist is a clenched fist, and the palm is an open fist. Palm techniques, finger techniques, and claw techniques all have similar hand shapes and are originally from the same source."

"Just like the 'Crane Beak Hand' move in Crane Fist, it may seem to be a palm technique, but it actually includes a pecking technique with the fingertips."

"And with 'pushing the palm,' at the moment of contact with the target, the five fingers can also seize the target, transforming the palm into a claw."

"In martial arts terminology, this is called 'palm and fingers sharing the same origin,' which is unconventional."

He paused, then continued to explain:
“You work at a fight club, so you should know that you almost never see anyone use their palm in the ring, right? Because when you use the same amount of force to attack, the impact of a heavy punch is much greater than that of a palm strike.”

Fang Cheng nodded; this was a consensus in modern combat sports.

"but."

Wu Dewang abruptly changed the subject, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes:
Why are palm techniques so important in traditional martial arts?

"Because, in addition to the palm technique having a strong ability to combine movements and flexibly transform into other techniques, the most crucial point is its coordination with 'qi'."

Wu Dewang raised his right hand, spreading his five fingers.

"Imagine, when true qi circulates, is it better to straighten your five fingers like this, allowing the qi to flow more smoothly to the fingertips? Or..."

Before Fang Cheng could answer, he slowly closed his five fingers and clenched them tightly.

"...Does clenching your fist like this make your internal energy flow more smoothly?"

Fang Cheng's eyes lit up, and without hesitation, he said:
"When you spread your fingers out, your breathing will be smoother."

"Yes."

Wu Dewang nodded slightly and said in a deep voice:

“Once you clench your fist, the meridians in your arm are compressed, and the blood and qi become stagnant, which will hinder the flow of true qi.”

"Therefore, for martial artists who have mastered internal strength, palm techniques are far more suitable for the use of true qi than fist techniques. When they reach the level of releasing true qi externally, the power they unleash is far beyond what fists can achieve."

"It's just that most people can't reach the level where they need to use 'qi', so they naturally feel that palm techniques are useless."

This explanation gave Fang Cheng a deeper understanding of the relationship between the skill of "Qigong" and fighting techniques.

"I understand."

"Okay, you give it a try. Go through the routine first."

Wu Dewang gestured.

Fang Cheng walked to the center of the field, stood with his feet apart, and slowly raised his hand.

He then stretched out his body, waved his palms, and performed the entire White Crane Fist routine that Wu Dewang had just demonstrated.

Especially in terms of palm techniques, from the pecking strike of the crane beak palm to the fanning strike of the swinging palm, and then to the chopping strike of the slicing palm, the movements are smooth and fluid, and the power is precise, as if he has been immersed in this art for many years.

The elderly gentlemen clapped their hands in praise and cheers.

As expected of a genius from our martial arts research association, his comprehension is so high!
Once Fang Cheng had finished his stance and stood still.

Dong Yunchuan also stepped forward, cleared his throat, and looked rather smug.

"Acheng, if you want to learn palm techniques, you definitely need to study our Baguazhang properly."

He puffed out his chest and said proudly:
"Among all the martial arts in the world, there is still no definitive conclusion on which style is the most powerful."

"But if we're talking about which palm technique is the most professional and has the most offensive power, it has to be our Bagua Palm."

"As the saying goes in boxing, one move of changing palms can defeat all opponents in the world."

Dong Yunchuan gave a light snort, swayed his shoulders, and then assumed a fighting stance, taking the initiative to teach Fang Cheng the secrets of Baguazhang.

"Baguazhang, also known as Bagua Lianhuanzhang, is based on eight fixed palm postures."

"Including basic palm techniques such as piercing, inserting, chopping, lifting, horizontal striking, bumping, hooking, and flipping."

"The technical characteristics are quite similar to those of knife skills, emphasizing rotation, insertion, and chopping, hence the name 'the unity of knife and palm'."

As he spoke, he demonstrated, his palms opening and closing with a powerful, whistling force.

"Besides practicing palm techniques, you also need to practice walking in circles and swimming. Watch my footwork carefully..."

Dong Yunchuan stepped on the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams positions, his steps as if wading through mud, his lower body stable, yet his upper body incredibly agile.

"This is called 'mud-walking step,' which gives the body extremely high elasticity and the ability to absorb impact. It is good at avoiding the opponent's strength and attacking their weakness from the side or back."

"In actual combat, we don't have a fixed routine. Instead, we keep moving in circles and changing our stances to keep the moves flowing and find opportunities to defeat the enemy amidst the changes..."

He walked in circles, his body spinning like a dragon, his palms fluttering up and down like butterflies flitting among flowers, making for a truly beautiful sight.

It is somewhat similar to the graceful and agile style of White Crane Fist, but the movements are larger, the lower body is more stable, and the palm power is more profound.

Fang Cheng's eyes shone brightly as he memorized all the moves.

After Dong Yunchuan finished his demonstration, he stepped forward and performed a set of Baguazhang moves with impressive skill.

Although there is still a lack of exquisite variations in the moves, the basic palm techniques can be quickly mastered after one round of practice.

Even the "walking in circles" and "swimming body" techniques that Dong Yunchuan boasted about being the most difficult to master, seemed to have been practiced by him for months, and he was very familiar with them, displaying a very impressive posture.

Fang Cheng's control over his body's muscles has reached an unbelievable level.

With his photographic memory, no technique seems to hold any secret from him.

Dong Yunchuan was both surprised and delighted, and then pulled Chen Zizhen out from the side as well:

"Old Chen, stop hiding it from me, teach A-Cheng your Eagle Claw Kung Fu skills too!"

Chen Zizhen looked helpless: "That's claw technique, it has nothing to do with palm techniques."

"Why isn't it connected!"

Dong Yunchuan's eyes widened:
"Didn't you hear what Old Wu said? Finger techniques and claw techniques are also palm techniques in a broad sense. Don't dawdle, don't worry, teaching your apprentice won't starve you!"

Chen Zizhen couldn't persuade him otherwise, knowing that he wouldn't be able to get through this day without presenting something truly impressive.

He had no choice but to step forward and briefly demonstrate and explain to Fang Cheng the finger and palm techniques of Eagle Claw Kung Fu related to seizing, grappling, locking, and buckling.

Eagle Claw Kung Fu emphasizes finger strength, grasping tendons and veins, and dislocating bones and tendons. Its moves are ruthless and cunning, and its style is quite different from the previous two.

Its core lies in the power of the five fingers, using claws instead of palms to tear, grab, pinch, and squeeze, with each move targeting the vital joints of the human body.

Fang Cheng already had a foundation in Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) and grappling, making it easier for him to learn.

After watching it, I also practiced it once.

When he got into the swing of practicing, he stopped simply imitating.

Instead, he simply combined the agility of White Crane Fist, the power of Baguazhang, and the ruthlessness of Eagle Claw Kung Fu—three very different styles of kung fu.

His figure flashed and moved around the courtyard, his arms outstretched like crane wings, graceful and agile, his body twisting like a dragon, his palms, fingers, and claws changing at will.

Sometimes it strikes with a palm strike, sharp as a spear; sometimes it cleaves down with a palm strike, fierce as a knife; sometimes it extends its hand and transforms into an eagle's claw, ruthless and cunning.

He seemed to transform into a whirlwind, his palms flashing and his momentum astonishing, bringing with them gusts of howling wind.

The old men were stunned, forgetting even to applaud and cheer.

Fang Cheng was completely immersed in this brand-new experience.

I feel that my use of my hands has reached an unprecedented new level.

Fists, palms, fingers, claws—these different forms are no longer isolated moves, but a weapon arsenal that can be switched and combined at will.

Suddenly, a dazzling light flashed before his eyes.

A familiar notification message quietly appeared.

Congratulations! Through diligent practice and mastery of your skills, you have successfully acquired a combat skill.

[Unlock Skill: Palm Technique lv0 (0/100)]

(End of this chapter)