His lips curved slightly, his form a streak of lightning. The air filled with phantom palm strikes; his actual silhouette was almost lost, yet the movements exuded a profound sense of both weight and effortless grace.

After a sustained moment, Li Muzhan paused, his boundless internal energy slowly receding, reintegrating into the major acupoints throughout his body, dispersing and sinking into invisibility.

This method made it exceedingly difficult for others to gauge the depth of his inner power. If tested by conventional means, the dantian would appear almost empty, the inner energy so faint as to be almost nonexistent, leading observers to mistakenly believe he possessed no martial skill, making him easy to deceive.

Li Muzhan felt the agitation within his body settle, the various acupoints calmed, smooth as lake water without a ripple, further concealing the presence of his inner force. With energy residing in every channel, his body felt marginally lighter, yet when his feet touched the ground, the impression of weight became more pronounced—a truly marvelous paradox that caused him to silently marvel at the boundless mysteries of the human form. A monk in another world, how imposing.

That afternoon, during spear practice, his perception of subtle force grew sharper. In the evening, when sparring with Instructor Zhang, the instructor sensed the change in him, studying him with a few sharp glances before asking, "Your internal Qi has returned to the channels?"

Li Muzhan nodded his assent. Instructor Zhang gave a decisive nod. "Good. Your comprehension is excellent... It’s time I taught you the true spear techniques."

"The true spear techniques?" Li Muzhan asked, surprised.

Instructor Zhang replied, "Precisely. Without the support of internal energy, however exquisite your application of force, you can only borrow momentum, never command true strength. I will teach you the real spear arts!"

"Instructor, the true spear techniques require internal energy?" Li Muzhan inquired.

"They do," Instructor Zhang confirmed, nodding. "Not only that, they enhance internal energy. Training the internal force through the spear is even superior to your Flying Bear Palm technique!"

Li Muzhan was elated. He quickly cupped his hands in salute. "I request the Instructor's guidance!"

"Today, I will only teach you one form," Instructor Zhang said, picking up his iron spear and assuming a stance.

He was partially squatting, yet not fully, his knees drawn slightly inward, poised as if about to spring upwards. His left hand cradled the spear tip, and his right gripped the shaft, presenting the long spear levelly. His eyes seemed closed yet remained slightly open, maintaining a sliver of vision along the length of the weapon.

Li Muzhan burned this posture into his mind, watching intently, but Instructor Zhang remained utterly still.

After a long pause, Instructor Zhang slowly rose, letting out a deep, drawn-out breath. He slowly thrust the spear forward, retracted it, thrust again, retracted, and thrust one last time—each movement faster than the last. With three soft whistles—Chih... Chih... Chih—the spear points seemed to slice through silk fabric.

Li Muzhan stared, feeling a chilling sharpness wash over him. Though the spear was not aimed at him, he felt the impact firsthand and instinctively wanted to evade.

Instructor Zhang retracted the spear and turned. "Did you see clearly?"

Li Muzhan asked, "Instructor, is this a zhuangong [stake/post exercise]?"

"Indeed," Instructor Zhang confirmed. "This is the Subduing Dragon Post. You must grasp its profound mysteries yourself over time. Try to assume the posture."

Li Muzhan stepped forward, measuring a foot and a half with his feet spread wide, then turned his toes inward. His knees bent slightly, drawn subtly inward. His waist was rounded, his back erect, chest hollowed, and back curved—he held the long spear with both hands.

Instructor Zhang nodded in approval. Li Muzhan was slow to learn complex movements but quick to master static forms. Following the memory imprinted in his mind, he quickly matched the posture.

He discovered this stance was intensely exhausting. Within moments, his legs began to feel a slight ache, a craving to sit down. Following this, his blood circulation accelerated, and his heart rate quickened.

His internal organs were robust, his vitality surging. Now, he felt strength roiling throughout his frame. Carefully monitoring his body, he sensed a faint warmth rising from the Yongquan point on his sole, like water welling from a spring source.

As time passed, the ache in his legs grew so severe he could barely remain upright. However, the warmth emanating from Yongquan intensified, spreading between his ankles and thighs, yet deliberately staying out of his upper body.

The warmth from Yongquan grew stronger, as if the spring source had expanded, overflowing, radiating intense heat. His legs felt as if submerged in hot water, an indescribable comfort, yet simultaneously afflicted by a numbing soreness, like the biting of ants—extreme discomfort.

Comfort coexisted with suffering, like being suspended between water and fire—a sensation outsiders could hardly comprehend.

Instructor Zhang suddenly spoke, his voice gentle. "Mingkong, that’s enough. Cease the posture!" You must proceed slowly, step by step. Do not rush, lest you injure yourself.

Li Muzhan slowly relaxed the posture, gently thrusting the spear forward. With this thrust, the heat between his legs suddenly shot outward, transforming as if into a dragon, moving up his thighs and along his arms, pouring into the spear.

Chih! Chih! Chih! Three sharp whistles sounded.

He felt the internal energy transfer, and the spear instantly became light, like a feather, requiring no effort to wield. He slowly drew the weapon back, the internal Qi retracting from the spear and returning to the various channels throughout his body.

Li Muzhan stood silently, holding the spear, pondering for a moment before sighing, "What a powerful spear technique!"

Instructor Zhang nodded. "Yes, your comprehension is indeed excellent. You have grasped seven or eight tenths of this Subduing Dragon Post form. Practice it steadily; the more you train, the more wondrous you will find it."

Li Muzhan bowed deeply. "I thank the Instructor!"

Such a profound technique was far beyond the ordinary martial arts of the army. The Instructor passing it on to him was an immeasurable kindness.

Instructor Zhang waved his hand gently. "This is my family's Flying Dragon Spear, twelve forms in total. I will teach them to you slowly."

"Instructor Zhang, family martial arts... is this... appropriate?" Li Muzhan hesitated.

Instructor Zhang chuckled. "Nothing inappropriate about it. I have no sons, only one daughter. She has not joined the army, so naturally, she cannot learn this spear art. Rather than let it vanish, it's better to find someone to pass it on."

Li Muzhan sighed, feeling the weight of this deep favor.

The military martial arts passed down within families were all tremendously potent; they were bestowed by the Great Yan Dynasty's Founding Emperor upon the meritorious officials who helped secure the realm, all top-tier military arts.

However, the Founding Emperor had explicitly stated a rule following the bestowment: the arts must be taught within the military—either to a disciple or to sons and grandsons—they could not be taught outside the family line. If later generations chose not to enter the barracks, they could not practice. In the hundred years since the founding of the Great Yan, countless families had risen and fallen, and many military arts had been reclaimed; few family legacies remained. He never imagined his luck would be so great as to inherit such a secret art.

Instructor Zhang put away his spear and paced beneath the moonlight, letting out a long, soft sigh. "Alas, all these years, I’ve wanted to find someone to whom I could pass this spear art, lest one day I am gone and this technique is lost. That would truly be a sin!"

Li Muzhan said, "Instructor, why say such a thing? You are so young, and your cultivation is so high..."

"Who can predict matters of life and death? One must always take precautions one step ahead." Instructor Zhang shook his head. "It's a pity that over these past decade or so, not a single person has caught my eye."

Li Muzhan remained silent, uncertain how to respond.

Instructor Zhang turned, smiling at him. "Mingkong, you are truly exceptional. Your comprehension is high, and your aptitude is good. You are the best inheritor of my Flying Dragon Spear!"

Li Muzhan replied, "This is the disciple's honor!" He bowed deeply. "The kindness of this instruction, this disciple cannot repay..."

"No need for such ceremony," Instructor Zhang waved his hand gently. "In the future, if I am no longer here, taking care of my daughter will be sufficient!"

Without waiting for Li Muzhan to reply, he waved his hand again. "That is enough for today. Starting tomorrow, I will teach you one spear form each day."

"Yes," Li Muzhan responded respectfully.

Watching Instructor Zhang walk away until he vanished into the night, Li Muzhan focused his mind, contemplating the spear forms he had just seen. Excitement bubbled within him; he had not known such martial arts existed.

The Great Yan Dynasty revered Buddhism; the Emperor did not style himself as a Dragon, but claimed to be a reincarnation of the Buddha. This was why the Subduing Dragon Post existed; in another dynasty, such a name would have invited taboo. He compared them carefully, feeling that the Subduing Dragon Post was superior for cultivating internal energy than the Flying Bear Palm, but the Flying Bear Palm could increase speed. Thus, one could not definitively say which was better. If the two could be combined, that would be supreme, but that was impossible currently; the Post cultivated movement from stillness, while the Flying Bear Palm controlled motion with motion—they were different. He sensed that the method of generating internal energy also differed between the two. Where did the internal energy from the Yongquan point originate? And the Flying Bear Palm? He concentrated, thinking for a while, then shook his head; he needed more careful observation; it was too early to delve into such theory now.

When he returned to the tent, he squinted and spotted Xiong Sihai standing near the entrance, flanked by his two lackeys, neither joining the merriment inside. Inside the tent, Xiong Sihai and Zhao Shengli’s group of four were roaring with laughter over some shared joke.

Li Muzhan entered, and the five men stopped laughing. Zhao Shengli said with a chuckle, "Monk, you're late! Brother Sihai has been waiting for you a while!"

Xiong Sihai slid off the low couch, quickly saying with respect, "Great Monk, you've returned?"

Li Muzhan nodded to him and attended to his own tasks, setting down his spear and changing his clothes.

After some time, once he was finished, Xiong Sihai asked, "Great Monk, tomorrow is our day off. How about we go into the city for some fun?"

Li Muzhan’s eyebrows lifted as he glanced at Zhao Shengli.

Zhao Shengli laughed heartily. "Monk, you just bury your head in practice; you don't know about these things!" It’s like this: tomorrow the recruitment ends, and the whole regiment gets a day off to have a good time in Tianlong City..."

Li Muzhan nodded. "I still need to practice. You all go ahead."

Xiong Sihai quickly interjected, "Great Monk, one needs both work and rest; it's the way of both scholarly and martial pursuits. Constant practice isn't as good as taking a break! I know Tianlong City best; I'll be the guide. Don't worry, we won't go to any of those pleasure quarters!"

Just as Li Muzhan was about to refuse, Zhao Shengli waved his hand. "It's settled. The whole crew is going out. You don't want to cause trouble by being special, do you?"

Li Muzhan forced a wry smile and shook his head. "Fine."

Xiong Sihai immediately beamed, cupping his hands. "That's settled then! I’ll come by tomorrow, we’ll meet up, and head into the city together!" With that, he rushed out as if afraid Li Muzhan might change his mind.

After Xiong Sihai left, Li Muzhan shook his head. "Head Zhao, you need to be careful getting involved with him."

Zhao Shengli shot him a glare and snorted. "You worry too much. Don't worry, there won't be any trouble!" Besides, you’ve been here long enough; it’s time to relax outside. If you keep one string pulled too tight, it might snap."

Cai Yuzhang chimed in, "Head Zhao, I think we need to be careful. He has offended too many people; he has countless enemies. If we stick with him..." Be careful not to get implicated!"

"Stop fussing!" Zhao Shengli glared, ignoring Cai Yuzhang.

Li Muzhan exchanged a glance with Cai Yuzhang, offering a wry smile. Head Zhao was just that kind of man—bold and straightforward; once he took a liking to someone, he never considered the pros and cons. Zhao Shengli and Xiong Sihai got along famously, so speaking ill of Xiong Sihai in this situation was utterly useless. (!)E