By the time he finished one set of the Pile, a stick of incense had already burned.

Qin Fang was panting slightly. He had already performed the Standing Pile three times today, and without a Qi Blood Pill this time, the burden was still a bit much for him.

His foundation was, after all, still too weak.

After exhaling a puff of white mist and relaxing his stance, he saw the astonished expression on Zhou Xing’s face.

He hesitated...

"Senior Brother?"

Zhou Xing finally snapped out of it, then looked at Qin Fang with a complicated expression. "You’ve only been practicing the Pile for... two days?"

Qin Fang shook his head. "Including today... it’s been three days."

Three days...

Only three days, and he’s already reached the entry-level?

’If I heard correctly just now, he’s even touched the very edge of the Skin Membrane Drum Sound, hasn’t he?’

It was only because his physical foundation was too poor that his power wasn’t fluid and his breath wasn’t long enough...

But he had clearly grasped the method of exerting force.

All he needed was to build up his foundation.

...And that wasn’t even the crucial part.

The crucial part was... the young man clearly showed signs of the ’Melted Pile’.

That is, the skill had already become part of his body!

In all his movements, he naturally incorporated the Pile Skill!

One had to understand, this was no easy feat.

It’s a very simple principle... If a person is used to slouching, will they forever maintain a straight-backed, head-up posture after just one or two lessons in body alignment?

If they’re used to walking with their feet turned out, will they completely change their gait after being corrected once or twice?

No.

Because of habit.

And habit... is a very formidable thing.

And "skill becoming part of the body," the "Melted Pile"... is the complete changing of these habits.

It makes a person unconsciously display the posture of the ’Pile’ whether they’re sitting, lying down, or walking.

Although it doesn’t mean they are performing the Standing Pile every single moment...

The benefits are obvious. It allows one’s Spirit to be fuller and their body to be stronger.

Martial Artists basically all have the ’Pile Skill’ integrated into their bodies.

This is also a fundamental way to tell if someone has cultivated just by looking at them.

That was why Zhou Xing was so shocked right now.

He had noticed something was off when the other man was chopping firewood.

Because he was clearly already using the Wild Bull Qi’s method of generating force...

Though it was clumsy, unrefined, and the power was very ’stiff’.

But the Pile doesn’t lie.

Especially since his own foundation was built on Wild Bull Strength, and he had been immersed in the Wild Bull Qi Strength Pile for several years... he was even less likely to be mistaken!

Three days...

The skill has become part of his body?

’What kind of demonic Talent is this?!’

Even Zhou Xing was a little stunned.

Skill becoming part of the body has nothing to do with one’s root bone, but with one’s comprehension.

He didn’t know what the young man’s root bone was like, but at least in terms of comprehension... it was definitely astonishing.

One could even call it heaven-defying.

’...No wonder Master wanted to take him as a disciple.’

Meeting Qin Fang’s somewhat puzzled gaze, Zhou Xing finally let out a soft breath and nodded. "Very good. You’ve reached the entry-level in just three short days... As your senior brother, I must admit my own Talent pales in comparison."

Qin Fang was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Zhou Xing to say something like that.

He quickly shook his head and said, "This little brother is still far too lacking. How could I possibly compare to Senior Brother..."

"There’s no need to be overly humble. When it comes to cultivation Talent... I know my own limits."

Zhou Xing shook his head with a bitter smile. "Back then, Master also taught me the Wild Bull Qi Strength Pile. It took me a full month to be considered entry-level. To reach your current state of ’skill becoming part of the body,’ it took me nearly half a year..."

"Skill becoming part of the body?" Qin Fang looked puzzled.

Zhou Xing patiently explained, "It means you naturally integrate the Pile Method into your movements, whether you’re moving or still, sitting or lying down... That’s what’s considered ’skill becoming part of the body’."

Hearing this, Qin Fang recalled his discovery from earlier today and a look of realization dawned on his face...

’No wonder my back didn’t hurt as much when I was sweeping snow, and I noticed a huge change in how I exerted force while chopping wood.’

’So the skill had become part of my body without me even realizing it...’

’Without a doubt, this is the effect of the ’Eternal Dao Fruit’!’

’Once cultivated, it will never regress.’

’As long as I reach the entry-level in a Pile Method, it will naturally manifest in my daily activities...’

’...I never expected the Eternal Dao Fruit to have this kind of effect.’

Qin Fang marveled inwardly.

"However, I noticed your force exertion is... a bit stiff. Haven’t you learned any other Martial Arts? ... What Master calls ’Leaf Skills’?"

Zhou Xing asked suddenly.

Qin Fang came back to his senses and nodded obediently. "Master has only taught me the Pile Method."

Zhou Xing nodded and sighed with emotion. "I suppose Master never expected you to achieve ’skill becoming part of the body’ so quickly... You haven’t seen Master these past few days, have you?"

Qin Fang nodded upon hearing this.

After Master taught him the Pile Method the day before yesterday, he hadn’t seen him at all in the last two days.

"If Master knew you’d already achieved skill becoming part of the body, he’d probably be shocked too..." Zhou Xing sighed again.

Qin Fang didn’t know how to react, so he just scratched his head.

After a moment’s thought, Zhou Xing said, "Since that’s the case... Hmm, as your senior brother, how about I teach you a Fist Technique? Consider it a welcome gift."

"Huh?"

Qin Fang was a little dazed, looking at Zhou Xing dumbly.

’Honestly, I never expected... things would unfold like this.’

’Zhou Xing... wants to teach me a Fist Technique?’

Looking at the bewildered Qin Fang, Zhou Xing paused for a moment before speaking slowly, "Although we’ve just met, I can tell you’re a good person... The fact that you thought to come help Master’s Wife chop wood and sweep snow in your spare time from training... it may be a small thing, but it speaks volumes. I also trust Master and Master’s Wife’s judgment."

"Like Master’s Wife said, once you enter this household, we’re all family... You, don’t overthink it."

He spoke the last sentence very slowly, as if hinting at something.

Qin Fang froze. He was silent for a long moment before taking a deep breath and bowing deeply. "Yes, this junior brother understands... Thank you, Senior Brother, for teaching me."

Seeing Qin Fang’s reaction, Zhou Xing understood the unspoken meaning, and a glint flashed in his eyes.

’This is good. While investigating the case before, I marveled more than once at the murderer’s calmness and decisiveness.’ 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

’Looking at him now, he really is extraordinary.’

’Having a junior brother like this in our sect...’

’...might not be a bad thing.’

’As for the case...’

’...What case?’

’There’s a sea of unsolved cases piled up at the Government Office lately.’

’Regarding the Iron Tiger Gang affair, even the victims aren’t that concerned. Why should I, a mere forensic doctor, be so invested?’

’Besides.’

’It’s been two or three months since the crime.’

’The real culprit has probably already left True Martial.’

’What does it have to do with my good junior brother?’

"Alright, the Fist Technique I’m going to teach you is called ’Ox Demon Mountain-Opening Fist’... The Wild Bull Qi Strength Pile is one of the more widespread Low Grade Root Techniques. Naturally, many people have created numerous Leaf Skills based on the Wild Bull Qi, and this Ox Demon Mountain-Opening Fist is one of the best among them."

Zhou Xing quickly switched into teaching mode, and Qin Fang also took a deep breath to listen attentively.

"This fist is a Martial Art that combines Fist Technique, leg techniques, and Body Technique... I came across it by chance later on. It emphasizes overwhelming power and momentum, moving ever forward, attacking like an Ox Demon that only advances and never retreats."

"I’ll demonstrate it once. You watch first."

After speaking, Zhou Xing took off his black bailiff’s robe, revealing the clothes underneath.

The next moment, he settled into a stance.

"The Ox Demon Mountain-Opening Fist is all about wide, sweeping movements. During the process, imagine your body is a great bow—your torso is the bow’s body, and your fists and feet are the arrows!"

As his voice fell, he threw a punch, and a loud BANG exploded in the air!

’This is...’

’The Skin Membrane Drum Sound!’

Qin Fang’s eyes suddenly lit up.

Then he saw Zhou Xing’s fists and feet flying like arrows, shooting out with such force that they shattered the snowflakes drifting in the air!

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!~

The wind from his fists howled.

Qin Fang recalled what Master had said.

’The signs of the Peak of Mingjin are ’Muscle and Bone Sound, wind from the fists, and shattering stones underfoot’!’

Zhou Xing was clearly holding back his strength, but even so, power surged from where he stepped, blowing away the unswept snow on the ground!

"Force can’t be used stiffly. Different techniques use different kinds of force."

"For example, ’whipping strength’..."

He whipped out his right hand. WHOOSH! The wind howled. His arm was like a steel whip, almost forming a black shadow as it struck the empty air, the wind from his fist shredding the snowflakes.

"For example, ’drilling strength’..."

He twisted at the waist and thrust his left fist forward.

CHH!~

The fist was like a steel drill, suddenly lunging forward.

"For example..."

Zhou Xing spoke as he performed the Fist Technique, leaving Qin Fang utterly dazzled...

’He’s too strong!’

’Master might be stronger than Senior Brother Zhou Xing, but back then, Master was only performing the Standing Pile. Visually, it wasn’t as obvious.’

But now, seeing Senior Brother Zhou Xing’s fists and feet, Qin Fang felt his breath catch in his throat...

He could feel that if any one of Zhou Xing’s casual punches or kicks were to touch him, he would probably end up with shattered bones, coughing up blood until he died!

’This is...’

’Fist!’

...

「A moment later.」

Zhou Xing relaxed his stance and exhaled a long breath. The white mist shot out like an arrow for one or two meters before dissipating.

"Did you see it clearly?"

He looked at Qin Fang.

Qin Fang took a deep breath, closed his eyes to recall the movements carefully, and finally shook his head honestly. "Some of the techniques... I couldn’t remember them clearly..."

"No problem. Take your time. I’ll teach you one technique at a time now."

Zhou Xing nodded with a smile.

Just then, the voice of the Master’s Wife called out.

"You two, stop practicing for now. Come eat."

The two of them instinctively looked over.

Then they glanced at each other.

Zhou Xing smiled. "Alright, let’s eat first. We can practice more after we’re done."

Qin Fang’s eyes lit up. "Okay!"

The two senior and junior brothers tidied up a bit and went to eat...

"Wow, Matron, your cooking is still the best... It smells so good!"

"You little monkey, if you want to eat, just come more often," the Master’s Wife chided with a kindly smile.

"That’s a deal then... I’m about to get sick of my own cooking every day..."

Zhou Xing laughed heartily.