"Nine Heavens Ape Demon Plucking Stars Chart"

Han Zheng taking first place was an outcome that surprised everyone, yet it was also the result they most wanted to see.

Even for Li Jingzhong, it was the best possible result.

Though he ran a martial arts school, once his disciples walked out the door, they had little to do with him anymore.

But Li Jingzhong still wanted to pass on the White Ape Through-Arm Fist to students he had truly taught with care.

In previous years, the top student in each class had always come from a wealthy or powerful family.

When they left the school, others would only credit their family background, not how well Li Jingzhong had taught them.

Only someone like Han Zheng—a martial artist with no connections, born a commoner—taking first place and making a name for himself could prove that Li Jingzhong was a good teacher.

Besides, Song Tianqing hadn't only used Vajra Fist; his real specialty was the Eight Snake Strikes.

Han Zheng had defeated Song Tianqing using only the Iron Elephant Skill and Vajra Fist—two techniques Li Jingzhong had taught him.

Though Han Zheng had also used the Blood Fiend Saber Art at the end, a single move was no big deal.

In Li Jingzhong's eyes, Han Zheng was his proud disciple, enough to prove his teaching ability.

After the matches, the other students were dismissed early, but Han Zheng was kept behind so Li Jingzhong could teach him the White Ape Through-Arm Fist.

"How did that fight feel to you?"

Han Zheng thought for a moment and said, "Dangerous. I knew Song Tianqing had learned other techniques outside, but I didn't expect him to have mastered a Xiantian Martial Skill."

Song Tianqing might be ruthless and arrogant, but his talent was truly extraordinary.

Han Zheng only advanced his skill proficiency so quickly because of the Gluttonous Crucible's cheat.

Song Tianqing, on the other hand, relied entirely on his own talent to cultivate both Vajra Fist and the Eight Snake Strikes simultaneously, and his realm was still impressive.

Especially that final strike—if Han Zheng hadn't grasped the method to condense Killing Intent yesterday, he might have been forced to reveal the Vajra Demon Subduing Seal.

Li Jingzhong said gravely, "That's how life-and-death battles between martial artists work. One more technique you hide from your opponent means one more card up your sleeve.

So when you walk the jianghu in the future, it's essential to conceal your strength. Never let anyone see through you at a glance.

Now, I'm going to teach you the White Ape Through-Arm Fist. Follow me."

Han Zheng followed Li Jingzhong into the inner hall of the school.

Beyond the inner hall was the school's backyard, which held a small training ground with thick iron pillars standing upright.

Li Jingzhong looked at those iron pillars and said with a hint of nostalgia, "My Li Family ancestors were once a renowned martial arts clan in the jianghu—even stronger than the Song Family."

He glanced at Han Zheng and added, "Not the Song Family of Black Stone County. The 'Heavenly Saber' Song Family of Shannan Dao."

Han Zheng was startled.

The 'Heavenly Saber' Song Family of Shannan Dao was a martial arts clan famous throughout an entire circuit.

And Li Jingzhong's ancestors were supposedly stronger than the Heavenly Saber Song Family?

"But no matter how strong, what does it matter? There are no eternal dynasties in this world, nor clans that last forever.

Whether you're a peerless prodigy or a titan of your era, in the end, you can't withstand the ravages of time—just a handful of dust.

My Li Family had already decayed beyond recognition centuries ago. By my father's generation, we could only make a living escorting goods for others. All the glory of my Li ancestors has become nothing but legend."

Li Jingzhong shook his head lightly and sighed, "As for my martial arts, the Iron Elephant Skill I learned from my father at the Escort Agency, and the Vajra Fist I learned from the Vajra Prajna Temple.

Only the White Ape Through-Arm Fist is truly my Li Family's inherited technique. It's said to have been a foundational fist art for Li disciples, and also the base technique for a powerful martial art.

To use a Xiantian Martial Skill as a foundational fist art—you can imagine how strong my Li Family once was.

Back then, I chose to teach the White Ape Through-Arm Fist for two reasons. First, running a school means you can't hoard everything; you have to offer real substance to get disciples to pay top coin to join.

Second, I have no children, and I didn't want the White Ape Through-Arm Fist to be lost through me.

Though the Li Family is long gone, as long as the White Ape Through-Arm Fist remains, the Li Family's legacy lives on.

Enough rambling. I'll start teaching you the White Ape Through-Arm Fist now."

With that, Li Jingzhong walked up to the iron pillars. His blood and qi surged and roiled, and as he moved, he was like a massive white ape weaving among the pillars.

His arms seemed to stretch an extra span, with an ape's reach and a wasp's waist, his movements nimble.

But when he slammed his arms into the surrounding iron pillars, each impact produced a deafening boom, revealing a savage ferocity.

"The White Ape Through-Arm Fist prioritizes momentum. You must cultivate the white ape's form and strike with the white ape's force.

Though it's called a fist art, in truth, every blow isn't thrown with the fist—it's whipped out, smashed out.

Watch my footwork. By using the momentum of your body dropping or charging forward to drive the punch, its power will double!"

Li Jingzhong demonstrated every key point and subtlety of the White Ape Through-Arm Fist for Han Zheng, going into meticulous detail—even specifying which Meridians to activate in different scenarios.

The Li Family's only remaining legacy was this White Ape Through-Arm Fist, so every generation of Li disciples had immersed themselves in it for a lifetime, reaching absolute perfection.

After about half an hour, Li Jingzhong's strength was spent. Steam rose from his forehead as sweat evaporated in white mist.

"So, did you understand? If there's anything unclear, you can ask me later."

"I more or less understand. Thank you for your guidance, Master."

Han Zheng bowed to Li Jingzhong with genuine sincerity.

He had now received Li Jingzhong's true teachings and was qualified to call him "teacher."

Moreover, Han Zheng had a feeling that the White Ape Through-Arm Fist was stronger than the Vajra Demon Subduing Seal.

Martial skills had grades, but they couldn't be divided into early, mid, late, and peak stages like martial artist realms.

Still, skills of the same grade definitely had differences in strength. Han Zheng just felt that the White Ape Through-Arm Fist was stronger, as if it still had untapped potential.

Li Jingzhong caught his breath, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Let me show you one more thing."

He led Han Zheng into a room and pulled out an old, locked chest.

Opening it, there was only a yellowed scroll of animal hide inside.

Slowly unrolling the scroll, it depicted a ferocious ape demon with black-gold fur roaring at the heavens, reaching out to pluck the sun, moon, and stars from the nine skies above.

Every strand of fur on the ape demon was lifelike, and the celestial bodies were dazzlingly bright, as if right before one's eyes.

The skill of the painter was astonishing—it was as if he had truly witnessed an ancient ape demon plucking the sun, moon, and stars in the primordial chaos and had etched that scene onto the scroll.

"Boom!"

The Gluttonous Crucible suddenly appeared before Han Zheng, its massive mouth opening wide to devour the scroll.

The scroll itself didn't change, but the luster on it seemed to dim slightly, and the ape demon's fur lost some of its former spirit.

Inside the Gluttonous Crucible's inventory, a scroll of the ape demon plucking stars now appeared.

"Acquired special item 'Nine Heavens Ape Demon Plucking Stars Chart.' Can be used to breakthrough the corresponding special martial skill."

Han Zheng was momentarily stunned.

In the past, the Gluttonous Crucible only notified him of items he could sacrifice and pick up after he killed an opponent.

But this time, the Gluttonous Crucible had actively appeared to 'swallow' the Nine Heavens Ape Demon Plucking Stars Chart. This thing was definitely extraordinary.

Suppressing his curiosity, Han Zheng dismissed the Gluttonous Crucible.

Li Jingzhong didn't notice anything amiss with Han Zheng; he assumed Han Zheng was simply awed by the scroll.

"Shocking, isn't it? This scroll has been passed down through my Li Family's generations. It's said that Li Family disciples can comprehend world-shaking martial arts from it.

But unfortunately, it's been passed down for countless generations, all the way to me, and no one has ever comprehended anything from it.

There was even a time when I was so down on my luck that I thought about pawning it off as an antique for some cash."

Li Jingzhong gave a wry smile. "Maybe it's just a legend, something our ancestors deliberately left behind to remind us descendants not to forget their glory.

Or maybe we later disciples are just too dull to comprehend anything from it."

Rolling up the scroll, Li Jingzhong patted Han Zheng on the shoulder. "Han Zheng, you're the fastest-growing disciple I've taught in all these years.

Even counting those from noble families, you're still ahead, and your practical combat skills surpass theirs.

The martial path is long, and the rivers and lakes stretch far. Your road is longer than mine. I believe the White Ape Through-Arm Fist will shine brilliantly in your hands."

"Rest assured, teacher. That day will come."

Li Jingzhong himself wasn't sure whether the Li Family's past glory was real or just exaggerated through generations of retelling.

But Han Zheng was certain it was real.

Otherwise, the Nine Heavens Ape Demon Plucking Stars Chart wouldn't have triggered a reaction from the Gluttonous Crucible.

After bidding farewell to Li Jingzhong, Han Zheng returned home and immediately activated the Gluttonous Crucible to examine the detailed information on the Nine Heavens Ape Demon Plucking Stars Chart and the White Ape Through-Arm Fist.

"Nine Heavens Ape Demon Plucking Stars Chart": Special item. Contains the true spirit of the ape demon's soul. Can be used for fusion breakthrough after White Ape Through-Arm Fist reaches perfection. Each fusion requires additional Satiety, depending on the current martial skill grade.

Innate Realm "White Ape Through-Arm Fist" current proficiency 1%: Special martial skill. Appears to be an ordinary Innate skill, but in truth contains hidden depths and limitless potential. Upon breakthrough, can choose to fuse a portion of the Nine Heavens Ape Demon Plucking Stars Chart's essence. After nine breakthroughs, the Nine Heavens Ape Demon Plucking Stars Chart will be fully fused, reaching perfection.

After reading the item information in the Gluttonous Crucible, Han Zheng let out a soft "tsk."

He had struck gold.

The Houtian Realm Vajra Fist only needed one breakthrough to become the Innate Realm Vajra Demon Subduing Seal.

But the White Ape Through-Arm Fist required nine breakthroughs to reach perfection. What kind of power would it possess after that?

Li Jingzhong had said his ancestors were once even stronger than the Heavenly Saber Song Family, but now it seemed they were far more than just a notch above.

Dismissing the Gluttonous Crucible, Han Zheng immediately began practicing the White Ape Through-Arm Fist in his courtyard, aiming to raise the skill's proficiency to perfection.

As long as he could make one breakthrough, the White Ape Through-Arm Fist would surely bring him an unexpected surprise.