Junior Uncle Bestows a Technique

Yuan Lingling was beaming, basking in the shocked gazes of the crowd and enjoying the effect of her little prank.

Shortly after, she keenly sensed Li He's aggressive gaze.

"Hmph!" Yuan Lingling wrinkled her delicate nose, turned to look at Li He, and glared at him fiercely, her expression as if to say: What are you looking at, you brat? Haven't you ever seen a beautiful senior sister?

Realizing his rudeness, Li He withdrew his gaze and bowed slightly to show his apology.

The annoyance in Yuan Lingling's eyes faded slightly, but her lips remained pursed, and she lifted her chin with a hint of excitement, as if her fighting spirit had been ignited.

Just you wait, I'll show you how I'll deal with you during the assessment, Yuan Lingling thought to herself.

On the stone platform.

Yuan Shan took in everything.

"This assessment presents both opportunities and challenges. We shall see the true results in seven days. Everyone, continue your training."

"Yes!"

Ever since the day Yuan Shan announced the assessment and the Citywide Newcomer Competition, especially after Yuan Lingling confirmed her participation, the atmosphere in the new disciples' area of the Yellow Mountain Martial Arts Hall had become extremely tense.

This was especially true for Li He.

"Seven days is far too tight."

"Although I can quickly master a martial art with the help of the system, my weaknesses are also very obvious."

"My aptitude is fifth-grade, and my blood-qi is weak. In these seven days, I can only cultivate one martial art to the minor success stage. Should I choose the Ape Demon Three Styles or the Ape Trace Steps?"

Li He weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

"The Ape Trace Steps are indeed important. I only have one movement technique. Mastering them would make my footwork faster and allow me to seize the initiative in battle."

"However, the Ape Trace Steps are a standard technique taught by the martial arts hall. Even if I don't reach minor success this time, I will have opportunities to improve later, and Senior Brother Lin Feng or Senior Sister Yuan Lingling can guide me."

"But the Ape Demon Three Styles are different."

"This is a test from Uncle Yuan Hong, a favor granted to me as an exception. The Ape Demon Three Styles are just the beginning; there may be even more powerful martial arts later."

"I must train the Ape Demon Three Styles to minor success so that Uncle can see my talent and determination."

"Otherwise, if I miss this opportunity, it will be as difficult as ascending to heaven to gain his favor again."

Li He made his decision.

"I choose the Ape Demon Three Styles. Within seven days, I will reach minor success and hand in a perfect answer to Uncle."

With his determination set, Li He no longer hesitated.

He walked toward the entrance of the Martial Arts Arena.

Senior Brother Lin Feng was guarding the spot, distributing diluted Monkey Wine.

After the announcement of the assessment, the martial arts hall began to release resources, allowing each disciple to receive a bowl of diluted Monkey Wine every day.

Li He took the bowl and downed it in one gulp.

Boom!

A warm, gentle current exploded in his stomach and quickly spread throughout his body, leaving him feeling invigorated and his blood-qi flowing smoothly. The effect was comparable to first-grade Exotic Beast Meat.

As Li He headed toward the Scripture Pavilion, he happened to bump into Sun Ao.

Sun Ao's gaze was sharp as he blocked his path.

"Li He, with the assessment and the Citywide Newcomer Competition right around the corner, you're still going to the Scripture Pavilion?"

"Martial arts value quality over quantity. Don't you even understand such a simple principle? You are ruining your own martial arts future with your own hands. You've disappointed me!"

Having said that, he didn't say another word, as if speaking more was a waste of time. With an air of anger at Li He's failure to live up to expectations, he strode toward the back mountain.

The back mountain was the site of the old martial arts hall. It was a secluded environment with relatively rich spiritual energy, the place where Monkey Wine was brewed and the quiet cultivation spot of the hall master, Yuan Shan.

Since Sun Ao was heading to the back mountain, it was clear he had received special permission from Yuan Shan and would likely receive secret guidance there.

"It seems the hall master chose Sun Ao in the end."

Li He shook his head slightly and, without lingering, walked toward the open space behind the Scripture Pavilion.

The windows of the Scripture Pavilion were tightly shut, but Li He could feel a pair of sharp eyes watching him from behind them.

Whoosh!

Li He threw a punch, the wind whistling and a fierce aura permeating the air!

Inside the Scripture Pavilion.

Yuan Hong stood quietly by the window, his gaze piercing through the gaps in the lattice to watch the figure in the open space behind, who was throwing punches like a madman.

"The assessment is in seven days, yet instead of obediently practicing the Ape Trace Steps, he's practicing my Ape Demon Three Styles. Is he planning to abandon movement techniques to focus on offense, or is he trying to catch the attention of an old man like me?" Yuan Hong muttered to himself.

His gaze grew more critical.

If that was truly the case, he would have to carefully consider whether this kid was worthy of his martial arts.

However, the next second, he clearly felt the almost obsessive ruthlessness within Li He's punches.

More importantly.

Li He's movements were simply too standard; every circulation of blood and qi, every pivot of the hips and throw of a punch, was as precise as a robot, as if he were born for this set of fist techniques.

"Good lad!" The more Yuan Hong watched, the more he couldn't suppress the upward tug of his lips. "Ruthless enough, powerful enough; he was simply born for slaughter!"

On the open ground.

Li He was completely unaware of all this.

He was entirely immersed in the world of the fist techniques. Every increase in proficiency further deepened his understanding of the Ape Demon Three Styles. Gradually, he faintly felt as if he could see a Demon Ape in his mental world, constantly demonstrating this set of techniques, moving faster and more ruthlessly with every strike.

Li He's momentum grew increasingly violent.

Earth Shaker! Heaven Lifter! Void Breaker!

In just three moves, each one was more ferocious than the last.

Time slipped away.

Five days had passed!

[Proficiency +1]

[Ape Demon Three Styles: Mastery (99%) → Minor Achievement (0%)]

[Vitality: 15.5 → 16]

Li He slowly withdrew his stance and stood on the spot, his chest heaving violently as he gasped for air.

He looked down at his body, his eyes filled not only with the ecstasy of a breakthrough but also a trace of astonishment!

His originally well-proportioned physique had expanded by a circle.

His shoulders were broader, and his arm dimensions had clearly increased. Especially his upper arms and shoulder blades, where the muscles bulged, stretching his loose training uniform tight and radiating a sense of explosive power.

"Such a massive change, I fear... this is not the work of a single day." Li He pondered slightly, understanding dawning on him.

"Before this, I had already achieved minor success in eight Ancient Martial Arts. Each one was tempering different parts of my body. These seemingly scattered tempering effects underwent a qualitative change after my Ape Demon Iron Body Technique reached minor achievement."

"My entire body's muscles have been reorganized, becoming tougher, like tempered steel that has completed its initial quenching."

"And the minor achievement of the Ape Demon Three Styles is the further forging after that quenching!"

Thinking of this, Li He subconsciously clenched his fists, his knuckles popping like metal striking metal. He could clearly perceive the terrifying muscle groups beneath his skin, coiled like steel wires, and felt that the path ahead was infinitely vast!

Inside the Scripture Pavilion.

Yuan Hong was just as delighted as Li He.

"Bones and tendons resonating, blood and qi like mercury, fist intent solidified!" Yuan Hong gripped the windowsill tightly. "Only a few days, and he has already reached minor achievement in martial arts. That brat Wang Zhengyang really sent me a talent! Perhaps, he will have hope in the future..."

He thought of his deep-seated blood feud.

The enemy was an Abyss Lord, a Fifth Realm powerhouse.

That person had once been a Federation official and his comrade-in-arms, but later, seduced by the abyss, he chose to betray humanity.

Yuan Hong's own martial path was broken; it could be said that he had no chance of revenge in this lifetime.

Thinking of this, Yuan Hong shook his head: "No, it's still too early!"

"This child has extraordinary talent and a ruthless disposition, but I don't know what his character is like. If he makes contact with the abyss rashly, he might be corrupted. I must observe him more."

Yuan Hong raised his palm and tapped the window frame three times.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

"Uncle-Master?" Li He had just been immersed in the joy of his breakthrough.

Was this tapping sound Uncle-Master calling him?

He collected his thoughts and walked to the back door of the Scripture Pavilion. The door was ajar, and it was dim inside.

Uncle-Master Yuan Hong stood by the window with his back to him.

"Uncle-Master." Li He bowed respectfully.

Yuan Hong turned around slowly. In the dim light, his wrinkled face looked even more weathered, but his eyes were startlingly bright.

"Lad, your Ape Demon Three Styles, have you reached minor achievement?"

"Yes, Uncle-Master, I have lived up to your expectations!"

"Hmph, what 'lived up to expectations'?" Yuan Hong snorted coldly. "It was just that I was tidying the bookshelves that day and accidentally put the manual in the wrong place, and you happened to pick it up. Lad, do you know what a grave crime it is to steal forbidden martial arts techniques from the gym?"

Li He was stunned. He knew in his heart that his Uncle-Master was bluffing, so he played along: "Uncle-Master, please spare me. This disciple knows he was wrong. I was just flipping through it by chance and saw that the fist intent was fierce, so I couldn't resist the urge. I had absolutely no intention of stealing it, and I didn't know it was forbidden. Please, Uncle-Master, spare me."

"Cough, cough!" Yuan Hong coughed twice. "Fine, considering this is your first offense, that you were unaware, and that you truly have some talent for martial arts."

He took out an oilcloth package.

"Take it."

"This is?" Li He looked at the oilcloth package in his hand, puzzled.

"Look at your clumsy self. If you only have fists and no footwork, how are you any different from a living target? If you really got into a fight, you'd be turned into a sieve before you even got close."

He pointed to the oilcloth package in Li He's hand.

"This is the Ape Demon Steps. It's a set with the Ape Demon Three Styles you learned. It emphasizes ferocity, power, dominance, and momentum! It's not some flashy, nimble trick. What it demands is breaking skill with power and suppressing others with momentum."

"Thank you, Uncle-Master, for bestowing this technique!" Li He was overjoyed. After paying his respects, he exited the Scripture Pavilion.