In order to better perform the Tiger Roar, Zhanbei spent the whole afternoon diligently practicing martial arts skills.
What exactly is the "Tiger Roar"? Why can a human's punches convey the might of a tiger?
With doubts in mind, Zhanbei practiced boxing for the whole afternoon.
Seeing Zhanbei working even harder, Yuan Lei was very happy in his heart.
Yuan Lei knew that the reason why Zhan Bei couldn't perform the Tiger Roar was that he wasn't familiar enough with it.
Yuan Lei thought to himself, "You should know that it took me a whole year to master this martial art."
...
At night, the Shuofang Kingdom on the Lingwu Continent was gently veiled by a mysterious black veil.
The moonlight, like water, filtered through the sparse clouds and fell upon the quiet street, bringing a touch of coolness to this sweltering summer.
Zhanbei lay on the bed, constantly thinking about the martial arts skills that Yuanlei had taught him during the day.
Zhan Bei closed his eyes and found that he had fallen into a state of sudden enlightenment again.
He closed his eyes and concentrated, replaying every detail of Yuan Lei's practice of the Tiger Roar Fist in his mind.
The swift and fierce rush of a tiger emerging from the forest, the steady and powerful posture of a tiger crouching and a dragon coiling, and the earth-shaking roar of a tiger—all these moves are as clear in his mind as if they were engraved there.
Suddenly, Zhanbei's eyes snapped open, and a powerful aura burst forth from his body.
He stood up, his fists clenched tightly as if a thousand pounds of force were concentrated at the tips of his fingers.
At this moment, he seemed to blend in with the surrounding night, and every movement of his was full of power and rhythm.
He slowly launched the first move, "Tiger Leaping Out of the Forest", his body suddenly lunging forward. His right fist shot out like a tiger pouncing on its prey, the wind from his punch whistling and creating waves of air.
Immediately after, his body sank down, and his left fist followed the right one closely, just like a fierce tiger crouching on the ground, ready to pounce. This was precisely the second move, "Tiger Crouching and Dragon Coiling".
Just at that moment, Zhan Bei seemed to enter a wondrous state. His movements became exceptionally smooth, and each of his punches was accompanied by the sound of a tiger's roar.
He took a deep breath and suddenly swung his fists upwards, like a tiger roaring to the sky, with an overwhelming momentum. This was precisely the third move of the Tiger Roar Fist, "Tiger Roar Shaking the Heavens".
At this moment, a deafening roar of a tiger really reverberated through the air, as if a fierce tiger were actually present. Its might even made Zhan Bei himself feel a deep shock from the bottom of his soul.
He was deeply intoxicated by this wondrous state, every movement and every roar of the tiger seemed to resonate with the universe.
At this moment, he seemed to merge with the art of boxing, truly grasping the essence and power of the Tiger Roar Fist.
"Phew..."
Zhanbei took a deep breath and emerged from his state of sudden enlightenment.
He didn't expect that he had fallen into enlightenment again. Zhanbei found it somewhat amusing. The enlightenment that Yuan Shi had been longing for, he had obtained so easily, and even twice within a day.
He didn't know either why he had so easily "awakened" to it.
"Am I a genius too?"
Zhanbei chuckled.
"Who is it? It's so late at night and you're not even asleep!" the old lady next door shouted angrily.
Zhan Bei gave a start and quickly quieted down, not making a sound.
The next day, the sun was shining brightly.
The small square was bustling with people, but Yuan Lei and Zhan Bei were immersed in the world of martial arts, completely undisturbed by the outside world.
Yuan Lei looked at Zhan Bei's fluid and smooth boxing style, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.
In just one day, Zhanbei had cultivated the Tiger Roar Fist to its perfect stage. His fist wind roared like a tiger charging down a mountain, with astonishing might.
"Such a genius!" Yuan Lei exclaimed, recalling the hardships he had endured when practicing this boxing technique. He couldn't help but sigh, "Back then, I had to work at it painstakingly. It took me a whole year to produce the sound of a tiger's roar."
When Zhanbei heard Yuanlei's praise, he was also very excited in his heart. However, he did not become arrogant and complacent. Instead, he humbly replied, "It's all thanks to the excellent teaching of Master Yuan."
Yuan Lei looked at Zhan Bei's smartness and was very pleased. He knew that Zhan Bei not only had extraordinary talent but also was diligent and eager to learn. He was sure that Zhan Bei would become a great person in the future.
Then, Yuan Lei changed the subject and said, "Zhan, do you know that for martial artists, apart from martial skills, the cultivation method is of paramount importance. A good cultivation method can make your journey in martial arts much easier."
Upon hearing this, Zhanbei's eyes flashed with a hint of longing. He promptly pleaded, "Please, Master Yuan, teach me."
However, Yuan Lei looked troubled and said, "I can't teach you the martial arts technique. After all, my technique is very special and can't be passed on to others. But I can tell you a way to obtain a martial arts technique."
Upon hearing this, Zhanbei couldn't help feeling a bit downcast, but then he was filled with anticipation.
Yuan Lei continued, "Do you know the Martial Arts Academy of Shuofang Kingdom? It gathers many martial arts experts and precious martial arts techniques. As long as you can get in there, you are sure to find a martial arts technique that suits you."
Upon hearing this, Zhanbei's eyes flashed with a glimmer of light, but then he frowned and said, "But I'm not qualified. How can I get in?"
Yuan Lei looked at Zhan Bei's anxious expression and nodded to himself. He knew that Zhan Bei's pursuit of martial arts was so persistent and resolute.
So, he smiled and said, "Don't worry. Every year, there is one spot available for recommendation to the Martial Arts Academy in Qingshi Town. And this year, that spot hasn't been given out yet."
Upon hearing this, Zhanbei's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise and he hurriedly thanked, "Thank you, Master Yuan."
However, just at that moment, a sound of hooves came from afar, and a troop of horsemen was marching towards the small square in a grand procession.
Leading the way was a middle-aged man with a fierce look. His sharp eyes swept around and finally settled on Yuan Lei.
"Yuan Lei, how have you been recently?" the middle-aged man asked in a hoarse voice.
Yuan Lei's expression darkened the moment he saw this person. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me," he said.
The middle-aged man clearly had no intention of giving up his attempt to be friendly, but Yuan Lei interrupted him without any courtesy: "Just say what you want to say directly. Don't beat around the bush."
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man no longer held back and directly said, "I want the recommendation spot for your Shuofang Martial Arts Academy."
Yuan Lei sneered and said, "Who do you think you are? On what basis should I give it to you?"
The middle-aged man's expression darkened upon hearing this. "Let's do it the same way as in previous years. Have your people fight my people. The winner gets the spot."
Yuan Lei looked at the middle-aged man's arrogant air and couldn't help but feel a surge of anger in his heart.
But he also knew that it was not the right time to confront head-on. So, he calmly said, "All right, let's have a contest then."
Having said that, Yuan Lei turned his gaze to Zhan Bei. He believed that with Zhan Bei's current strength, he had a very good chance of winning.
After all, a perfectly executed Tiger Roar Fist is not so easily defeated.
"Zhanbei, what do you think?" Yuan Lei looked at Zhanbei intently, his eyes brimming with anticipation and trust.
Zhan Bei smiled confidently, his face brimming with determination and passion. "It's just a matter of meeting force with force and water with earth! I will never let Teacher Yuan down."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Lei's previous gloom vanished completely. He became full of energy, as if he had become ten years younger. "Haha, good lad, you have the spirit! I knew all along that you are no ordinary person."
The middle-aged man looked at Zhanbei's self-assured appearance, and a trace of disdain and coldness flashed in his eyes.
"Humph! A young bull is not afraid of a tiger. I'll just see what you're capable of."
Yuan Lei snorted coldly and retorted without any courtesy, "Whether one has the ability or not is not determined by words. Let's see the truth on the arena!"
After saying that, Yuan Lei turned around and whispered to Zhan Bei, "Zhan kid, don't show him any mercy. Use your strength to let him know what a true martial artist is!"
Zhanbei nodded heavily, a determined glint in his eyes.