Traditionalists and Reformists

The state allocates massive resources to the school with the goal of cultivating Martial Practitioners capable of fighting Heavenly Demons, not for raising pampered flowers in a greenhouse.

After stepping off the ring, Meng Chuan began observing the others.

Zong Ping and the second Hu brother, who practiced the Ape Form, were locked in a fierce battle, but Zong Ping's blood energy intensity and combat experience were both significantly superior to his opponent's.

Sure enough, after twenty moves, Zong Ping used a Tiger Form Fist to strike the opponent's chest, knocking him clean off the ring and securing an easy victory.

The competition continued.

Qi Fei and the eldest Hu brother also defeated their respective opponents, successfully advancing to the top 8.

At this moment, their gazes were heavy as they looked toward Meng Chuan and Zong Ping, secretly regarding both as formidable rivals while calculating their tactics.

The principal announced that the victorious students should meditate and rest on the spot, and after a while, the second round of draws began.

The onlookers were not idle either, as they were engaged in a heated debate over who would take first place.

The traditionalists believed Qi Fei could win, arguing that even with lower blood energy, he could prevail through his martial combat experience.

The reformists, however, believed that Meng Chuan or Zong Ping were more formidable.

Although both were still young, their blood energy intensity was plain to see, allowing them to surpass their seniors.

[Group 1: Lin Mosheng vs Zong Ping]

[Group 3: Meng Chuan vs Hu Jiaxiang]

"Big brother, be careful!"

The second Hu brother broke into a cold sweat for his eldest brother, Hu Jiaxiang; the last thing he wanted was for his brother to face Meng Chuan so early.

This kid was too bizarre. He had been practicing Guoyi Fist at school every day, yet his blood energy value was so high that his style was impossible to read.

Zong Ping easily took down his opponent again; his Tiger Form Fist was incredibly fierce, knocking his opponent off the ring in just a few moves.

When it was Meng Chuan's turn to step onto the stage, he cupped his fists and introduced himself.

"Pao Fist, a student of Infinite Martial Arts Hall."

Hu Jiaxiang felt a bit nervous, though he smiled on the surface:

"Hu Jiaxiang, White Ape Fist, a student of Ape God Martial Arts Hall."

"Please."

Meng Chuan let his opponent attack first; it was his first time encountering an opponent using the Ape Form, and he wanted to see what it was all about.

"Junior, watch out!"

Hu Jiaxiang moved like Tarzan, jumping backward to hook his hand onto the ring's support pillar.

Leaning against the ropes, he used their recoil to launch himself toward Meng Chuan, unleashing a punch from above.

The Ape Form really has some tricks; he can even use the terrain to his advantage in the ring.

Thinking this, Meng Chuan stood his ground, side-stepping to deflect the punch.

Seeing this, Hu Jiaxiang immediately went for a lethal move: Spirit Monkey Steals the Peach!

With extremely flexible legs, he dropped into a full split, his right hand swiping toward Meng Chuan's vitals.

This young man has no martial virtue!

Meng Chuan frowned inwardly, then used his waist strength to perform a backflip, dodging easily.

After landing, he aimed for his opponent's vitals as well, delivering a low sweep kick straight toward the crotch, paying him back in his own coin.

Hu Jiaxiang was still in his split and, sensing the danger to his own vitals, hurriedly reached down to cover himself.

Thump! With one kick, Meng Chuan sent him sprawling to the ground.

After getting up, Hu Jiaxiang hopped around like a monkey from Mount Emei, rubbing his hands together.

Meng Chuan didn't give his opponent a chance to catch his breath. He set his stance and unleashed his fierce fists like cannonballs. Hu Jiaxiang could only rely on his Ape Form footwork, jumping and dodging frantically.

The ring was only so big. After dodging a dozen punches, Hu Jiaxiang was finally caught by Meng Chuan, who hammered him to the ground with a Sky-Piercing Cannon.

Once down, he quickly raised his hand to surrender.

"I concede!"

"Don't be so underhanded next time."

Meng Chuan smiled and pulled him to his feet.

"Sorry, I practice the Ape Form, and in the heat of the moment, I just couldn't help myself..."

Hu Jiaxiang blushed; he could feel that Meng Chuan had held back.

Given his mastery of Ming Jin, if he had used his full strength, that kick toward his hand would have been enough to shatter his bones.

Following the victory of Qi Fei in the fourth group, Meng Chuan, Zong Ping, Qi Fei, and one lucky winner advanced to the final four.

Meng Chuan had some good luck, drawing the lucky contestant who had just entered the third stage, defeating him in short order to sit back and watch the remaining two tigers fight it out.

Qi Fei rubbed his hands together, his fighting spirit soaring; Meng Chuan had yet to use his full strength, and his blood-energy value was leading by a landslide, which made him feel a bit apprehensive.

"This guy Zong Ping's blood-energy isn't much higher than mine, and he has the foulest mouth, so I'll fight him!"

Since he would likely lose even if he ran into Meng Chuan later, Qi Fei decided to exhaust all his stamina in this match to teach Zong Ping a harsh lesson!

Both Zong Ping and Qi Fei practiced the Tiger Form Fist of the Xingyi Fist style, and the two of them clashed like two tigers unable to share the same mountain, locked in a fierce struggle that lasted over ten minutes without a clear winner.

In the end, Zong Ping gained the upper hand, winning the match by relying on an entry-level second-rate fist technique he had never revealed before: the Tiger Roaring in the Forest Fist.

Subsequently, Qi Fei defeated Meng Chuan's previous opponent to take third place, and after Zong Ping caught his breath for a moment, he began to vie with Meng Chuan for first place.

The development of the situation was far too bewildering.

No one had expected that while everyone was discussing who would take first place between the Hu Brothers and Qi Fei before the blood-energy test, it would end up being two first-year students fighting for the top spot.

However, everyone was convinced by this result, as they had all witnessed the strength of both Meng Chuan and Zong Ping.

Most of the students on the field practiced Xiangxing Fist, with Tiger Form being the majority among them, and they were all cheering for Zong Ping at this moment.

"Xiangxing is the best in the world!"

"The fierce tiger is invincible! Brother Zong, take him down!"

A small number of those practicing Xingyi were also shouting loudly for Meng Chuan:

"Beat these tiger-fanboys to death!"

"Go Meng Chuan, let them know that Xingyi is the real deal!"

Looking at the cheers surrounding him, Meng Chuan felt a stir in his heart.

When he sparred with Le Ping at the martial arts gym before, there hadn't been nearly as many spectators as there were now.

But he didn't feel stage fright at all, inwardly calming his emotions.

His future stage would be even more glorious; this was just a small scene!

As the surroundings quieted down, Zong Ping spoke first:

"I knew we would meet in the finals."

"The Tiger Roaring in the Forest Fist was originally reserved for you; it's a pity, but you still won't be my match."

Meng Chuan smiled and said:

"Alright, let me see where your confidence comes from."

Meng Chuan made a gesture inviting him to attack.

Like a fierce tiger charging down from a mountain peak, accompanied by the sound of a tiger's roar, Zong Ping struck out with a palm that carried the whistling wind.

The opponent's speed was no slower than his own, so Meng Chuan dared not be careless.

He immediately pushed his mastery-level Cun Step to its limit, sidestepping and stomping his right foot heavily onto the ring, narrowly avoiding the palm strike by utilizing the counter-force.

However, the tiger palm still struck his fluttering hem; with a "rip," a large hole was instantly torn in the waist of his school uniform.

Good thing I'm wearing a school uniform.

Meng Chuan's reaction time was incredibly fast; since his clothes were already torn, there was no reason to just dodge without fighting back.

He let out a loud roar, his momentum instantly soaring to the heavens!

He then lunged forward with an arrow step, his left arm raised high with his fist palm-inward as if shielding his forehead, while his right arm pulled back to gather power, his palm held in a loose grip like a cannonball ready to fire.