Seven o'clock in the evening.
Eternal Blessing Banquet Restaurant, Spring Courtyard Snow Private Room.
The interior decoration of the private room was tasteful yet understated, with the color scheme, lighting, and furniture arrangement all showcasing the elegance and style of the Eternal Blessing Banquet.
Meng Yongzhi spared no expense to host this banquet for Luo Guanyun, spending as much as 1,800 for the private room alone.
Meng Chuan waited downstairs for the teacher, while his uncle and aunt started ordering dishes upstairs.
Seeing that Luo Guanyun had not yet arrived, Xue Na, feeling the pinch of the expense, said:
"I say there was no need to go to such expense; inviting Master Luo home for a meal would have been good enough."
Meng Yongzhi glared at her:
"Where's the expense in that? Treating a Martial Arts Master requires some style and class."
"You always think you know it all."
Xue Na flipped through the menu, unsure of what to order, as none of the dishes were cheap.
"Look at this fish, and this fried chicken; how much would it cost to buy the ingredients and make it at home? But here it's sold for over a thousand."
Meng Yongzhi, impatient with Xue Na's hesitation, grabbed the menu:
"I'll order, don't act so stingy."
Not long after they ordered, Luo Guanyun and Meng Chuan entered the private room, and Meng Yongzhi and Xue Na quickly stood up to greet them.
Luo Guanyun waved his hand to indicate it was unnecessary:
"Come, come, sit down, there's no need for this, now that I have accepted Meng Chuan, we are all family."
After the four took their seats, Luo Guanyun continued:
"Ever since Meng Chuan came to the martial arts academy, I've noticed his diligence and effort, which is why today I am accepting Meng Chuan as a direct disciple. You, as his guardians, can also serve as witnesses today."
"I have strict requirements for my disciples, as they say, a strict master produces outstanding disciples. Meng Chuan is the first real disciple I have accepted and possibly the last, I will certainly teach him with dedication, please rest assured."
Both replied eagerly:
"It is his blessing that you have accepted Meng Chuan, we are definitely assured."
Hearing this, Meng Chuan immediately pledged his determination:
"Master, I will diligently practice martial arts and not bring shame to you."
Having said that, Meng Chuan poured the good wine that Meng Yongzhi requested earlier for his master, then raised his teacup in respect and said:
"Thank you, Master Luo, for accepting me as your disciple. Today, I toast you with tea in place of wine!"
Watching this scene, Luo Guanyun smiled with satisfaction:
"Good!"
...
The next evening, Villa Area A003, Huayun Prefecture.
Luo Guanyun had a dedicated Martial Arts Chamber setup at home.
Meng Chuan, with a fierce gaze, focused intensely forward, seizing the right moment to launch continuous attacks on the Wooden Man Posture, the sound of Cannon Fist rumbling incessantly.
"Good, stop, not bad, but your core is still unstable, and your movements are slightly distorted. Pay attention to my posture."
As he spoke, Luo Guanyun demonstrated, creating a barrage of explosive sounds, truly achieving the nine reverberations of Perfection!
"Master Luo is formidable, this disciple is far inferior."
"Stop flattering me, watch the movements carefully, see how I use my waist to exert force. If your core isn't stable, no matter how strong your strength or technique is, you can't achieve the nine reverberations of Perfection. Come, continue practicing while I watch."
An hour later, Meng Chuan sat down for a short rest and looked at the Martial Arts Limit Breaking panel.
[Cannon Fist: Proficient (4%) → (20%) Awaiting Limit Breaking]
[Limit Breaking Trait: Heavy Strike (Basic)]
Having a skilled master is truly advantageous, with proficiency increasing rapidly!
"Master Luo, let's continue."
"Alright."
Meng Chuan showed visible improvement with each punch, and Luo Guanyun was gladly instructing him.
"Cannon Fist belongs to the fire category of the Form and Intent Five Elements Fist, a third-tier fist skill. The subsequent fist skills you will learn are all connected to Cannon Fist, so you must learn it thoroughly and practice it to the nine reverberations of Perfection to lay a solid foundation for learning higher-level fist skills in the future, and even the Thunder Skill True Skill."
Meng Chuan was sweating profusely at the side.
"Yes, Master Luo, I can definitely achieve it."
Not only reaching Perfection, but he was determined to practice Cannon Fist beyond Perfection to break the limit and attain the [Heavy Strike] trait.
Heavy Strike sounded like a combat-related ability, and he couldn't afford to miss it.
He practiced until ten at night, considering that Meng Chuan had school the next day, today's training concluded here.
"Once you've mastered Cannon Fist, I will teach you the matching Body Technique, Inch Step. Once you learn Inch Step, you can transition from a fixed cannon position to a mobile cannon position."
Meng Chuan nodded in understanding.
Body Technique is extremely important in actual combat, especially when combined with fist skills, the power displayed in battle is not simply 1+1.
"Take these medicinal ingredients with you, they're suitable for Martial Artists at the Qi and Blood Gate to consume. Later, have your aunt help brew them according to my instructions. Once brewed, let them cool to form a paste, which becomes more convenient to carry when solidified."
Meng Chuan felt somewhat embarrassed, knowing that these medicinal ingredients were not cheap, and this large bag would cost at least ten thousand, possibly more.
"No need to be polite with me, it's not much money, just take it."
The gift of a teacher must not be declined, so Meng Chuan accepted it.
"This should be enough for a month's worth; I'll give you more next month. Leaving the herbs too long affects their potency."
Meng Chuan was very grateful, feeling fortunate to have such a mentor.
"As I said, practice martial arts diligently, and one day, carry forward my [Primordial Spirit Thunder Planting Skill], and I shall be satisfied!"
Upon hearing this, Meng Chuan made a solemn vow:
"I will strive to master martial arts, and one day, make Master Luo's true skills renowned across the world!"
"Mere words aren't enough, first master the fist skills at hand. Take one step at a time, don't be overly hasty."
"Understood, Master Luo."
Finally, unwilling to let Meng Chuan return home alone, Luo Guanyun especially called the villa area's manager to arrange a special vehicle.
"In the future, unless there's something urgent, come to my place after school to practice, and get picked up by the special car."
The driver opened the back door for Meng Chuan, who sat inside, gently touching the reflective car handle.
"A teacher's kindness is as heavy as mountains, and I will repay Master Luo well once I have achieved my goals."
The kindness of Master Luo was something Meng Chuan was temporarily unable to repay, so he could only endure it silently.
...
A week later, Meng Chuan was practicing punches alone on the playground; the tests from the Martial Arts Association had been perfectly completed, and now all that was left was waiting for Elder Bai's news.
For some reason, Meng Chuan felt the principal seemed more eager for the results than he was, constantly coming to ask if the certificate had arrived.
It was class time, and there was the sound of students reading aloud, but Meng Chuan no longer needed to attend classes.
He'd taken several rides in the principal's silver white Aurora fourth-generation sports coupe, having many conversations and heart-to-heart talks with the principal in the car.
With the principal's special approval, Meng Chuan could choose freely between attending class or practicing fist skills.
To this, the homeroom teacher's evaluation was: Privilege, no need to say more.
[Martial Arts]
[Cannon Fist: Mastery (35%) → (36%) Awaiting Limit Breaking]
[Limit Breaking Trait: Heavy Strike (Basic)]
[Body Technique]
[Inch Step: Proficient (3%) → (7%) Awaiting Limit Breaking]
[Limit Breaking Trait: Light Body (Basic)]
Through recent practice, Cannon Fist had broken through to mastery, while the newly learned Body Technique was now proficient.
Both had made progress, and Meng Chuan felt his Qi Blood had likely increased considerably.
"Both Cannon Fist and Inch Step can bring substantial Qi Blood enhancements, combined with consistent Pile Skill practice, I should get my Qi Blood tested again."