12: Chapter 12 Joining the Martial Arts School

Lin Tian fell silent for a moment. He weighed his options quickly in his mind.

Staying in Lin Family Village meant safety, familiarity, and being with his parents and clansmen. But resources were limited, martial arts knowledge was scarce, and progress would be slow.

What came after Great Strength Fist and Mountain-Opening Fist? The village's most profound martial arts were limited to just those.

Joining the martial arts hall meant unfamiliarity, danger, and potentially being ostracized. But the Cultivation Techniques, resources, and horizon were far beyond Lin Family Village.

If he wanted to become stronger, this was the best opportunity.

He raised his head and looked at Instructor Liu Changfeng: "I am willing."

Instructor Liu Changfeng smiled, a gentle smile: "Very good. Then pack your things and come with me."

Lin Dashan and his wife Zhao were stunned. Although they had been mentally prepared, hearing that their son was leaving still felt like a tug at their hearts.

"Leaving... right now?" Zhao's voice trembled.

"The martial arts hall is thirty miles away. If we return today, we can still make the evening class," Instructor Liu Changfeng nodded.

Lin Dashan took a deep breath and patted his son's shoulder: "Go. Cultivate well, and don't disgrace our Lin Family Village."

Zhao wiped away her tears, unable to speak.

Lin Tian looked at his parents, then at the familiar faces of the clansmen around him, and a wave of warmth surged in his heart. He nodded vigorously: "Father, Mother, don't worry. Once I become strong, I will definitely come back to honor you."

After saying this, he turned and walked towards home. His steps were quick, afraid that if he walked too slowly, he would lose his resolve.

There wasn't much to pack at home. A few changes of clothes, two pairs of cloth shoes his mother had rushed to make overnight, and a small bag of dry rations.

Zhao tried to stuff the few dozen copper coins they had in the house into his arms, but he pushed them back.

"Mother, the martial arts hall provides food and lodging; I don't need money."

"Take it! Just in case..." Zhao's eyes were red.

Lin Tian finally accepted it. He wrapped everything into a small bundle, slung it over his shoulder, and walked to the courtyard gate.

Lin Dashan and Zhao saw him off at the gate. His little sister, Lin Xiaohe, also ran out and tugged at his sleeve: "Brother, when will you be back?"

"Soon." Lin Tian stroked her head, "Listen to Father and Mother at home."

He turned around, not looking back again, and strode towards the village entrance.

On the threshing floor, Instructor Liu Changfeng and Wang Chong were already mounted on their horses. Wang Chong glanced at him, his expression complex.

Instructor Liu Changfeng nodded: "Get on the horse."

Lin Tian climbed onto the horse—this was his first time riding, and his movements were clumsy, causing the corner of Wang Chong's mouth to twitch.

The three horses left Lin Family Village, heading east along the dirt road.

Lin Tian looked back once. The village gradually became smaller, eventually disappearing at the edge of his vision. He gripped the reins tight, turned his head, and looked forward.

A new path had begun.

Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall was not in Heishan City, but among the hills five miles east of the city.

From a distance, one could see green tiles and white walls, occupying a vast area.

High walls enclosed a complex of buildings, with courtyards, pavilions, and Training Grounds.

At the entrance, two stone lions bared their fangs and brandished their claws, their Aura imposing.

"We've arrived." Instructor Liu Changfeng reined in his horse.

Lin Tian looked up at the four gilded characters "Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall" on the lintel; the strokes were powerful, and the true intent of the Dao seemed to flow within them.

Inside the gate was a main path paved with bluestone. On both sides were Training Grounds, the large ones three times the size of the Lin Family Village threshing floor, and even the small ones were half an acre.

The grounds were filled with various equipment: stone locks, wooden stakes, iron sandbags, weapon racks... Dozens of Martial Artists wearing uniform green training outfits were cultivating in the area, their shouts rising one after another.

Some were lifting stone locks weighing hundreds of pounds, their expressions unchanged; some were punching and kicking wooden stakes, leaving them covered in fist marks; others held long swords, the sword light like a streak of silk, dancing densely.

Qi and blood surged, and the air even felt scorching.

Lin Tian watched, unable to look away.

This was a martial arts hall.

Compared to the small-time skirmishes in the rural village, it was a completely different world.

"What are you spacing out for?" Wang Chong said coldly, "Follow me."

Instructor Liu Changfeng led them across the main path to a relatively secluded courtyard.

This was the living area for new Disciples, with rows of rooms that were simple but clean.

"You will stay in this room." Instructor Liu Changfeng pushed open a door, "Rest today. Tomorrow at the third quarter of the Chen hour, go to the eastern Training Ground to gather. Someone will make arrangements for you."

"Yes." Lin Tian cupped his hands.

Instructor Liu Changfeng nodded and turned to leave.

Wang Chong glanced at him and followed.

Lin Tian walked into the room. The room was not large, with a bed, a table, and a chair. The bed was covered with a straw mat and a thin quilt.

He put down his bundle, sat on the bed, and let out a long breath.

The next morning, Lin Tian arrived at the eastern Training Ground on time.

More than twenty young people had already gathered in the field, all between fifteen or sixteen and eighteen or nineteen years old, similar in age to him.

However, their attire was worlds apart.

They wore brocade and fine silk, with jade pendants and sachets hanging from their waists, and gold and silver bracelets on their wrists.

Each of them had a rosy complexion and an arrogant air, clearly children of wealthy families.

Lin Tian looked down at himself—his coarse linen short-sleeved outfit was washed white, with patches on the cuffs. The cloth shoes on his feet were clean, but the soles were worn thin.

As soon as he walked into the field, the gazes of those young masters turned towards him in unison.

"Who is this?"

"Is he here to Cultivate too? Impossible, right? Cultivating is so expensive; how could a poor person afford it?"

"He's probably a servant brought by some young master."

Amidst the discussion, a youth wearing a lake-blue silk shirt walked out, looked Lin Tian up and down, and frowned: "Hey, kid, is this a place for you to be? Get out, now."

Lin Tian paused and said calmly: "I am also here to Cultivate, why should I leave?"

"You?" The youth in the lake-blue shirt was stunned, then sneered, "Cultivate? You? Can you afford the tuition?"

The other young masters around them also burst into laughter.

The tuition for Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall was expensive, five taels of silver a month; ordinary farming families couldn't save that much in a year.

Those who could come here were either rich or noble.

Lin Tian didn't speak, just walked to the side of the field and stood quietly.

The youth in the lake-blue shirt was about to say something else when footsteps suddenly came from outside the field. Several middle-aged Martial Artists strode over. The leader was in his forties, with a stern face and temples that bulged high.

"Everyone, be quiet!"

The voice was not loud, but it carried a sense of pressure, instantly suppressing all noise.

The middle-aged Martial Artist scanned the crowd, his gaze lingering on Lin Tian for a moment before moving away:

"My name is Huang Yuanshan, and you will address me as Master Huang from now on. For the next three months, I will teach you the basics."

Huang Yuanshan walked to the center of the field and stood with his hands behind his back:

"The beginning of the martial Dao lies in tempering Qi and blood and solidifying the Foundation. You are all currently Quasi-Martial Artists, with strength between one hundred and three hundred pounds. What you will learn next is not fist techniques or sword techniques, but Stance Cultivation."

He paused, seeing that everyone's expression was indifferent, only Lin Tian's eyes were shining, and his heart moved slightly.

"Stance Cultivation is the root of improving Qi and blood and increasing strength. If you practice it well, you will get twice the result with half the effort. If you don't practice it well, no matter how profound your fist techniques are, they are just flowery decorations."

Lin Family Village only taught external martial arts like Great Strength Fist and Mountain-Opening Fist and had never mentioned Stance Cultivation.

Lin Tian listened intently, afraid of missing a single word.

"What I am teaching you today is called 'Five Elements Stance'. There are five movements in total, corresponding to the Five Elements: Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. In addition to the movements, there is a corresponding breathing method. Only when the movements are combined with breathing can it be considered complete Stance Cultivation."

Huang Yuanshan didn't waste any more words and directly set up his posture.

The first movement, Diamond Stance.

His feet were shoulder-width apart, his knees slightly bent, and his waist and back straight as a pine. His hands were held in front of his chest, as if holding a round ball.

His breathing was long and steady; his abdomen bulged when inhaling and contracted when exhaling.

With his breathing, the muscles on Huang Yuanshan's body rose and fell slightly, as if they had come alive.

Under his skin, there were faint traces of Qi and blood flowing, and a low rumbling sound came from within his body, like a rushing river.

The second movement, Green Wood Stance.

The third, Flowing Water Stance.

The fourth, Raging Fire Stance.

The fifth, Thick Earth Stance.

The five movements each had their own mysteries.

Huang Yuanshan practiced very slowly, explaining every detail clearly: how to stand, how to turn the waist, how to circulate Qi, and how to guard the intent.

Lin Tian watched without even daring to blink.

After teaching it once, Huang Yuanshan let everyone practice on their own.

Those young masters learned very quickly.

Most of them had been exposed to the martial Dao since childhood, had been taught by Martial Masters at home, and were no strangers to Stance Cultivation.

After practicing only two or three times, their movements were basically correct.

Only Lin Tian practiced stumbling and awkwardly.

Diamond Stance: his feet were unsteady, his waist wasn't straight.

Green Wood Stance: he couldn't coordinate his breathing with the movements, holding his breath until his face was red and his neck thick.

Flowing Water Stance was even more ridiculous; he was stiff where he should be soft, and soft where he should be firm.

"Haha, look at him!"

"He can't even learn this?"

"Can someone with this kind of talent even enter the martial arts hall?"

The youth in the lake-blue shirt, Young Master Liu, sneered even more: "Does Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall accept just anyone now?"

Huang Yuanshan also noticed Lin Tian. He frowned slightly and walked over to Lin Tian:

"What is your name?"

"Disciple Lin Tian." Lin Tian stopped his movements and cupped his hands.

Huang Yuanshan was stunned.

Lin Tian?

He remembered that the Hall Master had specifically mentioned yesterday that the martial arts hall had recruited a Genius from the countryside, who had achieved Minor Achievement in Mountain-Opening Fist in three months, and his name was Lin Tian.

But the kid in front of him... he couldn't even practice the most basic Five Elements Stance; how could he be a Genius?

Huang Yuanshan shook his head, didn't ask any more, just said: "Watch carefully, I will teach it one more time."

He demonstrated it again, and Lin Tian tried his best to memorize it, but his body just wouldn't listen.

The talent of this body was indeed average, with poor muscle memory and poor coordination. If it weren't for the System, he would never have made it to this day.

Half a day passed, and everyone else was practicing with decent form. Lin Tian had barely memorized the five movements, but his breathing method was still a complete mess.

Huang Yuanshan looked at the sky and said: "I have taught what I needed to teach; the rest requires your own hard practice. Senior Brother Wang!"

A young man in his twenties walked over quickly and cupped his hands: "Master."

"You will guide them from now on. I will come to check every three to five days." After Huang Yuanshan finished speaking, he turned and left.

Senior Brother Wang walked to the center of the field with a smile:

"Junior Brothers, my name is Senior Brother Wang. If you have anything you don't understand in the future, you can ask me."

He spoke politely, but when his gaze swept across the crowd, it lingered longer on those wealthy young masters.

As for Lin Tian, he just glanced over him.

In the time that followed, Senior Brother Wang guided them patiently.

The young masters didn't have many questions and could understand with a little guidance. When it was Lin Tian's turn, the questions were one after another.

"Senior Brother Wang, when breathing in the Diamond Stance, which meridian does the Qi actually travel through?"

"How exactly do you guard the Dantian in the Green Wood Stance?"

"Does the soft force of the Flowing Water Stance originate from the waist or the shoulder?"

Senior Brother Wang initially answered patiently, but seeing that Lin Tian was asking only the most basic questions, and asking them over and over, his brow gradually furrowed.

By the end of the day, everyone else had basically mastered it and could go back to Cultivate on their own.

Only Lin Tian was still practicing hard in the same spot, his movements still awkward.

The second day, the third day.

Lin Tian arrived at the Training Ground earliest every day and left the latest.

He practiced the hardest, sweated the most, but his progress was the slowest.

It wasn't until the evening of the third day that he finally managed to complete the five movements of the Five Elements Stance, and the breathing method was barely coordinated.

Senior Brother Wang stood on the side of the field watching, shaking his head slightly.

He didn't know what connections this Lin Tian had used to enter the martial arts hall, but this talent... was really too poor.

The martial arts hall had an assessment every month; failing twice in a row would lead to elimination.

At Lin Tian's current pace, he would probably be kicked out after a month.

"Sigh." Senior Brother Wang sighed and turned to leave.

In the field, Lin Tian was still practicing.

Sweat soaked his coarse linen clothes and dripped onto the bluestone floor, splashing into small water droplets.

He gritted his teeth and persisted, with only one thought in his mind:

[Five Elements Stance proficiency + 1]

The System's notification sound was his only solace.

He knew his talent was poor, but he knew even better that as long as he kept practicing, he would definitely become stronger.

If ten times a day wasn't enough, then twenty times.

If twenty times wasn't enough, then thirty times.