A Minor Test

The disciples were panicking, and Yuan Lingling looked rather pleased with herself.

"I told you ages ago that lots of senior brothers and sisters from the hall were out traveling and broadening their horizons. You believe me now, right?"

After saying that, Yuan Lingling even raised an eyebrow at Li He.

Li He smiled. "You were telling the truth, Senior Sister." He looked up, his gaze sweeping across the entire arena.

Several quick-witted disciples sensed the aggression in his gaze and immediately looked up, their eyes meeting his across the arena.

An invisible pressure spread through the Martial Arts Arena as Li He's gaze swept over it.

The Yellow Mountain Martial Arts Hall's true strength probably went beyond this. Li He withdrew his gaze, walked to a corner of the grounds, lowered his hips, and settled into the Iron Body Stake.

Buzz!

A deep hum sounded from within his bones and muscles. His blood surged faster, almost imperceptibly. He felt heat spread throughout his body, his blood boiling. The results of his hard training were on full display.

The half-hour warm-up passed in tense silence, with muscles wound tight. The atmosphere in the Martial Arts Arena was like a spring compressed to its limit, ready to snap.

On the stone platform, Hall Master Yuan Shan took a sip of tea and slowly rose.

"Disciples, the minor test is about to begin."

"This test will be a comprehensive combat exercise. The grounds include the Plum Blossom Stakes, Quicksand Pit, Bluestone Rain Path, and Boulder Beach. Victory will be judged not only by the power of your attacks, but also by your footwork, ability to adapt to the terrain, and reactions under pressure."

"The top five will be selected to represent the Yellow Mountain Martial Arts Hall in the Citywide Newcomer Competition."

"The top three will learn our hall's core fist technique, the Ape Arm Mountain Crushing Fist, and receive priority access to the hall's resources."

"Now, draw lots!" Yuan Shan announced in a deep voice.

Lin Feng stepped forward with the draw box. Eight new disciples, along with Yuan Lingling and the six newcomers brought in by Senior Brothers Wang Meng, Zhao Xue, and Chen Lei, made fifteen in total. They stepped forward one by one to draw lots.

Li He drew a lot and unfolded it. Number five.

"First match: lot number one against lot number fifteen. Get ready!" Lin Feng announced loudly.

Both disciples saw that their opponent was also a newcomer to the hall and breathed a sigh of relief. They stepped into the center of the grounds together, and the fight erupted at once.

In the end, the disciple with lot number one won by adapting better to the terrain. He seized on his opponent's mistake at Boulder Beach and drove him into the Quicksand Pit.

The two disciples emerged from the grounds, panting. A look of relief crossed the face of the disciple with lot number one, while the one with lot number fifteen looked dejected.

On the stone platform, Hall Master Yuan Shan remained calm as he lifted his teacup and gently blew on the steam, chatting quietly with the two other honored guests, Sun Zhenhai and Jin Wancai.

Below, the disciples watching the match reacted mildly as well. They weren't particularly interested in a close contest between two evenly matched fighters that lacked any standout moments.

The three newcomers, however, kept their faces blank as they studied the grounds, as though assessing the terrain and preparing for the fight to come.

"Second match: lot number two against lot number fourteen. Get ready!" Lin Feng's voice broke the brief silence.

The two disciples entered the arena.

One was a newcomer brought back by Senior Brother Wang Meng. His name was Yuan Ziheng, and he was lean, with a sharp, calculating look in his eyes.

His opponent was Shi Lei, a disciple of the hall.

The match began.

Yuan Ziheng immediately used the Ape Trace Steps to their fullest. His mastery was profound, his footwork uncanny as he darted between the Plum Blossom Stakes like a ghost.

Shi Lei might have had only average talent, but he was widely considered one of the hall's most diligent disciples. He arrived earliest and left latest every day. His stance training was solid, his fists steady, and his vitality had reached 12 points, putting him among the upper-middle ranks of the hall.

Facing Yuan Ziheng's elusive footwork, Shi Lei settled into his strongest stance, the Ape Standing Stake. He decided to hold steady and wait for an opening.

Yuan Ziheng moved like lightning, circling Shi Lei at high speed. His palms flashed as he sent out sharp gusts of force, repeatedly targeting Shi Lei's vulnerable joints and sides with attacks from tricky angles and blistering speed.

Shi Lei fought to block him, guarding himself from head to toe.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Dull impacts rang out one after another. Though on the defensive, Shi Lei managed to hold back Yuan Ziheng's tide of attacks with his solid fundamentals.

A few quiet cheers rose from the sidelines.

"Keep it up, Senior Brother Shi!"

"Hold on!"

A flash of impatience crossed Yuan Ziheng's eyes. He suddenly sped up, making an uncanny turn as he cut in from the slick Bluestone Rain Path. His precise toe kick struck the outside of Shi Lei's knee.

"Ah!" Shi Lei groaned in pain. His defense crumbled, and he dropped to his knees against his will.

Yuan Ziheng showed no mercy. He closed in and chopped the back of Shi Lei's neck with the edge of his hand.

Thud!

Shi Lei crashed face-first onto the ground, unable to continue. The whole fight had lasted less than three minutes.

"So fast!"

"That gap was huge."

"Senior Brother Shi's stance training was so solid, and yet..."

Shi Lei's defeat drained the color from the disciples' faces.

On the stone platform, Sun Zhenhai let his gaze linger on Yuan Ziheng for a moment, appraising him.

"This disciple is impressive," Sun Zhenhai said. He ran a hunting team that fought strange beasts year-round, so he knew how brutal real combat could be. He especially admired Yuan Ziheng's ruthless fighting style.

"The disciple's good, thanks in no small part to his master," Jin Wancai said with a hearty laugh. "Brother Wang Meng, I'm preparing to set up a power generation zone in the Abyss Safe Zone, and I need skilled fighters to keep watch... How about we all get a meal together after the test?"

Wang Meng smiled. "You're too kind, Boss Jin. I'm used to being free. Teaching a few disciples is fine, but guarding someone's turf... heh, I don't think I'm cut out for that. Besides, I just brought this disciple to the hall. His foundation isn't solid yet, so I need to keep an eye on him."

Boss Jin had been turned down, but he laughed it off and continued watching the matches.

Hall Master Yuan Shan remained calm throughout, as if he hadn't heard the exchange.

After the brief interruption,

"Third match: lot number three against lot number thirteen. Get ready!"

As soon as the words were spoken, Sun Ao slowly rose.

He stood tall, his face stern. A steady, confident presence radiated from him, drawing everyone's gaze.

"It's Senior Brother Sun Ao!"

"Great! Senior Brother Sun is the strongest among us newcomers!"

"With Senior Brother Sun here, he'll bring honor to our hall!"

The morale that Yuan Ziheng had crushed was rekindled at the sight of Sun Ao's steady figure. He had long been an anchor for the hall's disciples.

Sun Ao's opponent, Miao Shuwen, also stepped into the arena.

He didn't look delicate at all, despite his name. He was enormously built, his muscles bulging like twisted cords. He was built like an iron tower, half a head taller than Li He, with broad shoulders and arms as thick as an ordinary man's thighs.

At the edge of the grounds, Yuan Ziheng, fresh from his victory, folded his arms and called out, "Miao the Big, I've already won one match. Don't let us down."

Miao Shuwen answered in a muffled voice, "Mm." His voice rumbled like thunder.

Sun Ao showed no fear. He was full of fighting spirit as he immediately took his stance, the pure energy of the White Ape Martial Way surging from him.

"Begin!" Lin Feng called.

Miao Shuwen let out a low growl and charged at Sun Ao, bringing a fierce gust of wind with him.

Facing the powerful charge, Sun Ao used the Ape Trace Steps and slid diagonally backward.

Miao Shuwen's attack missed. He twisted at the waist and swung an arm like an iron whip, the blow sweeping out with a whoosh and covering a huge area.

Sun Ao shifted his footwork again and sprang lightly off the ground, easily dodging the attack.

Miao Shuwen roared again and again, unleashing a storm of punches and kicks, each strike packed with power.

But Sun Ao dodged every attack with ease, his movements graceful and agile. Gasps of admiration rose from the sidelines.

"Great footwork!"

"He's so agile!"

"Senior Brother Sun's footwork is incredible!"

The ordinary disciples watched, dazzled. Their worry gradually gave way to admiration. Miao Shuwen grew more and more frustrated as his attacks failed to land. At last, he left an opening, and Sun Ao seized it.

Thud!

Sun Ao's roundhouse kick struck the opening beneath his ribs, making his blood and energy seize up. Then Sun Ao struck out with both hands in a Double Peaks Piercing Ears. While his opponent was still dazed, he drove a straight punch into his chin.

His brain rattled, and Miao Wenshu crashed to the ground.

"The match is over!" Lin Feng announced loudly.