Victory (Please Follow)

Before coming here, Tian Er had studied the Sand-Turning Palm and knew how powerful it became after reaching minor mastery.

The Night Heron Style excelled in flexibility and variety. In a head-on clash, it was no match for the Sand-Turning Palm.

Though Li Xiuwen's strike had only just entered minor mastery, it still carried the force to level mountains and overturn seas.

The flesh on Tian Er's chest rippled like waves before caving deeply inward.

He staggered back uncontrollably, his eyes bulging wide. In the end, he could no longer hold it in—pfft! A mouthful of blood sprayed out.

The soft palm strike had powerful penetrating force. His internal organs had shifted, trembling like a struck bell. It felt awful.

Bang! Li Xiuwen followed with a third palm strike, sending Tian Er flying into Longlegs Seven's arms. His face was as red as a monkey's ass.

"You..." Tian Er lost his temper and wanted to get back on the platform, but Longlegs Seven stopped him. "You already lost. You still want to go up there and embarrass yourself?"

"Senior Brother, he—he must have secretly watched us practice martial arts!" Tian Er said.

Li Xiuwen stood on the platform, bowed to Huang Sihai and Master Ye, then turned and left.

"Good!" A Zhen clapped and cheered.

"Awen, you're amazing! You actually beat Tian Er!" Silly Qiang was overjoyed.

Old Chen watched from afar, a gratified smile appearing on his face. "My brother Li truly is no ordinary man."

Though Huang Sihai had lost three matches in a row, he was now delighted. Smiling, he said, "Master Ye, I heard Tian Er's fighting style is nearly at major mastery?"

Master Ye's expression shifted darkly, but he did not reply.

Huang Sihai continued, "My disciple Awen's Sand-Turning Palm only reached minor mastery not long ago, yet Tian Er still lost... He practices Frog Fist, not Waterbird Fist, does he?"

Huang Sihai's words were vicious indeed.

Frog Fist was a relatively famous folk martial art in the southern martial world.

Waterbird Fist, on the other hand, was an orthodox art originating from the renowned White Crane Style.

The implication was clear: my disciple's newly minor-mastered Sand-Turning Palm defeated your disciple's nearly major-mastered Waterbird Fist, so naturally the Sea Sand Style was superior.

Such a comparison naturally displeased the old man across from him.

Master Ye sneered. "Master Huang, you lost three and won one, yet you are this excited? You are far too easily satisfied."

Huang Sihai did not take the bait. He smiled and said, "Heh, my disciple Awen only has ordinary talent, yet he defeated the four talents of your Pine Hall. Doesn't that prove my Sea Sand Style is strong?"

Master Ye retorted sharply, "Hah, he is merely a caged chicken fattened on fish balls."

Huang Sihai laughed. "Fish balls can let someone of ordinary talent reach minor mastery in the Sand-Turning Palm in a little over a month? Then wouldn't my Four Seas Martial Arts Hall be full of geniuses?"

The two old men belittled each other both openly and indirectly.

The exchange between the four talents of Night Heron Martial Arts Hall's Pine Hall and the first-floor disciples of Four Seas Martial Arts Hall thus came to an end.

Next came the matches between the second-floor disciples. Li Xiuwen took the chance to stay and watch.

The second-floor disciples were indeed fierce. Their fists howled through the air as they traded blows, their figures flickered, and the floor trembled. Their presence far surpassed that of those at the Membrane Gate.

At the end of the day, though the Membrane Gate was powerful, that was mainly compared to ordinary people. In a melee, they could still easily be surrounded by armed ordinary men and beaten to death.

But upon reaching the second level, one's qi and blood surged. Every movement carried the power to split stone tablets and shatter rocks. Against ordinary people, it was practically a dimensional advantage.

This visit had truly broadened Li Xiuwen's horizons. He was no longer content with merely reaching the Black Membrane realm.

"The second level... In a major syndicate, they would be straw-sandal rank, backbone members, capable hands. Even in the strongholds, they would count as having made something of themselves."

Compared to the first floor's motley crew, the second-floor disciples of Four Seas Martial Arts Hall performed quite well.

In particular, a big-haired man named Ao Jiu left a deep impression on Li Xiuwen.

Whenever the man moved, it seemed as if a giant whale swam around his body, sweeping away mountains and overturning seas.

He cleanly defeated Big Guy, who was known as the strongest member of Night Heron Martial Arts Hall's Egret Hall, claiming their only victory.

There was also a fair-skinned, beautiful, long-legged senior sister named Lu Yu, who was quite formidable.

A woman no less capable than any man, she lost to a male martial artist from Egret Hall, but still drew constant cheers from the crowd.

A busty girl named Little Dragon also put up a commendable performance, though she ultimately lost.

Finally, there was someone named Chen Jia, who also practiced the Iron Cloth Shirt hard qigong. His stance was solid and forceful, and his style exceedingly fierce.

Unfortunately, his opponent surpassed him by far in both realm and fighting style. No matter how strong his defense was, he was only a slightly tougher punching bag. He lasted a hundred moves before losing.

Though the contest between the second floor and Egret Hall still ended in three losses and one win, Night Heron had only won narrowly.

It was nothing like the first floor, where everyone except Li Xiuwen had been crushed one-sidedly.

Especially Liu Chun, the face of the first floor. She had been defeated by Longlegs Seven in just a few moves, an utterly miserable sight.

"Ao Jiu, Lu Yu, Little Dragon, Chen Jia... These will be my future senior brothers and sisters."

"Every one of them is no less talented than Liu Chun. Once I get up there, it will be another fierce struggle."

Li Xiuwen thought to himself, feeling fully confident about the future competition on the second floor.

By noon, the grand martial arts visit had ended.

Master Ye looked at the Ming Pao reporters. His purpose for coming had already been achieved, and he smiled. "Master Huang, thank you for holding back. We shall visit again another day!"

Master Huang beamed as well. "Don't be in such a hurry to leave. I'll have someone prepare a fine meal."

"No need. I'll save you some money." Master Ye turned around and led the martial arts hall disciples and the foreign women away.

The reporters and spectators all dispersed. Once the commotion was gone, the martial arts hall fell quiet.

Huang Sihai sat in his seat, drinking tea alone in silence.

Liu Chun broke the silence and knelt on the ground. "Master, this disciple is incompetent..."

Huang Sihai waved a hand. "Get up. Longlegs Seven is the great treasure Old Ye finally found after all these years. He has poured everything into training him. It is only natural that you could not defeat him."

"I... I made a mistake." Silly Qiang lowered his head.

Huang Sihai glanced at him and said coldly, "You did make a mistake. You had a chance to win!"

A Zhen pouted. "Master, you are not going to blame me, are you? I'm a weak little woman..."

Huang Sihai sighed, looking utterly exhausted. What kind of excellent disciples were these? Perhaps he needed to raise his standards for taking in students.

He looked toward Li Xiuwen in the corner and calmly asked, "Awen, have you practiced Waterbird Fist?"

Li Xiuwen shook his head. "No. I've just been going to the big arena to watch fights whenever I had nothing to do these past few days. I feel like I picked up a few tricks."

Huang Sihai was surprised. He realized he had still underestimated Li Xiuwen.

To grasp the practical techniques of an unfamiliar martial art so quickly just by watching others fight...

Such combat talent was truly rare. In some ways, it was even rarer than the potential to surpass others.

No wonder this kid had not wanted to show off at the big arena lately. So he had really been preparing to give him a surprise.

"Awen, I was right about you. Stay a little later today. I'll teach you footwork." After saying that, Huang Sihai left with his hands clasped behind his back, his departing figure somewhat lonely.

Silly Qiang said, "Congratulations, Awen. You can learn footwork now. That is good stuff only second-floor disciples are qualified to learn."

A Zhen also came over to congratulate him. Liu Chun left alone, her eyes red.

Li Xiuwen truly bore Liu Chun no ill will. He simply regarded her as a competitor.

Having lived two lives, he took such things lightly.

Liu Chun was only sixteen, at the age when one was young and reckless.

He could understand her various words and actions.

Her words today—"Master, let me force myself just this once"—had moved him somewhat as well.

Night Heron Martial Arts Hall.

Master Ye heard from Longlegs Seven about Li Xiuwen's earlier visit to learn martial arts.

Longlegs Seven lowered his head. "Master, were we wrong to drive him away back then?"

Master Ye smiled. "Do you regret it?"

Longlegs Seven shook his head. "Not really. I'm just afraid we caused you to miss out on a talent."

Master Ye said, "It doesn't matter. This child's cultivation was most likely force-fed by fish balls, nothing remarkable... What stands out is his comprehension, his understanding of fighting styles.

"But no matter how good one's comprehension is, what determines a martial artist's cultivation is still their innate physique... Without a good physique, comprehension is like duckweed without water—unable to draw strength from anywhere, not worth mentioning."

Hearing this, Longlegs Seven no longer had any mental burden and smiled. "I understand."

Master Ye said earnestly, "A Qi, do not grow arrogant over this victory. With your talent, this is only the beginning.

"The people of Four Seas Martial Arts Hall are not even qualified to serve as your stepping stones. Your goal is the Crossing River Association, the Learning Society!"