NOVPUB
Chapter 88: Chapter 86: Persevere and Keep Trying
The city skyline faintly reveals a hint of dawn’s pale light.
Soon the rosy glow blooms, penetrating numerous high-rise buildings, reflecting onto a ruddy face.
Fang Cheng’s form rises and falls, prostrated on a concrete platform, supporting himself with one hand, continuously executing Fist Push-ups.
"..."
"597."
"598."
"599."
"600."
As he silently counts to the number 600, he leaps up, returning to a standing position with his muscular body.
Looking towards the slowly rising sun, his eyes refract a brilliant glow, he mutters to himself:
"A new year, a new day, keep pushing forward!"
At this moment, the place where he stands,
Is on top of a concrete water tank, atop the tubular building where he lives.
After watching the fireworks display on the roof with Zhou Xiumei and Wen Xin last night,
Fang Cheng suddenly realized that this place is actually an ideal training ground.
Quiet, convenient, free from external disturbances, and relatively well-equipped with facilities.
Hence, he decided to shift his main training location here.
Subsequently, he also revised his physical training plan, further increasing the intensity and efficiency of his workouts.
After getting up at five o’clock in the morning,
He first performs Frog Jump Squats along the staircase, leaping from the first to the ninth floor.
Then, while walking downstairs, he relaxes his legs, before starting to jump again from the first floor.
Cycling this process, completing twenty rounds, amounts to his daily practice volume for Deep Squats.
The next physical exercise includes Hanging Leg Raises and Pull-ups.
Fang Cheng utilizes the widespread water pipes on the rooftop, choosing the taller thin pipes for his workout.
After finishing 500 one-handed Hanging Leg Raises and 500 one-handed Pull-ups,
Next comes practicing the Back Bridge, Handstand Pushups, and Push-ups.
Fang Cheng chooses to stand on the concrete water tank, overlooking from above, continues to do 300 Iron Plate Bridge stands, 150 two-handed Handstand Pushups, and another 600 one-handed Fist Push-ups.
By the time the day begins, he has completed all the physical exercises.
Fang Cheng’s eyes sparkle, looking at the panel, reviewing the growth of his Skill Experience.
[Concentration Experience +5]
[Push-up Experience +20]
[Deep Squat Experience +20]
[Lifting Leg Experience +22]
[Pull-up Experience +21]
[Back Bridge Experience +19]
[Handstand Pushups Experience +23]
A Constitution exceeding 30 points further improves his recovery ability, allowing him to finish such a high-intensity training plan in such a short time.
It also leads back to a relatively high rate of Skill Experience gain from daily training.
Fang Cheng moves his limbs, relaxing his body, then facing the sunrise, he spreads his legs apart, calms his mind, and assumes a Stance stance.
"Pile Skill" is a type of skill that requires persistent practice to see results.
However,
While the experience points increase progresses relatively slower compared to other Skills, it’s not without other gains.
Fang Cheng has taken note of each specific growth in the Attributes column.
Eight days ago it was:
Strength 37%, agility 21%, Constitution 69%, Spirit 23%.
Now it is:
Strength 45%, agility 36%, Constitution 78%, Spirit 30%.
With his current body Attributes, the effects of routine training is no longer as prominent as when he only had a dozen basic attribute points like an average person.
Yet the Attribute increases in these days seem like taking a stimulant, a significant return to the initial scene.
The difference lies in the additional Stance training he added.
The so-called Pile Skill is a kung fu that strengthens sinews and bones, promoting blood and qi circulation.
Regarding the first point.
Fang Cheng had indeed deeply experienced the feeling of stiffness in his legs and hips, the unlocking of sinew and joint connectors during the stance training, and that pleasant sensation of pain followed by relief.
Compared to deep squat training.
One is active, the other is passive.
One requires explosive power, the other values perseverance. 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝒐𝒎
According to the martial arts theory explained by Ma Jianguo, the body is likened to a strong bow and hard crossbow, with tendons acting as the strings of the bow.
And what the squatting stance trains are the "big tendons" that connect the legs and waist.
From Fang Cheng’s personal enlightenment during the stance training.
In martial arts, the so-called "tendon networks" should include those deep hidden muscular band groups, as well as connective tissues like tendons and ligaments that link bones and muscles, serving as hubs and channels for transmitting the body’s strength.
Ordinary people’s tendons are mostly soft most of the time, unable to generate much power.
When beginning stance training, although the body seems to be still, the muscles and bones are always either taut or contracted.
The areas emphasized in training will therefore generate an intrinsic rebounding tension, even stimulating those deep tendon networks that are not normally affected by regular exercise.
Whereas during intense activities, muscle groups only start stretching and expanding from their normal state, exerting force, seldom tapping into the hidden strength of muscles and bones.
Thus, practicing stance skills is like making a spring’s journey from compression to stretching longer, resulting in a greater rebounding force.
In the end, the burst of power naturally becomes much greater!
This is also the main reason why the "agility" attribute especially demonstrates a noticeable increase in speed.
As for the second point, about stimulating blood and Qi circulation.
This is mainly reflected on the constitution attribute.
While practicing his skills, Fang Cheng can faintly sense a slight warm flow in his abdomen.
If combined with the Breathing Technique of Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound, and with the attempt to lead it with intention.
This extremely faint warm flow can even move irregularly around.
However, it quickly fades into oblivion like a clay bull entering the sea, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Such a seemingly futile method of practice doesn’t appear to serve any purpose.
But every time Fang Cheng finishes a stance session, although his legs and waist may feel a bit sore and numb, his entire being experiences a peculiar sense of comfort.
Like soaking in hot water, warm and cozy, very pleasant and comfortable.
It seems that the muscle recovery rate has also accelerated to a certain extent.
An hour later.
Facing the sunlight, Fang Cheng squints his eyes slightly.
Several messages of Skill Experience growth obscure the distant cityscape.
[Pile Skill Experience +1]
[Pile Skill Experience +1]
[Pile Skill Experience +1]
...
Viewing the total of 5 points of experience gained from this stance session, Fang Cheng then sighs deeply and stands firmly, ending his practice.
At this moment, the sunlight illuminates the facades of distant tall buildings, casting a golden radiance.
His body is also drenched in sweat, shimmering.
But it is still early.
Next, he needs to carry out Fighting Skills training.
Fang Cheng stands on top of a concrete water tank, in this narrow space of about 2 meters in diameter, and begins Air Attack.
Straight Punch, Low Sweep.
Swing Punch, Sweeping kick feint, instantly transitioning into a Top Knee.
Straight Punch, Mid Sweep, Shoulder Clasp and Knee Strike, Double Elbow Strike.
Swing Punch, Step forward and knee chest, Turn around and chop...
Every move is crisp and sharp, with the force extending to the limbs.
With every punch and kick, there’s the crisp sound of joints popping and air bursting.
His entire posture exudes a sense of tenacity and grounded power, with an underlying sense of fierce sharpness.
Due to the limited time, Fang Cheng focuses his Air Attack training on the Muay Thai he is about to break through.
Half an hour later.
The panel shines brighter than the rising morning sun.
[Congratulations, after relentless effort, your skill has reached the Expert Level]
[Muay Thai lv1 (0/250)]
[Receive Skill Enhancement reward, please choose between two enhancement directions]
[Enhancement one, 3 points to Strength attribute, 3 points to agility attribute]
[Enhancement two, Skill Effect "Steel Bone"]
