Uncle Will Open a Back Door for You

Ever since obtaining One Proof Eternal Proof, Meng Chuan has been training at maximum intensity every single day.

Between chugging medicinal tonics and cycling through fist techniques, footwork, and Stake Technique, he trains like his life depends on it. Even the usually stern Luo Guanyun cannot help but marvel:

"You kid, you really are solid as a rock!"

After practicing Pao Fist over a dozen times, Meng Chuan stands on a circular stone parking barrier in the school parking lot to practice Cun Step.

The top surfaces of this row of parking barriers are polished very smooth. Meng Chuan takes off his shoes and socks, standing on them with bare feet.

It rained two days ago, and there is basically no dust on the surface to increase friction right now. Just standing steady on them feels incredibly difficult for Meng Chuan, and he can only struggle to walk the Cun Step according to Master Luo's teachings.

Master Luo's words echo in his ears:

"Do not retreat the front foot, but advance forward; push with the rear foot and step up. This move is used when forced by an enemy, leaving them no time to change steps. Only then do you take this shortcut to catch the enemy off guard; hence, it is called Cun Step."

I need to practice Cun Step diligently over these next two days. Once I master it, I'll be able to practice Pao Fist while performing Cun Step. My efficiency will double instantly—awesome!

Just as Meng Chuan is practicing his short, shuffling steps on the parking barrier, his homeroom teacher's voice comes from behind him.

"Meng Chuan, get down here! The principal needs to see you!"

Pushing open the door to the principal's office, Meng Chuan habitually takes a clean teacup from the cabinet behind the principal.

He then sits in the chair opposite the desk, pours himself a cup of hot tea, and drinks it with great satisfaction.

Just as the principal is about to speak, Meng Chuan seizes the initiative.

"Don't ask yet. I know what you want to say. There's still no news from Senior Bai, so don't be anxious."

Meng Chuan hadn't even wanted to come; he knew the principal was looking for him again to ask about Guoyi Fist.

He just happened to be thirsty from training and came over to have a cup of hot tea to soothe his throat.

The principal retorts:

"That's not it, but you must tell me the moment you have news."

He then refills Meng Chuan's cup with hot water and continues:

"Have you measured your blood-qi lately? How is it?"

"The last time I checked, it was 2.11. Recently, I've had breakthroughs in both my fist techniques and footwork, so it should be over 3 now."

"Good lad! Can we count on Yong'an Martial Arts University? Give your uncle a straight answer!"

The tea brewed by the principal is indeed more fragrant. Meng Chuan gives him a reassuring promise:

"That's a definite yes!"

According to Meng Chuan's current rate of improvement, Yong'an Martial Arts University is no longer his goal; he has already shifted his sights to Northern United University.

Northern United University, full name [Northern United Martial Arts University], is one of the nine elite martial arts universities in the country.

As a northern powerhouse supported by the Great Chu since its founding, its faculty and school heritage are incredibly vast. It even has branches all over the country, and the Yong'an Li Mountain branch was only established a few years ago.

What Northern United University is most praised for is its terrifying success rate for graduates becoming Martial Artists, which reaches a staggering 90%. It can be said that stepping into Northern United University is equivalent to becoming half a future Martial Artist.

Luo Guanyun also graduated from Northern United University. He knows deeply how important a good martial arts university is to a Martial Practitioner's growth, and he is very supportive of Meng Chuan applying to Northern United University in the future.

"Good, then your uncle will open a back door for you!"

"But there has to be a reason. February 2nd is the final exam for the sophomore martial arts track. You should go take it too. As long as you rank in the top 50%, you can attend martial arts classes with the sophomores from then on. Having a teacher is better than practicing on your own."

This is good news. The parking barriers are far too unprofessional. The sophomore martial arts room has a wooden dummy area specifically for practicing footwork, and there are dedicated martial arts teachers to provide instruction.

Although the school certainly can't afford a Martial Arts Master like Master Luo, at the very least, they would be a minor expert who has passed the third gate of blood-qi, which is more than enough to teach him.

"Thank you, Principal. I will definitely give it my all."

The principal smiles, signaling that Meng Chuan can leave.

Not long after Meng Chuan exits, another boy with yellow hair, roughly the same age as Meng Chuan, enters.

If Meng Chuan were here, he would discover that this person is exactly who Le Ping, a student at Infinite Martial Arts Hall, spoke of—the martial arts prodigy who, along with himself, is known as the Crouching Dragon and Fledgling Phoenix of Ping'an Middle School!

"You're here, Zong Ping."

"What is it, Second Uncle? Do you need something from me?"

Principal Zong slams the table and reprimands him:

"Have you forgotten again? In school, you must address me by my title!"

No one in the school knows that the freshman martial arts genius Zong Ping is actually the principal's nephew.

Although Ping'an Middle School is decent, it is a comprehensive high school, not a specialized martial arts high school.

It was only after the principal promised his older brother that he would cover Zong Ping's martial arts training resources for three years that his brother agreed to let Zong Ping attend Ping'an Middle School.

It's all part of his own administrative record, and the principal truly worries himself sick day after day.

Zong Ping says listlessly:

"Understood, Principal."

Like Meng Chuan, the moment Zong Ping enters, he sits in the chair and prepares to pour himself some tea.

Then he noticed that besides the principal's own teacup, there was another one on the desk that someone else had used.

"Oh? Did someone just come by?"

"Yes, but that's not important. I called you here to tell you something."

The principal then repeated what he had just told Meng Chuan.

"It should have been like this a long time ago, Uncle. No problem. When the time comes, I'll strike with a heavy fist and beat the second-years to a pulp. Just you watch."

"I told you to address me by my title!"

"By the way, there is someone else in your first-year grade who, like you, will be participating in the second-year final martial arts exam."

Zong Ping immediately became interested:

"First-year? Aren't they all a bunch of noobs?"

"Don't underestimate them. In some respects, their talent might even be stronger than yours."

Zong Ping was even more curious. He was born with above-average aptitude; someone with superior aptitude stronger than his own would be directly admitted to the preparatory classes of top-tier Martial Universities like Northern United University.

So, how could anyone in Ping'an High School have more talent than him?

"Alright, that's all. Go back and practice your martial arts. I don't have any good tea to entertain you here."

The principal started shooing him away. These two kids were more annoying than the last, and he felt that being a principal was tiresome; he couldn't display his authority as a principal at all.

"Fine, then I'll be going, Principal."

At night, Meng Chuan returned from Master Luo's house.

"That's great, my proficiency has increased quite a bit. Master Luo is truly effective; the proficiency gained in just three hours is worth a whole day of training at school."

After returning to his room, Meng Chuan took a piece of Medicinal Paste. After digesting it for a moment, he felt his body recover significantly. He decided to reward himself with over an hour of Sancai Stance before taking a shower and going to bed to end a perfect day.

Meng Yongzhi, afraid of disturbing Meng Chuan's training, said through the door:

"Chuan'er, the reward from the bureau has arrived. Let's go together early tomorrow morning."

Meng Chuan was shirtless, working hard at his stance, and the dry towel that had been hanging around his neck was already soaked with sweat and had become damp.

"Alright, Uncle, I understand. Tomorrow morning, help me... never mind, I'll call the principal myself to ask for a half-day leave."

"Fine, don't stay up too late. Get some rest early."