Cultivation: Starting from a Fighting Cock

Chapter 85 Question

"Uncle Cui, you don't need to be so polite, I can do it myself."

Upon entering the room, Ji Cheng saw Cui Sheng diligently tidying up the bedding and dressing table. He was both amused and exasperated, and stepped forward to take over the work himself.

Cui Sheng smiled and said "Ah," then stood aside and praised Ji Cheng at length, saying that the boy was handsome, polite, hardworking, and very likable.

“I have a daughter, about your age. A few days ago, she was found to have above-average spiritual roots. You’ve heard of the Three Immortals Cave, right? She became a disciple there. It was the immortal master Chen Feng from the Three Immortals Cave who personally came to guide her into the sect. Alas, from then on, the immortals and mortals were separated. Otherwise, I could have introduced you two to each other.”

Cui Sheng's words were not without a hint of boasting.

He had said these words countless times in Wuzhen these past few days, and when facing Ji Cheng, he was simply repeating the same thing.

Ji Cheng gave a dry laugh, feeling so embarrassed he wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it.

Situ Ying gave Cui Sheng a silver ingot.

Cui Sheng firmly declined, saying it would be his honor to host them.

In addition to Ji Cheng's room, Cui Sheng also prepared rooms for Situ Ying, Huang Cuicui, and the other three.

Situ Ying said no need, we have important operations planned for the next few nights.

As soon as he finished speaking, Huang Cuicui said, "I'm going inside to rest for a bit."

She had used up a lot of her spiritual energy piloting the flying boat today, and was quite tired at the moment.

Situ Ying smiled awkwardly at Cui Sheng, then took back what he had just said. He immediately thanked Cui Sheng for preparing rooms for them.

The two quickly began to address each other as Brother Cui and Brother Situ.

Brother Ma and Brother Gou also went inside to rest, preparing for the evening's operation.

Seeing that it was still early and there was nothing else to do, Situ Ying called Ji Cheng into the courtyard.

"Since we have some free time now, I, as your master, will teach you a set of essential skills."

Situ Ying was preparing to teach Ji Cheng a set of boxing techniques called "Tiger Roar Killing Fist".

Ji Cheng nodded and listened attentively, while Cui Sheng walked away on his own.

This is a complete tradition, which includes not only fist techniques and moves, but also stance training and body tempering methods.

"The first realm of martial arts is called the Qi and Blood Realm. Qi and blood are the source of strength. Where does this Qi and blood come from?"

"Refining the skin, bones, tendons, blood, and marrow... This process is also called body tempering. Qi and blood are generated through continuous body tempering..."

Situ Ying, worthy of his background in the Demon Forging Sect, gave a concise and professional explanation, clarifying the Qi and Blood Realm in just a few words.

Ji Cheng had read many novels in his previous life, so understanding them was easy for him.

"Furthermore, regarding this boxing technique, the first step in practicing boxing is to stand in a stance, so that the power originates from the ground. If your lower body is unstable, your fist will be like a rootless duckweed. If you punch someone, you will actually knock yourself down instead."

"The stance training of this 'Tiger Roaring and Killing Fist' is called 'Tiger Crouching in the Mountains and Forests.' Watch my stance!"

After speaking, Situ Ying immediately assumed a standing posture in the courtyard.

He squatted down with his knees bent, toes pointing outwards like tiger claws gripping the ground, his weight on his lower abdomen, his upper body leaning forward, his arms bent at the elbows and raised to his chest, his palms open in a claw shape, his fingertips slightly curled inwards, as if he were seizing an invisible prey.

His back was ramrod straight, his head slightly raised, his eyes sharp as torches, and he looked like a tiger poised to pounce, surveying the entire mountain forest.

Ji Cheng was deeply shaken; Situ Ying's demeanor was even more frightening than that of a real tiger.

This is the stance training of "Tiger Roaring and Killing Fist". If you keep practicing like this, sooner or later you will treat a fierce tiger as a sick cat and beat it up.

"Come on, Er Gou, you give it a try!"

Having already demonstrated the moves, Situ Ying now instructed Ji Cheng to practice this skill.

Ji Cheng nodded, stepped forward, and imitated the pose, making it somewhat comical and utterly absurd.

Situ Ying shook his head and sighed, "He's far from good enough. This kid's aptitude for martial arts is lacking."

Disappointment was evident on his face. Ji Cheng withdrew his hands and feet and asked, "Master, what are the key points of this stance training?"

"The key points... Come on, let me explain it to you again. You need to do it like this, look, first, the movement is like this: legs apart, knees bent, squat down..."

[You asked about the basics of stance training, received the correct answer, and quickly grasped its essence!]

Ji Cheng was slightly taken aback. A piece of information suddenly appeared before his eyes, and at the same time, a piece of insight into the practice of stance training appeared in his mind.

He couldn't help but get excited. Was this the "asking" function from the "observation, listening, questioning, and palpation" method of innate talent?

As long as one asks questions about cultivation and receives the correct answer, one can immediately comprehend that correct answer.
"Master, is this correct?"

Ji Cheng spread his legs apart to shoulder width again, then squatted down, straightened his back like a bow, raised his head slightly, shifted his weight to his lower abdomen, leaned his upper body forward, and raised his arms to his chest with his elbows bent.

"what?"

Seeing Ji Cheng's actions, Situ Ying couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "You... good! Very good!"

He secretly lamented that he had misjudged his disciple; he was clearly a martial arts genius!

[You asked about the basics of body tempering techniques, received the correct answer, and quickly grasped the essence!]

[You asked about the basics of boxing, received the correct answer, and quickly grasped its essence!]

You asked about...

Then, Ji Cheng asked a few more questions and quickly grasped some basic knowledge about the introductory training of "Tiger Roar Killing Fist".

All he needs now is the right amount of practice.

Understanding is one thing, but how can you truly master it without diligent practice?

With his mind at ease, Ji Cheng immediately began practicing stance training in the Cui family's courtyard, and soon he was drenched in sweat.

"This kid is a true genius!"

Situ Ying watched from the side, secretly pleased that he had struck gold. In just a short while, Ji Cheng had already grasped the essentials of stance training. His comprehension was top-notch, even within the Demon Forging Sect.

Ji Cheng's body showed no signs of prior cultivation. Just standing in the Tiger Stance for a few minutes made his legs tremble and he could hardly continue.

He stopped to rest for a while, and Situ Ying took the initiative to pour him water to drink.

After resting for a while, he went to the center of the courtyard and stood on the tiger-shaped stake.

Situ Ying nodded silently. This child has a good temperament and can endure the hardships of martial arts training. He is very satisfied with him no matter how you look at him.

The sun moved westward.

Ma Yuan and Gou Feng woke up one after the other and sat in the courtyard watching Ji Cheng practice standing meditation. As they watched, they fell silent, their eyes fixed on Ji Cheng.

Not long after, Huang Cuicui finished her cultivation and came out to see this scene—three grown men staring blankly at Ji Cheng in the courtyard.

She wondered, what's going on here?
She was stunned when she saw Ji Cheng's perfectly standard standing posture and his clothes that were soaked and dried by sweat.

She wanted to ask, "How long has this kid been practicing?"

Yet, I couldn't bear to break the tranquility of the moment.

Ji Cheng could only hold the position for a few minutes at first, but he practiced for longer and longer, for more than ten minutes, half an hour, or even an hour.

This time, he stood for an hour and a half straight. The sun had already set when he finally exhausted his last bit of strength and collapsed onto the ground.

Situ Ying stepped forward and asked, "Can you still stand up?"

Ji Cheng tried, but found that his legs were no longer under his control, as if they were made of cotton, and could not support him to stand up at all.

He shook his head. He had pushed himself too hard with the standing meditation today, pushing his body to its limits multiple times.

Situ Ying smiled and extended a large hand to him, praising, "Good lad!"

(End of this chapter)