Meng Chuan didn't mind. His main reason for coming today was to be able to take Martial Dao classes with the second-years later on.
The Martial Arts Arena had a Wooden Dummy Area where he could improve his footwork faster. It was also convenient for finding people to spar with and quickly improving his fist technique.
Zong Ping, however, wasn't about to indulge Qi Fei. He snatched up the sensor first and put it on.
"Quit acting tough. Get your ass in line!"
Qi Fei merely crossed his arms and sneered.
"Fine, fine. You go ahead."
[Testing begins]
Zong Ping sank at the waist, arched his back slightly, and drew one hand to his side, fingers curled into a tiger's claw as he prepared to strike.
"Now that's interesting. That blond kid looks like a good one to spar with."
From Zong Ping's opening stance, Meng Chuan could tell that unlike Wang Yue's amateurish Tiger Form, this guy had real skill.
[Qi and blood: 7.18. Third Threshold reached]
"Holy crap! This kid's incredible!"
The second-year martial arts students watching were stunned. With that kind of strength as a first-year, wouldn't all the martial arts schools be fighting to recruit him? How had he ended up at Ping'an Middle School?
Meng Chuan couldn't be bothered to wait any longer. He walked over and took the sensor from Zong Ping.
"Qi Fei, right? Keep building up your strength. I'll test mine first."
Pao Fist was a form of Xingyi Fist, and its opening stance was completely different from the Tiger Form of Xiangxing Fist.
Meng Chuan stepped forward halfway with his right foot, crossed his arms, and held them straight in front of his abdomen, right arm outside and left arm inside, palms facing inward.
Then he rotated his arms outward, bent his elbows, and drew his fists back to his waist, knuckles facing up. He guided his qi and blood into his forearm and unleashed a punch with a sudden burst of power.
[Please remove the sensor] [Qi and blood: 7.47. Third Threshold reached]
As the machine sounded the end-of-test alert, the entire arena fell silent.
Every pair of eyes fixed on Meng Chuan.
Shock, surprise, disbelief... all kinds of emotions mingled together.
Someone muttered to himself:
"Wasn't he supposed to know only Wawa Fist? Is the machine broken?"
A sharp-eyed student had already figured it out:
"It's not broken. His Pao Fist might be close to perfection."
"Hiss! This kid is terrifying!"
"Uncle was right after all."
Zong Ping was a lively sort, but faced with someone his own age whose qi and blood were even stronger than his, he still cupped his hands and praised him:
"Impressive, brother. Let's spar on the platform in a bit."
He believed his uncle now. This Meng Chuan really did have something special.
Meng Chuan returned Zong Ping's salute with cupped fists:
"Sounds good. I've wanted to see the essence of Tiger Form for a while."
The Hu Brothers were just as astonished. They'd thought Zong Ping was already impressive enough for a first-year, but now another expert had turned up.
Qi Fei stood rooted in place, utterly embarrassed. He'd tested his qi and blood last week after practicing Ferocious Tiger Fist and feeling that he'd made some progress. His result had been 6.82.
He'd just told those two to build up their strength first. If he went up to test now, wouldn't he make a fool of himself?
"I bet only Brother Qi can keep those two in check."
"Go on, Brother Qi! You're the last thing we second-years have to be proud of!"
Qi Fei was the only one left who hadn't tested his qi and blood. Everyone urged him on:
"Exactly, Brother Qi, get up there!"
Everyone was watching him. Qi Fei had no choice but to walk up and take the test, his face ashen.
[Qi and blood: 6.78. Third Threshold reached]
Qi Fei cursed his luck. His qi and blood were lower than when he'd tested last week. Maybe the reading had fluctuated because he'd only thrown one punch.
Seeing this, Zong Ping burst out laughing.
"Hm? Xiaofei, is that a ten-percent discount?"
The others saw Qi Fei's sour expression and kept their mouths shut, not wanting to provoke him just then.
Qi Fei thought to himself:
The gap in qi and blood isn't that big, and I'm a year older, so I have more combat experience.
I can win back my pride in the platform matches. I'll teach those two a lesson and save face—especially that blond kid!
Only then did Principal Zong arrive, making his way over to the grade director.
"How did the tests go? How many students broke through three?"
"Counting the first-years Zong Ping and Meng Chuan, there are sixteen students with qi and blood above four."
"Our school is now on the fast track to Martial Dao development, growing stronger by the day!"
"The number of second-years at the Third Threshold is up fifty percent from this time last year!"
The director was eager to climb the ladder. He paused, then continued:
"And those two, Zong Ping and Meng Chuan, really are... Principal, you truly have an eye for talent!"
The principal immediately grew interested. He knew his nephew's ability well enough, but he didn't know just how strong Meng Chuan's qi and blood were.
He'd invited Meng Chuan to take the second-year test mainly because of his improvements to Guoyi Fist.
"What was Meng Chuan's qi and blood reading?"
"7.47."
"You said what now?!"
The director raised his voice and repeated the number for the principal.
Principal Zong murmured to himself:
"This test has turned up a true dragon."
Although Meng Chuan's qi and blood strength had shocked him, he'd weathered plenty of storms. He quickly composed himself.
"Anyone at the Third Threshold or above, step forward. Go draw lots under the platform to decide your opponents. We'll have the top three compete in the end."
After the principal finished speaking, Meng Chuan followed the others toward the platform, thinking as he walked:
"There are sixteen competitors including me. Most of them barely got above four and are only here to make up the numbers.
"I need to watch out for the Hu Brothers and Qi Fei. Most of all, that blond kid named Zong Ping."
"This will be my first match, so I have to make a good start. I'll give it everything and bring home first place!"
The first-round matchups were drawn quickly. Meng Chuan's opponent had qi and blood of 4.32, having only just reached the Third Threshold.
The principal stood in the middle of the platform, coughed twice to clear his throat, then swept his hand through the air.
"Let the match begin!"
The unknown opponent stared at Meng Chuan as if facing a formidable enemy. The gap in their qi and blood made him lose his nerve before the fight had even begun.
When the other student made no move, Meng Chuan politely warned him:
"I'm coming in, senior. Watch out."
Meng Chuan drove forward with a Cun Step, closing the distance in just two or three steps.
Then he threw a plain, straightforward Pao Fist, his fist cutting through the air with a faint, crisp crack. It was the sound of Ming Jin—the hidden force within the fist technique—being unleashed.
Meng Chuan didn't use his full speed or strength. It was only a probing attack.
His opponent had plenty of time to dodge, but perhaps Meng Chuan's imposing presence had frightened him. He actually raised his hand to try to block the punch head-on.
An immense pressure bore down on his face. The fist hadn't even arrived, but the wind had already reached him!
"I'm done for!"
The other student actually closed his eyes on the platform. Meng Chuan tried to pull his punch, but it was too late.
At the critical moment, the principal took one long step across and stopped Meng Chuan's fist just in time.
The impact cracked through the air. The other student's legs went limp, and he nearly dropped to the ground.
Principal Zong's expression darkened as he shouted:
"Are you trying to get yourself killed? Why would you close your eyes on the platform?!"
"Next group!"
Although Meng Chuan's performance had exceeded expectations, many of the other students were frankly terrible.
When faced with an attack, they had no idea whether to dodge or defend. They could only flail around, following the forms in their manuals by rote.
Seeing this, the principal thought to himself:
"We'll need to give the students more chances to spar with each other from now on.
"Qi and blood are only the threshold for Martial University. In the end, the truth comes out in fists and feet!"
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