237: Chapter 234 Like a rifle with a recoil bar still inside the barrel

Li Changsheng was almost left speechless by Zhang Zhao.

This guy was like a mille-feuille, playing a game of Russian nesting dolls here.

Layer after layer, as if he were terrified of outsiders knowing he practiced Taiji, and with such high attainment at that!

Li Changsheng felt that if Elder Zhang were here, he would likely be even more shocked.

Because the old man hadn't noticed this guy's concealment back then; after all, it was hidden too deeply, and his exterior was extremely deceptive. Without this display, it would have been truly difficult to judge.

"There's also a sense of ever-changing variations, containing certain Daoist concepts... Bagua? Then that's right, Sun Style Tai Chi!"

Li Changsheng exhaled softly. For a martial artist, if the opponent has already shown a move and they can't promptly identify the style, it means their own skills aren't up to par, which would be quite embarrassing.

"Luckily, I've been cramming knowledge in this area lately."

Li Changsheng sighed softly. Zhang Zhao's moves were layered one within another; even some veterans of Traditional Martial Arts would struggle to see the clues in a short time.

"It's just that this hand technique is quite strange. When he strikes, his five fingers undergo variations like flat, straight, horizontal, circular, and hooked. It seems Taiji doesn't have this kind of routine, does it?"

Li Changsheng was truly annoyed by why his observations were so meticulous.

"It looks a bit like some Xiao Kaimen techniques from Zhejiang Province. Is this Zhang Zhao playing 'Super Brain' with me?"

If it weren't for the inappropriate setting, Li Changsheng would have gone straight up to ask, or even requested a spar.

This guy was really something else.

Looking around, he saw that Kenneth had been the first to choose the speed test and was already busy to the side.

Li Changsheng also paced over to Zhang Zhao's side.

"Xingyi and Baji Quan, Li Changsheng. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Zhang. We've crossed paths once before; I wonder if Mr. Zhang still remembers?"

Li Changsheng simply decided to ask Zhang Zhao directly.

For a martial artist, discovering an unclear style and not figuring it out is truly uncomfortable, let alone for a martial fanatic like Li Changsheng.

Zhang Zhao seemed to have been prepared as well. He cupped his fists and said, "Gu Clan Iron Sand Sect, Zhang Zhao! Pleased to meet you!"

Hearing this, Li Changsheng was somewhat speechless; this guy was still putting on an act.

"Mr. Li, do you have something for me?"

"Yes, there are a few things I don't understand, and I hope Mr. Zhang can enlighten me."

The other party was playing dumb, but Li Changsheng asked anyway.

If it were an ordinary technique, he wouldn't have bothered asking; at worst, he could slowly browse through records and classics later and would eventually find something.

But Zhang Zhao's power delivery just now owed a great deal to that hand technique, which acted as a key factor. It made Zhang Zhao's palm force drill into the tester like a screw.

The Silk Reeling Power has some effect, but it's nowhere near this astonishing.

"Please speak, Mr. Li."

"It's just..."

Li Changsheng described the hand technique he had just seen in detail and mentioned his guesses.

"Because this technique of yours looks somewhat similar to the Silk Reeling Power of Chen-style Tai Chi, yet it has fundamental differences. Furthermore, your power delivery method leans more toward Sun Style Tai Chi, while the hand technique is somewhat similar to some Xiao Kaimen boxing styles from Zhejiang Province."

"So I am currently very confused. What exactly is this technique? And which boxing style does it originate from?"

Zhang Zhao listened quietly, and a hint of astonishment couldn't help but appear in his originally calm gaze.

"Phew! Mr. Li, after seeing your superb hidden weapon technique just now, I thought you were an expert in that field and might know some Traditional Martial Arts, but not much. Looking at it now, Mr. Li is actually a grandmaster of boxing."

This was Zhang Zhao's honest opinion. It was rare for someone to see the subtlety of his palm strike at a glance. Experience was the first hurdle, followed by having a high level of boxing attainment oneself; otherwise, without sufficient vision, one wouldn't see anything at all.

"The feeling is mutual. Mr. Zhang also left me greatly shocked earlier."

The two of them engaged in a round of mutual flattery.

"Mr. Li, actually your vision and analysis are quite correct. This technique of mine is indeed found in the Xiao Kaimen boxing styles of Zhejiang Province. However, theirs was transplanted from folk traditions."

"But other than that, you won't find a single trace of information about this technique of mine in any classics or even in the comprehensive collections of martial arts records."

Hearing this, Li Changsheng was somewhat startled. He hadn't expected this seemingly simple technique to be so rare.

To reach this level of secrecy was equivalent to 'the law not being passed to six ears'; it was a secret treasure passed down orally only to direct descendants within various sects.

"Although I obtained this technique from Elder Gu's lineage, the true source is Elder Sun, Sun Lutang."

The name of this technique is the Swastika Hand."

"Swastika Hand?"

Hearing this, Li Changsheng was indeed a bit puzzled. He truly hadn't seen this in the martial arts compilation books he'd read; there was no introduction to it at all.

Furthermore, it originated from Elder Sun, yet no books described it, which showed that the Swastika Hand was indeed a secret transmission.

But how did it end up in the hands of Elder Gu, Gu Ruzhang?

Seeming to perceive the doubt in Li Changsheng's heart, Zhang Zhao said calmly, "Elder Gu once studied martial arts under Sun Lutang, Yu Zhensheng, and Li Jinglin."

So obtaining this secret transmission is strange yet logical, but I will not pass this skill on to outsiders.

The reason the Gu Clan lineage was willing to teach it to me, an outsider, was thanks to my grandfather's connections."

Zhang Zhao shook his head. He could see that Li Changsheng was very interested in the Swastika Hand, but naturally, he wouldn't share such a method.

Li Changsheng wasn't surprised either. The mere fact that there were few descriptions of it in the outside world showed its preciousness; it would be strange if it were shared.

"Could you tell me more about this so-called Swastika Hand?"

As Li Changsheng spoke, he also explained, "Of course, if it's a hassle, then never mind."

Zhang Zhao glanced at Li Changsheng. Seeming to feel that there were only the two of them from the Traditional Martial Arts community here, he still said calmly, "The so-called Swastika Hand..."

"Elder Sun Lutang once said that Taiji has the Swastika Hand, which is like the rifling in a gun barrel, or an arrow on a drawn string. With persistent and gradual progress, the power and Qi will inevitably be hidden within; when moved and released, it is unstoppable."

The greatest benefit of the Swastika Hand lies in the fact that it allows one to master Hidden Power faster."

Saying this, Zhang Zhao paused, looked at Li Changsheng's wrist, and then continued:

"You're an expert, so you should know that to see if someone has learned boxing or possesses Hidden Power, you have to look at the outer side of their wrist to see if there's a protruding tendon. The higher the tendon protrudes, the higher their skill."

"As the boxing classics say: 'When the tendons and meridians grow by an inch, the strength grows by a thousand catties.'"

"And with the Swastika Hand, those who achieve success will naturally have a protruding tendon at the wrist; thus, Hidden Power forms of its own accord."

"When the power is released, there are five basic variations—flat, straight, horizontal, circular, and intersecting—along with eight-sided spirals. It's like Silk Reeling Power yet different. The palm is like a Dharma Wheel, capable of both offense and defense with infinite variations."

"The power is even more penetrative, just like a screw that can drill into anything, no matter how hard."