Chapter Twelve: Rebirth and the Path to Martial Arts

In the days that followed, Fang Xiao practiced the Dragon-Tiger Stance during the day and brewed the tempering solution at night. Each day, he pushed himself to the edge of exhaustion, collapsing onto the wooden bed to sleep deeply. Yet even in the deepest slumber, he could feel the changes taking place within him—he seemed to hear the faint sounds of his bones growing.

As time passed, not only did Fang Xiao’s height shoot up, but his once thin and frail body gradually became lean and resilient. Most importantly, through relentless effort, he began to grasp the secrets of the Dragon-Tiger Stance. The Rising Dragon and Crouching Tiger forms grew ever more skillful.

In the first few days, Daoist Pang kept watch over him, supervising and offering guidance. But soon, this master of the Little Jing Mountain Temple began to vanish mysteriously, often absent until nightfall. Likely at Pang's instruction, Widow Qin and Sophora stopped bringing him meals, leaving Fang Xiao alone in the temple most of the time, training tirelessly under the blazing sun.

Such a life was dull and grueling, yet Fang Xiao found it fulfilling. At least he no longer felt lost, and his confidence in his future grew. As he delved deeper into the cultivation method, he noticed a vague, fiery energy emerging within him, circulating through his organs and limbs. Each time he soaked in the tempering liquid, this energy grew stronger.

After finishing the ninth batch of tempering solution, this fiery energy had become as thick as his little finger. The next morning, as Fang Xiao practiced the Dragon-Tiger Stance as usual, the moment he shifted from the Crouching Tiger to the Rising Dragon form, a surge of intense heat shot up from his tailbone, coursing through his spine and piercing his crown.

His whole body shuddered, arms spread wide, and a low roar escaped his lips—like a young tiger crying in the forest. As he exhaled, all two hundred and six bones in his body vibrated at once, tendons bulged beneath his skin, writhing like dragons and serpents.

"Hmm?" Daoist Pang, lounging in his chair as usual, sprang to his feet, his small eyes shining with brilliance. In that moment, he saw faint dragon and tiger phantoms flicker around Fang Xiao—the fierce tiger crouched, the rising dragon coiled about him, a mighty aura soared to the heavens.

"The Dragon-Tiger Manifestation! It’s actually the Dragon-Tiger Manifestation!" Pang's heart was thrown into turmoil. He had never imagined that Fang Xiao, barely a novice in martial arts, could possess such fortune. Fang Xiao had missed the prime years for training; even with good potential, his prospects in martial arts seemed severely limited.

He was never destined to reach the peak. To help his young fellow villager, Pang spared no effort to obtain the tempering pills and the Qianyang cultivation method, hoping Fang Xiao could at least defend himself. He had truly gone to great lengths.

Normally, nine precious tempering pills would, if fed to a pig, forge it with skin of bronze and bones of iron. So Fang Xiao’s awakening of inner strength and resonant tendons, officially stepping into martial arts, was expected—a result paid for in gold. Yet Fang Xiao’s performance completely overturned Pang’s understanding. He realized he had vastly underestimated Fang Xiao’s martial talent.

"Excellent!" Pang’s eyes gleamed as he clapped his hands in delight. His shout startled Fang Xiao, causing the newly gathered inner strength to dissipate at once. Fang Xiao took a deep breath, the surging energy within him gradually settling. Wiping sweat from his brow, he was stunned to find his hands covered in foul, bloody grime.

"Well done, boy!" Pang strode over, laughing as he patted Fang Xiao’s shoulder. "Congratulations, you’ve undergone rebirth and succeeded in tempering your body!" He didn’t mention the Dragon-Tiger Manifestation, lest Fang Xiao become too proud. Then, Pang waved a hand in distaste, saying, "Go wash up, you stink!"

Noticing the filth, Fang Xiao hurried to the kitchen. There, a large wooden tub was set aside for bathing. He quickly scooped clean water from the vat, stripped, and leapt into the bath. After scrubbing away the grime, half the water was pitch black. Dressed in clean clothes, Fang Xiao felt clear-headed and invigorated—never had his body felt so good.

He clenched his fists, muscles on his forearms instantly tightening and bulging with power. He had truly grown stronger. Instinctively, Fang Xiao pressed the little booklet against his chest.

Red Sun Codex
Ten thousand martial arts, unshaken; ten thousand methods, impenetrable; ten thousand evils, unassailable.
Dragon-Tiger Stance (Beginner): 0/10
Experience: 37
...

As expected, lines of text appeared before his eyes.

This, as Pang had called it, was his "attribute." This personal treasure had followed Fang Xiao into this world, gradually revealing its wondrous nature. Now, the booklet had become an inseparable part of him. It was always with him—never lost.

Usually, if he didn’t focus on it, the Red Sun Codex seemed nonexistent, but a single thought could bring it forth for him to read, no matter where he left it, instantly recalled by his mind. Others could neither see nor touch it.

Compared to before, today the Codex displayed a new attribute: the Dragon-Tiger Stance he had just begun to master. When Fang Xiao concentrated on this line, a faint "+" sign appeared after it. He willed it.

Dragon-Tiger Stance (Beginner): 1/10
Experience: 36

To his surprise, both lines changed at once—one experience point had been added to the Dragon-Tiger Stance. Understanding the mechanism, Fang Xiao found it amusing. He focused again, adding more points to the stance, wanting to see what would happen when it was maxed out.

Nine experience points vanished.

Dragon-Tiger Stance (Proficient): 0/20
Experience: 27

Huh?

Before Fang Xiao could react, his consciousness abruptly left his body, rendering him motionless like stone. Countless scenes flooded his mind like a torrent—he "saw" himself training under the scorching sun or standing firm in wild storms, practicing the Dragon-Tiger Stance again and again.

Through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, regardless of wind, frost, snow, or rain, he never slackened. Fiery Dragon-Tiger energy arose within him, and his grasp of the foundational stance deepened, gradually unlocking its mysteries.

But just then, all the visions vanished. His awareness returned to his body.

He awakened.