Chapter 8: Arduous Cultivation

  Xia Chen immediately turned around and walked towards his residence, his heart pounding, the strange feeling growing stronger, almost driving him to act on instinct.

  Stepping into the courtyard, Xia Chen stopped, closed his eyes, and quickly dispelled distractions. After five years of cultivation, Xia Chen was already able to maintain a very pure state of mind.

  The strange feeling grew stronger and stronger, then burst open. In the moment it opened up, Xia Chen's mind suddenly flashed with the entire set of movements from Feng Chuanxin's demonstration of the Seven Shadows Fist earlier.

  This action is not Xia Chen's memory, but an image presentation of a perfect demonstration.

  Every punch and every kick, every turn of the body, even every slight movement, is as clear as a picture, bright and distinct. The observation is all-around, with no blind spots, just like an all-seeing eye.

  After rehearsing once, Xia Chen's demonstration actions in his mind didn't stop at all, and he continued to rehearse. The second rehearsal slowed down the speed, just like a slow-motion replay, which more reflected the details of the connection between movements, making people observe them with great clarity.

  After the second round of practice, he began the third round. The speed of the third round was even slower. Xia Chen could not only clearly see how those fist shadows were thrown out, but also vaguely see that when practicing the Wind Transmission Skill, the true energy was flowing and coordinating with these movements.

  The true energy is intangible and invisible, it's just a kind of energy that can't be seen at all. But in Xia Chen's mind, he clearly felt the use of Feng Chuanxin's true energy, which was simply a miracle.

  After completing the third round of practice, Xia Chen closed his eyes, slowly clenched his fist, and threw out the first punch, following the movements demonstrated in his mind while trying to coordinate with his true energy.

  Whoosh! A strong gust of wind arose, instantly blowing the small grass in the courtyard down to the ground. With just this one punch, Xia Chen suddenly had a surge of momentum, although it still couldn't compare to Feng Chuanxin's thousand-strong army, yet it was still majestic and awe-inspiring.

  Then, Xia Chen threw out another punch and started to truly practice. At first, his movements were a bit stiff, but soon, as his fist techniques became more relaxed, his body movements became more agile. As he turned his body, there was also a hint of elegance and fluidity.

  Gradually, Xia Chen's movements became more agile and his strength grew stronger. His mind was completely immersed in the Seven Shadows Fist, although he still had his eyes closed, but his entire body moved without any hindrance, perfectly synchronized with the mental image demonstration.

  The true energy was surging and flowing within his body, complementing the Seven Shadows Fist Technique. As Xia Chen gradually entered a wondrous state, it seemed as if he had merged with the Seven Shadows Fist itself, becoming one with the technique, and the technique becoming him.

  "Hum! A fist shadow was born around Xia Chen's fist, although it looked a bit blurry, but it was very obvious."

  The first time he practiced the Seven Shadow Fist, he immediately punched out a shadowy fist!

  If Feng Chuanxin saw it, he would be shocked and stunned. In just one more day, he could punch out a fist shadow, which was unprecedented in the history of Zhengxuan Sect.

  Xia Chen repeatedly punched the Seven Shadow Fist, completely forgetting about time. As he executed each move, the shadow of his fist became increasingly clear, and its momentum continued to rise.

  Also didn't know after how long, Xia Chen suddenly felt his true energy weakening, a weak feeling floated up, and he was shocked awake from his state of forgetfulness, stopping in his tracks.

  His stomach growled with hunger, and a deep sense of emptiness washed over him. Xia Chen couldn't help but feel dizzy and his vision blurred. He looked up to find that, without realizing it, night had already fallen.

  It wasn't even noon when he first started practicing, but before he knew it, more than half a day had passed. However, Xia Chen felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration and his understanding of the Seven Shadows Fist had reached an extremely deep level.

  Feeling the clothes on his body were soaked with sweat, Xia Chen smiled dumbly and changed into another set when he got back to the house.

  Dinner had been sent over by the servants early, and Xia Chen was wolfing it down while thinking about that strange feeling.

  It was this strange feeling that brought about the perfect demonstration of the Three Seven Shadow Fist in his mind, and put him into a wonderful state, achieving an unprecedented cultivation speed.

  If he relied solely on his own understanding, he probably couldn't even complete one set of fist techniques.

  What exactly is this foreign object inside him, and why does it give birth to such strange sensations? Xia Chen knew nothing about it, but he could feel that these strange sensations were just the tip of the iceberg of the object's abilities.

  After dinner, after a short rest, Xia Chen sat on the bed, closed his eyes and started to cultivate his true energy.

  Inside the dantian, the true energy born from the snow-white tripod was increasing at an unbelievable speed, much faster than when he first started cultivating.

  For ten consecutive days, Xia Chen was the first to rush to the martial arts arena. After making great progress in his initial practice, he became extremely confident and more eager for power.

  Although he had already mastered the Seven Shadows Fist to the point of being able to perform it with his eyes closed, Xia Chen still watched Wuyi's demonstration seriously every time. Even for a technique as familiar as this one, re-examining it could yield new insights.

  Moreover, Feng Chuanxin would often share his own insights and experiences in cultivation every day, and with his Sixth-Order cultivation base, Xia Chen naturally benefited greatly.

  Ten days of hard practice, Xia Chen's cultivation progressed extremely quickly, his true energy gradually overflowing from the meridians, following the pores, filling up his skin. His skin transmitted a tight and slightly painful feeling, with some slight itching, as if he was about to start undergoing a transformation.

  This is the peak of the post-heavenly first-order refinement of Qi, and it's a sign that he's about to advance to the post-heavenly second-order refinement of skin. If other disciples were to know about Xia Chen's cultivation speed, they would be shocked beyond measure.

  ……

  In a remote corner of the new disciples' courtyard, Wu Gang and Yang Er, along with over a dozen other new disciples, had surrounded the round-faced girl, the sturdy youth, and the young boy with unfriendly expressions.

  "Sun Li, Chen Lie, Fang Qiu, you three deliberately opposed me when you first entered the door. Did you think I would let you off? These past ten days, I haven't laid a hand on you, just letting you relax your guard. Today, I'll beat you three insignificant fish to death, and anyone who dares oppose me will never have a good ending." Wu Gang stuck out his neck, being arrogant and domineering.

  "Wu Gang, don't be too arrogant! If you want to fight, I, Chen Lie, will accompany you to the end!" The sturdy young man said angrily.

  "You think you can cover the sky with one hand in our school? I don't believe it, no matter how big your tone is!" said Sun Li, a round-faced girl, coldly.

  "The rules of the sect strictly forbid private fights. If you two engage in a fight, I'll dare to report it to the Law Enforcement Hall." The young man Fang Qiu said with a cold smile.

  "Damn it, you all have some guts, reporting to the law enforcement hall, giving face but not wanting face!" Wu Gang's face suddenly turned gloomy, "Today's beating is a must, and from now on, every time I see you, I'll beat you once, let's see how long you can hold on."

  "I don't even know who got beaten into a pulp as soon as they started, if you're facing Xia Chen, you wouldn't even dare fart." Chen Lie sneered.

  Wu Gang's mouth twitched violently, as if stimulated, almost jumping up: "What kind of thing is that stinky miscellaneous role? Brother Zhuo will sooner or later beat him into a useless person. Since you dare to mention him to me, I'll beat you into a dog eating shit today!"

  He beckoned with one hand, and more than a dozen new disciples immediately swarmed up in an imposing manner.

  Chen Lie and the other two gritted their teeth in unison, knowing that the three of them were no match for the dozen or so opponents. It seemed inevitable that they would have to endure a beating today.

  "I'm nothing, Wu Gang, then who are you?" Suddenly, a cold voice rang out.

  As his words fell, Xia Chen walked slowly closer with his hands behind his back.

  Wu Gang's face changed greatly, while Chen Lie and the other two were both shocked and delighted.

  "Xia Chen, do you want to stick up for them?" Wu Gang involuntarily took two steps back, but still said with a fierce tone, "You're now struggling to save yourself, I advise you not to interfere in other people's business, otherwise you'll be the one who suffers."

  "Oh?" Xia Chen smiled calmly: "Why do you want me to look good? I want to take a look."

  Wu Gang's face stiffened, he was just making a ruthless remark, and didn't dare to fight with Xia Chen. The new disciples behind him were all pale-faced, the fierce power of Xia Chen ten days ago had left an unforgettable impression on them, and many people even trembled slightly.

  "Trash, is all you can do just running your mouth?" Xia Chen sneered.

  "You're ruthless, Xia Chen, but you won't have much time to be arrogant. Zhuo Shixiong and Li Shijie are currently in closed-door training, and two months later, they will definitely beat you into a useless person." Wu Gang was extremely humiliated, yet he didn't dare to take action, so he could only leave with a belly full of anger, along with the crowd.

  "Halt, who allowed you to leave?" Xia Chen's eyes turned cold, "I didn't allow it? You dare to leave?"

  This was exactly what Wu Gang had said to him ten days ago, but now it was reversed.

  Wu Gang's face turned bright red, hesitating and unsure whether to stay or leave: "Xia Chen, what do you want? If you dare to make a move, we'll report it to the Law Enforcement Temple."

  Just now he was still threatening Chen Lie and the three others, but in the blink of an eye, he turned around and treated the law enforcement hall as his own lifeline.

  Whoosh! Xia Chen's figure flashed and instantly appeared in front of him, a slap was fiercely slapped on his face.

  Wu Gang let out a miserable cry as he flew backward, crashing to the ground with a loud thud, his face swelling up on one side.

  "You're the one who said 'don't give face and don't want face', now I'm returning it to you, get lost. Don't appear in front of me again, otherwise, every time I see you, I'll hit you once." Xia Chen said calmly.

  Wu Gang covered his face and crawled up, never daring to say another harsh word, and left with the others.

  "Thank you, Xia Chen, if it wasn't for you, we would have suffered a great loss today." Chen Lie said with sincere gratitude, clasping his fists in thanks.

  Sun Li and Fang Qiu also thanked him repeatedly, feeling very grateful in their hearts.

  "I'm just helping out a bit, far less than what you've helped me with, it's actually I who should be saying thank you." Xia Chen smiled, his heart also filled with gratitude, thinking back to how the three of them had helped each other that day, which was like sending charcoal in snowy weather.

  After chatting for a while, the four young people suddenly became much closer.

  "Xia Chen, since you've already cultivated to the first level of Later Heaven, can't you teach us how to cultivate?" Sun Li suddenly said.

  "Huh?" Xia Chen was taken aback, "I'm also a new disciple, how can I teach you guys?"

  Fang Qiu smiled and said: "Although you are a new disciple, you are much stronger than us. We really want to cultivate with you together."

  "Yes, Xia Chen, don't hide it anymore." Chen Lie also smiled and said.

  "Alright, but I really don't know how to teach anything. So far, I've only learned one set of Seven Shadow Fists. Let's practice together."

  Four people came to Xia Chen's courtyard with laughter and conversation. After chatting for a while, three of them demonstrated the Seven Shadows Fist, then asked Xia Chen for guidance.

  Xia Chen shook his head slightly, the three of them only remembered the movements of the Seven Shadows Fist, but the subtleties and crucial details were not learned at all.

  However, Xia Chen did not underestimate him in the slightest. If he wasn't guided by the strange sensation of foreign objects in his body, he might not be any better than the other three.

  Xia Chen first demonstrated the Seven Shadow Fist slowly, then explained the key points of the action. With his profound understanding of the Seven Shadow Fist, the three people naturally listened with surprise and admiration, sighing in their hearts.