Accept Me as Your Disciple?

Bang!

But the next second, the two blades clashed with a muffled thud.

Zhao Han did his best to keep his strength below three hundred pounds. With acceleration, it could reach seven or eight hundred pounds of force.

Against Wang Qiang, whose strength was only a little over two hundred pounds and whose charged, accelerating strike could reach five or six hundred pounds of force, it was a complete rout.

One strike sent Wang Qiang staggering backward, and the wooden sabers in their hands both developed notches.

Wang Qiang stumbled back five steps before he lost his balance and dropped onto his rear.

"Cough, cough... N-no, that's impossible. How could you beat me?" Wang Qiang's face was deathly pale, his arm trembling as disbelief filled his face.

"I was born with Innate Divine Strength!" Zhao Han raised his fist, showing off his great strength.

Three hundred pounds of strength was comparable to that of someone who had just entered the Skin Refining Realm, and his explosive power could reach seven or eight hundred pounds.

It was like every punch was a bullet, enough to kill someone with ease. Wasn't that what Innate Divine Strength meant?

"B-born with Innate Divine Strength..." Wang Qiang suddenly understood.

No wonder. No wonder Zhao Han swung his saber so brutally, with such tremendous force. So that was why.

The situation had changed in an instant. Everyone had thought Wang Qiang was sure to win, but the result left them dumbfounded.

"Mm, very good, very good. I didn't expect this new apprentice to be born with Innate Divine Strength. Once he comes of age, he'll naturally have strength comparable to a Skin Refining Realm Martial Artist!"

Yang Wuji stroked his beard, looking approving.

Yang Wuji was only an ordinary Muscle Refining Realm Martial Artist. Zhao Han had deliberately concealed his strength, and he showed no outward signs of training, so Yang Wuji couldn't tell how strong he was.

After all, the system's simplification had raised Zhao Han's strength straight to the final stage. He didn't even have calluses on his hands, and his skin looked as if it had never been tempered.

Everyone else had spent years training, and their bodies all bore the marks of that work.

Not a single person present thought Zhao Han was a Skin Refining Realm Martial Artist, let alone a Muscle Refining Realm Martial Artist.

Liang Feng and the other disciples and apprentices, however, were all shocked.

So this was how great the advantage of Innate Divine Strength was. You started out with the strength of someone in the Skin Refining Realm.

At once, many people felt envy, jealousy, and resentment—including Liang Feng and Yu Qiuyue.

Liang Feng's progress was slow. Seeing this newcomer he had brought in rival a Skin Refining Realm Martial Artist was a heavy blow.

Yu Qiuyue hadn't recognized Zhao Han, since he had changed into a martial outfit after returning to the martial arts school.

She muttered, "This world is so unfair. Why do I have to train so hard, while he can reach the same level in one leap thanks to Innate Divine Strength?"

Only a handful of people, such as Senior Brother Wu Hai and Second Senior Sister Yang Zilan, showed little change in their expressions.

Yang Zilan was Yang Wuji's only daughter—the woman in purple whom Zhao Han had met.

Women rarely possessed Innate Divine Strength. Most followed a quick and graceful path.

Wu Hai shook his head.

"Innate Divine Strength is impressive, but if your talent for martial arts is poor and you don't work hard, then even if you start in the Skin Refining Realm, that may also be the peak you reach in this life."

"Mm, Ah Hai hit the nail on the head!" Yang Wuji praised with a nod. As expected of his prized eldest disciple; having such insight was no small thing.

Zhao Han had won one match. Next, Han Yang fought Yao Gang.

Just as expected, Han Yang fought timidly and was thoroughly beaten by Yao Gang. After thirty or so exchanges, Han Yang left an opening and was knocked to the ground with a single strike.

"Junior Brother Zhao, the group match is all up to you now!" Han Yang said with a rueful smile.

He'd thought he could rely on his seniority as an old apprentice to guide Zhao Han, but Zhao Han had gone and activated a cheat: Innate Divine Strength!

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Han!"

The group match began. Han Yang was still somewhat timid, while Zhao Han charged straight in.

Wang Qiang and Yao Gang exchanged a glance and attacked together.

Zhao Han simply overpowered them with brute force!

The Mad Saber Nine Forms were almost beside the point in Zhao Han's hands. He used only the first form, paired with his immense strength, and that was enough to crush them both.

"Ha!"

With a powerful downward slash, Yao Gang stepped forward to block.

Bang!

Ah!

Only after blocking the blow did Yao Gang understand how much Wang Qiang had suffered.

With a thud, Yao Gang was driven to the ground by the enormous force. He sat there, his hands trembling and numb.

"Take this!" Wang Qiang seized the chance to launch a sneak attack from the side. It was the strategy he and Yao Gang had agreed on.

Who could have guessed Zhao Han would react so quickly? He raised his saber to block, and the tremendous force behind the blow sent Wang Qiang reeling backward.

Then Zhao Han brought his saber down in a vicious slash, leaving Wang Qiang no choice but to block.

But his earlier injuries had yet to heal, and his arm was still numb. This time, he couldn't keep hold of his wooden saber. It was chopped in two and sent flying.

The force also knocked Wang Qiang to the ground.

"Good heavens, is Innate Divine Strength really that terrifying?"

"Holy crap, is he even human? Why is heaven so unfair? Why wasn't I born with Innate Divine Strength?"

"He starts out with the strength of someone in the Skin Refining Realm. How are the rest of us supposed to compete?"

The crowd buzzed with discussion, their envy, jealousy, and resentment only deepening.

They envied Zhao Han's Innate Divine Strength, were jealous of how brightly he shone, and resented their own lack of such strength.

Admiration filled Yang Wuji's eyes. "This apprentice is impressive. He acts decisively and defeats all techniques with sheer force. He beat two opponents with just one move."

"Ah Feng, ask this apprentice later if he'd like to become my tenth disciple."

"This disciple understands," Liang Feng replied with a bitter smile.

Now he really had become Junior Brother Zhao.

The assessment finally ended, and everyone was pleased.

Zhao Han received three Skin Polishing Pills. They were completely useless to him, so all he could do was toss them in the storeroom to gather dust.

Han Yang, on the other hand, was delighted. He stayed close to Zhao Han, acting as if they were old friends.

Afterward, Zhao Han and his three roommates headed back to their lodgings together. Han Yang said he'd treat them to a good meal outside.

But halfway there, they ran into Liang Feng.

"Junior Brother Zhao, wait a moment."

"Senior Brother Liang, what is it?"

In truth, Zhao Han had expected this. He knew Yang Wuji had taken an interest in him.

"Junior Brother Zhao, Master saw that you're born with Innate Divine Strength and have a great deal of potential for martial arts. And now that Junior Brother Dong has died, one of the ten disciple positions is vacant. What do you think?"

Zhao Han smiled. "I'd be delighted. People in this world are born for martial arts. I want to climb higher and see farther, too!"

As a disciple, he wouldn't have to pay tuition and would get a private room. His status would rise, and he could rely on the school's connections to find private work. All the apprentices would have to call him Senior Brother Zhao. It sounded wonderful.

"Well said! People are born for martial arts!"

"Since you're so determined, Junior Brother Zhao, come with me to see Master right away!"

Liang Feng put on a friendly face, but inside, he was even more jealous.

His talent was average, and he had no Innate Divine Strength. He had struggled his way to this point through sheer hard work, while Zhao Han had risen to the top in a single leap. Just thinking about it made him miserable.

They arrived at the central courtyard, where the martial arts school's formal disciples stayed. It had private rooms, a Training Room, rock gardens, and flower gardens.

Beyond that was the main hall, with the Yang family's residence beside it.

When they entered the main hall, Yang Wuji was already seated at the head, sipping tea with an air of ease.

He was middle-aged, and his energy was fading. Perhaps that was what it looked like.

Beside him were Senior Brother Wu Hai, Second Senior Sister Yang Zilan, Third Senior Brother Wang Meng, Fourth Senior Brother Liu Dali... and Eighth Senior Sister Yu Qiuyue.

"Disciple Zhao Yan pays his respects to Master and to all the senior brothers and sisters!" Zhao Han clasped his hands in greeting, his expression calm and his manner neither servile nor overbearing.