Black Tiger Fist Reaches Minor Accomplishment (2nd Update)

Most of those who could take classes at Flying Swallow Martial Arts Hall came from at least moderately well-off families. Even Lu Chenzhou's family could not be considered poor.

But ten million was an astronomical sum to most of those present, enough to buy a luxurious large flat in the inner city before housing prices fell.

After a deathly silence, everyone gradually dispersed.

"Don't even think about dealing with Void Entities. If you encounter one, just run."

"Right. Leave dealing with Void Entities to the state and the professionals."

Lu Chenzhou stood where he was, deep in thought.

He had gained another goal to strive for.

"Void Blade!"

He had finally seen a way for Martial Artists to fight Void Entities. But when he thought of prices starting at several hundred thousand, he could only bury the thought in his heart for now.

Martial arts supplements, martial arts university tuition, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, tea... His parents had too many expenses to consider. They could not afford a Void Blade.

On the training grounds.

Lu Chenzhou sweated like rain.

Practicing fists, practicing fists, and still practicing fists!

Until he heard a notification in his mind.

Black Tiger Fist: 89% (Proficient) → 90% (Proficient)

"Only ten percent away from Minor Accomplishment."

Lu Chenzhou stopped and caught his breath.

Qin Zheng ran over and asked,

"Chenzhou, you aren't planning to take that Void Blade certificate exam, are you?"

"I've thought about it, but it's still far too early."

"Yeah. The hall master is right—if you run into a Void Entity, don't charge in blindly."

"I won't. It's just in case."

Qin Zheng's family was wealthy. If he mentioned it to his father, his father would certainly buy him one. The problem was that he was too weak. Who knew what year of the monkey it would be before he cultivated to Fourth Stage?

But another possibility crossed his mind.

If Lu Chenzhou could pass the test in the future, perhaps he could ask his family to lend Lu Chenzhou the money to buy a Void Blade first—for his good brother's self-defense... and, incidentally, to protect himself.

Qin Zheng did not want to leave Su City. He had lived here for more than a decade, and he had met the girl he liked in high school. There were too many things he could not bear to part with.

Besides, Void Calamities had been erupting everywhere in recent years. Was anywhere else truly safe? There might even be convergence points like Tai Lake elsewhere.

Compared to those places, Su City, which had already received the central government's focused attention,

might actually be safer!

No matter how much he talked around it... he simply could not bear to leave Li Linling!

His senior sister's family had already decided not to leave Su City.

She also planned to apply to Su City University in the future.

With her grades, she would most likely get in. Qin Zheng felt that he and Li Linling would soon be together. If he left now, he would regret it.

Still, it was only an idea for now. He needed to discuss it with his family. He would wait until Lu Chenzhou reached Fourth Stage before telling him, then give him a surprise.

For some reason, he no longer doubted that Lu Chenzhou could pass the exam. Maybe this guy had brought him too many shocks over the past half year.

"Senior Sister is here."

Amid the trainees' greetings, Shi Ruyu entered the martial arts hall.

Today, she wore black yoga pants that particularly flattered her figure, paired as always with simple white sneakers and a white tank top that revealed the toned muscles of her arms.

They had the uniquely feminine lines that did not look savage.

"Today, we're continuing with Sea-Skimming Body. It'll also come in handy if you encounter a Void Calamity." After warming up, Shi Ruyu began demonstrating on the wooden stakes.

"Who wants to give it a try?"

The moment she asked, a whole crowd raised their hands.

The Void Calamity had made everyone even more enthusiastic about martial arts training.

After everyone had practiced it once, she looked toward Lu Chenzhou.

"You've all done well, but you're still missing something compared to Lu Chenzhou. His Sea-Skimming Body is already no weaker than mine. Let him demonstrate it for you."

Everyone was stunned.

They knew Lu Chenzhou was formidable—even Du Men could not beat him. But Shi Ruyu, already at Seventh Stage, had personally admitted that Lu Chenzhou's Sea-Skimming Body was no weaker than hers.

Wasn't this guy a little too fierce?

Lu Chenzhou did not shrink back. He went up and demonstrated once. Qin Zheng, who was also at Second Stage, could not touch him at all atop the wooden stakes. In the end, Qin Zheng was exhausted and fell off.

Qin Zheng was utterly despairing.

His Second Stage felt like a fake.

There was nothing he could do. His Sea-Skimming Body was only at the Initiation level.

Shi Ruyu was also quite pleased inwardly.

She thought that in the future, she could use this excuse to have Lu Chenzhou teach Sea-Skimming Body classes for her. She only needed to guide everyone in Basic Fist Art.

After class, Shi Ruyu stopped Lu Chenzhou.

"Chenzhou, come to my martial arts room."

As a true disciple, she had her own private cultivation room. After closing the door, she brought out a plate of dried fruits, nuts, jerky, and other snacks.

"Eat something first and replenish your energy."

"Alright, Senior Sister."

Lu Chenzhou tore open a pack of jerky and took another sip of water.

"What's your blood vitality at now?"

"I haven't measured it these past two days. It was 1.67 a week ago."

Shi Ruyu's heart stirred slightly upon hearing that number.

"You're not far from Third Stage now."

He would definitely reach Third Stage before the admissions exam.

That meant breaking through three stages in less than a year!

Based on what she knew, even someone with average talent would need to work fairly hard and take enough martial arts supplements to achieve that rate of progress.

Take Huang Hao, for example. He attended Pingjiang Martial School. His Basic Fist Art reached Perfection in his second year of middle school, making him a First Stage Martial Warrior. He then reached Third Stage before graduating middle school, entered Fourth Stage in Grade One, and Fifth Stage in Grade Two. That was the faster pace an average-talent person could achieve under ideal conditions. Any faster usually meant their comprehension was also outstanding, so they were not included in the discussion.

Shi Ruyu encouraged him,

"Not bad. Keep it up, and don't let pride make you careless."

Lu Chenzhou had already eaten half the plate of dried fruits.

Now that he and Shi Ruyu had grown fairly close, he asked,

"Senior Sister, have you taken the Void Blade Possession Qualification Certificate exam?"

Shi Ruyu opened her phone with a smile.

"You mean this?"

Lu Chenzhou took it and looked.

Void Blade Possession Electronic Certificate (Civilian Grade)

Name: Shi Ruyu

Number: scpj*****21980601

Level: Amateur Seventh Stage

Permitted Void Blade Grade: Low Grade

Validity Period: Ten years from the date of issuance

Annual Inspection: Passed

There was quite a bit of information on the certificate.

This thing was valid for ten years and required annual inspections. If the holder became unfit to possess one or broke the law, it would be revoked.

Lu Chenzhou felt envious after reading it.

Shi Ruyu had only taken the exam not long ago as well.

"When you reach Fourth Stage, you can give it a try too. But the odds of passing at Fourth Stage aren't high. For someone at Seventh Stage like me, it's a sure thing."

"Got it. Thanks, Senior Sister."

"Do you want to see my Void Blade?"

"You already have one?"

"Yeah, but mine is the cheapest mass-produced model. It can't compare to the hall master's. His was custom-made. C9 Alloy costs even more than gold."

Shi Ruyu put on a pair of black gloves.

She casually threw a punch. A faint white glow seemed to ripple out, and after watching for a while, Lu Chenzhou felt as if his mind were being drawn toward it. It must have been the mental radiation carried by the Void Entity materials within. It really was somewhat sinister. But if it was only this much, he felt he should be able to endure it.

Shi Ruyu said,

"These are Voidbreaker Gloves, the lowest-grade kind of Void Blade. They're woven from the most advanced synthetic fiber materials. Once you put them on, catching a blade barehanded becomes routine... though I mean ordinary people's blades. They can also inflict considerable damage on Drift Grade Void Entities. They should be enough for my usual self-defense."

With her strength, as long as she did not encounter a Void Entity above Drift Grade,

she could escape if she handled things carefully.

Hearing that it was cheap, Lu Chenzhou gathered his courage and asked,

"Senior Sister, how much?"

Shi Ruyu did some calculations.

"More than five hundred thousand altogether, including all the various expenses... Mainly because Void Blade technology hasn't been around for long, and production can't keep up. I had to pay extra just to get one."

"Alright."

Sure enough, what wealthy people considered cheap was different from what he imagined.

How many martial arts supplements could that buy?

Shi Ruyu comforted him,

"Work hard at your fists. Once you have strength, making money won't be difficult. It's just that martial arts cultivation costs a lot too, so saving money is also hard... Prepare yourself mentally in advance."

Time passed day by day.

At the end of March, the police announced that the investigation and clearance of Void Entities within Su City had been completed, telling everyone to resume normal work and life. Schools reopened as well.

During this major sweep, thirteen Void Entities had been killed.

The good news was that no new convergence point had been found. It was ultimately determined that the Void Entities had likely escaped from the Tai Lake convergence point earlier, though the possibility of remnants outside could not be ruled out.

As of now, the number of victims who had died because of Void Entities had risen to four. They were all ordinary people, and all had some psychological or mental issues. Overall, the situation was much better than everyone had imagined. The public could see the state's efforts as well.

March 30th.

Building 3, Shihu Garden.

The east was beginning to whiten as a new day arrived.

On the rooftop, Lu Chenzhou focused with all his might. Like a black tiger leaping over mountains, he threw a punch that made the air crackle. His entire aura reached its absolute peak.

After completing a set of Black Tiger Fist, he adjusted his breathing slightly.

A notification came from his mind.

Black Tiger Fist: Proficient (100%) → Minor Accomplishment (1%)