Dragon City High School.
Lu Chenzhou trained a few times on the training field, practicing the "Mountain Crossing Body". After half an hour, threads of strength poured into his limbs and bones from the acupoints he had opened, strengthening his legs, feet, and waist in a different way than the "Sea-sweeping Body". His upper body also gained some sensation. Although the movement technique focused on the lower body, his cultivation inevitably involved the whole body, though to differing degrees.
Martial Arts Tree prompted:
[Mountain Crossing Body: Mastery (100%) → Small Success (1%)]
"Whew... Another small success-level movement technique is born."
Lu Chenzhou rested for a moment, then performed the routine "Black Tiger Crossing the Mountain" again. With the movement technique reaching small success, both the smoothness and power of "Black Tiger Fist" had improved.
At this time, the class teacher, Yu Zheng, happened to walk by.
"Not bad, you’ve made progress."
Yu Zheng stopped and asked:
"Are you still practicing hard qigong?"
Lu Chenzhou knew the teacher was still concerned about this.
"Teacher, I’m still practicing, and I feel some effects."
Yu Zheng smiled and said,
"Then show me a demonstration."
Immediately, Lu Chenzhou employed the Five Skills breathing method to circulate qi; his chest visibly tensed and bulged, and his abdomen was as hard as iron, an outline that even his training clothes could not conceal.
Yu Zheng reached out and lightly patted Lu Chenzhou.
The muffled sounds were like thunder.
His eyes turned serious.
"Qi roars like thunder; indeed, you have reached the beginner level. Lift your shirt so I can have a better look."
Lu Chenzhou took off his shirt, revealing his robust torso.
Yu Zheng tapped on Lu Chenzhou’s stomach like he was choosing a watermelon.
"Hmm... Seems you have a bit of cross-training talent. To reach the beginner level in such a short time... But I still say the same thing; don’t let it interfere with your studies."
Yu Zheng calmly finished speaking and left.
Back in the office, he relaxed his old face, looking perplexed:
"Could Chenzhou be a natural talent at both internal and external cultivation?"
He planned to keep observing. If the cross-training talent was indeed strong, it could also be a bonus point for assessment, ensuring Lu Chenzhou’s Class A rating, no question about it!
Currently, at Dragon City High School, there was only one Class A student. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel·fire·net
Liu Huan came to Lu Chenzhou’s dormitory.
"Are you really practicing hard qigong?"
Dragon City High School wasn’t big, so news spread quickly. Everyone knew that "Tiger Enthusiast" Lu Chenzhou had recently been obsessed with practicing hard qigong.
Some admired his courage, others thought he was neglecting his proper duties.
One way or another, Lu Chenzhou had made a bit of a name for himself.
Liu Huan stated his purpose:
"I have a friend from Class A at Galaxy High School who also likes hard qigong. He wants your contact information to exchange experiences in studying hard qigong after becoming friends."
"So, should I give him your business card?"
Liu Huan, truly the social butterfly of Dragon City, knew a lot of people.
In fact, Lu Chenzhou also wanted to find a like-minded friend for mutual practice. A practicing expert in hard qigong provided manual training, definitely better than using a robot.
"I’m heading back now; I aim to breakthrough to level seven by the end of the year."
Soon after, a person with the username [Heavenly Gang King] added Lu Chenzhou as a friend—a rather bombastic ID which was common among martial artists.
[Brother Lu, my name is Wang Gang, from Class A at Galaxy Academy. I heard you’re also interested in hard qigong. Let’s be friends and exchange knowledge in the future.]
[Can we meet tomorrow? I’ll come to your school to find you.]
[Great, I won’t disturb you further then, see you at noon tomorrow.]
After the chat, Lu Chenzhou finished his Heavenly Pile training and went to bed.
On the training field, Lu Chenzhou practiced his fist technique alone.
The force of his punches was ferocious, causing the wooden pile to tremble violently.
His hands turned red, yet he didn’t lessen the power of his blows. He was practicing after having activated the "Arhat Skill," which allowed him to endure greater pain than usual.
[Tiger Supreme Fist: Beginner (100%) → Skilled (1%)]
Lu Chenzhou came to a halt and closed his eyes to feel his body.
His body roared like a feline’s engine.
Hot streams flowed into his limbs and bones from the acupoints, replenishing his body, strengthening his organs, and enhancing his Qi-Blood. This Second Class fist technique was said to be difficult, but his progress was not slower than when he first practiced the Black Tiger Fist; in fact, it was faster.
His comprehension and resources were now unlike before.
Suddenly, clasping sounds echoed:
"Brother Lu, this ’Tiger Supreme Fist’ of yours is quite impressive."
The newcomer wore blue training clothes adorned with the "Nine Heavens Star River" pattern; he wasn’t tall, just about 1.7 meters, short and muscular, with a buzz cut, and he looked rather handsome—a clear sign he must be Wang Gang from the first class of Dragon City High School.
"Wang Gang, my classmate?"
"Yes, brother, I finally found a kindred spirit."
Wang Gang extended his coarse, sandpaper-like hand with distinct joints; upon shaking hands with him, Lu Chenzhou felt a terrifying force hidden within and couldn’t help but ask:
"My classmate, are you practicing Cross Training Palm Technique?"
"I practice the ’Vigorous Vajra Palm’ and the ’Iron Leg Skill.’ I heard you are practicing the ’Arhat Skill’; we are considered disciples of the same Shaolin discipline."
"That is indeed true, both belong to the seventy-two arts of Shaolin."
"Would you like to sit and chat in my dorm?"
Wang Gang shook his head:
"No need, let’s just chat here on the training field... By the way, Brother Lu, how long have you been practicing hard Qi Gong, if I may ask? What realm are you at now?"
"I just started this month, I’m merely a beginner."
"That’s good. Entering the beginner level of hard Qi Gong is hard, and mastering it is even harder, but from what I saw just now, you seem to have some fire control, capable of breaking bricks and boards."
"I rely merely on my cultivation of Dark Force. What about you, Brother Wang? What is your cultivation?"
"I’m only Fifth Rank... I heard when you arrived over two months ago, you were at Third Rank, and now you’re Fourth Rank, a godly speed of improvement, to which I must admit I am inferior."
Wang Gang’s father was also a Martial Artist and taught at Dragon City High School.
The two exchanged pleasantries for a while, and Wang Gang said with a smile:
"Brother, actually, I know you because I was looking for a partner to train in strike resistance. If you’re interested, we can set a fixed time to train regularly."
"Alright, but I only have half an hour each day to practice hard Qi Gong."
"Same here... my dad doesn’t support it."
They quickly agreed on a time.
The location would be at Dragon City High School’s training field.
"My ’Vigorous Vajra Palm’ is currently at the ’Mastery Realm,’ Brother Lu, would you like to try letting me strike you with my Iron Palm? It should work better than that robot."
Lu Chenzhou thought for a moment and said:
"Let’s give it a try then."
"You can take off your shirt to try."
On the training field, Lu Chenzhou revealed his muscular upper body, and after a brief focus of Qi, Wang Gang slightly exerted force, continuously striking the flesh in front of him.
The ’smack, smack, smack’ sound attracted other students.
Liu Huan squeezed through the crowd, unable to hide his grin.
"That Wang Gang guy..."
Huo Tianyu covered her mouth and giggled lightly.
"Interesting, quite a crush."
"Don’t crush on everything; it might end up hurting you."
Seeing the two practice hard Qi Gong with such focus, the other students didn’t disturb them and left after watching for a while; summer exams were approaching, and without effort, they would be eliminated.
Cha Chihu heard the noise and looked over from his office window.
"Isn’t that the son of ’Returning Peak Hand·Wang Ba’?"
He watched with interest.
"Chenzhou’s hard Qi Gong practice is not bad; looks like there’s potential."
During this time, at Yu Zheng’s request, he occasionally checked Lu Chenzhou’s progress in Tiger Form Fist and, finding no delay, he also breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then keep training, perhaps another ’Evil Tiger’ is in the making."