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The sky was slightly brighter, but it was still quiet.
Most of the people in Little Lake Town were still asleep, but Chen Zong quickly opened his eyes. He twisted his body as nimbly as a loach and quietly landed on the ground. He quickly put on his clothes and washed up, ate a few bites of pancakes, tied heavy iron plates to his limbs, waist, and back, and quietly opened the door and closed the door.
The light outside was dim, and it was quiet. He took a deep breath of fresh air and slowly exhaled. Traces of coolness circled around his chest, making Chen Zong feel refreshed. He moved his limbs and ran forward.
The heavy iron plates on his body weighed 15 kilograms. Even though Chen Zong carried them every day, he was still panting after running a few hundred meters. But he gritted his teeth and persevered.
Only by going through hardships can one rise above others.
He ran to the lakeside and stopped to rest for a few minutes. Then he continued to run around the lakeside.
The lakeside was more than 1,600 meters long, and it took him more than 10 minutes to run with 15 kilograms of weight. After running three laps in a row, Chen Zong was drenched in sweat. He looked like he had just been fished out of the water. His skin was red, and his body was hot. His heart was beating like a drum, and his breathing was heavy like a big bellows in a blacksmith's shop.
As the sun rose, the first ray of light shone on Chen Zong's face, intertwining with the reflection of his sweat. The morning light filled the air, and he was full of vitality.
Trying hard to take deep breaths, Chen Zong spread his feet as wide as his shoulders. His front legs were bent, and his back knees were almost touching the ground. He lifted his heels and used the soles of his feet to support himself. He lowered his body forward, and his center of gravity was on his feet. His muscles were tight, and his left hand formed a tiger's claw in front of his eyes. His right hand was clenched into a fist behind his chin. His palm was straight like a crouching tiger.
He was ready to attack.
"Ha!"
As he exhaled, his voice exploded like spring thunder. His crouched body suddenly moved forward. His waist exerted strength and his back rose and fell as if he was about to rush forward. His strength surged. His right fist struck out with full force, like a fierce tiger stretching out its claws.
The Tiger Strength Fist Technique was one of the Chen family's three Foundation Establishment Martial Arts. It imitated the movements of a fierce tiger and had a total of five styles. Once mastered, one could train up to fifty percent of one's body. It could be used not only as a way to strengthen one's body and blood, but also as a means of attack and defense. Chen Zong had been practicing for two and a half years and had a basic grasp of the five styles.
Chen Zong performed the five moves of the Tiger Strength Fist Art in succession. Wind blew under his fists. Chen Zong withdrew his fists and stood up straight, exhaling a long breath.
"Starting with the Crouching Tiger Style, ending with the Violent Tiger Style, creating the sound of wind. I wonder when he will reach the Advanced Stage?"
Martial arts could be divided into Entry, Small Success, Great Success, and even Perfection. There was a saying: Great Success was easy to obtain, but Perfection was hard to find.
To master it, one only needed to put in enough time and effort. To master it, one needed to comprehend the essence of martial arts and grasp its essence.
The Tiger Strength Fist Art was divided into four levels: Tiger Form, Tiger Sound, Tiger Roar, and Tiger Force. They corresponded to Entry, Small Success, Great Success, and Perfection.
Tiger Form meant that one could skillfully perform the five moves of the Tiger Strength Fist Art. On the surface, it looked like a fierce tiger, but its power was very weak. It was almost an empty shell.
Tiger Sound meant that one could perform the Tiger Strength Fist Art in succession and had a certain amount of power. When one attacked, one could create a slight sound of wind, like a tiger's growl.
Tiger Roar meant that one could fully display the power of the Tiger Strength Fist Art. When it was performed, it was as if a fierce tiger was standing in front of one, opening its mouth and roaring.
As for Tiger Force, Chen Zong still didn't understand what it was. In the whole family, no one had practiced the Tiger Strength Fist Art to the Perfection Stage.
"Normal people can reach Entry in three months, Small Success in one year, and Great Success in three years. But it took me two years to reach Small Success. My progress is slow." Chen Zong muttered to himself in a low voice, full of unwillingness, "This damn congenital lack of Blood Qi made me train hard for two and a half years. Not only did it delay the progress of my martial arts, but my cultivation has also only reached the first level of the Qi and Blood realm. How can I participate in the Martial Disciple Battle in a month? How can I enter the Clan Hall? How can I find the elixirs for Father? "
Thinking of the family disciples who practiced martial arts at the same time as him, if not at the third level of the Qi and Blood realm, they were at least at the second level of the Qi and Blood realm. Even the family disciples who were one year younger than him were now at the second level of the Qi and Blood realm, Chen Zong was full of unwillingness.
"If it wasn't for the congenital lack of Blood Qi …" Thinking of this, Chen Zong was a little absent-minded.
When he was still in the womb, he was attacked by a demon beast and had a difficult birth. His mother sacrificed herself to protect him. Even so, Chen Zong was still afflicted with a congenital lack of Blood Qi.
Even though the congenital lack of Blood Qi seriously delayed the progress of his martial arts practice, Chen Zong had never resented it. He just couldn't help but feel irritated sometimes. He was clearly a few times more hardworking than others, but because of the congenital lack of Blood Qi, he fell far behind others.
"If the first time isn't enough, I'll do it twice. If the second time isn't enough, I'll do it three times. Father said that people must constantly strive for self-improvement. I'm just slower than others. It's not like I can't practice martial arts. If I persevere, I'll succeed." With a low roar, Chen Zong once again assumed the Crouching Tiger Stance and started practicing again.
Fate was like this, but what could he do?
He could only fight and strive for self-improvement.
Crouching Tiger, Rushing Tiger, Twisting Tiger, Leaping Tiger, and Raging Tiger. He used all of his strength in each of the five stances. Blood Qi surged all over his body, causing his skin to turn red. Sweat constantly seeped out, soaking his rough gray shirt. Many crisscrossed footprints were left on the ground.
The sun rose, shining its golden light on the earth, awakening all life.
After practicing the Tiger Strength Fist Art three times, Chen Zong had to stop. His limbs twitched uncontrollably, feeling as if his muscles were being torn apart. The pain was like a tide, wave after wave.
"It's not enough. Keep practicing."
Chen Zong clenched his teeth and stretched his arms and legs with difficulty. He was about to assume the Crouching Tiger Stance again.
"I have to become stronger. I have to become a martial artist. I have to surpass the Qi Blood realm. Only then can I find the precious medicine to cure Father and restore his cultivation."
The pain caused the veins on Chen Zong's forehead to bulge. His face twisted and his body twitched. However, his incomparably strong will forced him to endure. He once again assumed the Crouching Tiger Stance, accumulated his strength, and executed the Rushing Tiger Stance.
Every day, Chen Zong trained himself like this, desperately digging out his potential.
After the fourth practice, Chen Zong could no longer endure it. He lay on the ground, twitching non-stop. His body did not feel like his own. After resting for a while, Chen Zong struggled to get up. His stomach was rumbling like thunder. He felt like he could eat an entire cow.
On the way home, a familiar figure walked in front of him. His cheeks were thin, and he looked like he had been through a lot. He was wearing a rough gray shirt, with a hemp rope hanging on his shoulder and a chopper hanging on his waist. His steps were firm. It was his father, Chen Zhengtang.
"The porridge is ready. Eat it while it's hot." Seeing Chen Zong, Chen Zhengtang said as usual, "When you practice martial arts, you need to relax. Don't overdo it."
"Don't worry, Father. I'll be careful." Chen Zong said with a smile. Facing the rising sun, he looked like he was shining brightly.
Nodding, Chen Zhengtang walked past Chen Zong. Chen Zong looked back and stared at his father's back. His father's thin back was not as strong as before. He was still standing straight until he turned the corner and disappeared.
The Chen family was a big family in Xiaohu Town. They had hundreds of people, and they used a lot of fuel every day.
His father, Chen Zhengtang, used to be the number one warrior in the family. However, in order to find medicine for himself to replenish his blood and Qi so that he could practice martial arts better, he fought with monsters. He was seriously injured and his blood and Qi deteriorated. In the end, he lost all of his cultivation. Not only did he become an ordinary person, but he also got sick all over his body.
Logically speaking, his father had made a great contribution to the family. Since he had lost all of his cultivation, he was qualified to enjoy the family's support. However, his father was just like his name, upright and honest.
He said that he had only lost his cultivation, not that he was disabled to the point that he could not move. How could he enjoy the family's support with a clear conscience?
Without cultivation, he could not go into the forest to look for herbs and hunt. He could only do some work that he could to earn money to support himself and his son, such as chopping trees and chopping firewood.
Chen Zhengtang was teaching Chen Zong with his own actions. He was constantly influencing him.
As long as he lived, he would not stop improving himself!
After finishing the porridge, Chen Zong washed the pots and bowls. He rested while reading. Practicing martial arts could strengthen one's body and control one's power. Reading books could accumulate knowledge and enrich one's mind.
"Brother Zong … Brother Zong … Something bad has happened." A young man rushed in from outside and shouted.
"What's so urgent?" Chen Zong put down his book and looked at him with a smile.
He was wearing a green martial arts uniform made of coarse cloth. He had a handsome face and bright eyes. His name was Chen Yiming. He was younger than Chen Zong by a year. His father and Chen Zong's father had a good relationship. Chen Yiming and Chen Zong grew up together. They were not brothers, but they were as close as brothers.
"Today's Energy Pills were given out just now. Brother Zong, your share was taken by Chen Zhigang." Chen Yiming said while panting, his face full of anger.
Energy Pills were brewed with the essence of the five grains mixed with some herbal essences. They contained a rich amount of energy and had an obvious effect on the cultivation of Qi and Blood Realm Level 1 to Level 3 Martial Disciples. They were very valuable. Even though the Chen family had a large fortune, they could only provide one Energy Pill every three months.
"Let's not talk about this for now. What happened to your eye?" Chen Zong's heart skipped a beat. He pointed at the bruise on Chen Yiming's left eye and asked in a serious tone.
"I saw Chen Zhigang take Brother Zong's Energy Pill. I wanted to take it back, but that bastard Chen Zhongjie ambushed me." Chen Yiming said nonchalantly, "If it wasn't for the ambush, that bastard wouldn't have been my match."
"Aren't Energy Pills given out in the afternoon? Also, don't you have to be there in person to receive them? " Chen Zong asked in a low voice. Anger was swirling in his chest because Chen Yiming was injured and his Energy Pill was taken away.
"That was the case in the past, but the person in charge of distributing the Energy Pills was changed. It was Chen Zhigang's uncle. He said … he said that Brother Zong, you're only at Qi and Blood Realm Level 1 after two and a half years of cultivation. You're no different from a piece of trash. It would be a waste to give the Energy Pill to you, so he decided to give it to Chen Zhigang." Chen Yiming said hatefully, "That bastard. Just because Chen Zhigang's father is the number one martial artist in the family, he did so many unfair things."
Hearing this, Chen Zong was even angrier, but his voice was incomparably cold, "Maybe one Energy Pill won't help me improve much, but without that Energy Pill, my improvement will be even slower. This is equivalent to cutting off my future."
"Brother Zong, you have to calm down. Don't go looking for Chen Zhigang." Seeing Chen Zong's chest heaving up and down, Chen Yiming hurriedly said, "Not only has Chen Zhigang's cultivation reached the peak of Qi and Blood Realm Level 3, I heard that his Tiger Strength Fist Technique also broke through a few days ago and reached the phenomenal level."
"Don't worry, I won't act recklessly." Chen Zong took a deep breath and calmed himself down. He knew very well that no matter how angry he was, it would be useless. Ever since his father lost his cultivation and was unable to recover, the father and son's status in the family had plummeted. There was no one to uphold justice for them. If he impulsively went looking for Chen Zhigang to settle the score, he would end up being injured, which would undoubtedly increase his father's burden.
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