236: Chapter 233 I didn't expect you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes...

Zhang Zhao had already arrived in front of the testing machine. His expression was calm, lacking the sharp intensity he had when he first came to challenge the gym.

Shedding his black Tang Suit jacket to reveal the white short tunic underneath, he rolled up his sleeves, displaying his thick right arm.

Though Zhang Zhao's arm was thick, his muscles weren't particularly defined. A layer of fat, neither too thick nor too thin, covered the surface, making his arm look stout without showing too much muscle definition.

Looking closely, one could see numerous calluses from his palm to his wrist and arm. This was the result of years of practicing Iron Sand Palm and stir-frying iron sand.

With a bit of exertion, his palm took on a redness that was clearly different from that of an ordinary person.

Aside from Li Changsheng, Kanai Shuichi and Kenneth were actually starting to get a bit impatient.

After all, they only saw Zhang Zhao gesturing and pacing, which looked quite sluggish.

But Li Changsheng watched with a hint of surprise.

"This Zhang Zhao's kung fu really isn't as simple as it appears on the surface."

One must know that in the true legacy of Traditional Martial Arts, there is a saying: the arms grow from the hips!

To judge whether a person truly has skill and understands the essence of power generation, one must look at their subtle movements.

The scapula is the root of the arm, just as the pelvis is the root of the leg.

For those in sub-optimal health who sit in chairs and work for long periods, the root of the arm is at the shoulder joint, and the root of the leg is at the femoral head.

But for those who practice kung fu correctly, they will make their scapulae 'alive.' Otherwise, if the muscles and tendons are stiff, the scapulae will be stuck to the spine, just as the pelvis would be stuck to the sacrum.

What is the significance of the scapula dropping onto the hip? On the surface, it means the power is unified and great. But the internal significance is even greater: it is the Mind returning to the Dantian.

When the true intent of the Dantian emerges, one will inevitably return to simplicity.

As far as Li Changsheng knew, those who practiced meditation, such as Internal Alchemy Meditation or other forms of sitting meditation, understood that at a certain stage, hallucinations appear during meditation.

One sees many things. Many people become obsessed with this, thinking they have succeeded in visualization. These phenomena are all illusions created by the mind. Whoever becomes obsessed will die quickly; it is equivalent to Qi Deviation.

Bringing the arms into the hips is equivalent to incorporating them.

Once incorporated, it is equivalent to eliminating restlessness; the 'Mind Monkey' within will no longer be restless and will gradually return to the original heart.

From this, it was clear that Zhang Zhao was not just a brute who only knew Hard Qigong.

"True, Iron Sand Palm, such as that of the Gu Clan Lineage, is originally a discipline of both internal and external cultivation. It's just that most of what outsiders learn—those not from the Gu Clan's orthodox line—are only external routines and training methods, lacking the internal work to guide them.

They don't realize that internal and external cultivation is the essence of the Gu Clan Iron Sand Palm. His attainment in the Gu Clan Iron Sand Palm is very deep. And there even seems to be a shadow of Internal Martial Arts mixed in."

Li Changsheng pondered silently. Zhang Zhao's appearance was quite deceptive; without this insight, he really would have been blinded by that coarse exterior.

Zhang Zhao moved around a bit before finally settling into a stance, preparing to strike.

His movements were very slow. His feet were in a Ding-Ba Step, hands together in front of his chest, palms facing up. His five fingers suddenly pressed down, and he struck out with a fierce palm.

The slowness before gave a sense of floating, but in the next instant, his speed was like a bullet leaving the chamber. Boom! The air let out a blast like the roar of a cannonball.

Accompanied by a dull thud of impact, this latest model of the punch testing machine, which likely weighed no less than a thousand jin itself, seemed to tremble.

Looking closely, one could clearly see that the area where the palm landed—the metal plate behind the sensing device—seemed to vibrate rhythmically, shaking off a thin layer of dust.

The palm's force penetrated the first layer of foam, the sensing device, the springs underneath, and even the several-centimeter-thick steel plate at the very bottom!

The testing machine's screen began to flash values frantically before finally stopping at 1210 lbs.

Converting 1210 lbs, that was nearly 657 kg of force.

When this number appeared, both Kanai Shuichi and Kenneth were stunned where they stood.

Especially Kanai Shuichi; he had originally wanted to test his own destructive power, but at this moment, he felt there was no longer any need for him to test.

"Everyone, please don't be too alarmed. Mr. Zhang's result actually far exceeds our requirements. Generally speaking, as long as it's over 1000 lbs, you are considered to have passed."

Anya quickly explained with a smile.

However, Kanai Shuichi felt that this explanation was no different from no explanation at all.

What did a 1000-lb punch even mean?

It was equivalent to a height that 99.9% of heavyweight professional boxers could never reach.

For an average professional boxer, a punch weighing around 200 lbs is already considered to have the ability to knock out opponents.

Of course, heavyweights are different; with higher body fat, their ability to take a hit also increases accordingly.

Tyson, as a top-tier heavyweight champion, had a punch of over 800 lbs, which already made him a heavy hitter among boxers.

"Mr. Zhang currently holds the highest force test record here. However, in some laboratories in the US, it is said the highest recorded force is 1291 lbs for a single punch. Of course, even so, Mr. Zhang is ranked second,"

Anya said with a smile.

(1291 lbs—I checked the data; it was recorded by a professional lab with a professional heavy hitter, and is basically the heaviest punch currently recorded for a human.)

Hearing this, Kanai Shuichi couldn't help but roll his eyes, while Kenneth, who was standing to the side, had already relaxed.

What did power have to do with him, a sprinter?

"So now, what are your choices?"

Anya looked at the three of them, her gaze focusing primarily on Li Changsheng.

Because of his previous performance, she was now looking forward to what stunning display this Mr. Li would give next.

However, Li Changsheng seemed oblivious, staring in Zhang Zhao's direction, lost in thought.

Hidden Force, it's definitely Hidden Force!

Li Changsheng was absolutely certain of this.

"Hidden Force, and he's even practiced it to a very deep level. But why does his Hidden Force have a hint of Taiji to it?"

Indeed, this was the point that confused Li Changsheng right now.

Zhang Zhao's strike just now was very fierce and powerful, but at the moment he struck, there was a bit of that 'Taiji has no fixed method; every movement is the method' vibe.

"The force of that palm strike has the skin of Iron Sand Palm on the outside, but if you cut it open, why is it full of the flavor of Taiji inside?

Taiji Silk Reeling Power?"

Li Changsheng's expression as he looked at Zhang Zhao became very strange.

He thought to himself, 'I thought you were an honest-looking fellow, but I didn't expect you to be so full of tricks on the inside.'

The feeling was very odd. It was as if a person was carrying two large axes on their back, making everyone think they were a crude brute, only for them to suddenly draw a soft sword from their waist and strike with elegant and graceful swordsmanship.

This guy has no martial ethics!

"Wait! No, it's not Silk Reeling Power!"

Suddenly, images regarding Silk Reeling Power flashed through Li Changsheng's mind.

The reason it left a deep impression was that besides being mentioned occasionally in books, the main reason was his previous exchange with Daoist Priest Chen Shixing.

Although Chen Shixing practiced orthodox Wudang Taiji, which has fundamental differences from the Silk Reeling Power of Chen-style Tai Chi, they still shared some similarities.

And this move of Zhang Zhao's had the feeling of Chen-style Tai Chi's Silk Reeling Power, yet it also possessed the form and spirit of Wudang Taiji.

"Still not quite right. It lacks the rigorous movement technique of Wudang; instead, the movements are more expansive and agile, with nimble actions. This... this... isn't this Sun Style Tai Chi?!"