Chương 9: Internal and External Skills

The security situation in this world is far more chaotic than in my previous life, but relatively speaking, the identity of a martial arts student still offers a certain degree of safety in the open.

As for the internal chaos, he, as a student, had no idea.

After returning to the venue, the two rested briefly before sparring for another hour.

"Taihang Thirteen Palms, 100% complete!"

Internal Strength: 5 years+ (can be increased) Acupoints that can be accessed: None available.

Advanced points: +1 This advancement point can be used to increase one's internal energy to a certain extent, and can be used to open up vital acupoints throughout the body.

As the lighting and shadows on the system panel changed, a new line of information appeared.

Zhao Rui was overjoyed. It could actually improve his internal strength. If he secretly learned a hundred or eighty of these techniques, wouldn't his power be heaven-defying?

The future looks promising!

As the moon rose high in the sky and the breeze grew cooler, the already deserted riverbank became even sparsely populated. Seeing that it was getting late, the three of them packed up, got up, and rode away on their bicycles.

Back home, Zhao Rui couldn't wait to rush into his room and check the system panel.

Name: Zhao Rui Age: 18 ……

Kung Fu Technique: Azure Cloud Palm (Mastered) + Cloud Hands Plucking Stars (Masterful) + Taihang Thirteen Palms (Mastery) + The Four Symbols Formula of Taihang (can be copied).

Why is there a Taihang Four Symbols Technique? Isn't that the internal energy cultivation method that Cui Jian practices?

After a moment's thought, Zhao Rui understood.

The martial arts in this world are divided into internal and external skills. External skills, as the name suggests, are moves, but these moves are not the fancy moves of the previous life.

It looks good but is useless; it has no special power.

The techniques of this life are all paired with specific methods of circulating energy, which unleash the vast internal energy within the body to form a power far beyond the ordinary.

As for internal energy cultivation, it is a kind of internal breathing exercise that involves breathing techniques, circulating energy throughout the body, and opening up the eight extraordinary meridians to form an internal energy circulation within the body.

This kind of exercise generates what is commonly known as internal energy or true qi.

The deeper one's internal strength, the greater the power of the moves one can unleash.

Similarly, the more exquisite the technique, the faster and more abundant the output of internal energy, and the stronger the combat power.

The two complement each other and are indispensable.

In this world, some martial arts only have moves, and the internal strength needs to be learned from other internal energy cultivation methods; others only have internal energy cultivation methods but no specific moves.

Some possess both internal and external skills, so they don't need to rely on others.

There is no distinction between superior and inferior; it is simply something lost or never created in the tradition of martial arts.

The Qingyun Palm technique that Zhao Rui is currently learning at school is a martial art that only has moves but no internal energy.

The signature skill learned from the martial arts school, Cloud Hands Plucking Stars, comes with its own set of internal energy cultivation techniques, known as the Ethereal Divine Skill.

It can be considered a martial art that cultivates both internal and external skills.

As for the origin of the name of this ethereal divine skill, according to the senior brothers, it was because their master disliked the previous Cloud Qi Technique and changed it himself.

I don't know if this counts as betraying one's master and ancestors.

The Taihang Thirteen Palms, which I learned from Cui Jian, also belong to this category, and its internal energy is called the Taihang Four Symbols Technique.

Upon seeing this name, Zhao Rui understood that the panel would most likely copy the opponent's external skills first, and then select their internal skills.

This is probably why the Taihang Four Symbols Technique appears behind the panel.

After figuring this out, Zhao Rui decisively added an advancement point to his internal energy.

"Internal strength: Six years!"

Zhao Rui felt a warm sensation wash over him, as if a master's internal energy had been poured into him, the warmth coursing through his limbs and bones.

As the body changes, the advancement points in the mind also quietly disappear.

Only a year?

Zhao Rui was slightly disappointed, but it was understandable, and could even be described as quite extraordinary.

There's no such thing as getting fat overnight.

Zhao Rui shook his head and smiled helplessly, feeling that he had been a bit too hasty.

After adding points, he roughly understood the functions of the panel. This system panel can learn and copy other people's martial arts and mental techniques, but most likely you can only reach the mastery level at most.

Each time you learn a martial art, you will receive an advancement point. This skill point can be used to increase your internal strength or open up acupoints throughout your body.

I just don't know if there are any requirements for martial arts skills, or if any martial arts skill requires a year's worth of internal energy cultivation.

This needs to be studied further after the college entrance examination is over.

Having learned the functions of the panel, Zhao Rui finally felt relieved.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and involuntarily his mind came to mind the methods and moves of the Thirteen Palms of Taihang.

After a moment of closed-eye contemplation, Zhao Rui suddenly opened his eyes, his steps flashed, and he swung his palm like the wind, his figure as swift as a tiger descending a mountain.

"A thousand-foot cliff locks in the clouds, ten thousand ravines echo with the sound of pines... A winding dragon turns through the ravine, a thousand mountains fall silent!"

Zhao Rui unleashed a set of palm techniques with an imposing and majestic aura, as if even mountains of knives and seas of fire could not withstand his overwhelming pressure.

It has the feel of a force that can overcome all laws.

That unstoppable, domineering feeling made Zhao Rui feel incredibly satisfied.

No wonder Cui Jian fights like a madman, charging around recklessly. It seems he really enjoys himself when he unleashes his martial arts skills!

Unlike his own Azure Cloud Palm, which is unpredictable and consists of moves that use softness to overcome hardness.

The room was cramped, and after Zhao Rui performed the demonstration once, he felt it wasn't enough, so he ran outside to the riverside grove outside the community and practiced it several more times.

Instantly, I felt refreshed and invigorated, a sense of ease washing over me, making me want to roar to the heavens.

Fortunately, he managed to restrain himself from the impulse, calmed his breathing, and returned to his original state.

After taking a quick breath, Zhao Rui leisurely returned home.

Since he started high school, his parents have rarely interfered with him. Firstly, he is sensible, and secondly, he practices martial arts and is quite independent.

So when they saw him rush out and then slowly return, Zhao Jincheng and his wife didn't say anything more.

The days leading up to the college entrance exam were both tedious and fulfilling.

Before I knew it, it was the weekend. As a martial arts student, I had a day off and no classes.

It allows one to rest and recuperate, and to regulate one's physical and mental state.

Early in the morning, Zhao Rui was still practicing his morning exercises in the grove when Bai Xuening called.

"Sun Boran is coming tonight. I've arranged to meet him at 2: 30 this afternoon. Get ready."

The girl's voice was still so beautiful.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Rui asked in surprise, "You can contact him alone?"

"Didn't I tell you that my master and his master know each other? We've known each other since we were kids... Anyway, just come along, but don't tell anyone!"

"no problem!"

Zhao Rui smiled and agreed, surprised that the young girl had such connections.

After hanging up the phone, Zhao Rui continued practicing his morning exercises. Advancement in martial arts is a matter of gradual accumulation. No matter how good the martial arts are, to reach the pinnacle, one still needs to study and practice diligently.

These past few days, he has been using his evenings to practice with others, either at the martial arts gym with his third senior brother or with Bai Xuening.

As for Cui Jian, he was utterly despicable, so naturally he was abandoned.

Because of this, Cui Jian argued with Zhao Rui for a long time, saying that he was fickle and tired of the old.

Now that she has Bai Xuening, she doesn't need him anymore!

After saying this, Cui Jian finally got his wish and faced off against Bai Xuening, only to be beaten to a pulp.

After several days of practice, I have achieved 80/100 in Wing Chun and 75/100 in Cloud Hands and Star Picking. I estimate that in another day or two, I will be able to completely replicate them.

By then, his Cloud Hands Star-Picking Mastery will be at the proficiency level, and his internal energy will be able to circulate throughout the body.

(End of this chapter)