30: Chapter 30 Cultivating Body Techniques

Du Fei's voice was not loud, drowned out by the clamor of the banquet. Except for the few people beside him, no one heard it.

But the few Senior students beside him heard it clearly and immediately perked up.

"Exactly! What kind of Genius is that kid? Compared to Senior Brother Du, he's nothing!"

"Senior Brother Du is our martial arts hall's number one Genius!"

"That's right. Senior Brother Du is now at the Peak of the First-Rank Martial Artist Realm, just one step away from the Second Rank. His strength must be nearing two thousand catties, right?"

"He is definitely a role model for our generation, unmatched by anyone!"

The few Senior students chimed in one after another, singing Du Fei's praises.

Du Fei felt pleased inside, but he feigned humility and waved his hand:

"Oh, you all are too kind. How could I be the number one Genius? The number one Genius is our martial arts hall's Senior Sister Chen Yu. However..."

He paused, glanced at Lin Tian in the distance, and the corner of his mouth curled into a sneer:

"While I may not be the best, I am still much stronger than some bumpkins."

The group burst into laughter, their gazes turning toward Lin Tian.

Unfortunately, Lin Tian was too far away and had no idea that anyone was talking about him.

At this moment, Lin Tian was worrying about how to handle this banquet.

Master Huang was too enthusiastic, pulling him around to make introductions. This Senior Brother, that Senior—after a full circle, his face was stiff from smiling. Having finally endured until the banquet ended, he let out a sigh of relief and prepared to slip away.

"Lin Tian, wait a moment." Huang Yuanshan called out to him.

Lin Tian was stunned: "Master Huang, is there something else?"

Huang Yuanshan walked over and smiled:

"You've learned quite a bit of fist techniques, but you haven't learned any footwork yet, right? Next, it's time to teach you some footwork."

Lin Tian's eyes lit up.

Footwork!

In combat, the importance of footwork is no less than that of fist techniques. It can be used to pursue enemies or to flee for one's life. To some extent, footwork is even more important than fist techniques.

Fist techniques contain footwork, but that is only to complement the strikes. He had never learned specialized footwork before.

"Master Huang, what kind of footwork are you going to teach?" Lin Tian asked hurriedly.

"Wind-Chasing Footwork," Huang Yuanshan said. "Gather at the Training Ground early tomorrow morning. I will hold a special class; you should all come and listen."

Lin Tian was overjoyed and nodded quickly:

"Thank you, Master Huang!"

That night, Lin Tian did not return to Sifang Pavilion and stayed at the martial arts hall instead.

Early the next morning, he arrived at the Training Ground.

Over twenty people had already arrived on the field, both Senior and new students, all there to learn footwork. Liu Yunfeng was also there; seeing Lin Tian, he smiled and waved.

Huang Yuanshan stood in the middle of the field with his hands behind his back.

Once everyone had arrived, he spoke:

"Today, I will teach you the Wind-Chasing Footwork. This footwork emphasizes lightness and speed. When cultivated to a deep level, it is like a gale passing through, chasing the wind and pursuing lightning. Watch closely."

As his voice fell, he moved.

With a shift of his feet, he transformed into a blurry afterimage, darting rapidly across the field. Left, right, forward, backward—his speed was astonishing. The crowd only felt a blur before their eyes, and he had already circled the field three times, returning to his original position.

"So fast!"

"Too fast! I can't see clearly at all!"

The crowd exclaimed repeatedly.

Huang Yuanshan finished his technique and stood still, his expression unchanged:

"This is only the entry-level Realm. True experts can execute this more than ten times faster than I can. Now, I will teach you step by step."

He began to explain the footwork and essentials of the Wind-Chasing Footwork in detail.

Everyone listened intently, especially Lin Tian, who didn't dare to blink.

His talent was average, and he learned things slowly, so he could only rely on listening carefully and remembering diligently.

In the crowd, Du Fei was also present.

He had already learned the Wind-Chasing Footwork long ago; today, he came just to see exactly how talented Lin Tian was.

In his view, the stronger the talent, the faster one learns. He had only watched it three times back then and memorized all the steps of the Wind-Chasing Footwork. How many times would it take for this Lin Tian, whom Master Huang praised to the heavens, to memorize it?

If within three times, he would consider his talent equivalent to his own. If it took more than three times, then he was inferior to him.

A few Senior students nearby were also whispering:

"Guess, how many times will it take that kid to memorize it?"

"Five times, maybe? After all, Master Huang praised him so much."

"I think eight times. I heard about the Sun Hao incident; that kid's fist techniques are indeed powerful, but footwork and fist techniques are two different things."

"Just wait and see."

After teaching the first time, Huang Yuanshan paused to let everyone digest the information.

"If there is anything you don't understand, you may ask," he said.

A few new students raised their hands and asked about some details. Huang Yuanshan answered them one by one.

After a while, he began to teach the second time.

The second time was a bit slower than the first, with every movement broken down and explained.

After teaching the second time, he stopped again.

Then came the third time.

After three times, Huang Yuanshan asked:

"Raise your hand if you have memorized it?"

Everyone looked at each other, and not a single person raised their hand.

The Wind-Chasing Footwork's steps were complex, consisting of seventy-two steps, along with various techniques for turning, leaping, and dodging. Trying to memorize it in three times was too difficult.

Huang Yuanshan was not surprised. His gaze swept over the crowd and finally landed on Lin Tian:

"Lin Tian, have you memorized it?"

As Huang Yuanshan's voice fell, everyone's gaze turned toward Lin Tian.

Du Fei stood in the crowd, staring fixedly at Lin Tian, feeling inexplicably nervous.

Memorized? If he memorized it in three times, then his talent would be the same as his own.

Lin Tian shook his head and said honestly: "No, I only memorized a small half."

Du Fei breathed a sigh of relief, and the corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily.

That's it? Only memorized a small half after three times? His talent was clearly inferior to his own.

Huang Yuanshan nodded, said nothing, and continued to teach the fourth time.

The fourth time, the fifth time, the sixth time...

Huang Yuanshan demonstrated it over and over, never tiring. The crowd followed along and practiced repeatedly, watching a few more times if they couldn't remember.

Until he finished the eighth time, Huang Yuanshan looked at the sky and said:

"That is all for today. I will teach the rest tomorrow. You all go back and digest this well; we will continue tomorrow."

Having said that, he turned and left.

The crowd dispersed, discussing as they walked.

"Have you memorized it?"

"I've memorized about seventy or eighty percent; two more times tomorrow and it should be complete."

"How about you?"

"I'm about the same."

Someone asked Lin Tian: "Junior Brother Lin, how much have you memorized?"

Lin Tian thought for a moment: "I haven't memorized it all yet."

Everyone thought he was being modest and didn't ask further.

The next day, at the Training Ground.

Huang Yuanshan taught it another five times. Adding the five times from yesterday, it was exactly ten times.

After ten times, most people had memorized all the steps. Lin Tian also, at the end of the tenth time, finally firmly engraved the seventy-two steps in his mind.

He let out a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face.

Finally memorized it.

After the crowd dispersed, Lin Tian found a secluded corner and began to practice on his own.

Wind-Chasing Footwork, first time.

Starting step, shifting step, turning... He forgot the next step after just a few moves and stood there stunned. He thought about it and started over.

The second time was slightly better, but still awkward.

The third time, the fourth time...

Practicing over and over, stumbling along, he finally managed to complete it once.

[Wind-Chasing Footwork Proficiency + 1]

[Current Proficiency: 1/100]

Lin Tian's eyes lit up.

Great! As long as I keep practicing, I will be able to reach the entry level.

He put away his stance, wiped his sweat, and his face was full of joy.

Not far away, Du Fei had appeared by the wall at some point, arms crossed, looking at Lin Tian with a speechless expression.

Took ten times to memorize it, and practicing so clumsily, yet he can still smile?

Is this the Genius Master Huang was talking about?

He rolled his eyes, shook his head, and turned to leave.

I thought he was a powerful competitor; it turns out he's just a fool. Watching any longer would be a pure waste of time.

Lin Tian found Huang Yuanshan and told him that he could now fully perform the Wind-Chasing Footwork.

Huang Yuanshan nodded, pondered for a moment, and said:

"In the future, come back once every ten days or half a month to spar with your fellow Disciples. Don't always coop yourself up in Sifang Pavilion."

He paused and continued:

"Although Sifang Pavilion is quiet and gives you time to Cultivate, just practicing on your own is not enough. On the path of the Dao of Martial Arts, you must not only practice but also spar frequently. Only by fighting different people can you discover your own shortcomings and make progress."

Lin Tian listened attentively and nodded:

"This Disciple will remember."

Huang Yuanshan patted his shoulder: "Go on."

Returning to Sifang Pavilion, Lin Tian began his frantic Cultivation.

Every day, he woke up before dawn, first practicing the Five Elements Stance, then the Metal Element Fist, in the afternoon the Wood Element Fist, and in the evening the Wind-Chasing Footwork. When tired, he would drink the body strengthening soup, rest for a while, and continue practicing.

[Wind-Chasing Footwork Proficiency + 1]

[Five Elements Stance Proficiency + 1]

[Metal Element Fist Proficiency + 1]

[Wood Element Fist Proficiency + 1]

The System's notification sounds were constant, day after day.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.

Lin Tian stood in the courtyard and called up the System panel:

[Name: Lin Tian]

[Realm: First-Rank Martial Artist (Middle Stage)]

[Martial Arts: Five Elements Stance (Major Achievement) 103/1000]

[Metal Element Fist (Major Achievement) 106/1000]

[Wood Element Fist (Proficient) 496/500]

[Wind-Chasing Footwork (Minor Achievement) 3/300]

[Strength: Approximately 1,600 catties]

The Wind-Chasing Footwork had finally reached the entry level, and then advanced straight to Minor Achievement.

He took a deep breath, and his body moved.

His footwork unfolded, and his entire body darted out like a gust of wind, reaching the other end of the courtyard in the blink of an eye. His speed was more than twice as fast as it had been half a month ago.

Lin Tian stopped, a look of satisfaction appearing in his eyes.

With this footwork, he could advance and retreat while fighting, greatly increasing his advantage.

He remembered Master Huang's words—to spar more with his fellow Disciples.

Just right, time to go back for a visit.

Lin Tian tidied up, asked Manager Zhou for leave, left Sifang Pavilion, and headed toward the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall.