Beginning With Max Enlightenment: I Confront The Immortals With Martial Arts - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Talent

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

“Wake up, Zhou You. Wake up!”

Knock knock knock!

There was a strong knock on the door, accompanied by a slightly childish voice.

“I’m up!”

Zhou You jumped up from the bed and hurriedly put on his clothes and shoes. He followed Zhao Liuping, also known as Xiao Liuzi, who was waiting outside the door, and headed to the canteen.

The Ferocious Tiger Fist Dojo was a big business. As an apprentice Zhou You had been allocated a single room, and the conditions were not bad.

Afraid that he would be late for his first morning class today, Zhou You made an appointment in advance and asked Zhao Liuping to wake him up in the morning.

After breakfast, Zhou You followed Zhao Liuping to the training grounds.

At this moment, the martial arts arena was filled with people. They were gathered in twos and threes. At a glance, there were at least 70 to 80 people.

These people were all apprentices who paid to learn martial arts.

After lifting weights a few times and stretching his muscles, it was already eight o’clock.

It was time for the morning class.

Ninth Senior Brother, Zhao Qing, slowly walked out of the inner courtyard, his tiger-like eyes sweeping across the entire place.

His voice immediately lowered. The apprentices who were gathered together also spontaneously dispersed into a half-arc shape. They looked at the center of the arc and pretended to be all ears.

Zhao Qing nodded in satisfaction and walked to the center of the arc. He cleared his throat and said loudly, “As usual, follow me and do it once. Then, ask me if you have any questions.”

Nodding at Zhou You, Zhao Qing got into his stance and started practicing the Ferocious Tiger Fist.

As he moved his feet, he squatted slightly with his hands interchanging between fists and palms. He twisted his waist, shook his shoulders, rotated his arms, and moved his body… A set of 36 forms of the Ferocious Tiger Fist was executed smoothly in Zhao Qing’s hands.

15 minutes later, Zhao Qing stopped and stood still.

“Alright, if you have any questions, just ask. If you don’t have any questions, go and practice your boxing. Practice hard!”

As he spoke, Zhao Qing walked over and looked at the shocked Zhou You. He asked with a smile, “How many moves did you remember?”

In his opinion, this was the first time Zhou You had come into contact with martial arts. He was shocked by his heroic figure.

Zhou You’s reaction satisfied him and gave him a sense of accomplishment.

However, he did not know that Zhou You was shocked not because of his heroic bearing, but because…

In Zhou You’s eyes, he could see Zhao Qing demonstrating the movements of the Ferocious Tiger Fist over and over again. From slow to fast and from the outside to the inside. From the movement of his feet to the wind formed by his punches to the continuous trembling of his entire body. It even came down to the bobbing of his Adam’s apple, the airflow produced by the breathing from his mouth and nose, and the movement of his muscles.

All of Zhao Qing’s movements, no matter how detailed they were, were perfectly displayed in Zhou You’s eyes.

He looked at it countless times, but in reality, it was only for a moment. Zhao Qing’s voice sounded in his ear, and Zhou You subconsciously replied, “I remember… about seven or eight moves.”

In fact, Zhou You felt that he had already memorized all 36 forms and completely grasped the essence of the Ferocious Tiger Fist.

However, the words that were on the tip of his tongue suddenly slipped.

“Not bad. You can practice these moves first. After you’re familiar with them, you can practice the rest. Don’t be anxious. Take it slow step by step.”

Someone beside him asked for guidance. Zhao Qing said a few words to Zhou You before turning around and walking away.

However, Zhou You was in no mood to pay attention to him. After feeling that he had completely grasped the essence of the Ferocious Tiger Fist, the Zhao Qing in his eyes suddenly disappeared. Then, with a whoosh, a translucent panel popped up.

Name: Zhou You

Affinity: 1

Aptitude: Ferocious Tiger Fist (12%)

Comprehension: 100%

Martial Arts: Ferocious Tiger Fist (Uninitiated)

Martial Arts Points: 0

As expected, his special ability had arrived.

Zhou You’s heart did not even waver as he immediately began to study it.

Without the manual, Zhou You could only make a bold guess and carefully verify it later.

“The 36 forms of the Ferocious Tiger Fist are still vivid in my mind. It’s as if they’re engraved in my mind and recorded on the interface. Does this mean that I’ve learned them?

However, if I don’t have the basics of the Ferocious Tiger Fist, does that mean that my brain can learn it, but not my body? I still need to practice diligently and turn the things in my brain into muscle memory, I guess?”

Thinking of this, he practiced the Ferocious Tiger Fist methodically according to the clear memories in his mind.

The first time.

It was a little bumpy.

The second time.

Zhou You was pleasantly surprised to find that he could already complete the first eight moves smoothly and skillfully. His movements were extremely standard.

Unfortunately, he still had not mastered the Ferocious Tiger Fist.

Could it be that he had to complete a complete set of Ferocious Tiger Fist before he was considered initiated?

He looked up and saw that Zhao Qing had already left the martial arts arena. Zhou You thought for a moment and decided to continue practicing the eighth move.

He practiced several moves separately until he was proficient in them.

Although he did not intend to directly expose the terrifying talent that he could learn after watching it once, there was no need to hide it too much.

Showing a little talent in the morning class and working hard in private after returning to the house was the way to go.

He pretended to stumble along as he completed the Ferocious Tiger Fist, Zhou You opened the interface and frowned.

The Ferocious Tiger Fist was still not at the beginner level.

Then how could he become a beginner?

Did he have to finish the entire set as skillfully as Zhao Qing?

Zhou You was confident that he could do as well as Zhao Qing, but there was no need to do so in front of everyone.

Looking around, many apprentices had already ended their boxing practice and started punching sandbags, wooden dummies, stabbing sand, sparring, and so on.

The Ferocious Tiger Fist emphasized bravery and unyieldingness. Every time they practiced, they had to use all their strength. With the physical fitness of these apprentices, they could only practice for an hour at most.

By now, most of the apprentices were already exhausted. They could only reduce the intensity of their practice and start slacking.

Zhou You also ended his fist practice and found a sandbag to punch.

It was as if he had returned to the familiar past.

He was sweating profusely trying his best.

Soon, it was noon.

“The morning class is over!” Zhao Qing appeared out of nowhere and roared.

“It’s over!”

“Class is over!”

“Go take a shower and eat!”

“Where are you going this afternoon?”

“Want to go to the pier?”

…

A cheer went up from the apprentices as they surged toward the public baths.

Zhou You lived in the dojo, so he naturally did not have to squeeze into the public bathhouse. Instead, he dragged his tired body back to the backyard.

After washing up, he went to the canteen and collected his food from the window. Zhou You buried his head and worked hard.

Breakfast was ordinary, but lunch was quite sumptuous. There was meat and vegetables, and the meal was satisfying.

After quickly finishing the food in front of him, Zhou You felt that his strength had returned. He could do it again.

After resting in his room for a while, Zhou You got up and started practicing his boxing.

He had already gathered a lot of experience in the morning. Now, he went all out and practiced from beginning to end.

After practicing the technique once…

Ding!

A soft chime rang in his ears.

Zhou You was overjoyed as he opened the interface.

The Ferocious Tiger Fist was still not at the beginner level.

However, he could clearly feel that his proficiency in the Ferocious Tiger Fist had increased a little.

Something was different about the technique!

Zhou You was in high spirits and continued to practice and test.

Two hours later, Zhou You lay on the ground weakly. His entire body was wet. He looked tired, but he was also a little excited.

He had basically figured out the pattern of the increase in proficiency.

Only when he went all out and practiced the entire set of Ferocious Tiger Fist technique in a standard posture in 15 minutes would his proficiency increase.

He could not even be a little lazy.

Throughout the entire afternoon, his proficiency only increased three times.

The Ferocious Tiger Fist was still not at the beginner level.

He did not know how much his proficiency could increase each time or how many times he had to increase it before he could become a beginner.

There was still some time before dinner, but Zhou You had to stop practicing.

With his current physique, he could only hold on for so long. If he practiced any longer, his foundation would be damaged and his vitality would suffer.

On the path of martial arts, he could not overdo it.

Examples of people being crippled from practicing martial arts were not new.