The World of Martial Artists

Zhao Bin had a proud personality, and there were very few people he would call "friends."

This made her even more curious about Qin Yan.

A friendly smile appeared on her face. "Hello, Qin Yan. Your performance in the Monthly Exam was outstanding."

Seeing the sincere and infectious smile on Zhou Nan's face, Qin Yan finally understood why she was revered as First High School's goddess.

She had talent, family background, looks, and temperament—worthy of the title in every way.

"Hello, Zhou Nan." Qin Yan smiled and returned the greeting.

Seeing the two getting along so well, Zhao Bin smiled faintly.

His father and Zhou Nan's father were close friends, and he and Zhou Nan had a good relationship as well, so he was naturally happy to see this.

By now, the area around the Martial Arena was packed with people, and the atmosphere was electric.

Suddenly, two figures leaped down from the high stands like eagles.

They landed lightly yet steadily in the center of the enormous Martial Arena, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"It's actually Mountain-Breaking Spear Liu Meng and Thunderclap Hand Lei Hao!"

Zhao Bin cried out excitedly, "Qin Yan, you're really lucky!

"Those two are both renowned Second Grade Martial Artists!

"They're experts even within our Linhai Martial Arts Association!

"Especially Liu Meng—he uses a spear!

"Watch carefully. If you can grasp even a little from this, it'll be greatly beneficial to your Spear Technique!"

Qin Yan's gaze was instantly fixed on them, his heart filled with anticipation.

He could finally witness a battle between martial artists with his own eyes!

At the center of the Martial Arena.

"Lei Hao! You beat me by half a move last time, but this time, victory is mine!

"Don't forget the wager if you lose!"

Liu Meng, holding a dark-red spear, spoke with a voice like a great bell.

Simply standing there, he radiated an incomparably sharp aura that rushed toward them.

It was as though the spear in his hand could pierce the heavens.

"Liu Meng! Anyone can talk big.

"Let's see whether your 'Mountain-Breaking Spear' can break through my Thunderclap Hand!"

Lei Hao burst into laughter. With a shake of his arms, his muscles bulged, and the faint sound of wind and thunder echoed around him. His aura was wild and domineering.

Before his words had even faded, Lei Hao's figure suddenly blurred.

A faint afterimage seemed to remain where he stood, while his true body shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.

Crossing more than thirty feet in a single step, his fist carried a terrifying gale as it smashed straight toward Liu Meng's face!

Liu Meng snorted coldly, utterly fearless.

He slammed the butt of his spear into the ground with his left hand, using the force to propel himself backward. The spear in his right hand shot out like a venomous dragon leaving its lair, striking with perfect precision at Lei Hao's fist!

BOOM!!

Spear and fist collided, producing a dull explosion like thunder!

A visible shockwave violently spread outward from the two of them, making the clothes of the spectators in the front rows flap wildly!

Even more shocking was the full eruption of their Blood Qi.

Strands of blood-red mist, almost tangible, rose from above their heads.

Like straight columns of beacon smoke, they formed rings of energy ripples around their bodies that distorted the air!

Qin Yan stared in stunned disbelief, his mind reeling!

He felt that the two figures in the Martial Arena were not people at all, but two crazed prehistoric beasts!

The shockwaves from every collision made his skin tingle faintly even from dozens of meters away.

His heart involuntarily trembled with every clash.

Was this the true power of martial artists?

It was terrifying! It was astounding!

"So cool! That's a Blood Qi Beacon!

"They really are at Second Grade Perfection!"

Zhao Bin clenched his fists tightly, his face flushed red with excitement. "One day, I'll become a powerful expert like them too!"

The battle in the arena was incredibly fierce. The spear moved like a dragon, nimble and ever-changing—at times like Pear Blossom Rain, at times like Mount Tai bearing down from above;

His fists and palms thundered with fierce, violent force, every strike carrying the terrifying power to shatter steles and split stone.

The clang of metal against metal and the dull thuds of colliding Blood Qi rang out without end.

The fierce battle lasted nearly fifteen minutes.

In the end, Liu Meng used an exquisitely timed Returning Horse Spear, narrowly knocking Lei Hao's arm guard into the air and winning by half a move.

"Thanks for letting me win!" Liu Meng said, retracting his spear and laughing heartily.

Lei Hao was equally straightforward, shaking out his slightly numb arm.

He took a small jade bottle from his robe and tossed it over. "Hmph! I'll win it back next time! You can have this bottle of Bone-Forging Pills!"

Bone-Forging Pills?

Qin Yan did not know exactly what kind of pill it was, but for a Second Grade Martial Artist to value it so highly, it had to be immensely valuable.

After leaving the Martial Association building, Qin Yan politely declined Zhao Bin's offer to have his butler drive him home and chose to take a walk instead.

Night had already fallen, and the city lights had just come on.

Qin Yan walked home alone, yet the earth-shaking duel in the Martial Arena kept replaying in his mind.

Second Grade Martial Artists, Blood Qi Beacons, Bone-Forging Pills, that peerlessly sharp spear technique, that domineering and powerful fist force...

One new concept and powerful image after another had pushed open a door leading into the true world of martial arts.

"So this is the world of martial artists?"

He murmured to himself, a surge of heat churning in his chest.

"As expected... it's vast and powerful, wonderfully extraordinary!"

At that moment, Qin Yan's gaze became incomparably resolute, and his martial heart, set upon becoming strong, grew ever firmer.

After Qin Yan left, Zhou Nan stared intently at Zhao Bin. "What's the deal with Qin Yan? How could you let him come to your martial arts room? That wastes one of Uncle Zhao's slots."

Like her father, Zhao Bin's father was a Second Grade Martial Artist.

A Second Grade Martial Artist could only bring in two relatives or friends.

"What's the big deal? My dad agreed to it too.

"Besides, I'm his only son, so the extra slot would go to waste anyway.

"It just so happens that Qin Yan can come here and train Martial Arts Skills with me."

"This will help improve my martial arts... skills."

As he said this, Zhao Bin's cheeks reddened slightly.

He was not good at lying to begin with, much less lying to the girl he liked.

Seeing Zhao Bin's reaction, Zhou Nan immediately understood that he was hiding something from her.

What surprised her, though, was that Uncle Zhao had actually agreed to it.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Zhou Nan nodded. She did not press the matter on the surface, but she had already decided to come investigate in person tomorrow.

She wanted to see what was so special about Qin Yan.

The next day, Qin Yan practiced his spear technique as usual in the morning, while taking time to instruct Lin Yang and Zhou Yuan in Stance Training.

It did not take up much of his time.

He adjusted his training schedule, deciding to practice Stance Training at night in the martial arts room with Zhao Bin.

The environment there was private, and the equipment was advanced.

More importantly, Zhao Bin knew some of his secrets.

He could drink large quantities of Blood Qi Potions without restraint, without worrying about attracting attention.

That evening, when Qin Yan and Zhao Bin arrived once more at the door of Room 1011 in the Martial Association, they unexpectedly found Zhou Nan leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, as if she had been waiting for a long time.

"Why are you here?" Zhao Bin asked in surprise.

"My martial arts room is right next to yours. Why can't I be here?" Zhou Nan raised a brow and replied naturally.