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Chapter 39: Chapter 37 Ancient Secret Skill
December 8th.
The desk clock shows the time, 6:30.
Light is shining through the floral curtains, it seems the weather isn’t bad.
Fang Cheng is lying in bed with his eyes open.
Engaging in morning exercises in a rather odd posture.
His legs are bent at the knees, close to his buttocks.
His hands are positioned backwards on either side of his head, elbows pointing towards the ceiling.
Then, using strength from his arms and legs, he slowly raises his hips and pelvis, lifting his body and head off the bed.
Until his waist and back form an arch, his body resembling a constructed arch bridge.
It also looks like the creepy crawling posture of Kayako from horror movies.
This is the starting position.
He maintains this posture at its peak for about five seconds.
Afterwards, he reverses the motion, slowly descending back down, lowering his body.
Until he lies back down on the bed, taking a deep breath, marking the completion of the routine.
This method of exercise clearly differs significantly from the first four skills of the Prisoner’s Six Arts.
In the book "Prisoner Fitness," it refers to this as "Back Bridge," considered to be a special secret skill handed down from ancient times.
Last time, during a rainy practice of pull-ups in the park.
Without the aid of his skills, Fang Cheng relied on willpower to break through his limits, entering that mysterious mental state.
This time.
He plans to challenge this high-difficulty fitness move without relying on Concentration Skill and Potential Activation.
For this, Fang Cheng deliberately took a day off, giving it his all.
The excuse was easy to find, as he acted as a sparring partner for Shijima Gorou yesterday, seemingly fine but actually feeling a bit unwell, as if he had internal injuries.
Therefore, today he needs to go to the hospital for a check-up, and rest at home for half a day......
However.
To successfully unlock this skill.
Starting out with brute force as before, forcing practice, is not only ineffective but also dangerous.
Among the Prisoner’s Six Arts, pull-ups are considered quite challenging.
For those with weak bodies, even performing one might feel very strenuous.
Compared to the Back Bridge, this activity becomes much easier.
For the first four skills, Fang Cheng could skip some basic training, starting directly from the standard exercises.
Practicing the Back Bridge, he couldn’t do that.
If "Prisoner’s Six Arts" aims for fitness effects of strength, endurance, balance, coordination, flexibility, and agility.
Then the practice of Back Bridge encompasses all these aspects aiming to comprehensively enhance physical fitness.
As Fang Cheng usually focuses on the flexibility of his limbs, his torso appears somewhat stiff, resulting in slightly poor flexibility and coordination, making this activity somewhat difficult.
The first attempt almost resulted in a twisted back.
This scenario is quite normal.
Most people, including Fang Cheng, don’t usually focus on exercising the posterior chain muscles, especially the lower back.
Unlike the limbs which are frequently used, even kids can easily do a few push-ups and deep squats.
So, with prolonged neglect, the lower back naturally becomes the body’s weakest area.
Fang Cheng could only step back and honestly start training from the basics of short bridge, straight bridge, and half bridge.
Stepping up gradually, he began to open the hips and back.
This required an additional two days of preparation to smoothly complete the standard Back Bridge movement in today’s official training.
"14."
"15."
Fang Cheng exhales softly, counting while quietly feeling the muscle movements throughout his body.
Suddenly, he understands why the book "Prisoner Fitness" calls the "Back Bridge" a secret skill, repeatedly emphasizing its importance.
The inspiration for this training method actually comes from yoga and traditional martial arts’ "Iron Plate Bridge".
The difference is, traditional training tends to maintain a static posture, while Back Bridge training focuses more on the process of dynamic explosion.
Regardless of the style, their goals are consistent, involving activating the spinal strength.
The spinal cord, which can be said to be the most important organ of the human body after the brain.
It connects the brain to the nervous system of the torso but is extremely fragile.
The external protective layer is the spinal cartilage and the long-snake-like muscles grouped on both sides.
These two muscle columns are called erector spinae, also broadly part of the spinal structure.
Normally controlling spinal movement, maintaining spinal stability, acting like a power belt running through the back.
The focus of Back Bridge training is to activate the long-neglected erector spinae.
Strong spinal muscles can unleash the potential power of the waist, abdomen, and limbs, to perform higher difficulty, greater strength, and faster movements.
Moreover, it also allows the body to maintain balance, improve flexibility, and agility, making it less likely to get injured during physical activities.
Using traditional martial arts terminology, this is called revitalizing the body’s major muscles, also known as "Open Dragon Spine".
With mastery of the training, a punch can produce the power of Dragon and Tiger, and a step can reach the roof tiles.
The body as agile as a cat, the back as hard as iron, supposedly impervious to swords and spears.
Whether it’s an exaggeration is another matter.
At least in street brawls, one wouldn’t be knocked down by a sneak attack with a club.
Nor would one try various tricks, missing the target and falling over first.
In addition.
Fang Cheng also discovered while practicing Back Bridge, that this move can stretch the tendons and ligaments of the back and limbs.
It has a certain relaxing effect on muscles that have been in a state of tension for a long time, and is very suitable as a warm-up exercise.
Especially when combined with the Lifting Leg practice, the opposite movements enhance the effect.
Thanks to his high Spirit Attribute, Fang Cheng can now have a thorough understanding of how every inch of his muscles exerts force during movement.
When he feels the soreness in his back and waist muscles, he immediately gathers his thoughts and begins to meditate with his eyes closed.
Trying to enter that unknown mental state, understanding the so-called "essence of meditation".
"19."
"20."
"21."
"..."
The numbers he murmurs sound almost hypnotic.
It seems... it really... has some effect.
Just as he approaches a state of self-forgetfulness, something in the darkness seems to be rapidly glowing and enlarging.
"What is this..."
Fang Cheng quickly opens his eyes, his pupils shining brightly.
[You have diligently practiced to a certain extent, gaining a deep understanding, and mastered a fitness-related Skill]
[Unlock Skill: Back Bridge lv0 (0/100)]
Looking at the pale blue screen in front of him, Fang Cheng feels somewhat amused.
It feels like he hasn’t yet fully exerted himself, but his opponent has already fallen.
Unsure whether to feel happy or disappointed.
His high Spirit Attribute has unexpectedly enhanced his comprehension, making unlocking new skills seem effortless.
"Successfully breaking through a barrier is always good..."
Fang Cheng breathes a sigh of relief, relaxedly lying on the bed.
Ending this morning’s training session, which was much shorter than usual.
After calming his mind.
His gaze shifts from the Skill Panel to the Character Panel.
Looking at the 5 Free Attributes reserved last night.
He immediately decides to add 4 points to Constitution and 1 point to Strength.
[Strength: 12]
[Agility: 12]
[Constitution: 20]
[Spirit: 20]
After the panel updates its values, Fang Cheng blinks his eyes, pondering.
About half a second later, he suddenly feels as if the blood throughout his body is boiling.
Whoosh, whoosh—
Not the sound of breathing.
Fang Cheng holds his breath and listens quietly.
It seems he can "hear" the murmur of his blood flowing.
His whole body feels as if soaked in a hot spring, warm and comfortable, not wanting to move.
Muscle soreness and fatigue from previous exercise disappear instantly.
Even the joints creak as they seem to become firmer.
Ligaments flexing and relaxing, like the twanging of cow tendons.
Then...
There is no then.
Fang Cheng ponders for a moment, then takes a deep breath, sits up in bed, and squeezes his fists.
The joints crack loudly, and indeed, he feels much stronger.
Drenched in sweat as if he had undergone a transformative cleansing, feeling clear, refreshed, and full of vitality.
Only, the anticipated event seems not to have occurred.
"It seems that kind of mental state is elusive..."
Previously, he had also tried to meditate sitting like a monk, but without success.
"Do I really need to go deaf and stand in the rain?"
Fang Cheng gives a slight smirk and shakes his head.
There must be more conventional means, he just hasn’t found the method yet.
On the third floor of Wantong Mall, there is a meditation class that seems quite professional.
Maybe, after getting paid and having some spare cash, he could sign up and learn...
While thinking, he turns to look at the clock; it’s nearly 7 a.m.
He then gets dressed, opens the bedroom curtains.
Bright golden sunlight immediately pours in, making the room light and bright.
Enjoying a moment in the long-missed sunlight, he stretches his limbs.
Fang Cheng then turns around, picks up a ballpoint pen, and walks over to the wall.
On that sheet of homework, he marks a check (√).
His eyes shine brightly under the sunlight, staring at the progress of six fitness skills.
Only one more skill is left in the Prisoner’s Six Arts.
Probably, also the most challenging skill.
Handstand Pushups.
Wonder what new changes will occur after unlocking all?
