Meng Juxiang

Early June arrived, and the temperature gradually rose.

The martial artists of Jinglong District needed only a single short-sleeved shirt.

Inside the Like-Elephant Martial Hall, Li Beichen lifted a stone roller, tempering his strength.

Before long, a powerful-looking middle-aged man Li Beichen had never seen before walked out of the Inner Courtyard.

The entire yard fell silent.

Li Beichen set down the stone roller and quietly asked He Keji beside him,

"Is that the hall master?"

"That's right..."

Li Beichen had been there for over a month, and this was his first time seeing the hall master of the Like-Elephant Martial Hall, the Sixth Grade expert Meng Juxiang.

He had thought he would see him every half month, but Senior Brother Zhang Meng had said the hall master had gone on a long journey and would not return for some time.

That wait stretched from April to June.

Li Beichen studied Meng Juxiang from the corner of his eye.

Like Zhang Meng, Meng Juxiang's skin had the color of white jade, but it was even more lustrous, giving him the appearance of being made of jade.

Meng Juxiang was also more imposing, his muscles bulging all over as if they might explode. He stood a head taller than Li Beichen.

Just standing there, he radiated an oppressive presence that filled the entire yard.

By Li Beichen's conservative estimate, the hall master was at least two meters and twenty centimeters tall.

Li Beichen also noticed that Meng Juxiang's knuckles were enormous. His clenched fist was truly bigger than a cooking pot.

There was also a scar on his face, running from his forehead all the way down to his jaw.

It added even more to his fierce, domineering air.

The Sixth Grade expert looked at the Outer Courtyard disciples, and his deep, hoarse voice rang across the yard.

"Everyone, it's been a long time."

"Greetings, Hall Master!"

"Good. Today, I'll lead you in your cultivation."

After only a few words, Meng Juxiang began demonstrating the Giant Elephant Fist.

Meng Juxiang's demonstration was extraordinary. In his hands, the Giant Elephant Fist, which was merely a Flesh Tempering technique, seemed like a first-rate martial art.

Every punch carried astonishing force.

It was as though a giant elephant were there, unleashing its wild moves.

Li Beichen unconsciously threw himself into the practice, following along with all his heart.

Countless insights welled up inside him as he instinctively adjusted how he exerted his strength.

He wasn't simply copying the moves. He was searching for a way to make them his own.

The same Giant Elephant Fist took on a different form in different hands.

After three rounds, Meng Juxiang stopped his demonstration.

Li Beichen, however, remained immersed in the feeling.

It was quite some time before he finally lowered his fists.

He opened the panel.

[Technique: Giant Elephant Fist—Incomplete (Threshold of Mastery)]

[Progress: (234/500)]

[Traits: Greatly increased physique, greatly increased strength, greatly increased stamina]

When he had finished practicing yesterday, his progress had been under two hundred. But after following Meng Juxiang through a few rounds, it had risen by dozens of points.

"A Sixth Grade martial artist really is extraordinary!"

That afternoon, Meng Juxiang began meeting one by one with the disciples who had joined the hall over the past two months.

Seeing this, He Keji came over to Li Beichen.

"Brother Li, this is a rare opportunity. A few words of personal guidance from the hall master are worth months of hard work."

"Thanks for the reminder, Brother He."

Li Beichen had joined the martial hall in April. He and He Keji had only exchanged a few words when Xiao Wu walked over to him.

"Senior Brother Li, you're up next."

"All right, Brother Xiao Wu. I'll be right there."

Li Beichen cupped his hands toward He Keji.

"Then, Brother He, I'll go ahead."

"Senior Brother Li, please follow me."

Following Xiao Wu, Li Beichen entered the Inner Courtyard for the first time.

Inside, two brawny men, bare-chested from the waist up, were grappling with each other. They were the Inner Courtyard's Fourth Senior Brother Yang Ling and Sixth Senior Brother Han Fengqi.

The eldest senior brother, Zhang Meng, the second senior brother, Yuan Dazong, the third senior brother, Wang Dao, and the fifth senior sister, Fang Meiqin, were watching from the side.

"Good afternoon, Senior Brothers and Senior Sister."

"So it's Li Beichen. Go on and see Master. Judging by your progress, it shouldn't be long before you can join the Inner Courtyard."

Eldest Senior Brother Zhang Meng laughed heartily and patted him on the shoulder.

Over the past month or two, several Inner Courtyard disciples had met Li Beichen and had been left with a strong impression of him.

Eldest Senior Brother Zhang Meng, in particular, thought highly of him.

Of course, that was also because Zhang Meng was the eldest senior brother. With Hall Master Meng Juxiang away, he was in charge of the martial hall.

Just then, Zhang Yuan, who had joined the martial hall one day before Li Beichen, walked toward him.

It looked like he had just finished speaking with Meng Juxiang.

The young man couldn't hide what he was feeling.

Li Beichen could clearly see the frustration and stubbornness on Zhang Yuan's face.

His Giant Elephant Fist had already reached the Threshold of Mastery, while Zhang Yuan was still at First Glimpse of the Way.

But Li Beichen didn't care about Zhang Yuan's gaze.

The moment they passed each other, Zhang Yuan was already out of his mind.

In front of the Inner Courtyard's main hall,

"Senior Brother Li, go on in. Xiao Wu will head back now."

"All right!"

Knock, knock, knock...

Li Beichen knocked on the nanmu door.

"Hall Master, your disciple Li Beichen requests an audience."

"Mm. Come in."

Li Beichen pushed the door open and saw Meng Juxiang's imposing figure.

Meng Juxiang's deep voice sounded in his ear.

"Li Beichen, Zhang Meng has told me about you. You do have some talent."

"Let me ask you this: why do you practice martial arts?"

"Why do I practice martial arts?"

The memories of both his past and present lives flashed through Li Beichen's mind. At last, they settled on a crooked willow tree, its bark entirely stripped away, leaving its trunk bare.

There was a mound of earth and stone beneath it. He had buried his parents from this life there with his own hands.

"To survive!"

"Whether it's natural disaster or man-made calamity, I seek only to use martial arts to stay alive."

Hearing Li Beichen's answer, Meng Juxiang unconsciously raised a hand and rubbed the hideous scar on his face.

"Good. If you can break through to Ninth Grade within this month, I'll grant you an opportunity."

"A stepping stone that will give you the right to fight for survival in this world!"

"That will be all!"

"Thank you, Hall Master! This disciple takes his leave!"

Li Beichen closed the door behind him and left the room.

In the yard, the contest of strength between Fourth Senior Brother Yang Ling and Sixth Senior Brother Han Fengqi had already been decided.

Yang Ling had come out on top, pinning Han Fengqi down so thoroughly that he couldn't get back up.

Seeing Li Beichen emerge so quickly, Second Senior Brother Yuan Dazong suddenly called out to him.

His narrow, elongated eyes fixed coldly on Li Beichen.

"Li Beichen, what did Master say to you?"

At that, the Inner Courtyard disciples all turned their attention toward them.

Li Beichen furrowed his brow slightly.

He looked at Zhang Meng.

"Eldest Senior Brother, am I allowed to tell people what the hall master said?"

The broad-browed, bright-eyed eldest senior brother stepped forward, patted Yuan Dazong on the shoulder, and casually slung an arm around him.

"Second Junior Brother, if you want to know something, just ask Master. Why bother asking an Outer Courtyard disciple?"

"Li Beichen, go back to your training!"

"Then, Eldest Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, this junior will take his leave."

Only after Li Beichen had left the Inner Courtyard did Zhang Meng speak.

"Second Junior Brother, if you want that slot, you can earn it by breaking through to Seventh Grade. If someone else really gets it, it'll be Master who assigns it. It's not something you can steal from them."

"If it's not in your fate, don't force it..."

Yuan Dazong, who had been expressionless, curled the corners of his mouth and forced out a stiff smile.

"Eldest Senior Brother, this junior has no ulterior motives. I was only asking after our future Seventh Junior Brother."