Challenge the Martial Artist

"Brother Yuan, you did it!" Tie Niu's eyes reddened as he strode forward to embrace Su Yuan.

He knew that Su Yuan had been reticent these past two months, and with others failing one after another, he must have been under immense pressure.

Yet, martial arts practice ultimately relied on oneself; there was very little Tie Niu could do.

Su Yuan hugged him back: "I got lucky, breaking through on the first try. From now on, I'll have to spar with you to see who's stronger."

"Yeah!" Tie Niu nodded heavily, already calculating how to urge Brother Yuan to practice so he could become stronger faster.

The others in the courtyard wore varied expressions, their feelings a complex mix.

Su Yuan had actually succeeded!

And he'd broken through on his first attempt!

Huang Jiangyue felt a tightness in his chest: Could it be that this medicine was specifically suited for those with inferior aptitude? Why was his luck so good?

He had tried to break through again not long ago, only to end in failure once more.

Jiang Yu unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes. She hadn't even touched a bottleneck yet, while most of the disciples in the courtyard had already attempted a breakthrough at least once.

Thinking of the disdain and avoidance she had once shown Su Yuan, Jiang Yu's face burned, and an indescribable sense of shame and self-doubt welled up in her heart.

"Am I just not cut out for martial arts?" Her nose stung, and she was on the verge of tears.

The person who had once been at the bottom with her had suddenly leaped ahead, surpassing everyone to become a martial artist.

She wasn't a fool; she realized now that even if Su Yuan wasn't in the courtyard during the day, he must have been practicing bitterly elsewhere.

"Not bad, a child worth teaching. This old man saw long ago that this boy was extraordinary. Jiang Yu, don't be discouraged; proceed step by step, and you will succeed eventually," Liu Chang praised while stroking his beard, also offering a word of comfort to Jiang Yu.

Chai Lang, however, chuckled: "Old man, look at what he practiced! He became a martial artist relying on the Flying Horse Leg!"

Liu Chang coughed dryly: "It's all the same."

Lin Fan had already rushed forward, his face full of smiles: "Brother Su, two martial artists in one family—truly the bearing of dragons and phoenixes! Congratulations to Senior Brother Su Yuan for advancing to a martial artist!"

Lin Fan had become a martial artist before Su Yuan, but seeing Su Yuan's breakthrough, he immediately addressed him as Senior Brother.

The others saw this and couldn't help but click their tongues in secret, though they had no choice but to step forward to offer congratulations and hand over some silver.

Su Yuan declined: "It was just luck. It isn't easy for any of you to practice martial arts; keep this silver to buy your own medicinal supplies."

Meng Qi, standing to the side, felt humiliated.

During this time, several others with inferior aptitude had attempted to break through, and all had failed.

He had originally thought he was the only "pride" among this batch of disciples, never expecting another Su Yuan to emerge.

Seeing the other party decline the gifts from the crowd, Meng Qi felt even more sour.

Why is it that you aren't short on silver?

And you have a powerful brother you can consult at any time?

How could the gap between people's original families be so vast?

In the back, Rong Qi saw the crowd at the Chai Family Martial Academy making a racket and coldly interrupted: "I don't care if you've become a martial artist! Tell me the details about the remnants of Xingyun immediately! You've just become a martial artist, how could you possibly handle so many people?"

Su Yuan sighed and had no choice but to tell the truth: only two people had attacked, and he briefly described their physical characteristics.

Rong Qi found it inconvenient to make arrests on Chai family territory, so he noted down the description and led his men away.

Hearing Su Yuan's account, Meng Qi finally realized that Su Yuan had been bragging earlier.

The group returned to the courtyard, and Tie Niu, full of joy, went to report to Chai Nian.

At this moment, Meng Qi gave a wink to Wang Biao beside him.

Wang Biao understood and leaned close to Su Yuan, flattering him: "Since Senior Brother Su Yuan has become a martial artist, why not issue a challenge to establish your ranking?"

There was nothing improper about this suggestion.

After Lin Fan became a martial artist, he had also challenged Meng Qi, only to end in defeat.

Among this batch of disciples, only Lin Fan and Meng Qi were martial artists.

Since Lin Fan was already content to stay below him, if Su Yuan wanted to establish a ranking, he could only challenge Meng Qi.

Meng Qi had also challenged several senior brothers, with both wins and losses, but he had been completely helpless against Tie Niu.

Su Yuan glanced at Meng Qi and nodded: "Fine, then I shall ask for guidance from Senior Brother Meng."

He decided to reveal a portion of his strength; firstly, to demonstrate his own value, and secondly, to pave the way for the upcoming Wolf God Ritual, allowing him to infiltrate the upper echelons of Great Liang and obtain more resources and intelligence.

"Junior Brother Su Yuan, please." Meng Qi felt a surge of joy.

Since the other party had initiated the challenge, if he defeated him, even Tie Niu would have nothing to say.

Lin Fan advised from the side: "Senior Brother Su Yuan, why not stabilize your realm first? I was too impatient when I challenged others, which is why I lost."

"It is of no concern," Su Yuan said calmly.

Everyone gathered around; it was going to be a good show.

Du Ziqian asked: "Senior Brother Huang, who do you think will win?"

"Naturally, it's Senior Brother Meng. He has been a martial artist for nearly half a month, and the Galloping Horse Fist he practices is well-suited for arena combat," Huang Jiangyue said.

Du Ziqian nodded as well: "The arena is narrow, which indeed hinders the use of leg techniques."

Most people still favored Meng Qi to retain his title as senior brother.

Su Yuan, however, was wondering how much force he should use and how many kicks it would take to send his opponent off the stage.

Meng Qi stepped onto the stage and was quite modest: "Junior Brother Su Yuan, please."

Su Yuan did not stand on ceremony. His figure moved instantly, charging forward with such speed that the onlookers' eyes blurred.

On the stage, Meng Qi felt it even more acutely. Before he could think, he let out a sharp shout, sank his waist, and sat into a horse stance. His right fist shot out like a horse bolting from its stable, accompanied by a dull whistling sound as it aimed straight for Su Yuan's face!

But Su Yuan's footwork was cunning and agile, shifting like a flying horse, and in an instant, he had cut to his side.

Meng Qi twisted his body to swing his fist in a hurry. Just as the fist wind rose, Su Yuan's left leg swept out like a whip—it was the Hoof Sweep in Eight Directions from the Flying Horse Leg. It cracked against the outside of Meng Qi's arm, knocking his stance off-balance.

Su Yuan did not let up. The moment his foot touched the ground, he pushed off with his toes, his figure pressing forward once more.

Meng Qi was shocked and angry, throwing a punch with all his might, but Su Yuan had already breached his center. His other leg struck out like a venomous dragon, kicking sharply at the side of Meng Qi's knee!

This move was both fast and vicious; it was the Hidden Horse Hoof Kick, specifically targeting the soft joints.

Meng Qi lost his center of gravity, his knee buckled, and he stumbled forward.

Before he could catch his breath, Su Yuan pushed off the ground with his right foot. Using the momentum to spin, he engaged his waist and abdomen, his legs rising like a rearing stallion to slam heavily against the arms Meng Qi had hastily raised in defense!

"Bang!"

Meng Qi felt as if his arms had been struck by iron hammers. A sharp pain surged through him, and unable to withstand the force any longer, he flew backward, falling straight off the stage.

"I concede, Junior Brother Meng," Su Yuan said, cupping his hands.

The entire hall fell silent.

"Th-three moves?" someone muttered. "Senior Brother Su Yuan only used three moves?"

"How can his Flying Horse Leg be so fast? And the force is terrifyingly fierce!"

Is this the same martial art they were practicing?

"I don't accept this! I was just careless!" Meng Qi scrambled to his feet, his face flushed red, and he prepared to rush back onto the stage.

"Enough." A calm voice rang out.

Chai Nian and Tie Niu were already standing at the front of the hall, having clearly witnessed the entire exchange.

Chai Nian fanned himself, his gaze lingering on Su Yuan for a moment. It seemed Gao Mian had been feeding this kid moves quite diligently; she had actually managed to mold him into something.

In his view, Su Yuan becoming a martial artist in two months was largely due to Gao Mian's cultivation.

He still offered praise: "Not bad. As the third martial artist of this batch, also possessing inferior aptitude, you are rewarded with three Blood Origin Pills. You all should take Su Yuan as your example."

The appearance of yet another martial artist with inferior aptitude was undoubtedly a shot in the arm for the others, all of whom secretly hoped they would successfully break through next time.

Su Yuan accepted the reward: "Thank you, Young Master."

The crowd swarmed around him, offering endless praise.

"Senior Brother Su Yuan, how did you practice this leg technique? Could you give us a pointer or two?" Lin Fan asked.

Meng Qi sat alone to the side, his expression desolate.

Even Wang Biao, who had previously followed him, crowded up to Su Yuan: "Senior Brother Su Yuan, I knew you could do it!"

The momentum of the Su brothers at the Chai Family Martial Academy had become unstoppable, and everyone scrambled to lower their pride and curry favor.

Su Yuan politely declined them one by one, then took his leave, heading straight for Gao Mian's place in the Inner City.

Tie Niu chased after him, handing over a piece of stiff red paper stamped with an official seal, grinning honestly: "Brother Yuan, you're a martial artist now. You're a second-class citizen."

Su Yuan took the red paper, his expression complex; he almost wanted to laugh, as he had nearly forgotten about this.

Relying on the influence of the Chai family and Tie Niu, he could have ignored many rules long ago, but only now had he truly shed his inferior status.

He deliberately detoured to the South City gate.

The soldier who had scolded him before was still there. Seeing Su Yuan hand over the stiff red paper, the man immediately bowed, his face full of smiles: "Master Martial Artist, please enter."

Su Yuan did not rush in, merely smiling as he looked at him.

"Does the Master Martial Artist have further instructions?" Tan Shen looked up, then froze.

It was him!

Su Yuan often passed through this gate on his way to Gao Mian's, and since he came and went every day, Tan Shen naturally remembered him. But wasn't he just a third-class commoner?

A playful glint appeared in Su Yuan's smile.

Tan Shen suddenly remembered that two months ago, when Su Yuan was still a "gray-citizen," he seemed to have scolded him.

He squeezed out a dry laugh, just about to explain.

Su Yuan raised his hand and patted his stiff shoulder. The force was light, yet it made Tan Shen tremble all over.

Su Yuan's tone was flat: "In the future, do not look down on others based on their status."

Having said that, he stopped looking at him and strode into the Inner City.

After two months, he had finally walked into this Inner City with his own fists, standing tall and upright.

But this was still far from enough.