"This is the way!"
Jiang Bianliu smiled.
Then—
He got to the point: "I heard you created your own 'Hundred Blossom Misdirection Fist' and have a deep understanding of the myriad fist styles in Guangling Prefecture. I'd like to hear your thoughts on Guangling martial arts."
Here comes the main dish!
Jiang Bianliu wanted to discuss Guangling martial arts with him?
Why?
Who cares!
This is a great opportunity!
"With my ability to 'learn by teaching,' I'd welcome a hundred—no, a thousand—Jiang Elders coming to discuss martial arts and the Dao with me!"
Yan Chuang was thrilled. He bowed slightly and said, "I have a few humble insights—please correct me if I'm mistaken, Elder."
"You're too modest!"
"With your 'Hundred Blossom Misdirection Fist,' your mastery of the various fist techniques is evident. In terms of breadth alone, you rank top three in Guangling Prefecture."
Jiang Bianliu praised Yan Chuang highly and added, "There are many scholars in our department—record keepers, instructors, critics, and editors. I've asked them to come listen as well. Do you mind?"
Not at all!
Of course not!
The more, the better!
Yan Chuang smiled and said, "When three walk together, one can always be my teacher. The more, the merrier."
"Good then."
Jiang Bianliu led Yan Chuang to the first floor, which was the most spacious. Dozens of people had already gathered—old and young, but all talented. Some had experience creating martial arts, others had deep research insights.
In short—
All were top minds.
As Yan Chuang followed Jiang Bianliu down, he glanced around and spotted a familiar face. That person looked back, stunned. Yan Chuang simply smiled and didn't go over to greet her.
In the back of the crowd on the first floor of the archive building—
Zhong Hui looked up and saw Yan Chuang walking arm-in-arm with the highly respected Elder Jiang. So close! So intimate!
She was shocked—not because Yan Chuang was here. She had already heard that "Shadowless Kick" Yan Chuang was visiting.
What shocked her was how Jiang, usually aloof and mysterious, treated Yan Chuang like an old friend.
Jealousy twisted her expression.
But on further thought—
"He created secret martial arts!"
"Multiple secret martial arts!"
"He overpowered the entire Guangling Academy!"
"No wonder he's treated with such honor. Everyone at Guangling knows how much Elder Jiang values him."
Zhong Hui consoled herself. You can't compare people.
She, too, had created a mid-level fist technique and was on track to join the Guangling Academy's elite 40. But compared to someone like Yan Chuang, a true prodigy, she knew her place.
"Sigh."
"Same people, different fates."
"Just in August, I went to the training center to invite him to join the Martial Archive Division."
"And now? In just a few short months, he's become someone even Elder Jiang personally welcomes!"
Watching him now with such poise and presence, Zhong Hui couldn't help but be amazed.
She stayed at the back and observed quietly.
She had heard Yan Chuang would be discussing martial arts with Elder Jiang today—and she wanted to know: just how deep was his martial path?
Meanwhile—
Yan Chuang didn't know her well. He simply smiled and didn't greet her.
Elder Jiang smiled and gestured for him to begin.
Yan Chuang didn't stand on ceremony. He had been itching to talk. After organizing his thoughts briefly, he began:
"In Guangling Prefecture, or in the martial world at large, fist techniques can generally be divided into two categories. One: external styles that focus on muscle, bones, and skin. Two: internal styles that focus on cultivating internal energy."
No introductions.
No pleasantries.
Straight to the point!
Right into the lecture!
"Well said!"
"Indeed!"
Jiang Bianliu nodded with increasing admiration.
He listened intently—
Internal training focuses on breath. External training strengthens the body.
Yan Chuang started with clarity—
Distinguishing between internal and external styles.
"Ancient sages observed nature and studied the human body in minute detail. Generations of refinement led to various longevity techniques."
"These health practices merged with battlefield killing techniques, forming countless internal martial arts."
"Internal styles are led by intent, with movements following. They emphasize softness overcoming hardness, predicting the opponent's moves."
"For example, the 18 widely taught styles at Guangling Academy—all internal."
"My Cheng Family Fist is also an internal style."
"As for external styles—"
"They prioritize building physical strength over energy cultivation. External styles must first build strong muscles and bones to increase striking power and durability. They rely on strength and speed, and emphasize techniques."
"Purely external styles are rare today. Most start from internal energy, or blend both approaches."
"Like the 'Six Gate Sand Palm'—the Iron Sand Palm is fierce and powerful, but still requires internal energy cultivation before moving on to physical conditioning."
Internal vs. External styles.
This distinction isn't that necessary nowadays. Modern martial schools mostly teach internal styles, or hybrids, or start with external basics before transitioning to internal methods.
Ultimately, all roads lead to internal cultivation.
Because only through internal refinement can one walk the martial path farther.
Old internal styles had limited development. Even mastery of a style like the Cheng Family Fist wouldn't stop one's decline in health by age forty or fifty.
That was a limitation of the times—
A limitation of the methods.
But now, with access to the mysterious Shanhai Realm and its treasures, martial arts evolved. Internal refinement became more efficient, continuously pushing limits and delaying decline.
The strong grow stronger!
Like Jiang Bianliu—over seventy, yet could still crush a stone with a single palm. His vitality and energy showed no signs of aging. That's the result of high-level internal training.
In the end, the internal dominates the external.
Times have changed!
Internal styles have limitless potential!
...
"Internal breath, external strength."
"Today—"
"At Guangling Academy, students begin with stances that build internal energy and blood vitality while nurturing the muscles and bones. Combined with physical techniques, they cover everything: energy, body, and combat skills."
"Add pure internal techniques on top, and modern students have far deeper foundations than past martial artists."
Yan Chuang acknowledged modern superiority.
In fact—
He himself walked the new path.
On top of Cheng Family Fist, he practiced Hunyuan Technique—
The former was internal with external aspects.
The latter—an unconventional internal method that reversed the usual flow but was still pure internal cultivation at its core.
Really, the divide between new and old schools is arbitrary—
To evolve and progress, this step must be taken.
The new school just used the Shanhai Realm to leap ahead.
The old school lacked such resources—thus fell behind.
But Yan Chuang had the Purple Cloud Palace, the Derivation Technique, and caught up.
"The path is the same."
"But internal cultivation—that's another domain. Let's set it aside for now."
"Just talking about fist techniques—internal ones—I believe both the Cheng Family Fist and the 18 styles taught at Guangling Academy have yet to reach their limits. They still have room to improve."
Yan Chuang brought it full circle—
Back to Mission Two: Xingyi Fist.
The Xingyi Fist aimed to distill the best of all schools—to create the strongest internal style!
Jiang Bianliu inviting him to discuss fist styles was like offering a pillow to someone drowsy—Yan Chuang was brimming with energy, speaking with eloquence and passion.
...
"Internal style."
"External style."
"Imitation."
"The Five Elements."
"Stance training."
Jiang Bianliu listened to Yan Chuang's analysis with rapt attention—sometimes pondering, sometimes delighted. He was well-versed in Guangling's martial arts.
As it happened, so was Yan Chuang.
So every point, every example hit home. It was all crystal clear.
Yan Chuang kept going.
Elder Jiang kept listening.
Dozens of Martial Archive scholars were present—
"The body follows the hands, the steps follow the body. Sink with each turn—this is 'Great Achievement Fist.'"
"Stomping doesn't rise past the knee; separating feet doesn't rise past the waist—this is 'Hu Family Stabbing Foot.'"
"The waist moves like a snake, legs drill like augers. The whole body moves in spirals—this is 'Silken Wrap Fist.'"
"Punch from afar, elbow up close, lean in when near."
"Balance real and false—this is fist scripture."
...
Yan Chuang recited punch maxims, matched each to a specific style, and pulled out their common truths—all neatly aligning with the principles.
The sayings were catchy.
The principles—clear and profound.
Zhong Hui was enthralled. She specialized in 'Fu Family Fist,' but among Yan Chuang's teachings, she could always find something relevant to her art—whether punches, kicks, elbows, or body moves. She understood, absorbed, and benefited.
She was overjoyed!
Delighted!
Zhong Hui was fully immersed—every sentence was enlightening, every explanation crystal clear.
She kept listening.
Kept thinking.
Kept progressing.
What a wonderful feeling!
"Fist like a meteor, eyes like lightning. Waist like a snake, legs drill down."
"Move like the wind. Stand like a nail."
"Shrink, soften, wrap, twist, intercept, speed, hardness, sharpness, smoothness!"
"Ten key traits of Fu Fist!"
"Turns out not just Fu Fist—many of the Hundred Styles share these same key points."
"And Fu Fist's Five Forms—Dragon, Tiger, Snake, Crane, Monkey! Imitation at its best—ever-changing but consistent in essence!"
"Rise and fall with grace, appear and disappear, winding and agile—that's the Dragon."
"Fierce and pouncing, poised and springing, gaze like lightning—unmoving yet powerful—that's the Tiger."
"No legs but swift, flowing through gaps, coiling and uncoiling—that's the Snake."
"Stillness in motion, motion in stillness, steady and enduring—that's the Crane."
"Climbing and leaping, nimble and quick, alert and evasive—that's the Monkey."
"Advance and retreat with control, balance of yin and yang—like a dragon in a river, a swallow weaving through pine forests."
"So that's it!"
"Forest-Piercing Sword!"
"Forest-Piercing Sword!"
"Even within the Five Forms, the essence is revealed!"
Zhong Hui had a breakthrough—her eyes shone. She found the connection between Fu Fist and the Hundred Styles. Between fists and swords. She saw the fusion—
"Forest-Piercing Sword!"
"I've got it!"
...
"Master Yan, I've understood!"
"Me too!"
Not just Zhong Hui—
Others on the first floor also exclaimed joyfully, enlightened and thrilled. Some deepened their understanding of martial techniques, others refined their theory. Everyone gained something—and they were all ecstatic.
Originally, these Martial Archive scholars were mostly theorists—not all strong fighters, but their understanding was solid. They had acknowledged Yan Chuang's reputation and skills, but like all scholars, they had their doubts.
They came curious, perhaps even critical.
But as soon as he spoke—
They knew: this was the real deal.
The moment he began, it was obvious.
Everyone was convinced!
Everyone was immersed!
They admitted: "Yan Chuang truly has real skill!"
And once they acknowledged him, they listened with full attention.
And then—
Countless insights!
Countless breakthroughs!
Countless feedbacks!
Came flooding in—
[Your 'Cheng Family Fist' has improved. Proficiency +5.]
[Your 'Wu Family Fist' has improved. Proficiency +8.]
[Your 'Fu Family Fist' has improved. Proficiency +10.]
[Your 'Gao Family Fist' has improved. Proficiency +13.]
...
Yan Chuang was ecstatic.
One style after another—his mastery improved.
And with that, Mission Two progressed rapidly—
[Mission Two: Inspiration +5]
[Mission Two: Inspiration +2]
[Mission Two: Inspiration +3]
…
Ever since starting Mission Two: Xingyi Fist ten days ago, Yan Chuang had been working alone. After ten days, progress had barely reached 9 points—less than one per day.
Now—
Things were different.