New Talent

A burst of commotion interrupted Jiang Che's thoughts.

"Zhang Xiong lost!"

Jiang Che turned to look.

Zhang Xiong was half-kneeling on the ground, shock written across his face.

His chest heaved violently, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

Gong Yulei stood in the center of the grounds, his gaze sharp, muscles taut, and aura powerful.

Luo Kun abruptly rose to his feet and crossed into the field in a few strides.

He gripped Gong Yulei's wrist. A moment later, delight appeared on his face.

"Good! You really broke through!"

He patted Gong Yulei on the shoulder, his voice carrying a rare note of excitement. "Come with me!"

Gong Yulei held his head high and puffed out his chest, looking smug as he followed Luo Kun into the inner room beneath everyone's envious gazes.

The place immediately erupted.

"Only a little over a month... Has the Martial Arts Hall ever seen talent like this before?"

"Forget the Martial Arts Hall—even in the entire history of Abyss-Facing City, there has only been one! That man later became Abyss-Facing City's greatest expert, the Seven Star Gang's leader, Greedy Wolf Star Li Hanchuan!"

"That amazing? Doesn't that mean our Martial Arts Hall will become a famous sect in the future?"

"I heard that when he first arrived, he couldn't even perform the opening stance of White Cloud Fist smoothly..."

"When people are compared to people, it's enough to make one die of rage!"

Zhang Xiong silently got to his feet and brushed the dust from his clothes.

He walked over to a wooden post in the corner and hammered his fists into the hard wood again and again.

Blood soon seeped from his knuckles, yet he seemed utterly unaware of it.

The others excitedly discussed Gong Yulei's talent. Some secretly glanced at Zhang Xiong, sympathy in their eyes.

Before long, the curtain to the inner room was lifted, and Gong Yulei strode out.

He had changed into a brand-new white fitted outfit, its lapels embroidered with drifting cloud patterns. A dark red belt was tied around his waist, and the words "White Cloud" were embroidered across his chest.

This was the attire of an official disciple.

At that moment, he was radiant with vigor, arrogance apparent in every gesture.

The surrounding apprentices hurried forward to congratulate him.

"Senior Brother Gong, congratulations! Please give us plenty of guidance in the future!"

Gong Yulei smiled faintly and waved his hand casually. "Easy enough, easy enough."

Jiang Che shook his head and withdrew his gaze.

There were no shortage of people who fawned on the powerful in any world. That was simply human nature.

He waved a hand and opened his panel.

[Name: Jiang Che]

[Age: 16]

[Realm: None]

[Skills: White Cloud Fist Mastery (356/400), Writing Perfection]

[Talent: Flow State]

"Not only can fighting others sense blood qi, but proficiency rises faster too..."

Jiang Che calculated the increase in proficiency and was somewhat surprised.

After fighting Wang Dayong for two days, it had actually risen by ten points!

It was just that Wang Dayong had been beaten to tears by him, so he probably would not fight him again.

Zhang Xiong had also been provoked by Gong Yulei, so he would not want to fight anyone for the time being.

Jiang Che looked at Zhang Xiong in the corner, whose fists had already turned blood-red, and felt that he looked rather pitiful.

But he had not broken through yet himself. What right did he have to pity someone else?

"Forget it. That's enough for today. It's time to go set up my stall."

After packing up his training clothes, Jiang Che quietly left the Martial Arts Hall.

Early the next morning, at the Martial Arts Hall.

The moment Jiang Che stepped through the courtyard gate, he saw Wang Dayong chatting with several apprentices.

When Wang Dayong saw him enter, his expression changed, and he turned around and left.

Jiang Che did not know whether to laugh or cry.

"Looks like beating him to tears really left quite an impact..."

Jiang Che looked around and discovered that Gong Yulei was already gone.

Official disciples had a separate courtyard.

Luo Kun sat on a meditation cushion, a rare trace of a smile on his face.

Gong Yulei's breakthrough had clearly made him very happy.

"Jiang Che!" Luo Kun suddenly called out, his voice resounding.

"Today, you will spar with Zhang Xiong."

The apprentices burst into an uproar.

"Jiang Che against Zhang Xiong? Isn't that just asking to be beaten?"

"Zhang Xiong may have lost to Gong Yulei, but he's still half a foot into the Blood-Qi Realm."

"Could Teacher be planning to have Zhang Xiong teach Jiang Che a lesson?"

Jiang Che paid them no mind and looked toward Zhang Xiong.

The other man stood in the corner, his hands wrapped in bandages and his expression calm.

Upon hearing Luo Kun's words, he merely nodded slightly.

"Jiang Che." Zhang Xiong walked over, his tone mild. "My fists are heavy. If you can't take it, say so."

Jiang Che shook his head. "No need. Come on."

The two took their positions and assumed their stances.

Zhang Xiong's punches were steady, powerful, and incomparably precise.

Jiang Che was almost completely suppressed!

Even after entering Flow State, his movements still appeared immature before Zhang Xiong.

His opponent's strength, speed, and reactions far surpassed Wang Dayong's. Zhang Xiong could even predict his feints and changes!

"Bang!"

Zhang Xiong threw a straight punch. Jiang Che barely dodged it, only to be sent stumbling back several steps by an elbow strike. A piercing pain immediately shot through his arm.

So fast! Jiang Che was secretly startled.

The apprentices around them shook their heads one after another.

"As expected, the gap is far too great."

"Jiang Che's fist technique is exquisite, but Senior Brother Zhang has one foot in the Blood-Qi Realm!"

"He probably won't last ten moves!"

Before the words had even finished, Jiang Che was struck in the chest and knocked to the ground.

Yet a flash of excitement appeared in his eyes.

Under Zhang Xiong's suppression, his perception of blood qi was stronger than ever before!

His [White Cloud Fist] proficiency was also soaring rapidly!

"So that's how it is! The stronger the opponent, the faster the progress!"

Even if he was suppressed the entire time, he would continue.

Zhang Xiong walked over and helped him up.

"Do you really not need me to hold back?"

Jiang Che shook his head. "Just attack with everything you have."

Zhang Xiong's thick brows drew together. "You said it."

The two continued their spar.

Over the next few days, Jiang Che was "abused" by Zhang Xiong every day.

The mockery gradually grew more frequent as well.

"Jiang Che, here to get beaten again?"

"The one-year deadline is almost here, and you still haven't sensed blood qi. There's no hope for you."

"Even Wang Dayong doesn't dare fight Zhang Xiong, but your head is made of iron."

They had completely forgotten that Jiang Che was capable of beating Wang Dayong to tears, much less them.

But Jiang Che turned a deaf ear, focusing on feeling the improvement brought by every exchange.

"Bang!"

From Zhang Xiong's perspective—

"This guy... Why is he getting harder and harder to fight?"

In only a few short days, Jiang Che's fist technique had become increasingly smooth. At times, he could even force Zhang Xiong to respond seriously!

"Bang!"

In one clash, Zhang Xiong's fist grazed Jiang Che's cheek, while Jiang Che's palm wind nearly struck Zhang Xiong beneath the ribs.

This battle had actually become evenly matched!

The watching crowd gradually fell silent, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"What's going on? Jiang Che can actually fight Zhang Xiong like this?"

"Wasn't he getting beaten all along? How did he suddenly..."

"Could he have been hiding his true skill all this time?"

Luo Kun narrowed his eyes as well, lost in thought.

Zhang Xiong still won in the end.

Jiang Che actually felt that he could have kept fighting.

But his head throbbed unbearably, and Flow State had already ended early.

In his normal state, he was no match at all. He was defeated in the blink of an eye.

"Looks like Flow State can't sustain a prolonged battle..."

"And actual combat consumes more mental energy than training alone."

Jiang Che pondered inwardly.

He climbed up from the ground, dusted himself off, and stepped aside to rest.

Though he had lost, his expression remained as relaxed and composed as if he had won.

Zhang Xiong, on the other hand, faintly began to feel pressure.

[White Cloud Fist Mastery (398/400)]

"White Cloud Fist is finally about to reach perfection."

Jiang Che looked at the panel, joy rising in his heart.

As White Cloud Fist proficiency neared perfection, his movements became increasingly natural and effortless.

From being completely suppressed by Zhang Xiong at first, he could now calmly maneuver around him.

"After reaching perfection, perhaps I can win..."

Jiang Che secretly mused.

The next day, after the two had battled for a long while, Zhang Xiong gradually began to struggle.

It was as though he saw the shadow of Gong Yulei from back then in Jiang Che.

The unwillingness in his heart erupted. With a bang, the power of blood qi suddenly surged from his dantian!

"Boom!"

He threw a punch. Jiang Che raised an elbow to block it, but was still sent flying and knocked to the ground.

Luo Kun, who had been watching their spar beneath the eaves, abruptly stood up. A sharp gleam flashed through his eyes.

He appeared in an instant and seized Zhang Xiong's wrist.

Under the probing of his qi force, Zhang Xiong's blood qi was vigorous and ceaseless.

"Hahaha, good! Good! You broke through too!"

He laughed repeatedly, the wrinkles on his face unfolding like chrysanthemums.

The crowd erupted in surprise and hurried forward to congratulate him.

"Senior Brother Zhang, congratulations!"

"The Martial Arts Hall has gained another official disciple!"

But Zhang Xiong shook his head and solemnly helped Jiang Che up.

"If not for Junior Brother Jiang, I would not have broken through so quickly."

Everyone froze, then looked at Jiang Che with complicated expressions.

Luo Kun also gave Jiang Che a deep look and sighed inwardly.

"This boy truly has a knack for this... Pity there isn't much time left."

By the Martial Arts Hall's rules, any apprentice who failed to sense blood qi within a year had to leave.

Because among those who had trained in martial arts for more than a year yet still managed to break through to the Blood-Qi Realm—

There had not been a single one from ancient times to the present.

No one knew why.

Some martial artists speculated that martial training activated the body's ability to sense blood qi.

But this sensing mechanism could last for no more than one year.

And Jiang Che had only a little over ten days left.

But he did not seem dejected.

Because.

He felt he had already touched the edge of a breakthrough.

Now, he only needed an opportunity to step into the Blood-Qi Realm!

Not only that.

[White Cloud Fist: Mastery Complete]

"Finally... Mastery Complete!"

Jiang Che was overjoyed.

In addition, he had gained a new talent skill:

[Omen: Passive skill, condition-triggered.]

[Description: Before danger arrives, can sense it several seconds in advance!]