Chapter 66: Sparring |
Chen Qing's mind sank as golden light appeared in his consciousness.
[Through-arm Stance Work: Perfection (1/5000)]
Through-arm stance work had four major realms: minor achievement, great achievement, perfection, and reaching the pinnacle.
Minor achievement corresponded to obvious strength, great achievement to hidden strength, perfection to transforming strength, and the final reaching the pinnacle corresponded to great achievement in transforming strength.
"So this is transforming strength?"
Chen Qing felt his five senses were clear as if washed, his tendons, bones, and flesh condensed and resilient, with a mighty force filling his entire body.
Not only that, his internal and external force were now unified. When his mind moved, force was generated, no longer distinguishing between obvious and hidden.
The force hadn't disappeared, but had become more condensed and pure, like hundred-times refined steel transformed into flexible silk that could wrap around fingers, capable of being hard or soft, all under his control.
His strength compared to hidden strength had improved by who knows how many times.
However, martial artists fought with fists and feet, risking their lives. Who hadn't accumulated some injuries and ailments in their youth?
Some were even plagued by hidden illnesses, dying young in their forties or fifties.
"I wonder how formidable the internal cultivation methods above transforming strength must be."
Chen Qing thought silently, becoming increasingly expectant of internal cultivation methods.
Over the next few days, Chen Qing didn't go to Zhou's courtyard.
Instead, he stayed home behind closed doors, pondering the mysteries of transforming strength, using force to refine his bones, while spending the rest of his time arduously practicing Toad Fishing Force.
Now Toad Fishing Force had also reached the second realm, making his internal organs resilient, with ordinary force unable to injure their foundation.
If he reached the third realm of cleansing essence and cutting marrow, removing impurities, the benefits would be immeasurable.
This day, Zhou courtyard's new disciple Bai Rui came to the door.
His aptitude was decent, and recently he had been following Sun Shun to practice boxing.
"Senior Brother Chen."
Bai Rui respectfully bowed, "Master requests that you come to the courtyard this afternoon if you have time."
"What for?" Chen Qing asked.
"It seems he arranged for disciples to spar with Master Liu's students."
Chen Qing nodded, "I understand."
He wasn't very interested in sparring, but having not returned to Zhou's courtyard for quite some time, he should make a trip.
In the afternoon, Chen Qing changed into neat black short clothes and headed straight for Zhou's courtyard.
Before even entering the courtyard walls, the clamorous sounds already rushed toward him.
Walking inside, the usually quiet Zhou's courtyard was now bustling with voices.
Zhou Liang and Liu Ze sat in the seats of honor.
In the center of the courtyard, Sun Shun was facing off against Liu Nianbo.
Zhou Yu stood quietly to one side, her beautiful eyes watching the two, her graceful figure particularly striking among the crowd.
Chen Qing's gaze swept across the scene. In the corner, Liu Xiaolou and Qi Wenhan were chatting and laughing to themselves. Though they had joined the Zhu family, they hadn't severed ties with their former fellow disciples and occasionally returned to the courtyard.
Connections were never unwelcome.
Luo Qian was laughing and chatting cheerfully, conversing with several Liu courtyard disciples who had excellent natural talent, seemingly intending to curry favor and seek patronage.
Knowing she had no hope of reaching transforming strength, she urgently sought a promising seedling to support so she could stand out in the Luo family.
However, Liu courtyard's disciples were only somewhat stronger than Zhou courtyard's disciples, and there weren't many good prospects.
Zheng Ziqiao stood with arms crossed, watching the two spar with complete concentration, lost in thought about something.
Bai Rui had sharp eyes and quickly approached, "Senior Brother Chen!"
Chen Qing nodded slightly and directed his gaze toward the center of the courtyard.
Sun Shun and Liu Nianbo stood facing each other.
Sun Shun wore Zhou courtyard's customary dark blue short clothes, his expression steady and eyes focused.
He assumed through-arm boxing's opening stance 'Spiritual Ape Asking the Way,' knees slightly bent, spine like a pine tree, breathing condensed.
Opposite him, Liu Nianbo wore moon-white martial attire, his form upright, eyes sharp as an eagle's.
His hands were loosely cupped, fingertips slightly curved, exactly the characteristic 'Sickle Hands' opening stance of Mantis Boxing, with a faint aura of pent-up sharpness emanating from him.
"Junior Brother Liu, please instruct me!" Sun Shun cupped his hands and said solemnly.
"Senior Brother Sun, please!"
Liu Nianbo returned the courtesy. Before his words finished, his form shot out like an arrow released from a bow!
Fast!
Liu Nianbo's footwork was swift and cunning, like a mantis hunting in grass, reaching Sun Shun's center gate in just a few steps.
His fingers joined together like a blade, accompanied by the sharp whistle of tearing air, stabbing directly at Sun Shun's chest and abdomen vital points. This was Mantis Boxing's 'Heart-Piercing Stab.'
Sun Shun's pupils contracted slightly as he dared not be careless.
His waist and hips suddenly twisted, his spine moving like a great dragon, his left arm swinging up like lightning to block, using through-arm boxing's force-dissipating technique 'Spiritual Ape Circling Branch.'
His arm muscles instantly tensed like iron as hidden strength erupted.
"Screech!"
Fingertips clashed with the arm, producing a sharp grinding sound.
Sun Shun felt a cunning and cold force penetrate through his arm, drilling straight into his tendons and bones, making his arm numb and sore.
He grunted and stumbled back three steps with "thump thump thump," barely managing to dissipate this force, leaving clear footprints on the blue brick ground.
Liu Nianbo pressed his advantage, his form following like a shadow, his footwork strange and variable, instantly closing in again.
His fists transformed into claws, flying up and down, pecking, hooking, or striking, his attacks like a fierce wind and sudden rain, covering Sun Shun's vital acupoints throughout his body.
The essence of Mantis Boxing, cunning, drilling, fast, and ruthless, was displayed by him to perfection.
The air was filled with "whoosh whoosh" sounds of sharp air-breaking, with layers of claw shadows that dazzled the eyes.
Sun Shun was experienced, bringing out the characteristics of through-arm boxing's grand sweeping movements combined with flexibility to the extreme.
He sank his waist and sat on his horse stance, his arms rotating like windmills, sometimes sweeping horizontally like steel whips, sometimes darting like a spiritual snake spitting its tongue, doing his utmost to block Liu Nianbo's omnipresent attacks.
"Bang bang bang—!"
Muffled sounds were endless, the sound of fists and feet colliding and hidden strength clashing.
However, the gap was ultimately obvious.
Liu Nianbo had achieved great mastery in hidden strength, with vigorous qi and blood and perfectly flowing hidden strength. His speed, power, and reflexes were all superior to Sun Shun's.
After one hard collision while blocking, Sun Shun's left arm transmitted needle-like stabbing pain, and his qi and blood circulation momentarily showed an imperceptible stagnation.
This stagnation might be harmless to ordinary people, but in the eyes of a hidden strength expert like Liu Nianbo, it was like leaving the door wide open.
"Good opportunity!"
Liu Nianbo's eyes flashed with brilliant light.
His form suddenly crouched low, using an extremely cunning 'Mantis Cutting Step' to slip into Sun Shun's left-side opening.
His right arm, which had been building up power, struck out like a venomous snake leaving its hole, five fingers joined together like an awl, fingertips condensed with highly penetrating hidden strength, pointing toward Sun Shun's left rib Zhangmen acupoint quick as lightning.
This move was exactly the vicious 'Acupoint-Piercing Awl' from Mantis Boxing!
Sun Shun's heart alarm bells rang loudly, but it was too late to dodge or block.
"Puff!"
The fingertip precisely hit half an inch beside the acupoint. Liu Nianbo held back his force at the last moment, only using a gentle hidden strength to penetrate, indicating the match was decided.
Even so, Sun Shun still felt his left rib go numb, half his body's qi and blood stagnating. He stumbled back another step, his face instantly turning pale with fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
The courtyard instantly fell quiet.
Liu Nianbo slowly withdrew his stance, his breathing stable. He cupped his hands toward Sun Shun with a sincere tone, "Senior Brother Sun, I yield to you."
Sun Shun took a deep breath, suppressing his churning qi and blood and the numbness between his ribs. His face showed not much dejection, only a trace of helplessness and frank admiration.
He wiped his sweat and also cupped his hands in return courtesy, "Junior Brother Liu's martial skill is exquisite, I admire it! I have lost."
Victory and defeat were decided, clean and decisive.
Chen Qing's mind sank as golden light appeared in his consciousness.
[Through-arm Stance Work: Perfection (1/5000)]
Through-arm stance work had four major realms: minor achievement, great achievement, perfection, and reaching the pinnacle.
Minor achievement corresponded to obvious strength, great achievement to hidden strength, perfection to transforming strength, and the final reaching the pinnacle corresponded to great achievement in transforming strength.
"So this is transforming strength?"
Chen Qing felt his five senses were clear as if washed, his tendons, bones, and flesh condensed and resilient, with a mighty force filling his entire body.
Not only that, his internal and external force were now unified. When his mind moved, force was generated, no longer distinguishing between obvious and hidden.
The force hadn't disappeared, but had become more condensed and pure, like hundred-times refined steel transformed into flexible silk that could wrap around fingers, capable of being hard or soft, all under his control.
His strength compared to hidden strength had improved by who knows how many times.
Generally, upon reaching transforming strength, if one's tendons and bones had no hidden injuries or wear, one could extend their lifespan.
However, martial artists fought with fists and feet, risking their lives. Who hadn't accumulated some injuries and ailments in their youth?
Some were even plagued by hidden illnesses, dying young in their forties or fifties.
"I wonder how formidable the internal cultivation methods above transforming strength must be."
Chen Qing thought silently, becoming increasingly expectant of internal cultivation methods.
Over the next few days, Chen Qing didn't go to Zhou's courtyard.
Instead, he stayed home behind closed doors, pondering the mysteries of transforming strength, using force to refine his bones, while spending the rest of his time arduously practicing Toad Fishing Force.
Now Toad Fishing Force had also reached the second realm, making his internal organs resilient, with ordinary force unable to injure their foundation.
If he reached the third realm of cleansing essence and cutting marrow, removing impurities, the benefits would be immeasurable.
This day, Zhou courtyard's new disciple Bai Rui came to the door.
His aptitude was decent, and recently he had been following Sun Shun to practice boxing.
"Senior Brother Chen."
Bai Rui respectfully bowed, "Master requests that you come to the courtyard this afternoon if you have time."
"What for?" Chen Qing asked.
"It seems he arranged for disciples to spar with Master Liu's students."
Chen Qing nodded, "I understand."
He wasn't very interested in sparring, but having not returned to Zhou's courtyard for quite some time, he should make a trip.
In the afternoon, Chen Qing changed into neat black short clothes and headed straight for Zhou's courtyard.
Before even entering the courtyard walls, the clamorous sounds already rushed toward him.
Walking inside, the usually quiet Zhou's courtyard was now bustling with voices.
Zhou Liang and Liu Ze sat in the seats of honor.
In the center of the courtyard, Sun Shun was facing off against Liu Nianbo.
Zhou Yu stood quietly to one side, her beautiful eyes watching the two, her graceful figure particularly striking among the crowd.
Chen Qing's gaze swept across the scene. In the corner, Liu Xiaolou and Qi Wenhan were chatting and laughing to themselves. Though they had joined the Zhu family, they hadn't severed ties with their former fellow disciples and occasionally returned to the courtyard.
Connections were never unwelcome.
Luo Qian was laughing and chatting cheerfully, conversing with several Liu courtyard disciples who had excellent natural talent, seemingly intending to curry favor and seek patronage.
Knowing she had no hope of reaching transforming strength, she urgently sought a promising seedling to support so she could stand out in the Luo family.
However, Liu courtyard's disciples were only somewhat stronger than Zhou courtyard's disciples, and there weren't many good prospects.
Zheng Ziqiao stood with arms crossed, watching the two spar with complete concentration, lost in thought about something.
Bai Rui had sharp eyes and quickly approached, "Senior Brother Chen!"
Chen Qing nodded slightly and directed his gaze toward the center of the courtyard.
Sun Shun and Liu Nianbo stood facing each other.
Sun Shun wore Zhou courtyard's customary dark blue short clothes, his expression steady and eyes focused.
He assumed through-arm boxing's opening stance 'Spiritual Ape Asking the Way,' knees slightly bent, spine like a pine tree, breathing condensed.
Opposite him, Liu Nianbo wore moon-white martial attire, his form upright, eyes sharp as an eagle's.
His hands were loosely cupped, fingertips slightly curved, exactly the characteristic 'Sickle Hands' opening stance of Mantis Boxing, with a faint aura of pent-up sharpness emanating from him.
"Junior Brother Liu, please instruct me!" Sun Shun cupped his hands and said solemnly.
"Senior Brother Sun, please!"
Liu Nianbo returned the courtesy. Before his words finished, his form shot out like an arrow released from a bow!
Fast!
Liu Nianbo's footwork was swift and cunning, like a mantis hunting in grass, reaching Sun Shun's center gate in just a few steps.
His fingers joined together like a blade, accompanied by the sharp whistle of tearing air, stabbing directly at Sun Shun's chest and abdomen vital points. This was Mantis Boxing's 'Heart-Piercing Stab.'
Sun Shun's pupils contracted slightly as he dared not be careless.
His waist and hips suddenly twisted, his spine moving like a great dragon, his left arm swinging up like lightning to block, using through-arm boxing's force-dissipating technique 'Spiritual Ape Circling Branch.'
His arm muscles instantly tensed like iron as hidden strength erupted.
"Screech!"
Fingertips clashed with the arm, producing a sharp grinding sound.
Sun Shun felt a cunning and cold force penetrate through his arm, drilling straight into his tendons and bones, making his arm numb and sore.
He grunted and stumbled back three steps with "thump thump thump," barely managing to dissipate this force, leaving clear footprints on the blue brick ground.
Liu Nianbo pressed his advantage, his form following like a shadow, his footwork strange and variable, instantly closing in again.
His fists transformed into claws, flying up and down, pecking, hooking, or striking, his attacks like a fierce wind and sudden rain, covering Sun Shun's vital acupoints throughout his body.
The essence of Mantis Boxing, cunning, drilling, fast, and ruthless, was displayed by him to perfection.
The air was filled with "whoosh whoosh" sounds of sharp air-breaking, with layers of claw shadows that dazzled the eyes.
Sun Shun was experienced, bringing out the characteristics of through-arm boxing's grand sweeping movements combined with flexibility to the extreme.
He sank his waist and sat on his horse stance, his arms rotating like windmills, sometimes sweeping horizontally like steel whips, sometimes darting like a spiritual snake spitting its tongue, doing his utmost to block Liu Nianbo's omnipresent attacks.
"Bang bang bang—!"
Muffled sounds were endless, the sound of fists and feet colliding and hidden strength clashing.
However, the gap was ultimately obvious.
Liu Nianbo had achieved great mastery in hidden strength, with vigorous qi and blood and perfectly flowing hidden strength. His speed, power, and reflexes were all superior to Sun Shun's.
After one hard collision while blocking, Sun Shun's left arm transmitted needle-like stabbing pain, and his qi and blood circulation momentarily showed an imperceptible stagnation.
This stagnation might be harmless to ordinary people, but in the eyes of a hidden strength expert like Liu Nianbo, it was like leaving the door wide open.
"Good opportunity!"
Liu Nianbo's eyes flashed with brilliant light.
His form suddenly crouched low, using an extremely cunning 'Mantis Cutting Step' to slip into Sun Shun's left-side opening.
His right arm, which had been building up power, struck out like a venomous snake leaving its hole, five fingers joined together like an awl, fingertips condensed with highly penetrating hidden strength, pointing toward Sun Shun's left rib Zhangmen acupoint quick as lightning.
This move was exactly the vicious 'Acupoint-Piercing Awl' from Mantis Boxing!
Sun Shun's heart alarm bells rang loudly, but it was too late to dodge or block.
"Puff!"
The fingertip precisely hit half an inch beside the acupoint. Liu Nianbo held back his force at the last moment, only using a gentle hidden strength to penetrate, indicating the match was decided.
Even so, Sun Shun still felt his left rib go numb, half his body's qi and blood stagnating. He stumbled back another step, his face instantly turning pale with fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
The courtyard instantly fell quiet.
Liu Nianbo slowly withdrew his stance, his breathing stable. He cupped his hands toward Sun Shun with a sincere tone, "Senior Brother Sun, I yield to you."
Sun Shun took a deep breath, suppressing his churning qi and blood and the numbness between his ribs. His face showed not much dejection, only a trace of helplessness and frank admiration.
He wiped his sweat and also cupped his hands in return courtesy, "Junior Brother Liu's martial skill is exquisite, I admire it! I have lost."
Victory and defeat were decided, clean and decisive.
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