Chapter 2087 — The Auditing Student

Though Wei Zhao was recovering his energy inside the jade pendant's space, everything happening outside was still perfectly clear to him.

He had now completely mastered the Forest of Ten Thousand Transformations—both its technique and its method of activation were thoroughly familiar to his heart—so giving Han Xiaopo a few pointers would be no difficult matter at all.

Only, Uncle Qing had said as well that the same martial technique, used by different people, would produce different effects; and with differences in personal aptitude, in comprehension, and in heart methods, variations would inevitably arise. So even a superb martial technique, given to someone of poor aptitude to cultivate, would never yield much power.

"You can cultivate it—that shouldn't be a problem. But how far you get will depend on your own fortune," Wei Zhao said mildly, opening his eyes. "I have fully comprehended this martial technique. Now I will teach you the first two stances. As for whether you can successfully unleash it within a single day—that I cannot say."

"I will do my utmost!" Han Xiaopo's eyes lit up, and he said hurriedly.

"Good. First read the heart-method mnemonics of the first stance until you know them well. Where there is anything you do not understand, ask me, and I will explain it. If you have no questions, then watch me perform it!" Wei Zhao handed Han Xiaopo the transcribed copy of the Forest of Ten Thousand Transformations.

"Master Lin... might this old man sit in here as an auditing student?" Han Tianba asked after a moment's hesitation.

"Ha, of course you may. Please, Elder Han, make yourself at home!" Wei Zhao did not mind such things in the least. This martial technique belonged to the Hidden Han Family in the first place; he had stolen it for himself, and to then refuse them the chance to study it would be far too unreasonable.

"Many thanks, Master Lin!" Han Tianba was overjoyed. If he could learn the Forest of Ten Thousand Transformations, then his former wood-chopping skill would be so much trash.

Wei Zhao smiled faintly and said nothing more.

Han Tianba and Han Xiaopo together began reading the heart-method mnemonics of the Forest of Ten Thousand Transformations. After memorizing the mnemonics of the first stance, Han Xiaopo raised several questions, and Wei Zhao answered them one by one. Han Tianba had studied these mnemonics before, only failing to unleash the technique successfully, so he had no questions either.

"Very well. Since there are no more questions, I will begin unleashing the martial technique. Watch closely!" With that, Wei Zhao circulated the heart-method mnemonics and activated the first stance of the Forest of Ten Thousand Transformations.

Boom! A fist tore through the air, its power so immense that Han Xiaopo and Han Tianba were shaken to their cores. The gust stirred up by that single punch nearly knocked Han Xiaopo off his feet.

"Powerful—truly powerful!" Han Xiaopo said from the bottom of his heart. In the past, though he too had been a cultivator and knew that cultivators were far stronger than ordinary folk, before Wei Zhao's unleashing of this martial technique, the cultivators of former days seemed utterly insignificant.

"So that's how it is... so that's how it is..." A look of dawning understanding appeared on Han Tianba's face. Before, he had had no renowned master to guide him, so although he had worked out the mnemonics of the Forest of Ten Thousand Transformations, he had never been able to unleash it successfully. It was only upon seeing Wei Zhao unleash it that he glimpsed some of the principle within.

"I will now perform the first stance again, slowly, as a demonstration. Watch carefully!" Wei Zhao knew these two were no geniuses—one pass would hardly teach them anything—so he deliberately slowed his movements and once more brought forth the first stance of the Forest of Ten Thousand Transformations.

Though this time its power was much diminished—after all, with the movements slowed, the momentum could not surge—even so, it left Han Xiaopo and Han Tianba filled with admiration.

"Let me try!" Having understood the technique of Wei Zhao's performance, Han Xiaopo grew rather impatient.

"Good. Ask me wherever you are unsure!" Wei Zhao nodded.

With that, Han Xiaopo leapt eagerly into the open ground and began activating the martial technique according to the mnemonics of the first stance. Of course, though he now understood the mnemonics and had clearly seen how Wei Zhao unleashed the technique, when it came to his own turn, it simply would not work...

Han Xiaopo tried for a long while in the open ground, yet not a single move came forth successfully. He grew rather embarrassed at once: "Boss, I really am a good-for-nothing. All this time, and I haven't managed a single move!"

"It's all right. Your form is correct, but it lacks fluency. Circulate the mnemonics more smoothly—try to do it in one continuous breath, without pause in between, and you should be fine," Wei Zhao said. "At least you haven't gone astray in the process of unleashing the technique; you're only a little short on practice."

"Mm, I'll practice some more!" Hearing this, Han Xiaopo was at once set at ease and cheered up.

"Master Lin, this old man's hands are itching. I too would like to try unleashing it—might I ask Master Lin for some guidance?" Han Tianba asked.

"Naturally, no problem. Please, Elder Han!" Wei Zhao well understood Han Tianba's feelings. He had studied the heart method of the Forest of Ten Thousand Transformations many times before without success; now that a renowned master like Wei Zhao was here, only a fool would let the opportunity slip.

"Good. I hope Master Lin will not stint his instruction, and will not laugh at my clumsiness!" Han Tianba nodded and began circulating his inner-energy heart method, preparing to try unleashing the martial technique. By comparison, Han Tianba's movements were far more practiced than Han Xiaopo's—no doubt he had studied this martial technique many times in the past, only never grasping it. Now, with Wei Zhao's guidance and demonstration, Han Tianba suddenly understood many things that had formerly puzzled him or led him astray, and verified and compared them one by one in his mind against the movements he had studied before. This time he succeeded at the first attempt—he truly unleashed the first stance of the Forest of Ten Thousand Transformations!

Boom—though the power brought forth by this stance was not great, and compared with Wei Zhao's it was like a drop in the bucket—indeed, it was not even as powerful as the first stance of Han Tianba's wood-chopping skill—still, to have unleashed it successfully on the very first try filled Han Tianba with deep satisfaction!

It was half-baked, true, but at least he had not disgraced himself too badly. Otherwise, with the grandson no good and the grandfather no good either, if Wei Zhao had grown bored and impatient and decided not to teach them anymore, it would have been too late even to cry. Now at least he had successfully performed and unleashed it—never mind how crude it was, it was far better than failing altogether.

"Very good! Quite excellent!" Wei Zhao nodded and called out in warm praise. It was not that Wei Zhao was giving the old man Han Tianba face; it was genuine admiration. Before Wei Zhao had cultivated the all-purpose martial technique, when he unleashed the Frenzied Flame Fist, he had been no better than Han Tianba—everyone has their clumsy beginnings!

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