For the next three days, Han Xiao devoted himself to mastering his newly upgraded Speed Burst ability. Each morning, he rose with the sun, driven by an unyielding determination to push his limits. The spacious hall became his training ground, the walls still marked by the faint cracks from his initial collision—a constant reminder of the power he now wielded.

At first, his movements were cautious, each step measured as he adjusted to the rapid acceleration. He activated Level 1 of the Speed Burst, feeling the familiar rush of speed that he had grown accustomed to. His legs moved in a blur as he circled the hall, gradually building his confidence.

By the second day, his body began to adapt. The muscle memory in his legs started to sync with the ability, each stride becoming smoother and more fluid. He experimented with switching between Level 1 and Level 2, learning to control the sudden bursts of speed without losing his balance or crashing into the walls. As he did, Han Xiao noticed something else: with the increase in speed, his brain seemed to adjust as well, sharpening his perception to match his accelerated movements. It was as if time slowed down just enough for him to process the world at this heightened pace.

His awareness expanded, allowing him to anticipate and react with unprecedented precision. He could see and respond to his surroundings with a level of consciousness that matched his new speed. The transition from a normal pace to the near-instantaneous acceleration of Level 2 became more natural with each passing hour, not just for his body but for his mind as well.

On the third day, Han Xiao felt the shift. His legs no longer required conscious thought to adjust to the speed. His body responded instinctively, the muscle memory ingrained from hours of relentless practice. Simultaneously, his mind had attuned itself to the velocity, processing information at a rate that kept pace with his movements. He could move through the hall with precision, weaving through obstacles and stopping on a dime. The Speed Burst had become an extension of him, seamlessly integrated into both his physical abilities and mental acuity.

Satisfied with his progress, Han Xiao paused in the center of the hall, his breathing steady despite the intense training. He flexed his legs, feeling the strength and readiness in his muscles. The once daunting speed now felt like second nature, a tool he could wield with ease in the heat of battle. His enhanced consciousness, honed alongside his physical speed, would allow him to anticipate and outmaneuver opponents, strike with precision, and evade attacks with ease.

With a sudden burst of speed, Han Xiao sprinted across the hall, his movements so fast they appeared more like flickering shadows. He muttered with satisfaction, “Good! I can still sharpen the cutting edge of this ability even further before it levels up again.”

Still riding the wave of excitement, Han Xiao felt a hunger for more. He mused, “There are still many days left before the Martial Meet. How about mastering those two new skills?”

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Without hesitation, Han Xiao decided to study the Tai Chi Palm style first. This wasn’t just an ordinary technique; it had been advanced and refined by the System.

As usual, the black leather book appeared within the red interface, its pages turning one by one until it stopped on a new page. The title was written in a strange script, yet Han Xiao found it surprisingly easy to read despite his limited experience: Tai-Chi Palm Style.

As he read through the text, he discovered that the style encompassed four key techniques, each governed by a specific law:

- Mount Tai Strike – Harnessing the Law of Gravity.

- Softness/Absorption – Absorbing the opponent’s force.

- Rebound – Redirecting the absorbed force back at the opponent.

- Yin and Yang Harmony – The ultimate stage, where the user can fight without exhaustion, tapping into the elemental energies of the surroundings.

As Han Xiao absorbed this information, the text on the page began to shift, morphing into the figure of a martial artist. The figure moved through each of the four techniques in sequence, seamlessly transitioning from one to the next in a continuous, cyclical flow.

The four styles corresponded with subtle movements of the palms—some gentle and soft like a caressing breeze, others hard and fierce like a powerful strike. Han Xiao stood up and began practicing, mimicking the motions of the virtual martial artist he had seen in the book.

However, he quickly realized that mastering these movements was tougher than he had anticipated. Each style required perfect timing and precise execution, and he soon understood that learning and fully grasping the first law alone would be a tedious and lengthy process.

Han Xiao immersed himself in mastering the four styles of the Tai-Chi Palm. Each style required a unique blend of precision and power, demanding both physical and mental discipline.

He started with the style corresponding to the Mount Tai Strike law, where he had to channel the Law of Gravity into a powerful blow. The challenge was balancing fluidity with strength—his strikes needed to flow naturally, yet land with the force of a mountain. After numerous attempts, his strikes began to feel more controlled, but the true mastery still eluded him.

Next, he tackled Softness/Absorption, where he focused on absorbing an opponent’s force. This style demanded flexibility and adaptability, allowing him to bend without breaking. He found it tricky to remain soft yet ready to counter, often losing the rhythm as he tried to absorb and prepare for the next move.

Rebound followed, a style centered on returning the absorbed force back at the opponent. Timing was everything—his counters often lacked the strength or precision needed to be effective. He practiced repeatedly, slowly refining his ability to return the force with the right balance of power and speed.

Finally, Han Xiao attempted Yin and Yang Harmony, the pinnacle of the Tai-Chi Palm style. This ultimate stage required a deep understanding of balance, merging opposites into a seamless whole. It was the most elusive of the styles, demanding an almost spiritual level of awareness. He could only grasp the surface, the true depth of the style remaining out of reach.

After learning the four styles, Han Xiao turned his focus to the four laws corresponding to each one. The first law, Gravity, was tied to Mount Tai Strike. Mastering this law meant understanding how to manipulate weight and force, channeling the earth’s power through his movements.

Days turned into nights as he dedicated himself to this next phase of training. The repetition was grueling but necessary. His understanding deepened with each attempt, though progress came slowly.

Then, on the fourth day, as he practiced Mount Tai Strike, something shifted. His movements, once forced, began to feel more natural, more attuned to the energy around him. Suddenly, he experienced a fleeting moment of clarity—a brief epiphany where the Law of Gravity responded to his intent. His strike felt as if it were backed by the weight of the earth itself.

The sensation was brief, but it left a lasting impression. Han Xiao knew he had touched the first law, even if only partially. This breakthrough, though small, was a significant step forward. With renewed determination, he resumed his training, eager to fully master the Tai-Chi Palm and its corresponding laws.