Life Plaza, first floor.
The modern "Flying Swallow" logo came into view.
The entire floor belonged to Flying Swallow Martial Hall.
Li Linling could barely wait any longer.
"I'm going to change into my training clothes first. See you two junior brothers in the cafeteria."
Lu Chenzhou looked at the luxuriously decorated martial hall and thought, I have to study hard. One class costs two thousand.
Qin Zheng quickly followed after her, trailing in his senior sister's footsteps.
"Come on, Chenzhou. Let's eat first. Afterward, I'll show you around the martial hall, then have you test your Blood Vitality. You'll need to schedule your classes with the hall master in advance."
"Thanks, President."
Inside the martial hall, a group of young people trained with great fervor before all kinds of fitness equipment and wooden dummies. As long as they had a membership card, they could use the ordinary facilities freely during its validity period.
The martial hall did not make money from those things. Its real income came from core member classes.
The three from the Martial Arts Society ate nutritionally balanced meals in the cafeteria next, with all the high-protein sea fish and beef they could want. Lu Chenzhou ate until he was eighty percent full.
After resting to digest his food.
Lu Chenzhou changed into a black training uniform embroidered with a Flying Swallow Skimming the Sea design. The martial hall had given it to him, and he could take it home to wear. Looking into the mirror, he seemed far more spirited.
After making a round of the place, Lu Chenzhou still did not see Shi Ruyu. Presumably, she had not arrived yet. After exchanging greetings, Qin Zheng led Lu Chenzhou to the Blood Vitality testing room.
Someone inside had just finished testing.
A mechanical voice sounded.
Blood Vitality value 2.50. Fifth Stage standard reached.
The man let out a breath, withdrew his stance, and stood still.
As he walked out, Qin Zheng seemed to know him and greeted him.
"Huang Hao, congrats on reaching Fifth Stage."
Huang Hao nodded and strode away.
Qin Zheng pursed his lips, looking a little awkward.
Lu Chenzhou looked at his phone, pretending not to notice.
Qin Zheng glanced back, then whispered:
"This guy lives in the Inner City too. He's my neighbor, but he has medium-grade bones and attends Pingjiang Affiliated Martial School. He reached perfection in Basic Fist Art in his first year of middle school. He's only one year older than us, yet I'm still at First Stage while he's already at Fifth Stage."
When people were compared to others, they could be angered to death.
Especially someone like Huang Hao. He did not mean any harm, but he simply did not regard Qin Zheng as worthy of notice. That sense of separation between two worlds left Qin Zheng a little hurt.
Lu Chenzhou comforted him.
"Don't compare yourself to others."
He entered the testing room.
Please wear the sensor device as instructed. If you are a Martial Warrior, demonstrate the Basic Fist Art once. If you are an ordinary person, simply throw a punch with all your strength. Taking any Blood Vitality-enhancing supplements that remain effective is prohibited before testing. Prohibited...
Lu Chenzhou concentrated, like a tiger or leopard about to hunt.
Testing began.
In an instant, his fighting spirit erupted, and he entered a selfless state of fist practice. He performed the Basic Fist Art at Major Accomplishment with smooth, flowing movements, without the slightest sense of hesitation.
Qin Zheng watched from the side.
"Obviously, I reached Major Accomplishment earlier. Why does it feel like Chenzhou is doing it better than me?"
Senior Sister Li, dressed in a Flying Swallow uniform, also came over.
"Chenzhou has already started testing? He's doing pretty well."
She was at Second Stage, the ceiling of the Martial Arts Society's combat strength.
Qin Zheng asked, "Senior Sister, aren't you testing?"
"No. I was only at 1.5 a month ago. I'm still far from Third Stage."
The two watched Lu Chenzhou practice his fist art intently, appreciation in their eyes. Given Lu Chenzhou's family circumstances, he practiced no worse than they did. This was the fruit of hard work!
Blood Vitality value 1.33. First Stage standard reached.
Lu Chenzhou looked at the display and let out a breath.
The Blood Vitality standard for First Stage was 1.2. After that, each stage required 1.2 times the previous standard. He was not far from the 1.44 required for Second Stage either.
"I've reached Entry Stage!"
He was an Entry Stage Martial Warrior too.
"Hahaha, everyone in our Martial Arts Society has reached Entry Stage!"
Qin Zheng clapped and cheered.
Senior Sister Li smiled as well.
"Congratulations, Junior Brother."
A rare smile appeared on Lu Chenzhou's face.
"Thank you, President. Thank you, Senior Sister."
"Come on, let's go to the training grounds. The hall master is here."
At the training grounds.
A crew-cut middle-aged man standing one meter eighty-five tall wore a golden Flying Swallow uniform and stood straight as a pine. His hands were clasped behind his back as his gaze swept over the students before him.
Bright-Winged Swallow, Ji Xuantong!
According to the martial hall's introduction, he had graduated from Dragon City University of Martial Arts in the north. That was one of the twenty-four top martial schools, known as the "24-School Alliance."
Ji Xuantong looked toward Lu Chenzhou in the farthest corner.
"You're the newest student, right?"
"Hello, Teacher. My name is Lu Chenzhou."
"You have thirty core classes. You can schedule a time with me when the time comes. Don't let your membership card expire; there are no refunds after expiration. Flying Swallow Martial Hall also holds free public classes every night at eight. Anyone with time can come listen."
Ji Xuantong's voice was full and powerful.
"Today's public class will be taught by your new senior sister. She's an amateur Seventh Stage expert. She'll lead you through an hour of practice next. Welcome Shi Ruyu!"
At the mention of that name, Qin Zheng and Senior Sister Li were both astonished. Lu Chenzhou was somewhat surprised as well. He knew Shi Ruyu was here, but he had not expected her to be Seventh Stage.
Shi Ruyu stood gracefully in a silver Flying Swallow uniform.
She cupped her fist and introduced herself.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Shi Ruyu. I graduated from Pingjiang Martial University, where I studied under Sky-Surging Ape, Yuan Tianqi. I specialize in the Ape Form branch of Form Imitation and excel at White Ape Fist. I now study under Teacher Ji Xuantong. From now on, I'll be teaching your public classes. Rather than teaching, though, it would be more accurate to call it an exchange. Let's improve together!"
After speaking, she glanced at Lu Chenzhou in the corner. She had not expected this kid to come here too. Could it be that he was following in her footsteps? Because of her fine comprehension, Ji Xuantong had taken notice of her. Not long ago, she had formally become his disciple and was now ranked as his second true disciple.
Meanwhile, Lu Chenzhou was thinking about the title Sky-Surging Ape. It sounded like a very formidable Martial Artist. He wondered who was stronger, Sky-Surging Ape or Bright-Winged Swallow.
After introducing Shi Ruyu to everyone, the hall master left.
He was a busy man. Core member classes were the only time one could see him.
The public classes mainly taught Basic Fist Art. Since they were free, they naturally would not be too profound, and the assistant instructors each specialized in different fist arts. After leading everyone through an hour of practice, Shi Ruyu began answering the students' questions.
Lu Chenzhou looked at the Martial Dao Tree and worked hard to regulate his breathing with the Innate Breathing Method.
Basic Fist Art: Major Accomplishment (3%) → Major Accomplishment (4%)
It'll reach perfection soon.
Once there was no one around Shi Ruyu.
Lu Chenzhou walked over.
"Senior Sister, may I ask some questions about Black Tiger Fist?"
"Of course. Go ahead, though I only know a little about it myself."
It grew late.
"Chenzhou, Senior Sister Li and I are heading back first. You should go home early too."
Qin Zheng left.
"Junior Brother really works hard."
Before Li Linling left, she watched Lu Chenzhou still sparring with Shi Ruyu and getting thoroughly beaten, then sighed from the bottom of her heart. As expected of the "martial arts fanatic" from Class Nine.
The students gradually dispersed.
Before Ji Xuantong left the hall, he noticed that the sweat-drenched Lu Chenzhou was still sparring with Shi Ruyu. He had learned from Lu Guoping that this child was obsessed with martial arts.
"What a pity. His bones are utterly ordinary."
He shook his head slightly and vanished into the night.
There had never been any shortage of hardworking people in this world.
Bang! Lu Chenzhou was sent flying backward.
He looked at the calm and unruffled Shi Ruyu.
"The gap between Seventh Stage and First Stage is too great."
"Reaching First Stage at your age is already very good. Lu Chenzhou, train hard. You must get into a Wuda! Even an ordinary Wuda has teachers and resources that no private martial hall can compare to. I believe you can transform greatly in four years."
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Sister. I've made you work overtime too."
"It's fine. Mainly, it isn't safe at night, so go home early... Oh, right, where do you live? If it's on the way, we can head back together."
"I live in the Outer City, so I probably won't be on the same route as you, Senior Sister."
From Lu Chenzhou's observations over the past few days, Shi Ruyu's family circumstances should be quite good. She was capable of earning money herself too, so she most likely lived in the Inner City.
"All right, then be careful."
Not long afterward, Shi Ruyu emerged from the changing room with a bag on her back. She had changed into her own sportswear and little white sneakers. After waving goodbye to Lu Chenzhou, she quickly left.
Lu Chenzhou stood where he was, looking at the Martial Dao Tree.
Black Tiger Fist: Initiation (4%) -- Initiation (6%)
At this rate, Black Tiger Fist will reach Proficiency soon.
Coming to this martial hall had been the right choice.
Not even counting Ji Xuantong's classes.
Just being able to spar with Shi Ruyu meant he had struck it rich.
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