Once Chu Fan finished demonstrating the Firewood Splitting Saber Technique…
Cao Feng narrowed his eyes and slowly asked, "Where did you learn this Saber Technique?"
Chu Fan cupped his fists, bowed, and answered, "I once saw some fighters from the martial world battling to the death in the street. I only caught a glimpse from a distance, but I remembered a few moves. I would imitate them while splitting firewood, and over time, my technique developed into what it is today."
'To grasp the essence of the saber after just a couple of glances?'
'A story like that sounded too outlandish.'
But on second thought, Chu Fan's earlier hacks, slashes, and chops were indeed just like splitting firewood—only faster, steadier, more precise, and more ruthless than any ordinary person.
These Saber Techniques had no discernible pattern. They were chaotic and undisciplined, with no smooth transitions or accompanying Step Technique. It was mostly just repetitive wood-splitting motions—a complete and utter mess.
And looking at Chu Fan himself, he didn't have even a sliver of Qi Blood Power.
To Cao Feng's senses, this was clearly an amateur who stood outside the gates of the Martial Dao, someone who didn't even know how to channel his Qi Blood!
'His innate talent is ordinary, but his Comprehension is exceptional.'
Cao Feng, taken in by Chu Fan's explanation, stroked his short beard thoughtfully.
Meanwhile, Chu Fan was still holding the saber, Cold Moon Solitary Shadow, in a daze. The blade reflected his vacant eyes.
Seeing his state, Li Qingxue moved to retrieve her saber, only to find he was clutching it tightly, unwilling to let go.
"Hmm?"
Li Qingxue knitted her delicate brows and secretly applied more force, finally wrenching the saber from Chu Fan's grasp.
She shot Chu Fan a sideways glance and pursed her lips, thinking, 'This kid is rather handsome, but he's rail-thin and looks a bit foolish.'
...
Although there were dozens of people in line, in the end, Cao Feng only selected eight.
Chu Fan was among them.
The faces of those not chosen were etched with disappointment. A chorus of sighs filled the air as they dispersed, and before long, not a single one remained.
Chu Fan and the other seven youths followed Li Qingxue through the North Gate of Cyan Yang Ancient City, into the Seven Stars Gang's Sub-Branch in the North City.
The Martial Arts Arena was wide enough to gallop a horse across. Dozens of shirtless youths were training there; some practiced their punches and kicks, while others lifted heavy stone locks to build their strength.
When they saw the newcomers arrive, they only gave them a casual glance before refocusing on their training, paying them no further mind.
However, Chu Fan and the others couldn't take their eyes off them…
The youth practicing his fist technique sent gusts of wind whistling with his punches, kicking up dust and dry leaves from the ground into tiny whirlwinds.
A few of the ones lifting stone locks looked no older than thirteen or fourteen, yet they tossed the seventy- or eighty-pound weights up and down as if they were playthings. It was as if they weren't lifting stone, but tufts of cotton!
"Amazing!"
Chu Fan withdrew his gaze and looked toward Chief Instructor Cao Feng with anticipation.
But he only saw Instructor Cao saunter over to a pavilion, plop down onto a rattan chair, cross his legs, and close his eyes as if to take a nap.
At this time, a middle-aged man with a goatee walked forward.
He was much older than Li Qingxue, yet he stood beside her with his back bowed and a fawning smile on his face, acting unusually reverent.
After Li Qingxue turned and left, the smile on the goateed man's face instantly vanished, replaced by an arrogant expression.
He turned around, cleared his throat, and began his lecture. "This old man is Liu Yin, and I serve as the steward of this Sub-Branch. You are to address me as Steward Liu."
"Now, listen well as I explain the rules of the Seven Stars Gang. You are to memorize every last one…"
"Don't go breaking any rules later on, because by then, it'll be too late for regrets!"
Steward Liu spoke at length, spittle flying from his lips as he laid out the rules of the Seven Stars Gang one by one.
It was just as Chu Fan had found out earlier…
Unless one had exceptional talent, anyone who joined the Seven Stars Gang, no matter who they were, had to start as a menial laborer.
But all menial laborers could study a fist technique called "Twelve Forms Fist."
Although menial laborers received no wages, they were provided with food and lodging.
Fortunately, the daily chores were not heavy, so there was plenty of free time to practice boxing.
If you can break through the first gate of Martial Arts Foundation Establishment, 'Blood Nourishing,' or practice any single form of the Twelve Forms Fist to the level of Great Success, you can become an official member of the Seven Stars Gang and enjoy better benefits.
Steward Liu added that Instructor Cao would personally offer guidance every day at 1:00 PM. At all other times, senior disciples would be assigned to teach them the fist techniques. He urged them to cherish this opportunity to study the martial arts and be grateful for the Seven Stars Gang's patronage.
When he finished speaking, the eyes of the young men were alight with fire.
With the exception of Chu Fan and the dark-skinned youth who had been a Hunter, the other six all came from refugee backgrounds.
For them, simply having food and shelter was a blessing they wouldn't have dared to dream of.
And now they could even learn martial arts…
Although they had heard rumors of this before, hearing Steward Liu lay it out in detail still made their hearts pound with an excitement they could hardly contain.
'1:00 PM? So, after lunch and a short rest…'
Chu Fan nodded slightly, secretly committing the time to memory.
"Alright, everyone come over and register your name and place of origin."
Steward Liu said, "First, I'll assign your chores, then arrange your lodging. After that, someone will take you to the Library Pavilion to peruse the Boxing Manuals."
Saying this, he took out a booklet from his clothes, grabbed a charcoal pencil, noted down everyone's information one by one, and began to assign chores: "Zhang Peng, starting tomorrow, you'll shovel horse manure in Stable D; Li Yi, you'll shovel horse manure in Stable C;"
"Sun Heng, you'll go chop hay."
When it was the dark-skinned, bow-carrying youth's turn, Steward Liu paused, looked him up and down, and said, "Zhao Tianxing, you'll split firewood."
"Chu Fan…"
Seeing Steward Liu look at him, Chu Fan quickly put on a smile.
Steward Liu continued, "Chu Fan, you'll shovel horse manure in Stable B."
"..." Chu Fan was stunned and hurriedly said, "Steward Liu, let me split firewood instead. I'm much faster at it than others..."
"Insolence!" Steward Liu's face darkened. "You'll do what you're assigned. How dare you be picky?"
Chu Fan felt like crying but had no tears.
'Shoveling horse manure... even if I did master some kind of skill from this, what good would it do?'
'It's not like I can turn it into an art form, is it?'
An image immediately appeared in his mind…
One day, he'd master the art of shoveling horse manure to the level of Perfection. Everyone who saw him would be unable to resist exclaiming, "That kid's got potential! A real natural-born dung-shoveler!"
'Damn it!' Chu Fan nearly rolled his eyes into the back of his head.
Just then, Cao Feng's voice came from the pavilion not far away: "Let him split the firewood."
The voice wasn't loud, yet it rang as clear as striking metal, reaching everyone's ears as if it were a whisper spoken right beside them.
A smile instantly appeared on Steward Liu's face. He bowed and said, "Yes, this subordinate understands!"
His ability to change expressions so quickly would put a famous stage actor to shame. Chu Fan couldn't help but be secretly flabbergasted.
"Chu Fan, you can go with Zhao Tianxing to split firewood."
Steward Liu gave Chu Fan a couple more glances, as if trying to see what was so special about this youth to have earned the instructor's favor.
"Thank you, Instructor Cao! Thank you, Steward Liu!" Chu Fan was overjoyed and quickly thanked them.
Steward Liu then had someone arrange lodging for the eight of them, had another person show them their work areas, and finally led them all to the Library Pavilion.
The Seven Stars Gang's Library Pavilion was divided into two rooms…
In one room, there were only a few people, all of them holding Boxing Manuals and studying them intently.
The other room was packed to the brim. Everyone was craning their necks, listening with rapt attention as a man who looked like a pale-faced scholar recited a Boxing Manual.
After all, in the martial world, very few people—be they refugees or commoners—could read. The vast majority were illiterate.
The Seven Stars Gang had considered this point and actually hired a teacher to read the Boxing Manuals aloud for the illiterate newcomers. This could be considered quite thoughtful.
After receiving a copy of the Twelve Forms Fist manual, Chu Fan also squeezed into the crowded room to listen for a moment.
The man who looked like a scholar had obviously never practiced martial arts. He was just mechanically reciting the text, neither explaining its profound meaning nor interpreting the phrases. He was simply reading it word for word.
After listening twice, Chu Fan went to the other room, sat down at a table, and opened the Boxing Manual in his hands.
"The Twelve Forms hide the will of heaven and earth, every movement and stillness is cultivation…"
'Fantastic.'
'I recognize every character.'
'But when they're put together, it's like reading gibberish. I can't make heads or tails of it.'
'Then again, that's to be expected.'
If an ordinary person could master it just by getting a Boxing Manual, why would anyone need to spend a fortune to study at a Martial Arts Hall?
Whether listening to the scholar recite or reading it himself, in the end, it was all just about memorizing the Boxing Manual.
Mastering the Twelve Forms Fist would require move-by-move guidance from instructors like Cao Feng. More importantly, it would demand one's own painstaking effort, refining each technique through countless repetitions.
[Literacy Experience Points +1]
As Chu Fan flipped to the fourth page of the Boxing Manual, a notification suddenly flashed in his mind.