"Recently, I've been advancing rapidly in my boxing skills, gaining insights into various styles and techniques. If you know anyone stuck at a bottleneck or seeking guidance to progress further, feel free to introduce them to me."
After leaving Guangling Academy, Yan Chuan turned to Wei Wude to arrange some 'business'.
"Senior brother, you've been specializing in 'Cheng Family Boxing', and now you can even guide disciples of other schools and styles?" Wei Wude was amazed.
If it were only at the 'Tiger Crane Double Forms' stage, Yan Chuan wouldn't dare boast so boldly. However, since the successful development of the 'Six Harmonies Eight Techniques Fist', Yan Chuan's practice has achieved proficiency beyond a single style. He may not impress the famous masters or grandmasters of other schools, but he can easily guide the average practitioner or expert.
With a commanding view from above.
Also, with the 50% comprehension efficiency improvement from "Mutual Teaching and Learning."
With Yan Chuan's guidance, the seekers are sure to gain something. He has clearly marked prices; anyone with ambition in martial arts and some spare wealth wouldn't hesitate to spend a little money.
"Not many are needed."
"Just about twenty long-term clients, each 'advanced training' once a month, would suffice for me to purchase secret medicine to aid my cultivation."
Wei Wude provides one channel.
Chen Ze provides another channel.
In the blink of an eye.
It's already mid-August.
On this day, Yu Renjie had a small gathering with his friend Dai Pu.
These two have been playing together since childhood, and four years ago, they both entered Guangling Academy. From the eighteen boxing techniques at the academy's Fist and Foot Academy, they chose the 'Five Ancestors Crane Sun Fist' in unison.
Starting with the 'Three Battles', 'Four Gates', and 'Twenty Fists' foundational forms of the 'Five Ancestors Crane Sun Fist', they advanced to 'Returning to the Center', 'Two Forms Attack', 'Three Talents Coincidence', 'Four Symbols Double Linked', 'Five Elements Mysterious Trace', 'Six Harmonies Sewing Steps', 'Seven Stars Separation', 'Eight Diagram Wandering Body', 'Nine Palace Three Battles', and 'Ten Sides Ambush' among the five major intermediate and five major advanced boxing techniques, steadily climbing.
They achieved success in foundational, intermediate, and advanced levels.
Both are now facing the choice of a top-level boxing technique—
"Mysterious Woman Fist, Lin Jiuru."
"Arhat Fist, Wei Nanshan."
"Grand Ancestor Fist, Weng Chaoxian."
"White Crane Fist, Chen Jingming."
"Walker Fist, Shen Dayang."
Yu Renjie looked at Dai Pu: "These five are, besides the three professors, the five instructors with the deepest comprehension in the 'Five Ancestors Crane Sun Fist'. Each has their own forte. Have you decided which renowned mentor to follow?"
Dai Pu ticked off on his fingers—
"Lin Jiuru only accepts female disciples, so she's out."
"Wei Nanshan is too old-fashioned, still hasn't fully changed from his old martial arts mindset, so I won't go."
"Weng Chaoxian's character is questionable. Rumors say he mistreats disciples and won't teach sincerely without enough benefits, hindering one's future."
"Shen Dayang isn't problematic, but I don't like Monkey Fist."
Dai Pu enumerated the four fists and four people, making his meaning clear—
"'Golden Winged Dapeng' Chen Jingming!"
Yu Renjie clapped his hands and laughed: "Great! It seems once again we've thought alike!"
He also intended to apply as Chen Jingming's 'Research Student'.
But now there's a problem—
"Monkey trains the hands, crane trains the feet."
"Chen Jingming's expertise in the 'White Crane Fist' of the 'Five Ancestors Crane Sun Fist' focuses primarily on movement technique, requiring high proficiency in 'Six Harmonies Sewing Steps', 'Seven Stars Separation', and 'Eight Diagram Wandering Body' from the 'Ten Punches'."
"But my skills in these three techniques are rather weak, I'm afraid I won't meet Chen Jingming's standards before November."
Yu Renjie was troubled.
Dai Pu also frowned; he was equally worried, "There are quite a few senior and junior classmates studying the 'Five Ancestors Crane Sun Fist' at the academy. We have experienced seniors ahead and energetic newcomers behind, yet Chen Jingming only has limited 'Research Student' slots each year. Without standout qualities, it would be difficult."
True geniuses don't need to become 'Research Students'—they simply attend the lectures and grasp the essence of boxing with ease. They can further develop by studying predecessors' experiences in the Book Collection Pavilion, making rapid progress.
But someone with Yu Renjie and Dai Pu's talents can't do that.
They need not only attend lectures but also further strive to become 'Research Students', following and learning from a master in the 'Five Ancestors Crane Sun Fist', absorbing teachings firsthand to truly grasp the essence of the boxing techniques.
But 'Research Student' slots are limited.
Every year, less than ten percent at Guangling Academy achieve such promotions. Among this ten percent, those who manage to be selected by the mentor or professor they desire are fewer than half.
The difficulty can be imagined.
Dai Pu thought about it and recalled something: "The other day, someone from the 'Great Success Boxing Club' mentioned that there's a 'Cheng Family Boxing' grandmaster in the west city, with deep boxing skills, renowned for his guidance and teaching. Under his instruction, one quickly gains new insights, achieving more in an hour than in ten days or half a month of solitary reflection or practice. I don't know if it's true."
"'Cheng Family Boxing'?"
"Old School Martial Artist?"
"One hour, compared to ten days or half a month?"
Yu Renjie shook his head: "Most likely an exaggerated rumor, too far-fetched."
He didn't quite believe it.
However, under the pressure of applying for 'Research Student', although Yu Renjie expressed disbelief, he exchanged a glance with Dai Pu, and both spoke in unison—
"Five Ancestors Crane Sun Fist."
"This was developed by integrating the essence of the Grand Ancestor, Arhat, Mysterious Woman, White Crane, and Walker five major boxing techniques into one style—"
"Grand Ancestor Fist employs hard methods with fists and staff, the footwork follows the eight-character stance, the arms are like iron, the body turns like a tiger's claw, feet are like iron branches, the body like a copper wall, and advancing step is like a lively dragon, martial strength is seen as courageous and unstoppable."
"Arhat Fist features front bow and rear arrow steps, arms like iron, palms like an azure dragon playing in water, and advances from side entries."
"Mysterious Woman Fist is a soft boxing technique; when attacked, it's soft, when soft, it attacks. It's adhesive like honey, soft like cotton, with a shaking body technique that's often powered by electric strength."
"White Crane Fist emphasizes the crane's spirit, focusing on footwork. Quick hands can't match quick eyes, and quick eyes can't match quick steps. Step techniques are equivalent to body movements."
"Walker Fist is a boxing style formed by combining the form and behavior of a monkey with offensive and defensive techniques."
"'Five Ancestors Crane Sun Fist' fuses five styles of boxing, characterized by ancient simplicity and straightforwardness, with a focus on effectiveness rather than elaborate techniques. Its core components are the cultivation technique, hand method, and foot method, the three pillars of the 'Five Ancestors Crane Sun Fist'."
"'Three Battles' is the 'Mother Fist' of the 'Five Ancestors Crane Sun Fist', from which hand method, foot method, stepping method, body movement, and power method all originate, the first set for beginners. It can be divided into three aspects—"
"Firstly, Stance Foundation: Swallowing and Floating with Five Limb Power; secondly, Hard Skill Foundation: Golden Bell Shield with Iron Cloth Shirt; thirdly, Power Foundation: Shaking Body Shocking Blade."
"Start with 'Three Battles' and practice till death!"
"Gentlemen, please begin with the 'Three Battle Fist' and perform all the 'Five Ancestors Crane Sun Fist' techniques you've practiced. Only then can Yan provide proper advice."
Yu Renjie and Dai Pu, through connections, finally found Yan Chuan, inheritor of the 'Cheng Family Boxing' and a disciple of 'Tie Qiao Cheng', and asked for guidance, albeit skeptically.
Yan Chuan started by explaining the origins, features, and fundamentals of the 'Five Ancestors Crane Sun Fist', which somewhat reassured the two.
Moreover, hearing that he recently defeated Lu Qing, one of the Five Wanderers of the Six Harmonies Fist Club, further increased their confidence in his capabilities.
But how he actually performs is something they must test to know.
"Master Yan, please instruct us!"
Yu Renjie took the lead and stepped onto the stage to demonstrate.