Most people who Cultivate martial arts only know some crude punches and kicks, which are a little stronger than ordinary people, but can only be considered low-grade. Only by Cultivating to the entry-level can one be considered a Martial Artist.
Even the weakest 'Ninth-Rank Martial Artist' has the standard of being able to contend with three to five low-grade Martial Artists who have learned some punches and kicks!
The Liu Family is a landlord and gentry in Changqing County, so it's impossible for them to have any earth-shattering divine Secret Manuals. This 'Iron Stone Fist' is even a martial art that can't be considered a lower-tier martial art, but obviously, Qin Kun and the other servants weren't in a position to be picky; being able to learn anything was already a blessing.
"This Iron Stone Fist includes combat techniques. Its core essence lies in training both fists to be as hard as stone and iron. If your fists are hard, hitting people will naturally hurt! You must first train strength, then Moves, and finally punching. However, one month is too short, and there's no time for you to train strength. 'Punching' also requires medicinal assistance, and only by joining the guard team will you have that condition. Therefore, I will only teach you Moves. Now, Cultivate with me!"
Liu Xin briefly introduced the 'Iron Stone Fist' and then began his instruction.
"The starting Move of Iron Stone Fist is Iron Horse Stance! This is a stance Cultivation method. Anyone who learns boxing must master their stance Cultivation. Strength comes from the ground. Only with a stable lower body can you deliver heavier and faster punches. Otherwise, no matter how well you Cultivate your punches, they will only be for show!"
Liu Xin's legs were slightly bent and spread apart, his feet in an irregular stance, like squatting in a horse stance. His movements seemed loose and ordinary, but they gave people a feeling of being as stable as a mountain, unmoving in the face of wind and rain.
Everyone also mimicked Liu Xin's movements.
"The key to Iron Horse Stance is to be empty above and solid below, with a void body and a solid stance, where void and solid generate each other..."
Liu Xin explained and guided everyone on the essentials of the Iron Horse Stance.
Liu Xin had a very bad temper and naturally looked down on the young house servants present, but as an instructor for the guard team, he indeed had substance. Qin Kun listened carefully to Liu Xin's instruction and observed Liu Xin's movements, learning the Iron Horse Stance.
The group of youths maintained the Iron Horse Stance, and this Iron Horse Stance consumed a considerable amount of physical strength. In just a short while, some youths' legs and bodies began to tremble uncontrollably, and sweat dripped from their foreheads.
"I... I can't go on..."
After half an incense stick of time, a thin youth couldn't hold on and sat down on the ground.
Liu Xin turned a blind eye to this. He didn't care about these house servants at all; he was just completing his task. As for whether these house servants were willing to learn or could persevere, it was none of his business.
He only needed to select five people from them after one month!
"This Iron Horse Stance... really consumes a lot of physical strength." Qin Kun was drenched in sweat. For the past half month, because of the Blood Sea Divine Seed, his physical fitness had improved significantly, but Cultivating this Iron Horse Stance for an incense stick's time made him sweat profusely and gasp for breath.
According to Qin Kun's observation, including him, only eight people had been able to persist from the beginning until now. Most of the others had rested midway before resuming their Cultivation of the Iron Horse Stance.
"That's all for today. We'll continue at the same time tomorrow."
Time flew by quickly, and the sky darkened. Liu Xin said indifferently, ending today's instruction.
"It's finally over..."
All the youths were exhausted and left, panting.
"My father prepared a medicinal bath for me. I will definitely be stronger than others!"
A youth was full of motivation. He was a Liu Family servant, but he was much stronger than others. His father was also a Liu Family servant, but he was highly trusted and held an important position in the Liu Family, accumulating a lot of wealth.
His father also wanted him to make a name for himself, so he took out all his savings to let him join the guard team.
Poverty for scholars, wealth for Martial Artists. Most people can't even eat their fill, but if they have resources, it's enough to achieve twice the result with half the effort in martial arts! It's a much greater advantage than others!
Watching the departing crowd, Liu Xin's mouth curved slightly. He knew in his heart that out of these twenty youths, nearly half would be able to persist in Cultivating martial arts for a month, which would already be very good. Most people wouldn't be able to persevere, or they would be discouraged when they saw that they couldn't keep up with others and choose to give up midway.
And even if they persisted, the five spots were practically already decided early on, and they might not even be able to enter the guard team.
"The chance to change one's fate... isn't that easy to grasp!"
Liu Xin secretly thought, even double the effort only makes one more likely to approach success.
"So painful..."
After Cultivating the Iron Horse Stance for nearly an hour, Qin Kun felt sore all over, as if his body was falling apart.
And Qin Kun knew that with such intense exercise, the second day would be the most unbearable.
However, this also indicated that the Iron Horse Stance had an excellent tempering effect on the body!
Returning home, Qin Kun ate dinner, washed up, and went to bed early.
Waking up the next morning, Qin Kun's body was even more sore than yesterday, and he still had to work in the slaughterhouse. He could only endure all of it!
Although his body was tired, Qin Kun was mentally very excited. He believed that if he persevered, he would definitely gain something.
In the slaughterhouse, Qin Kun skillfully bled, plucked, and chopped a chicken.
"Whoosh!"
During this process, the Blood Sea Divine Seed in Qin Kun's Sea of Consciousness vibrated, absorbing a wisp of Qi and blood essence from the killed chicken's body. After refining it, it was fed back to Qin Kun, making his originally tired body radiate new vitality!
"Not bad. With the 'Blood Sea Divine Seed' and working in this slaughterhouse, I can absorb Qi and blood essence to strengthen myself. Even with this high-intensity martial arts Cultivation, I can persevere!"
A smile appeared on Qin Kun's lips. If he continued to Cultivate like this, he would most likely stand out!
In the afternoon, after finishing his work, Qin Kun went to the backyard to wait for Liu Xin to teach today's lesson.
"There are only 16 people left..."
Qin Kun also keenly noticed that the number of people had dropped from 20 yesterday to only 16 today.
Most people are just ordinary. Even if they have the intention to change their situation, they may not have the determination or the ability. Many people, upon realizing that even with effort, they might not achieve their goals, choose to give up, commonly known as 'lying flat.'
Giving up at the beginning at least means less suffering!
Composing himself, Qin Kun began to focus on today's Cultivation.
For the first five days, Liu Xin didn't teach them anything else, only practicing the Iron Horse Stance. This Iron Horse Stance is a stance Cultivation method, it's the foundation, and one must lay a good foundation to go further and smoother in martial arts!
Five days later, Liu Xin finally began teaching the Moves of 'Iron Stone Fist'.
"Iron Stone Fist is a rigid and fierce boxing style, but it also has basic defense and footwork. The best way to learn these Moves is through sparring! Sun Changhe, you come and spar with me. Everyone else, pair up!"
Liu Xin said.
"Yes!"
A tall youth respectfully responded upon hearing this, and envy appeared in the eyes of the others.
This youth named Sun Changhe was quite remarkable, simply because his father was a member of the Liu Family's guard team, making him practically half a Liu Family member.
Thanks to this, Sun Changhe himself had a Martial Artist father as a guide, and he had started Cultivating martial arts and building his foundation early. In terms of Cultivation of the Iron Horse Stance, he ranked first, almost 100% guaranteed to enter the guard team, having already secured a spot!