Chapter 004: Guidance from Renowned Masters

This old gentleman was in a good mood and said without any hint of awkwardness: "You have come to the right person for learning Baguazhang. Although I, Dong Tianpeng, am not an authentic direct descendant, I am not far from the authentic lineage."

Hahaha

The wind howled fiercely, and Zhou Lie felt that there was no comparison between his past and present; it seemed he could practice walking on stakes with eight bricks now

Zhou Lie has been contemplating Baguazhang these days, and at this moment, realizing the rarity of the opportunity, he hurriedly asked: "Teacher Dong, when I practice Baguazhang, I feel particularly awkward under my feet from the Tuo Tian Palm to the Ping Tui Palm, and when practicing the Tui Mo Palm, my breathing is unstable up and down."

Shifting the topic, Master Dong said: "However, did your teacher not mention that in Bagua Zhang, the emphasis is on power rather than form? The techniques are fixed, but the practitioner is alive. Bagua Zhang is also known as 'Moving Body Bagua Zhang' and 'Bagua Linked Palms.' Why are they called 'Moving Body Bagua Zhang' and 'Bagua Linked Palms'? It primarily relates to the coordination of footwork and the power of the strikes. You must stick to your opponent, and when changing footwork and delivering strikes, you must be quick. In recent years, some practitioners of Bagua Zhang have faced off against free-fighting athletes and suffered disastrous defeats. This is mainly due to the lack of coordination between footwork and striking power; you must stick to your opponent, and when changing footwork and delivering strikes, you must be quick. In recent years, some practitioners of Bagua Zhang have faced off against free-fighting athletes and suffered disastrous defeats. This is because they are not fast enough and have not grasped the subtleties of power..."

Zhou Lie felt that his understanding of Baguazhang had deepened significantly, and the truly remarkable aspect was that he had a clear vision of his future training path, no longer feeling as confused as he had before

The stone cave remains the same, appearing very crude and dim, yet Zhou Lie feels that it suddenly becomes sacred before his eyes

I am Zhou Lie, born later

Having received guidance, he had no thoughts of resting. He began to practice around the stone table in the cave.

Gene? Spirit? Xu Shaoyou was perplexed and respectfully looked towards the light and shadow seated before him

This is truly a dreamlike experience, very strange and rare

For a full two hours, the elder explained with great enthusiasm while the younger listened attentively. By the time Master Dong had thoroughly dissected and imparted the essence of Baguazhang to Zhou Lie, it was absolutely unimaginable what kind of effects would arise in the future.

With both palms guiding the light and shadow, many previous difficulties posed little obstruction, allowing for immediate comprehension. When new challenges arise, after reflecting for a moment based on Master Dong's advice, one can also navigate smoothly and rise steadily.

"Yes, please rest assured, Teacher Dong, I will definitely work hard and put in great effort." At this moment, Zhou Lie felt an overwhelming excitement; he had never imagined that this mobile phone could provide him with such significant assistance

Thank you, Teacher Dong, thank you, Teacher Dong... until the call ended, he was still clasping his fists in gratitude towards the phone

Good, very good. Young people should have ambition. When you reach a certain level in your practice, you can come find me. Promoting Chinese martial arts has always been the aspiration of our older generation, but now we are lacking successors, very much so. Practice diligently; I have been quite free lately, so if you have any questions, feel free to call me.

"Yes, the child will certainly not disappoint the father's high hopes." As Xu Shaoyou bowed in greeting, the light and shadow before him suddenly vanished with a soft sound...

In the night, the lights in Kaiyuan Village are sparse. In a three-entry courtyard near the center of the village, someone is speaking: "Shaoyou, how could these rural villagers understand the mysteries of bloodlines? They only know that our village has inherited the destinies of Guo Chongzhi and Xu Xiake, achieving some accomplishments in mechanical calculations and wilderness exploration, yet they do not realize that the true essence lies in genes and spirit"

A cheerful laughter came from the phone: "Is it Xiao Cao's cousin? I haven't played chess with him for quite a long time. I will definitely go back to school to find him in a few days"

Old Master Dong enthusiastically began to instruct: "First, do this: draw a circle with a radius equal to the length of your arm. Then walk around this circle. Once you are comfortable walking smoothly, place eight bricks on the ground in accordance with the size of this circle. After that, stand on the bricks to practice stepping. When you can walk with ease, arrange thirty-two bricks into four circles on the ground, and continue practicing stepping on the bricks. When you have practiced to the point where your movements resemble a swimming dragon, your gaze is like that of a vigilant monkey, sitting like a tiger perched, and turning like an eagle circling, then you can consider it a small achievement."

After a brief pause, the old gentleman asked, "By the way, can you tell me to what extent you have practiced? What questions do you have to ask?"

Zhou Lie opened his mouth wide, as tens of thousands did not expect that this Master Dong would be so easy to talk to

Zhou Lie seemed to be deep in thought and could not help but ask: "Then how can I make myself faster?"

To become faster, one must first become more stable

Alright, young man, this is where we will stop for today. It is better to practice more than to talk a lot. You should work hard regularly and strive to carry forward the techniques and efforts of those who came before you.

What is your name, young man

Oh, not bad, young man! The fact that you can raise these questions indicates that you have made some progress.

Old Dong could not have imagined that just a few hours later, in the relatively cramped stone cave, the sound of whistling wind would echo. A figure was seen moving rapidly across thirty-two stone bricks, their palms striking out with a series of explosive sounds, as if tearing through layers of silk in mid-air

Zhou Lieyue listened more and more intently, feeling that every muscle in his body was trembling, eager to practice on the spot. This Master Dong is truly a rare expert, far more thorough in his explanations than Elder San.

After thinking for half a day, he still could not understand the reason, so he could only scratch the back of his head and comfort himself: "Whatever it is, it should be a good thing..."

Master Dong was very pleased, as it was rare in recent years for young people to seek his guidance on the art of Bagua Zhang, a discipline he had immersed himself in for many years. Being particularly cheerful and talkative, he actively offered his advice: "When you practice, pay attention to your posture: keep your head upright, your waist straight, your shoulders relaxed, and your chest open. Your footwork should be smooth and steady, with a clear distinction between empty and solid stances. Move as if wading through mud, and advance as if riding in a sedan chair, ensuring your feet glide past each other. When moving in a circle, the inner foot should advance straight, the outer foot should turn inward, and the knees should be drawn together." Footwork should be smooth and steady, with a clear distinction between empty and solid stances. Move as if wading through mud, and advance as if riding in a sedan chair, ensuring your feet glide past each other. When moving in a circle, the inner foot should advance straight, the outer foot should turn inward, and the knees should be drawn together.

He took a deep breath, and as he exhaled, it seemed as if two small whirlwinds of mist formed in front of his nose. He looked at his palms in disbelief and murmured to himself, "Have I really reached the level of Mingjin that Teacher Dong mentioned? But... but according to Teacher Dong, it requires persistent practice for ten or even twenty years to achieve this, doesn't it?"

"Genetic factors, indeed! Spiritual essence and mental acuity! The two complement each other to transform decay into the miraculous. Over the years, I have entrusted you to a small mountain village, seeking nothing more than to reduce unnecessary competition, so that you can smoothly embark on the path to your ancestral home in six months. Listen carefully, this trip to Yuanquan Town is of utmost importance; you must find the envoy to obtain the Copper Sparrow Order. Additionally, you should support some individuals as followers to prepare for the impending Year of the White Mist."

Zhou Lie, what a good name. To be a man, one must be resolute. However, in our Baguazhang, we never emphasize being straightforward; instead, we focus on the agility of body movements. Practitioners are required to constantly change the distance and direction between themselves and their opponent while moving in circles. The ability to adapt and respond spontaneously when striking is essential, which is why footwork variation is extremely important in this system of martial arts