The Fifth Candidate for the Inspection Office

The Fifth Candidate for the Inspection Office

Blue-Wave Martial Academy.

Front courtyard.

At Wang Jin's announcement, the crowd erupted into an uproar.

"The Inspection Office is actually real? I heard my father mention it before, but I never thought it was true!"

"The Inspection Office has far too much power! It oversees the people, patrols the realm, and can execute first and report later. Once you join, wouldn't you immediately rise above everyone else?"

"Of course! Once you join, you'll become an honored guest of every major power! And joining the Inspection Office grants access to supreme secret arts that can produce Blood-Refining Grandmasters and Spirit-Nourishing Grandmasters! You might even receive guidance from that Martial Saint! The temptation is immense!"

"What good is temptation? By the end of this year, offices must be established in every province, prefecture, and county. Teacher also said that only those who achieve mastery in Five Animals Fist and enter the ranks of martial arts within three months qualify to join. Can you do that? Can I?"

"Yeah! Teacher told us about this opportunity merely to encourage us to train harder and give us some hope."

After the heated discussion, everyone became 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 that moment, Cheng Ran wore a smile, seemingly enjoying the attention of the crowd.

The man continued, "Senior Brother Cheng Ran's vitality and blood have long since reached completion, and he has achieved minor mastery in both Crane and Tiger Forms! There may well be hope for him to break through in his fist techniques within three months, and entering the ranks of martial arts won't be difficult for Senior Brother Cheng!"

Hearing this, everyone looked at the smiling Cheng Ran with even greater surprise.

Just then.

A man stepped forward, dressed in loose white training clothes, his full head of black hair simply tied back with a red band. He cut a dashing, imposing figure.

"I am Xiao Peng. Greetings, Teacher!" The man gave Wang Jin a slight cupped-fist salute.

"What is it?" Wang Jin asked.

Xiao Peng clasped his hands and said, "A week ago, this disciple comprehended both the spirit and form of Tiger Form Fist, bringing it to the realm of mastery. My vitality and blood have also reached major accomplishment and are nearing completion. Ape Form Fist has likewise reached minor mastery."

As he spoke, Xiao Peng was radiant with confidence, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

His vitality and blood brimmed within him, and a faint aura suddenly burst forth from his body, pressing down on those around him.

"Heavens! Senior Brother Xiao reached this stage without anyone noticing?" someone exclaimed.

"That's right! Senior Brother Xiao truly remained silent until his cry astonished the world! He reached mastery in Tiger Form Fist a week ago, yet he endured without saying a word until today!"

"Tiger Form Fist at mastery, Ape Form Fist at minor mastery, and vitality and blood at major accomplishment, flowing through all four limbs—doesn't that mean the remaining spot has already been claimed in advance by Senior Brother Xiao Peng?"

"It seems so! Although Senior Brother Cheng Ran has a chance, he is clearly a little inferior. There is an uncrossable chasm between minor mastery and mastery in a fist technique!"

"Exactly! Senior Brother Xiao Peng achieved mastery in Tiger Form Fist and minor mastery in Ape Form Fist within four months of joining the academy. Give him another three months, and Ape Form Fist will surely reach mastery as well. As for entering the ranks of martial arts, with the wealth of Senior Brother Xiao's father, Xiao Wanguan, it would be simplicity itself to pile resources on him until he reaches that level!"

In that instant, everyone's attention shifted to Xiao Peng.

Xiao Peng basked in their gazes, his face brimming with high spirits.

Wang Jin glanced at Cheng Ran before turning his gaze to Xiao Peng.

"Tiger Form Fist at mastery, Ape Form Fist at minor mastery?"

Under Wang Jin's gaze, a thin sheen of sweat appeared on Xiao Peng's forehead. He lowered his head. "Yes!"

"Show me," Wang Jin said.

Upon hearing those words, Xiao Peng felt as though he had been granted a pardon.

At that moment.

Everyone's eyes fell upon Xiao Peng.

The next instant.

Xiao Peng assumed his stance and began demonstrating the fist techniques before the crowd.

Every move and stance stirred the wind like a tiger's roar, carrying considerable might.

Finally, as he completed Tiger Form Fist and threw out a punch—

"Roar!"

A tiger's roar burst from within his body.

At that moment, everyone's eyes widened.

"Vitality and blood surging, the sound of a tiger's roar! It truly is Tiger Form Fist at the realm of mastery!"

Xiao Peng withdrew his hands, looking utterly composed, as though he had heard none of the crowd's astonishment.

He cupped his fists toward Wang Jin. "Teacher, this disciple has finished demonstrating."

"Demonstrate Ape Form Fist as well," Wang Jin said.

"Yes!" Xiao Peng replied.

Then, the crowd watched Xiao Peng demonstrate Ape Form Fist once more.

Only after Xiao Peng finished and withdrew his fists did Wang Jin nod slightly.

"Not bad! Tiger Form Fist has indeed reached mastery, and Ape Form Fist has considerable depth as well. It should have reached minor mastery long ago."

"Teacher has keen eyes indeed!" Xiao Peng cupped his fists again and continued, "This disciple's Ape Form Fist reached minor mastery a month ago. I am confident that in the next three months, Ape Form Fist will certainly break through to mastery!"

Wang Jin nodded. "Having such confidence is a good thing!"

He then looked at Xiao Peng. "You have been here for four months, and Tiger Form Fist has already reached mastery. That counts as successfully passing my test! From today onward, you are my direct disciple!"

"Greetings, Master!" Xiao Peng dropped to one knee and gave a cupped-fist salute.

"Good!" Wang Jin nodded once more. "From today onward, all your tuition fees are waived. You will also be provided three bowls of medicinal soup each day!"

"Thank you, Master!" Xiao Peng saluted again.

Wang Jin gave a slight nod. His gaze swept over the crowd, lingering for a moment on Jiang Ning.

What a pity. This kid's timing is simply too unlucky!

Even if he has talent, it's already too late!

Then he addressed the crowd. "Train your fists well. There are still three months left. Everyone still has a chance!"

He then looked at Xiao Peng. "Come with me!"

"Yes, Master!" Xiao Peng saluted, then rose and followed Wang Jin away.

Watching the two leave, the crowd could not help but reveal looks of envy.

Standing at the back of the crowd, Jiang Ning clenched his fist.

Within three months, I must enter the ranks of martial arts. Only then can I seize this heaven-sent opportunity and join the Inspection Office.

[Skill]: Five Animals Fist (Beginner 90/100)

Based on the experience I figured out before.

Five Animals Fist requires one hundred experience points to go from Beginner to Proficient.

It requires two hundred experience points to go from Proficient to minor mastery.

It requires five hundred experience points to go from minor mastery to mastery.

Right now, I'm short a total of seven hundred and ten experience points.

Even if I only gain the guaranteed one experience point each time I practice the fist technique, I only need to practice seven hundred and ten times.

Now that Senior Brother Zhou Xing has given me wild ginseng, such a potent tonic, I can practice more than twenty times a day—morning, noon, and night.

Using twenty-five times a day as the calculation, at this efficiency, I can grind Five Animals Fist to mastery in thirty days.

But one wild ginseng root won't last more than a few days. Even without wild ginseng as a tonic, though, the number of times I practice will at most be halved.

Even if it's halved, I can still grind this fist technique to mastery in at most two months.

That part isn't difficult!

But for me, the hardest part is entering the ranks of martial arts.

Jiang Ning's brows furrowed slightly.

To enter the ranks of martial arts, vitality and blood must flow through the entire body.

He immediately directed the vitality and blood within him into his right arm, and his brows furrowed again.

"Only about one-third has been opened up! I'm still far too far from completion!"

"However, according to the fist manual, when the five forms of Five Animals Fist are at the Beginner realm, practicing the entire fist technique once can condense at most one strand of vitality and blood."

"But once the fist technique reaches Proficient, practicing it once can condense two strands of vitality and blood."

"At minor mastery, it is three strands!"

"At mastery, it is five strands!"

"Three months—there is still time!"

"So for now, grinding experience is the true path!"

(End of chapter)