Du Luan

Ye Langtian was the third young master of the Ye Lineage. He had entered the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School half a month earlier than Xu Qing. Counting the preparation time, Ye Langtian had spent twenty-six days mastering the first part of Azure Hawk Force and the Eagle Claw Skill.

His aptitude was fairly good as well.

He had already met the threshold and requirements of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School.

"Young Master Ye is truly incredible. He has been at the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School for less than a month, yet he has already mastered the first part of Azure Hawk Force and the Eagle Claw Skill."

"Yeah! Yeah!"

"Young Master Ye is simply a martial arts prodigy."

"Young Master Ye is the model for our generation!"

"We should all learn from Young Master Ye."

"..."

All around them.

The outer courtyard students of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School were fawning over him, their faces brimming with ingratiating, flattering smiles. Ye Langtian had become the center of attention.

"There is no need for everyone to be like this."

The corners of Ye Langtian's lips rose slightly, revealing a faint smile at just the right moment. He waved his hand as though it were nothing. "Over these past days, I have seen everyone working hard at martial arts and cultivating diligently."

"When the time comes."

"Even if you cannot become formal disciples of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, you may join my Ye Lineage and become martial guards for my household. You will still be able to seek a fine future."

"Wonderful."

"Young Master Ye is mighty! Young Master Ye is domineering!"

"Young Master Ye is just too amazing..."

"..."

The crowd cheered.

"Mm."

Zhang He nodded faintly. Naturally, he knew Ye Langtian's identity and background very well. Many outer courtyard students had already been drawn to Ye Langtian's side.

One had to know.

There were numerous outer courtyard students at the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, but those who could master the first part of Azure Hawk Force and develop Bright Force within a month were few and far between.

Therefore.

Most of these students learned a set of martial arts at the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School before leaving to join the various lineages, merchant associations, gangs, and the like in Qingbei Town.

Perhaps after several years, or even over a decade later, these students would completely master the first part of Azure Hawk Force and become Bright Force martial artists.

By then.

They could attain a certain status and achievement among the various lineages, merchant associations, gangs, and the like in Qingbei Town's outer city. Their entire lives would most likely end there.

"Then come with me."

Zhang He said.

"Yes."

Ye Langtian nodded. From the corner of his eye, he glanced at Xu Qing. No emotion showed on his face, but thoughts stirred deep within him. He truly was someone without the fortune to enjoy blessings. Though he had some talent, he could not endure hardship. In the end, he could only waste his talent and fade into the masses.

"Wait."

At that moment.

Xu Qing suddenly spoke, his tone calm. "Instructor Zhang He, I have also mastered the first part of Azure Hawk Force and condensed Bright Force."

"What did you say?"

Zhang He halted and turned around, looking at Xu Qing with astonishment tinged with anger. "Do you know what you are saying?"

"Hahaha..."

"I'm dying of laughter."

"Did you hear that just now? He... he said that he has mastered Bright Force too?"

"Has he gone mad?"

"This fellow has only been at the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School for eleven days. Today is only the eleventh day. Besides, he only came to the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School to train for the first three days. For the remaining seven or eight days, he never came at all, not even once."

"This is the biggest joke I've heard today."

"..."

At once.

The students erupted into an uproar, talking among themselves. Mocking laughter rang through the entire outer courtyard, and at that moment, Xu Qing seemed to have become the biggest joke in the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School's outer courtyard.

"Instructor Zhang He, of course I know what I am saying."

Xu Qing ignored the laughter of the other students around him. He merely looked calmly at Zhang He and answered his question. "Because I truly have mastered Bright Force."

"Huff..."

Instructor Zhang He took a deep breath.

"Xu Qing, let me advise you. Sometimes, it is better not to force yourself."

Ye Langtian kindly reminded him, "At the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, if you falsely report your martial arts progress—if you have not mastered Bright Force yet insist that you have—then once the matter is exposed, according to the rules of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, your legs will be broken and you will be thrown out."

"If your legs are broken, your entire life will be ruined."

"Thank you for the reminder, Young Master Ye."

Xu Qing glanced at Ye Langtian. "My legs cannot be broken, because I truly have mastered Bright Force."

"Fine words cannot persuade a ghost determined to die."

"Exactly."

"Young Master Ye kindly warned him, yet he is still so stubborn and unrepentant."

"Then let him go seek death."

"Yeah! Yeah!"

"..."

The students discussed among themselves.

"As long as you're happy."

Ye Langtian shrugged.

"Fine."

Zhang He's gaze was calm. He had long since been completely disappointed in Xu Qing, so he did not intend to say anything further. He merely nodded faintly. "You two, come with me."

"Yes."

"As ordered."

Ye Langtian and Xu Qing clasped their fists at the same time and followed behind Zhang He toward the inner courtyard of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. The other students hurried after them as well.

At the entrance to the inner courtyard.

At this moment.

"Huff..."

Xu Qing and Ye Langtian followed Zhang He into the inner courtyard. Compared with the outer courtyard, the inner courtyard covered a larger area and contained one pavilion-like building after another.

There was even.

A massive martial arts field.

"Hah!"

"Azure Hawk Hand!"

"Kill!"

"..."

Bang! Bang! Bang!!!

Faintly.

Xu Qing heard shouts coming from the martial arts field, along with the sounds of martial artists exchanging blows. When their Qi Force collided, explosive bursts rang out.

"Zhang He, why have you come?"

At that moment.

A tall woman with delicate features and a heroic, valiant bearing walked over. Upon seeing Zhang He, she asked him a question.

"It is like this."

Zhang He said, "There are two outer courtyard students today who both claim to have mastered Bright Force and to have mastered both the first part of Azure Hawk Force and the Eagle Claw Skill."

"So."

"I brought them to see the master, so that he may test them and make a decision."

"Oh."

The heroic woman raised her willow-leaf brows. Though her individual features appeared ordinary, together they possessed a unique charm. Coupled with her tall figure, long, fair, rounded legs, she was indeed quite beautiful.

"Senior Disciple Brother is not here today."

The heroic woman looked Ye Langtian and Xu Qing up and down, interest appearing in her eyes. "How about this? I'll take you to see the master."

"You two, hurry up and thank Second Senior Sister."

Zhang He shouted.

"They do not have the qualifications for that yet."

However, the heroic woman waved her hand, interrupting Zhang He. "We can speak of it after they pass the master's assessment and become formal disciples of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School."

"That is true."

Zhang He nodded.

Main Courtyard.

Xu Qing saw Du Cangying, the master of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, once again. Though he was an old man whose temples had mostly turned white, he was like a fierce tiger, his body containing indescribable power and exuding an oppression that seemed to come from an entirely different level of life.

"Father."

The heroic woman obediently came to Du Cangying's side and gently linked her arm through his. In a sweet voice, she called out, "These are the two who say they have already mastered Bright Force."

"Mm."

Du Cangying nodded. "Didn't you say you were going to attend the auction held by Myriad Treasures Tower? Why do you have the leisure to concern yourself with such a trivial matter?"

Clearly.

This heroic woman was Du Cangying's biological daughter, Du Luan. She was also the Second Senior Sister of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. Du Cangying had fathered a daughter in his old age and doted greatly on her.

"It was boring."

Du Luan shook her head. "I just received word from one of my good sisters. There is nothing I want at this auction at all. They were engaging in false advertising."

"Such a thing happened?"

Du Cangying smiled.

Du Cangying and Du Luan chatted and laughed as father and daughter, seeming to completely ignore Zhang He, Xu Qing, and Ye Langtian, who stood there waiting.

Yet Zhang He and the others did not dare say anything. They merely stood quietly, only daring to move after Du Cangying and Du Luan had finished speaking.

"Master."

Zhang He clasped his fists in salute. "Ye Langtian has been at the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School for twenty-six days, and today he claims to have mastered both the first part of Azure Hawk Force and the Eagle Claw Skill. He requests your assessment, Master."

"Xu Qing has only been at the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School for eleven days, yet today he also claims to have mastered both the first part of Azure Hawk Force and the Eagle Claw Skill. He likewise wishes to become a formal disciple of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School."

"Eleven days."

Du Luan showed a hint of surprise. She looked Xu Qing up and down and said, "That fast? That means he was only one day slower than me and three days slower than Senior Disciple Brother."

"Second Senior Sister."

Hearing Du Luan's praise, Ye Langtian could not help but say, "Xu Qing is simply deceiving us. He only spent the first three days learning the first part of Azure Hawk Force and the Eagle Claw Skill from Instructor Zhang He."

"Furthermore."

"Since the fourth day, he has never once come to the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School to train. Therefore, it is impossible for him to have truly mastered the first part of Azure Hawk Force and the Eagle Claw Skill. He could not possibly have condensed Bright Force."

"Is that so?"

Du Cangying looked toward Zhang He and Xu Qing.

"Yes."

Zhang He nodded.

"That is indeed the case."

Xu Qing also admitted it calmly.

"It seems you are quite confident."

Du Cangying glanced at Xu Qing.

"Master, it is because I truly have mastered Bright Force."

Xu Qing said.

"Good."

Du Cangying nodded. "Then you will go first. Demonstrate the Eagle Claw Skill once before this old man, and use Azure Hawk Force together with the Eagle Claw Skill."

"Yes."

Xu Qing clasped his fists toward Du Cangying.

Then.

Xu Qing walked to the open ground ahead.

"He is still stubbornly keeping up the act."

Ye Langtian curled his lips in disdain.

Boom!!!

The next moment.

Xu Qing slowly assumed the stance of the Eagle Claw Skill. His fingers formed claw-like shapes, faintly revealing the imposing aura of a hunting hawk.

"Eagle Claw Skill."

Hah!

Xu Qing began to demonstrate the Eagle Claw Skill. Combined with Azure Hawk Force, every move and form faintly carried a sharp, piercing edge.