"Sea-sweeping Body?"
"Exclusive Martial Arts?"
The students were shaken in their hearts.
Exclusive Martial Arts are unique to each Martial Arts Academy, and in ancient times, these were secret techniques passed down from master to disciple for generations. In Da Xia, to develop Martial Arts, most ordinary martial arts from the old days have already been made public on the internet or are taught in schools.
The most typical example is the "Black Tiger Fist."
The ones that can be called exclusive are all martial arts created by Martial Artists of this era, with proprietary rights, legally protected by the state for life. However, most Martial Artists will donate them to their alma mater before they die, so the school can use them as public martial arts, ensuring their names are remembered in history and that the school will benefit their descendants.
This is the foundation of top-level Martial Arts Universities.
First, they originate from prestigious clans, the Martial Arts Families, of the old days.
Second, with disciples all over the world, successive Martial Artists donate their exclusive martial arts.
Lu Chenzhou felt that Ji Xuantong was truly a great teacher.
As the saying goes, "Teach the fist, not the steps; teach the steps, and you hit the master."
Most Martial Arts Academies don't teach movement techniques, let alone exclusive ones.
Shi Ruyu said:
"'Sea-sweeping Body' is a common martial art created by the Lord. Although it's only third-rate, it's the most suitable and easiest for you all to pick up."
Everyone's mood soared.
"Awesome, we're finally going to learn a movement technique!"
"I've had enough of Basic Boxing."
"I wonder if after reaching Perfection, we can run on walls and do Lightweight Water Floating?"
The youths began to fantasize.
Lu Chenzhou was also looking forward to it.
The Martial Arts Association's official website has a few third-rate movement techniques, like Plum Blossom Steps, Eight Trigrams Step, Water Crossing Step, and so on, but Lu Chenzhou hadn't learned them.
Mainly because Black Tiger Fist itself includes some simple footwork and movement techniques, which are good enough. Of course, the main issue is that he couldn't afford a teacher for hands-on guidance.
Shi Ruyu couldn't help but laugh and said:
"You all have quite the imagination! Remember, movement techniques are only supportive martial arts. If your Qi-Blood rank can't keep up, don't even think about Water Floating after achieving Perfection.
What's more, Qi-Blood and martial skills complement each other. If your body quality is bad, you can't master movement techniques either! Those fantasy stories about people specializing in Qinggong but having no fighting ability just can't happen in reality. Physical improvement is all-encompassing; at this stage, the Dragon and Tiger Heavenly Pile and the fist techniques are the real foundations!
Someone keeps asking me why I don't teach cold weapon Soldier Attack Dao?
Well, I'll tell you now: cold weapons are also held in the hand; they're just extensions and enhancements of fists and palms. Besides, with modern technology, cold weapons are nothing compared to firearms. Beyond seven steps, the gun wins... and within seven steps, the gun is both fast and accurate!
If you become a Martial Artist, most ordinary people's cold weapons and even guns will be useless against you, but that's too far off for you guys anyway.
In conclusion, Basic Skills are the priority! Don't get your priorities upside down!"
Shi Ruyu's words quickly calmed the restless trainees.
Lu Chenzhou also found it reasonable.
He had watched the Foreign Martial Arts Competition, and while the use of cold weapons wasn't prohibited, very few top Martial Arts Experts used weapons. Top experts' bodies far surpass any alloy weapon modern science can make, so what do they need weapons for?
Of course, plenty of ordinary Martial Artists still use alloy cold weapons.
Swords, sabers, and all sorts of strange weapons are found everywhere.
In addition, there's a type of cold weapon that's rather special.
That's the "Martial Arts Divine Weapon," also called the "Inheriting Divine Weapon."
They say such weapons were nurtured by Martial Artists themselves in ancient times, and the experts of clans and sects have passed them down, nurturing them over generations until they possess unpredictable powers—though by now, they are no longer considered ordinary cold weapons.
At their core, it's the Martial Artist's own power that makes them "divine."
Shi Ruyu started demonstrating, while Lu Chenzhou watched with undivided attention.
"The cultivation of 'Sea-sweeping Body' most tests your skills in three areas: first, your lower limbs must be quick; second, your waist must be stable; and third, your arms must be nimble. If you've seen documentaries, you've probably seen storm petrels flying over stormy seas..."
Shi Ruyu's feet alternated on the ground, her body leaping up and down within the area of swaying wooden piles. This was where movement was trained—a spot much more complicated than standard Plum Blossom Stakes. Lu Chenzhou had tried throwing punches on top before, but couldn't last long before he fell off.
Shi Ruyu's long legs landed firmly on the stakes, her arms spreading out wide.
She stood as steadily as a swallow on an electric wire.
"'Sea-sweeping Body' has eighteen core moves. I'll demonstrate them for you one by one. Two of you come and attack me—let's see if you can even touch me."
Shi Ruyu looked around, her gaze fixing on the focused Lu Chenzhou.
Lu Chenzhou immediately said:
"I'll go."
"We still need one more."
Lu Chenzhou wanted to call Qin Zheng, but that guy shook his head like a rattle drum.
"No way, I'm too much of a noob."
Du Men stepped forward and said:
"Senior Sister, may I?"
"Come on then."
The two immediately used all their skills, attacking Shi Ruyu. Of course, on the shaking wooden stakes, neither could touch Shi Ruyu, who floated about like a leaf untouched by the wind. Shi Ruyu dodged while explaining the secrets of the movement technique.
"Front foot leads, back foot follows—make sure you're light and flowing in advance and retreat. Fly across at any angle, arms out like bird wings to raise Qi up. That's Flying Step, the core of Sea-sweeping Body! Shake your whole body like a cannon, burst into crisp power like a fish jerking out of water: that's Shock Step..."
Everyone stared at Shi Ruyu.
In this moment, she seemed like a storm petrel above an endless sea. The attacks from Lu Chenzhou and Du Men, fierce as breakers, could not get near her at all.
Shi Ruyu darted across the piles for a full quarter of an hour.
Lu Chenzhou and Du Men were already sweating buckets. Seeing this, Shi Ruyu soared over them like a Great Peng, softly landing a dozen feet away with the grace of a cat landing softly.
"I've just demonstrated all the steps and footwork of Sea-sweeping Body. Next, I'll break it down and teach it to you little by little. If you don't understand, ask right away—don't pretend you do, or you'll just waste everyone's time."
"Okay, Senior Sister."
On the other side, in the Martial Arts Room.
Ji Xuantong watched Shi Ruyu's performance and nodded again and again.
"I've only taught her for a few months, and she's almost at Mastery now—not bad, not bad, she's a raw jade! If Lu Chenzhou can keep up, that's two solid pieces!"
Suddenly, his phone rang.
On the other end was Ji Feiyan, his daughter.
[Dad, school's out for a few days. I'm coming home to stay two days.]
Ji Xuantong smiled and said:
"Come on, your mom misses you too."
[You don't?]
"...I do, you brat."
[Okay! I heard you took on a True Inheritance—perfect, I'll meet her.]
"Mm, she's got good perception. After a while, ask my teacher Qingtian Cang if she can get special admission into Dragon City Martial Arts University."
[No problem. He's gone into closed-door cultivation lately, though.]
"There's no rush. I need to observe for a while too."
[Bye, Dad! Love you!]
On the training field.
Lu Chenzhou had already started trying out 'Sea-sweeping Body.' He was weaker in this area, and movement techniques were a bit harder than Black Tiger Fist. His goal: beginner level within one week.