Chapter 004: Is it a fool or a genius

"Steel is hard; this is common knowledge, and everyone knows it. However, swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks are all made of steel. So why can they be both flexible and rigid, sharp and blunt?" Zhang Cheng did not respond to Zhang Fang's words but instead asked this question.

In fact, Zhang Cheng does not know why he has such a profound understanding of martial arts. However, he is aware that it should be related to the "Great Seal of Esoteric Buddhism" that he has been practicing all along

Although with his current martial skills he cannot defeat an eighth-rank expert, it is not an easy task for an eighth-rank expert to defeat him either

Father's thoughts are correct; to shake the earth requires strength, and without strength, it is impossible to achieve such power. However, one must not be overly forceful, as it is said that excessive rigidity leads to breakage. Therefore, it is necessary to achieve a balance of firmness and gentleness.

Every time Zhang Chengdu offers him some advice, each suggestion brings him a step closer to a deeper understanding of the entire set of martial arts techniques

If it were not for the burden of his health, it is likely that even his eldest son, Zhang Long, who possesses the highest talent among the younger generation of the Zhang family, would not be able to compare with him

Zhang Cheng walked slowly to Zhang Fang's side, observing Zhang Fang's bold and expansive boxing technique, and he couldn't help but nod in approval

However, the Ninth Seal should not disappoint him, as it is common knowledge that the further one progresses in a cultivation technique, the more difficult it becomes to practice and the stronger it becomes

Father, I ask you, is steel hard? Zhang Cheng inquired

In those years, when he was still on Earth, it was through the "Great Seal of Esoteric Buddhism" that he was admitted to Tsinghua University

Because, after he came into this world, he discovered that Zhang Fang would come to this place every day at this time to practice martial arts. After he became aware of this, he also began to come here every morning.

Zhang Cheng paused for a moment and then said: "Moreover, doing this would waste too much energy. Although it would temporarily enhance the power of the Earth-Shattering Fist, it cannot be sustained for long. Once the energy is exhausted, there will be no power left, and at that point, one would be at the mercy of others"

In an instant, Zhang Fang exclaimed that Zhang Cheng was a celestial being

At this moment, Zhang Fang's appearance no longer resembled that of a father; instead, he presented himself with a demeanor of humility and eagerness to learn. It was as if a disciple were seeking guidance from a master, displaying an attitude of utmost sincerity.

It is a pity that his current physical condition no longer allows him to practice the "Great Seal of Esoteric Buddhism"; otherwise, he would truly like to see what kind of special abilities the "Great Seal of Esoteric Buddhism" would bring him when he reaches the ninth seal

From this point on, he realized that his youngest son was a genius in martial arts comprehension and literature. The strength of his understanding was such that even he, the old man, felt ashamed in comparison

However, there was an occasion when I was practicing my punches in the training ground and happened to be seen by Zhang Cheng. After watching me a few times, he remarked that my practice was incorrect and that I was not training properly.

With his current peak strength at the seventh rank, and his breakthroughs in martial arts, he possesses the capability to contend with eighth rank experts.

However, it has already become so vigorous, how can it still soften? Zhang Fang is still confused

If Zhang Fang is considered the authority on this set of martial arts, then no one in the entire Shaoyang city would dare to disagree

According to Zhang Fang, Zhang Cheng possessed an extraordinary memory that allowed him to remember everything he saw since the age of 5, and his comprehension of martial arts far exceeded that of ordinary individuals.

It was only later, when he had some leisure time to reflect on what Zhang Cheng had said, that he realized there was indeed some truth in Zhang Cheng's words. Upon further contemplation, he even discovered that he had misunderstood them.

The purpose of doing this is twofold: first, to breathe in some fresh air and alleviate one's mood; second, he stands by to observe, trying to remember the techniques of the martial arts he is practicing

Zhang was taken aback; he had not considered these matters.

He only knows that after cultivating the first seal, his mental state and memory have significantly improved compared to before, and he is able to see many things more clearly than ordinary people

Later, in order to confirm his thoughts, he summoned Zhang Cheng again and demonstrated each of the boxing techniques he knew in front of Zhang Cheng. He then sought his advice to see where he might be practicing incorrectly.

"You have already mentioned this to me before. Over the past few months, I have given it considerable thought. Therefore, when I execute this set of punches now, each strike is infused with immense power. Each punch can create a large hole in the ground. Can this not be interpreted as shaking the earth?" Zhang Fang furrowed his brow and asked in confusion.

However, as soon as he entered, he saw a figure stretching in the training ground, and from a distance, he could hear the sounds of punches and kicks.

He then argued with Zhang Cheng, but at that time he could not accept what Zhang Cheng said, because he felt that many aspects of Zhang Cheng's arguments were completely different from his own understanding

"Cheng'er has arrived." Zhang Fang sensed Zhang Cheng's arrival, so he stopped and turned to Zhang Cheng, asking, "Cheng'er, what do you think of your father's Earth-shattering Fist? Have you made any progress compared to a few months ago?"

Although he is unable to practice due to health reasons, it is still quite enjoyable to have a visual experience. Moreover, after storing it in his mind, perhaps when he travels through time again in the future, it might come in handy

On the second day, Zhang Cheng woke up early, slowly walked out of his room, and arrived at the family training ground, intending to take a stroll there to ease his troubled mind

In fact, this is quite simple; to put it plainly, it is merely a matter of how force is applied. At this point, Zhang Cheng paused slightly and then said: "Alright, Father, all I can tell you is just this. As for how to achieve a balance of firmness and softness, I do not know, after all, I cannot practice martial arts, so you will have to explore it on your own."

In fact, the people of Shaoyang City only know that the Zhang family has a sickly child, but very few are aware that this sickly child of the Zhang family is also a genius

Take the Earth-shattering Fist, a set of intermediate martial arts, for example. Although it is merely an intermediate technique, he has been practicing this set of moves since childhood. After twenty years of relentless honing and refinement, his understanding of this martial art has reached a level that others can only admire.

"Oh dear, just tell me directly, what exactly should I do?" Zhang Fang asked straightforwardly, feeling confused by Zhang Cheng.

However, he himself cannot clearly articulate what impact the Great Seal of Esoteric Buddhism has had on him

Zhang Cheng knew that this person was none other than his father, Zhang Fang

It is also due to the presence of Zhang Cheng that, during these five years, although Zhang Fang's internal energy cultivation made no progress, this period has greatly enhanced his understanding of martial arts compared to before

After all, he has mastered this set of martial arts for over 20 years, with every move and every punch deeply engraved in his mind and etched into his very bones

Father, to be honest, your set of punches has not changed much from a few months ago. Zhang Cheng paused and said: "The name 'Earth-Shaking Fist' is not given casually, so when practicing this set of martial arts, one must understand why it is called the Earth-Shaking Fist and how to unleash its earth-shaking power! If this point is not understood, then no matter how long you practice this set of punches, it will only be superficial work, and you will never grasp the true essence of this martial art, nor will you be able to unleash its true power."

Father, you only know one side of the matter, not the other. Although every punch you throw is powerful, you should understand that the effect of force is mutual. The stronger the force you exert, the greater the counterforce you will receive. This strategy of injuring a thousand while harming yourself eight hundred, I believe, is certainly not what the founder of this martial art intended

"It's tough, but does this have anything to do with this set of martial arts?" Zhang Fang did not understand why Zhang Cheng asked this question

After a set of martial arts moves, he found that he was completely out of sync, which greatly frustrated him