Cao Ya shook his head. "Brother Hu, there's no need to say more.

I won't let Wuji venture into the wulin; it's too dangerous, too close to death.

It's better for him to live a steady, ordinary life." "Alas...

that is true." Hu Ruilin nodded. "While having the skill to protect oneself can be a blessing, it can also be the very cause of ruin...

Very well, I'll abide by your wishes.

What a pity, though!" "There aren't that many blessings in the world, are there?" Cao Ya chuckled. "Brother Hu, you give him too much credit." "Brother Cao, you don't understand.

A martial artist first needs a great teacher, and second, innate talent.

Both are indispensable.

For Wuji, possessing both means becoming a master won't be difficult." Cao Ya smiled and shook his head, saying no more.

Seeing his resolve, Hu Ruilin finally gave up, sighing, "Forget it, forget it, I won't mention it again! ...

Feng'er, relay the Eight Methods of Tiger Drinking to Wuji for me!" "Yes, Father!" Hu Xiaofeng nodded distractedly.

Hu Ruilin instructed, "You young men can talk freely.

Explain it in detail, and don't disgrace the name of our Tiger Drinking Abode!" "Father, I understand perfectly," Hu Xiaofeng replied impatiently.

He turned with a smile. "Junior Brother Li, let's step out to talk." Li Muzhan cupped his hands in farewell to Cao Ya and Hu Ruilin.

Once outside the room, Li Muzhan smiled. "Senior Brother Hu, where shall we go?" "Somewhere private," Hu Xiaofeng replied.

Li Muzhan suggested, "Then perhaps my room." Hu Xiaofeng nodded.

The two entered the room, and Hu Xiaofeng closed the door.

He surveyed the interior, then pushed the circular table in the center against the wall, clearing a space on the floor.

Hu Xiaofeng stepped into the center of the cleared area and said in a deep voice, "Father said your aptitude is excellent; learning should not be hard for you...

The Eight Methods of Tiger Drinking from our Tiger Drinking Abode is the most fundamental introductory mental cultivation method.

It forms the basis of all Tiger Drinking Abode martial arts; everything is built upon it.

Among the generations of disciples of the Tiger Drinking Abode, there have been those who, by cultivating only the Eight Methods of Tiger Drinking, became renowned masters across the land." Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow slightly, nodding slowly.

Hu Xiaofeng continued, "So, never underestimate the Eight Methods of Tiger Drinking.

If you master it, becoming a top-tier expert will not be difficult." Li Muzhan smiled. "Thank you, Senior Brother Hu." Hu Xiaofeng waved his hand. "No need for formalities.

Since Father commanded it, I will naturally comply.

Watch closely; I will demonstrate it slowly, twice." He then began to move, adopting a bizarre posture, remaining utterly still—neither truly squatting nor truly leaping, as if poised to jump but frozen in place.

Li Muzhan glanced at the movement, imprinting it into his mind, then began to simulate it over and over in his head. "This is the Flying Bird Stance.

This movement contains infinite profoundness.

If you can fully grasp its subtlety, there is no need to learn anything else from the Tiger Drinking Abode martial arts; practicing just this one stance is sufficient!" Hu Xiaofeng's body remained motionless, only his lips moving.

Li Muzhan nodded, faintly grasping the essence of its mystery.

He inwardly marveled at the sheer elegance of the stance; it existed precisely between motion and stillness—a state of potential motion within stillness, where vitality is born from quiescence.

It was in that precise sliver of opportunity.

Through the simulations running in his mind, he had already glimpsed a hint of its profound meaning.

This single posture held endless resonance; the Eight Methods of Tiger Drinking were indeed extraordinary.

Hu Xiaofeng asked, "Have you learned it?" Li Muzhan smiled and replicated the stance, precisely mirroring the posture—half-squat, half-leap, like a bird about to unfurl its wings, appearing rather strange.

Hu Xiaofeng examined him, then nodded. "As expected of excellent talent, truly quick-witted.

Good, the next method: the Limitless Stance!" He then adopted another stance, leaning his body backward and bending low.

Both hands clasped his feet, causing his entire body to form a perfect circle, then he stood motionless.

Li Muzhan observed.

For an ordinary person, this movement would be too difficult, demanding extreme flexibility.

His own physique was robust, far surpassing the common standard; after one look, he followed suit immediately. "Excellent!" Hu Xiaofeng exclaimed in admiration. "This stance is also endlessly profound.

Hands and feet connect to form a circle, like Yin and Yang merging into one, Taiji returning to the Wuji...

The key to this stance lies in softness and emptiness.

If you cannot achieve softness and emptiness, the Qi cannot merge with the void, and it will have no effect." Li Muzhan nodded.

He had profound experience with this type of zhan zhuang (stake standing).

Without needing Hu Xiaofeng to elaborate, he grasped the core principle just by seeing the movement.

Subsequently, Hu Xiaofeng demonstrated six more movements, all strange and peculiar.

Li Muzhan mirrored each one flawlessly, mastering all eight within a short time.

Hu Xiaofeng had Li Muzhan perform the sequence once.

Watching Li Muzhan's smooth movements, he snorted, "Truly formidable.

It took me a significant amount of time to learn this, enduring much suffering and many blows from my father.

To think you mastered it in one attempt! If Father hadn't witnessed it, I would suspect you had learned it before!" Li Muzhan laughed. "These few movements weren't that difficult, were they?" "Hmph, not difficult?" Hu Xiaofeng replied testily. "They look simple, but executing them without the slightest deviation is far from easy.

The placement of the fingers, the gaze—everything must be precise.

Achieving that is not simple.

Seeing you do it like this genuinely makes me uncomfortable!" Li Muzhan smiled. "Senior Brother Hu overpraises me!" "I don't deal in flattery.

If it is one, it is one; if it is two, it is two!" Hu Xiaofeng huffed. "It is a waste for you not to practice martial arts.

What can you achieve in scholarship? Better to become a top-tier master, roam the world freely, enjoy life to the fullest—what true happiness that is! //The fastest text update from Shumi Lou Li Muzhan smiled. "I cannot defy my teacher's wishes." "...That is also true." Hu Xiaofeng nodded. "Uncle Cao is a Second Rank official.

Unfortunately, it's not like he can't be demoted or dismissed on a whim.

It's unlike us martial artists; once we master our skills, we never lose them.

Officials—their very lives are in the hands of others!" Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head without commenting further.

Having read extensively, he understood that this world resembled ancient Earth in many ways.

Although there were martial arts masters and noble outlaws in the wulin, these individuals could not truly hold power.

Those in charge were still the scholars, the officials.

Public sentiment is like iron, and official decrees are like a furnace; no matter how powerful a martial artist might be, they cannot openly defy the government, or their end is certain. "Among all professions, literature is the noblest," even a frail scholar, once passing the Imperial Examinations and ascending to the Dragon Court, held the power of life and death, which martial arts masters dared not challenge.

Hu Xiaofeng was young and perhaps did not yet comprehend these worldly laws, but Li Muzhan, having experienced several lifetimes, was acutely aware.

True strength was not merely martial prowess; it encompassed many other facets.

Martial arts were one form of power; authority was another.

In some worlds, martial arts were stronger; in others, political power reigned supreme.

In the world he currently inhabited, holding office surpassed being a hero of the wulin. "It is beneficial to cultivate within officialdom." This was precisely why Li Muzhan sought tutelage under Cao Ya—to hide within the ranks of the bureaucracy.

Otherwise, even as a Grandmaster, unfamiliar with the terrain and lacking connections to draw upon, he would be far too vulnerable to ruin.

He was excessively cautious, having learned lessons from the fates of other fallen Grandmasters.

Seeing Li Muzhan’s apparent indifference, a spark of anger ignited in Hu Xiaofeng’s chest.

He said coldly, "Are you looking down on the people of the wulin?" Li Muzhan smiled. "Senior Brother Hu misunderstands.

My ambition does not lie in conflict and slaughter.

Saving one person is easy; saving thousands is hard.

Serving as an official to benefit the populace—I believe that path is better." Hu Xiaofeng snorted. "If you master martial arts, you can protect those upright officials, which is also benefiting the people, just like my father!" Li Muzhan smiled and nodded. "That is also true." Hu Xiaofeng watched Li Muzhan’s smiling, placid demeanor, finding him utterly unyielding, which infuriated him.

He felt Li Muzhan was slippery and bothersome, someone he could not truly befriend.

With that thought, he sneered. "Fine, I have taught you what I was supposed to.

The key is your own cultivation.

I'm leaving!" He said this without waiting for Li Muzhan’s response, turning sharply and slamming the door as he left.

Li Muzhan smiled, feeling no anger.

Although Hu Xiaofeng was arrogant and quick-tempered, he was straightforward and lacked cunning or deep strategy; there was no need to guard against him.

Xiao He fluttered in. "What's wrong with him?" Li Muzhan laughed. "We simply didn't see eye to eye.

Now that Great Hero Hu has arrived, we can finally rest easy." "Yes." Xiao He broke into a sweet smile. "But Hu Xiaofeng is terribly arrogant, truly infuriating! He barely gave Young Master a second glance!" Li Muzhan smiled, examining her. "Xiao He, have you suffered at his hands?" "No," Xiao He quickly shook her head, huffing. "He's thinking of drinking swan meat—truly overestimating himself!" Li Muzhan chuckled. "Junior Sister is gentle and virtuous; she is indeed a suitable match.

No wonder he likes her." "He has ill intentions!" Xiao He pouted and snorted. "It's only because of Master's status.

He has an ulterior motive!" "Xiao He, you are thinking too much," Li Muzhan replied, shaking his head and smiling. "I think he is infatuated with Junior Sister." "Young Master, you are too naive!" Xiao He shot him an annoyed glance. "If Miss wasn't Master's daughter, he...

Hmph!" "Does he have other women?" Li Muzhan frowned.

Xiao He nodded. "He is quite the philanderer!" As the two were speaking, Steward Xu entered and nodded. "Has the Young Master learned the Eight Methods of Tiger Drinking?" Li Muzhan nodded. "Yes, Brother Hu taught me the Eight Methods of Tiger Drinking just now." "That is truly rare!" Steward Xu smiled. "The Eight Methods of Tiger Drinking is both the foundational cultivation and the very essence of the Tiger Drinking Abode.

If Young Master practices it well, you will benefit immensely!" Li Muzhan smiled. "I understand." Steward Xu waved his hand. "Xiao He, don't disturb the Young Master's practice.

Let's go!" Xiao He nodded reluctantly. "Alright then.

Young Master, hurry up and practice.

Don't forget it again overnight! Let's go!" Li Muzhan waved goodbye with a smile.

Xiao He and Steward Xu closed the door and left.

Li Muzhan began cultivating the Eight Methods of Tiger Drinking, starting with the first stance, the Flying Bird Stance.

He maintained the posture for half an shichen (one hour).

His mastery of zhan zhuang was sufficient to know that for true efficacy, it required more than a quarter of an shichen.

After half an shichen, a smile touched his lips.

The Eight Methods of Tiger Drinking were indeed extraordinary; a trace of warm Qi had begun to generate, rising up from the Yongquan point and drilling into his Dantian.

An average person might not notice, but Li Muzhan's spiritual energy was formidable, allowing him subtle perception; he could clearly observe the emergence of this thread of internal energy.

This was definitely not the Lingqi of heaven and earth; it seemed to originate from the earth’s energy.

Li Muzhan frowned in contemplation.

Was the Flying Bird Stance absorbing geothermal energy, or was it the grain energy within his Dantian? He remained perfectly still, observing quietly, watching thread after thread of warm energy drift from Yongquan into his Dantian, yet he could not determine if it came from the earth beneath or was generated directly at the Yongquan point.