Martial Arts Hall

A martial arts hall was a private training ground established by martial arts powerhouses. Its purposes were, first, to make money, and second, to recruit martial arts talent.

Simply put, a martial arts hall was much like the gyms from Chen Mo's previous life.

It just had many more functions, with all kinds of training equipment, while also seeking out martial arts geniuses to invest in early.

As long as one caught a martial arts hall's eye and signed a contract with them, they could obtain a great deal of money and cultivation resources, though they would also need to fulfill corresponding obligations.

Chen Mo had learned this from Jiang Tao as well. However, with their aptitudes, no martial arts hall was willing to invest in them.

After going downstairs, while walking toward the bus stop, Jiang Tao still could not help asking about Chen Mo's injuries.

"Mozi, how exactly did you get hurt? Has the Law Enforcement Bureau's investigation turned up anything?"

Knowing his friend was worried about him, Chen Mo did not hide anything and began recounting what had happened.

"I don't know either. That day, I was walking home when everything suddenly went black. When I woke up, I found myself lying in a hospital bed."

"The Law Enforcement Bureau came to investigate, but they found no clues. So, you get it."

"Anyone who could knock me unconscious without a sound was at least a Martial Artist. Now that I'm healed, I won't pursue it anymore. A Martial Artist isn't someone my family can afford to provoke. I just won't take that road again."

Chen Mo did not mention the Enforcer's misconduct that day, nor did he mention his own suspicions.

Without evidence, there was no point in saying anything.

Jiang Tao was his friend. Although his father was a Martial Artist, he had no real power or influence. It would be bad if they were dragged into this because of him.

Chen Mo did not want Jiang Tao's family to be placed in danger because of this.

"Fuck!" Jiang Tao immediately cursed after hearing this. "Is that Martial Artist sick in the head? He beat you up for no reason at all! He doesn't have a shred of sense!"

"If I ever find out who it was, I'll make his dad beat the hell out of him too, to avenge you."

"Taozi, calm down. It's already over. My injuries are healed now, and since that Martial Artist didn't kill me, he probably won't come looking for trouble again."

"I just need to be more careful from now on. Once I become a Martial Artist, I won't be afraid anymore."

"We're still too weak in the end. If you aren't a Martial Artist, you're nothing but an ant."

Chen Mo had already come to terms with it. He did not want to drag Jiang Tao into this. After all, Jiang Tao was still an ordinary person.

It would be terrible if Jiang Tao caught the attention of a Martial Artist too.

Chen Mo suddenly thought that if that Martial Artist was still watching him, or if he went after his family, there was nothing he could do. A powerful sense of crisis rose within him.

His expression immediately turned grim.

"Taozi, let's hurry to the martial arts hall and get stronger!"

Hearing Chen Mo's words, Jiang Tao seemed to think of the Martial Artist hiding in the shadows, threatening Chen Mo's family at any time. His expression darkened as well.

"Mozi, how about your family moves? It isn't safe here, and there's also an escaped criminal on the loose around this area."

Chen Mo shook his head.

"Taozi, it's useless. My whole family is ordinary people—where could we possibly hide? Besides, we don't have any treasure worth a Martial Artist's attention."

"He should have left long ago. From now on, I'll stick to crowded places when I go out. He wouldn't dare show himself there."

"Fine! I didn't think it through." Jiang Tao had no good solution either.

Just as Jiang Tao was considering how to help Chen Mo, he heard Chen Mo say, "Taozi, don't tell your dad, and don't let him investigate either. The Law Enforcement Bureau is already looking into it. If that Martial Artist ends up hurting you because of this, I'd never be able to live with myself."

"Fine."

Jiang Tao could only abandon the idea. Chen Mo was already fine now; perhaps that Martial Artist had already left.

Still, this ignited his desire to grow stronger. He wanted to become stronger, to become a Martial Artist, and never be bullied again.

Chen Mo felt the same.

Chen Mo did not want to keep talking about this, so he quickly changed the subject.

"Taozi, I have some good news for you. I've broken through to Sixth-grade Martial Disciple too!"

"Huh? So fast? I haven't even been Big Brother for a full day yet!" Though Jiang Tao said that, he was delighted inside.

"If you want to be Big Brother, that's not impossible. When we get to the martial arts hall, let's have a match. If you win, you'll still be Big Brother!"

"Fine, then let's compare! I'll definitely make you call me Big Brother later."

Jiang Tao was brimming with confidence.

They both practiced saber techniques, but because Jiang Tao had guidance from his Martial Artist father, he was more proficient than Chen Mo. Most of the time, he won far more than he lost.

"That might not be the case this time! As the saying goes, after three days apart, one should look at another with new eyes. When I beat you later, don't go crying."

"How could that be? I have my dad's guidance, and in a few more days, my saber technique will reach Major Accomplishment. If you want to beat me, your saber technique will have to reach Major Accomplishment too."

Jiang Tao looked utterly unconvinced.

Chen Mo gave a mysterious smile.

"Not necessarily. I can beat you even if my saber technique hasn't reached Major Accomplishment."

"You're that confident? Then let's wait and see!"

Jiang Tao refused to be outdone. Chen Mo's saber technique had only reached Minor Accomplishment a little over two months ago; it would still take a long time for it to reach Major Accomplishment.

If a saber technique at Minor Accomplishment could defeat his saber technique, which was close to Major Accomplishment, then that would be truly absurd.

Half an hour later.

The two got off the bus and arrived at Jiangbei City's largest martial arts gym, Wuji Martial Arts Gym.

Wuji Martial Arts Gym was founded by Zhang Wuji, one of Great Xia Nation's Top Ten Experts, and had branches spread across the country.

Chen Mo did not know much about Zhang Wuji. He only knew that Zhang Wuji was one of Great Xia Nation's top ten, and that he had come to this martial arts gym because of its reputation.

Every one of the Top Ten Experts had made indelible contributions to Great Xia Nation. They were the pillars of the nation, the divine artifacts that held it in check.

It was precisely because of the protection of the Top Ten Experts that Great Xia Nation had not been wiped out by Abyssal Fierce Beasts or invaded by other nations.

Zhang Wuji's original intention in founding martial arts gyms had been to recruit and cultivate martial arts talent—investing in and nurturing martial arts geniuses while also recruiting civilian Martial Artists.

Chen Mo had also looked into the gym's recruitment policies. Martial Artists aged twenty and under who were rated as talented Martial Artists would receive corresponding funds and resources based on assessments of their aptitude.

Those aged twenty-one and above were considered ordinary martial arts talent. They could apply to become gym instructors or join the gym's hunting teams.

Of course, joining the martial arts gym was not easy; one had to pass its assessment.

The previous Chen Mo had not met their recruitment requirements at all.

However, the final policy was useful to Chen Mo: the gym frequently recruited sparring partners at the martial apprentice stage.

Sparring partners also had requirements. Their martial skill realm had to be at least Major Accomplishment, with perfection being best.

At Chen Mo's cultivation speed, he would soon be able to apply as a sparring partner.

After entering the martial arts gym, the two rented an Ordinary Training Room.

An Ordinary Training Room cost twenty yuan an hour, and they rented it for three hours.

The training room merely provided an open space and some basic facilities.

A Strength Tester, a Memory Alloy Training Dummy, and a weapon rack.

As the name implied, the Strength Tester was a machine for testing strength and could precisely measure a person's power.

The Memory Alloy Training Dummy was made of super alloy. Even if weapons damaged it, it could return to its original state within a short time.

The weapon rack held commonly used weapons, though they were all wooden and free to use.