Teaching the Newcomers a Lesson

Butterfly Dance Training Ground.

The training ground used by the senior students of Still Water Martial Arts Academy.

The ten of them, including Lin Chen, silently followed behind Kong Yinglei and arrived here.

On the training ground, there were roughly twenty female students.

Seeing the ten people behind Kong Yinglei, schadenfreude appeared in the eyes of these female students.

"They're here, Vice Head Kong brought the newcomers."

"It's an old tradition every year, I just wonder how badly this batch of newcomers will be beaten."

"If you're interested, you can go up later. There aren't many opportunities to beat up these junior sisters, and if you miss this chance, you probably won't have another."

"Compared to beating up junior sisters, I prefer beating up that junior brother."

The senior sisters on the training ground proactively cleared the central area, and many of them had eager expressions on their faces.

According to the old tradition of Still Water Martial Arts Academy, for each batch of new students, the instructors would bring the Aperture Opening students to the senior students so that the new students could spar with the old students.

The purpose was simple: to curb the arrogance of the new students.

Martial arts could have sharpness and fortitude, but absolutely no arrogance.

Kong Yinglei looked at these eager-to-try senior students and her heart was as clear as a mirror. Most of these senior students present were those who had just joined the martial arts academy last year and hadn't opened their apertures, not the top tier.

The top tier, after a year of cultivation, had opened at least nine apertures and were not suitable for curbing the arrogance of the new students.

Only sparring within the same realm could be effective; otherwise, this batch of newcomers would be unconvinced.

The families of this group of senior students were considered upper-middle class in the martial arts academy, but compared to the top few students, they were naturally far behind. Having been suppressed by those few for a year in the martial arts academy, they were holding back a lot of frustration.

This frustration couldn't be vented on those few in their own batch, so they could only direct it towards the junior sisters in the next batch.

"On the path of martial arts, realm is very important, but in actual combat, a martial artist cannot determine victory or defeat based solely on realm. Otherwise, there would be no need for disciples from the various martial arts academies to spar; each family would just report their students' realms and rank them according to the realm level."

Kong Yinglei looked at Lin Chen and the others and spoke slowly, "Bringing you here is to tell you that even martial artists in the same realm have strengths and weaknesses. It's even possible to defeat someone with more apertures with fewer apertures, simply by mastering your martial arts techniques!"

"These are your senior sisters. You can state your current realm, and senior sisters in the same realm will spar with you."

Hearing Kong Yinglei's words, except for Jiang Qing whose expression remained unchanged, Fu Jingya and the others' eyes lit up, and they were also eager to try. They believed that even against senior students, they still had a chance of winning.

"Who will go first?"

"Vice Head Kong, I will!"

Fu Jingya was the first to step out, looking at the senior sisters, "Fu Jingya, four apertures opened. I would like to ask for guidance from all the senior sisters."

"Did you hear that? The junior sister took the initiative to speak. Who is going from our side?"

"Then let me do it."

A senior sister walked out, looked at Fu Jingya, and said with a smile, "Since Junior Sister wants guidance, then let me, Senior Sister, give it a try."

"Fang Mei!"

"Senior Sister Fang, please give me guidance!"

Fu Jingya bowed, and Fang Mei returned the bow.

After the bows, Fu Jingya was the first to act. Although she was confident, she wouldn't actually wait for Senior Sister Fang to make a move, especially since the other party had practiced the Water Cloud Palm for a year longer than her.

Fu Jingya struck with her palm. She had practiced her Water Cloud Palm for three months and was about to enter the proficient stage. When she struck, her posture was light and agile, her footwork was nimble, and her moves changed extremely quickly.

In contrast, Fang Mei's palm strikes were not fast, but each strike could just happen to break through Fu Jingya's attacks, forcing Fu Jingya to withdraw her palm and defend.

"In terms of proficiency in martial arts techniques, the difference is still too great. Senior Sister Fu is going to lose."

Although only a few moves had been exchanged, Lin Chen had already made a judgment in his heart. Fu Jingya's moves seemed agile and flexible, but they were all within Senior Sister Fang's calculations.

Simply put, Senior Sister Fu was being led by the nose by Senior Sister Fang. How long it would take for her to lose depended on when Senior Sister Fang wanted to end the fight.

Ten moves!

On the tenth move, Fang Mei changed her technique. Several continuous palm strikes were like flowing water, and Fu Jingya's expression instantly turned ugly. She could only parry frequently, but after three more moves, she still lost!

"Junior Sister Fu, you were too kind."

Fang Mei withdrew the hand she had pressed on Fu Jingya's chest and said with a smile.

"Thank you, Senior Sister, for going easy on me."

Fu Jingya understood clearly that this Senior Sister Fang had held back. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to last until now.

In the first ten moves, Senior Sister Fang hadn't attacked at all. Just by defending, she had left herself helpless and unable to find any openings. After she truly attacked, she had no power to resist at all.

They both had four apertures opened. Fu Jingya now understood what Vice Head Kong meant by the difference in martial arts techniques.

Gu Qingqing and the others present no longer had their relaxed expressions; their faces became somber. Fu Jingya was one of the top three among them, yet she had lost so quickly.

"Second one!"

Kong Yinglei said again, expressionless.

This time, the new students fell silent.

"I'll ask a senior sister for guidance."

A clear voice rang out. No one expected Jiang Qing to step forward at this moment.

"Jiang Qing, Aperture Opening Stage 5!"

As Jiang Qing introduced herself, the senior sisters exchanged glances. Reaching Aperture Opening Stage 5 upon entering the martial arts academy – this was the prodigy junior sister everyone was talking about yesterday.

Their martial arts realm on their first day of joining the academy was already higher than theirs.

Students with such backgrounds were extraordinary; they must have been guided by martial arts experts at home. If they weren't confident, they shouldn't step forward.

There was a brief silence in the training grounds. After a moment, a senior sister finally stepped out.

"Aperture Opening Stage 5, Yuan Yao."

"Senior Sister Yuan, please guide me!"

Jiang Qing had no arrogance on her face, just a sweet smile.

"Junior Sister Jiang, please!"

Facing this junior sister who had broken the Still Water Martial Arts Academy's 20-year record, Yuan Yao didn't dare to underestimate her in the slightest. She watched her with intense concentration.

"Senior Sister, please forgive me!"

As Jiang Qing finished speaking, she moved her feet, her figure flashing like lightning as she reached Yuan Yao. She struck out with a palm, which surprisingly carried a faint sound of rippling water.

Yuan Yao's expression became serious. She also struck out with a palm.

Slap!

Their palms collided, but Yuan Yao's delicate body staggered back half a step.

This scene astonished everyone present, especially the older students, who couldn't believe it.

You must know that Senior Sister Yuan had already cultivated the Water Cloud Palm to the proficient stage three months ago, yet she was still at a disadvantage. How could this Junior Sister Jiang be so skilled in the Water Cloud Palm?

"Junior Sister Jiang is already at Aperture Opening Stage 5. At the very least, she started cultivating the Water Cloud Palm four months ago. It's not that strange for these prodigies to cultivate the Water Cloud Palm to this level. Didn't we have a few senior sisters in our batch who could do it?"

Another senior sister comforted the people around her. The other senior sisters reconsidered, and only then did they feel slightly better.

That's right, reaching proficiency in the Water Cloud Palm in four months was something achievable every year. Didn't those top-ranked senior sisters in their batch also do it?

Kong Yinglei took in the expressions of the students present. She didn't plan to tell these older students the truth because the truth was too cruel.

Jiang Qing started practicing the Water Cloud Palm at the end of the year, which was less than a month ago. She was personally taught by the head senior sister when she went to the prefectural city.

In less than a month, she cultivated the Water Cloud Palm to the proficient stage. This level of talent...

Kong Yinglei understood why Jiang Qing came to the Still Water Martial Arts Academy. She came specifically for the Water Cloud Palm. Jiang Qing's compatibility with the Water Cloud Palm was probably extremely high.

On the training grounds, although the match wasn't over yet, just like with Fu Jingya, everyone knew the outcome.

When performing the Water Cloud Palm, this Senior Sister Yuan Yao couldn't gain an advantage, and relying solely on realm, Jiang Qing had a clear upper hand.

There was also a difference between Aperture Opening Stage 5 and Aperture Opening Stage 5.

Under Jiang Qing's continuous Water Cloud Palm attacks, Yuan Yao retreated step by step. Her defeat was set!

"Senior Sister Yuan, thank you for the guidance!"

Jiang Qing struck Yuan Yao's arm with a palm, then immediately withdrew her hand. A look of unwillingness flashed across Yuan Yao's face, but the next moment, she let it go.

In student sparring, they naturally wouldn't go for a deadly blow. Being hit by Junior Sister Jiang meant she had lost.

"Junior Sister Jiang, your talent is extraordinary. It is our martial arts academy's fortune to have a student like Junior Sister Jiang." Yuan Yao praised her before retreating back into the crowd of older students.

With Jiang Qing's victory, the remaining Gu Qingqing, Li Xue, and others regained some confidence.

But the reality that followed dealt them a cruel blow.

They all lost, and it was a crushing defeat.

Perhaps because Jiang Qing defeated Yuan Yao, making the senior sisters from the previous batch lose some face, in the subsequent spar, these senior sisters no longer held back. All were defeated within ten moves.

The worst even only lasted three moves.

Lin Chen watched as Senior Sister Xiao, who had also only opened two apertures, was defeated in three moves. Her face was pale, and she looked like she had lost her soul.

Hothouse flowers were too fragile.

Lin Chen shook his head almost imperceptibly. This Senior Sister Xiao likely cultivated Essence Energy earlier than him, but from the recent spar, it was clear she was still somewhat unskilled with the Water Cloud Palm, not even having fully grasped the basics.

It was evident that after cultivating Essence Energy, she became a bit complacent and didn't put her mind to practicing martial arts during the period before and after the New Year.

Kong Yinglei saw that her desired effect had been achieved and was about to speak her prepared words. Her peripheral vision caught Lin Chen's subtle movements, and her thoughts changed. She said, "Your junior brother Lin Chen has just opened two apertures. Which of you senior sisters would like to guide him?"

Originally, Kong Yinglei didn't plan to have Lin Chen participate in the sparring. After all, Lin Chen was a student of the Clearwind Martial Arts Hall and didn't practice the Water Cloud Palm. But now she had changed her mind.

Lin Chen was startled. He also hadn't expected Deputy Head Kong to call him out. He had been watching the previous matches with the mindset of a bystander, appreciating them.

Although he didn't practice the Water Cloud Palm, there were commonalities between palm techniques. Watching these senior sisters spar was also helpful for his own cultivation of the Clear Wind Palm.

But since Deputy Head Kong called him out, Lin Chen didn't refuse. He stepped out of the crowd and cupped his hands towards the senior sisters present: "Junior Brother Lin Chen. I ask the senior sisters for much guidance."

Whoosh!

Hearing this, the senior sisters present became excited. Defeating the junior sisters was certainly an accomplishment, but how could it compare to sparring with a junior brother? You could even get your hands on them a little.

However, Two Apertures was simply too low. Most of them who came this time were at Three or Four Apertures. Those who were still at Two Apertures after a year in the martial arts hall had basically given up on the path of martial arts, and many didn't even come to the hall anymore.

After a long pause, a senior sister from the previous batch of students finally stepped forward.

"Junior Brother, my name is Zhai Xiaolu. I've been at Two Apertures for two months now, so don't say I'm bullying you," Zhai Xiaolu smiled sweetly, revealing two dimples.

"I'm grateful enough that Senior Sister Zhai is willing to guide me."

"Then, Junior Brother Lin, please."

Lin Chen and the other person exchanged bows without delay, and Lin Chen made the first move.

As his first palm struck out, Kong Yinglei's eyes narrowed, a look of surprise in them.

PS: Thank you for everyone's help. We've passed the first round of PK. Qidian is like a Gu breeding ground now. After midnight, we'll enter the second round of life-and-death PK. This round is incredibly important. The PK standard is still the same, it only looks at follow-up reads, which is the number of people who follow the latest chapters within 24 hours each day. The heaviest weight is paid follow-up reads, which refers to the number of users who have consumed something on Qidian within the past three months. If there are any friends who haven't consumed anything and are able to, you might consider topping up a yuan or giving a two-mao paragraph tip. I'd be extremely grateful!