Looking at Yan Chuan, Lu Qing felt a complex mix of emotions.
Eight years had passed.
He thought joining Guangling Academy and the New Faction had greatly improved his martial arts, imagining himself far ahead of his former senior brother and even catching up to his master, whom he once thought invincible.
But the battle in July felt like a bucket of cold water, awakening him.
It turned out that while he’d been making progress over these eight years, so had his senior brother.
Returning to the academy, Lu Qing trained even more diligently in martial arts and joined Tian Hu and others in exploring the Mountain and Sea Realm. They hunted down a ’Mammoth’, obtained beast blood, and his strength rapidly progressed.
As soon as he came back, he inquired about Yan Chuan, only to find that his senior brother had made a big name for himself —
Strength, reputation, status, all soared!
He seemed not to lose to him at all.
But Lu Qing felt that his own progress was greater and, unwilling to rest, he still wanted to challenge Yan Chuan to a duel.
However, at this moment, when he saw the deep bond between the master and disciple on the other side, while his feelings here were bland and lacking, he felt a bit disheartened.
Lu Qing looked at Yan Chuan: "Let me see if there has been any improvement in your boxing skills since you became Master Cheng!"
Challenging Yan Chuan to a duel.
Yan Chuan laughed, "The current senior brother of the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall isn’t me, it’s Jinpeng."
Yan Chuan turned to Yu Jinpeng: "You’ve known Lu Qing for three years. You were once unremarkable, familiar with him, but he most likely doesn’t remember you. Go up and spar with him to let him know you."
Yu Jinpeng strides into the field, cupping his fists towards Lu Qing: "Please teach me!"
Lu Qing looked at Yu Jinpeng, feeling insulted.
You’re letting him fight me?
Yan Chuan paid no heed, only telling Yu Jinpeng: "Jinpeng, Lu Qing is best at the ’Black Tiger Fist’, so use the ’Tiger Form Boxing’ against him!"
Yu Jinpeng’s hands turned into tiger claws, his right hand supporting forward, his left hand on his chest, while his left foot stepped sideways and his right leg kneeled on the ground, forming a kneeling stance, eyes fixed on Lu Qing—
This was the opening stance of ’Tiger Form Boxing’ known as ’Young Tiger Awakening’!
"Then I’ll fight you first!"
Lu Qing moved like a fierce tiger, leaping over ridges with a frightening momentum, pouncing directly at Yu Jinpeng.
Yu Jinpeng, with a serious expression, was extremely cautious, focusing on dismantling rather than rashly attacking.
"Slanting body leaning against, bending and stretching forward and backward, twisting and rotating."
"This person excels at using strength in the ’Black Tiger Fist’, including inch force, long force, sinking force, and collision force, all adeptly. You must be cautious."
Yu Jinpeng faced off against Lu Qing!
Cheng Family Boxing’s Tiger Form Boxing against Six Harmonies Boxing’s Black Tiger Fist!
Yu Jinpeng was at a disadvantage.
Yan Chuan again opened his mouth, providing guidance from outside the field.
"Watching silently is real gentlemanly conduct!"
"Providing outside guidance, what kind of skill is that!"
On that side, Lv Jun loathed Yan Chuan, hating his incessant chattering, annoying and vexing!
Chattering like a little dog.
Yan Chuan paid no heed.
He followed his own way, determined to guide—
"Root from the foot, express from the chest, reach with the hand."
"Mind the step technique, don’t lose order, your ’Horse Stance’ foundation is solid, make use of it!"
"Drive the Qi with the mind, drive the strength with the Qi, vocalize to assist your force."
"Open your mouth, shout out loud!"
Yan Chuan spoke rapidly, constantly providing the latest guidance as the situation on the field changed.
Yu Jinpeng continued to challenge, quickly stabilizing his position.
Lu Qing, from initial underestimation, fought more seriously and increasingly alarmed.
Yan Chuan said he didn’t remember Yu Jinpeng, but in fact, he did.
Yu Jinpeng joined the martial hall eleven years ago, while Lu Qing left the martial hall eight years ago; they were together in the martial hall for three years. During those three years, they didn’t have much interaction, only noting that he was serious and hardworking in practicing martial arts and boxing.
It wasn’t until later.
As the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall gradually declined, with apprentices leaving one after another, just leaving a few like Yu Jinpeng behind, Lu Qing kept a watchful eye and naturally had some understanding of Yu Jinpeng.
However, as far as he knew, Yu Jinpeng’s aptitude was foolish and weak.
In the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall, he was purely a number, not even worthy of standing out.
Not to mention comparing with the research students of Guangling Academy, he probably couldn’t even defeat an ordinary elite.
The reality was that this Yu Jinpeng before him, this former butcher, could actually endure against his fierce onslaught using ’Tiger Form Boxing’ without losing!
This certainly had to do with Yan Chuan’s outside instructions, but if Yu Jinpeng didn’t have a solid foundation and corresponding boxing skills, he definitely couldn’t perform at this level.
Could actually stand against him!
Lu Qing couldn’t accept it. He surged with Qi-blood, exerting all his strength, using leg techniques in his boxing—
Inside wrap, scraping kick, sweeping leg, kicking, Tiger Tail Kick, Bouncing Scissors Leg, hang leg!
He aimed for a swift decisive battle, to overpower Yu Jinpeng quickly.
Fierce quick attacks!
Yu Jinpeng retreated step by step, put in a precarious position.
"Lu Qing’s strength has increased significantly since July, Jinpeng was not weaker than Lu Qing in July but isn’t up to par with Lu Qing in October."
"Unless he goes a step further."
Yan Chuan looked at Yu Jinpeng, who was being beaten back time and again, face flushed yet still holding on, "Hardworking, tenacious, loyal, kind. After knowing him for eleven years, understanding each other thoroughly. If not helping this kind of disciple, then who else?"
Yan Chuan no longer hesitated.
The first seat of "Daoist Cushion" was bound to Yu Jinpeng.
["Daoist Cushion" (Level One): The Purple Mist Palace has six Daoist Cushions, which can help the listener better comprehend the teachings and the Dao, with the effect of ’Mutual Teaching and Learning’ increased by 1000%. Note: Two of the six seats each have one chance for adjustment.]
(Upgrading to the next level requires 10,000 experience.)
[One of the Daoist Cushions: Yu Jinpeng]
[Once a year, you shall teach in the ’Purple Mist Palace’, and your first disciple Yu Jinpeng may attend the lecture, seated on the first cushion, to better comprehend the teachings and the Dao, ’Mutual Teaching and Learning’ effect +1000%.]
[Horse Stance (Fifth Realm): 99]
[Twelve Bridge Hands (Fifth Realm): 99]
[Tiger Form Boxing (Fifth Realm): 99]
[Crane Form Boxing (Fourth Realm): 99]
[Thousand Pounds Fall (Third Realm): 99]
[Gongzi Fuhu Fist (Third Realm): 95]
[Ten Forms Boxing (Third Realm): 45]
The first seat of ’Daoist Cushion’ was set for Yu Jinpeng, and changes happened immediately; Yan Chuan was clear, from now on, he could manifest the ’Daoist Cushion’ every year to preach in the ’Purple Mist Palace’ for Yu Jinpeng, with effects far surpassing ’Mutual Teaching and Learning’.
This is the core function of the ’Daoist Cushion’.
Transforming Yu Jinpeng’s martial arts accomplishments into data and attributes is an addition, a bonus feature that allows Yan Chuan to more visually see Yu Jinpeng’s martial arts accomplishments and his various progressions.
The attribute list previously set by Yan Chuan for Yu Jinpeng was all roughly estimated based on his own boxing accomplishments, and not accurate, with discrepancies up to twenty or thirty.
But now, it’s perfectly accurate.
Yan Chuan glanced at Yu Jinpeng’s attribute panel; compared to late August and early September, Yu Jinpeng’s various boxing skills had not gone beyond their current realms. The fifth realm skills remained in the fifth realm, the fourth realm skills in the fourth realm, and the third realm skills in the third realm.
Thousand Pounds Fall!
All were stuck at 99 points, stuck at a bottleneck, unable to break through!
Yet progress was remarkable, integration became even more proficient, slight success became more refined, entering the room became more practiced.
These were far from enough to handle Lu Qing.
Further breakthrough was needed!
Yan Chuan immediately activated the ’Daoist Cushion’, his voice like a great bell resonating in Yu Jinpeng’s mind, making Yu Jinpeng feel as though he were listening to Daoist music—
"When executing punches, avoid being stiff, be aware of changing hand techniques and shifting footwork, when encountering a bridge, break it; if there’s no bridge, create one; if there’s a gap, fill it."
"Don’t fight him in close combat and short strikes, defend while attacking, apparent defense but hidden offense, avoid confronting strength directly as your Qi power doesn’t match his."
"See power to use power, see power to transform power, show softness within hardness, strike hard, dissolve softly."
"This is the essence of Cheng Family Boxing, and it’s also contained within Iron Wire Fist and ’Tiger Form Boxing’!"
"Be cautious with the use of leg techniques, the initial foot lift should feign three points if there’s no connection."
"Vocalize with breath, augment strength, use shock foot to bolster momentum!"
"Jinpeng! Shout it! Shout it out loud!!"
Yan Chuan’s voice was fast as he echoed in Yu Jinpeng’s mind.
Yu Jinpeng felt as though the chaos in his mind was blasted open, akin to the opening of heavens and earth, everything became clear—
Tiger Form Boxing! Break!
Thousand Pounds Fall! Break!
Crane Form Boxing! Break!
Twelve Bridge Hands! Break!
Each bottleneck shattered with a sound.
Yu Jinpeng was overwhelmed with a mix of joy and fury. ’Tiger Form Boxing’ had reached the level of refined fire; he had mastered its essence. He roared with lion-like intensity, teeth exposed, eyes fierce—
Guiding Qi with intent, his strength followed the Qi!
"Is senior brother truly a fierce tiger?"
Next to Yan Chuan, Che Qi and Wei Quan were startled by Yu Jinpeng’s fierce tiger roar, even though they weren’t facing him directly.
From outside the field, it was so.
Inside the field was even more remarkable.
Lu Qing was first daunted by this tiger roar, then faced Yu Jinpeng’s ferocious successive attack—
Bounce, kick, stomp, top, bump, smash!
Charge, bounce, pause, grab, pluck, press!
Yu Jinpeng used a three-step jump for continuous strikes, advancing from left, center, right, with hands, legs, knees, and elbows together, advancing directly into the mid-section, aggressively pressing forward.
This was the ’Tiger Form Boxing·Thousand Character Strike’!
Fierce attack, quick advancement!
Yu Jinpeng already gained the upper hand.
But he wouldn’t let up—
Fierce Tiger Washing Claw, Tiger Cub Stretching, Crown Prince’s Tour, Grand Ancestor’s Beard Pulling, Arhat Dragging Force, Sun and Moon Linked Feet, Tiger Form Five Skill Fist!
All the subtleties of Tiger Form Boxing were here.
Brave and sharp, unstoppable!
The last move, Tiger Back Bear Waist Iron Mountain Lean, elbow-hit Lu Qing—
He was knocked a yard away, falling to the ground, unable to rise.
Reversed the victory!