Martial Arts Association

The next morning.

The disciples of the Yellow Mountain Martial Arts Hall stood in neat rows, full of vigor. They had received news last night that a new martial art would be taught today.

Master Yuan Shan stood in front of everyone, his posture as upright as a pine. Without any unnecessary chatter, he began the demonstration immediately.

"Today, I will teach one of the foundational fist techniques of our Yellow Mountain Martial Arts Hall: Old Ape Stretches Arms."

Yuan Shan raised his arms. His movements appeared slow, yet they carried a peculiar rhythm, as if an old ape were stretching its muscles and bones while climbing branches in a dense forest.

The disciples watched, dazzled and captivated.

But Li He's heart sank.

He had long since learned this Old Ape Stretches Arms from his neighbor, Grandpa Zhang, and had already practiced it to the minor success realm. Every detail of the movements and the transitions in breathing were etched into his mind.

The Federation official website really hadn't lied to him.

This Old Ape Stretches Arms was indeed a lower-level martial art of the Ape Arm Mountain Crushing Fist, included in the foundational curriculum of the Yellow Mountain Martial Arts Hall.

Last night, his senior brother Lin Feng had sent him a message saying that a new martial art would be taught today and that he must attend. He had hoped to learn something new, but it turned out, after all that, to be something he had already mastered.

What a waste of anticipation.

After the master demonstrated it a few times, he left the scene to Lin Feng and Yuan Lingling, returning to the inner chamber to rest.

The disciples gathered their focus, listening to Lin Feng's explanations and striving to imitate the master's movements.

Li He forced himself to stay focused and followed along, secretly planning to find Senior Brother Lin Feng during a break in the explanation to bring up the matter of taking on missions.

Freelancers could not accept missions; they had to be affiliated with a martial arts hall or a university.

Just as he was thinking this, Li He felt a gaze land on him. He looked up and saw his senior brother, Lin Feng, walking through the ranks straight toward him.

"Junior Brother Li." Lin Feng stood before him. "Is it convenient to step aside and talk?"

"No problem."

Li He agreed immediately and followed Lin Feng to a deserted corner.

"Junior Brother Li, the master saw you practicing the fist technique earlier. Your movements were proficient and your power was fluid, not like a beginner's. He asked me to inquire: have you learned this Old Ape Stretches Arms before?"

"In reply to Senior Brother, before joining the martial arts hall, I did have some fortune and learned a few moves from an old man. It was indeed this Old Ape Stretches Arms," Li He answered honestly.

A look of realization appeared on Lin Feng's face: "So that's how it is. Junior Brother, don't take it to heart. Our Yellow Mountain Martial Arts Hall is committed to promoting martial arts and never hides its techniques. Foundational fist techniques like Old Ape Stretches Arms are semi-public martial arts to begin with. That you could learn this technique outside and practice it to this level is proof enough that you have a deep affinity with our Yellow Mountain Martial Arts Hall."

Li He was noncommittal and asked, "I have already reached minor success in Old Ape Stretches Arms. Can you teach me the next martial art?"

"No. As far as I know, Junior Brother, you have already practiced at least five martial arts to the minor success realm, haven't you?"

Wild Goose Eight Steps, Cloud Hand Eighteen Forms, and Silk-Reeling Power—these three martial arts were already at minor success for Li He, and it was no secret.

Adding the Ape Standing Stake and Old Ape Stretches Arms taught by the hall, that made five martial arts in total. Li He had not yet exposed the Federation Body Forging Fist and the Turtle-Crane Health Stance.

"Five martial arts at minor success is certainly impressive, but it also means you have spread your energy too thin. Greed leads to poor digestion; this is a great taboo in martial arts!" Lin Feng advised.

"The master's meaning is that you should not think about learning new martial arts for the time being. First, practice Old Ape Stretches Arms to great success, learn the techniques of great success, and properly organize your current martial path. That is what is most important."

Li He listened in silence, his face expressionless.

Only he knew the truth.

His innate talent was insufficient and he lacked resources; his martial arts proficiency grew very slowly. He needed new martial arts to push his vitality to continue climbing so that he could keep moving forward.

Time passed quickly.

In the afternoon.

Li He found Lin Feng, who was busy balancing the accounts.

"Senior Brother Lin."

Lin Feng shifted his gaze away from the computer screen: "Junior Brother Li, is something the matter?" He recalled the morning's conversation and assumed Li He was there to discuss fist techniques.

"Senior Brother, I would like to ask you to issue me a martial arts hall identification certificate."

Upon hearing this, Lin Feng frowned, but he did not interrupt.

Li He continued, "I understand your teachings from this morning, but I feel that studying in isolation is ultimately not as profound as the tempering of real combat. I want to take on some low-level missions to both supplement my living expenses and temper myself."

Lin Feng pondered for a moment: "That is indeed a valid point. Junior Brother Li, I am pleased that you have such thoughts. An identification certificate, is it? No problem, follow me."

Lin Feng took Li He to the office area and quickly issued an identification document stamped with the seal, noting that Li He was an official disciple of the hall and was permitted to register with the Martial Arts Guild and accept missions in the name of the hall.

"Take it. The electronic version will be sent to your Feixin shortly." Lin Feng warned solemnly, "Remember, safety first. If anything feels wrong, abandon the mission immediately and preserve yourself."

"Don't worry, Senior Brother, I know what I'm doing."

Li He took the certificate, and a weight in his heart finally settled.

Lin Feng thought for a moment, then reached into his waist pouch and pulled out a jade bottle, handing it over.

"Take this."

Li He looked down and saw a label on the jade bottle: Qi-Boosting Blood-Activating Pill.

"This is?"

"This is a medicinal salve personally prepared by the master," Lin Feng explained. "It has miraculous effects on restoring stamina and stabilizing blood energy. When you go out on missions, you will inevitably encounter danger. Keep it on you for emergencies; at a critical moment, it might just save your life."

Li He gripped the jade bottle, and a surge of warmth instantly flooded his heart. He had been sternly admonished by Lin Feng that morning, yet by the afternoon, the man was supporting his ideas without hesitation and even gifting him medicine.

"Thank you, Senior Brother. I will certainly not let you down and will return safely," Li He said with sincere gratitude, tucking the jade bottle away.

He bid farewell to his senior brother.

Li He took a few days of leave and departed from the martial arts gym.

Without a moment's delay, he set off immediately for the Martial Arts Guild.

The Martial Arts Guild, established by the Federation authorities, is the organization that coordinates and manages all martial artists. It is not only a platform for posting and accepting missions, but also the core hub for martial artist identity verification, rank assessment, resource exchange, and information sharing.

Li He took the Public Maglev Train and soon arrived at the bustling city center.

As a First-Rank Martial Artist, he could only go to the low-rank branch.

Even so, the scale and grandeur of the branch far exceeded Li He's imagination.

It was a magnificent building covering a vast area, silver-gray in its entirety, with sharp, rigid lines that were full of technological aesthetics. Above the massive arched portico hung the Federation emblem and the four gilded characters for "Martial Arts Guild," which shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight.

The plaza in front of the entrance was wide and teeming with people: there were martial arts gym practitioners with hurried expressions and fierce auras, Federation Martial Artists in uniform escorting sealed crates, and many new faces like Li He, who wore expressions of curiosity and nervousness.

Walking through the main gate, he entered a spacious, massive hall where the floor was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the complex energy conduit structures on the ceiling.

The hall was clearly divided into several zones, the most prominent being the central area, where dozens of holographic screens floated, displaying a massive, real-time stream of mission information.

"Hello, sir," a gentle, pleasant voice sounded beside Li He.

Li He turned to look and saw a young woman in the standard guild uniform smiling as she stood before him. On her chest, she wore a guild badge and a name tag: Su Ya.