Zhou Nan, Martial Artist Duel

Linhai City Martial Association.

The building was imposing, carrying an unquestionable air of authority.

Zhao Bin led Qin Yan through the first-floor lobby with practiced ease and stopped before a heavy metal door marked "1011."

Zhao Bin swiped his card, and with a soft hydraulic hiss, the door slowly slid open.

The sight beyond it made Qin Yan catch his breath.

This was a massive Training Room spanning nearly five hundred square meters!

The interior was brimming with futuristic technology.

One wall held a dazzling array of weapon racks, filled with standard-issue weapons and even several rarer arms that gleamed coldly.

In the center of the room stood a standard Qi-Blood Detection Pod and the latest Martial Arts Test Puppet. Various precision instruments Qin Yan couldn't name lined the surrounding area, their indicator lights flickering faintly as they radiated an air of professionalism and power.

"Qin Yan, what do you think of this place?" Zhao Bin asked, a hint of pride in his voice.

"It's excellent. Far better than the school Gymnasium," Qin Yan said sincerely, then asked, "Where is this?"

"This is an exclusive Training Room for internal members of the Martial Association," Zhao Bin explained.

Qin Yan was startled.

Internal membership in the Martial Association wasn't something one could obtain easily. It usually meant holding the true status of a Martial Artist.

"Then you're...?" Qin Yan looked at Zhao Bin.

"Of course I'm not a Martial Artist yet." Zhao Bin smiled. "But my father is. This Training Room is one of the Association benefits provided to him, and relatives and friends are allowed to use it."

Almost every room on the first floor of the Martial Association was used by the children of those powerful Martial Artists who came here to train.

Listening to Zhao Bin, Qin Yan couldn't help feeling a little envious.

He had long heard that the Martial Association offered excellent benefits, and now he had seen it for himself.

His desire to become a Martial Artist grew even stronger.

Suddenly—

"Beep beep."

The doorbell rang, and the display by the entrance showed the scene outside.

It was a food delivery robot.

After retrieving the food, Zhao Bin placed it on the table.

"Qin Yan, this one is yours."

Qin Yan opened the meal box. The dishes inside were not only plentiful, but the ingredients were clearly far superior to those in the school cafeteria. The aroma was mouthwatering.

"How much did this meal cost? I'll transfer it to you," Qin Yan said.

"Uh... I'm not sure either." Zhao Bin waved his hand. "It's provided by the Martial Association. It's just food, not worth much money. Don't stand on ceremony."

"No." Qin Yan was firm. "Business is business. How about this? The monthly guidance fee you mentioned before—twenty thousand—will be reduced to eighteen thousand. If you don't agree, I won't eat this meal."

Seeing Qin Yan's serious expression, Zhao Bin knew he wasn't joking, and his opinion of Qin Yan rose a few more notches.

He smiled helplessly. "Fine, fine, we'll do it your way. Eighteen thousand. You really are... straightforward."

After lunch and a brief rest, Qin Yan began guiding Zhao Bin in Stance Training.

After each took a Blood Qi Potion, they began practicing.

Zhao Bin's Stance Training had already reached the Third Layer. That was considered an outstanding level at First High School.

Qin Yan stood nearby, carefully observing Zhao Bin's posture and the movement of his qi-blood. From time to time, he offered pointers. "Sink your waist and hips a little more. Focus your intent on your dantian and feel your qi-blood flowing like mercury, naturally... Yes, that's it. Don't deliberately guide it. Let it move on its own..."

His guidance was often incisive, striking directly at the heart of the problem.

Zhao Bin adjusted as instructed and soon felt his qi-blood circulating more smoothly and naturally. Areas that had once felt blocked suddenly became clear.

Once Zhao Bin had gradually entered the right state, Qin Yan began taking a closer look around this Top Grade Training Room.

He walked over to the Test Puppet and exchanged blows with it. As expected, his Martial Arts Skill score was 88 points.

"Last year, the Martial Arts Skill admission cutoff for Top Martial Universities was 90 points. With the System Panel boosting me, Martial Arts Skill won't be much of a problem."

Qin Yan calculated inwardly. The difficult part is qi-blood. Last year's qi-blood requirement for Top Martial Universities was 90 Cal. The further I go, the harder it'll become to improve, and the resources required will increase geometrically... I have to hurry.

Two hours later, the session ended.

Zhao Bin woke from his deep training, his face full of barely contained excitement. "Qin Yan, thank you so much! I can clearly feel that my Stance Training has improved! At this rate, I'm confident I can break through to the fourth layer before the college entrance exam!"

If his Stance Training could break through to the fourth layer, his qi-blood could reach a higher level before the college entrance exam. Then he would be qualified to apply to a martial university of a higher tier than Jianghai Martial University!

"You're welcome. It was only a fair trade." Qin Yan chuckled.

"I'm the one who got the better deal." Zhao Bin shook his head, his tone sincere. "Twenty thousand... no, eighteen thousand, in exchange for a chance to break through in Stance Training. If Zhou Nan and Liang Musheng found out, they'd be green with envy."

The two chatted and laughed as they left the Training Room.

The moment they stepped out, they sensed something unusual in the corridor. Many staff members and young trainees were hurrying in the same direction, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation as they spoke in low voices.

"Hurry! To the Martial Arena!"

"There's a duel today! If we're late, we won't get a good spot!"

Zhao Bin's eyes immediately lit up. "Qin Yan! We came at exactly the right time! Come on, I'll show you the Martial Association's Martial Arena! There are Martial Artists dueling there!"

A Martial Artist duel?!

Qin Yan's heart skipped a beat.

In all his life, he had never personally witnessed a battle between Martial Artists!

There was very little related information online, and it was difficult to tell truth from fiction.

The only Martial Artists he had encountered were Gu Feng, Wu Ming, and Director Wan Xueping, but he had never seen any of them truly fight.

His curiosity was instantly ignited. Qin Yan let Zhao Bin pull him along as they quickly followed the crowd toward the Martial Arena.

Thanks to Zhao Bin's quick reaction and swift pace, the two squeezed into the front row of the Martial Arena stands, where they had an excellent view.

"Zhao Bin! So you came too!"

A crisp, pleasant voice came from beside them.

Qin Yan turned and saw a girl walking toward them with a high ponytail and a tall, well-proportioned figure.

She wore fitted training clothes that outlined her youthful, attractive curves. Her features were exquisite, especially her bright, expressive eyes that seemed able to speak.

The newcomer was none other than Zhou Nan from the Elite Class.

She seemed to have just finished training. Fine beads of sweat still dotted her forehead, and a few strands of hair clung to her cheeks. The upper half of her training clothes was slightly damp with sweat, faintly outlining the shape beneath and giving off a vibrant, energetic vitality.

Zhou Nan walked up beside Zhao Bin, and her gaze naturally fell on Qin Yan. She paused slightly, clearly recognizing the dark horse from the Ordinary Class who had burst onto the scene in the Monthly Exam and surpassed everyone in Martial Arts Skill.

"Qin Yan, this is Zhou Nan. You should know her."

Zhao Bin introduced them with a smile. "Zhou Nan, this is Qin Yan, my friend."

A flicker of surprise passed through Zhou Nan's eyes.