Today was the weekend, and there were not many people on the tram.
[Greenland Plaza Station has arrived.]
Seeing Infinite Martial Arts Hall's purple-black emblem again, Meng Chuan felt completely different from the first time he had come.
Wang Yue suddenly appeared behind Meng Chuan and waved a hand in front of his eyes.
"Hey! What are you staring at so intently?"
Meng Chuan finally snapped back to his senses.
"You're pretty early today. It's nothing. Let's go in."
After they finished eating, Teacher Luo had yet to arrive, and Meng Chuan did not see Sister Ru either. She probably had not arrived yet.
Someone was currently using the Qi-Blood Testing Room, so Meng Chuan and Wang Yue decided to wait outside.
[Qi-blood value: 4.29. Third pass cleared.]
Le Ping removed the sensor equipment and walked out.
His movement technique had made a small breakthrough last night, so he was in quite a good mood.
"Oh, Meng Chuan. Long time no see. What have you been busy with lately? Why haven't you come to the martial arts hall to practice?"
"Something came up."
"Fine, then go test yourself. Don't tell me you still haven't reached the pass-clearing standard. I'm leaving first."
Le Ping nodded, turned, and left. Last time, when Meng Chuan fought Wang Yue, Le Ping had kept analyzing the match nonstop, only to lose face in the martial arts hall. Naturally, he was somewhat unhappy about it.
"Mm."
Meng Chuan did not say much. On the surface, Le Ping seemed carefree and chatty with everyone, but he was actually rather sensitive and prone to dwelling on things.
Wang Yue helped Meng Chuan put on the sensor equipment. Then Meng Chuan began punching according to the usage regulations.
[Testing begins.]
After completing a set of Pao Fist.
[Qi-blood value: 4.33. Third pass cleared.]
It was even slightly higher than Le Ping's qi-blood value.
The first time Meng Chuan had come to the martial arts hall for testing, he had not even cleared a pass. At that time, Le Ping had already reached the third Qi-Blood Pass.
Now, Meng Chuan had surpassed Le Ping.
When Wang Yue saw Meng Chuan's test result, he completely lost it.
"Damn it, Brother Chuan, you definitely used cheats! I'm still at the first stage, why?
Even taking a plane, you couldn't level up this fast! How are you already at the third Qi-Blood Pass?"
Meng Chuan looked at Wang Yue pityingly.
"Didn't I tell you? Don't compare yourself to me. Compare yourself to who you were yesterday."
"Fuck, you really are a freak!"
Stimulated by Meng Chuan, Wang Yue was briefly fired up and went off alone to practice punches on the wooden dummy.
Seeing that Teacher Luo had not yet arrived at the martial arts hall, Meng Chuan called him to share the good news.
[Good. I'll be at the martial arts hall right away.]
Liu Ru arrived at that moment as well. Seeing Meng Chuan there today, she greeted him in surprise.
"Good morning, Little Meng. Where did you go recently? Why haven't you been coming to the martial arts hall?"
Although everyone in Yong'an City knew about what had happened in Tong Family Alley, Meng Chuan's information had not been made public due to measures protecting minors. Thus, no one at the martial arts hall knew that he had been attacked by a Heavenly Demon.
"It's nothing, Sister Ru. Something happened at home recently, so I didn't come."
Being attacked by a Heavenly Demon was hardly something glorious. There was no need to let everyone know.
Meng Chuan knew that Sister Ru also wanted to become the hall master's disciple, so he did not want to provoke her.
Judging from everyone's reactions at the martial arts hall, Teacher Luo probably had not told them that Meng Chuan had become a personal disciple. Naturally, he would not announce it himself either.
"All right, then. Want to spar?"
Meng Chuan was naturally willing.
"Sister Ru, please."
Meng Chuan instantly entered a combat state. He lowered his body and rushed forward with an arrow step, then thrust out his right arm and unleashed a Heavy Pao Fist.
Seeing the ferocity of Meng Chuan's attack, her gaze immediately sharpened.
Liu Ru's long legs tapped lightly against the floor, and she flashed away from the straight punch.
Unexpectedly, Meng Chuan had another variation. When his right arm failed to score, he immediately withdrew it to his waist to defend. He exerted force with a Cun Step and followed Liu Ru's movement, his left fist smashing down and forward like Mount Tai Pressing Down.
Meng Chuan was far stronger than before, but Liu Ru was still judging him by her previous impression of him.
Seeing that she could not dodge Meng Chuan's smashing blow, she could only drive force through her waist while shaking her hand to channel her strength. She pressed down on the mountain he wanted to overturn, caught Meng Chuan's fist in her palm, and flung it into the distance.
It was the second-rate martial art, Hunyuan Palm—Single Palm Subdues Demons!
Meng Chuan was thrown far away by the blow. The moment he hit the ground, he rolled with the momentum and dispersed the force, suffering no real injury.
Liu Ru was, after all, a minor expert at the peak of Dark Jin. It was already a good thing that he had not been injured during their spar.
"You all right, Little Meng?"
Liu Ru had instinctively counterattacked with Hunyuan Palm just now, but the moment she threw Meng Chuan out, she realized it and had already held back her strength.
"I'm fine. Let's continue, Sister Ru. I'm coming."
After getting up, Meng Chuan clenched his fists again and launched another attack at Liu Ru.
After what had just happened, Liu Ru became even more focused. She kept weaving, turning, and shifting to evade his attacks, but Meng Chuan still found chances to get close.
After throwing Meng Chuan out several times, Liu Ru discovered that he always got back up immediately and continued attacking. So she stopped holding back and properly exchanged moves with him.
Meng Chuan was repeatedly thrown about by Liu Ru and looked thoroughly bedraggled, but he no longer felt embarrassed in front of everyone. He continued advancing according to the Pao Fist forms, trying to attack.
Sparring with Instructor Liu Ru was a great chance to build proficiency. He did not want to miss it.
The two of them were making quite a commotion, and many students gathered around to watch.
"It has to be Sister Ru. She's tossing him around like a bowling ball."
"I want to be thrown too. Sister Ru's hands look soft and smell nice."
"..."
"Maybe Meng Chuan thinks the same way. Painful, but happy."
"Yeah. I remember he's only around the first pass, right? He's really gritting his teeth and hanging on."
Just as everyone was discussing it, Luo Guanyun walked in.
"A martial artist should be like this—daring to challenge someone stronger."
Watching Meng Chuan get thrashed, some students felt that Master Luo had a point.
Others disagreed, believing that Meng Chuan had ulterior motives and simply wanted intimate contact with Instructor Liu.
Luo Guanyun called a halt to their spar.
"Stop for now."
"I have an announcement for everyone today. After the New Year, a new round of the Martial Arts Hall Ranking Tournament will begin. The older students know the rules, but let me explain them to the students who joined this year."
"Brother Dong, is there a competition to fight in?"
"That's right. The martial arts hall ranked first will receive prize support worth millions. Last time, our Infinite Martial Arts Hall took first place."
"Holy shit, awesome! Can I compete?"
"You're eligible for the minors division, but every martial arts hall can only send one person for each division. I don't think you stand a chance."
The noisy discussion continued for a full minute.
"All right, quiet down for now. I'll first announce the competitors. Anyone who objects may challenge them. The winner competes, and the loser steps down."
"There's no need to say anything about the hall master division. Liu Ru will compete in the youth division. Any objections?"
Everyone in the martial arts hall looked toward their senior, Wang Dong. The meaning was obvious.
Seeing this, Wang Dong shook his head like a rattle drum.
"Why are you all looking at me? I already passed my thirty-fifth birthday. I'm not young anymore."
"Instructor Liu is a sixth-stage expert at the peak of Dark Jin. If you think you can do it, go ahead. Don't drag me into it."
Last time, Wang Dong had represented the youth division, only to be eliminated in the first round. Even if he had not aged out, he would not go embarrass himself again.
Seeing that no one objected, Luo Guanyun spoke.
"Good. Then Instructor Liu Ru is confirmed for the youth division."
Liu Ru was happy as well. Just having a chance to perform in front of the hall master was already good enough.
"From now on, I'll train hard and let the hall master see my talent and effort."
Luo Guanyun continued.
"As for the minors division..."
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