Li Qiming had never imagined that this young master in white robes could be so... childish.
Still, they were all children, more or less.
Only fifteen or sixteen years old.
At that age in his previous life, he would still have been in middle or high school.
But this was a cruel martial society. Children of fifteen or sixteen had already been wage slaves for years.
Of course, young masters in white robes like the one before him were exceptions. After all, they came from wealthy, well-born families. These lucky ones, born with a silver spoon in their mouths, lived in comfort in any world.
"I'll go first!"
"Now, watch closely and see how I throw a punch!"
The young master in white robes spoke to Li Qiming in a low voice.
As he spoke, he leaped into the air, performed a front flip, and landed steadily in the center of the raised platform.
"State your name, age, and how long you've been learning the Tiger Roar Fist."
Chu Weiying spoke up.
"Mo Su, fifteen years old. I've studied the Tiger Roar Fist for two years!"
Mo Su's family had prepared him for this day for two years. He was determined to claim the Registered Disciple spot today!
In the first round, the Root Bone Assessment, he had an Intermediate Root Bone and placed among the top four, virtually tied for first.
Li Qiming, on the other hand, had only an Inferior Root Bone!
In the second round, the Blood Qi Assessment, Li Qiming had taken first place, but Mo Su hadn't fallen far behind. He had come in second.
Now, in the final round, all he had to do was show off his fists and he would leave everyone stunned!
Mo Su was extremely confident in his fist technique!
"Good. Begin," Chu Weiying said calmly.
He could sense that Mo Su seemed very confident. But Chu Weiying had seen plenty of people like him. The vast majority were simply overconfident.
Yet in the next instant, Chu Weiying's eyes flashed. He narrowed them and looked toward Mo Su.
Mo Su launched into his fist technique, his movements broad and powerful, his entire presence fierce, like a tiger descending the mountain!
Proficient!
In just two short years, Mo Su had actually cultivated the Tiger Roar Fist to the Great Accomplishment stage?!
The stages of fist technique were Entry Level, Minor Accomplishment, Great Accomplishment, Proficient, and Perfection.
Five stages.
Each one was a hurdle.
By rights, even with excellent talent, two years would at most be enough to reach Great Accomplishment. That alone would count as top-tier talent.
And Mo Su had reached the Proficient stage!
Chu Weiying watched and nodded to himself. It seemed Mo Su would take first place in this final assessment!
As he demonstrated his fist technique, Mo Su stole a glance at Pavilion Master Long Wuhui on the dais.
Long Wuhui watched intently and nodded at him again and again, seemingly full of praise.
Elder Jiang Daoming beside him, as well as the eight True Disciples of distinguished status, also seemed to look upon him with approval.
Mo Su's heart leaped with joy.
He glanced toward the crowd below the stage. Every one of the servants wore an ugly expression, as if they were deeply bothered.
Heh. You bunch of useless trash...
Suddenly, Mo Su caught sight of an utterly indifferent gaze.
It belonged to Li Qiming.
In Li Qiming's eyes, Mo Su sensed something... indifference!
"Hmph. What a show-off!"
Mo Su cursed inwardly.
Then he threw himself into his performance.
Outside the arena.
It was already noon, and the streets were packed with onlookers.
An old man easily pushed his way through the crowd and reached the edge of the inner arena.
When Zhang Mingshun and the others saw him, they immediately greeted him with respectful expressions. "Shopkeeper Wang!"
The newcomer was Shopkeeper Wang from Laifu Restaurant.
"How's the competition going?" Shopkeeper Wang asked, then noticed that everyone had fallen somewhat silent.
Frowning, he looked up at the stage. His heart jolted. This young man in white was performing the Tiger Roar Fist with exceptional skill. Judging by his level, he had actually reached the Proficient stage!
"There's a talent like this here?"
"Alas! It seems Li Qiming is going to lose this time!"
Shopkeeper Wang sighed softly. Now that he knew the outcome, there was no point staying. He turned and left at once.
Before long,
Mo Su slowly finished his fist routine and bowed in every direction. Then he turned and walked off the stage.
When he reached Li Qiming, he wore an air of arrogance, as if showing off.
"Well?"
"Average."
Li Qiming thought it over before giving his verdict.
Those two words made Mo Su's mouth twitch. He laughed in anger.
"Heh. Fine, then let me see just how extraordinary your fist technique is!"
"Sure."
Li Qiming nodded, then walked toward the raised platform in an utterly ordinary manner.
The surrounding servants, including Wang Liang and the other two wealthy young masters and young ladies, all made way for him.
Mo Su's Proficient-level Tiger Roar Fist had left everyone dumbfounded. At a time like this, whoever went up would only embarrass himself!
Everything feared comparison, especially when it came to people.
Seeing this clueless fellow Li Qiming heading for the stage, the crowd naturally hoped he would go up first and disgrace himself!
"Brother, can you do it?" Wang Liang seemed worried about Li Qiming.
"I think so."
Li Qiming replied, then stepped onto the platform and walked toward the center of the arena, one step at a time.
When Chu Weiying saw someone coming up, he had initially felt bored. But as Li Qiming drew closer, an aura slowly rose from him...
"Interesting..." Chu Weiying examined him carefully. Li Qiming seemed to have entered a state like a hunter stalking his prey.
His whole body seemed to have entered a state of fist technique on the verge of exploding!
"This kid has also trained the Tiger Roar Fist to a certain level. The question is, can he match Mo Su?"
Chu Weiying made his assessment in silence.
This time,
before Chu Weiying could ask, Li Qiming spoke.
"Li Qiming, sixteen years old. I've been practicing fist techniques for one year."
"Good. Begin."
Chu Weiying had already started to grow curious. But when he heard Li Qiming was sixteen, he shook his head to himself. That was a little old for the martial path.
More importantly, he had only studied the Tiger Roar Fist for a year... At most, he could have trained it to Great Accomplishment...
Just as he was thinking this,
"Roar!"
A beastly howl like a tiger roaring through the mountains suddenly rang out from Li Qiming.
He threw a punch, and the force of the strike he had been building all the way here burst forth with the sound of a tiger's roar!
The sound was so loud that everyone below the stage jolted in fright, thinking a real tiger had appeared!
Li Qiming hadn't done it on purpose. His punches had never made a tiger's roar before. He hadn't expected such a commotion from this casual strike.
Suddenly, something stirred in his heart. He felt a faint sensation. As he continued practicing the fist technique, his understanding grew deeper and deeper!
The Blood Qi bottleneck in the early stage of the Blood Refining Realm was actually beginning to loosen!
It seemed... he was about to break through!
Watching the young man demonstrate his fist technique onstage, Chu Weiying's eyes widened as he sucked in a breath.
A single roar was worth ten thousand gold!
The young man's fist technique had already surpassed the Proficient stage, drawing infinitely close to Perfection!
If Mo Su's Tiger Roar Fist had been like a tiger descending the mountain, then beside Li Qiming, Mo Su was more like a cub, while Li Qiming...
was a full-grown tiger!
"Perfection in one year?"
Even Pavilion Master Long Wuhui couldn't help leaning forward slightly in his grand chair.
All eight True Disciples lifted their heads and stared at Li Qiming, astonishment in their eyes.
Li Qiming's fist technique was still at the Proficient stage, but it was clear that his punches were growing faster and fiercer. He was... actually breaking through to Perfection!
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