White Ape Through the Forest, Black Tiger Crossing the Mountain (Second Update)

Answering the nation's call: do not stay out at night.

After eating and drinking their fill, everyone went home early.

Come to think of it, ever since the last major investigation, there had been no news of Void Calamities causing trouble anywhere. The nation's methods were indeed formidable.

Still, those measures treated the symptoms, not the root cause.

To eradicate Void Calamities completely, perhaps they would need to find a way to eliminate the Void Realm.

For now, none of that had anything to do with Lu Chenzhou.

To be safe, he kept the Sunfire Lamp at home lit at all times. His parents had tried several times to turn it off, but he refused. How could they throw away their lives just to save on electricity bills?

As Lu Chenzhou's strength grew, his standing at home had risen as well.

On certain matters, his parents listened to his opinion.

The next day.

Flying Swallow Martial Arts Hall, public class.

In the wooden-dummy area, Lu Chenzhou moved like a swallow in the rain. He trod the swaying wooden posts as if walking on level ground, evading the attacks of two students with the air of a true master. Only after demonstrating every footwork and movement technique of the "Sea-Skimming Body" did he leap down.

"Senior Brother Lu is incredible."

"Yeah, we couldn't even touch him."

The two students were newcomers and had not reached the Entry Stage. Even so, the fact that Lu Chenzhou could evade every attack atop the wooden posts showed just how superb his Movement Skill was.

He looked toward the Martial Dao Tree.

Sea-Skimming Body: Proficiency (100%) → Mastery (1%)

At this point, the Sea-Skimming Body had entered the realm of Mastery.

Even Shi Ruyu was slightly inferior to him in this regard.

Of course, she was not far from Mastery herself.

Lu Chenzhou had progressed faster than Shi Ruyu partly because of the Martial Dao Tree, and partly because he trained more diligently than she did. This was the only Movement Skill he cultivated.

Shi Ruyu was different.

The Movement Skill she primarily cultivated was actually the "Forest-Piercing Body," a third-rate Movement Skill martial art paired with the "White Ape Fist" she specialized in.

She had already trained it to Perfection. With her Seventh Stage cultivation, she had no real need to cultivate the "Sea-Skimming Body"; she had learned it before only to teach classes for Ji Xuantong.

Flying Swallow Skimming the Sea!

White Ape Through the Forest!

Black Tiger Crossing the Mountain!

Spirit Snake Traversing the Water!

Most Form-Emulation Fists came with corresponding Movement Skills.

The Black Tiger Fist also had a matching third-rate Movement Skill, the "Mountain-Crossing Body."

He decided he should learn it when he had the time.

That was the only way to better bring out the Black Tiger Fist's power.

The "Mountain-Crossing Body" was available on the Martial Artists Association's official website.

Given his current attainment in martial arts, if he only wanted to reach Initiation, there was no need to hire a dedicated coach. Besides, he could ask Ji Xuantong for guidance.

He had to make full use of the advantages of being a true disciple.

After class.

Ji Xuantong called Shi Ruyu and Lu Chenzhou into the martial arts room.

"Both of you should sign up for this Martial Arts Academy Exchange Tournament."

Shi Ruyu said, "I'll enter the youth division!"

Lu Chenzhou did not hesitate either.

"I'll enter the junior division!"

Ji Xuantong pondered for a moment.

"Setting aside those with average-grade talent, our academy currently only has the strength to contend for placements with you two, plus Du Men and Old Zhang. There are some others with decent cultivation, but they have no time and did not register. So it's up to you."

This kind of exchange tournament had an unspoken industry rule.

Those with upper-average talent or better were not allowed to compete.

Naturally, they also disdained participating in such small-time contests.

Martial schools had plenty of their own competitions and prize money.

At its core, the Martial Arts Academy Exchange Tournament was just a game where ordinary people huddled together for warmth.

For people like Huang Hao, Qin Zheng's friend, a martial arts academy was merely a place to train outside his martial school classes. He had no sense of belonging toward it.

So this was also Lu Chenzhou's opportunity.

Low-grade talent, under eighteen years old.

Those two conditions ruled out many powerful people with higher stages than his. Within that range, there probably were not many people among Pingjiang District's major martial arts academies stronger than him.

Participation was what mattered, but getting a placement would be best.

First place won one hundred thousand, second place fifty thousand, and third place ten thousand.

Even the top ten received a thousand yuan participation prize.

Their household income this year was lower than last year's, yet their monthly expenses had increased by ten or twenty thousand. They were drawing on Lu Guoping's savings. Any amount Lu Chenzhou could contribute would help.

And there was also the Hidden Dragon Award, which he needed to strive for.

Shi Ruyu asked:

"Teacher, do you have any news about the other martial arts academies? What experts do they have?"

Ji Xuantong said:

"There aren't many martial arts academies registered for this Pingjiang District exchange tournament. There are only four. Aside from us, there's Giant Elephant Combat Hall, Wandering Dragon Martial Arts Academy, and Golden Lion Martial Arts Academy. They're all old rivals of ours."

Lu Chenzhou was somewhat surprised when he heard Giant Elephant Combat Hall.

"Teacher, there are foreign Fighters opening martial arts academies here too?"

"Yes, though not many... Great Xia may be number one in martial arts, but some countries around the world are not weak in that regard either. Giant Elephant Combat Hall comes from the Silver Eagle Federation. Its owner, Giant Elephant Rikett, is proficient in the 'Mammoth Combat Art,' which originated from an ancient nation somewhere in the Americas. I once sparred with him privately five years ago..."

Ji Xuantong did not finish.

Shi Ruyu could not help asking:

"Teacher, what was the result? You won, right?"

Ji Xuantong thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"I lost."

"What? Teacher, haven't you already opened sixty acupoints? Your cultivation should count as mid-stage even among First Shackle Breakthrough practitioners, right? That foreigner was that strong?"

Shi Ruyu was rather shocked.

Lu Chenzhou had not expected it either.

Ji Xuantong said:

"Do not be arrogant and conceited. The world is vast, and beyond one mountain lies another higher mountain! If you participate in international competitions in the future, never underestimate Fighters!"

"We understand, Teacher."

The two nodded obediently.

Ji Xuantong coughed.

"Of course, five years have passed now, and who is stronger between Giant Elephant and me is hard to say... I'm getting older. I have lost some of the sharp vigor I had in my youth."

Next, he introduced the competing martial arts academies.

The owner of Wandering Dragon Martial Arts Academy was River-Crossing Jiao Li Zhen, who excelled in the "Wandering Dragon Palm" from the Bagua lineage. The owner of Golden Lion Martial Arts Academy was Dancing Sky Lion Lin Hong, who excelled in the "Lion Dance Fist," which originated along the coast of southern Min. It was said to be a fist art that had gradually evolved from folk lion-dance culture and was relatively obscure.

Lu Chenzhou sighed inwardly. Great Xia Martial Dao truly embraced all rivers and streams!

Ji Xuantong said:

"The list of competitors is not out yet, but based on what I have learned, I've compiled information on some contestants for you. Take it back and study it."

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be imperiled in a hundred battles!

"Chenzhou, this is your first time participating in a Martial Arts Academy Exchange Tournament. It would be best if you can get a placement, but it's fine if you can't. People from other academies will not hold back like family members do. In martial arts bouts, injuries are as commonplace as daily meals!"

"Teacher, I'm mentally prepared."

"Mm. That's all. Go back and study your enemies carefully. Find some videos online in advance of the fist arts and styles they excel at. Don't sharpen your spear only when you stand before battle. Those people are certainly studying your techniques too, but you have one advantage: they will most likely think you practice the 'Swallow Return Fist' of our Flying Swallow Martial Hall..."

At those words, Shi Ruyu's lips curved upward.

"They don't know that Junior Brother actually excels at the 'Black Tiger Fist.'"

"Right. Use that advantage to catch them off guard!"

The master and disciples discussed tactics for a long time.

"It's getting late. Go on home."

"Goodbye, Teacher."

At the entrance of the martial arts academy.

Shi Ruyu said:

"Junior Brother, let's go together from now on. It isn't safe at night, and you don't have a Void Blade yet. Even if you encounter the weakest Void Entity, you would be powerless."

"Senior Sister, I live in the outer city..."

"I know. Shihu Garden, right? Teacher told me."

"Yes."

"Then we're on the way. Let's go."

"This is too much trouble for you."

Lu Chenzhou felt a little embarrassed.

"What trouble is it? Teacher repeatedly told me to protect your safety."

Since Shi Ruyu put it that way, Lu Chenzhou did not refuse.

"Then let's go together."

After getting into Shi Ruyu's car, Lu Chenzhou sat in the front passenger seat.

To be fair, riding in the car of a Seventh Stage expert really did make him feel safe.

Lu Chenzhou was quiet and reserved, so Shi Ruyu was the one who kept finding topics to talk about along the way.

"Junior Brother, do you plan to leave Su City to develop elsewhere in the future?"

"That depends on which Wuda I can get into."

"Pingjiang Martial University is one hundred percent certain... I think Dragon City is secure for you too."

"What about you, Senior Sister? Where do you plan to develop?"

"More or less the same as you."

The two chatted in fits and starts.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the entrance to Lu Chenzhou's residential complex.

"Go on home."

Shi Ruyu smiled from the car.

"Thank you, Senior Sister. I'll treat you to a meal at the end of the month."

"Alright."

As he watched the car vanish into the night, Lu Chenzhou pulled his school uniform tighter around himself.

"Chenzhou, who was that?"

Li Xianghua's voice suddenly came from nearby.

When Lu Chenzhou saw his mother, he reproached her slightly.

"Mom? Why are you still outside so late?"

"I picked up a package... Who was that girl?"

"My Senior Sister, the Seventh Stage expert I told you about before."

Li Xianghua's eyes lit up.

"Oh, oh, so that was Ruyu. What an impressive young lady."

Lu Chenzhou did not respond to that. Instead, he said:

"Let's go. Don't come out so late in the future."

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