There are many such examples in society: some people who have practiced Tai Chi for three or four years have been beaten so badly by people who have only studied Sanda for a year or six months that they don't even recognize their own parents.
The saying "The inner family stays indoors for ten years, while the outer family kills someone in three years" illustrates this point.
Jiang Liu used his divine sense to learn the boxing style. His technique and method of exerting force were flawless, every move executed flawlessly. Moreover, his body refinement was complete, granting him the strength of a thousand jin, allowing him to naturally unleash the power of Tai Chi. In just one afternoon, Jiang Liu had made significant progress in Tai Chi techniques. His single whip and cannon punch exploded in the air, their power extremely fierce!
"I have nothing more to teach you!" The old man named Zhicheng sighed and said, "Your palms can now exhale as sharply as needles, you've mastered the hidden strength, and your visible strength is at its peak. Your firecracker punch is also well-developed. I advise you not to fight easily, because you'll inevitably injure or even kill someone if you make a move. Your rigid fist technique is already perfected, but if you can develop soft strength, you can control it freely and truly achieve mastery. As for soft strength, let's spar a bit!"
The old man touched Jiang Liu's arm, and before Jiang Liu could react, he felt himself lose his balance and stagger to one side.
"You disrupted my balance, you broke my power... This is the true essence of Tai Chi!"
The old man stopped and said, "Tai Chi is the simplest martial art in the world, with only two moves. The first is the previous powerful stance training, also known as stance training. When your strength is sufficient, you can naturally use it. The second is the skill of listening to the opponent's force, using their force against them. This listening doesn't mean listening with your ears, but listening through your pores! There's a mercury ball in the backyard. You can try it out. If you get some insights, find someone to practice stance training for you. However, by then you'll need to go down the mountain. My old arms and legs can't test my strength on you!"
Jiang Liu bowed to the old man and said, "I am very grateful for your teachings, as I am a teacher to those who have attained enlightenment!"
"You're a genius, and it's my blessing to teach you. I've heard that a young Tai Chi master named Chen Aiyang has emerged in Southeast Asia. Some say he'll be the next Yang Luchan in ten years..."
The old man cupped his hands towards Jiang Liu, a childlike smile on his face, and said, "It seems that in less than ten years, within three to five years, you will surpass Yang Luchan and Yang Wudi, reaching that ethereal realm of the Dao of Sincerity. Your master has spent his entire life trying to comprehend it, and I have spent most of my life trying, but it seems we will never achieve it. If you ever comprehend the Dao of Sincerity, I hope you can find some time to come and fulfill your master's last wish!"
"Definitely..." Jiang Liu nodded and bowed to Zhicheng again.
He mastered Tai Chi techniques and became increasingly interested in traditional Chinese martial arts.
At this moment, a car drove along the dirt road in the mountains to the outside of the Taoist temple.
Chapter Sixteen: It Turns Out to Be a Dragon and a Snake
If you want to learn kung fu at Wudang Mountain, you can't learn it by going to the main hall and finding a Taoist priest.
The masters of Wudang Mountain are all kept secret. For example, the Taoist priest in charge of the main hall might be a college graduate from a prestigious university who applied for a job a few years ago, or a former senior executive from a company who came here to develop the economy.
And those small shop owners selling cigarettes and alcohol on the mountain, the police officers from the local police station, the urban management officers, the 110 emergency services, the physical education teachers in the schools, etc., might just be real experts.
The various minor sects and martial arts of Wudang Mountain inherit the Taoist characteristics of mystery, elegance, seclusion, and elusiveness.
Zhicheng was an old woodcutter, but his cultivation level was at the peak of the Transformation Realm. He possessed pure Yang Qi, and even though seventy was a rare age, his physical strength was far greater than that of an ordinary strong man.
The man who drove up was a middle-aged man, around forty years old. Although he was dressed in casual clothes, he was decisive and efficient, with a hint of military bearing. He first offered three sticks of incense to the Pure Yang Patriarch Lü Dongbin of the temple, and then, with a sullen face, he said to Yu Jingzi, "Master, why did you call me here in such a hurry?"
Yu Jingzi said coldly, "Can't you come over if there's nothing wrong? Ever since you became the director of the Public Security Bureau, it seems you've almost forgotten about your mentor. Forgetting me is fine, but don't you want your two sons either?"
The middle-aged man glanced at the two young Taoist boys on the steps. In the setting sun, the two brothers were eating lollipops. He laughed and said, "Master, you know I'm so busy right now, my head is about to split open... Besides, isn't this just to let the two boys experience the atmosphere on the mountain, let the master teach them a bit, and lay a foundation? Back when I was this age, didn't the master beat me so badly that I was running all over the mountain! I could stand in a stance for an hour at a time!"
Yu Jingzi snorted coldly: "Is it the same now as in those turbulent years? Speaking of kung fu, where has your kung fu gone? You spent decades practicing your kung fu and lost it all in three to five years!"
When his master asked about his kung fu, the middle-aged man replied irrelevantly, "Master, I know you like to drink Taiping Houkui tea, which is a fine pre-Qingming tea..."
"Hmph! You're always practicing your fists and singing, but your skills are getting worse every day. Don't tell anyone outside that you're my disciple, Yu Jingzi!"
“Master, I am dull-witted. I have already reached the limit of internal strength. No matter how much I practice, I will never reach the level of external strength! Xianyong, on the other hand, can inherit your mantle. He is not even thirty years old yet and has already reached the middle stage of internal strength. In a few years, he will be able to enter the level of external strength. Moreover, he is an instructor in the Central Guard Company. He practices boxing all day long and will definitely surpass his master.”
"That's your senior brother's disciple, your junior brother's nephew. How dare you compare yourself to him!"
At this moment, Zhicheng and Jiang Liu walked over.
The middle-aged man smiled and said, "Senior brother!" Then he looked at Jiang Liu and asked, "And who is this?"
Yu Jingzi snorted coldly and said, "This is Daoist Jiang Liu, a good friend of my master. You can call him Uncle-Master!"
"Uncle-Master?!" The middle-aged man's lips twitched, then he looked at Jiang Liu with a scrutinizing gaze. Jiang Liu felt as if he were being stared at by a tiger. Then, the man extended his hand and smiled, "My name is Zhang Zhixing. Hello, hello!"
Jiang Liu couldn't possibly be so blind. This man had the air of an official and must have held a high position for many years. The two shook hands and he smiled, "Jiang Liu, follow Master Zhicheng to practice boxing!"
Yu Jingzi tapped the table and said, "Zhixing, the reason I called you here today is to get an ID card for Fellow Daoist Jiang Liu. With your status as the director of the provincial public security bureau, there shouldn't be any problem, right?"
So he's the director of the provincial public security bureau; no wonder he exudes such official authority.
The middle-aged man blinked, immediately understanding, and said with a wry smile, "Master, this is not easy!"
“What’s so difficult about it? His identity is crystal clear: Wudang Mountain, Chunyang Temple, your martial uncle, he’s never left the mountain in his entire life, an orphan…”
Seeing his master's increasingly grim expression, Zhang Zhixing said with a wry smile, "Yes, yes, Master, I'll arrange everything! I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"
"Alright, you brought the phone and SIM card I asked you to buy!"
"How could I forget my master's instructions! The best Apple phone on the market..."
"Alright, are you going back later? Then let's eat first. Fellow Daoist Jiang Liu, keep this phone safe. If you need anything, just call this kid."
The food was simple, but plentiful. They were all martial artists with enormous appetites. Even though Yu Jingzi was over a hundred years old, his teeth were still sharp, and his appetite was comparable to that of an average adult.
After finishing his meal, Zhi Xing drove away, while Jiang Liu lay in bed unable to fall asleep for a long time.
"I never imagined it would be the world of 'The Legend of the Dragon and the Snake'!"
The phone screen displayed a news article about traditional Chinese martial arts, with the headline "Qingdao Laoshan Neijiaquan Martial Arts Hall Opens, Young Xingyiquan Master Wang Chao Appointed as Director!"
Jiang Liu then searched again and found several more news articles about Wang Chao.
For example, the news headline "Every Inch of Land is Bleeded: Japanese Prodigy Dies on the Stage" tells the story of Ye Xuan, a Japanese prodigy, who was defeated in China.
"The ancients learned martial arts only to kill enemies, not to perform; the moderns learn martial arts only to perform, not to kill enemies. The protagonist, Wang Chao, has trained diligently for 15 years, participated in 107 matches, received guidance from 87 people, and comprehended the essence of mountains, water, sun, and moon, finally reaching a new realm. Hehe… Since I'm here, I must witness the divine power that allows one to break through the void, see the indestructible, and foresee the future through the path of utmost sincerity! Tang Zichen, Ba Liming, GOD, Wang Chao, Chen Aiyang…"
"The path that Wang Chao couldn't take, I will take!"
In the backyard, Jiang Liu spun a large iron ball in a stone trough with both hands, and a silvery sound rang in his ears.
"The lead ball is sealed with mercury! This large lead ball weighs at least five or six hundred pounds. Taoists use lead and mercury to make elixirs, and this is a Taoist concept used to cast this large lead and mercury ball for practicing boxing."
The shot put made a whirring, chaotic sound as it spun, then gradually developed a rhythmic quality, resembling the sound of flowing river water, and finally, an amplified sound like blood flowing through veins.
"This ball is like a human body. I need to understand it properly. The skill of Tai Chi in training strength comes from this. Although I have grasped the Tai Chi fighting method, I can only be hard and not soft, I can only go out and not retract. It is just a dead skill that came from body tempering in the Journey to the West world. It cannot be considered true martial arts. Only by mastering the application of strength can one step into the door of martial arts."
With this thought in mind, Jiang Liu focused even more intently on sensing the flow of mercury inside the lead ball. Then, he gripped the ball tightly with both hands, twisted his waist, and exerted force in his arms. Whoosh! The entire ball spun violently like the blades of an electric fan. The friction between the ball and the stone trough produced a melodious, bell-like sound, interspersed with an even crisper ringing from the rapidly rotating mercury inside.
The mercury spun violently inside the lead ball, its rotation so powerful it seemed to break free of the stone trough's confinement. Jiang Liu could only control it with his arms, and amidst the constant spinning, he gradually gained some understanding.
After spinning around continuously for an hour, Jiang Liu's physical strength was almost exhausted. Even someone at the Acquired Realm cannot exert themselves endlessly.
At this moment, the old Taoist priest Yu Jingzi slowly walked over. In the hazy night, the old priest had an otherworldly air about him, like a celestial being. He said, "Circle your energy into a circle, listen to the flow of mercury within the ball, grasp the center of gravity, and use the force to rotate and adhere to the 'stick' technique. This is the essence of all Tai Chi. You have already entered the door. There's no need to force yourself to advance too quickly. Gradually comprehending is the right path. Although you have already achieved great success in body refinement and marrow cleansing, your basic skills are weak. It's better to first build a solid foundation. Although the horse stance and mud-walking steps are simple, they are the foundation of fist techniques and footwork. If you understand these first, your progress in practicing the fist will definitely be rapid!"
Over the next few days, Jiang Liu waited for his identity information to be confirmed while practicing boxing and reading books. His foundation gradually became solid, and his horizons broadened.
Chapter Seventeen: The Taoist Priest Descends the Mountain
Inside a somewhat dilapidated bus, Jiang Liu was resting with his back closed. Although the mountain road was a bit bumpy, if you looked closely, you could see that there was a finger's width of space between Jiang Liu's buttocks and the seat.
His crouching posture rises and falls like a galloping horse, his form and spirit soar into the air!
Although the horse stance could no longer increase physical strength, Jiang Liu still practiced it whenever he had time.
At this moment, he was examining his sea of consciousness, reviewing his recent gains.
Jiang Liu (Qi Cultivator)
[Cultivation Level: Second Stage of Refining Essence into Qi (Curse, Qi Imprisonment)]
【Taoist Method: Thunder Method (Entering the Inner Chamber): Using thunder and lightning talismans to perform the Nine Heavens Thunder Orthodox Method, it has many flaws, but it can suppress all evil spirits and break all evil.
Purification Mantra (Entering the Inner Chamber): Cleanse the body with the sun and refine the form with the moon, so that the physical body reaches the acquired state;
Maoshan Corpse Refining Technique (Advanced Level): Copper-armored Corpse, with copper skin and iron bones, possessing strength of a thousand catties;
Maoshan Talismans (Comprehensive Understanding): Great General Corpse-Suppressing Talisman, Zhang Tianshi's General Talisman for Suppressing All Evil Spirits, Qilin Talisman, Thunder and Lightning Talisman
[Martial Arts: National Martial Arts (Peak of Ming Jin, strength reaching a thousand jin; Mid-stage of An Jin, An Jin mastered to the back):]
Pure Yang Skill (Mastery): Cultivate a breath of pure Yang energy to strengthen the five internal organs;
Tai Chi (Comprehensive Understanding): Mastering the Tai Chi techniques of Three Whips, Five Fists, and Seven Cannons; Tai Chi listening skill has not yet reached the level of comprehensive understanding; footwork, such as "Cat Climbing a Tree," "White Crane Spreading Wings," and "Embracing Knee and Twisting Step," is at a more advanced level.
[Equipment: Peach wood sword, Soul-Destroying Nail, three Profound Essence Pills, two Blood Qi Pills, one Rejuvenating Pill, one Soul Nourishing Pill]
The scenery outside the window rushed past, and Jiang Liu pondered to himself, "When I go to the capital, I'll go to Bai Xianyong first. He's Zhicheng's disciple, and Yu Jingzi has already contacted him. It's said that the Six Doors are a good place for cultivation. My listening skill has reached its limit, so I can use the soldiers to practice my strength and strive to reach a minor level of Tai Chi mastery in a short time!"
"The improvement of martial arts involves two aspects. First, physical strength: refining the skin, forging bones, changing tendons, cleansing marrow, and strengthening internal organs. After I descend the mountain, I will seek out the Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound of Xingyi Quan, the Hum and Ha Two Sounds of Bajiquan, and the Toad Fishing Force to enhance my physical strength, striving to fully develop the power of the Acquired Realm. Second, enhancing practical combat skills and honing fighting techniques. The Dragon and Snake World is primarily based on fist techniques, but what I want to learn cannot be limited to fist techniques. The spear is an extension of the fist; once I master fist techniques, learning spear techniques will be a breeze. There are also sword techniques, such as the Wudang Nine Palaces Sword and the Turtle and Snake Sword; I may learn those if I have the opportunity..."
"Now, Wang Chao has opened the Laoshan Internal Martial Arts School. Although I can't remember the exact time in the book, I'm certain that it won't be long before he becomes a legend in the capital and earns the title of 'Invincible Wang.' Invincible Wang! Then I'll first prove myself 'Invincible Jiang'! To progress through martial arts, one must constantly fight..."
"My body has been cleansed by spiritual energy, reaching the pinnacle of marrow cleansing in this world. Forming the elixir is only a matter of time for me, but I must shorten that time as much as possible. Who knows when I will leave this world! Breaking through the void allows one to see the gods, and the path of utmost sincerity allows one to foresee the future. Ba Liming, Tang Zichen, and God, since we have come to this world, it would be a real pity not to exchange blows with them!"
"The most important thing is to remove the curse. Once my energy is restored, I can use lightning magic if I encounter danger. Although this world lacks spiritual energy, I can use spirit stones to restore it. Fortunately, I have prepared some spirit stones. Even if I am surrounded by heavy weapons, I can summon the Nine Heavens Thunder to defend myself and break through..."
"Since that's the case, then I will seek the Dao through martial arts and challenge the masters of the world!"
The bus followed Jiang Liu's thoughts to the city, and then they flew directly to the capital. As for his identity in this world, Zhang Zhixing had already made arrangements. Even if someone came to investigate, with Daoist Yujingzi protecting him, who would know that he didn't actually belong to this world!
The person who came to pick him up was Pai Hsien-yung, a young man not yet thirty, with bright eyes and a round and upright figure. He was obviously accomplished in Tai Chi. He was the grand-disciple of Yu Jingzi and the disciple of Zhicheng. He was an instructor in the First Central Guard Company. His cultivation had reached the mid-stage of Dark Force, and he also had the Pure Yang Gong to cleanse his marrow and refine his body. It was only a matter of time before he entered the Transformation Force stage.
"Grandmaster Uncle!" Bai Xianyong found it hard to say. A grandmaster Uncle who was sixteen or seventeen years old was truly unimaginable.
At this moment, although Jiang Liu wasn't dressed as a Taoist priest, he was wearing a Taoist topknot, which was quite eye-catching in modern society. However, he still had no intention of cutting his hair short; no matter what, he was determined to return to the Journey to the West world. To arrange his identity, Yu Jingzi could only fabricate a reason of accepting a disciple on behalf of his master. Jiang Liu now felt that his seniority was somewhat high.
"So be it. Those who disagree, we'll beat them until they submit," Yu Jingzi said to Jiang Liu as he left.
"We're of the same generation, so just call me Jiang Liu, and I'll call you Brother Bai!"
"Very well!" Pai Hsien-yung felt as if he had been granted a pardon. As an instructor in the First Guard Company of the Central Army, it would be incredibly embarrassing for him to publicly address a nameless, inexperienced young man as his grand-uncle. Once they were in a military-plated jeep, Pai Hsien-yung started talking, asking, "Jiang Liu, I wonder how my grand-uncle and my master are doing?"
"He's in great spirits and physical condition..." Jiang Liu recounted everything he had seen and heard on the mountain.
Pai Hsien-yung sighed and said, "In a few years, I should go back. My grandmaster is getting old, and my master is getting old too..."
Before they knew it, they arrived at a government compound. The food in the large canteen was quite good. Jiang Liu and Bai Xianyong were both martial artists with huge appetites. They ate a chicken, two fish, several pounds of braised beef, and some vegetables to fill their stomachs.
Just as they finished eating and were about to head back, a soldier in his thirties walked towards them. Based on Jiang Liu's limited knowledge, he was probably a colonel-level officer.
The man looked at Pai Hsien-yung, then at Jiang Liu, and said, "Old Pai, what a coincidence! It's not easy to meet you! How about we have a spar after dinner to digest our food? Let's exchange some tips!"
"Old Yi, I'm busy today, maybe next time!" Bai Xianyong pointed at Jiang Liu and said, "When friends come over, settle in at my place first. Next time you're free, I'll treat you to drinks!"
"Old Bai, I'm in a great mood today. I've just mastered a new move. In this courtyard, you and I are evenly matched, so you can't refuse!" Then, looking at Jiang Liu, he asked, "And who is this young brother?"
Pai Hsien-yung said, "Let me introduce you. This is my teacher... friend, Jiang Liu, who practices Tai Chi and just came down from Wushu. This is Master Yi Manchuan of the Yi School of Bagua, an instructor from the First Division of the National Security Bureau."
Yi Manchuan clasped his hands in a fist and said, "In Beijing, there is a successor of the Wudang Nine Palaces Pure Yang Sword, named Jiang Hai. He is in his early twenties and has already mastered the internal strength. Moreover, he has mastered the Nine Palaces Pure Yang Sword with consummate skill. His reputation is comparable to that of Duan Guochao from the National Security Bureau. One is from Shaolin, and the other is from Wudang. They are hailed as the leading figures of the younger generation. I see that your name is Jiang Liu. Could it be that you are related to Jiang Hai?"
Jiang Liu shook his head and said, "I don't know Jiang Hai, but I'd like to get to know him and see the power of his Nine Palaces Pure Yang Sword!"
"Haha, young man, you have ambition! However, if he hears your words, he'll have no choice but to fight! Old Bai, there's no time like the present. Since you're a Taoist priest who's just come down from the mountain, let's have a little spar and let you broaden your horizons! This city of Beijing is full of hidden talents, we can't afford to be careless and get killed here."