Chapter Thirty: Is This What Genius Looks Like?

“What I am demonstrating now is the standing posture in Xingyi, also called the San Ti stance or Three Talents stance. It is the most fundamental of all, and no matter how the techniques change, they never depart from San Ti. Every boxing form, sword form, and spear form is derived from this foundation.”

“It is broken down into three planes—upper, middle, and lower. When exerting force, you must unite all three planes, which is the so-called integrated power. The person becomes like a walking mountain, impossible to push, unified and solid. Any technique you use will carry the strength of a mountain!”

Chang Sui’an used himself as the model, explaining the theory of Xingyi’s “pole training” to the new recruits as he demonstrated.

So-called “pole training” is actually much like the modern combat stance. Both stress minimizing exposure to weaknesses and, on that basis, mobilizing the bones and muscles throughout the body to deliver the most powerful strikes possible.

Standard modern combat stances mainly protect the head and chin, since groin kicks aren’t allowed in ring sports. But on the battlefield, facing a cunning opponent, this can be a disadvantage.

Xingyi’s San Ti stance, with one arm forward and one behind, one up and one down, manages to guard several vulnerable spots.

However, its steps are quite large, with the front leg close to the opponent, making it easy to be hit by moving attacks, and it’s not easy to evade sustained counterattacks from those who can take hits.

Du Huaishan specialized in two combat arts and practiced many traditional forms.

He believed there was no universal stance; the key was to keep the core engaged and use a flexible, adaptive stance. That’s why he used wrestling posture against Xing Zhenhao and a Sanda guard against the veteran.

As he spoke, many recruits had begun to follow along, learning the San Ti stance.

“When practicing, the upper body focuses on raising the back and sinking the elbows. The lower body and waist are key to the scissor step. The head, hips, and heels must be aligned; the center of gravity is thirty percent forward, seventy percent back. The tailbone must be straight, and the hips sunk.”

Chang Sui’an continued to demonstrate the essentials to the recruits.

To make it clearer, he simply took off his military coat and demonstrated from front, back, and both sides, letting everyone see.

Watching all the recruits imitate him earnestly, Chang Sui’an finally picked up his coat and began to personally inspect their stances.

The Five Elements Fist and Twelve Animal Forms in Xingyi were Du Huaishan’s exam subjects in his sophomore year.

So his thoughts naturally guided his movements, and he assumed a textbook San Ti stance.

Aside from a few recruits who had trained in Xingyi before, his stance was among the most standard in the ranks; the others either failed to grasp the essentials or stood awkwardly and off-balance.

“Have you trained before?”

Suddenly, a deep voice sounded behind him. It was Chang Sui’an.

Du Huaishan didn’t reveal much. “A little.”

Just as he finished speaking, a car horn sounded from the far end of the training field.

Everyone looked toward the sound. Two transport trucks had stopped in front of the formation. After the driver-soldiers got out and opened the rear gate, many sandbags were revealed inside.

“Recruits, come help!”

Chang Sui’an gave the order. One thousand five or six hundred recruits surged forward to help unload.

The sandbags were made of coarse burlap, not large, probably only seven or eight pounds each, and were quickly moved out.

No one understood what the instructor planned to do.

But Chang Sui’an spoke: “Du Huaishan, step out!”

Him again?

Under the gaze of all the recruits, Du Huaishan responded and strode to the front.

Chang Sui’an picked up a sandbag in one hand and called out, “San Ti stance.”

Hearing the order, Du Huaishan had to assume the San Ti stance again.

Now the new recruits understood why Instructor Chang had singled him out. They had to admit, Du Huaishan’s San Ti stance was beautiful, his form flowing like water, much like a master performing on stage.

Xing Zhenhao watched from the ranks, muttering to himself.

Last time it was wrestling; now it’s Xingyi.

What kind of mysterious school is Jiangcheng Institute of Physical Education, teaching everything?

“Ready.”

As Chang Sui’an spoke, he also assumed the San Ti stance. “Catch!”

With that final word, Chang Sui’an suddenly moved—his legs shot forward, arms like lightning, fierce as a tiger or leopard, pushing the sandbag toward Du Huaishan.

Du Huaishan instinctively wanted to sidestep with a slide step.

But remembering he was required to stand firm, he shifted his center of gravity lower, tightened his core, dug his ten toes into the ground through his boots.

Bang!

The sandbag struck his arms precisely.

Don’t underestimate the seven or eight pounds. With Chang Sui’an’s forceful push and gravity, the impact was considerable, instantly forcing Du Huaishan’s upper body to sink forward.

Fortunately, he was prepared and kept his balance.

Du Huaishan braced himself, gripping the ground with his toes. The force traveled up his legs to his core, and with a lift of his back, he restored the San Ti stance with his upper body strength.

Caught it!

“Good!”

Tan Hai and several others cheered from the ranks.

Chang Sui’an showed no expression, gesturing, “Throw it over.”

Du Huaishan steadied his breath, moved his ankle slightly to plant himself firmly, waited until his thigh muscles were loaded, then burst forth. His step was swift and fierce, force transmitted through his spine to his arms, pushing the sandbag toward the instructor.

Unexpectedly,

Chang Sui’an merely stamped his foot, sank his hips, spread his arms, his body acting like a lever. With a press and lift of his spine, he seemed to absorb the sandbag effortlessly.

“Instructor Chang is amazing!”

The recruits could see Chang Sui’an handled it much more easily than Du Huaishan and immediately praised him.

He transferred the force to his thighs and unloaded it onto the ground!

As the saying goes, “The layman watches the spectacle; the expert sees the essence.”

Gu Ran, Chang Sui’an had two guardian spirits, his physique far surpassing normal people, but Du Huaishan still noticed his unique method of generating force.

The instructor used his arms and spine merely as conduits. The real resistance to the sandbag was provided by his core and thighs.

Du Huaishan, accustomed to traditional forms and exam routines, had only grasped the appearance, not the essence.

He had fallen into habitual thinking!

On his first attempt to catch the sandbag with the San Ti stance, he mainly used his spine and upper arms to resist. Luckily the sandbag was light, and relying on his physique and solid stance, he managed.

But if it had been a heavy object—or an attack from a monster or ghost—his spine and arms would definitely have been injured!

“Ready, catch!”

Chang Sui’an continued, advancing and tossing the sandbag again.

This time,

Du Huaishan had understood the instructor’s method of generating force in the San Ti stance. He imitated Chang Sui’an’s actions, and after his hands met the sandbag, he tightened his upper body and spine, sank his hips, and let the force travel down through his thigh muscles into the earth.

The sandbag not only failed to shake his stance, it made his footing even more stable!

Indeed, it was much easier to catch this way.

Chang Sui’an’s fiery red pupils flashed with surprise.

Just one round of training, and this kid had already grasped the essence of San Ti’s power generation—could this be true talent?