When Did Your Basic Fist Arts Reach Completion?

Li Zhanting had just reached the door of Fist Arts Class 6 when the two students immediately bowed respectfully to greet him. "Good day, Instructor Li!"

His gaze passed straight over the plainly dressed student and landed on the other one, who wore expensive Training Clothes and carried himself with exceptional poise. He deliberately softened his tone. "Isn't this Nephew Guo? The last time we met was at your Grandfather's birthday celebration. Has the old gentleman been well lately?"

Guo Chun was clearly only making casual conversation and had no intention of speaking further. He answered perfunctorily, "Thank you for your concern, Instructor Li. Grandfather is well. I was just about to head to the training grounds with a few classmates. Another day, I'll invite you to my residence for a proper chat!"

After saying that, he called to the few lackeys behind him, "Let's go, Guowei! What could you possibly still have to talk about with that woman in those shabby clothes?"

Hearing this, Lu Guowei hurriedly stuffed the bills his mother had just brought him into his pocket and quickly followed.

"Who was that?"

"Someone irrelevant!"

Watching Guo Chun's departing back, a trace of barely concealed jealousy flashed through Li Zhanting's eyes. He murmured, "A direct descendant of the Guo Family. He truly carries himself with extraordinary bearing."

With that, he cast a sidelong glance at the commoner student who had received no response and was still standing there awkwardly. A look of superiority unconsciously appeared on his face as he clasped his hands behind his back and strolled into the Class 6 classroom.

More than twenty students inside were enthusiastically discussing something. When they saw him enter, they hurriedly greeted him in unison.

"Mm."

Li Zhanting greatly enjoyed this reverence. Raising his chin, he said, "Who still has questions about Basic Fist Arts? I'll only be here for half an hour, so ask quickly if you have questions!"

"Instructor, I have a question!"

He was answering one student's question when his phone suddenly rang.

"Director Zeng? What? Who did you say? Lu Jue's Basic Fist Arts have reached completion? How is that possible? I'm sorry, it was indeed my oversight!"

After hanging up, Li Zhanting's face turned livid, his heart filled with uncertainty and alarm.

The person in charge of the Technique Hall had just called to question why Lu Jue, a Class 6 student, had reached completion in Basic Fist Arts without reporting it.

Lu Jue? Wasn't he that poor student Li Zhanting had tried to persuade to quit two days ago?

How had his Basic Fist Arts suddenly reached completion?

Li Zhanting had been born an illegitimate descendant of a branch of the Li Family in Tianhai City.

Relying on his family's resources, he had only barely piled his strength up to qi force last year.

The five realms of Entering Force—qi, congealing, astral, core, spirit.

In the martial world, the qi force realm was merely the first stage past the beginner's threshold. One was not even qualified to apply as an official martial artist yet. But to the vast majority of commoners, it was already an astonishing achievement—enough to rank among the elites in the Commoner District and secure a stable, respectable job.

Li Zhanting knew his talent was mediocre. After luckily breaking through to qi force, the little ambition he had possessed was completely spent. Through family connections, he came to East City Martial School and became an Assistant Instructor.

Then, again through family connections, he bypassed the first four years of the martial arts curriculum—the most arduous foundational stage, the stage that demanded genuine ability—and went directly to Fifth Grade, where he was put in charge of teaching Basic Fist Arts to two classes.

He had been teaching for a full year. He would not claim to know every student under him like the back of his hand, but he was clear on their general progress.

He remembered that Lu Jue's Basic Fist Arts had only reached minor mastery. When had it suddenly leaped to completion?

Could he have had an epiphany?

He suddenly recalled the opportunity he had once dreamed of obtaining, and a wave of bitterness surged in his heart.

A poor brat from the slums, not even worthy of being called a commoner—why should he have such luck?!

Thinking this, he shoved the student before him aside. His gaze swept rapidly across the classroom and quickly locked onto Lu Jue, who sat cross-legged on the floor with his head lowered over a book.

He immediately strode over.

"Lu Jue, when did your Basic Fist Arts reach completion? Why didn't you report it to me first?" Li Zhanting demanded.

Lu Jue looked up at the instructor.

Though the martial school had no explicit rule, out of courtesy, students would usually report to the instructor responsible for a technique once they had brought it to completion.

But two days ago, weren't you telling me to give up martial arts?

Why should I respect you?

"Sorry, Instructor Li. It's my first time reaching completion, so I didn't know about this rule." Lu Jue's face was expressionless, without the slightest hint of apology in his eyes.

"Did you collect a new technique?"

Li Zhanting was angered by his attitude. "At a time like this, you still don't know your own limits? How dare you divide your attention to cultivate another technique?"

At that moment, he happened to lower his head and catch sight of the cover of the technique in Lu Jue's hand—"Sound Location." He froze.

"Pfft! Is something wrong with your head? What use is there in learning that thing?!"

"Preparing for when your eyes grow dim in old age? Hahaha!"

The piercing laughter drew many students over to watch. Those who did not know the technique looked confused, while those who did could not help snickering.

Lu Jue slowly closed the technique manual. His voice was not loud, yet every person heard it clearly.

"Instructor Li!"

"The martial school's rules state that after any basic technique reaches completion, one may choose a non-advanced technique to exchange for. There doesn't seem to be any requirement to prove that it 'has a use,' does there? Besides, this technique was created by the senior Wooden Sword Martial Saint. Are you questioning a Martial Saint?"

Li Zhanting was choked speechless by those words, and his face instantly flushed red.

A commoner student he normally did not even bother looking at dared to openly defy him?

"Lu Jue, what kind of attitude is that! Don't think reaching completion in Basic Fist Arts means you can look down on everyone!"

"Basic Fist Arts are only moves. Perfecting the moves does not mean you are strong in actual combat—"

He stood there lecturing for quite a while, only to find that Lu Jue was completely unmoved.

Those confident eyes reminded him of the way direct descendants of the Great Families looked at him, making him intensely displeased.

Even commoner students, no matter how outstanding they were, always looked at him with caution and restraint. A poor brat from the slums—what gave him the right to possess such confidence?!

Heh, I suppose a mediocre student who suddenly has an epiphany is bound to mistake himself for heaven's chosen son.

And what I am best at is crushing the delusional dreams of these lowly commoners!

"Perfect. It's been a long time since I assessed your actual combat ability!"

Li Zhanting turned to look behind him and pointed at a tall student. "Zhang Tie, come spar with Lu Jue. Let me see how the two of you have progressed lately!"

The surrounding students were all stunned by this arrangement.

Zhang Tie was a well-known genius in Class 6. Though he came from a commoner background, he had ranked one hundred and thirty-fifth in the entire grade during last year's final assessment. He was an outstanding student with one foot already over the threshold of a first-rate martial arts academy.

Even if Lu Jue's Basic Fist Arts had reached completion, based on his previous results, he had only ranked somewhere above four hundred.

Making Zhang Tie fight Lu Jue—wasn't that plainly bullying him?

At that thought, the expressions of some students from commoner backgrounds changed.

Lu Jue might have unconventional ideas, but he had not committed any great offense. Why target him like this?

Did commoners deserve such unfair treatment?

"Instructor Li, I'm planning to participate in the Quota Competition six days from now. I need to conserve my strength at the moment!" Zhang Tie scratched his head, clearly unwilling to make a move.

Lu Jue also did not want to waste time. "Instructor Li, if you doubt whether my Basic Fist Arts have truly reached completion, I can demonstrate them right now."

"Fine, fine, fine! Every last one of you is making excuses. So my words don't carry any weight anymore?"

Li Zhanting felt his authority being challenged. He slammed his palm down on the desk and shouted:

"Five thousand! Whoever wins takes it! This is coming out of my own pocket—I just want to see your real ability! Are you fighting or not?"

Lu Jue was slightly taken aback. He secretly thought that Instructor Li was truly willing to spend heavily.

He did indeed urgently need money, but Instructor Li's malice was practically written across his face. Taking this money would be disgusting.

To his surprise, Zhang Tie's face lit up with wild joy, and he immediately agreed.

"Alright! Instructor, I'll fight!"