Yuan Lingling beamed as she basked in everyone's astonished gazes, enjoying the effect of her little prank.
Then, she keenly sensed Li He's invasive stare.
"Hmph!" Yuan Lingling wrinkled her delicate nose, turned toward Li He, and glared at him. Her eyes seemed to say, What are you looking at, you brat? Never seen a beautiful senior sister before?
Realizing he'd been rude, Li He looked away and gave a slight bow to apologize.
The annoyance in Yuan Lingling's eyes faded a little, but her lips remained faintly pursed. She raised her chin, excitement flickering in her eyes as her competitive spirit stirred.
Just you wait. You'll see what I do to you during the test. Yuan Lingling thought to herself.
On the stone platform.
Yuan Shan had seen everything.
"This test is both an opportunity and a challenge. We'll see the results in seven days. Everyone, carry on with your training."
"Yes!"
Ever since Yuan Shan had announced the test and the Citywide Newcomer Competition, the atmosphere among the new disciples at the Yellow Mountain Martial Arts Hall had grown taut. It had grown especially tense after Yuan Lingling confirmed she would compete.
Li He was no exception.
"Seven days is far too little time."
"With the system's help, I can master a martial skill quickly, but my weaknesses are obvious."
"With a fifth-grade aptitude and weak blood and qi, I can only train one martial art to the minor mastery level at most in these seven days. Should I choose the Ape Demon Three Styles or the Ape Trace Steps?"
Li He rapidly weighed the pros and cons.
"The Ape Trace Steps are certainly important. I only know one movement technique, and mastering the Ape Trace Steps would make me faster on my feet and let me seize the initiative in battle."
"But the Ape Trace Steps are taught to everyone at the hall. Even if I can't reach minor mastery this time, I'll have more chances to improve later. Senior Brother Lin Feng and Senior Sister Yuan Lingling can both guide me."
"But the Ape Demon Three Styles are different."
"This is Uncle-Master Yuan Hong's test for me, a rare opportunity he made an exception to give me. The Ape Demon Three Styles are only the beginning. There may well be even more powerful martial arts later."
"I'll train the Ape Demon Three Styles to minor mastery and show Uncle-Master my talent and determination."
"Otherwise, if I miss this opportunity, winning Uncle-Master's favor again will be harder than reaching the heavens."
Li He made up his mind.
"I'll choose the Ape Demon Three Styles. In seven days, I'll reach minor mastery and give Uncle-Master a perfect answer."
Having made his decision, Li He no longer hesitated.
He headed toward the entrance to the Martial Arts Arena.
Senior Brother Lin Feng was stationed there, handing out diluted Monkey Wine.
After the test was announced, the hall had begun distributing resources. Everyone could collect a bowl of diluted Monkey Wine each day.
Li He took a bowl and drained it in one gulp.
Boom!
A gentle warmth burst in his belly and quickly spread through his body, lifting his spirits and smoothing the flow of his blood and qi. Its effects rivaled those of first-tier Exotic Beast Meat.
Li He headed for the Scripture Pavilion and happened to run into Sun Ao.
Sun Ao's sharp gaze fixed on him as he blocked Li He's way.
"Li He, with the test coming up and the Citywide Newcomer Competition right around the corner, you're still going to the Scripture Pavilion?"
"In martial arts, mastery matters more than quantity. Don't you understand such a simple principle? You're ruining your own future with your own hands. I'm so disappointed in you!"
With that, he said no more, as if another word would be a waste. Fury and frustration written all over his face, he strode toward the back mountain.
The martial arts hall's old site was in the back mountain. The surroundings were quiet, and spiritual energy was relatively abundant. It was where Monkey Wine was brewed and where Hall Master Yuan Shan went to meditate.
Sun Ao was clearly going to the back mountain with Yuan Shan's permission. He would likely receive secret guidance there.
"Looks like the hall master has ultimately chosen Sun Ao."
Li He shook his head slightly and kept going, heading for the open ground behind the Scripture Pavilion.
The pavilion's windows were shut, but Li He could sense a pair of sharp eyes watching him from behind one of them.
Whoosh!
Li He threw a punch. The wind howled, and a fierce aura filled the air!
Inside the Scripture Pavilion.
Yuan Hong had quietly taken up position by the window. His gaze pierced the gap between the latticed panes, settling on the figure in the clearing behind the pavilion, punching as if possessed.
"The test is only seven days away. Instead of dutifully practicing the Ape Trace Steps, he's training my Ape Demon Three Styles. Is he abandoning movement techniques to focus on offense, or trying to catch this old man's attention?" Yuan Hong murmured to himself.
His gaze turned more critical.
If that was the case, he would have to consider whether this kid was worthy of his martial arts.
Yet in the next instant, he clearly sensed the almost obsessive ferocity in Li He's fists.
More importantly,
Li He's movements were incredibly precise. Every circulation of blood and qi, every twist of his hips and thrust of his fist, was as exact as a machine's. It was as though he'd been born for this set of techniques.
"Good lad!" The more Yuan Hong watched, the wider his grin grew. "Ferocious, fierce—he was born to fight!"
In the clearing,
Li He was completely unaware of all this.
He was immersed in the world of fist techniques. Every increase in his proficiency deepened his understanding of the Ape Demon Three Styles. Gradually, it was as if he could see a Demon Ape demonstrating the techniques again and again in his mind, moving faster and striking harder each time.
Li He's punches grew increasingly violent.
Earth Shaker! Heaven Lifter! Void Breaker!
There were only three moves, but each was more savage than the last.
Time flew by.
Five days had passed!
[Proficiency +1]
[Ape Demon Three Styles: Proficient (99%) → Minor Mastery (0%)]
[Vitality: 15.5 → 16]
Li He slowly lowered his fists and stood still, chest heaving as he gasped for breath.
He looked down at his body, his eyes filled not only with the joy of a breakthrough but also with astonishment!
His once well-proportioned frame had bulked up considerably.
His shoulders were broader, and his arms had noticeably thickened. His upper arms and shoulders were especially muscular, stretching the loose training clothes taut with explosive power.
"A change this great must have been building for quite some time." Li He pondered briefly, then understood.
"Before this, I'd brought eight Ancient Martial Arts to minor mastery. Each one had trained a different part of my body. Those effects had seemed scattered, but after I reached minor mastery in the Ape Demon Iron Body Technique, they underwent a qualitative change."
"My muscles have been reshaped throughout my body, becoming tougher, like repeatedly forged steel. They've undergone their first tempering."
"And reaching minor mastery in the Ape Demon Three Styles is like further hammering the metal after tempering."
Thinking of this, Li He unconsciously clenched his fist. His knuckles cracked like clashing metal, and he could clearly feel the terrifying muscles beneath his skin, twisted together like steel wires. The road ahead suddenly seemed boundless!
Inside the Scripture Pavilion,
Yuan Hong was just as delighted as Li He.
"His sinews and bones resound as one, his blood and qi flow like mercury, and his fist intent has taken solid form!" Yuan Hong gripped the windowsill tightly. "It's only been a few days, and he's already reached minor mastery. That kid Wang Zhengyang really did send me a talent! Perhaps, one day, he'll have a chance to..."
He thought of his bitter feud.
His enemy was an Abyss Lord, a fifth-realm powerhouse.
That man had once been a Federation official and Yuan Hong's comrade-in-arms. Later, seduced by the Abyss, he had betrayed humanity.
Yuan Hong's path in martial arts had already been cut off. He had no chance of revenge in this lifetime.
At the thought, Yuan Hong shook his head. "No, it's too soon!"
"This boy has extraordinary talent and a ruthless temperament, but I don't know what kind of person he is. If I expose him to the Abyss too soon, it could corrupt him. I'll have to keep watching him."
Yuan Hong raised his hand and gently tapped the window frame three times.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Uncle-Master?" Li He had still been immersed in the joy of his breakthrough.
Was that knocking Uncle-Master calling him?
He gathered his thoughts and went to the back door of the Scripture Pavilion. It stood ajar, and the interior was dim.
Uncle-Master Yuan Hong stood by the window with his back to him.
"Uncle-Master." Li He bowed respectfully.
Yuan Hong slowly turned around. In the dim light, the wrinkles on his face made him look even more weathered, but his eyes shone startlingly bright.
"Boy, have you reached minor mastery in the Ape Demon Three Styles?"
"Yes, Uncle-Master. I haven't let you down!"
"Hmph, what do you mean, you haven't let me down?" Yuan Hong snorted. "The truth is, I was organizing the shelves that day and accidentally put the manual in the wrong place. You just happened to find it. Do you know the punishment for secretly learning a forbidden martial art from the hall?"
Li He was taken aback. He knew Uncle-Master was bluffing, so he played along. "Please spare me, Uncle-Master. I was wrong. I only happened to read it, and its fierce fist intent made me itch to try it. I never meant to learn it in secret, and I didn't know it was forbidden. Please forgive me."
"Ahem!" Yuan Hong cleared his throat. "Fine. Since it's your first offense, you didn't know, and you do seem to have some talent for martial arts..."
He took out an oilcloth-wrapped bundle.
"Take it."
"What's this?" Li He looked at the bundle in his hands, puzzled.
"Look at you, all clumsy. You've got fists but no footwork—what's the difference between you and a sitting duck? If you actually fought someone, you'd be riddled with holes before you even got close."
He pointed at the bundle in Li He's hands.
"This is the Ape Demon Steps. It goes with the Ape Demon Three Styles you've been learning. It's all about ferocity, power, dominance, and momentum! No fancy, nimble footwork here. It's about breaking skill with strength and overwhelming your opponent with force."
"Thank you for bestowing this technique, Uncle-Master!" Li He was overjoyed. After bowing, he left the Scripture Pavilion.
Before you continue