Meanwhile, far away at the Wing Chun White Crane Boxing Gym in Fuzhou, Fang Xiu read the Group Friends' proposal to meet in person. After a moment's thought, she decided to go meet these remarkable people.
After all, she had needed personal instruction and hands-on guidance from Fang Hansong, a Transforming Strength Great Boxer of the Wing Chun White Crane Fist, to grasp the knack and reach Manifesting Strength in just a few days. She had thought she would be the fastest. Yet these goofy Group Friends had kept pace with her, each reaching Manifesting Strength too! Now that was interesting!
She was intensely curious about them, so she typed a reply in the group chat.
He Wu: Sounds good. We can get together and maybe even spar.
Elsewhere, in A Certain County Town, a high school student respectfully offered a boxed meal and some liquor to an unassuming beggar. "Master, I brought you food! Your disciple has reached Manifesting Strength!"
"Not bad, Li Xingming. Remember, Tai Chi Fist follows the natural flow and balances hardness with softness. Grasp that essence, and with a measure of talent, you'll reach Manifesting Strength soon." The beggar waved a hand, then helped himself to the food and liquor without ceremony.
The high school student, Li Xingming, nodded earnestly and clenched his fist, excitement surging through him. He had first taken pity on the beggar in the Small Park and often bought him boxed meals.
But after witnessing Li Hansha, a Pillaring Grandmaster, spar with this unassuming beggar, he had learned that the man was a Transforming Strength Great Boxer from the novel Dragon Snake. The revelation had lit a fire in him. He had immediately bowed before the beggar and become his disciple.
Now, seeing the invitation in the group chat, Li Xingming drew a deep breath. Like Fang Xiu, he was curious about these goofy Group Friends. What kind of people were they, to reach Manifesting Strength so quickly? He had only made such progress thanks to the guidance of Yang Chan, the Transforming Strength Great Boxer of Tai Chi Fist standing before him. Were these goofy Group Friends geniuses too?!
After some thought, he agreed to join the meetup. He wanted to see these talented goofballs for himself.
Ji Taibao: Sure, but make it a weekend! I'm only free on days off! And don't pick anywhere too far away!!
Meanwhile, just outside a remote mountain, a Bovila-style sports car pulled up by the road. A young man dressed head to toe in luxury brands stepped out, chin raised, arrogance written all over his face. Carrying a large bag with practiced ease, he headed into the mountain, found the well-hidden Dilapidated Taoist Temple, and banged on its gate.
"Hey, you old ox-nosed Daoist! Open up! Your genius disciple brought you something!"
Creak...
With a soft creak, the weathered wooden door opened. A Daoist in a dark blue Daoist Robe emerged. At the sight of the young man's smug face and thoroughly punchable air, the Green-Robed Taoist's eye twitched. Without a word, he kicked him three or four meters away.
"It's a miracle you've lived this long without being beaten to death. How are the Bagua Palm and standing exercises I taught you coming along?"
At the Green-Robed Taoist's question, the designer-clad young man snorted. He raised his chin forty-five degrees and gazed at the sky, looking like a master burdened by his own greatness.
"Please. You think the basics could stop a talent like me? Mastering them was child's play. Reaching Manifesting Strength was as easy as drinking water. Ah, life is as lonely as falling snow..."
Before he could finish showing off, a vein bulged on the Green-Robed Taoist's forehead. The more he looked at the brat, the more he wanted to hit him. Why had he ever taught this fellow the Swimming Dragon Bagua Palm? What a colossal mistake. He raised a hand and sent him flying again.
"Ye Zhen, say less of that arrogant nonsense when you're out there. I'm afraid you won't make it ten steps before someone punches you to death..."
The hot-blooded young man named Ye Zhen brushed the dust off himself and sprang up from the ground. His expression turned solemn. "No. With my strength, I think I could make it at least twenty steps!!"
The Green-Robed Taoist was speechless. "Get out of my sight. I've already explained the essentials of the Swimming Dragon Bagua Palm. Once you've thoroughly grasped Manifesting Strength, you can try incorporating its paired weapon, the Zi Wu Yuan Yang Yue, and use the palm art's principles to understand the changes of the Dark Realm."
Ye Zhen nodded, looking every inch the overdramatic youth. "Have a little faith in me, ox-nose. With my gifts, I'll become a Pillaring Grandmaster one day and dominate an era. The masses will chant my true name and sing my praises throughout the world..."
The Green-Robed Taoist listened to Ye Zhen's grandiose rambling, utterly at a loss for words. After several deep breaths, he finally calmed down and impatiently told him to get lost.
Ye Zhen didn't mind. He pulled out his phone and looked at the goofy Group Friends in the chat. A wicked smile curled his lips. "As expected of people in the same group as me. I, Ye Liangchen, approve this meetup!"
He quickly typed a reply in the group chat.
Ye Liangchen: This Liangchen has read it! Permission granted!!
Elsewhere, in A Certain Luxury Villa, a young woman sprawled on a sofa read the replies from her goofy online friends. She smiled and quickly typed a message.
Invincible Little Wave Rider: Hahaha... bros, let's make it this weekend! If you live far away or you're short on cash, just say so. I'll cover your round-trip tickets!!
A cool-faced woman in white entered through the door. She looked at the young woman on the sofa and shook her head. "Liu Qing'er, time for standing practice. Today I'll explain Snake Form in our Xingyi Fist. Only after you understand its intent and principles will you have a chance to reach Hidden Strength..."
Liu Qing'er immediately sprang off the sofa and nodded obediently. She looked nothing like her group-chat persona, just a sweet, well-behaved heiress.
Born into a wealthy family, she had once chanced upon the woman before her, Tang Ye, in an astonishing fight with Li Hansha. Without hesitation, she had secretly followed Tang Ye, pestering and pleading until she was finally accepted as her disciple. To train properly in National Martial Arts, she had even moved into this quiet, somewhat secluded villa.
Thinking back, she still felt lucky to have entered the world of National Martial Arts and developed Manifesting Strength so quickly.
Once the time for the in-person meetup was set, the group chat soon fell quiet again.
Gu Chen found himself looking forward to the meetup too. These goofy Group Friends were all talented. Perhaps one day, they could become pieces in a larger game.
Before you continue