Tao Ping stood casually, his hands hanging naturally at his sides without the slightest hint of a defensive stance.
Yet, Chen Yuan dared not be careless.
This senior brother usually kept a low profile, but the last time at Kaisan Martial Arts Hall, just a slight release of his vitality was enough to intimidate the gatekeeping disciples. He was definitely a force to be reckoned with.
Chen Yuan took a deep breath, his feet suddenly exploding with power—a lunging step!
Grinding his soles into the ground, force surged from the earth as he shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring. This lunge was fast and fierce, crossing the ten-meter distance in the blink of an eye.
The moment Chen Yuan’s front foot stepped into Tao Ping’s inner guard, his right fist erupted through the centerline—Half-Step Shattering Fist!
CRACK!
The bones and tendons of his entire right arm popped in unison, unleashing a series of crisp explosions that sounded like bursting bamboo or a string of firecrackers. Driven by Manifest Force, the fist shattered the air with a low, muffled WHOOSH, shooting straight for Tao Ping’s heart.
The surrounding disciples gasped simultaneously.
"Manifest Force! It really is Manifest Force!"
"Bones and tendons singing together, sounding like rolling thunder... His mastery of Manifest Force is already quite profound!"
A flash of approval passed through Tao Ping’s eyes, yet he remained utterly unhurried.
Taking a half-step back with his right foot, he angled his body slightly and raised his left hand from his waist. His five fingers curled loosely, mimicking a Dragon’s Exploring Claw. From below, he latched onto the wrist of Chen Yuan’s Beng Fist and applied a gentle Yin—Dragon Form: Dragon’s Claw.
Chen Yuan felt as though his heavy, powerful punch had plunged into a whirlpool. The force was deflected by a twisting, entangling power, and his entire arm involuntarily slid outward.
His heart skipped a beat, but he didn’t panic. Using the momentum to spin, his left fist drilled out from his waist—Drilling Fist!
CRACK!
The bones and tendons in his left arm detonated with equal ferocity. The fist spiraled upward, aiming directly for Tao Ping’s throat.
Tao Ping gave a slight nod. Raising his right hand, his fingers formed a tiger’s claw as he struck outward from his chest. With the power held back in his palm, he slapped firmly against the surface of Chen Yuan’s Drilling Fist—Tiger Form: Fierce Tiger Strikes the Mountain.
SMACK!
With a crisp sound, Chen Yuan’s Drilling Fist was forcibly slapped aside. The spiraling force vanished without a trace, swallowed completely by that heavy, domineering palm strike.
Chen Yuan shivered inwardly.
He had thrown two heavy punches, one Beng and one Drilling, both driven by Manifest Force, yet he hadn’t even touched the hem of Tao Ping’s clothes.
What shocked him even more was that Tao Ping hadn’t used the Five Elements Fist to neutralize these two moves. This wasn’t the path of Chopping, Beng, Drilling, Cannon, or Cross Fists, but rather a force that was more continuous, more enveloping, and far more unpredictable.
Refusing to give up, Chen Yuan rapidly executed a series of inch-steps, sticking to Tao Ping like a shadow. His fists overlapped; he pulled his left fist back to gather power, while his right fist twisted and rolled out from his chest—Cross Fist!
CRACK!
Before the fist even arrived, the force had already struck.
The Cross Fist, carrying a twisting, rolling power, swept toward Tao Ping’s ribs like a waist-level scythe.
Tao Ping lightly lifted his left foot, standing on one leg like a golden rooster. He brought up his right knee to block the trajectory of Chen Yuan’s Cross Fist. Simultaneously, his left palm flicked out from his shoulder, fingers pressed together like a rooster’s beak, jabbing sharply at the center of Chen Yuan’s brow—Rooster Form: Golden Rooster Shakes Its Feathers.
BAM!
As knee and fist collided, Chen Yuan felt as though his Cross Fist had smashed into an iron pillar, the impact leaving his entire arm numb.
Meanwhile, the rooster beak strike stopped a mere half-inch from his brow, its piercing wind stinging his forehead. Chen Yuan hastily leaned back and retreated three quick steps, barely managing to dodge the blow.
He steadied his footing, his chest heaving slightly, a fine layer of sweat already seeping from his forehead.
Tao Ping, however, remained exactly where he was. His breathing was as steady as ever, and he hadn’t even shifted his feet.
"Is that all, Junior Brother?" Tao Ping stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his tone mild. "Although your Manifest Force is complete, your fighting style is too direct. The Five Elements Fist is a good foundation, but do you really think you can take on the world with just the five techniques of Chopping, Beng, Drilling, Cannon, and Cross?"
Chen Yuan froze upon hearing this.
Instead of pursuing, Tao Ping slowly raised his right hand. His fingers spread loosely, his palm cupped inward. In the simple motion of retracting and extending, there was an aura capable of swallowing heaven and earth.
"In Xin Yi Liu He Fist, the Five Elements Fist is the foundation, but above the foundation, there are the Twelve Forms."
Before his voice even faded, Tao Ping moved.
He tapped his right foot lightly against the ground, his body meandering forward like a roaming dragon. This zigzagging, twisting Body Technique was a stark contrast to his earlier, steadfast footwork.
Chen Yuan’s vision blurred. Tao Ping had already closed the distance to his side. His right arm, coiling like a dragon’s body, reached out with fingers forming a dragon’s claw to lock onto the acupoint on Chen Yuan’s shoulder—Dragon Form: Dragon Coiling.
Chen Yuan hurriedly sank his shoulders and dropped his elbows, using the Cross Fist to execute Projected Force.
But Tao Ping’s right arm was as slippery as a spirit snake. The moment Chen Yuan’s Cross Fist grazed his sleeve, Tao Ping changed his technique. His left hand darted out from beneath his ribs, his fingers pressed together like a snake’s head, striking sharply at a vital point under Chen Yuan’s armpit—Snake Form: Spirit Snake Flicks Its Tongue.
HISS!
The piercing wind of his fingers cut through the air, exactly like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.
Horrified, Chen Yuan desperately twisted sideways to dodge.
However, Tao Ping didn’t wait for him to find his footing. Spinning his body, he lunged forward like a tiger pouncing on its prey. Both palms struck out in unison, the power within them held back but ready to erupt as they slammed down like tiger claws—Tiger Form: Fierce Tiger Pounces on Prey.
WHOOSH!
The wind from the palms rushed at his face, overbearing and heavy.
Gritting his teeth, Chen Yuan threw both fists forward, taking the blow head-on with a Chopping Fist.
BAM! BAM!
As their fists and palms collided, Chen Yuan felt violent tremors wrack his arms. Overwhelmed by an irresistible force, he was knocked back five consecutive steps until his back crashed against the courtyard wall with a dull THUD.
Just as he steadied himself, Tao Ping swept low over the ground like a swallow skimming water, his Body Technique incredibly agile and light—Swallow Form: Swallow Skims the Water.
Chen Yuan hurriedly threw a punch to intercept, but Tao Ping had already leaped into the air. Like a sparrowhawk soaring into the sky, he flipped mid-air and drove his right palm down with the ferocity of a hawk snatching a sparrow—Sparrowhawk Form: Sparrowhawk Pierces the Sky.
SMACK!
The palm struck squarely against the surface of Chen Yuan’s fist, delivering a heavy, surging force.
Fortunately, Tao Ping had perfect control. Seeing that he had made his point, he instantly withdrew his power, remaining as calm and composed as ever. He hadn’t broken a single drop of sweat, nor had his face flushed. Clearly, this exchange hadn’t even counted as a warm-up for him.
Chen Yuan panted heavily, his entire body soaked in sweat.
So this was the Twelve Forms Fist?
The entangling of the Dragon Form, the domineering might of the Tiger Form, the bizarre unpredictability of the Snake Form, the weightless agility of the Swallow Form, the swift ferocity of the Sparrowhawk Form... Every form possessed its own unique spirit and endless variations.
In comparison, his perfected Five Elements Fist seemed flimsy and straightforward.
Tao Ping lowered his hands, taking three steps back before clasping them behind his back once more.
"Do you understand now?"
Chen Yuan stood up straight. Ignoring the dust on his clothes, he cupped his fists and offered a deep bow. "Please instruct me, Senior Brother."
Tao Ping smiled faintly, a hint of gratification flashing through his eyes. "The Five Elements Fist is the skeleton; the Twelve Forms are the flesh and blood. Chopping, Beng, Drilling, Cannon, and Cross teach you how to generate force, while the Twelve Forms teach you variation. True Xingyi combat doesn’t lie in the number of techniques you know, but in the seamless transition of your spirit and intent."
He paused and looked at the spectating disciples, his voice ringing out clearly.
"Junior Brother Chen has been with us for a little over two months. He first comprehended Manifest Force and then broke through the Skin Barrier, achieving Minor Achievement in the Five Elements Fist.
"Just now, I used the Twelve Forms against his Five Elements, not to make you think the Five Elements Fist is inferior, but to make you realize that techniques are dead, while people are alive.
"The Five Elements Fist inherently contains the variations of the Twelve Forms. Hidden within the Chopping Fist is the Tiger Form; within the Beng Fist, the Horse Form; within the Drilling Fist, the Dragon Form; within the Cannon Fist, the Rooster Form; and within the Cross Fist, the Snake Form. You must go and comprehend this, to truly experience it yourselves."
Hearing this, Chen Yuan felt as though a bolt of lightning had struck his mind.
So that was it.
He cupped his fists again, bowing deeply. "Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother."
He also recalled what Master Huo had said after teaching them the Five Elements Fist: once they reached Minor Achievement, he would teach them the Twelve Forms Fist. Now, the time had come.
Tao Ping waved his hand dismissively and laughed. "No need to thank me. How much you can grasp depends entirely on your own ability. After today’s bout, you should know where you fall short."
A sly glint flickered in his eyes as he lowered his voice. "But speaking of which, those moves with Manifest Force you pulled off just now were pretty good. They’re impressive enough for me to demand a good price on your behalf."
Chen Yuan could only shake his head with a wry smile.
This senior brother of his truly... never forgot his true priorities.