Chapter 8, within the willow grove there is a hall of profundity

Whether one imagines a powerful force lifting the head from above or a giant tail extending from the coccyx to support the ground, or envisions a python rising menacingly from the grass, the essence is to ensure that the body's center of gravity rests on the spine, which appears both curved and straight. However, integrating this fundamental principle into all variations of the Python Fist and the use of weapons is the foundation of this entire system of military formation combat techniques

Apart from the absence of any delay between the two movements, after the second movement of the sinking elbow strike, Lu Xiong's body exudes a more intense sense of expansion, indicating that he has concealed his true lethality within the third movement without unleashing it. What is even more remarkable is that Lu Xiong did not employ the third movement; instead, he directly retracted his posture, demonstrating an indescribable ease and composure.

Wang Xiaocheng, while in the military, summarized various formations and combat techniques involving swords and spears. He first created the Fumang Sword and Fumang Spear, and after integrating the strengths of various training methods, he developed this style of boxing from the sword and spear routines. I was fortunate to hear him speak about the essence of this boxing technique. During the practice of stance training, he emphasized the principle of 'the back spine should be like the body of a python in harmony.' If you take the first step correctly, the point of harmony should be here!" Lu Xiong reached out and felt around Xu Huai's lumbar region for a moment.

In my youth, I was unable to grasp the essentials of the Python Posture, only knowing to imitate its form, using the muscles of my waist and hips to straighten my spine

"There is a grove of willows by the pond to the east, quite tranquil," Xu Huai said

And this apparent disconnection will provide an opportunity for the opponent to counterattack

He also knows in his heart that Uncle Xu Wujiang did not intentionally withhold these things from him in the past; his mind has not yet recovered, and who would take the trouble to talk to him about these matters?

Now that there is the renowned master Lu Xiong present, Xu Huai will undoubtedly not miss this opportunity easily

Of course, Xu Huai believed that the explanations of the Fumang Fist by his seventeenth uncle Xu Wujiang and the others did not reach the depth of Lu Xiong's understanding

In the past, during confrontations, Xu Xinan was agile; as long as he avoided the powerful and heavy sweeping elbow strikes, he could, in the blink of an eye, change his punches with greater speed and accuracy, leaving his opponent flustered and unable to respond, thus easily defeating him

Xu Huai's strength is immense; in a relatively open and spacious area, he exerts all his physical power, swinging his fists in sweeping and side strikes, capable of breaking trees as thick as a bowl's mouth.

Lu Xiong was even more astonished to see that Xu Huai could directly comprehend the subtle changes in the whip and hammer technique without needing him to explain in detail. How could such an intelligent person have gone astray?

Indeed, that is the case, but it seems insufficient. What does it feel like to have a python's tail supporting the ground? Xu Huai also felt quite pleased with himself and asked again

It turns out that the only thing missing was breaking through this layer of paper.

Xu Huaizai is very familiar with the basic movements of the Fumang Zhuang posture, but to imagine a force pulling up his head from above is another matter

For the young practitioners of martial arts, it is quite challenging to grasp the profound principles of this stance training. To approach this concept gradually, one must first envision a force above the head that lifts the skull, allowing the spine to stand naturally upright, rather than forcing it straight with the strength of the waist and hips. Furthermore, one should imagine a massive python's tail pressing against the tailbone, which will help to naturally extend the body from the base. Through the actions of 'lifting' and 'supporting' at both ends, the vertebrae can be aligned vertically, achieving an effect that appears both curved and straight simultaneously. Although many techniques must be integrated, such as the practice of undulating energy, mastering the foundational aspects of the python stance to a certain level allows for more precise control over whether the body's energy needs to be unleashed and to what extent. This is the essence of concealment and gathering. Consequently, the variations of techniques such as the whip and hammer stance can be effortlessly mastered.

The discipline within the inspection division has generally been lax, and with Deng Gui absent from the military camp today, the situation has become even more unruly

Cheng Yi was fond of alcohol, drinking from a teapot during the day, and it became increasingly difficult to remain sober at night. Xu Huai arrived at the post station, where only an elderly courier named Lao Kui, who had come from the ranks of the escort soldiers, sat dozing in the front courtyard.

... ...

Perhaps it is the significance of that sudden flash of memory in my mind from some time ago, or perhaps it is the reward he deserves

From the side strike of the elbow to the downward elbow impact, the changes are not complex. However, as seen in the first force of Lu Xiong from the book, it is already formidable. Immediately, an even more powerful force erupts, with the body leaning forward, driving the elbow out like a heavy hammer, the momentum is great and the force is heavy, surprisingly producing a sound that pierces the air.

Compared to Uncle Xu Wujiang, who is at the level of 17, he is indeed a cut above. Uncle Xu Wujiang can employ the third force transformation, but he does not possess such lethal power, not to mention that he can withdraw at will when there is still residual force.

Xu Huai has indeed studied the Fumang Fist. The whip hammer posture has three variations. The initial movement is similar to the Fanbi Fist, where the right arm, using a flipping elbow, sweeps sideways and backward like a giant python swinging its tail. It strikes with the force of a long spear or a steel whip, powerful and heavy, and it also derives from the techniques of spearplay.

The Hedong Street market still had lights, though dim, yet the horizon was faintly discernible. Xu Huai did not contemplate any giant python in the mountains, but instead recalled the lofty demeanor of Lu Xiong when wielding his gun, striving to extend his vision as far as possible towards the indistinct horizon.

This is what is meant by "the spine as the root"

Lao Kui saw Xu Huai coming in and merely scolded, "What are you running around for at this time? If you dare to look at the young lady, I'll poke your dog eyes out." However, he did not stop Xu Huai from going to the back to find Wang Bing.

Upon reaching the pond, Xu Huai hung the lantern on a branch of the willow tree, illuminating a small area.

This is also a relatively difficult part of the entire set of Fumang Quan, and it is rarely used in confrontations

Xu Huai's greatest shortcoming is his inability to leave some reserve, which is also referred to as not knowing how to hold back.

It is hard to imagine the extent to which Lu Xiong can control his own muscles to achieve such fluidity in his movements

It is quite subtle; after Lu Xiong retracted his palm, his back instinctively arched slightly forward, as if he could feel each vertebra interlocking in a manner that was neither entirely curved nor entirely straight. It no longer resembled a rigid iron spear, where no curvature could be sensed.

However, if this continues, not only will he remain at the level of merely enduring hardships throughout his life, but it is also likely that by the age of thirty or forty, his body will rapidly deteriorate due to excessive wear and tear.

After all, the most fundamental position of the Fumang stance has two key points, and at this moment, it is still far from being adequate

There is a naturally occurring sense of being elevated and transcendent

Others, including the officers and the lower ranks, also went to drink at this time, or directly headed to several brothels in the market; those soldiers who had not taken leave spent the night in the barracks playing dice, each as if they were on an extended holiday—yet within the military camp, there was hardly anyone moving about, creating an atmosphere of profound silence

A peculiar term, but in the context of Fumang Quan, this is referred to as "Shen Jiao Tai"

I used to be quite clumsy, but everyone has their moments of enlightenment. Xu Huai did not want to mislead Lu Xiong too much, so he explained somewhat ambiguously.

Xu Huai felt a strange force coming through, and his spine involuntarily adjusted in minute ways in response to Lu Xiong's palm

Lu Xiong was waiting in front of the courtyard, watching Xu Huai approach. He said, "My dear, you have worked hard on your journey. It is not easy to rest early today; let us go elsewhere to talk"

Lu Xiong intended to provide guidance, and Xu Huai certainly would not be shy; he immediately rehearsed this situation.

However, the whip and hammer technique has three stages of variation. Apart from the initial movement, the second stage involves a sinking elbow horizontal strike, which derives from the horizontal strikes of the coiled python spear and the horizontal slashes of the saber. The third stage involves a lifting punch thrust, corresponding to the lifting stabs of the coiled python saber and coiled python spear.

"Your comprehension is truly remarkable; I merely mentioned it, and you seem to have grasped the key points!" Upon witnessing this scene, Lu Xiong couldn't help but exclaim, "Do you feel that the muscles on both sides of your back are more relaxed than usual?"

Very strong

The fundamental principles have all been studied by Xu Huai, but these three transitions must be executed seamlessly within a very limited space and in an instant. This requires extremely precise and strict control over the entire body's muscles to achieve.

Listening to his explanation of the basic pile foundation was extremely clear, requiring no repetition; Xu Huai understood completely, as if a portal had opened before him, revealing the shimmering light within

He raised his arms like a whip or a spear, striking with extreme ferocity. However, once his strength was exhausted, he required a significant buffer from hetushucom.com to make the transitions into the second and third segments, yet there was little momentum left to speak of

Perhaps at this moment, one is in a state of "body and mind in harmony". At this moment, Xu Huai finds it completely effortless to imagine the tailbone extending out like a python's tail to support the ground

Xu Huai was uncertain about what to do next. He did not want to continue being treated as a fool by others, nor did he know if leaving Huaiyuan Town would allow him to carve out a place for himself. However, regardless of the circumstances, possessing formidable skills in this world undoubtedly provided him with more leverage and options.

The Fumang Fist is rooted in the spine, much like the spine of a giant python when it raises its head. When you throw a punch, if your spine is too rigid and you wish to conceal your movements, consider how a snake in the mountains appears when it is poised in the grass, neither fully coiled nor fully extended. Does it not evoke a sense of being neither curved nor straight? Therefore, whether it is the Fumang Fist, Fumang Sword, or Fumang Spear, the foundational skill lies in this state of being neither curved nor straight, with the spine as the root of the stance. Other martial arts also mention that the large vertebra is the great dragon of the body; the principles are indeed interconnected. Thus, whether it is the Fumang Fist, Fumang Sword, or Fumang Spear, the foundational skill resides in this state of being neither curved nor straight, with the spine as the root of the stance. Other martial arts also mention that the large vertebra is the great dragon of the body; the principles are indeed interconnected. The body should be like a dragon, and the spear like a python; in fact, the body should also resemble a python. It is merely that saying 'python' does not sound as appealing, which is why the body is compared to a dragon or a flood dragon. What is the difference between a dragon and a python? As long as you grasp this feeling, you will have entered the path of concealment. The next step is to integrate this fundamental principle into all variations of fist, sword, and spear techniques, and you will have truly entered the realm of mastery.

Lu Xiong had many questions in his mind, but he believed that Xu Huai would not reveal too much of the truth at this moment. Therefore, he did not engage in unnecessary conversation and directly said: "The things I can see from your posture and gait are limited—you must have also learned the Fumang Fist. First, show me the variations of the whip hammer stance..."

Although Xu Huai has gone astray, he is naturally strong and robust. He persists in his training every day, often for longer periods than Xu Xinan and the others. After ten years of unwavering dedication, he has developed muscles as solid as iron, and his bones are exceptionally strong.

It is difficult for an ordinary person to maintain such a practice for long, and the body may also suffer injuries

Fortunately, although he has been clumsy in the past, his character and determination are exceptionally resilient, or one might say, incredibly stubborn

This is far beyond what Xu Xinian and the others can achieve

Xu Xinian previously looked down on him, but it was not purely arrogance; rather, it was that Xu Huai had not yet glimpsed the profound depths of martial arts.

center of gravity

Lu Xiong has immersed himself in the art of Fumang Quan for many years, and he possesses a deeper understanding of this martial art than even its original creator

I know where your problem lies, your foundational skills have gone awry, " Lu Xiong said, " Look at the variations I demonstrate in the first two segments of this posture! "

Today, Xu Huai is stationed at Yaotou, still confident that the three assassins would not launch a strong attack. However, it now appears that as long as these three possess the confidence and strength to work together against Lu Xiong, he has indeed overestimated his own capabilities today

However, Lu Xiong was even more shocked: aside from having a physique that was significantly superior to that of ordinary people, the fact that such a complex principle could be understood after just one explanation made him wonder how Xu Huai could be seen as a simpleton in the eyes of Xu Wujiang and others

Xu Huai stood with his legs slightly apart, gazing into the distance

Lu Xiong stands in a virtual stance, maintaining the preparatory position of the whip and hammer posture before the elbow, allowing Xu Huai to observe closely

The assassin must not have been able to see through his true intentions, which is why he did not take action

Lu Xiong's palm ultimately landed in perfect alignment with the center of gravity of his body

He thought to himself, even if Xu Wujiang deliberately did not teach him, Xu Huai should have figured it out over the years. Moreover, wouldn't the person behind Xu Huai offer guidance?

Ah, some people are precocious in their youth but become mediocre in adulthood. Lu Xiong has heard many stories of late bloomers and said, "My bones are somewhat aged now, and I can only bring the Fumang Fist to this level. However, in the hands of true masters in the military, the Fumang Fist can be even more powerful. Of course, I do not want you to focus on the changes between the elbow movements of this fist technique, but rather on my back, especially the central line of my spine, and how it differs from the way you practice this fist technique..." Of course, I do not want you to focus on the changes between the elbow movements of this fist technique, but rather on my back, especially the central line of my spine, and how it differs from the way you practice this fist technique...

It is a rare opportunity, and many local soldiers directly took leave to return home. Xu Wujiang was also invited to drink at the Hedong street market—such social occasions, Xu Wujiang preferred to have the perceptive Xu Xinan by his side, while Xu Huai occasionally had the chance to join in the feasting.