Lu Ren didn’t mind; although he was quite sure the other party would not teach him anything too valuable, it was still a breakthrough, much better than having to stand on a stake for practice, which might take hundreds or even thousands of hours in the Dragon Elephant Rock Stream.
However, Lu Ren still bowed slightly and respectfully performed the disciple’s courtesy, saying, "Thank you, Master Li!"
Lu Ren’s politeness made Li Ziqing’s expression soften considerably. He nodded slightly and asked through a thick glass, "What do you currently know?"
Lu Ren replied, "Basic fist techniques and basic swordsmanship."
Li Ziqing didn’t show any response and simply said, "Show me your skills, let’s start with your fist techniques."
Lu Ren nodded, and immediately positioned himself, stabilizing his stance, and began performing the most basic fist and foot combat moves.
Three minutes later, Lu Ren stopped and looked at Li Ziqing.
Li Ziqing seemed a bit uninterested, then said, "Now show me your basic sword technique."
Lu Ren looked around, took the broomstick next to him, and started practicing.
Upon seeing Lu Ren’s first sword form, Li Ziqing snapped back to attention, unconsciously stood upright, and watched intently.
When the set of moves was finished, Lu Ren saluted, and Li Ziqing commented, "Your fist technique is quite poor, mixed with many unrefined moves, falling into modern combat techniques, but better than an average person, since you’ve surely put in three years of hard work. Your swordsmanship is quite good, entering a respectable level; you’ve got the feel of it."
With some regret, he said, "If you had requested guidance from a master specializing in weapons and swordsmanship before, you could have greatly benefited."
After a moment of thought, he asked, "Is swordsmanship your main focus?"
"But I only know fist techniques, and I am not very skilled in swordsmanship."
Li Ziqing rarely explained, "After all, this era is different from the past; fist techniques are more suitable for walking the world, which is why few pursue the sword path nowadays."
Lu Ren laughed, "It’s alright. As long as it’s martial arts, it’s fine. Besides, weapons are an extension of fist and foot techniques."
Kidding aside, fist techniques are fundamental, enhancing the physique and concentrating the spirit. The benefits from fist techniques can also improve basic swordsmanship.
"Good!" Li Ziqing rarely praised Lu Ren, then solemnly said, "The fist technique I practice was realized by observing the exotic beast Cyan Simurgh, it’s called Phoenix Wing Fist. It has been passed down since the From Yuan to Ming period, evolving through several transformations into today’s first-class boxing skill, now known as Phoenix Falcon Fist. If we must find a connection, it can be considered an art of the Taoist sect."
As he spoke, Li Ziqing took off his shirt, revealing a remarkably muscular upper body, with muscles that conveyed explosive strength with his every move.
"The essence of the Phoenix Falcon Fist lies in the mobilization of the shoulder neck muscles and the muscles of the back. It’s about bending the knees and sinking the waist, relaxing the shoulders and lifting the elbows, with force arising from the ground."
While speaking, Li Ziqing turned and faced away from Lu Ren, then slowly raised his arms, his exceptionally broad back muscles undulating slowly like a giant bird stretching its wings, with arms slowly waving like wings, leaving Lu Ren utterly amazed.
He never thought someone could achieve this level, one might say the movement of the other’s muscles gave Lu Ren an immensely powerful visual impact.
It was like Bruce Lee’s bat muscles, but Li Ziqing was even more exaggerated.
"Taking it a step further, it is like a Phoenix Falcon, gathering the will of the Martial Path, uniting form and spirit; this can be considered great mastery of boxing."
Li Ziqing’s eyes sharpened, his right hand turned into a fist like a beak, suddenly striking forward!
A sharp, cutting sound pierced the air, like a bird’s beak pecking, with formidable penetrative and destructive power.
If this punch landed on a human body, it would definitely leave a blood hole!
Then, Li Ziqing gave a soft shout.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!!
A continuous burst of slicing sounds filled the air, Li Ziqing’s arms blurring into motion, transforming seemingly into a pair of massive wings endlessly attacking, slicing through the air as Lu Ren could faintly see the air being transformed into white streams by high-speed friction flowing between his arms.
When Li Ziqing lowered his hands, white steam astonishingly rose and twisted around his arms, a result of his own sweat vaporizing from the heat generated by high-speed friction.
Inside, Lu Ren was deeply shaken, realizing the other’s power exceeded his by several levels.
Li Ziqing took a long breath, then stood up straight, looking at Lu Ren, he asked, "This is the fist technique I practice, the Phoenix Falcon, want to learn?"
Lu Ren, shamelessly eager, nodded heavily, "Yes, I want to learn!"
In the following days, Lu Ren learned very quickly, with a spirit score of ten allowing him to grasp the essence of the Phoenix Falcon Fist rapidly.
As his fist technique deepened in practice, Lu Ren finally understood the real difference between true boxing schools and real-life combat.
Even if Li Ziqing threw the boxing manual at Lu Ren, and had him practice from it, it would amount to nothing more than strengthening the body.
The real essence lies in the boxing schools’ focus and analyses by those wise predecessors, this is what’s most important: force techniques, training methods, breathing techniques, energizing pathways are the true transmissions.
One sentence of true transmission is worth a thousand books.
Lu Ren understood quickly, even becoming immersed, forgetting day and night, until two and a half months later, Li Ziqing, filled with emotion, looked at Lu Ren through the glass.
"You have great talent, though age might not be on your side, but as long as you persist and do not give up, you will surely achieve something. I have already taught you what should be taught; do you have any questions you’d like to ask?"
Although separated by a layer of glass, throughout these days together, Lu Ren had come to understand that the other was a typical man who was cold on the outside but warmhearted, moreover, because of his resonance with the Phoenix Falcon Fist, he had a great fondness for Lu Ren.
Offering a fist salute, he then asked, "Master Li, is breathing the essence of the fist technique?"
Li Ziqing answered, "Breathing is the core adjustment for a person. Persistence can enhance endurance, physical strength, improve body quality, and even trigger internal potential through adjustments to breathing, resulting in a temporary burst, but it is not the essence of the fist technique."
"It’s not? I heard breathing was the key to unlocking the limits of the human body." Lu Ren was stunned for a moment, as Yan Zhenghua had once told him breathing was the key to breaking the limits of the human body.
Li Ziqing was slightly silent, his face seemed a bit embarrassed.
"Ahem, of course not, while breathing techniques are a vital part of a boxing school, a crucial factor that cannot be absent, the truly important aspect is the spirit within the fist technique."
Li Ziqing explained, "Once your fist technique achieves great success and enters the realm of perfection, only spiritual elevation can transform your body."
Pausing for a moment, Li Ziqing frowned, "As you are barely touching the threshold of entry-level boxing, don’t think about matters too distant."
"I understand, Master Li!"