Chapter 66: Tai Chi, Slight Mastery
"Xiao Fan, you're awake?"
Yin Fang tiptoed into the room, pausing in surprise when she saw Chen Fan sitting up. She chuckled softly, "Your father told me not to wake you before he left. He said you trained too late last night and deserved to sleep in for once."
"Has Dad already gone out?"
Chen Fan's heart skipped a beat before he remembered they weren't hunting today—just meeting the Gu family villagers. His tension eased.
"Yes, they should return by afternoon. Rest more if you're tired," Yin Fang said gently.
While others praised her son as the village hero, she only cared about his well-being.
"No need. I'm fully rested."
Chen Fan shook his head and glanced at the empty bedside. Even his younger brother Chen Chen had gone out.
He must have trained too late last night.
But he'd make the same choice again—not just yesterday, but tonight too. The real question was whether Uncle Zhang would have time to spare.
Distant chatter filtered through the walls.
He scrambled out of bed with an awkward smile. "Mom, any food? I'm starving."
"Of course! I prepared it earlier."
Yin Fang hurried to respond.
Breakfast consisted of porridge and beast meat.
Under his mother's watchful gaze, Chen Fan finished eating. Noting the dozen new potential points, he wiped his mouth and stood. "I'm going to find Uncle Zhang."
"Wait until after lunch?"
Yin Fang's voice held reluctance.
"Can't waste the time before noon."
Chen Fan vanished through the doorway before she could protest.
Yin Fang sighed softly.
Today's plan: first raise Tai Chi to slight mastery, then archery and Meteor Arrow Technique. Tonight, maybe basic spear techniques. Chen Fan strategized as he walked.
Tai Chi's importance couldn't be overstated—it granted abundant attribute points and served as foundation for both fist and spear techniques.
Archery remained essential. With over 40 strength points, he could now wield a 200-jin bow. His effective range might reach 400-500 meters during hunts.
The [Meteor Arrow Technique] promised advanced skills and rumored secret methods. He burned to test its legendary claims.
As for [Basic Spear Techniques], Uncle Zhang's guidance accelerated progress. Though the attribute gains were meager, every bit counted. More importantly, its "Arms Mastery" trait boosted blocking rates.
A new speculation struck him—could this blocking apply to arrows too? If so, mastering it might negate ranged threats entirely.
He covered the dozens of meters in moments.
Wang Ping and others already occupied the training ground, joined by two men who'd stayed behind.
"Xiao Fan's here!"
"Did you rest well? We heard you trained past midnight!"
Their faces shone with approval.
"Yes, Uncle Qian. Fully rested." Chen Fan smiled at the group's leader.
"Ready?"
Zhang Ren approached, spear in hand.
"Sorry I'm late, Uncle Zhang." Chen Fan rubbed his neck. "I'll practice Tai Chi first, then archery. Spear training tonight, if you're free."
"Mm."
Zhang Ren nodded. "Ask anytime you need help."
He walked away, leaving Chen Fan to check his status panel:
[Zhang-style Tai Chi: Beginner (1.2%)
Traits: Longevity Lv1, Strength Lv1, Agility Lv1]
According to Uncle Zhang, progression went Beginner → Slight Mastery → Proficient → Grandmaster. Three tiers to climb.
His 160 experience points could easily reach Slight Mastery, maybe even Proficient. Grandmastery remained distant.
Slight Mastery it is.
Chen Fan began his forms, movements already displaying beginner-level fluency.
Zhang Ren's eyebrow twitched across the field. So he's truly grasped the fundamentals. Melancholy crept in—he'd needed three years to reach this stage as a child.
But ascending from Beginner to Slight Mastery won't be easy, Zhang Ren thought, watching Chen Fan cycle through forms. The boy clearly aimed to learn Baji Fist and eventually Eight Extremes Spear—an ambitious path.
Then the familiar phenomenon recurred.
Each repetition refined Chen Fan's movements by hair's breadths. Twenty cycles later, his technique had visibly improved.
"How...?" Zhang Ren's eyes widened.
After completing another set, Chen Fan discreetly allocated an experience point. Proficiency jumped 2%.
Good.
Fifty more cycles should achieve Slight Mastery. The gradual progress appeared completely natural. Anticipation bubbled—would new traits unlock upon advancement?
Time flowed like sand through fingers.
Zhang Ren sighed. The boy's talent defied reason, improving through sheer practice whether in archery, stances, fist techniques, or spearmanship.
"A martial prodigy unseen in centuries," he murmured.
When Chen Fan allocated the final experience point, warmth flooded his veins.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
His joints popped like firecrackers, fatigue evaporating instantly. His understanding of Tai Chi ascended—concepts like "Qi follows intent" and "Body moves with spirit" grew clearer, though still elusive.
"Significantly stronger now," he muttered, checking his updated status:
[Meteor Arrow Technique: Novice (0.1%)]
[Zhang-style Tai Chi: Slight Mastery (0.2%)
Traits: Longevity Lv2, Strength Lv2, Agility Lv2, Bloodflow Lv1]
"A new trait?"
Chen Fan's eyes widened. Yet he felt no physical changes.
Odd. Maybe this trait's effects are subtle?
(End of Chapter)
