High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Tiger Form Fist Great Success

After Guo Heng left, Jiangtao gathered up the remaining energy drinks from the table and gave half to Lin Qi.

”These energy drinks cost 20 Xia Country Coins a bottle. They’re good for quickly replenishing trace elements and restoring your stamina.”

”I’d never shell out for these myself. See? Being a little shameless really pays off.”

”And you’re the one who taught me that, Brother Qi.”

Jiangtao chuckled mischievously. Even with the bruise on his face, he couldn’t hide his glee.

”Easy to say, but very few people can actually pull it off.”

Lin Qi said as the two of them left the Martial Arts Room and headed for the exit of the Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo.

As they reached the entrance, a sleek, jet-black luxury car pulled up in front of them.

The rear window slid down, revealing Guo Heng’s indifferent face.

”I forgot to add you.”

A few minutes later, Lin Qi and Jiangtao sat at the entrance of the Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo, watching the luxury car disappear into the distance.

”That’s a Starry Sky 9. A single one of those is worth over a million Xia Country Coins.”

”That’s completely beyond what poor people like us can even imagine.”

”I looked up that Guo Heng guy. He goes to No. 1 Middle School, he’s not just in the top ten of his grade, but his family is also loaded. A true golden boy.”

”And get this—I heard his older sister has an Awakened Special Ability. His whole family is full of geniuses.”

Jiangtao rubbed his sore arm, his voice filled with envy.

”An Awakened Special Ability... Those are the kind of geniuses you only see on TV!”

Lin Qi set down his energy drink, a thought stirring in his mind.

’The Otherworld invaded, Calamity Beasts descended, Martial Arts rose, and Source Energy was unleashed. The shackles on human genes were broken.’

’An extremely small number of exceptionally talented humans could Awaken Special Abilities, just like the Superpowers from the urban fantasy novels of his past life.’

’However, Special Abilities weren’t like Superpowers, which came in countless varieties. There were only a few dozen, all related to Natural Attributes.’

’For example: Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth; Wind, Thunder, and Ice; Light; Spiritual Mind Masters...’

’According to the news, people who Awakened a Special Ability would undergo a second phase of development, unlocking their body’s hidden potential. Their physical Talent would increase dramatically, and their Cultivation speed would become terrifyingly fast.’

’Even the Fist Techniques they used to control their bodies were different. We practice the Five Forms Fist, but they practice the Five Elements Fist.’

’Their Martial Arts Talent is enhanced, and they can wield the forces of nature. It’s like Daoist and Body Cultivation, or Magic and Martial Dual Cultivation. Ordinary people can’t even begin to compare.’

’Not only do they cultivate quickly, but in battle, they can fight at both close and long range. They’re practically invincible. It’s terrifying.’

Lin Qi reflected that those who could Awaken Special Abilities were truly the greatest geniuses on all of Blue Star.

They were all prime candidates to one day become Ninth Realm Title Level Martial Artists.

”Geniuses on that level are too far removed from us,” Jiangtao said, shaking his head. ”In our entire Cang Province, you can count the number of people who Awaken a Special Ability each year on one hand.”

”We should just focus on what’s in front of us. Let’s go get checked out and buy some ointment for our bruises.”

”Getting into the Elite class is the first hurdle.”

Lin Qi nodded. His body still ached all over.

...

「10:30 PM」

Lin Qi opened the door to his home. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw his mom, Fang Huiyi, sitting in the living room. Her face was pale as she took some medicine, and beads of sweat dotted her forehead in the stuffy air.

”You’re back, Little Qi?”

”Your face...”

Fang Huiyi’s expression filled with worry as she noticed the faint bruises on his face.

”I’m fine. I was just at my part-time job...”

Lin Qi reassured her with a smile and explained about his new job.

”It’s a great part-time job. I made 2,000 Xia Country Coins in one go. You don’t have to worry about me...”

After a few more words, Lin Qi went back to his room.

He took off his shoes. His toes were poking through holes in his socks.

’Looks like I need a new pair of socks again.’

Lin Qi tossed the worn-out socks into the trash can and sighed to himself.

A few minutes later, he finished washing up and returned to his bedroom, enjoying the cool breeze from the electric fan.

He opened his backpack and pulled out a bottle of ointment.

”HSSS—”

Wincing in pain, he applied the ointment to his bruises, rubbing it in vigorously until his skin grew warm.

’Good, no major injuries. It won’t affect my training, but it’s going to be pretty uncomfortable.’

After he was done, Lin Qi lay on his bed, replaying the sparring session in his mind and analyzing his performance.

...

「In the master bedroom.」

In the darkness, Fang Huiyi suddenly murmured:

”It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, Little Qi wouldn’t have to work a part-time job to earn money.”

”Seeing the bruises on his face... it just breaks my heart.”

”Our family has spent all its savings to pay for my treatment. Your body doesn’t have enough Source Energy to sustain it, so you’ve been regressing. You’ve already fallen from the Third Realm to the Second Realm.”

”We still owe my older brother’s family a million, and we have a bank loan of 500,000 Xia Country Coins.”

”Linlin is starting her senior year of high school next year, and that’s when expenses really start to pile up. I feel so bad for their family.”

”Axia, you work yourself to the bone every day. After paying the loans, buying my medicine, and covering our living costs, there’s barely anything left for Little Qi’s allowance.”

”I feel so sorry for Little Qi, for being saddled with a mother like me.”

”But it’s okay. In about a year, this will all be over for us.”

As she said this, her eyes grew red, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

”Don’t talk like that.”

Lin Zhen suddenly spoke. In the darkness, his gaze was sharp, as if it were glowing, as he looked at Fang Huiyi and said seriously:

”Our life might be hard, but at least our family is still alive. We’re very fortunate.”

”You have no idea how many people would envy us.”

”With the Calamity Beasts’ arrival, so many families were torn apart. At least ours is still whole.”

”You’re his only sister. You grew up together. If he won’t help you, who will?”

”We’ll take it one day at a time. I’m sure your health will get better and better.”

”Don’t ever say things like that again.”

After hearing this, Fang Huiyi was silent for a moment before replying, ”Okay!”

”We’ve hidden my illness from Little Qi. When should we explain it to him?”

Lin Zhen let out a breath. He stood up, drew open the curtains, and gazed at the bright moon outside.

”Little Qi has always been a smart kid. He’s far more mature than he looks. After all these years, he’s probably figured it out already.”

”He was a genius when he was little, even if he didn’t seem as dazzling after he started practicing Martial Arts.”

”I believe he’ll stun everyone one day.”

”I’ll wait a little longer before I tell him the truth.”

”Okay.”

...

Time flew by. The entire senior year was enveloped in an intense atmosphere of martial arts training.

Many students in the class noticed that Wu Kang had suddenly started giving frequent pointers on Pile Skills and the Five Forms Fist.

Then, someone realized that he was only coaching the students who had submitted an application form.

When word of this got out, many students were filled with regret.

If they had also submitted the form, they could have received personal instruction too. It felt like they had missed out on a golden opportunity.

Meanwhile, with sufficient resources and his powerful Martial Arts Talent, Lin Qi was improving at a frantic pace.

「One day, in the Martial Arts Classroom.」

”HUFF...”

”PUFF...”

Lin Qi’s breathing grew heavy, his entire body burning hot. Beads of sweat flew from him with every violent movement.

The air snapped with the force of his movements. His veins bulged as rich Qi Blood surged through him.

His Tiger Claws moved with ferocious power. He was like a tiger incarnate, his every motion like a predator pouncing on its prey.

’It’s not enough. I’m still missing something.’

Lin Qi practiced the form relentlessly. He felt the Tiger Form Fist was just one step away from the Great Success stage, but he couldn’t quite grasp its essence.

White Tiger Emerges from the Cave!

Hungry Tiger Pounces!

White Tiger Claw Offering!

...

He went through the forms again and again.

The key principles of the Tiger Form Fist surfaced in Lin Qi’s mind.

He recalled the words of Emperor Red: ’Practice a punch a million times, and its true meaning will reveal itself.’

As long as he kept practicing, he would eventually grasp its True Intent.

Lin Qi’s mind grew increasingly active.

’Courage must be trained into the very bones. The bones are the root of courage; courage emerges from the bone. If the bones cannot support courage, then courage cannot be born.’

’Stiffen the neck and glare. Pounce with both palms. The waist is the dominator, and the power comes from the Dantian.’

[Through your arduous training, Template Fusion Degree +1%]

[Name: Lin Qi (17)]

[Template: True Monarch Erlang Yang Jian]

[Fusion Degree: 1% → 2%]

...

A sudden tremor ran through Lin Qi’s body. New insights into the Tiger Form Fist flooded his mind, and his technique began to transform.

Pounce, leap, sink the stance! Channeling qi to his very fingertips!

For an instant, his entire body relaxed, and then immense power erupted from his Tiger Claws.

”ROAR—”

Qi surged into his chest, and an involuntary tiger’s roar escaped his lips.

[You have gained a new insight into the Tiger Form Fist. Your Fist Technique has broken through to the Great Success stage. Fist Technique +2%]

[Fist Technique reached Great Success. Your body has been tempered. Qi and Blood Value +0.15]

[Name: Lin Qi (17)]

[Qi and Blood Value: 5.82 → 5.97]

[Fist Technique: First Realm 89% → 91%]

...

”Phew...”

Lin Qi relaxed his stance and looked at the panel, the corners of his mouth turning up in a slight smile.

’My Tiger Form Fist has finally reached the Great Success stage!’

...