Taking a Master

Eagle Claw Skill did not have many moves. In total, it had Eighteen Legging Forms, Eighteen Claw Forms, and, combined with Eighteen Movement Forms, fifty-four forms altogether. Once combined, they formed a complete Eagle Claw Skill.

Of course.

The students of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School's outer courtyard had basically all learned the martial art's forms and routines, but making them carry real power was far from easy.

Zhang He looked astonished. "He has already completely learned and mastered Eagle Claw Skill!"

Ye Langtian also showed a stunned expression. His eyes widened as he said in shock, "Xu Qing hasn't come to Azure Hawk Martial Arts School to practice martial arts since the fourth day! How could he possibly have mastered Eagle Claw Skill?"

"He really can do it."

Du Luan's gaze held a trace of surprise.

"Not bad indeed."

Du Cangying nodded.

"However..."

Du Cangying changed his tone. "Simply learning and mastering Eagle Claw Skill is not enough. Eagle Claw Skill is only a fighting method; compared to cultivation methods, it is much easier."

Ye Langtian quickly nodded as well. "Even if Xu Qing has mastered Eagle Claw Skill, he could never have mastered Azure Hawk Force."

"Xu Qing."

The next moment.

Du Luan's eyes flashed. She reached out and grabbed, faintly displaying some kind of martial art resembling a remote grasp, pulling a brick from the ground in the distance into her hand.

Whoosh!

Then.

Du Luan threw the brick in her hand at Xu Qing.

"Eagle Claw Skill."

Crack!

Xu Qing heard the sound of something slicing through the air. Looking over, he saw a brick flying straight at him. Azure Hawk Force circulated, condensing a sharp strand of Bright Force.

Break!

Xu Qing struck out. The incoming brick shattered under his blow, breaking into pieces in midair and scattering across the surrounding ground.

"Whew..."

Xu Qing exhaled a breath of stale air and slowly withdrew his force.

At once.

The scene fell somewhat silent.

"He... he really mastered it..."

Zhang He stood frozen in place. Staring at the brick Xu Qing had shattered with one strike, he seemed completely dumbfounded. "How could this be? Xu Qing has never come to Azure Hawk Martial Arts School to practice martial arts!"

"No... impossible! This... this is impossible!"

Ye Langtian was shocked. His gaze stupidly shifted between the rubble on the ground and Xu Qing. "How could you have mastered Azure Hawk Force too? You couldn't possibly have mastered it! Even I spent nearly a month mastering Azure Hawk Force. How could you have done it in such a short time? Most importantly, you only studied for three days. Since the fourth day, you haven't come to Azure Hawk Martial Arts School to train at all!"

"I... I don't believe it... I don't believe it..."

"Enough."

Du Cangying gave a quiet shout.

"!!!"

Ye Langtian and Zhang He jolted. The two quickly came back to their senses, waking from their shock and lowering their heads at once, not daring to say another word.

"Junior Brother Xu, I never expected you to have truly mastered it."

At this moment.

Du Luan directly addressed Xu Qing as Junior Brother Xu. This showed that the Second Senior Sister of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School had acknowledged Xu Qing, and it also meant that Xu Qing had passed Du Cangying's test.

"Reporting to Second Senior Sister, this junior brother was merely fortunate."

Xu Qing said.

"There is no such thing as luck in this matter."

Du Luan curled her lips.

"Indeed."

Du Cangying nodded in satisfaction, studying Xu Qing before beckoning to him. "Come here."

"Yes."

Xu Qing respectfully nodded and walked before Du Cangying.

"Hold out your hand."

Du Cangying said.

"Yes."

Xu Qing obediently extended his right hand.

"Mm."

Du Cangying grabbed Xu Qing's hand. Faintly, Xu Qing sensed an almost imperceptible force entering his body.

Fortunately.

Bright Force and Dark Force were inherently powers that lay between illusion and reality, condensed from the strength of flesh, blood, tendons, and bones. They could be condensed when used, yet when not employed, they were as if they did not exist.

"Not bad, not bad."

Then.

Du Cangying released Xu Qing's hand, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. "Your natural foundation is indeed good. Though you are still slightly inferior to Huo Yi and Du Luan, among the many disciples of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, your talent is enough to rank third."

"What?!"

This time.

Ye Langtian was completely dumbfounded.

"Hiss..."

Zhang He also sucked in a cold breath.

Shocked.

He was truly shocked.

"Xu Qing."

Du Cangying gave a quiet shout. "Now I ask you: are you willing to enter my school and become an official disciple of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School?"

"This disciple is willing."

Xu Qing clasped his hands and bowed.

"Good."

Du Cangying nodded. "Kneel and kowtow."

"Yes."

Xu Qing did not hesitate. Since he had decided to take Du Cangying as his master, he naturally had to perform the kneeling ceremony of apprenticeship. Thus, he knelt before Du Cangying and solemnly kowtowed three times.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"This disciple, Xu Qing, pays respects to Master."

Xu Qing said.

"Good, good, good."

Du Cangying laughed heartily. It was clear that he was in an excellent mood. He bent down and personally helped Xu Qing to his feet.

"Thank you, Master."

Xu Qing said.

"Mm."

Du Cangying nodded. "Go stand beside your Second Senior Sister."

"Yes."

Xu Qing obediently walked to Du Luan's side.

"Junior Brother Xu, you performed quite well this time."

Du Luan whispered.

"Second Senior Sister flatters me."

Xu Qing said.

"Ye Langtian."

Du Cangying spoke blandly. "It is your turn."

"Yes, Headmaster."

Ye Langtian took a deep breath. He had just suffered a blow. He had thought himself exceptionally talented, only to be surpassed by Xu Qing, whom he had looked down upon.

Furthermore.

Ye Langtian had always believed Xu Qing was a person without fortune, and that someone without fortune could never achieve anything great in his entire life.

Yet Xu Qing had indeed slapped him hard across the face. Not only had Xu Qing achieved something, he had achieved no small measure of success. The talent and aptitude he displayed had even surpassed Ye Langtian's.

"Whew..."

Ye Langtian drew a deep breath, rousing his spirits and casting aside the distracting thoughts in his heart. He began earnestly practicing the Eagle Claw Skill he had already learned.

At the same time.

Bang!

Crack!

Accompanied by a crisp sound, Ye Langtian also shattered a brick with one strike, proving that he had mastered Azure Hawk Force and condensed Bright Force.

However.

Because Xu Qing had demonstrated it first, and because Xu Qing had already given Du Cangying such a stunning surprise, Ye Langtian's mastery of Azure Hawk Force in twenty-six days did not bring Du Cangying much shock or joy.

Ye Langtian truly possessed talent for martial arts and could master Azure Hawk Force within a month, but among the many official disciples of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, his talent could only be considered ordinary.

"Ye Langtian, are you willing to enter my Azure Hawk Martial Arts School?"

Du Cangying asked.

In fact, one could hear it.

When Du Cangying had questioned Xu Qing, he had asked whether Xu Qing was willing to take him as master. Yet when asking Ye Langtian, he had merely asked whether he was willing to enter Azure Hawk Martial Arts School.

The two were clearly different.

"This disciple is willing."

Ye Langtian likewise had to kowtow and perform the ceremony.

"Good."

Du Cangying nodded.

"Zhang He."

Du Cangying's gaze fell upon Zhang He as he said, "Take Ye Langtian to the inner courtyard. Let the inner courtyard instructors teach Ye Langtian the middle volume of Azure Hawk Force."

"Yes."

Zhang He respectfully nodded.

"Ye Langtian, come with me."

Zhang He said.

"Yes."

Ye Langtian opened his mouth. He glanced at Xu Qing standing beside Du Luan. Although he wanted to ask why Xu Qing was not leaving with them, in the end, he could not bring himself to ask.

Clearly.

Xu Qing and Ye Langtian received entirely different treatment.

At this rate.

Xu Qing would likely receive Du Cangying's personal instruction.

Unable to help himself.

Ye Langtian felt envy and jealousy toward Xu Qing. He took a deep breath and did his best to calm himself.

Xu Qing has become an official disciple of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, and the Headmaster values him so highly. I cannot become enemies with him. I must even build a good relationship with him.

Ye Langtian thought deeply. Besides, I should have someone investigate Xu Qing's circumstances.

Inside the courtyard.

Only Du Cangying, Du Luan, and Xu Qing remained.

"Follow me."

Du Cangying spoke blandly.

"Hurry up and follow."

Du Luan called out.

"Yes."

Xu Qing respectfully nodded, following behind Du Cangying and Du Luan as they returned to the Main Courtyard's room.

Inside the room.

"Xu Qing."

Du Cangying sat in a reclining chair. Du Luan stood obediently behind him, gently kneading his shoulders while sizing Xu Qing up several times.

"Master."

Xu Qing responded.

"Next, I will tell you some things."

Du Cangying said.

"This disciple will certainly keep Master's teachings engraved in his heart."

Xu Qing said.

Du Cangying slowly said, "Qingbei Town is divided into the inner city and the outer city. Azure Hawk Martial Arts School is one of the three great martial arts schools in the outer city, holding a pivotal position there."

"Generally speaking."

"As the strongest Martial Force in Qingbei Town's outer city, the three great martial arts schools can swagger sideways as long as they do not provoke the inner city. Even the inner city must give our Azure Hawk Martial Arts School some face."

"This..."

Xu Qing froze for a moment. If things were really as Du Cangying said, then Azure Hawk Martial Arts School truly held no lowly position.

That was to say...

From the very beginning, Xu Qing had somewhat underestimated Azure Hawk Martial Arts School's standing.

After all...

As long as someone could pay the tuition, anyone could join Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. Such a low threshold really did make people mistakenly believe its status was not high.

In reality...

That was not the case at all.

"There is one more thing."

Du Cangying continued, "You have just performed the disciple-taking ceremony, kowtowed three times, and received this old man's approval. You can be considered this old man's official disciple."

"Ye Langtian is different. He is the young master of the Ye family. Although his talent is passable, it falls far short of yours, so he can only be considered a registered disciple."