Chapter 11: The Elder and the Girl

The system's products were indeed top-notch. At the very least, it eliminated the need for understanding and integrating the essence of the martial art form, which would have been a challenging step for Ye Tian, especially with the concept of sinking the qi to the dantian.

"Floating spirit top strength, sinking qi to the dantian, retracting the chest and straightening the back with inward intention, sinking shoulders and dropping elbows to relax the muscles and bones, loosening the waist and opening the orifices for the rotating feet, using the intention to lead the qi in a silk-reeling strength, distinguishing the virtual and the real to adjust the yin and yang..."

These essential phrases of the martial art form continuously flashed in Ye Tian's mind. The esoteric essence of Tai Chi seemed to have been thoroughly integrated, with every move clearly memorized as if it had become an instinct.

Thanks to the system's abnormal infusion ability, Ye Tian was like those reborn characters in novels. Although his physical fitness was far from sufficient, his understanding of the martial art was already immensely profound. Slowly raising his hands, he performed the Tai Chi starting pose with a proficiency as if he had practiced it countless times.

Starting pose, covering hand and arm fist, diamond pounder...

As he gradually executed the Ancient Martial Tai Chi, it seemed at first glance not much different from the Tai Chi practiced by elderly women at the park's entrance. However, a closer observation would reveal a unique rhythm in each of Ye Tian's moves, immersing the observer in their charm.

With the execution of the Tai Chi technique, Ye Tian felt his bones and meridians tingling, itching, and numbing. The more he practiced, the stronger this sensation grew.

He was feeling it so quickly!

Ye Tian was delighted, knowing well what this meant with his theoretical knowledge of Ancient Martial Tai Chi, equivalent to over a decade of practice, thanks to the system's infusion.

Martial Path Purification!

This was a rare phenomenon in the ancient martial world, where a martial artist, after accumulating extensive experience, made rapid progress in their understanding of the martial path, akin to a sudden enlightenment.

Once in this state, it meant not only a significant improvement in understanding martial arts but also a rapid enhancement in physical fitness in a very short time.

Normally, this state was elusive and sought after. Even practitioners of ancient martial arts for decades rarely entered this state, usually only during breakthroughs and with a minuscule chance.

The most crucial aspect of Martial Path Purification was the rapid advancement in understanding the martial arts. However, this understanding typically accumulated gradually. A sudden substantial increase was nearly impossible, which was why this state was so rare.

However, Ye Tian was an exception. His understanding of martial arts came directly from the system's infusion, not rote memorization but complete integration, as if he had genuinely practiced ancient martial arts for over a decade. For Ye Tian, the rare Martial Path Purification was as common as eating and drinking. This state would only disappear when his physical fitness caught up with his understanding.

The rapid improvement in physical fitness made Ye Tian feel exhilarated. His Tai Chi became more skilled. Only when the sun had completely set did he reluctantly stop. With a light shout, he expelled a turbid breath from his chest, cutting a slowly falling leaf in half as if with a sharp sword.

Ye Tian clenched his fist and struck a maple tree beside him. The thick trunk shook violently, and countless leaves fell with the wind. The bark of the trunk was blasted open.

"Indeed, the most exquisite Tai Chi in ancient martial arts, the effects are extraordinary!"

Ye Tian withdrew his hand, feeling a sense of awe. This was just the increase in strength; he wondered what effects the more sophisticated techniques would bring.

The obvious effects of Tai Chi made Ye Tian eager to draw immediately. But remembering that his dog food points were about to reach one hundred, he clenched his teeth and suppressed the urge.

If ten points of dog food value could yield something like the Ancient Martial Tai Chi technique, Ye Tian was even more eager for the one-hundred-point draw.

By then, night had completely fallen, and the moon hung high in the sky. Ye Tian had no intention of continuing his practice and headed out of the forest.

Unbeknownst to Ye Tian, just as he left the woods, an old man and a young girl appeared at the spot where he had been practicing.

"Grandpa, that guy just performed a set of Tai Chi, what's so impressive about that?" The young girl, seeing her grandpa carefully examining the spot where Ye Tian had practiced, couldn't help but express her disdain.

"You don't understand! Embracing the heart to guard the origin, pointing the feet at Tai Chi, this is the real Ancient Martial Tai Chi secret technique, a martial art that has been lost for decades. This young man is definitely not ordinary."

The elder, with

 white hair but a straight posture and eyes filled with wisdom, was clearly no ordinary person. He stared intently at the spot where Ye Tian had practiced, his tone heavy:

"I didn't expect that this lost martial art would still have a successor. I wonder when such a person appeared in the ancient martial world."

The girl, following the elder's gaze, saw a pattern made by feet on the ground where Ye Tian had practiced, resembling a Tai Chi diagram.

Despite her grandfather's solemn expression, the girl remained skeptical, saying:

"Grandpa, aren't you overthinking it? That guy looks about my age. Maybe he was just practicing Tai Chi for fitness, and he deliberately drew the Tai Chi diagram on the ground for show. It's not a big deal!"

As she spoke, seemingly to prove her point, she mimicked Ye Tian's movements, trying to draw a similar Tai Chi diagram with her feet.

However, no matter how hard she tried, her Tai Chi seemed clumsy, and the diagram she drew was crooked and barely recognizable.

The elder sighed at his stubborn granddaughter, shaking his head: "Tai Chi focuses on intent, not form. Your deliberate imitation is futile. That man's Tai Chi was incredibly skilled, clearly not the work of a year or half a year."

Hearing this, the girl pouted, stubbornly kicking a nearby tree, exclaiming: "I don't believe he's that great. I'll have to meet him someday and see whether this Ancient Martial Tai Chi is stronger or our Tang family's Twelve Road Leg Techniques!"

Bang!

A loud crack resonated as the girl's kick landed on the tree trunk, which burst open as if struck by a heavy hammer.