From Igniting Talent to Becoming a Demon God Section 30

"Still not enough."

Lu Chao clenched his fist, but he was not satisfied by this.

Breaking through to Combat Grade was his current goal.

Most of the three months had already passed. He only had the final month left.

If he failed to break through, then he could only leave the Martial Arts Hall.

At that thought, Lu Chao's expression turned grave, and he felt a hint of urgency.

Huh-ha!

Bang!!

Just then, a muffled impact rang out, interrupting his thoughts.

He looked over and saw someone in the ring area get kicked flying, crashing to the ground like a kite with its string cut.

The victor stood tall and straight in the center of the ring, his handsome face beneath his short-medium hair full of high spirits.

"Junior Brother Shen is really strong. He only just broke through Rock Skin, and he already defeated Senior Brother Xu."

"Senior Brother Xu's Vitality is a full 25 points. He counts as a veteran fighter too. Logically, that shouldn't have happened, right?"

"Genius. That's the only explanation. And who knows, maybe the hall master taught him some secret arts?"

The discussions of his fellow disciples came from all around. Lu Chao saw the fallen Senior Brother Xu stagger to his feet, rub his chest, and cup his hands to concede defeat.

Across from him on the ring, Shen Tianchen was like the moon surrounded by stars, receiving everyone's praise. Lu Chao could even see Second True Disciple Senior Sister Lin walk forward and patiently point out the key points to him again.

"The fourth true disciple..."

His expression remained normal as Lu Chao thought of what had happened a week ago.

Shen Tianchen had successfully broken through to Combat Grade and had been publicly accepted by the hall master, Master Luo, as his fourth true disciple.

His status and strength could no longer be compared to before.

There were even rumors that a security company had taken the initiative to approach him, offering quite a few generous resources in hopes of recruiting him.

"Junior Brother Shen, just now was only a spar. You were a little heavy-handed."

After stepping down from the ring, Senior Sister Lin frowned slightly and reminded Shen Tianchen in a low voice.

Fortunately, Junior Brother Xu was fairly broad-minded. Otherwise, they might really have fought until tempers flared.

"Senior Sister, Master taught me a secret art because he hoped I would master it as soon as possible, didn't he?"

"Senior Brother Xu isn't weak. He's exactly the right opponent for practicing a secret art. I couldn't hold back."

Shen Tianchen did not care in the slightest. As he spoke, he even glanced at Senior Brother Xu as he left in embarrassment, along with the other onlookers who had been praising him.

He did not feel that he had done anything wrong.

Strength ruled. The strong stood above all. Whether in the Martial Arts Hall or outside, this was the truth.

Besides, his secret art had only just formed, and it was difficult for him to control it perfectly for the time being. Being a little heavy-handed was unavoidable.

"Besides, Senior Sister."

His tone was relaxed, even matter-of-fact. "Senior Brother Xu has tough skin and thick flesh. Isn't he fine? Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Seeing his attitude, Senior Sister Lin parted her red lips slightly, but in the end, she could only swallow back her words of advice.

"All right... Oh, right. How have you considered Hengjia Security's offer?"

Her tone was concerned as she reminded him again, "These are resources Master pulled in for you. You need to grasp this opportunity properly."

"I'll think about it some more, Senior Sister."

However, Shen Tianchen gently shook his head, actually sounding somewhat dissatisfied. "Half a year's salary is only one hundred and fifty thousand, and the monthly resource quota is only two Vitality serums."

"I think the conditions they promised are a bit low."

"Low?" Senior Sister Lin frowned tightly. Compared to the other junior brothers at Combat Grade, these terms were already twice as favorable.

"It's not that I'm being greedy, Senior Sister."

Shen Tianchen shook his head and said, "Their contract has too many restrictions and requirements. I think the resource quota can still be raised a little."

"Is that so..."

Senior Sister Lin pondered for a moment. Junior Brother Shen's talent and potential did indeed surpass ordinary people. Perhaps... it was worth fighting for a higher price?

She did not try to forcefully persuade him anymore, and instead reminded him, "Then consider it carefully yourself."

"The Martial Arts Tournament is coming up soon too. Master places great importance on this matter, so don't disappoint him."

"All right, all right, Senior Sister. I know."

Lu Chao watched Shen Tianchen be led away to the rear courtyard again to receive Master Luo's private guidance.

Though Lu Chao had not heard their conversation, he still could not help but sigh with emotion.

No wonder Master Luo had felt his bones back then.

The talent of superior bone structure truly far surpassed ordinary people when it came to cultivation efficiency.

Tap, tap...

The thought flashed through his mind, but footsteps approached.

Lu Chao turned his head and saw Senior Brother Zhang Hong walking up to him.

He was no longer wearing the grayish-white training uniform that symbolized a disciple of the Martial Arts Hall. Instead, he wore an old black tracksuit.

Behind him, Senior Brother Zheng Wu was accompanying him the whole way, carrying a black luggage bag as if seeing him off.

"Junior Brother Lu."

Zhang Hong walked up to him and forced out a faint smile.

Slightly startled, Lu Chao looked toward Zheng Wu and saw him sigh softly and shake his head.

"You don't need to ask Senior Brother Zheng."

"I came to say goodbye to you, Junior Brother Lu."

Zhang Hong spoke again, his tone somewhat low.

Lu Chao's body trembled, and he understood at once. The other party was leaving.

The Martial Arts Hall had its rules: if one could not break through Rock Skin and step into the Combat Grade within three months, then unless they continued paying tuition, they could only leave.

"Senior Brother Zhang..."

"I really am not suited to this path."

Cutting off his attempt to console him, Zhang Hong said with a bitter expression, "Twenty points of Vitality—I just can't get over that threshold no matter what."

"That can only mean this is where my limit lies. There's no need to keep wasting time."

His tone was melancholy as he looked over the entire training room.

The equipment, the ring, the grounds, the fellow disciples he had once been fairly familiar with...

The atmosphere fell silent. No one spoke to interrupt.

Only at the very end did Zhang Hong take a deep breath, reveal a smile, and turn his head to look over.

"Junior Brother Lu, I'm very glad I got to know you during this time."

Their eyes met. He did not complain about anything that had happened, only patted Lu Chao on the shoulder and left behind a heartfelt blessing:

"May your martial fortune prosper."

"Please carry my share with you and keep walking this path well."

Zhang Hong left.

Light as a feather, as if from beginning to end he had never stirred up much of a wave.

The Martial Arts Hall was still recruiting disciples, teaching combat arts day after day, tempering bodies, and developing Vitality.

Some fellow disciples would occasionally mention the name Zhang Hong.

But in the end, most of them merely shook their heads and sighed, or else threw themselves into cultivation with even greater urgency.

"Why bother?"

"If you don't have the talent, you should accept your fate early."

Surrounded by others, Shen Tianchen stood on the training ground. When he heard about this, he merely shook his head calmly, not taking it seriously.

But in complete contrast—

Bang, bang!!

The sound of fists exploded as Lu Chao stood on the ring, pouring out sweat and throwing punch after punch.