Chapter Nine, The Supreme Arts of the Thunder Department

Haha, I am just speaking casually, you need not think too much about it. In any case, it is unlikely that anyone can reach such a level. Among you, perhaps only Lin Que has a chance, while the others can just listen as if it were a passing breeze.

The external actions of stillness are quite simple, but the focus lies in how to be still. As stated in the 'Thunder School', to embrace the origin and guard the one, all troubles will naturally retreat. This means that it is impossible for you to not think of anything in your mind; only the dead can achieve that. Therefore, visualize an object and concentrate all your attention on it, guarding the one to attain stillness

After entering a state of tranquility, gradually shift your center of gravity, first to the left side, making the left foot heavy and the right foot light. Then reverse the process, transferring the center of gravity to the right side, making the right foot heavy and the left foot light. Carefully perceive the changes in the exertion of every muscle in your body throughout this process. This is the Yin-Yang stance, which appears externally still, yet internally balances movement and stillness, continuously changing.

Imitating the movements of the old man Shi and listening to his humorous descriptions, Lou Cheng assumed a posture, intending to enter a state of tranquility. However, his thoughts were scattered, constantly shifting from one thing to another, making it impossible to achieve a state of focused calm. As for visualizing Yan Zheke, it was even more challenging, as a flood of distracting thoughts surged forth, and he couldn't help but indulge in fantasies about the future

Everyone, please stand properly, class is about to begin

Although the martial arts of the Daoist school did not emerge early and are not the true source of martial arts, they are connected to the ancient traditions of the pre-Qin period, reorganizing the old system of gods and ghosts, and paving the way for the flourishing martial arts landscape of later generations. They represent a crucial branch within the martial arts sects, with the core martial arts known as "Five Supreme Arts," the highest being the "Forbidden Division," which is further divided into the "Thunder Division," "Fire Division," "Combat Division," and "Plague Division"

Seeing this, Old Man Shi said with a smile

Old man Shi halted his steps, stopping beside Lou Cheng, with a look of uncertainty and suspicion in his eyes

Cultivating martial arts indeed helps me master the Golden Elixir, and the Golden Elixir in turn aids me in rapidly advancing my martial arts practice, such as the recent state of tranquility I achieved

As the center of gravity shifted, the muscles in the legs, the soles of the feet, and the waist all experienced changes, each subtle detail vividly reflecting in Lou Cheng's mind, evoking a sense of unfamiliarity with his own body.

In the introduction to martial arts, one should start with stance training, supplemented by footwork practice and modern strength training, such as bench press, squats, pull-ups, and back muscle stretching. Only after reaching a certain level in these areas can one begin to discuss practicing techniques and mastering the special power application skills of different moves

As the two major forces today, the Shangqing Sect and the Longhu Club have respectively inherited the profound teachings of the "Thunder Department" and the "Fire Department". Another major force, the Shushan Society, possesses the complete inheritance of the "Doubt Department". As for the teachings of the "Plague Department", they have been lost due to years of warfare, with many factions holding only fragments of it

Old Master Shi walked back and forth at the front of the line with his hands clasped behind his back. Although his voice was not loud, every student could hear him clearly

Practicing this stance serves two purposes: first, to help you attain a state of tranquility; second, to enable you to sense and experience the subtle changes in your body and the coordination between each other when exerting force. This will allow you to better master your body and utilize it more harmoniously. When practiced to perfection, the strength, muscles, and willpower of the entire body become one, coordinated and smooth, responding to any stimulus as if it were a human 'Dan'. When 'Dan' is achieved, Qi is generated, thus entering the realm of 'Dan Qi', which is the true entry point into martial arts, with a minimum attainment of the eighth rank in a professional capacity.

Chen Changhua is overly burdened with thoughts and cannot calm his mind... Wu Dong's health has deteriorated, and he also cannot find peace... Yan Zheke is managing quite well; with a few more sessions, he should be able to achieve tranquility... What is this nonsense? What is he visualizing? Drool is coming out?" As he passed by a member, he mentally commented, "Is this Cai Zongming? He has some talent, but he has too many trivial thoughts and concerns. If he doesn't organize himself properly, it will take a long time for him to enter the Yin-Yang stance. Huh?"

Is she also going to participate

I can't believe it, although he is speaking the truth, that old man has quite a sharp tongue... In a flash, Lou Cheng had a thought, yet he remained steadfast, and at the same time, he began to slowly shift his weight, pressing down on his left foot

Although some of you are amateur first rank and even professional ninth rank, while others do not even qualify to participate in amateur competitions, in my eyes, you are all the same, with no distinction. You are all enthusiasts who have not yet truly entered the realm of martial arts, still like infants who have not been weaned. Therefore, in the first martial arts class, we will all start from the basics. The saying that a tall building rises from the ground is not without reason.

As soon as these words were spoken, bursts of laughter erupted within the martial arts venue, and a joyful atmosphere spread throughout the place

At this moment, he was stirred in his heart and thought of the "Golden Elixir" within his dantian

As his thoughts converged, a sudden change appeared in Lou Cheng's gaze, as if he could see inside his dantian, witnessing the ethereal and dreamlike "golden elixir".

"You participated in the special training without a rank?" Old Master Shi blurted out, losing his composure for the first time since entering the martial arts venue

Lou Cheng took a deep breath and said

Loucheng was also excited, turning his head to Cai Zongming and asking: "Is it the 'Thunder Department' secret technique of the Shangqing Sect?"

Old Master Shi ignored the discussions among the members of the Martial Arts Society and continued to ask:

With such a profound foundation in martial arts, how can we prevent the students, who have long been exposed to various news from the martial arts community, from feeling excited and thrilled

"Not bad, not bad." Old Master Shi pressed down with his right hand, signaling everyone to be quiet, and then said with a smile, "The young bull is not afraid of the tiger; you have quite a bit of my former style. Remember to come for special training tomorrow. If you can't handle it, just withdraw; do not force yourself. If something happens, I cannot take responsibility for it."

"That makes sense." Cai Zongming nodded and gave a thumbs up, "This child is teachable!"

After speaking, he instinctively searched for Yan Zheke's figure, only to see that she happened to be looking over as well, her eyes filled with laughter, making a gesture of encouragement.

With a loud bang, the sound waves erupted, and the martial arts club students whispered to each other, some excited and others shocked, engaging in animated discussions

Moreover, previously one had to run until fatigued to sense the Golden Elixir, but now it is possible to directly introspect it through "maintaining stillness". I have begun to gradually master its wonderful sensations, no longer feeling as anxious and helpless as I did yesterday

Your principal has made tremendous efforts to respectfully invite me here, so I must certainly be someone of substance. In the first lesson, I will teach you the foundational skills of the Daoist 'Thunder Department' secret art, the 'Yin-Yang Stance'

Indeed, this student seems to have a genuine passion for martial arts. Hmm, what is your name?

Yes, Coach Shi

The "Golden Elixir" slowly rotates, with specks of ice crystallizing into stars, surrounding clusters of flames, as if one is immersed in the vast universe, profound and grand.

The esoteric teachings of the "Thunder Sect" are renowned far and wide, and are also well-known globally. Although its foundational stance training has long been widely circulated within martial arts circles, it remains relatively rare in the eyes of amateur enthusiasts and in society at large, especially when compared to those simple and rudimentary stance practices.

What year are you in? What is your current rank? Is it seventh rank or eighth rank?

This is indeed a profound level of "internal skill"

"Can't you let me be happy for a few more seconds?" Lou Cheng glared at Cai Zongming.

This ...? ... directly perceived the "Golden Elixir". Lou Cheng, after all, has been a long-time fan of martial arts and is not unfamiliar with academic terminology, quickly understanding his current state.

In the past, when throwing punches while running, it seemed that both the mind and body were in motion, without any signs of sluggishness. Little did I know that there were such continuous changes in subtle aspects. No wonder sometimes an incorrect posture can lead to much greater fatigue and slower pace; it turns out that the sequence of force application was incorrect!

Who else was the first to sign up for the special training and the first to eat crabs

Lin Que is quite good, coming from a scholarly family, and has long since entered the realm of quiet cultivation. Old Master Shi passed by Lin Que and gave a slight nod.

One of the illusions of life is that she does this for me... The person next to him, Cai Zongming, decisively dispelled Lou Cheng's fantasies

Lou Cheng quickly immersed himself in this entirely new sensation, gradually shifting his center of gravity, experiencing the various bodily changes between the real and the illusory, movement and stillness, lightness and heaviness, as if he had opened the door to a new world. Especially after the Golden Elixir began to operate and differentiate, sending streams of heat to the minutest parts, he faintly touched upon a certain profundity

The surroundings seemed to become vast and empty, everything had reached the horizon, and Old Master Shi's voice echoed in his ears from afar

It should be. Cai Zongming was also somewhat excited

Old Man Shi flipped through the list in his hand, searching for Lou Cheng's name, and casually asked:

At this moment, Lou Cheng felt a bit awkward, unable to help but feel his face flush with embarrassment

The venue was enveloped in silence, Lin Que maintained a detached demeanor, observing with his eyes focused on his nose and his nose on his heart. Chen Changhua, relying on his height, gazed at Lou Cheng from a distance, pondering who this person was and why he had no recollection of him. The other members of the martial arts club waited curiously for an answer, while only a few, including Cai Zongming, Qiu Zhigao, and Yan Zheke, who were acquainted with Lou Cheng, expressed more surprise.

Mountains are not mountains, waters are not waters

Are you praising me? Or are you praising yourself? Lou Cheng replied while secretly mocking.

It is a pity that it is not the "Fire Department" stance skill of the Dragon and Tiger Club... There is still a slight regret in the building.

The intention resided in the lower abdomen, as Lou Cheng gradually focused all his thoughts on the Golden Elixir itself, envisioning the dreamlike ice sphere resembling a nebula and the flickering flames.

You may visualize anything at will, be it a man, a woman, a cat, a dog, or religious artifacts; anything is permissible as long as it does not stir up desires. For instance, I usually visualize a one-hundred-yuan banknote to suppress my mind and avoid greed, which is referred to as regarding wealth as mere dirt

Especially since the coach was personally invited by the principal, he must indeed possess some real skills, and it is not a lie

Old Master Shi's feet subtly shifted, and his aura transformed, resembling mountains and seas, deep and towering. Then, he raised his hands, crossing them in front of his chest as if sealing something, while continuing to murmur incessantly.

The tree that stands out in the forest is bound to be toppled by the wind. In just a few seconds, Lou gained a deeper understanding of this saying. After he shouted, "I want to participate in the special training," a barrage of gazes seemed to rain down upon him from all directions, some filled with surprise, some with doubt, and others with curiosity. This instinctively evoked feelings of fear and tension, reminiscent of the time he had to give a speech to the entire school. Standing on the flag-raising platform, looking at the sea of heads, he always felt uneasy inside, almost stuttering, and fortunately, he was not the main character at that time.

Is it purely a love for martial arts, or is there another reason

Yan Zheke's participation stirred many male classmates, who egged each other on to sign up. After a while, Old Shi finally finished recording and then said with a stern face

Cai Zongming said with a smile: "Eliminating a sense of self-satisfaction is an important prerequisite for pursuing girls. However, Chengzi, you truly impress me. To pursue a girl, you are willing to wake up early every day to participate in four hours of special training. You have perseverance and courage, and in this regard, I cannot compare to you! Where there is a will, there is a way! Heaven does not disappoint those who are diligent!"

Freshman, without rank

The essence resides in the lower dantian, maintaining a singular focus leads to tranquility, while other thoughts arise and dissipate, extinguish and reemerge, not that they do not appear, but rather that they no longer affect oneself

Luo Cheng did not think much and answered calmly

"Coach, I will join as well," a sweet and familiar female voice reached Lou Cheng's ears. He turned his head and was surprised to see Yan Zheke.

Choosing to participate in the special training was the right decision

Anyway, let's give it a try; if it becomes unbearable later, we can always withdraw

After Master Shi finished teaching the Yin-Yang Post, he began to walk around the students with his hands behind his back. It is nearly impossible to truly achieve stillness during the first practice of the static post, so he allowed these young ones to first get accustomed to it

Listening to classmate Xiao Ming's nonsensical talk, Lou Cheng suddenly found himself at a loss for words. He directly stated that discussing the matter of the Golden Elixir was clearly inappropriate, as loose lips sink ships. Thus, he could only tacitly assume it was for the purpose of pursuing a girl