Instructor, You're a Bit Weak

Liu Ziqiang never expected that his attempt to curb Lu Chong's arrogance would backfire, leaving him in an awkward position.

If he couldn't subdue Lu Chong soon, how could he command respect from the others and establish his authority over the subsequent students?

However, Liu Ziqiang was extremely unwilling to back down now; wouldn't he be laughed to death if word got out?

At this moment, Lu Chong, having been sternly rejected, executed another close-quarters body slam, which Liu Ziqiang dodged.

"Instructor, think about it, I'm helping you gain fame. In the future, when I use the martial skills you taught me, won't that also bring you glory?"

After trying the hard approach, Lu Chong switched to a softer tactic, still aiming to give the instructor a way out.

As expected, upon hearing Lu Chong's conciliatory words, Liu Ziqiang stopped insisting and gritted his teeth, saying, "You've got me, kid. I'll help you exchange for a military martial skill, the Seven-Step Killing Fist."

"Don't worry, it's a mid-grade martial skill," Liu Ziqiang added.

Lu Chong was overjoyed. "Thank you, instructor."

Immediately after, Lu Chong deliberately exposed an opening. Liu Ziqiang seized the opportunity and delivered a Heart-Piercing Elbow, sending him flying into the student crowd.

Lu Chong deliberately staggered to his feet and cupped his fists. "Thank you for your guidance, instructor. It has given me a new understanding of the Mountain Leaning Back."

Liu Ziqiang stood with his hands behind his back and nodded slightly, saying dismissively, "You're already very good. Your Mountain Leaning Back is at the Microscopic level; Perfection is not far off."

In reality, his heart was still bleeding.

Mid-grade martial skills weren't something that could be taught casually; they consumed nearly a thousand military merits and required him to vouch for the kid.

However, Liu Ziqiang did find Lu Chong's words reasonable.

With Lu Chong's potential, as long as he didn't meet an untimely end, he would surely become famous in the future, and his contribution to teaching martial arts wouldn't be overlooked.

If he didn't genuinely see promise in Lu Chong, Liu Ziqiang wouldn't have sacrificed so much just for the sake of his pride.

The surrounding students hadn't discerned the level of Lu Chong's Mountain Leaning Back. They were still astonished to hear the instructor mention the Microscopic level.

They knew Lu Chong had mastered the Monument-Splitting Palm, Nine-Shadow Step, Eagle Claw Technique, and Heart-Piercing Kick to Perfection, and now they learned his Mountain Leaning Back was also at the Microscopic level.

"Is this still a student our age?"

"But seeing the instructor's moves, he's not as ruthless as the rumors say. We don't need to worry too much."

With this mindset, the remaining students also began to eagerly step forward and spar with the instructor in Mountain Leaning Back.

Consequently, Liu Ziqiang, seething with suppressed anger, proceeded to pummel all the subsequent students multiple times, sending almost all of them to the Military Infirmary.

Only the two female students, Xiang Yueya and Lou Qingqing, were spared, though they still required treatment at the Military Infirmary for internal injuries.

Before being carried away, Huang Junyan and Xue Cheng stared resentfully at Lu Chong, who appeared unharmed, unable to comprehend why their treatment differed so drastically.

By around 4 PM, Lu Chong was the only one left in this training group.

In fact, the situation was similar in the other six groups; each instructor had been quite severe.

Instructing Lu Chong to wait in place, Liu Ziqiang efficiently went to exchange for the promised mid-grade fist technique, and the approval went through smoothly.

"Remember, don't tell anyone about this for now."

Returning to the training ground and passing the Seven-Step Killing Fist to Lu Chong, Liu Ziqiang couldn't help but emphasize.

"If you're still hiding something, try it out with the other instructors tomorrow. I can't be the only one taking a loss," Liu Ziqiang said with a wicked grin.

Lu Chong's eyes lit up. That's right, he still had the Iron Wire Fist and Cloud Piercing Finger that hadn't been revealed. These were two more opportunities to "reap the wool."

"Thank you for your guidance, instructor." Lu Chong offered his genuine thanks once more.

This trip to the military camp had been truly rewarding.

As Lu Chong received the Seven-Step Killing Fist, a prompt sound immediately echoed in his mind—

"Seven-Step Killing Fist has absorbed experience from Iron Wire Fist and Nine-Shadow Step, directly reaching Minor Accomplishment."

"Seven-Step Killing Fist has received guidance from a master, its cultivation speed has quadrupled."

Lu Chong was secretly delighted. "As expected, the Seven-Step Killing Fist shares commonalities with the Iron Wire Fist and Nine-Shadow Step, allowing for direct conversion and improvement."

Moreover, due to the enhancement of Lu Chong's mental will, the automatic cultivation speed of Seven-Step Killing Fist had already doubled. Coupled with the instructor's direct guidance, it had quadrupled again.

At this stage, with Seven-Step Killing Fist at Minor Accomplishment, it improved by 16% every hour.

Two hours later, Lu Chong checked his cultivation progress for Seven-Step Killing Fist again—

Seven-Step Killing Fist Minor Accomplishment (32%)

To avoid startling the cute instructor, Lu Chong didn't demonstrate it, merely observing from the side.

Liu Ziqiang assumed Lu Chong was still in the assimilation phase. After finishing his practice, he said, "Remember, Seven-Step Killing Fist is a fist technique that stacks killing intent. You can layer your fist momentum and killing intent through footwork."

"Every step carries killing intent, and each punch is stronger than the last; it cannot be interrupted."

Lu Chong nodded. After reaching Minor Accomplishment in this fist technique, he had already gained some understanding.

"The reason I chose this fist technique for you is that I have already cultivated the Seven-Step Killing Fist to Great Accomplishment and can personally guide you."

"From now on, you can spend an hour each afternoon to practice this Seven-Step Killing Fist with me. You can leave now."

Liu Ziqiang said this verbally, but in his mind, he was thinking, "You tricked me, kid. Starting tomorrow, I'll show you who's boss. If Mountain Leaning Back couldn't deal with you, Seven-Step Killing Fist will beat you straight into the Military Infirmary!"

Lu Chong pondered, no wonder the Seven-Step Killing Fist was slower to cultivate than the Wind Splitting Leg he had practiced with his homeroom teacher, even though they were both mid-grade Martial Skills.

It turned out the instructor's version of this Martial Skill was just too weak, only reaching Mastery even now.

Tomorrow afternoon?

Lu Chong calculated his own cultivation speed and time; he would reach Mastery by tomorrow afternoon, and by then, who would be instructing whom remained to be seen.

Nevertheless, Lu Chong still thanked the instructor solemnly once more before returning to the camp.

The day's intensive training had ended, but his evening was already fully scheduled.

First, he had to practice the Tiger Roar Skill with Principal Fang, and then he had to exchange military merits for medicinal liquid to soak in a Medicinal Bath and cultivate the Golden Cicada Robe.

Sigh... a busy yet fulfilling life.

That night, Lu Chong's cultivation level gave Principal Fang quite a start.

However, what was even more shocking was the progress of his Tiger Roar Skill.

Principal Fang felt that this top-grade Martial Skill was improving every single moment in Lu Chong's hands; he feared it wouldn't even take a month for him to reach Microscopic.

After another night of Medicinal Bath, Lu Chong checked his cultivation progress first thing in the morning.

Name: Lu Chong

Level: Martial Apprentice Stage 9 (15%)

Martial Skills: Nine-Shadow Step Perfection

Wind Splitting Leg Perfection

Golden Cicada Robe Microscopic (65%)

Tiger Roar Skill Mastery (22%)

Seven-Step Killing Fist Minor Success (80%)

"Not bad. At this rate, a whole new world awaits in a month." Lu Chong was very satisfied.

Although last night's Medicinal Bath had nearly exhausted all the military merits he had accumulated yesterday, it didn't matter; his Golden Cicada Robe was progressing rapidly.

Besides, wasn't Xue Cheng still saving up for him?

"Time to keep earning military merits today. Which instructor should I find to learn a Martial Skill from this afternoon?"