The essence of the Big Dipper Divine Fist lies in "Yin"; it is a pure killing technique.
This martial art combines striking techniques with precise pressure point manipulation. By striking the "Hidden Vital Points" located throughout the human body, the user can achieve various effects, ranging from the catastrophic explosion of a body to the miraculous healing of wounds and illnesses. It is a fist technique with a dual nature—one hand gives life, the other takes it away.
To master it, practitioners must strictly follow specific breathing techniques, temper their bodies to the limit, refine their spirits, and develop an extremely keen insight into the flow of energy.
The rain had just ceased, leaving the stone path outside the window shimmering with a cold, wet light.
Situ Xuan's training room was located on the third floor of an old building. Its four walls were built from thick bluestone, designed to withstand impact. Several heavy iron ingots and sandbags were piled in the corners, silent witnesses to his daily regimen.
He had removed the top of his black training uniform. His bare upper body gleamed with a cold, hard luster under the moonlight.
Though he was clearly only a ten-year-old child, his physique was terrifying. His muscles were as well-defined as if carved by a master sculptor's knife. Every inch of his body seemed intentional, tight and bursting with explosive power.
"Ha—!"
Situ Xuan dropped into a low horse stance and suddenly threw a punch.
Whoosh—!
The wind from the punch was like a blade, tearing through the air with a sharp whistle. The sandbags in the corner shook slightly from the air pressure alone. Without using a drop of Spirit Power, relying solely on pure physical strength, he had already surpassed the limits of an ordinary adult.
"Not enough."
He frowned, retracting his fist slowly.
The body-tempering method of the Big Dipper Divine Fist emphasized "overcoming hardness with hardness, suppressing dominance with dominance." A punch had to be like a thunderclap, exploding with maximum destructive power in a single instant. Right now, although his physical fitness gave him an advantage over his peers, he was still far from truly mastering the essence of this technique.
Sweat slid down his chin and dripped onto the floor with a faint patter. He adjusted his breathing, circulating the Big Dipper Divine Fist's unique breathing technique. His chest rose and fell in a specific rhythm; with every breath, he seemed to draw the surrounding Heaven and Earth spiritual energy directly into his pores.
"Again!"
With a sudden stomp of his toes, Situ Xuan's figure moved like lightning, charging toward the iron ingots piled in the corner.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Punches, elbow strikes, knee strikes—every one of his joints became a weapon, slamming violently against the solid iron. The dull sound of metal clashing echoed in the small room. The surface of the iron ingots was already pitted and dented from previous sessions, while his knuckles turned bright red from the repeated collisions.
But he did not stop.
"Not enough... Still not enough!"
A flash of ruthlessness crossed Situ Xuan's eyes as his punching speed increased. Blood began to seep from his knuckles, leaving mottled red traces on the cold iron. The Little Black Tiger lay on the windowsill, its amber eyes watching him silently. It seemed accustomed to this near-masochistic form of body tempering.
Broken fists can heal, but insufficient strength will cost one's life in a real battle.
"Boom!"
As the final punch landed, the iron ingot finally couldn't withstand the impact. It deformed inward, struck with a visible crater.
Situ Xuan slowly withdrew his strength. His fists trembled slightly, and his knuckles were a bloody mess of torn skin and bruised flesh, yet a cold sneer played across the corners of his mouth.
He walked to a basin of cold water and submerged his hands.
The icy water washed over the torn flesh, rinsing away the blood-stained iron filings. The water turned pink, then red. He didn't frown; he didn't even show a hint of pain. Compared to the torture he endured while fighting in illegal underground matches to make a living in his past life, this minor flesh wound was not worth mentioning.
After drying his body and changing into a clean black training uniform, he walked to the desk on the second floor.
Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating a gold-trimmed envelope resting on the desk—the Red Mountain Academy Recommendation Letter.
This was an admission credential issued by Aolai Junior Academy to its outstanding graduates. It was a golden ticket, allowing the holder to enter any intermediate Spirit Master academy without an entrance exam.
In the Douluo Continent and the Sun Moon Federation, junior academies were just the threshold of basic education. Intermediate academies were the true crucibles for cultivating Spirit Masters.
Situ Xuan picked up the envelope. His thumb brushed over the raised emblem—a crimson mountain peak with a silver-white Spirit Ring wrapped around its summit. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and a faint battle intent burned in his eyes.
"Finally..."
He murmured softly, his pupils reflecting a deep hunger. He could almost see them—the strong opponents waiting for him in the intermediate academy.
With the Black Heart Baleful Palm and the Big Dipper Divine Fist, his strength had long since surpassed the scope of an ordinary junior Spirit Master.
But the problem was... his peers in Aolai City were too weak.
In every battle, he had to hold back his strength, fearing that a single mistake would leave his opponent crippled or dead. Just like the brawl in the abandoned warehouse; more than twenty boys couldn't even last two minutes against him.
Holding back like that made the battles completely meaningless!
Bang!
Situ Xuan slammed his fist onto the desk. The wooden surface caved in instantly, cracks spreading like a spiderweb. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging baleful aura in his chest.
The Black Heart Baleful Palm was known for its ferocity; the deeper the cultivation, the heavier the killing intent. Moreover, the Big Dipper Divine Fist emphasized "nurturing battle through battle." One could only advance rapidly through true life-and-death struggles.
For a martial artist, a breath of ill-will is first nurtured in the chest. When that breath is in the chest, it must be vented!
But now? He couldn't even find an opponent who could make him go all out!
"Awoo~"
The Little Black Tiger leaped lightly onto the desk, tilting its head to nuzzle Situ Xuan's wrist. It seemed to sense its master's frustration; its amber pupils constricted slightly, a faint black mist swirling within them.
Situ Xuan glanced at it and reached out to rub its head.
"Don't worry, there will be an opportunity soon."
His voice was low and cold, like a sharp blade scraping against metal.
Three days later, early morning.
Situ Xuan stood on the platform of the Aolai City Soul Guidance Station. The Little Black Tiger perched on his shoulder, his only companion. He held a simple bag of luggage—a few changes of clothes, a cultivation notebook for the Big Dipper Divine Fist, and that recommendation letter.
His destination was East Sea City, the capital of the East Sea Province and the location of the intermediate Spirit Master academy, "East Sea Academy."
Woo—
The whistle of the Soul Guidance Train pierced through the morning mist as it entered the station. Situ Xuan stepped onto the train and found his seat. Outside the window, the silhouette of Aolai City gradually receded in the morning light.
He closed his eyes, his mind already beginning to simulate the upcoming battles.
East Sea Academy... I hope the students there can give me some satisfaction.
East Sea City.
It was the second-largest coastal city in the Sun Moon Federation's East Sea region. A vital hub for ports, maritime transport, and marine resource development, the city boasted a permanent population of over three million. Thanks to its utilization of marine resources, it was incredibly wealthy and considered a significant second-tier city within the Federation.
At the East Sea City Soul Guidance Train Station, a deep blue train slowly pulled into the station and decelerated.
The train came to a stop with a hiss of hydraulics, and the doors opened.
Tang Wulin tightened the straps of the backpack on his shoulders and followed the crowd outside. Arriving in this big city for the first time, he looked at everything around him with wide, curious eyes.
However, his expression wasn't very cheerful. In fact, he looked quite downcast.
Faced with this unfamiliar environment, it was inevitable for a nine-year-old like him to feel fear. Traveling far from home for the first time, without the comforting presence of his parents, Tang Wulin looked around with a sense of loss and anxiety. The bustling crowd and towering buildings felt imposing.
Then, Tang Wulin's eyes lit up.
He spotted a sturdy youth walking out of another train exit not far away. The youth wore a faded, old grey shirt that nevertheless did a good job of containing the explosive power of his physique.
"Situ Xuan! Over here, over here!"
Tang Wulin hadn't expected that a classmate would be coming to East Sea Academy for enrollment just like him. His originally gloomy mood immediately brightened at the sight of a familiar face.
Situ Xuan paused. He glanced over at the waving boy, nodded once in acknowledgment, and then continued walking forward without slowing his pace.
"Eh?"
Tang Wulin was stunned for a second. He hadn't expected such a brief reaction. Recovering quickly, he adjusted his backpack straps and hurriedly ran after Situ Xuan.
"Wait up!"