Blue-Wave Martial Academy.
Front courtyard.
At this moment, with Wang Jin's announcement, the crowd completely erupted.
"The Inspection Office actually exists! I heard my father mention it before, but I never thought it was real!"
"The Inspection Office holds far too much power! It oversees the common people, patrols the realm, and can execute first and report later. Once you join, wouldn't you immediately become someone above others?"
"Of course! Once you join, you'll surely become an honored guest of every major faction! And joining the Inspection Office grants access to supreme secret arts that can forge Blood-Refining Grandmasters and Spirit-Nurturing Great Grandmasters! You might even receive guidance from that Martial Saint! The temptation is simply too great!"
"What use is a great temptation? By the end of this year, prefectures, commanderies, and counties must all establish offices. Teacher also said that only those who can master the Five Animals Fist and enter the ranks of Martial Dao within three months are qualified to join. Can you do it? Can I?"
"That's right! Teacher told us of this opportunity merely to encourage us to practice martial arts diligently and give us hope."
After the heated discussion, everyone suddenly grew somewhat dejected.
Suddenly.
Someone spoke up. "I know someone who has hope."
"Who?"
"Senior Brother Cheng Ran!"
At those words, everyone turned to look at Cheng Ran.
At this moment, Cheng Ran wore a smile, seeming to enjoy the attention focused on him.
That person continued, "Senior Brother Cheng Ran's qi and blood reached perfection long ago, and both his Crane and Tiger stances have reached minor mastery! There may well be hope for his fist art to break through within three months, and entering the ranks of Martial Dao would be no challenge for Senior Brother Cheng!"
Hearing this, everyone looked at the smiling Cheng Ran with even greater astonishment.
Just then.
A man stepped forward, dressed in a loose white training outfit, his black hair simply tied with a red band. He possessed an imposing, spirited bearing.
"I am Xiao Peng. Greetings, Teacher." The man cupped his hands and bowed slightly to Wang Jin.
"What is it?" Wang Jin asked.
Xiao Peng cupped his hands. "This disciple comprehended the spirit and form of the Tiger Form Fist a week ago, bringing it to the realm of great mastery. My qi and blood have also reached major completion and are nearing perfection. The Ape Form Fist has likewise entered minor mastery."
As he spoke, Xiao Peng's face shone with confidence, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
At this moment, his qi and blood brimmed with vigor, and a faint aura suddenly burst from his body, pressing down on those around him.
"Heavens! Senior Brother Xiao reached this stage without anyone noticing?" someone cried out.
"Yes! Senior Brother Xiao truly remained silent until he astonished the world with a single cry! He reached great mastery in the Tiger Form Fist a week ago, yet endured without saying a word until today!"
"With the Tiger Form Fist at great mastery, the Ape Form Fist at minor mastery, and qi and blood at major completion flowing through all four limbs, doesn't that mean the remaining slot has already been secured by Senior Brother Xiao Peng?"
"It certainly seems so. Senior Brother Cheng Ran may have a chance, but he is clearly a step behind. There is an uncrossable chasm between great mastery and minor mastery!"
"That's right! Senior Brother Xiao has trained the Tiger Form Fist to great mastery within four months of joining the academy, while his Ape Form Fist has also reached minor mastery. Give him another three months, and the Ape Form Fist will surely enter great mastery as well. As for entering the ranks of Martial Dao, with the wealth of Senior Brother Xiao's father, Xiao Wanguan, piling resources on him until he enters the ranks would be simplicity itself!"
In that instant, everyone's attention shifted to Xiao Peng.
Xiao Peng basked in their gazes, his face full of high spirits.
Wang Jin glanced at Cheng Ran before turning his gaze toward Xiao Peng.
"Tiger Form Fist at great mastery, Ape Form Fist at minor mastery?"
Under Wang Jin's gaze, a light sheen of sweat appeared on Xiao Peng's forehead. He lowered his head. "Yes!"
"Show me," Wang Jin said.
Hearing those words, Xiao Peng felt as though he had been granted a pardon.
At this moment.
Everyone's gazes fell upon Xiao Peng.
The next moment.
Xiao Peng assumed his stance and began demonstrating the fist art before everyone.
Every move and stance carried the roar of wind, brimming with formidable might.
Finally, as he concluded the Tiger Form Fist and threw out a punch.
"Roar!"
A tiger's roar erupted from within his body.
At that moment, everyone's eyes widened.
"Qi and blood surging, the sound of a tiger's roar! It truly is the Tiger Form Fist at great mastery!"
Xiao Peng withdrew his hands, looking calm and composed as though he had turned a deaf ear to everyone's astonishment.
He cupped his hands toward Wang Jin. "Teacher, this disciple has finished demonstrating."
"Demonstrate the Ape Form Fist as well," Wang Jin said.
"Yes!" Xiao Peng answered.
Then everyone watched Xiao Peng demonstrate the Ape Form Fist once more.
Only after Xiao Peng withdrew his fists did Wang Jin nod slightly.
"Not bad! The Tiger Form Fist has indeed reached great mastery, and the Ape Form Fist has considerable depth as well. It must have entered minor mastery long ago."
"Teacher truly has discerning eyes!" Xiao Peng cupped his hands and continued, "This disciple's Ape Form Fist entered minor mastery a month ago. I am confident that within the next three months, it will surely break through to great mastery!"
Wang Jin nodded. "It is good to have such confidence!"
He then looked at Xiao Peng. "Since you have reached great mastery in the Tiger Form Fist after only four months of training, you have successfully passed my test! From today onward, you are my personal disciple!"
"Greetings, Master!" Xiao Peng dropped to one knee and performed a cupped-hand salute.
"Good!" Wang Jin nodded again. "From today onward, all your tuition fees are waived. You will also receive three bowls of medicinal soup each day!"
"Thank you, Master!" Xiao Peng saluted again.
Wang Jin nodded faintly. His gaze swept across the crowd, lingering on Jiang Ning for a brief moment.
What a pity. This boy's luck has run out!
Even if he has talent, it is already too late!
He then addressed the crowd. "Practice your fists well. In three months, everyone still has a chance!"
Then he looked at Xiao Peng again. "Come with me!"
"Yes, Master!" Xiao Peng saluted, then rose and followed Wang Jin away.
As everyone watched the two leave, envy inevitably showed in their eyes.
Standing at the back of the crowd, Jiang Ning clenched his fists.
Within three months, I must enter the ranks of Martial Dao. Only then can I seize this heaven-sent opportunity and join the Inspection Office.
[Skill]: Five Animals Fist (Beginner 90/100)
According to the experience I figured out before.
The Five Animals Fist needs one hundred experience points to advance from beginner to proficient.
It needs two hundred experience points to advance from proficient to minor mastery.
It needs five hundred experience points to advance from minor mastery to great mastery.
Right now, I am short a total of seven hundred and ten experience points.
Even if each round of fist practice only gives me the guaranteed minimum of one experience point, I only need to practice seven hundred and ten times.
Now, thanks to the wild ginseng Senior Brother Zhou Xing gave me, that powerful tonic, I can practice my fists more than twenty times each morning, noon, and night.
Using twenty-five times a day as the calculation, at this rate, I can grind the Five Animals Fist to great mastery in thirty days.
But one wild ginseng plant will not last many days. Still, even without wild ginseng as a tonic, the number of times I can practice will at most be halved.
Even halved, I can grind this fist art to great mastery in two months at most.
That is not difficult!
But for me, the hardest part is entering the ranks of Martial Dao.
Jiang Ning immediately frowned slightly.
To enter the ranks of Martial Dao, my qi and blood must flow through my entire body.
He then drew the qi and blood within his body into his right arm, and his brow furrowed again.
"Only about one-third has been opened through! I'm still far too far from perfection!"
"But according to the fist manual, once the Five Animals Fist's five stances reach the beginner realm, practicing the fist art once can condense at most one strand of qi and blood."
"But once the fist art reaches proficiency, practicing it once can condense two strands of qi and blood."
"At minor mastery, it becomes three strands!"
"At great mastery, it becomes five strands!"
"Three months—there is still time!"
"So for now, grinding experience is the true path!"
Before you continue