Chapter 3: Prisoner's Six Arts, Liberating Oneself (Seeking Follow-up Readings)

The city at five o'clock in the early morning.

Twinkling stars, sparse streetlights.

Other than the occasional tire noise from passing cars, it's silent.

Inside a dark, narrow rental room.

Flickering neon lights penetrate the window, casting fluctuating shadows on the wall.

"Shh… Huh…"

"Shh… Huh…"

Fang Cheng is lying on the floor, straightening his spine and extending his feet together.

His arms constantly bending down, until his chest almost touches the ground.

He takes a deep breath of the icy, piercing air.

Then pushes up forcefully with his arms, puffing out his chest and looking forward.

Exhaling a warm breath of white air.

With each movement, he silently counts, striving to maintain a steady rhythm.

That's right.

What he is doing now is known as the Hand-free Fitness Golden Moves, one of the three basic street workouts, Push-ups.

After careful consideration, Fang Cheng decided to prioritize "Physical Training".

Hoping to master new skills similar to "Fitness" and "Training" through basic practice, just like "Boxing".

In his previous life as a homebody, Fang Cheng had watched countless films and had seen some books and videos about fighting and fitness.

Especially a bestseller called "Prisoner Fitness, Mastering Powerful Survival Strength" left a deep impression on him.

The author of this book had served 19 years in the darkest prisons.

Prison life was brutal, with beatings and abuse being common, and accidents often resulting in severe injuries or deaths.

In such harsh conditions, weakness was a sin and becoming stronger was merely for survival.

The author spent years refining his craft, learning various traditional skills from fellow inmates and combining them with modern physical training science.

Eventually, he had an epiphany and developed a set of Prisoner Fitness techniques comprising of Six Arts, a simplistic yet profound approach.

Its philosophy is simple: eliminate the need for gyms.

No need for cold equipment or muscle-stimulating drugs.

Not pursuing bulky limbs or huge pectoral muscles, but rather seeking to flexibly and freely control one's body, becoming its master.

Anyone can possess explosive strength and a beast-like physique.

Rejecting equipment and drugs fits very well with Fang Cheng's current living conditions.

At this moment, he doesn't have money for gym memberships, personal trainers, or supplements like protein powder, nitric oxide, and creatine.

Therefore, combining his needs and the content of the book, Fang Cheng has devised a no-equipment fitness training plan.

Including Push-ups, Deep Squats, Pull-ups, Lifting Legs, Back Bridges, and Handstand Pushups.

The book refers to these six skills as "Prisoner's Six Arts."

And the "Push-ups," as the first of the Six Arts, are simple yet highly effective strength training.

This exercise not only trains the wrists, upper arms, chest, and core but also enhances cardiopulmonary function and boosts stamina.

Fang Cheng starts with standard two-arm Push-ups.

Of course, there are more challenging variations available.

Such as Diamond Push-ups, folded knife Push-ups, Shooter Push-up, and one-arm Push-ups, and Superman Push-ups as Advanced Training Method.

"13."

"14."

"15."

"Huff... Huff..."

As the number of Push-ups exceeds ten, Fang Cheng's breathing becomes rapid.

The bending and extending motion of his arms also begins to distort, struggling to maintain standard form.

But Fang Cheng is not ready to give up.

This is both a test of physical endurance and a further exploration of Golden Finger's real-world effectiveness.

Unlike professional skills like "Boxing" and "Cooking Skill,"

the concept of "Fitness" is too broad, encompassing a vast array, making it hard to define specifically.

It's Fang Cheng's first training session, and he is eager to see.

If practicing the same movement repeatedly can indeed trigger and unlock a new skill from the panel.

"18."

"19."

"20…"

Barely making it to 20, his physical strength seems to be at its limit.

Fang Cheng's chest heaves violently, and his arms start to tremble uncontrollably.

He can't help but stop to catch his breath.

"I'm still too weak…"

According to the training plan, this set should have been completed with 25 repetitions.

It now seems he had overestimated himself.

This body, lacking regular exercise, has long been weakened.

Suddenly engaging in high-intensity training, such performance is already commendable.

Moreover…

Since the panel shows no reaction, it's inevitably causing some hesitation.

Fang Cheng frowns, breathing heavily.

Thoughts of doubt flash through his mind but are quickly expelled.

Once a common man, he could be dissatisfied, self-pitying, and regretful of past shortcomings.

Now, given a chance by fate to change his trivial and vulgar life,

how could he easily give up and weave comforting lies and excuses for himself?

A salty bead of sweat streams down from the corner of his mouth to his chin.

Fang Cheng clenches his jaw.

The game has begun.

If he can't even take the first step, he'll forever remain a loser!

Success or not, if he desires something, he must fight with all his might to achieve it!

At the very least, he wants to see where his limits lie!

"Concentration Skill—activate!"

[You have used Concentration Skill, highly focusing your mind, and enhancing bodily control]

[Please maintain for over 30 minutes to increase Experience Points]

"21."

"22."

"23."

Although his muscles continue to tremble, Fang Cheng's eyes become determined and calm.

As if returning to the exam room during the college entrance examination, facing a difficult and complex test paper, without a single thought of retreat.

Each time he lowers his body to the ground, it's like conversing with his once weak and helpless self.

Each time he puffs out his chest and raises his head, it's like proving he has surpassed himself.

"24."

"25."

Breaking through yet another major barrier.

Sweat beads have already densely covered Fang Cheng's forehead.