Chapter 4: First Test of Skills

Back in the small courtyard, Ye Chen, stimulated by Xu Jing's domineering boxing techniques, immediately decided to practice the Vajra Fist. However, after a few rounds of boxing, he always felt something was off.

"If my guess is correct, Senior Sister Xu Jing practices the top-tier human-level martial technique, the 'Demon Subduing Divine Fist,' which is overwhelmingly powerful. Although the Vajra Fist I practice is not as strong as the Demon Subduing Divine Fist, it is a similarly powerful and direct boxing technique, passed down from the same lineage. But when she performs it, it truly feels powerful, while I lack that essence. What's the reason?"

Standing in the center of the courtyard, Ye Chen furrowed his brow in thought, constantly recalling the scenes of Xu Jing practicing her boxing, over and over again.

Right, Xu Jing's shouts can be heard a mile away, with full vigor, because of her powerful physical strength. My comprehension ability is strong, but my physical strength is still weak, so I can't learn the powerful boxing techniques.

Realizing the crux of the problem, Ye Chen let out a sigh. He wasn't afraid of not being able to learn, but of not finding the root cause.

Now, the first thing Ye Chen needed to do was to practice the horse stance. Only by standing the horse stance steadily could he deliver powerful punches. Otherwise, when facing an opponent, if his lower body is unstable, it would be a big joke.

The horse stance involves standing with feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, in a half-squat position. The stance is named for its resemblance to riding a horse and its stability like a pillar. Practicing the horse stance can strengthen the kidneys and waist, fortify the tendons, and regulate the spirit. It also improves balance and makes it harder to be knocked down, enhancing the body's reaction ability. The horse stance is one of the basic skills before practicing martial arts. As the saying goes, "Practicing boxing without practicing skills is a waste of time," meaning that merely learning the forms and techniques without actual physical training will ultimately result in superficial skills.

With his thighs and calves forming a 90-degree angle, Ye Chen looked straight ahead, and with his breathing, he quickly and rhythmically performed the horse stance punches.

Huo huo huo huo...

The punches were like cannonballs, the sound of the wind continuous. In a short while, he had exceeded three hundred punches.

After about fifteen minutes, Ye Chen, based on his memory, focused his mind on his lower abdomen for another fifteen minutes.

Then, in the evening, he did it again, but this time, he gradually increased the speed of his punches, striving for a breakthrough each time without interruption.

After half a month, Ye Chen no longer practiced the horse stance punches but only the four-level horse stance, standing there for half an hour.

When he found it no longer challenging, Ye Chen made a fist with both hands, bent his elbows, and performed the "Double Peak Piercing the Ears" stance, with his fists facing forward and the back of his fists toward his ears, pulling them back as far as possible. He stood in the four-level horse stance, with a sunken waist and a protruding chest. After an hour, he focused his mind on his lower abdomen for another fifteen minutes.

When a full month had passed, Ye Chen's physical strength had undergone a significant transformation. He was almost as strong as a thousand catties, moved as fast as the wind, and his internal energy could flow along his back. He was full of energy, and the most noticeable change was his increased appetite, eating three large bowls of rice and a roasted chicken at each meal. He slept soundly, and in the later stages, his internal energy was abundant and could be used at will, as if he had endless strength.

These changes were not the key. Now, Ye Chen could truly achieve "mind and hand in harmony," maintaining peak performance in combat.

On this day, after finishing his horse stance, Ye Chen frowned and said, "My physical fitness has improved, but my physical strength is still not enough. Senior Sister Xu Jing's strength is at least several times mine, and when she performs the Demon Subduing Divine Fist, it is invincible and overwhelmingly powerful."

Looking around the courtyard, Ye Chen's eyes lit up, focusing on a large stone weighing a hundred catties in the corner.

Lifting weights undoubtedly increases arm strength, but it can easily damage the muscles, which is unwise. However, running with a stone is different. As the center of gravity shifts and the pressure changes, it can easily exercise every bone and muscle in the body, and it also significantly improves endurance.

Thinking and doing, Ye Chen ran to the corner, exerted his strength with both arms, and easily lifted the large stone, then turned and ran out of the courtyard.

Qingfeng Mountain has several dozen side peaks, covering dozens of miles. Except for the area above the halfway point, which is filled with continuous buildings, the other areas are uninhabited. Of course, at the foot of the mountain, there are many Flowing Cloud Sect disciples guarding, not allowing outsiders to enter.

On the mountain path, a figure ran swiftly while carrying a stone. Observant people could notice that he had no internal energy fluctuations, meaning he was not using internal energy to assist, but was training purely with physical strength.

"Look, isn't that Ye Chen?"

"Yes! What's this kid up to, not practicing martial techniques properly."

The Flowing Cloud Sect has three thousand outer sect disciples and five hundred inner sect disciples. Most people do not stay in their courtyards, preferring to run to secluded places to practice their unique martial arts, and some find like-minded partners to practice together, often sparring with each other.

Ye Chen ignored the comments and kept his eyes focused ahead.

But some trouble couldn't be avoided.

A figure darted out horizontally, blocking Ye Chen's path. It was a robust youth, about fourteen or fifteen years old.

Ye Chen stopped, "Wang Gang, what do you want?"

The robust youth, Wang Gang, was also an outer sect disciple like Ye Chen, but his cultivation was much higher, reaching the early stage of the seventh level of the Qi Practitioner realm. He was skilled in cross-training techniques and had great strength. The two had a conflict before, specifically, Ye Chen was beaten by him and lay in bed for half a month.

Wang Gang smiled, "You can't just practice like this. Last time, I used only three-tenths of my strength to beat you into a pulp."

Ye Chen sneered. It was better that the other party didn't come looking for him; now that he had come, Ye Chen wouldn't let him off. Half a year ago, he had unintentionally contradicted the other party and was punched, breaking two ribs. Fortunately, the Ye family was not short of money, and they had many healing medicines, allowing him to recover in half a month.

"Is that so? Then how should I practice?" Ye Chen dropped the large stone.

"Talking without practicing is just a show. Let me teach you!" Wang Gang suddenly rushed forward, appearing in front of Ye Chen in a few steps. His large hand, much bigger than an ordinary person's, came down like an iron plate, the sound of the wind thick and powerful.

Seeing the powerful strike, Ye Chen did not dodge or evade. He raised his left hand in the Vajra Tower stance and pushed it up, choosing to meet force with force.

Bang!

A sound like wood and stone colliding rang out. Ye Chen remained unmoved, but Wang Gang's lower body was slightly destabilized, leaving him wide open.

"How is this possible? His internal energy is clearly not as strong as mine, how could he block my Bone-Crushing Palm? This is truly unbelievable."

Wang Gang immediately sensed something was wrong. Without considering his own exposed weakness, he transformed his right hand into a palm and horizontally slashed out.

However, Ye Chen had foreseen this. Before the second attack, his right fist, with a domineering momentum, struck Wang Gang's chest.

"Vajra Fist, Fifth Form: Vajra Pestle!"

Crack! Wang Gang spat out blood, his feet left the ground, and he flew backward, rolling on the ground several times before stopping, completely dispirited.

Everyone was shocked. Wang Gang, known for his overwhelming power, had been defeated by Ye Chen in a direct confrontation, and in such a miserable state, almost like a dead dog.

Only Ye Chen knew what had happened. Wang Gang's strength and internal energy were higher, but in actual combat, the weakness of his martial techniques was immediately exposed. For example, the vertical slash just now was powerful, but Ye Chen did not resist it head-on. Instead, he pressed down, consuming part of the opponent's strength, then forcefully rebounded, destabilizing the opponent's lower body. The appearance of meeting force with force was just a fast illusion, not the real situation.