Chapter 220: Are You Sure You Want Me to Learn?
"Umm... Are you sure you want me to learn it? I think this secret technique belongs to your Tang Family, it’d be better if you practice it yourself." Chen Tianlong didn’t really mind learning it, but he was concerned that they might misunderstand if he learned someone else’s skill.
"Oh, I’m very sure. I wish I could learn it just by looking! My dad showed me a book before, but even after reading it several times, I couldn’t figure out how to practice it, and he refuses to teach me." Tang Bing scratched his head, chuckling bitterly, "Bro, do you think I’m really dumb?"
"Haha, no."
With a faint smile, Chen Tianlong thought learning martial arts wasn’t just about being smart; it relied on comprehension. Some people are innately sensitive to martial arts, which is what’s known as talent, making it easier for them to grasp its essence.
"So... should I just go ahead and learn it?"
Hearing Tang Bing say that, Chen Tianlong didn’t delay further. Whether learning it ultimately meant he would teach Tang Bing and then forget it, he could deal with it later.
"Okay, okay."
Tang Bing nodded in agreement.
Chen Tianlong sat on the edge of the round platform, holding the Yellow-covered Book. It was already past eleven, and Missy and the others would probably only play until around twelve.
Meaning, he had just one hour, so he opened the Secret Manual and started studying it intently.
Opening the first page, it was inscribed with a lengthy passage.
"The Tang Family’s Twelve Leg Kicks are an Ultimate Skill of Leg Technique. Once fully mastered, its power is endless. Its Leg Technique is exquisite, divided into twelve styles, an Ancient Martial Technique requiring the practitioner to be an Ancient Martial Cultivator with a Combat Level of Yellow Dao, Star Rank One in order to be effective."
The Combat Level of an Ancient Martial Cultivator divided into four pathways: Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow, with each pathway further split into seven Star Ranks, starting from Yellow Dao, Star Rank One.
After reading it, Chen Tianlong’s heart shook. So, the Twelve Leg Kicks were Ancient Martial Techniques for Ancient Martial Cultivators. No wonder Master Tang didn’t let Tang Bing learn it. Tang Bing wasn’t an Ancient Martial Cultivator, so it wouldn’t help even if he learned it.
"Hey, Tang Bing, I’m afraid neither of us can learn this." Chen Tianlong said with a bitter smile, passing the Secret Manual over.
Tang Bing was stunned, then took the Yellow-covered Book handed over by Chen Tianlong, brows furrowing after glancing for a while. "Ah, turns out it’s a martial skill for Ancient Martial Cultivators!"
After sighing, suddenly Tang Bing’s eyes brightened, looking towards Chen Tianlong: "Bro, what are the traits of Ancient Martial Cultivators? Since this skill refers to Ancient Martial Cultivators, it must be because they possess something different from us. Maybe you can master it!"
Clearly, Tang Bing wasn’t giving up. If Bro could master it, he’d have a chance to practice it, knowing it was unlikely his father would teach him.
Listening to Tang Bing, Chen Tianlong was initially startled, then recalled something.
Powerful Qi!
Master Ye Feng once said, the only difference between Ancient Martial Cultivators and regular people is their bodies contain Powerful Qi.
And Chen Tianlong never understood why he possessed Powerful Qi from a young age, and it continuously generated Powerful Qi. Master said he was an exception.
So then, could he actually learn the Twelve Leg Kicks?
Thinking about it, Chen Tianlong became somewhat curious, and decisively asked, "Tang Bing, can I really learn this martial technique?"
"Of course you can. If you learn it, I won’t have to worry in the future. Even if I really can’t learn it, I can rely on you to sort out any trouble," Tang Bing remarked with a grin.
It seemed like he wasn’t bothered whether he learned the skill or not, as long as Chen Tianlong was there to rely on.
"...."
Chen Tianlong was speechless; he finally understood this guy’s intent. It wasn’t about learning. It was about making him stronger to protect them.
"Bro, you should learn it. As long as you teach me later, it won’t be a problem. At worst, I’ll say I forced you to learn and then taught me." Tang Bing said assertively.
"..."
With a head full of black lines, since Tang Bing said so, Chen Tianlong couldn’t refuse further. Anyway, as long as he didn’t use it after learning, it’d be fine.
"Alright, I’ll give it a try."
Chen Tianlong took the Secret Manual again and continued reading. On the first page of the main text, there was a Heart Method Mantra of more than two hundred characters. At first glance, it seemed similar to all Heart Methods, meant for Qi sinking into the Dantian and circulating through the body.
So, he tried the Heart Method once, and basically remembered most of it.
After running it three times, he could completely grasp it, even giving himself a scare. Ever since learning that little Heart Method taught by his father, any Heart Method seemed easy to learn.
Feeling a surge of joy, Chen Tianlong continued turning the page, where the first move of the Twelve Leg Kicks was described.
Once Chen Tianlong operated the Twelve Leg Kicks’ Heart Method, he felt his legs were filled with strength. Testing it with force, in the next moment, both of them were wide-eyed.
Wow!
Chen Tianlong almost hit the cave ceiling.
This was intense! His jumping ability surged explosively, skyrocketing several times, hitting the six or seven meters-high cave ceiling.
"Bro, are you okay!"
Tang Bing was astonished. How could the Twelve Leg Kicks be so powerful? He’d never seen his father reach this level, yet when Chen Tianlong tried, it was like it was tailor-made for him.
"No problem, just overexerted. I’ll try again." Chen Tianlong said with a bitter smile. The Twelve Leg Kicks really were potent; the first move almost caused him to crash.
Afterwards, Chen Tianlong started being careful, refraining from using full force. Instead, he made a light jump, and at half height, suddenly kicked out his leg. Whoosh, his leg struck with the speed of lightning, carrying a forceful leg wind.
It showed speed but not power.
To test the power, Chen Tianlong approached a nearby stone, about half a meter wide. He took a deep breath and operated the Twelve Leg Kicks Mantra, initiating the first move—a high kick, then powerfully striking towards the stone.
Still, he was somewhat apprehensive; if the effect wasn’t as described, like having Steel Bones, would his leg be in agonizing pain?
"Boom!"
With a loud noise, the stone on the ground was actually split in half, like a watermelon sliced by a knife. The speed of the kick was startling.
Not just fast, but fiercely strong.
"Whoa, Bro, you’re incredible!"
Staring at the big rock split in two by Chen Tianlong, Tang Bing’s eyes were wide with disbelief.
Chen Tianlong smiled bitterly, even he was startled by himself. He’d concentrated his body’s Powerful Qi in his leg, following the first move’s technique.
Unexpectedly, that’s the effect, and clearly his Qi wasn’t his own but absorbed from the gorilla that day, still not fully consumed.
This discovery amazed Chen Tianlong. It turned out the absorbed Qi could remain and be used, just uncontrolled, released at any moment.
But in Tang Bing’s view, he really thought the Twelve Leg Kicks’ technique was that amazing and quickly ran over, excitedly saying, "Bro, teach me this move, it seems so powerful."