Chapter 6: Sparring (Please Favorite)

Although Fang Xing had never missed a Martial Arts class, it was not the case that every lesson could be blessed with Xia Long's personal guidance, especially when it came to practicing the skills.

He seized the opportunity to carefully feel the difference.

After half an hour of practicing the Great Dragon Stance, it was on to the refinement of the Military Boxing Twelve Styles.

Fang Xing was precise and focused, hoping to receive Xia Long's guidance.

Unfortunately, this time Xia Long merely glanced at them, nodded, then shook his head, "Everyone has made progress, which is good, but the ultimate point of Martial Arts must lie in real combat... Talk is fine if it works in combat; if it doesn't work in combat, then all talk is just bullshit. Now, the class will break into pairs for combat practice..."

He tapped on his wristwatch, and immediately a blue light screen appeared in front of him.

Fang Xing and other names kept changing on it until they finally settled.

"The first group, Bai Lang versus Qian Xun!"

Xia Long announced, expressionless, "The other students please clear the field."

"Please advise!"

Bai Lang, tall and slender with a buzz cut, politely bowed first.

"Please advise!"

Qian Xun, wearing a blue practice suit with a pumpkin head haircut, bowed in response.

Snap!

The next instant, Bai Lang's footsteps shot out like an arrow, covering several meters in distance, arriving in front of Qian Xun.

His fingers together, the Cannon Fist followed.

A crisp sound pierced through the air, clearly indicating his Bow Step Cannon Fist was very skilled.

Bang!

The Cannon Fist struck air; Qian Xun made a move akin to a lying down bridge, unimaginably bending her slender waist to ninety degrees.

Then, she pressed her hands to the ground, her flexible legs intertwined upwards as if twin pythons were strangling their prey.

Military Boxing Twelve Styles, 'Twin Snake Legs'!

In the next second, Bai Lang was tightly entwined and fell to the ground, like prey ensnared by a giant python.

A chokehold!

"I give up!"

Bai Lang's face turned red, whether from lack of oxygen or excitement, but in any case, Fang Xing thought he looked far from being dejected or disappointed.

"Ah... That kid hit the jackpot."

Beside him, Liu Wei was also slapping his thigh in regret, "Why wasn't it me going up?"

"Next group, Yi An versus Cole!"

Xia Long was expressionless as he called the next pair forward.

Yi An was skinny and dark-skinned, while Cole had the typical Caucasian features and was nearly two heads taller than Yi An.

Upon hearing the command, a sinister smile appeared on Cole's face, his right fist pulled back, then shot out like an arrow.

Bang!

The punch was so fast that Yi An had no way to avoid it; he was sent flying backward, even the hastily raised arms transmitting the grating sound of breaking bones.

"One punch..."

The surrounding students were somewhat shocked, "Cole's punch... is already unbelievably close to 'an offer of a thousand gold coins for a single boom'..."

In the Bow Step Cannon Fist, it's the 'Cannon' that holds the true essence!

"Wow, he's really powerful... This big guy relies on his size and strength; he has an excessive advantage in the early stages of Martial Arts training, similar to those with exceptional talents in ancient times..."

Liu Wei murmured to himself.

"Though the Military Boxing Twelve Styles are only C-grade Martial Arts, being able to practice it to this extent as a freshman is passable, I guess."

Xia Long crossed his arms, nodding internally as he prepared to add Cole to his observation list. He didn't show much reaction and went straight to the next order, "Two students please assist Yi An to the infirmary, next group... Liu Wei versus Bai Lianyi!"

"Huh?"

Hearing this, Fang Xing immediately looked to the side.

Liu Wei suppressed his excitement and calmly stepped onto the field, "Classmate Bai, please advise!"

Bai Lianyi nodded lightly, reminiscent of a white lotus flower, her voice also gentle and delicate, involuntarily conjuring up images of southern lotus ponds, "Be careful, Classmate Liu!"

Before her words fell, she flickered and was already in front of Liu Wei.

"So fast!"

Fang Xing watched from the sidelines, inwardly astonished.

This Classmate Bai's speed was probably the fastest in class!

As a bio-engineered person, to surpass so many natural-born classmates in Martial Arts progress was somewhat unbelievable.

And even more astonishing was the terrifying sound of the wind that followed.

Rip!

Bai Lianyi lifted her right leg high; the white practice suit rustled.

The air seemed to be torn apart by a giant axe, and that axe head was Bai Lianyi's leg!

Military Boxing Twelve Styles—Battle Axe Leg!

Crack!

Fang Xing heard the grating sound of cracking bones and then saw Liu Wei as though he had been hit by a high-speed train, screaming in mid-air, "My hand..."

"No big deal, just a broken hand, right? Someone, take him to the infirmary!"

Xia Long frowned.

He was unaware that the school infirmary, however cheap, still charged a fee.

"Next group... Fang Xing versus Ouyang Qianqian!"

Fang Xing intended to help his deskmate and friend to the infirmary, but then he heard his own name and could only give Liu Wei an apologetic look before stepping onto the battlefield.

Liu Wei stopped screaming; he refused the assistance of fellow students eager to take him to the infirmary right away, choosing instead to watch from the sidelines.

After all, one was his close friend, and the other was the object of his secret affection.

He thought for a moment, then still gave a shout, "Ah Xing, come on!"

Anyway, Ouyang Qianqian's academic performance as a natural-born student had always been at the top of the class, and she was definitely not going to lose.

Cheering for a friend was only right and proper.

Even though he shouted encouragement, he didn't think Fang Xing had any chance of winning.

"Please advise!"

Fang Xing, however, had a great attitude. He flashed a carefree smile at Ouyang Qianqian, adopted the military boxing stance, and at the same time, manipulated the nano suit to give up defense.

After all, it was just classroom practice; there was no need to cheat.

"Please!"

Ouyang Qianqian's hands flowed like orchids, ethereally dancing in every direction, swiftly reaching out, not in the style of the Military Boxing Twelve Styles.

This was her family's Martial Arts—the Flying Orchid Finger!

It was a C-level Martial Arts, particularly adept at training the fingers for flexibility and supplleness.

'Hmm, much weaker than Gu Yun... Both from natural-born families, but if Gu Yun is from an intermediate-income household, then Ouyang Qianqian is from a poor one... Of course, better than a bionic person any day, we start life with a debt.'

Fang Xing misstepped, avoiding Ouyang Qianqian's finger, and then closed his own five fingers together, forming the punch he was most skilled with.

Bow Step Cannon Fist!

The man as sturdy as a pine, the step like a bow, the punch as explosive as a cannon!

Boom!

The air carried a dull thud, as Fang Xing's punch was forceful and heavy, aiming straight through.

Ouyang Qianqian, however, seemed like a willow fluff, flowing back with the wind, just barely dodging the punch.

Willow Fluff Movement Technique!

Then, her figure twisted, winding up to Fang Xing's right side, her right hand's fingers as soft as jade, gently tapping and bringing a gust of energy with it.

Although the move was fierce and ruthless, it was nevertheless graceful, giving off a feeling like a breath of spring.

Fang Xing twisted his waist, not retreating but advancing instead.

Smack!

He felt a pain on his back, but without much hesitation, he opened his arms wide for a bear hug.

"Ah!"

Accompanied by Liu Wei's cry of surprise, he and Ouyang Qianqian had already both fallen to the ground.

'It doesn't matter if you're stronger, I can pull you into my area of expertise and defeat you with my abundant experience.'

Fang Xing smiled inwardly; the situation was very much in his favor now.

After all, in a ground fight, girls were always at a slight disadvantage.

Liu Wei was surely envious enough to have a nosebleed.

But he looked at Ouyang Qianqian's unyielding eyes and patted the ground, "I concede!"

Even though they were on the same level, and he even had an advantage.

But this female classmate's progress in refining her flesh was certainly ahead of his, with stronger foundational physical qualities!

Although because of her gender, she might have held back somewhat in ground fighting, it would still take considerable effort to take her down.

Why end up injured and embarrassed for no good reason?

After all, it was just a friendly class practice.

"Good, stop!"

Xia Long nodded, then said to the rising Ouyang Qianqian with a look of dissatisfaction, "I've told the students before not to rely too much on so-called family Martial Arts. No matter how good your family Martial Arts are, can they compare to the school's? Let alone the Federation? Ouyang's family Martial Arts clearly bear the imprint of ancient Martial Arts, and you maintain elegance in your moves, thus giving Fang the opportunity... Military Boxing Twelve Styles was specifically developed for battlefield fighting, with absolutely no superfluous actions. Even if the poses are unsightly, what matters most is winning and surviving... For example, just now, if Fang had followed up with the 'Sow Dragon Roll', there was a high chance of victory..."

He began to point out the strategies and countermeasures for both sides, and Fang Xing felt he had learned a lot.

Indeed, had Ouyang Qianqian not made some mistakes at the beginning, he wouldn't have been able to take her down.

"Next pair..."

After providing guidance, Xia Long continued to call up the next pair of students.

In his heart, however, a thought emerged: 'This Fang Xing is not bad...'

To him, Ouyang Qianqian, as a student from a natural-born family, with the resources of her family invested in her and her progress in refining her flesh surpassing that of bionic people, had still been pushed to such an extent. Clearly, she lacked practical combat experience, and that was that.

But Fang Xing was interesting, with a good sense of combat, clearly experienced in real fights, and able to concede at the last moment with clarity on what matters, understanding both advance and retreat, knowing what to choose.

Moreover, it seemed that every class, he showed a bit of progress, even if it was minimal!

That was rather unusual.

Xia Long recalled the past.

Even outstanding students like Bai Lianyi or Cole didn't improve in every class.

They would even occasionally be affected by various small issues.

Fang Xing was different, though. Despite his low Realm and unskilled moves, his progress was very steady.

'Maybe Fang Xing is just in a particularly good state recently, let's wait and see...'

After all, it was a small matter, and Xia Long quickly set aside Fang Xing's issue, preparing to observe for a longer period.

"Ah Xing..."

Fang Xing came to Liu Wei's side, receiving a gaze full of resentment from his desk mate, "You actually tackled Qianqian..."

"Cough cough, didn't I concede? Otherwise, if the fight had continued, it would have been ugly..."

Fang Xing coughed, though his main objective was actually to perform in front of Xia Long.

"Our many years of friendship, man—our little boat is about to capsize... But still, you should take me to the infirmary first."

Liu Wei quickly gave up fretting, and the two headed to the school's infirmary together.

After they passed a flower bed, Fang Xing paused.

Standing in front of them was a girl, clad in a pure white practice outfit, her demeanor like a lotus from the Jiangnan region—it was Bai Lianyi!