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Chapter 75: Chapter 73 Special Effect "Lightning Dance
Early morning.
Riverside Park.
Fang Cheng bare-chested, legs apart, squatted way down into a horse stance.
This was the stance practiced he learned yesterday from Ma Jianguo, said to be a foundational martial arts technique for beginners.
There’s a saying in traditional martial arts: Before learning to punch, first practice the stance for three years.
It refers to the many benefits of practicing stance work— not only does it stretch the tendons and bones, but it also helps invigorate blood circulation and increase physical strength.
Among all stance works, the Horse Stance is the simplest and most commonly seen technique.
Of course.
Simple does not mean unsophisticated or inferior; rather, it indicates its excellent effects and extensive benefits which have made it highly popular and widely practiced.
Practicing Horse Stance is not only for training the tendons and blood but also has immediate effects in actual combat.
For instance, when exchanging moves with an opponent, only if you root your feet firmly and maintain a stable stance can you fully execute your techniques, while also making it difficult for others to shake you.
"Chest enclosed and back pulled up, loosely lead the top..."
"Once you achieve waist and horse integration, you can root your feet as if growing from the ground and unleash power like thunder..."
Fang Cheng silently recited the mantra, continuously adjusting his posture while meticulously feeling the changes in his body condition.
For someone who often practiced deep squats, maintaining a horse stance for a period wasn’t too challenging.
The key was to feel the subtle sensation of blood and energy Ma Jianguo mentioned.
Initially, he was in a relatively relaxed state.
As time gradually extended, his legs and feet began to swell and heat up, producing pain and numbness.
Using this method of understanding through pain, Fang Cheng finally faintly perceived a trace of energy surging up from his feet and abdomen.
Deep squat and horse stance could be described as a dynamic and a static aspect.
According to what Fang Cheng read in "Human Kinematics" from the library.
Horse stance is a type of static strength training, which could engage deeper muscle groups, tendons, and ligaments not commonly involved in regular exercise.
It also helps enhance joint stability and prevents various kinds of sports injuries.
At this moment, as the gradually brightening light passed through the morning mist and shone on his flushed face.
One could clearly see the beads of sweat, glistening brightly and faintly turning into white vapor.
Fang Cheng enclosed his chest, pulled up his back, and his legs grounded as if they were ancient roots.
Focused and listening intently, he could faintly hear the tiny creaking sounds from his joints.
This was a sign of the legs and bones being stretched and also an indication that his physical capabilities were nearly at their limit.
Maintaining a horse stance seems simple, but is actually incredibly strenuous and tests one’s patience.
The only way to see results is through the "Endurance Technique."
The longer each practice lasts, the more pronounced the effects, and it is also a method for martial artists to train their mental fortitude and hone their will.
At dawn, the skies were turning red.
People around were sparse, and the surroundings became clearer.
"Hurrh—"
Fang Cheng concentrated, exhaled and made a sound.
His entire shoulders and torso trembled slightly, and an almost imperceptible sound followed his breath, emanating from his abdominal cavity.
This was the breathing technique taught by Ma Jianguo – "Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound Skill."
In the eyes of martial artists who practice internal boxing, this sound, much like the purring of a tiger or the thunder in the sky, is extraordinary and revered as the highest martial arts secret.
They believe this deep sound penetrates all body extremities, arising from the Dantian and the result of inner breath vibrations.
Therefore, this kind of resonance could be used to train the tendons, skin, the five viscera, and six bowels, and it also helps heal internal injuries caused during practice.
However, the exact practice method has always been a martial arts legend, only to be understood intuitively and not transmitted verbally, with no one having truly proven it.
The technique Ma Jianguo possesses is either a family heirloom or acquired from elsewhere, and it includes a very thorough training regimen.
Ordinary people have never heard the sound of a tiger and leopard purring.
But for a cat, the ancestor of the feline family, it is a very common animal.
Ma Jianguo simply had Fang Cheng hold his fat orange cat that loves to sleep in, carefully stroking and feeling.
For Fang Cheng’s first practice, he didn’t aim for immediate mastery; gaining some insight was already enough.
With a breath of foul air exhaled, he smoothly ended the practice.
Fang Cheng shook his arms and shoulders, and kicked his legs.
A gust of wind whipped up.
He felt his legs more flexible and resilient as if fitted with springs.
Looking towards the sun peering out half-faced between skyscrapers, he estimated the time.
This horse stance practice lasted at least an hour.
[Congratulations, you’ve diligently practiced and gained a preliminary understanding, successfully mastering a fitness-related skill]
[Unlocked Skill: Pile Skill lv0 (0/100)]
A flash of light on the panel, a notification appeared before his eyes.
"Eh, isn’t it Qigong?"
Fang Cheng couldn’t help but utter a light sound of surprise.
Surprised, he noticed the words "fitness."
He then nodded slightly, understanding that the nature of this skill was similar to Deep Squat and Push-ups.
The Qigong practice method taught by Ma Jianguo includes various standing stills, Breathing Techniques, Tai Chi Boxing routines, and a cookbook on dietary therapy.
In it, the standing practice is Pile Skill, Breathing Techniques and the cookbook are nourishing practice, and Tai Chi Boxing is a combat practice.
It is said that after entering the introductory stage of practicing Qigong, there is a very special Visualization Method.
However, Ma Jianguo told Fang Cheng that he was still at the foundational stage, and any premature contact would be more harmful than beneficial.
So he hadn’t experienced it yet.
After moving his limbs, Fang Cheng turned to look at the other achievements from today’s morning practice.
[Concentration Experience +4]
[Sanda experience +4]
[Muay Thai experience +5]
[Jujutsu Experience +10]
[Push-up Experience +12]
[Deep Squat Experience +13]
[Lifting Leg Experience +15]
[Pull-up Experience +15]
[Back Bridge Experience +10]
[Handstand Pushups Experience +15]
...
In order to make time for practicing Pile Skill, Fang Cheng appropriately reduced the training volume of Air Attack and other items.
Today’s morning training also focused more on the soon-to-be-upgraded Sanda skills, concentrating on practicing various leg techniques.
Thus successfully elevated it to master level.
[Sanda lv2 (0/500)]
Fang Cheng swept his gaze over the panel, looking at two enhancement rewards that he hadn’t chosen before.
[Enhancement one: 8 Free Attributes]
[Enhancement two: Skill Effect, Lightning Dance]
He made a decision and chose the second option.
[When using leg techniques, each hit on a target increases one’s own movement speed by 60%, which can be continuously stacked on targets within a range of five meters, with a maximum of 10 hits beyond which the effect dissipates]
The implication of this effect is that it allows for continuous leg strikes 10 times in an extremely short period.
While it might not seem to increase the base attributes significantly, the more the speed stacks, the faster it could be, almost like teleporting.
Truly a god-like skill in group combat! 𝘯𝑜𝑣𝑝𝑢𝘣.𝑐𝑜𝑚
Amidst his thoughts, a hubbub of voices came from around.
Fang Cheng glanced at the old men coming over to practice Health Care Boxing, then turned and left the park.
Today’s training ended a bit later than usual, so he needs to act more swiftly.
...
Ayang Bathhouse.
After his bath, Fang Cheng greeted the neighborhood aunties, carrying a bag with his clothes, and walked onto the street.
As usual, he went to the breakfast stand he frequented, buying buns and soy milk.
On the way home, he thought about today’s sparring class schedule.
Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of a small, slender girl by the side of a large black trash can not far away.
She leaned over the rim, seemingly searching for discarded cans and cardboard boxes.
Because she wasn’t tall enough, she strained on her tiptoes, reaching vigorously into the can.
In the chilly breeze, her body swayed slightly, seeming a bit unsteady.
Fang Cheng stopped in his tracks, his gaze focused in her direction.
