139: Chapter 139 'Fist Stance'
"So, this is called 'Fist Intent'?" Li Qing thought to himself.
Since his fist technique broke through to Perfection, his understanding of Liuhe Fist had undergone a complete transformation.
How to strike, how to defend, how to attack... he always had an instinctive feeling.
Yes, it was instinct.
Moreover, when his fist technique was at Major Achievement, it could already be considered 'standard', 'perfect', and 'precise'.
But after breaking through to Perfection, every time he threw a punch, he could slightly adjust the angle and power.
Sometimes, being too standard meant high power, but if he changed the angle, it might theoretically be riskier, yet the rewards were higher; even reducing a sliver of power could actually double the impact.
Li Qing thought of missile development from his past life; sometimes, appropriately reducing the fuel weight actually led to better results.
Fist techniques were the same. If a technique at Major Achievement could be called 'high floor, high ceiling'—both being high.
Then at Perfection, his technique was no longer 'standard' but could be tailored to the enemy. Combined with his ultra-high control and proficiency, it became 'high floor, ultra-high ceiling'.
His ceiling had been raised.
His fist technique clearly used the same Moves as before, but internally, because of those tiny changes, it had become something completely different.
Furthermore, others couldn't imitate it because it was still the Six Harmonies Fist Technique, the same thing every Disciple in the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall practiced daily.
A slight vibration came from Zhuang Jin's palm, followed by an almost irresistible force. Li Qing's entire body shook violently.
How could he not know? This must be the true power of the 'Four Vibrations' or even 'Five Vibrations'.
He took advantage of the momentum to fly backward, landing on the ground five zhang away.
Boom!
Li Qing used every ounce of his strength to transfer the power Zhuang Jin had struck him with into the ground, which cracked instantly.
Li Qing felt a stinging pain throughout his body.
Just a slight blow required him to use his full strength to barely withstand it.
This was the Core Formation!
No wonder he occasionally heard legends of Hidden Force Martial Artists defeating Huajin ones.
But he had never heard of a Huajin Martial Artist, or even an Extreme Realm Martial Artist, defeating someone in the Core Formation!
At his current level, Li Qing could be called invincible among Huajin, yet he still couldn't contend with a Baodan expert, let alone anyone else!
Zhuang Jin nodded. "Exactly, it's 'Aura'. It's an Aura formed when your skill reaches the peak of Perfection and aligns with your own martial path. You should be able to feel the boost it gives to your strength."
Li Qing nodded. Aura was a new understanding of the martial path, a feeling.
It was also a presence radiating from the body.
Zhuang Jin also took the stance of the Six Harmonies Fist Technique, and a much more frigid Aura emanated from him.
Li Qing's pupils constricted. The person before him seemed like a Vicious Beast that had fought its way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
Swish!
Zhuang Jin appeared before him almost like he was teleporting, his fist rapidly enlarging in Li Qing's vision.
His Fist Intent pressed down on Li Qing, making him unable to Move.
Thump, thump, thump!
Li Qing felt an almost fatal threat; his pupils shrank, and his heart rate accelerated rapidly.
He wanted to dodge this attack.
Zhuang Jin smiled indifferently. How could a mere Huajin Martial Artist dodge?
But Li Qing didn't think so.
Move for me!
Veins bulged across Li Qing's face as he actually managed to swerve aside at the critical moment.
But Zhuang Jin's fist hadn't actually been thrown out.
He said with an astonished look, "You could actually Move?"
Ha! Ha!
Li Qing lowered his head, supporting himself on the ground.
Zhuang Jin continued, "Tsk tsk, you really keep giving me more and more surprises."
Li Qing replied, "As expected of a Baodan expert, I didn't even have a chance to struggle."
Zhuang Jin shook his head. "That's not it. Although Baodan is strong, do you know that those who have mastered 'Aura' are actually a minority?"
Li Qing raised an eyebrow. "There are many Baodan Martial Artists who haven't mastered 'Aura'?"
He thought he had just acquired a standard skill that all Baodan experts possessed; was it actually a special skill?
Zhuang Jin laughed. "Yes, just like how most Martial Artists who break through to Huajin after mastering Stake Technique find it difficult for their fist techniques to reach Major Achievement.
This phenomenon of technical Realm being lower than martial Realm is also common among Baodan.
Those whose technical Realm can match their martial Realm are considered geniuses.
Even I only mastered 'Fist Intent' after breaking through to the Core Formation."
By comparison, for Li Qing to not only reach Major Achievement in his fist technique while still in Huajin but also comprehend 'Fist Intent' made him a rarity even among the prodigies of the Sects.
Thinking of this, Zhuang Jin warned, "It's unheard of for you to develop 'Fist Intent' at the Huajin stage. To avoid drawing unwanted attention, do not tell others."
The wood that stands above the forest will surely be broken by the wind.
Li Qing came from the bottom; he should remain submerged at the bottom of the pond, waiting for the day he could soar to the heights.
Rather than showing off everywhere while his Realm was low, he should avoid inviting jealousy and hatred.
Although it's said that one is mediocre if they don't invite jealousy, that's something for after one's wings are fully grown.
Li Qing nodded, finally realizing the seriousness of the matter.
He felt somewhat fortunate to have a guide like Zhuang Jin to give him a better understanding of the martial Realms.
Mingjin, An Jin, and Huajin—these three Realms didn't have many miraculous abilities; they were mainly about accumulating blood qi and tempering the body with power.
That's why they were called the 'Body Tempering Realm'.
After the 'Body Tempering Realm' came the 'True Qi Realm', starting with the Core Formation.
As the name suggests, not only would the power undergo a qualitative transformation, but 'True Qi' would also be born, possessing various incredible changes, making one almost no different from an Earthly Immortal.
At this Realm, one's lifespan would also explode by sixty years, allowing one to live for a hundred and eighty years.
A hundred and eighty years—in this ancient world, a normal person would live to sixty at most. Someone like Old Fisherman Liu living to seventy was considered a long life.
In other words, an expert of this Realm could live through the lifespans of three people.
In his past life, that would be enough to witness the majority of a Dynasty, watching its rise and fall.
The two of them sparred a few more times afterward.
Li Qing was still only at Huajin; even with his Fist Intent, compared to Zhuang Jin's, it was like a firefly next to the bright moon—hardly comparable.
But Li Qing wasn't discouraged at all.
He was always the one challenging those above his level; when had it ever been the other way around?
Not to mention, with Fist Intent in hand, he could now take on dozens of opponents of the same rank!
After Zhuang Jin left.
Li Qing continued practicing his Stake Technique.
[Accumulate small steps to reach a thousand miles]
[Realm: Huajin]
[Stake Technique: Liuhe Stance Technique Major Achievement (1597/1600)]
[Techniques: Liuhe Fist (Perfection), Wind-Chasing Leg Technique Major Achievement (1585/1600)]
[secret techniques: Dragon Gall Power Level 3 (2700/4000), Five Vibrations Power · Four Vibrations (900/5000), Tortoise Breathing Art (Perfection), Bow Tendon Stretch (Perfection), Effortless Strength]
[traits: Toughness, Micro-Perception, Lightness, Intimidation]
"Just three points left. If the fist technique is already this powerful, what kind of formidable effect will the Stake Technique, which involves the martial Realm, have?"