"Black Ape Fist, Great Completion!"
Lei Wanjun's pupils contracted. The fists before him moved faster and faster, shifting through countless variations.
He hadn't expected his opponent to have been holding back all along, only revealing this move in the latter half of their exchange.
Zhou Yun said nothing. Since his eyes had been strengthened by the Black Ape True Intent, he could spot his opponent's weaknesses and openings more clearly.
Bam!
A fist landed squarely on Lei Wanjun's abdomen. His brow furrowed sharply as he forced himself backward to create some distance.
"Brother Zhou, you've certainly been hiding your strength..."
Lei Wanjun wiped the corner of his mouth, his gaze turning keen.
"Likewise. How many more punches can you take?"
Zhou Yun gave him no chance to rest. With a few quick steps, he closed in on Lei Wanjun and resumed the fight.
This time, Lei Wanjun was clearly much slower. The dull ache in his abdomen kept tugging at his nerves, making him feel every bit of the pain.
"I didn't know Junior Brother Zhou had been holding back too!"
On the platform, Chen Jingping breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed Zhou Yun not only had attack moves on par with Lei Wanjun's, but also had the advantage in footwork.
At least he had a chance of lasting until they were both exhausted. Whether he could win would depend on how things unfolded from here...
"Fine punches!"
Lei Wanjun took another punch from Zhou Yun, but blocked it with both arms.
He grinned and finally stopped hiding his strength. His figure suddenly began to sway.
"Footwork at Lesser Mastery?"
Zhou Yun furrowed his brow. Lei Wanjun's attacks had suddenly changed, with the occasional whip kick coming at him.
He could only defend and look for an opening to counterattack.
But the openings Zhou Yun could exploit were few and far between. Lei Wanjun's footwork at Lesser Mastery nearly closed them all.
"What a nuisance..."
Zhou Yun grumbled inwardly. It seemed the only way to end this exchange quickly was to stop holding back...
"It's over."
Shen Cangyue rose calmly. Since his closed-door disciple had brought out his final trump card, that man named Zhou Yun no longer had the slightest chance to fight back.
Whether they kept wearing each other down or continued trading punches, the fight would soon end now that their footwork had been brought to the same level.
Lei Wanjun had been at Bright Force Great Completion for a long time. He was only one step away from knocking on the door to Dark Force, and the strength in his dantian was naturally beyond what Zhou Yun, at Bright Force Lesser Completion, could match.
At the Chen Family's seats, Chen Jingping's expression darkened.
He hadn't expected Lei Wanjun to have been holding back too. It seemed he still knew far too little about the Black Stone County talents. He would have to increase his investment.
It was just a shame about Junior Brother Zhou. He'd had a chance to make a name for himself by winning this cross-rank exchange, only to run into such an unfortunate turn of events...
"The Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall helping the White Phoenix Martial Hall means something..."
Chen Jingping stopped caring about who would win the exchange and began weighing the long-term implications and interests instead.
Yet just as everyone thought the winner had already been decided,
on the platform,
Zhou Yun suddenly caught Lei Wanjun's kick. As his opponent tried to retreat, Zhou Yun closed in at even greater speed.
He was several times faster than before, so fast that many spectators hadn't even realized what had happened.
"T-That's..."
Lei Wanjun was stunned. That speed was clearly beyond Lesser Mastery footwork. It was Great Mastery footwork, or even a martial intent he had comprehended!
How old was this man? He had actually mastered an attack technique and a footwork technique, and brought both to Great Mastery!
Before Lei Wanjun could react, a massive fist came hurtling toward him.
He gritted his teeth and dodged, only to realize it was a phantom.
"It's over."
Zhou Yun's voice sounded from behind him. Lei Wanjun felt his body lose its balance and hit the ground, then lost consciousness completely.
At the sight, the martial arts hall, which had been in an uproar moments before, fell utterly silent.
The White Phoenix Martial Hall disciples looked as if they'd swallowed wax. They had just been relieved that their hall might be saved, only to discover that their joy had been premature.
"The winner of this exchange is the Chen Family's guest retainer... Zhou Yun!"
Only when the White Phoenix Martial Hall master gave the order did the exchange finally come to an end.
"Junior Brother Zhou, you've brought both Black Ape Martial Arts techniques to Great Mastery?"
Standing beside Zhou Yun, Chen Jingping had shed his usual refined, easygoing air. He sounded more than a little envious.
"Even I've only brought one palm technique to Great Mastery, and my footwork is only at Lesser Mastery... It seems you'll surpass me before long..."
"Senior Brother, you're joking. I'm only at Bright Force Lesser Completion. How could I compare with someone at Dark Force?"
Zhou Yun assumed Chen Jingping was joking. Senior Brother Chen was a genuine Dark Force expert, and came from a major weaponsmithing family in the main city.
It was true that he had a palm technique at Great Mastery, but Zhou Yun absolutely didn't believe he lacked a weapon-based martial art.
"But since you helped our Chen Family win the exchange, you'll certainly get the ten percent share of the mine profits I promised you."
Chen Jingping took a bag of silver from his pocket and handed it to Zhou Yun. "There are twenty taels of silver here. Now that you've brought two martial arts techniques to Great Mastery, the original amount of support clearly won't do..."
"Is this really appropriate..."
Zhou Yun protested with his mouth, but his hand eagerly took the bag.
He even weighed it, just to be sure. It really did contain exactly twenty taels.
"Haha, martial artists speak through their strength. If you knock on the door to Dark Force one day, your monthly support will naturally increase again."
Chen Jingping patted Zhou Yun on the shoulder. "I have something to take care of, so I'll have my carriage take you back to the martial arts hall."
After saying this, he gave the driver some instructions and hurried off in another carriage.
"Young Master Zhou, please."
The driver addressed Zhou Yun respectfully.
Zhou Yun had no objections. Alone in the carriage, he took stock of what he had gained lately.
He had spent quite a bit of silver on weapons, but today he'd made it back from Chen Jingping.
However, it would take at least a month before the mine beneath the White Phoenix Martial Hall yielded anything.
And at the start of operations, getting fifty taels of silver from his ten percent share would already be quite good.
"I have fifty taels of silver saved now. Add the escort fee Shen Qingxue promised me, and I should have around sixty taels."
After doing a quick estimate, Zhou Yun decided it was time to buy some Blood Coagulation Pills and prepare to knock on the door to Dark Force.
It wasn't for any other reason. The Three Halls Martial Tournament was drawing near. Although he had at least two martial arts techniques at Great Mastery and a spear technique, his personal strength was still a serious weakness.
If he wanted his mother and Sister Ning Yue to live in the main city, then whether or not he placed in the top three at the Three Halls Martial Tournament, Dark Force was the bare minimum.
"Driver, please take me to the nearest Martial Master Chamber of Commerce."
Zhou Yun called to the driver in front. He didn't choose to return to the martial artist market near his home, but instead opted for the more reputable Martial Master Chamber of Commerce.
The carriage passed through several streets and soon stopped in front of a four-story pavilion.
As soon as Zhou Yun stepped into the chamber of commerce, he spotted a familiar face.
"Shen Qingxue? What are you doing here?"
Shen Qingxue seemed to be choosing something. She looked surprised to see Zhou Yun. "Zhou Yun, didn't you just win the exchange at the White Phoenix Martial Hall? What brings you to the Martial Master Chamber of Commerce?"
"I'm here to buy some Blood Coagulation Pills. What are you buying?"
Zhou Yun asked without thinking.
"Me? I'm here to buy someone a piece of inner armor."
Shen Qingxue's expression turned a little odd, but she pretended to be casual.
"Inner armor? Right, I almost forgot that martial artists could wear armor too."
Zhou Yun sighed inwardly. That was another thing he'd have to spend money on.
He sometimes risked his life in fights. A soft armor vest worn close to the body was essential.
But things like that were usually extremely expensive, and he couldn't afford one just yet.
"What are you looking to buy? This Martial Master Chamber of Commerce is funded by my Sky Sea Escort Agency. I can help you choose."
Shen Qingxue quickly changed the subject and asked Zhou Yun.
Before you continue