"The power rises from the ground, sinks the shoulders and elbows, relaxes the waist and drops the hips, supports the shoulders with the elbows, rounds the crotch and wraps the knees..."
In the courtyard, the framework of the "Red Sun Stance" is set up, and under the blazing sun, it feels as if wrapped in flames, a searing sensation permeating throughout the body.
"The force originates from the ground, its root is in the feet, governed by the waist and hips, passing through the shoulders and arms, taking shape in the wrists and fingers."
Zhong Lin silently recited the power skills of "Red Sun Stance" in his heart, adjusting his body posture little by little.
At this time, Zhong Lin had been standing in this courtyard for a full two hours. The Blood Coagulation Technique was different from the dynamic exercises of "Iron Mountain Skill". It seemed simple, but it was incredibly difficult to master. Any slight mistake would not only make it impossible to perceive the Qi-Blood but make the body even more tired and fatigued.
Clearly, there was no physical movement, but at this moment, Zhong Lin was already drenched in sweat, with sore muscles all over.
"Stone, what’s Brother Dalin doing?"
"Why doesn’t he move while practicing? Just standing there?"
"I don’t know either. Second brother himself said he is practicing skills."
"No, second brother said we’re still too young. Our bones haven’t fully developed. It will take a few more years, otherwise, we won’t grow tall."
Xiu Ge’er and Little Stone were leaning against the window, whispering as they watched Zhong Lin in the courtyard.
Just as the two were about to say something more, a ruler suddenly landed on each of their buttocks, accompanied by a scream, and the two jumped up.
"Have you memorized the books? Or finished practicing calligraphy?"
Old man Xu came out of the shadows with a stern face, patting the ruler in his palm twice, scaring the two little guys back to their seats to pick up the brush and start practicing calligraphy.
Zhong Lin in the courtyard also slowly opened his eyes, shaking off the numbness in his arms and thighs.
Skills: Iron Mountain Skill (Full Level), Black Tiger Fist (Full Level)
Skills: Iron Sand Palm (Full Level), Rolling Stone Fist (Full Level), Bow Technique (Full Level), Flying Locust Stone (Full Level), Willow Catkins (Full Level), Wind-breaking Saber Technique (Full Level), Instant Kill Skill (Full Level), Concealing Breath Skill (Full Level), Seeking Breath Skill (Full Level), Eight-step Chasing Cicada (Full Level), Furong Gold Needle (Full Level)
Miscellaneous: 3D Painting (Full Level), Calligraphy (Full Level), Culinary Skill (Full Level), Medical Skill (Full Level), Pharmaceutical Technology (Full Level), Disguise Skill (Full Level), Oral Skill (Full Level), Lock Opening (Full Level),
The System Panel still hadn’t formed the "Red Sun Stance" skill, nor had it condensed the Qi-Blood "Red Sun Palm."
However, Zhong Lin had mastered the martial arts of "Eight-step Chasing Cicada" and "Furong Gold Needle."
"Eight-step Chasing Cicada" is a lightweight step technique focused on rapid bursts in a short time, while "Furong Gold Needle" is a technique for hidden weaponry, the name itself suggests that the hidden weapon is a needle-like dart that is more secretive than the Flying Locust Stone.
These are just ordinary martial arts, naturally learned easily by Zhong Lin.
"What exactly is wrong? Why can’t I sense the Qi-Blood?"
Zhong Lin’s eyebrows were tightly knit, constantly pondering what the problem was.
"The ’Jingyue Complete Book·Blood Proof’ said, humans have Yin and Yang, which is Blood Qi, the Yang dominates Qi, so when Qi is full, the spirit prospers; the Yin dominates blood, so when blood is abundant, the form is strong. Life depends solely on this."
"According to my understanding, only the combination of the Breathing Technique and the Pile Skill can sense Qi-Blood. The Breathing Technique may not seem complicated, but it requires years of habit formation. Adjusting or even reversing it is not simple, much more difficult than the Breathing Technique of the previous ’Iron Mountain Skill’."
Thinking of this, Zhong Lin instinctively touched his chest, feeling a tightness when adjusting his breathing, almost out of breath.
Just as Zhong Lin was about to continue practicing "Red Sun Stance," a loud call from old lady Xu in the kitchen brought him back to his senses.
Zhong Lin also set his thoughts aside, no longer troubled by it. After all, the "Red Sun Stance" is just beginning practice. It’s normal not to master it quickly. No rush, there’s time after eating.
The table was already set with dishes, four dishes in total.
Cold Spinach and Wood Ear, Stir-fried Pumpkin Slices, Beans Stir-fried with Bacon, Cold Lettuce.
Plus a basket of mixed flour buns.
All of these are seasonal vegetables grown by old lady Xu at home, turned into table delicacies by her hand.
The portion of each dish is quite generous, especially the basket of mixed flour buns, each as big as a bowl, totaling more than twenty, filling up three for a strong man, while even half a bun would satisfy Little Stone and others.
After washing his hands, Zhong Lin sat at the head of the table, and everyone was waiting for him to start eating.
Zhong Lin is the pillar of this family group, everyone from Little Stone to Old Man Xu’s family relies on Zhong Lin’s martial prowess in these chaotic times. It is a shared belief that the head of the family should enjoy such treatment.
Zhong Lin picked up his chopsticks first, and then everyone else began to eat as well.
He held a mixed flour bun in his left hand, took a bite of the dish, and quickly devoured the bowl-sized bun within minutes.
As Martial Arts progresses, Zhong Lin’s appetite grows, and the basket of mixed flour buns on the table is actually all for him.
There’s no other way, with not enough oil and water, he can only rely on carbohydrates to fill up.
This is only possible because Zhong Lin prepared early by collecting a large amount of food. Outside, countless people have already run out of supplies.
Outside Black Mountain City.
The originally lush forest had long turned into barren land, with all the trees cut down to make siege machinery. In the open land, a few refugees sat or lay scattered about.
These refugees were all dressed in rags, with dry hair, dull eyes, and emaciated bodies, looking like walking corpses.
The sound of a gong echoed, instantly attracting everyone’s attention.
A tall man walked out from the crowd, continuously beating the gong in his hand.
"Everyone listen, General Guo of the Rebel Army is recruiting. Only recruiting men between the ages of fifteen and forty. Those willing to join the Rebel Army will receive two pounds of mixed flour, limited quantity, don’t miss the chance."
"Once more, only recruiting men between the ages of fifteen and forty. Joining the Rebel Army grants two pounds of mixed flour."
With this repeated call, one by one shadows in the chaotic refugees slowly stood up and moved towards the camp of the chaotic army.
"Husband, you mustn’t go! If you go, what will become of our mother and child?"
"If I don’t go, little Zhi will starve to death. With those two pounds of mixed flour, maybe you can survive."
This is a husband saying farewell to his wife and child.
"Son, mother isn’t hungry, mother isn’t hungry, you can’t go there, you’ll die there, mother saw so many dead people today, the ground was stained red, you can’t go!"
A mother, holding her thin son, sobs and pleads.
Everyone knows the danger of siege warfare, but compared to dying by the sword, they are even more unwilling to starve to death.
At this time, the most painful way to die is to starve to death.