Chapter 1

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The sky was just beginning to brighten, and all was silent.

Most people in Xiaohu Town were still asleep, but Chen Zong quickly opened his eyes, twisted his body, and slipped out of bed as agile as an eel. He quietly put on his clothes, washed up, ate a few pieces of baked flatbread, and then carefully tied heavy iron plates to his hands, feet, waist, and back. He silently opened and closed the door.

The light outside was dim, and all was quiet. Chen Zong took a deep breath of the fresh air and slowly exhaled, feeling a chill in his chest that invigorated his spirit. After stretching his limbs, he started running forward.

The heavy iron plates on his body weighed thirty pounds. Even though Chen Zong carried them every day, he was still panting after running a few hundred meters, but he gritted his teeth and persisted.

Endure hardship, and you will become a leader.

He stopped at the edge of the small lake, rested for a few minutes, and then continued running around the lake.

The lake was about 1,600 meters in circumference. Running a lap with thirty pounds of weight took about ten minutes. After running three laps, Chen Zong was drenched in sweat, his skin red, his body hot, his heart pounding like a drum, and his breathing heavy like a blacksmith's bellows.

The sun rose, and the first ray of light shone on Chen Zong's face, mingling with his sweat, creating a rosy glow, full of vitality.

Chen Zong took a deep breath, stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, bent his front leg, and almost touched the ground with his back knee. He lifted his heels and pressed his feet firmly on the ground, leaned forward, distributed his center of gravity between his feet, tensed his muscles, formed a tiger claw with his left hand at eye level, and loosely clenched his right hand into a fist near his chin, with his palms in a straight line, like a crouching tiger, his face stern, and his eyes sharp.

He was ready to strike.

"Ha!"

His exhalation was like a thunderclap, and his body suddenly lunged forward, his waist exerting force, his back undulating, as if he were about to charge forward. His right fist shot out with full force, like a tiger's claw.

The Tiger Power Fist, one of the three foundational martial arts of the Chen family, mimics the movements of a tiger and has five forms. When practiced to perfection, it can train five parts of the body, serving both as a method to strengthen the body and as a means of attack and defense. Chen Zong had been practicing it for two and a half years and had mastered the five forms.

The five forms of the Tiger Power Fist were performed in a fluid sequence, generating wind with each punch. Chen Zong retracted his fist and stood straight, taking a long, deep breath.

"Starting with the Tiger Crouch and ending with the Tiger Frenzy, generating wind with each punch, I am still at the minor accomplishment stage. I wonder when I will reach major accomplishment?"

Martial arts can be divided into the stages of beginner, minor accomplishment, major accomplishment, and perfection. It is said that major accomplishment is easy to achieve, but perfection is hard to attain.

Reaching major accomplishment requires sufficient time and effort, while perfection requires a deep understanding of the essence of martial arts.

The Tiger Power Fist has four levels: Tiger Form, Tiger Sound, Tiger Roar, and Tiger Momentum, corresponding to beginner, minor accomplishment, major accomplishment, and perfection.

Tiger Form means being able to perform the five forms of the Tiger Power Fist proficiently, making a tiger-like appearance, but with little power, almost just a framework.

Tiger Sound means being able to perform the five forms of the Tiger Power Fist smoothly, with some power, generating a slight wind with each punch, like a tiger's low growl.

Tiger Roar means being able to fully unleash the power of the Tiger Power Fist, making a sound like a tiger roaring, with a formidable presence.

As for Tiger Momentum, Chen Zong had never understood what it was, as no one in the entire family had ever reached the stage of perfection in the Tiger Power Fist.

"Ordinary people can enter the beginner stage in three months, reach minor accomplishment in one year, and major accomplishment in three years. I took two years to reach minor accomplishment, and my progress is slow." Chen Zong muttered to himself, filled with frustration: "This damned lack of innate blood and qi has made me practice for two and a half years, not only delaying my martial arts progress but also only reaching the first level of the Blood and Qi Realm. How can I participate in the clan's martial disciple battle in a month? How can I enter the clan hall? How can I find precious medicine for Father?"

Thinking of the clan's disciples who started practicing martial arts at the same time as him, most of them had already reached the third level of the Blood and Qi Realm, and even those who were a year younger than him had reached the second level. Chen Zong felt a deep sense of frustration.

"If it weren't for the lack of innate blood and qi..." Chen Zong felt a bit dazed.

When he was still in the womb, a monster attacked, causing him to be born prematurely. His mother sacrificed herself to save him, but even so, Chen Zong was left with a lack of innate blood and qi.

Although the lack of innate blood and qi severely delayed his martial arts progress, Chen Zong never resented it. Sometimes, he felt frustrated, knowing that he had to work several times harder than others but still fell far behind.

"If one attempt fails, I'll try again, and if two attempts fail, I'll try three. Father said that a person must strive for self-improvement. I'm just slower than others, but I can still practice. If I persist, I will succeed." Roaring, Chen Zong assumed the Tiger Crouch position and began practicing again.

Fate is such, what can be done?

Only by rising up and striving for self-improvement.

Tiger Crouch, Tiger Charge, Tiger Turn, Tiger Leap, Tiger Frenzy—each form was performed with all his might, the five forms flowing together, his blood and qi surging, his skin turning red, sweat seeping through his gray coarse cloth shirt, leaving many footprints on the ground, crisscrossing.

The sun rose, and golden light spread over the earth, awakening all life.

After practicing the Tiger Power Fist three times, Chen Zong had to stop, his limbs twitching uncontrollably, feeling as if his muscles were being torn apart, the pain coming in waves.

"Not enough, keep practicing."

Chen Zong gritted his teeth, struggling to stretch his limbs and assume the Tiger Crouch position again.

"I must become stronger, I must become a martial artist, I must surpass the Blood and Qi Realm. Only then can I find precious medicine to cure Father and help him recover his cultivation."

The pain made the veins on Chen Zong's forehead bulge, his face contort, and his body twitch, but his indomitable will kept him going, and he assumed the Tiger Crouch position again, gathering strength for the Tiger Charge.

Every day, Chen Zong trained himself in this way, desperately挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘挖掘