Martial Saint!

Lu Chenzhou gazed at the Martial Arts Tree in his mind.

In three months, the sapling had grown a bit thicker and taller.

Faint traces of characters shimmered on the trunk, yet they never fully emerged. Lu Chenzhou knew that this meant the fire control required for the Dragon and Tiger Heavenly Pile was not adequate, and he hadn't achieved beginner status.

With only thirty lessons, he earnestly sought Dao:

"Teacher, can I learn a Pile Skill in one lesson? I just want to reach beginner status. That way, when my lessons are completed, I will have reached beginner status in thirty Pile Skills. I can practice them on my own at home."

Ji Xuantong was first taken aback, then responded with a laugh,

"The Acupoints are interconnected, similar to skill trees in some games. Once you choose a Pile Skill for a particular acupoint, you must first refine it. Only then it can serve as a starting point to cultivate and refine the subsequent connected acupoints.

Moreover, the way of acupoints is about progressing from the simple to the complex, step by step. Starting with the acupoints of the hands and feet is the easiest. The difficulty increases later on, with the brain acupoints being the most challenging, accessible only to top-level strong individuals."

Lu Chenzhou suddenly understood.

"Thank you for the guidance, Teacher. I was overthinking."

Ji Xuantong waved his hand dismissively.

"It's nothing... Lu Chenzhou, there's no need for you to rush because you worry about not having money for subsequent lessons. This is a great taboo in Martial Arts. Follow the proper sequence and train, putting in your greatest effort. Let me put it this way: if you can open up three acupoints during these thirty lessons, you'll be able to earn back the sixty thousand bucks!

Opening acupoints benefits you for life!"

Lu Chenzhou bowed with his fists clasped,

"Chenzhou is enlightened. Teacher, please continue."

Ji Xuantong was very pleased.

Throughout the entire next lesson, Lu Chenzhou practiced the Pile Skill for the Middle Strike Acupoint. Ji Xuantong earnestly demonstrated the twenty variants of the Pile Skill Diagram several times. Whenever he noticed a mistake made by Lu Chenzhou, he would promptly point it out, and if the same mistakes were repeated, he would give stern criticism.

Strict teachers produce outstanding students; training in the fist art means enduring scolding.

At some point, characters on the Martial Arts Tree finally formed shape.

[Cultivation Technique]

[Dragon and Tiger Heavenly Pile: 1st Acupoint (1%)]

After a round of teaching had ended, Lu Chenzhou glanced at the Martial Arts Tree.

"Does this mean I've reached beginner status with the 1st acupoint's Pile Skill?"

He noticed that, unlike the Basic Boxing and Black Tiger Fist on the leaves, the Dragon and Tiger Heavenly Pile on the trunk did not have a "beginner" option.

The realm of acupoint Pile Skills was different from that of the Martial Arts Realm.

As long as the proficiency of the 1st acupoint reached 100%, it would be considered successful refinement of the Middle Strike Acupoint, and then he could proceed to refine the 2nd acupoint.

"How do you feel, Chenzhou?"

Ji Xuantong had also become more endearing in his address to Lu Chenzhou.

After the first lesson, he found that aside from a poor root bone, he was pleased with all other aspects of Lu Chenzhou's performance, even feeling the impulse to accept him as a true apprentice right then.

However, he remained calm.

True inheritances were about quality, not quantity.

In the future, whether interacting with different Martial Arts Academies or moving within society, true apprentices could be said to be the face of their teacher, so further testing was needed.

Lu Chenzhou answered truthfully,

"Teacher, I feel very good. I think I have reached the beginner level with this 1st acupoint Pile Skill. I'll practice more after class to strive for the earliest consolidation of the acupoint."

Ji Xuantong nodded and declared loudly,

"Remember, Lu Chenzhou! If one were to say the Dragon and Tiger Heavenly Pile is difficult, it really isn't. It's just a Martial Artist's basic skill and part of the daily morning routine. What difficulty could it have? So, there's no such thing as beginner level, proficiency, or perfection... You just need to learn it.

But the cultivation of acupoints is not achieved overnight. The purpose of the Heavenly Pile is to stimulate the acupoints gradually through specific movements to finally consolidate and open them.

Therefore, there is no shortcut to the Heavenly Pile Cultivation. Even for someone with exceptional comprehension, whether or not you continue learning from me, or even if you become a Martial Artist, if you wish to practice martial arts, you must make cultivating Heavenly Pile an instinct as natural as breathing!

Your cultivation of Heavenly Pile must not break for a single day!

Live until death, practice until death!"

Ji Xuantong's voice was sonorous and inspiring.

Hearing these words, Lu Chenzhou solemnly bowed and said,

"Thank you, Master, for your guidance!"

At this moment, he fully acknowledged Ji Xuantong.

He suddenly perceived the difference between a Martial Arts Hall and ordinary combat gyms or fitness centers: Martial Artists may charge high fees, but they are people with convictions.

Not like that bald coach who just wanted to scam him into buying classes. This was also why they were worthy of being called Martial Artists, as they had the style of grand masters, bright and aboveboard.

The Martial Arts seed in Lu Chenzhou's heart was growing robustly.

He too wanted to become a true Martial Artist!

Martial Arts meant faith, principles, and truth!

Seeing there was still time left in the lesson, Lu Chenzhou had already mastered the Pile Skill of the Middle Strike Acupoint, and next was the Water Milling Technique. So Ji Xuantong thought for a moment and said:

"With the remaining time, let me give you some other pointers. I know you've learned the Black Tiger Fist; there's no need to rush into learning Flying Swallow Martial Arts Hall's 'Swallow Return Fist'—don't bite off more than you can chew. I suggest you use all thirty lesson hours on new Acupoint Pile Skill guidance. Most inferior Martial Arts are available as videos on the official Martial Arts Association website, and some cheap fist technique trainers can teach them as well... Come, show me the Black Tiger Fist."

"Alright, Teacher."

Lu Chenzhou also wanted to get advice from an expert on his Black Tiger Fist, as he had primarily self-taught from videos after learning from a cheap coach.

He immediately executed his full repertoire of the fist routine.

After watching, Ji Xuantong nodded slightly in approval:

"Not bad, very proficient. I heard from your father that you learned this at a combat gym in just three months without the guidance of a famous teacher, and personally, I think you are no less talented than the ordinary students in those Martial Arts schools."

"Teacher flatters me; my older Martial Sister also often gives me pointers."

"You are humble. Ji Xuantong likes straightforward people; no need to be so modest."

Only he had the right to speak in such a way about a Seventh Rank practitioner at the Power Transformation Realm.

Lu Chenzhou said:

"Teacher, I understand."

Ji Xuantong continued:

"Watch closely as I execute the Black Tiger Fist; where do I differ from you? Then you can perform it a few times for me, and I'll see how good your comprehension is."

"Alright, Teacher... but the class is about to end."

"No worries, the rest won't be charged. It's on the house."

Lu Chenzhou thanked Ji Xuantong.

He knew his displayed talent was already bearing fruit. The next step would be to use it as leverage to knock on the doors of Pingjiang Martial Arts University and enter an even bigger stage.

Ji Xuantong truly deserved to be known as the one who broke the First Shackles.

His true strength was in the Swallow Form, which belongs to the Elephant Form martial lineage, yet his mastery of the Tiger Form far surpassed that of the bald coach.

In the realm of a Martial Artist, with the basic Martial Arts of the Elephant Form lineage master one technique, and you could comprehend many; a mastery that evoked envy.

Lu Chenzhou watched carefully and then performed it again for Ji Xuantong to see.

Ji Xuantong continuously pointed out the flaws and defects in his fist technique. Unnoticed, two hours had passed in the Martial Arts Room, essentially getting two lessons for the price of one.

Not until the next member who had booked a lesson knocked on the door did their session come to an end.

Ji Xuantong seemed reluctant to stop.

Looking at the noticeably improved Lu Chenzhou, he coughed and said:

"You can go now. Today was the first lesson, so I was not strict with the time, but from now on, when time is up, you can just leave... unless I ask you to stay."

Lu Chenzhou felt a bit awkward.

"The student understands!"

Leaving the Martial Arts Room, he looked at the Martial Arts Tree panel.

[Black Tiger Fist: Proficient (51%) → Proficient (58%)]

"An hour of instruction from Master Ji equates to several days of my own practice. The ancients say, great teachers produce great students; it is indeed true. The children of great Martial Artists naturally have a head start, with good 'root bone;' it's no wonder there are Martial Artists as young as eighteen,"

Some people say that even in modern Da Xia, Martial Arts Families and influential clans still covertly dominate, and Lu Chenzhou felt there might be some truth to it.