Meng Juxiang

By early June, the temperature had gradually begun to rise.

The martial artists in Jinglong District were already getting by with just a single short-sleeved tunic on their backs.

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

Before long, a formidable, middle-aged man whom Li Beichen had never seen before walked out from the inner courtyard.

Instantly, the entire hall fell silent.

Li Beichen set down the stone roller and whispered to He Keji beside him.

"Is this the Hall Master?"

"Yes..."

It had been over a month, and this was the first time Li Beichen had seen the Like-Elephant Martial Hall Master, the Rank 6 expert Meng Juxiang.

He had previously assumed he would see him once every half-month, but Senior Brother Zhang Meng had said the Hall Master had gone on a long journey and would take some time to return.

That wait had stretched from April all the way to June.

Li Beichen sized up Meng Juxiang from the corner of his eye.

Like Zhang Meng, Meng Juxiang's skin possessed the color of white jade, though it was even more translucent, giving one the impression of actual jade.

Furthermore, Meng Juxiang was even more massive; his muscles looked ready to explode, and he stood a full head taller than Li Beichen.

Just standing there, a sense of oppression permeated the entire courtyard.

Li Beichen conservatively estimated that the Hall Master was at least two point two meters tall.

Li Beichen also noted that Meng Juxiang's knuckles were exceptionally thick; his fist was truly larger than a sand pot.

On his face, a scar ran from his forehead all the way down to his jaw.

It only added to his fierce and domineering aura.

This Rank 6 expert looked toward the disciples in the outer courtyard, his hoarse, deep voice echoing through the grounds.

"Everyone, it has been a long time."

"Greetings, Hall Master!"

"Mm. Today, I shall lead your training."

With just a few brief words, Meng Juxiang began to demonstrate the Giant Elephant Fist.

Meng Juxiang's performance was extraordinary; the Giant Elephant Fist, which was merely a technique for tempering the flesh, seemed like a top-tier martial art in his hands.

As he moved, the momentum was astonishing.

It was as if a giant elephant were truly there, unleashing wild, savage strikes.

Li Beichen found himself instinctively pouring his heart and soul into the practice.

Countless realizations surged into his mind as he spontaneously adjusted his own exertion of force.

It was not mere imitation, but a search for a method that suited him perfectly.

The same Giant Elephant Fist was different in the hands of every person.

After three repetitions, Meng Juxiang ceased his demonstration.

Li Beichen, however, remained immersed in the sensation.

Only after a long while did he stop his fists.

He opened his panel.

Technique: Giant Elephant Fist - Incomplete (Just Entered the Threshold)
Progress: (234/500)
Traits: Physique significantly increased, Strength significantly increased, Stamina significantly increased

When he finished his training yesterday, his progress had been less than two hundred, but after following Meng Juxiang's practice for a few rounds, it had jumped by several dozen points.

"A Rank 6 martial artist is truly extraordinary!"

In the afternoon, Meng Juxiang began to meet with the disciples who had joined in the last two months, one by one.

Seeing this, He Keji leaned in toward Li Beichen.

"Brother Li, this is a rare opportunity. If you can receive a few words of personal guidance from the Hall Master, it will be worth months of bitter cultivation."

"Many thanks for the reminder, Brother He."

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

"Senior Brother Li, it will be your turn soon."

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

Li Beichen cupped his hands toward He Keji.

"In that case, Brother He, I shall head over first."

"Senior Brother Li, please follow me."

Li Beichen followed Xiao Wu, stepping into the inner courtyard for the first time.

In the inner courtyard, two burly, shirtless men were locked in a wrestling match; they were the Fourth Senior Brother, Yang Ling, and the Sixth Senior Brother, Han Fengqi.

Meanwhile, the First 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 sidelines.

"Good afternoon, Senior Brothers and Senior Sister."

"Ah, Li Beichen is here. Go see the Master quickly. Looking at your progress, it shouldn't be long before you can enter the inner courtyard."

The First Senior Brother, Zhang Meng, gave a hearty laugh and patted him on the shoulder.

Over the past month or two, several inner courtyard disciples had met Li Beichen and were deeply impressed by him.

In particular, the First Senior Brother, Zhang Meng, thought very highly of him.

Of course, this also had to do with Zhang Meng's status; with the Master, Meng Juxiang, away, he was the one in charge of the martial arts hall.

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

It appeared he had just finished a conversation with Meng Juxiang.

A youth cannot hide his feelings.

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

His own Giant Elephant Fist had already entered the threshold, while Zhang Yuan was still at the stage of merely catching a glimpse of the path.

However, Li Beichen did not care at all about Zhang Yuan's gaze.

The moment the two passed each other, Zhang Yuan was cast to the back of his mind.

In front of the inner courtyard's main hall.

"Senior Brother Li, go on in. I will take my leave now."

"Very well!"

Knock, knock, knock...

Li Beichen knocked on the nanmu door.

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

"Hmm, come in."

Li Beichen pushed the door open and entered, the imposing figure of Meng Juxiang coming into view.

A low, deep voice resonated in his ears.

"Li Beichen, I have heard about you from Zhang Meng. You truly have some talent."

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

"Why practice martial arts?"

Memories from Li Beichen's past and present lives flashed by, finally settling on a bare, crooked willow tree with its bark stripped away.

There, a mound of earth and stone marked the place where he had buried his parents from this life with his own hands.

"To survive!"

"Regardless of natural disasters or human calamities, I seek only to use martial arts to stay alive."

Hearing Li Beichen's answer, Meng Juxiang subconsciously raised a hand to stroke the hideous scar on his face.

"Very good. If you can break through to the Ninth Rank within this month, then I, Meng Juxiang, promise you an opportunity."

"A stepping stone that will give you the qualifications to survive in this world!"

"You may go!"

"Many thanks, Master! Li Beichen takes his leave!"

Li Beichen closed the door and stepped out of the room.

In the courtyard, the wrestling match between the Fourth Senior Brother, Yang Ling, and the Sixth Senior Brother, Han Fengqi, had already been decided.

Yang Ling had proven more skilled, pinning Han Fengqi down so he could not rise.

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

His narrow, slender eyes stared coldly at Li Beichen.

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

This question caused the gazes of several inner disciples to converge on him.

Li Beichen frowned slightly.

He looked toward Zhang Meng.

"First Senior Brother, is it permissible to speak of what the Master has instructed?"

The thick-browed, large-eyed First Senior Brother stepped forward, patted Yuan Dazong on the shoulder, and draped an arm casually around him.

"Second Junior Brother, if you have questions, just ask the Master directly. Why bother asking these outer courtyard disciples?"

"Li Beichen, you go ahead and cultivate first!"

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

Only after Li Beichen had walked out of the inner courtyard did Zhang Meng speak.

"Second Junior Brother, if you want this quota, you will naturally have it once you break through to the Seventh Rank. If someone else truly possesses it, it is because Master bestowed it; it is not something you can snatch away."

"What is not fated to be yours should not be forced..."

The originally expressionless Yuan Dazong curled the corners of his mouth, stiffly squeezing out a smile.

"Eldest Senior Brother, this junior brother has no other intentions; I am merely concerned about this future Seventh Junior Brother."