After speaking, Lu Feng walked straight to the County Magistrate. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, he charged forward and swung a palm as soon as he drew near.
County Magistrate Wang Lichuan merely gave a faint smile at Lu Feng's sudden attack. Then he sidestepped and dodged it.
Right after that, Lu Feng pressed in again and unleashed another set of linked palm strikes.
His palms fell like a steady drizzle, each strike whipping up a gust of wind.
Seeing this, County Magistrate Wang Lichuan raised an eyebrow. This set of linked palms clearly couldn't be avoided by dodging alone.
So Wang Lichuan formed his right hand into a fist and met the attack head-on.
Bang, bang, bang!
Their fists and palms collided more than a dozen times in an instant. The County Magistrate, who had been calm and unruffled, now wore a serious expression.
In that exchange, Lu Feng's palm strength had clearly reached the limit of a Ninth-Rank Martial Artist.
He was even stronger than an ordinary Ninth-Rank Martial Artist, which left Wang Lichuan both surprised and delighted.
Still, to find out the limits of Lu Feng's strength, Wang Lichuan had to continue the test.
So Wang Lichuan stopped defending and took the initiative to attack.
At that moment, Lu Yan stood outside the Martial Arts Arena, stroking his beard with a knowing smile.
As the County Magistrate went on the attack, Lu Feng didn't retreat. Instead, he chose to meet him head-on.
His palms flowed like a mighty river, endlessly breaking apart all of Wang Lichuan's attacks.
Seeing such exquisite palm techniques, Wang Lichuan's eyes lit up. He said loudly, "Excellent palm techniques! But this set alone won't be enough to stop me."
With that, Wang Lichuan attacked with both fists and feet, sending more than a dozen fist and leg strikes toward Lu Feng in an instant.
Lu Feng's expression remained calm. His arms moved slowly, his palms' momentum as deep as an abyss. As his hands surged and turned, they formed an impenetrable net.
The next moment, the two clashed again, and a series of explosive sounds rang out across the Martial Arts Arena.
But as Wang Lichuan's attacks grew more frequent, he realized his fists and feet seemed to be caught in an invisible net, whose restraints tightened with every moment.
Lu Feng clearly wasn't using any Martial Skills, yet Wang Lichuan felt the pressure mounting.
The reason was that Lu Feng had cultivated Cloud-Dispelling Palm to the Mastery Realm.
This invisible restraint came from the sixth form of Cloud-Dispelling Palm, Heavy Clouds Deeply Locked.
This palm technique focused on defense. It was like clouds locking a heavenly pass, layer upon layer of cloud-like Internal Force binding an enemy like chains, restricting every move and every attack.
Under such powerful defensive palm techniques, Wang Lichuan slowly fell into a disadvantage.
Seeing that things couldn't go on like this without him losing face, Wang Lichuan let out a loud shout. He unleashed the strength of a Martial Master Realm expert, sending Lu Feng staggering backward again and again.
But once Lu Feng had steadied himself, he didn't show any fear. Instead, he attacked again.
Just then, Wang Lichuan, standing opposite him, suddenly said, "That's enough, Captain Lu! You've passed the test!"
At those words, Lu Feng came to an abrupt halt. Then he smiled and cupped his hands.
"Yes, thank you for your guidance, County Magistrate!"
Wang Lichuan waved a hand casually. "You earned all of this through your own hard work. I merely gave you a little push."
After saying that, Wang Lichuan looked at him with admiration and a new glimmer of expectation.
Based on the strength Lu Feng had just shown, although he might not be a match for a Martial Master Realm expert, he was undoubtedly among the best of the Ninth-Rank Martial Artists.
At the upcoming Martial Examination in the prefectural city, he had a real chance of fighting for a place in the top ten.
Just as Wang Lichuan was indulging in pleasant thoughts, Lu Yan suddenly spoke from below the platform. "County Magistrate, since Captain Lu has such talent in the martial path, I believe he deserves to be properly cultivated. His treatment should be improved accordingly."
At those words, Wang Lichuan immediately understood. "Yes, Lord Lu is right! Captain Lu, once the Martial Examination in the prefectural city is over, I'll give you a gift, no matter how you place."
Lu Feng was puzzled, but if the County Magistrate was giving him a gift, it surely wouldn't be anything bad.
"Yes, then I'll thank you in advance, County Magistrate, and thank Lord Lu for putting in a good word for me."
The two men burst into laughter. Then everyone left the Martial Arts Arena and returned to the County Magistrate's study, where the two officials carefully explained the procedures and important points of the Martial Examination in the prefectural city once more.
After they finished, Lu Feng and Lu Yan left the County Magistrate's study together.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Lu Feng could ask Lu Yan about the Grandmaster Realm.
He cupped his hands to Lu Yan and asked, "Lord Lu, you said earlier that above the Martial Master Realm are experts of the Grandmaster Realm. What sets them apart?"
Lu Yan turned to look at him and said with a smile, "Heh, Captain Lu, what made you suddenly ask about Grandmaster Realm experts?"
He scratched his head and replied, "I'm going to the prefectural city to take the Martial Examination. If I happen to offend a Grandmaster Realm expert without realizing it, that could be trouble."
Lu Yan nodded slightly. "Mm, you have a point. There are indeed Grandmaster Realm experts in the prefectural city. If you accidentally offend someone of that caliber, it could be very difficult to resolve!"
After saying that, Lu Yan didn't answer his question directly. Instead, he said, "How about this? I have a book on the essentials of the martial path. Take it and have a look, then return it to me once you're done."
"Yes, thank you for your generosity, Lord Lu."
Then the two went to Lu Yan's study, where he took a book titled Martial Arts Compendium from a cabinet and handed it over.
"Lu Feng, this book is a family heirloom. Just memorize what's written inside, and never pass it on to anyone else," Lu Yan said seriously.
He accepted the book and nodded. "Yes, I understand."
From Lu Yan's attitude, it was clear that the contents of this book were extraordinary.
At the very least, ordinary Martial Artists would never get to read a book like this. Perhaps only Noble Families had such things.
After accepting the book, Lu Feng returned to his room.
Over the next two days, he didn't continue cultivating the martial path. Instead, he devoted himself to studying the Martial Arts Compendium.
The book recorded not only the state of the martial path in this world, but also knowledge about Strange Beasts.
First, it listed five Martial Realms: Martial Artist, Martial Master, Grandmaster, Great Grandmaster, and Xiantian.
The Martial Artist Realm was the first step on the martial path, the stage for laying a foundation. At its peak, Internal Force could reach two thousand catties, though geniuses were an exception.
The Martial Master Realm was the stage where one first glimpsed the gateway to the martial path. At its peak, Internal Force could reach six thousand catties.
Such Internal Force far surpassed the limits of ordinary people, yet this was only the second Realm on the martial path.
Once all the sinews and meridians throughout the body had been tempered, one could break through to the Grandmaster Realm.
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