42: Chapter 42 Combination Attack Technique

He did not perform the complete Five Elements Fist routine, but instead dismantled and simplified certain Moves from the Metal Element Fist and Wood Element Fist, then connected and combined them with a unique rhythm and method of exerting force.

At times, he used the soft, coiling force of the Wood Element Fist to block and neutralize force. Almost in the same instant, that force, having been neutralized or deflected, was used via the rotation of his waist to transform into the unstoppable straight thrust or collapsing punch of the Metal Element Fist, launching a counterattack that was smooth and natural, as if it were meant to be that way.

At other times, he used the sharp, aggressive advance of the Metal Element Fist to forcibly open up the situation. Before his force was spent, his footwork was already as steady as the roots of an old tree, and the defense and subsequent hidden force of the Wood Element Fist followed like a shadow, sealing off all of the opponent's retreats and changes.

This was not a new set of fist Moves, but a more advanced combat philosophy and technique for utilizing force.

It was built on the foundation that at least two fist techniques had already reached the level of Major Achievement, utilizing the principles of the Five Elements' generation and restriction, and the conversion of force to connect different Fist Intents and forces in a cycle, forming an endless offensive and defensive stance that combined hardness and softness. Its power was by no means as simple as one plus one equals two.

Lin Tian held his breath, his eyes unblinking, staring fixedly at the Hall Master's every subtle movement, especially the trembling of muscles during the conversion of force, the faint trajectory of Qi and blood circulation, and the mysterious harmony between the footwork and the fist stance.

The Proficiency System in his mind seemed to be operating at full capacity as well, constantly dismantling, analyzing, and imprinting the scenes he saw.

"So that's it! The Wood force neutralizing force is not just about simple dissipation; it can also be temporarily stored, using the momentum to transform into a Metal force thrust, which is energy-efficient and fierce!"

"When the Metal force's strong attack is blocked, there is no need to clash head-on; one can go with the flow and transform into the Wood force's coiling and infiltration, seeking gaps to advance again!"

"The footwork is the pivot; it must be synchronized with the conversion of the Fist Intent to be smooth and unobstructed!"

Various realizations flashed through his mind like sparks.

In the past, when he practiced the Metal Element Fist and Wood Element Fist, although he had reached Major Achievement, he mostly performed them separately, or chose one based on the situation in actual combat.

At this moment, seeing the Combined Attack Technique demonstrated by the Hall Master seemed to open another door for him, allowing him to see the possibility of truly merging the two fist techniques that had already reached Major Achievement into one!

The prospect of multiplied power and infinite variations made his heart pound, and uncontrollable joy surged in his heart.

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng finished the demonstration, withdrew his stance, and stood still. His breath was as steady as before as he looked at Lin Tian.

Lin Tian, however, still stood where he was, his eyes slightly closed, his brows occasionally furrowing and then relaxing. His hands were unconsciously making light gestures in front of him, clearly still immersed in what he had just seen and realized, completely unaware of the outside world.

Seeing this, a trace of appreciation flashed in Hall Master Chen Qingfeng's eyes. He did not disturb him and waited quietly.

A true Genius not only learns quickly but must also be able to "comprehend" and "transform."

About the time it takes for a cup of tea, Lin Tian suddenly opened his eyes and let out a long breath of stale air. The breath even left a faint white trace in the air.

His eyes shone with brilliance, and he couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice: "Wonderful! So the essence of the way of coordination lies in the timing of the force conversion and the connection of the 'Intent,' not in the simple stacking of Moves!"

"It seems you truly understand." Hall Master Chen Qingfeng showed a gratified smile on his face. "Do you have a plan in your heart on how to coordinate them?"

Lin Tian nodded vigorously, cupped his hands, and said: "This Disciple understands! Thank you, Hall Master, for the instruction!"

"It is good that you understand." Hall Master Chen Qingfeng's smile faded slightly, and his tone turned serious. "However, Lin Tian, you must remember that this technique of Five Elements Fist force coordination and continuous generation is one of the core secret traditions of our Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall. Ordinary Disciples and even some Elders have no chance to see it. Today, I am passing it to you because of your exceptional talent and the fact that you have practiced both fist techniques to Major Achievement. This technique must never be privately taught to others, and even more so, you must not easily reveal all its essentials outside, lest it be seen through and targeted by those with ill intentions. Do you understand?"

"This Disciple understands! I will definitely keep it a secret and will never pass it on!" Lin Tian straightened his expression and responded solemnly.

He knew well the principle that holding a treasure is a crime; if such a technique that could significantly increase combat power were leaked, it would cause no small amount of trouble.

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng was satisfied with this. He stepped forward, patted Lin Tian on the shoulder, and said earnestly: "Little guy, with your talent, as long as you don't take any wrong turns, your future achievements will be limitless. Our Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall will certainly Cultivate you with all our strength."

He paused slightly, looking into Lin Tian's clear and firm eyes, and decided to speak clearly: "As for the matter of the Imperial Guard quota... I know you have high aspirations and must have your heart set on it. But there are some things I must say upfront. Breaking through to the Second Grade in half a year is indeed too tight a schedule for you. The improvement of cultivation, especially the accumulation of Qi and blood and the strengthening of internal breath, cannot be achieved quickly by Comprehension Ability alone; it requires the grinding effort of water dripping through stone. Even if you don't get your wish this time, do not be discouraged or lose heart, as that would damage your Dao Heart for martial arts. The future is long; with your aptitude, if you improve steadily in the Martial Arts Hall, your future will still be bright. Do you remember that?"

He was giving Lin Tian a "precautionary shot" in advance, to prevent this young Genius from having expectations that were too high, so that if he really failed, the blow wouldn't be too great and cause him to collapse.

"I will keep the Hall Master's teachings in my heart." Lin Tian nodded again, his attitude respectful. His heart, however, was calm, even a little amused. To others, going from the Late Stage of the First Grade to the Second Grade in half a year was as difficult as ascending to heaven, but for him, with the Proficiency System in hand, as long as resources kept up and he cultivated without stopping, those cold progress numbers would steadily Move forward, and a Breakthrough was just a matter of time. Sweat and time? He would certainly pay no less than others, but the efficiency would be something others could not imagine.

Seeing that Lin Tian could listen to advice and that his expression was calm without any signs of stubbornness or unwillingness, Hall Master Chen Qingfeng was even more satisfied in his heart, feeling that this child's Heart-Nature was also of superior quality. His smile reappeared, and his tone became even more kindly: "Good! If you can think this way, I am relieved. In your future cultivation, if you have any questions, whether about the Five Elements Fist or anything else, you can come to find me at any time. I will certainly resolve your doubts."

Leaving the Hall Master's study, Lin Tian did not linger in the Martial Arts Hall and went straight back to Sifang Pavilion.

In the courtyard of the quiet room, he closed his eyes and focused, repeatedly replaying every detail of the Hall Master's demonstration of the Combined Attack Technique in his mind. The mysterious feeling of the flow of force and the connection of the Fist Intent became increasingly clear.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, stood with his feet in a non-standard stance, and started with the Metal Element Fist Move "Spearing the Dragon." His punch was like a spear, with astonishing sharpness!

But just as the momentum of the punch was about to end, he twisted his waist, and his footwork turned subtly like the roots of an old tree. That unstoppable sharp Metal force did not completely dissipate but, following a special method of force exertion, naturally transformed into the coiling, soft force of the Wood Element Fist's "Green Vine Coiling the Tree." The fist stance changed from extremely hard to extremely soft, from a straight thrust to a circling motion, covering the space in front of him.

Immediately after, the coiling soft force gathered power again, and as he exhaled and called out, it suddenly burst forth, transforming back into the even more explosive "Mountain Collapsing Stance" of the Metal Element Fist, striking out with a boom!

"Boom—!"

The sturdy rockery in the courtyard, which was used for landscaping and was half a person tall, was hit right at its core by this fist that combined hardness and softness and stacked chain reactions! Accompanied by a dull, loud noise, the rockery immediately fell apart, countless fragments of stone shot out, scattered all over the ground with a clatter, and dust filled the air.

"Hiss..." Lin Tian himself drew a sharp breath. Looking at the mess on the ground and feeling the power and the satisfying sense of force operation coming from his fist, which far exceeded performing either fist technique alone, the joy in his heart was indescribable.

The power of this Combined Attack Technique was even three parts stronger than he had expected!

"What's going on? What was that sound?" The courtyard door was pushed open violently, and the Fat Storekeeper of Sifang Pavilion ran in, panting, with a look of panic on his face.

When he saw the broken stones all over the ground and Lin Tian standing proudly in the middle of the courtyard, his aura not yet fully settled, he was instantly stunned, his mouth open wide enough to fit an egg.

"It's nothing, I got carried away while practicing my fist techniques and didn't control my strength well." Lin Tian restrained his aura, slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, and said with a slight apology.

"Young, Young Master Lin... your fist technique..." The Fat Storekeeper pointed at the broken stones on the ground, stuttering, his eyes full of shock. Although he was not a Martial Artist, he had managed Sifang Pavilion for many years and still had some discernment. That rockery was made of high-quality Qinggang stone, which was exceptionally hard, and now it had been smashed to pieces! What kind of fierce and ingenious fist force must this be? This Young Master Lin's strength had probably improved terrifically compared to the time of the fist-fighting competition!

"Have someone come and clean this up, and put the cost on my tab." Lin Tian instructed.

"Yes, yes, yes, I will arrange it right away!" The Fat Storekeeper came back to his senses and quickly agreed, his awe of Lin Tian increasing by ten points in his heart. He hurriedly called over a few nimble-handed shop assistants to quickly clean up the courtyard.

Once the courtyard was restored to cleanliness, Lin Tian calmed his mind again to experience it. He discovered that after the Hall Master's guidance and performing this Combined Attack Technique, when he practiced the Metal Element Fist or Wood Element Fist alone again, his understanding and control of the force seemed to be a bit more refined, and the operation of the fist techniques was also more smooth and rounded. With a thought, he looked at the Proficiency, and sure enough, he found that the acquisition efficiency seemed to have a slight, almost imperceptible increase compared to before!

"Sure enough, standing on high ground can conversely promote the consolidation of the foundation!" Lin Tian was excited in his heart. This Combined Attack Technique not only directly increased combat power but also helped the progress of the fist techniques themselves; it was truly an unexpected joy.

In the following days, Lin Tian cultivated even more crazily. He spent most of his time every day in the quiet room of Sifang Pavilion, bitterly practicing the Five Elements Stance and rehearsing the Combined Attack Technique of the fist techniques. At the same time, he also began to frequently go to the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall. After all, they were both in Heishan City, so travel was convenient, and order still existed in the city, so those old dogs from the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall only dared to watch and did not dare to openly make a Move. He requested to see Hall Master Chen Qingfeng again. This time, he wanted to ask for advice on the further essentials of the "Wind-Chasing Footwork." Footwork was the foundation of saving one's life and was also the key to dealing with strong enemies and maneuvering around; after seeing the wonder of the combined fist techniques, he became increasingly eager to improve his footwork.