Her Eyesight is Better Than Yours

"You? What candidate could you possibly have? Stop spouting nonsense and go practice!"

Guan Lie looked at Guan Lu, his gaze darkening.

"Father, I'm not spouting nonsense!"

Guan Lu's delicate brows shot up. Completely unafraid of Guan Lie's glare, she said, "Chu Silin, Chen Song, and Liu Shiwu may have decent innate talent, but they've never been through a real fight. They can't possibly be a match for the students of Xiongying Martial Arts School. Choosing them definitely won't work!"

Guan Lie looked at Guan Lu helplessly. Her mother had died early, and he had spoiled her too much, which was why she had developed such a lawless temperament.

"Look at that temper of yours. Aren't you afraid of making your Martial Uncle laugh?"

Guan Lie said sternly.

Xie Changmin smiled faintly and said, "No matter. Xiao Lu, since you don't approve of those three, who do you think should be chosen?"

Guan Lie added, "Since your Martial Uncle has asked, go on and tell us. Let's see whether you truly have an eye for talent, and let your Martial Uncle test you."

Guan Lu raised her delicate brows and said, "You definitely won't guess the person I've chosen, but he is absolutely the most suitable candidate. I dare guarantee that among the front courtyard disciples, no one is more suitable than him!"

"Oh?"

With a half-smile on his face, Xie Changmin exchanged a glance with Guan Lie and said with a smile, "Now I'm truly curious. Xiao Lu, tell us—does the front courtyard have some hidden tiger and crouching dragon that has earned such high praise from our little Lu?"

"Don't listen to her nonsense. I haven't spotted any talent myself; what could she possibly have discovered?"

Guan Lie said with an indulgent smile in his eyes.

Guan Lu smiled smugly.

"Father, Martial Uncle, my candidate will absolutely take you by surprise!"

"Enough suspense. Hurry up and say it!"

Guan Lie said with a laugh.

Guan Lu stretched out her hand and pointed in a certain direction. "I choose him!"

The two followed her finger and looked over. In a corner stood only one person, silently practicing his fist techniques. Every punch and kick was flawless; beneath the blazing sun, sweat scattered from his body.

That was right—Guan Lu was pointing at Fang Mo!

Fang Mo was practicing the Tiger Subduing Fist. Having entered the third realm of the Tiger Subduing Fist, he felt more and more attuned to it with every practice session. He was immersed in his own world. It seemed as though the entire world contained only his body moving with his fists, every move and stance perfectly matching the essence of the Tiger Subduing Fist.

After watching for several breaths, surprise appeared in Guan Lie's eyes.

"I never expected his Tiger Subduing Fist to have already reached the realm of Entering the Hall!"

Xie Changmin stroked his beard and said with a smile, "Of course, it took you three months to grasp this realm, didn't it?"

Guan Lie nodded.

"Yes. Back then, it took me half a year, while Senior Brother took one month. He was already among the finest Outer Sect disciples of Dan Shi Mountain Buddhist Monastery. The Tiger Subduing Fist is easy to learn but difficult to master. I never expected this boy to grasp it so quickly—less than two months, I'd say!"

Xie Changmin gave a faint sigh, regret in his eyes. "It's just a pity that such fine talent is limited by his innate talent!"

"Yes! His innate talent is far too poor!"

Guan Lie sighed as well. He had personally felt Fang Mo's bones; Fang Mo simply did not possess the innate talent of a martial artist. Without good innate talent, there could be no foundation. His starting point and endpoint had essentially already been decided.

At those words, Guan Lu immediately grew anxious. "Father, how can you look down on people like this? All you see is innate talent. Haven't you seen Fang Mo's realm in fist techniques? With such mastery of his fists, how weak could his combat strength possibly be? Who says that without innate talent, one can't have combat strength?"

"Enough, stop making a fuss. Go to the rear courtyard and practice. Your Martial Uncle and I still have matters to discuss!"

Guan Lie waved his hand.

Guan Lu was immediately so angry that smoke seemed ready to pour from her seven orifices. She stamped her feet anxiously and said in a rush, "Father, why won't you believe me?"

"I'll stake my life on it—Fang Mo is absolutely the strongest among the front courtyard disciples! If you don't believe me, let them compete. Won't that prove whether I'm right?"

"Nonsense!"

"What do you mean, staking your life? Go back. This is none of your business!"

Guan Lie was somewhat angered, and his tone became much harsher.

"Father, if you don't listen to me, you'll definitely regret it!"

Guan Lu spun around and left in a huff. Her father and Martial Uncle had truly infuriated her to death.

Why would they only believe what they saw themselves?

In her eyes, Fang Mo was absolutely the strongest, yet her father and the others refused to believe it no matter what. That left her both furious and deeply disappointed.

"Senior Brother, what do you think?"

After Guan Lu had left, Guan Lie looked at Xie Changmin and asked.

Xie Changmin smiled faintly. "I have to say, Junior Brother, you've got a fine daughter. Her eye is sharper than yours!"

Guan Lie asked in surprise, "Senior Brother, you agree with what he said too?"

Xie Changmin looked toward the courtyard and gestured with his eyes. "You need to observe him carefully. Look at how full his qi and blood are, how steady his steps, how heavy and fierce his punches, how precise his angles are. His Tiger Subduing Fist has already reached the level of Entering the Hall!"

"Look again at how stable his Tiger Subduing Stance is. In the front courtyard, none can match him!"

A hint of regret appeared on Xie Changmin's face as well. "I was careless too. I haven't observed him properly lately. I never expected him to have improved so much!"

Guan Lie said nothing more. He stepped forward to the window and watched Fang Mo practice his fist techniques for several minutes.

At last, a strange light flashed through his eyes.

"So it really is true!"

Guan Lie sighed softly, his face full of emotion. "This boy's comprehension is astonishing. It's just a pity for his bone structure!"

Since ancient times, it had been an ironclad law that Mortal Bone could scarcely enter the martial path!

Over the three hundred years of flourishing martial arts, countless generations had concluded that a martial artist's bone structure was the most important factor, accounting for nearly ninety percent of their chances of success. What remained was talent, diligence, and background.

In three hundred years of history, how many with Mortal Bone had ever achieved anything?

Xie Changmin smiled faintly. "I told you, even a common soldier can create miracles. I wasn't certain before, but now I have an even stronger feeling that perhaps he truly can do it!"

Guan Lie's brows lifted slightly as he looked at Xie Changmin. "Senior Brother, then should we let him compete?"

But Xie Changmin merely smiled. "No! He can serve as a backup. We'll see how things stand tomorrow!"

Guan Lie did not persist. He nodded. "Then we'll do as Senior Brother says!"

Standing with his hands behind his back, Xie Changmin raised his head and glanced at the sky, his expression calm. "This battle concerns your spreading of the teachings in Yunyang. You may win, but you must not lose!"

"How about this? Gather the other three competitors for three days of intensive training. I'll bring out the medicines I've kept sealed away and personally help them absorb their effects. In addition, I'll teach you a few freehand techniques. Train harder and strive to defeat your opponent during the grand competition!"

Guan Lie's eyes suddenly lit up at his words, but they soon dimmed again. He asked with concern, "Senior Brother, can your body endure it?"

"It's nothing!"

Xie Changmin waved a hand. "Go make the arrangements! The name of our Dan Shi Mountain Buddhist Monastery must not fall!"

Hearing this, Guan Lie no longer refused. He cupped his fists respectfully. "Senior Brother, I'll have to trouble you!"

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