Chapter 5: Chapter 3: Piles for Wharf
Chen Yi definitely didn't go looking for Liu the Leper, who had been put on a kill list, but Chen Yi's rationale still existed.
Liu the Leper had practiced martial arts years ago, and now in his thirties, he was in his prime, his Vitality and Blood at the peak; even though he had not reached Anjin, he was not someone a thin young man like Chen Yi could confront.
What Chen Yi needed to do was to use all his time to cultivate, to control his Vitality and Blood, to enhance himself, while also slowly figuring out Liu the Leper's weaknesses.
"I refuse to believe that with the mindset and insights from my past two lives, I can't deal with you, a mere country thug!"
His heart ached not for the softshell turtle but for his mother's courage to confront Liu the Leper publicly to protect his sister.
Chen Yi remembered that when his father was alive, his mother was also a frail woman, who listened to everything his father said.
Now, alas...
"I must ensure that my mother and sister can have a worry-free and happy life!"
In the world of spiritual energy, Chen Yi gritted his teeth, standing on the cabin practicing Pile Skill.
Though his legs were weak and trembling, though he could hardly stand steady even with slight waves,
Chen Yi still insisted on maintaining the Pile Skill posture, adjusting his breathing,
Even if he couldn't maintain it for long, with each breath he took while in standing stake, he could feel an improvement in the flow of his Vitality and Blood.
"I need to find a way to stand firm in Pile Skill amidst the wind and waves; only then can I quickly make use of this world to practice Martial Arts."
As for rowing to shore to cultivate, Chen Yi dared not.
His boat was very far from the shore, and by his estimate, it would take him at least a couple of hours to row back.
Moreover, he knew nothing about the specifics of this world, having no social connections, so he dared not rashly return to the midst of people. Who knew what mysterious methods those who practice Immortal Cultivation possess? What if he were caught and dissected?
Amidst the vast expanse of The Great Swamp, finding an uninhabited broken boat to drift in, cultivating there, and always being able to return to his original world, seemed the safest approach.
Chen Yi stood on the deck, pondering the firm sensation he felt under his feet when he was not in standing stake, as though taking root when drifting with the waves.
"It's the center of gravity. When the storm comes and the boat shakes, my center of gravity can adjust accordingly, so I'm always as stable as Mount Tai.
But as soon as I start standing stake, my center of gravity is fixed, so I fall over when it shakes.
I wonder if there's a dynamic standing stake technique that adjusts the center of gravity?"
...
The next day, Chen Yi arrived early at the Iron Fist Sect Hall.
In a corner of the training field, of the ten half-adolescents doing standing stake, only nine came today; Chen Yi asked and found out that one had completed a month without feeling any trace of Vitality and Blood, thought he had no talent, and had gone back to farming.
Chen Yi still stood in the inconspicuous position at the back, assuming the stance of standing stake.
A sixteen-year-old youth, so strong in recovery, last night's exhaustion was gone after just one night's sleep, his body brimming with vigor.
Elder Brother Yunhu was leading a few others in standing stake at the front. Today Chen Yi learned that Yunhu was the youngest formal disciple of the head of the hall, having practiced boxing for a year and achieved considerable Mingjin, possessing impressive talent.
Chen Yi assumed the standing stake stance, adjusting his breath, feeling that the flow rate of Vitality and Blood in his body had only slightly improved, much slower than yesterday in that unknown world.
Half a quarter-hour later, having reached the limit of his standing stake from yesterday, Chen Yi only felt his legs go numb, yet there was no sensation of soreness or exhaustion, as if he could persist a while longer.
However, Wang Xiaohu, frequently glancing over at Chen Yi, discovered:
"Eh? You've made such progress by your second day of standing stake?"
Other youths, upon hearing this, also couldn't help but turn their heads towards Chen Yi, surprised that this poor fisherman could now endure half a quarter-hour on his second attempt?
If he could manage half an hour of standing stake, wouldn't he be snatching another guardian position from the Wang Family?!
Immediately, a few children who fancied themselves somewhat capable looked at Chen Yi with vicious intent.
In these times when everyone was hungry, now another fisherman was emerging to snatch a guardian position from the Wang Family, truly infuriating!
Chen Yi did not mind the malicious stares from others; having been a person in two lives, why would he bother with a group of ungrown children?
As for standing stake, he stood for about ten minutes, then voluntarily stopped.
Although he could have continued, a small progress could still be considered as perseverance and hard-earned from training, but having too great a progress in one day would obviously reveal that something was wrong,
Especially since he had undergone the scrutinizing eye of the hall's head for talent when he joined yesterday!
Chen Yi's biggest secret was his ability to travel through the unknown world of spiritual energy. Until he had absolute martial prowess for protection, he needed to keep a low profile.
But even so, the progress Chen Yi made in his pile skill was enough to draw a few extra glances from Yunhu,
For that, he especially stood beside Chen Yi for a good while, observing Chen Yi's posture and breathing,
Finally nodded in affirmation,
"Your movements are standard, and your Breathing Techniques have entered the elementary level. You've increased your practice time significantly after returning home yesterday, haven't you?
You can endure hardship, very good!"
With Elder Brother Yunhu's assessment, everyone understood that he had secretly practiced extra at home,
but they immediately wondered, "Even just standing stake for two hours in the morning could nearly cripple our legs, and it's painful to walk all day. How could he still manage more practice?"
Is this fisherman made of iron?
While receiving guidance from Yunhu, Chen Yi seized the opportunity to ask,
"Elder Brother Yunhu, may I ask if, when practicing standing stake, I could slightly adjust my center of gravity, perhaps move a little?"
Upon hearing this, Yunhu was displeased, "Have you forgotten what I said yesterday? Entering the beginner's standing stake means standing without moving at all. When you can maintain it for two hours, then we'll talk!"
Chen Yi quickly apologized, "I remember everything you have said, Elder Brother. It's just that I need to fish on the lake daily after practicing, and I thought about practicing Pile Skill on the boat. However, yesterday when I tried, the wind and waves kept disrupting my practice,
so I thought it would be nice if this skill could allow me to adjust my center of gravity like how I usually stand, without interrupting the circulation of Vitality and Blood."
"Nonsense! Who told you to practice standing stake on the boat... Ah, hello, Senior Brother!"
Yunhu, while scolding, was interrupted by a young man of medium build, with a sharp, rugged face and a body as solid as rock, coming their way. He quickly paid his respects.
Seeing this, others chorused in respect, "Greetings to the Senior Brother."
That firm Senior Brother walked up to Chen Yi, looked him up and down, and asked,
"Who told you to learn to practice standing stake on a boat?"
Chen Yi, who had heard of this person—Shi Lei, the successor designated by the head of Iron Fist Sect—hurriedly greeted him:
"Chen Yi greets the Senior Brother. Nobody told me. I only thought of it yesterday while practicing standing stake on the boat."
That resolute Senior Brother then slowly nodded,
"You're thinking in the right direction. Indeed, there is a type of Pile Skill that requires practice on the boat amidst strong winds and waves, known as Boat Pile.
However, it's a more advanced practice, far beyond what you beginners need to worry about. Practice well on land for now. Don't aim too high too soon."
Chen Family is now targeted by Scabby Liu, and trouble could arise at any moment, how could Chen Yi not be anxious? He must learn the method of standing stake on the boat in a short time to rapidly advance in that unknown world,
Now is not the time to proceed slowly step by step, he quickly inquired,
"May I ask, Senior Brother, does practicing Boat Pile involve finding the center of gravity affected by the waves and currents while maintaining the circulation of Vitality and Blood and Breathing Techniques unchanged, then adjusting accordingly?"
Shi Lei exclaimed in surprise, "It's smart of you to think of that. I'll tell you about it, but I'm not responsible if it harms you.
The objective of Iron Fist Sect's entry method of standing stake is to stimulate Vitality and Blood circulation using extreme physical force, thus helping ordinary people grasp the control of Vitality and Blood,
and once you master the static stake, you naturally learn to maintain this control of Vitality and Blood with every movement,
which forms the basis for dynamic stake.
The Boat Pile you mentioned operates on a similar principle, but the difficulty amplifies more than a hundredfold when trying dynamic stake as a beginner,
Normal people disrupt the fixed circulation routes of Vitality and Blood when they shift their center of gravity, naturally breaking the state of stake skill,
If you want to learn this, first grasp the sensation of Vitality and Blood circulation, then immerse your mind in it. Without altering that state of circulation, try changing your posture.
In reality, although it seems like the body is moving in Boat Pile, the principle is still that of static stake, only what remains motionless is not the body but the mind.
That's all I have to say, mind yourself."
After finishing, the Senior Brother, with his hands behind his back, went on to inspect and give guidance to other disciples practicing their boxing,
Ever since he had reached the Anjin cultivation level, and his progress had slowed, the Senior Brother increasingly enjoyed giving guidance to fellow sect disciples,
If the second generation of Iron Fist Sect didn't grow a few more practitioners capable of wielding Anjin to maintain its reputation, they might soon be overtaken by the Fish and Dragon Gang.
Here, after hearing the Senior Brother's words, it struck Chen Yi like a thunderclap:
"Boat Pile is also static stake, only what remains still is not the center of gravity but the sensation of maintaining blood flow!"
"That is to say, I anchor my mind on Vitality and Blood, let my body sway with the waves, standing firm like a Weeble, regardless of how strong the wind and waves are!"
At that moment, he recalled a famous martial arts saying from a past life: "Let others act wildly; the bright moon locks the great river."
Different situations, but the same artistic conception.
With that in mind, Chen Yi itched to try it; he couldn't wait for class to end to rush to the boat in that world and experiment!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone