Between the mountains, a manor and lake.

A gentle breeze swept across the lake, carrying a moistness that kissed the face.

The artificial lake within the Xue Manor drew its water from mountain springs, boasting exceptional water quality. Lacking natural predators, fish and shrimp swam in schools.

Walking on the wooden bridge leading to the lakeside pavilion, An Qisheng conversed with Jing Xiaolou.

"When idle, my teacher most enjoys sitting quietly by the lake, regardless of the season."

Jing Xiaolou's face held a smile, his words measured and calm:

"In recent years, the number of visitors has steadily increased. While my teacher may not care much, we disciples must screen them."

"The Grandmaster's magnanimity is unmatched."

An Qisheng sighed softly.

The martial winds of the Great Xuan were at their peak, yet there were only three Grandmasters who had achieved the realm of Seeing the Divine, apart from the one who died at the hands of Mu Longcheng.

Daoist Juechen was rarely seen, Han Longhua had been in seclusion for many years, and only Grandmaster Xue Zheng truly remained in the world.

A Grandmaster at the level of Seeing the Divine, if born in ancient times, would be a terrestrial immortal; if involved in worldly affairs, a national master of a great power.

For such a figure to instruct younger generations day after day, year after year, it was no wonder that he was revered by the martial arts world of both the North and South, and that his word could quell the disputes between Northern and Southern styles.

As they talked, the two approached the lakeside pavilion.

An Qisheng looked up and saw an old man sitting in the pavilion, holding a fishing rod.

The old man wore a traditional Chinese jacket and cloth shoes. His hair and beard were streaked with white, his back thin, and his figure not tall.

But as he sat cross-legged, his entire aura merged with the lakeside pavilion, and even the entire lake.

So much so that An Qisheng and Jing Xiaolou subconsciously stopped, afraid that taking another step would disrupt this harmonious aura.

"This aura..."

An Qisheng was highly sensitive, acutely aware that something was amiss.

A single step forward seemed to lead into another world.

A sense of peace, tranquility, and detachment from the world filled his heart, so much so that he could feel his body and mind exuding a pleasant sensation.

"This is?"

An Qisheng's heart jolted.

Under such an aura, no one could harbor violent intentions, could they?

"Teacher."

Jing Xiaolou bowed slightly.

"Ba Ji, An Qisheng, greets the Grandmaster."

An Qisheng followed suit.

"The fish are biting."

The old man in the lakeside pavilion raised his head, lifted his fishing rod, and a grass carp twisted its body, splashing water as it beat against the surface.

"Ba Ji Fist."

The old man removed the grass carp and placed it in the fish basket before turning around.

The old man's face was gaunt, his long beard gray-white, and his deep eyes were as unfathomable as the sea.

He looked at An Qisheng, a ripple appearing in his gaze:

"Many years ago, the Wang family's unworthy descendants died in foreign lands due to their recklessness, losing the essence of Ba Ji. Some time ago, I heard that a junior had recovered the true meaning of Ba Ji Fist. Was that you who gave it to him?"

"It was."

An Qisheng nodded.

It had been several months since he had passed on the Ba Ji Fist to Wang Anfeng, so it was not surprising that it had spread.

"There are thousands of fist techniques in the world. The things left behind by the older generation are not necessarily the best, but they cannot be lost. It is good, very good, that they can be recovered."

The old man nodded slightly, his gaze becoming even more gentle:

"He's a good lad. Come, sit down."

"Thank you, Grandmaster."

An Qisheng thanked him and walked towards the lakeside pavilion with Jing Xiaolou.

As he stepped forward, the aura that An Qisheng felt became clearer. The feeling was wonderful, like lying on the grass as a child, looking up at the clear blue sky as clouds drifted by.

In the lakeside pavilion, there were stone tables and chairs.

The old man put down his fishing rod and motioned for the two to sit on either side of him.

"When I was young, I learned fist techniques. My talent and conditions were not good, but I could barely be considered diligent. I pondered while walking, pondered while sitting, practiced early, and practiced late, and finally I managed to develop some skill..."

The two sat down, and the old man picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said slowly:

"With a little skill, my state of mind changed. I loved to fight with others. I have exchanged blows with masters of a hundred schools from all over the country. I witnessed the Ba Ji Fist once at that time. It has been more than sixty years now..."

The old man's voice was calm but concentrated, and as he spoke, he involuntarily attracted all their attention.

The life of this Grandmaster flashed through An Qisheng's mind.

This Grandmaster was now nearly ninety years old, and his martial virtue and prestige could be said to be the highest in the martial arts world of the Great Xuan.

But when he was young, he was not a peace-loving person.

After his skill had been developed, he challenged countless masters from south to north.

But in the martial arts world since ancient times, sparring inevitably involved bloodshed and casualties.

What if a senior brother who grew up with you was crippled?

What if a junior brother who always followed you was crippled?

What if a disciple whom you had painstakingly taught for more than ten years had his will crushed and his future ruined?

You can only fight!

Therefore, he swept across the north and south, and was extremely glorious, but the result was that this Grandmaster was almost hacked to death or beaten to death in the wilderness several times.

He was forced to join the army for nine years, half to learn the military fist techniques, and half to escape.

This grievance did not end until seven years later, when he had achieved great skill in the army, and then fought his way from north to south, subduing all his enemies.

Only then did it come to a temporary end.

As for how this Grandmaster was able to prevent all his enemies from coming to his door and seeking revenge, no one knew.

"I'm old, and once I start reminiscing, it never ends."

After saying a lot, the old man stopped and looked at An Qisheng:

"Show me a set of your fists, let me see."

An Qisheng looked around. The wooden bridge leading to the lakeside pavilion was only two meters wide, and the space in the lakeside pavilion, with its fishing rods, fish baskets, stone tables, and stone benches, was also extremely small.

"Alright!"

He did not refuse, straightened his body, and jumped out of the lakeside pavilion, standing on the narrow wooden bridge.

After cupping his fists slightly, he opened his stance.

As the fist technique began, An Qisheng's aura suddenly changed, as if he had instantly transformed from a handsome and shy young man into a fierce general fighting on the battlefield!

Whoosh!

He stepped and performed the fist technique, turning from extreme stillness to extreme motion in an instant.

Stepping forward and backward, swaying left and right, energy surged continuously in his body, like a little mouse scurrying under his white sportswear.

Bang bang bang~

On the narrow wooden bridge, An Qisheng's heart was calm, and he performed the fist technique selflessly.

The fist came from the tibia, knees, waist, arms, elbows, wrists, palms, and fingers, with every part of his body being a fist.

Every fist was like a spear, and the entire body was a spear!

"What a domineering fist technique!"

In the pavilion, Jing Xiaolou's eyes lit up slightly.

He had only seen that An Qisheng had mastered some skill, but he had not expected that he was practicing such a powerful external fist technique.

"Three hundred years ago, Mr. Gu once exchanged blows with Ba Ji Grandmaster Wang Honglin, and afterwards said that Ba Ji was the most forceful! Looking at it now, the most forceful may be an exaggeration, but it is still extraordinary."

Watching An Qisheng practice the fist technique, the old man nodded slightly:

"Xiaolou, use your Xing Yi Quan to exchange blows with this young friend.

Let's see if the most forceful of three hundred years ago is comparable to the most forceful of today."