Surging Strength

Sitting boldly in Xu Lie's usual seat, Chen Xu opened [Tianwu].

Host: Chen Xu

Strength: 2.3 (1.6)

Constitution: 1.8 (1.3)

Agility: 0.8 (0.6)

Psychic Energy: 26.16

Martial Path: None

Martial Arts: Chen-Style Tiger Roar Fist (Sixth Layer), Bronze Body Technique (First Layer), Great Stone-Stele Smash (Not Initiated), Great Strength Eagle Claw Technique (Not Initiated), Nine-Step Body-Leaping Technique (Not Initiated)

Special Effects: Tiger Might Level 2

He had already obtained Zhicheng Martial Arts Academy's other two ranked martial arts from Chang Wei. What delighted Chen Xu even more was the Nine-Step Body-Leaping Technique, a lightness technique focused on movement.

In theory, once cultivated to its highest level, this martial art allowed one to shift and maneuver through the air nine times. But according to Chang Wei, even its creator had only managed six. Most practitioners would be remarkable if they could borrow force once or twice.

It required a great deal of time to practice, yet its benefits fell far short of other martial arts, so the Nine-Step Body-Leaping Technique had been left gathering dust for years.

His Psychic Energy had shot up from 1.56 to its current level. Chen Xu fixed his gaze on the Tiger Howl Fist.

His Psychic Energy instantly dropped by 10 points. The seventh, eighth, and ninth layers each cost only 2 points, while the tenth directly deducted 4 points of Psychic Energy.

After the Chen-Style Tiger Roar Fist reached the tenth layer, the panel turned gray, indicating it could be fused.

After glancing at his remaining Psychic Energy, Chen Xu raised the Nine-Step Body-Leaping Technique to the fifth layer. Once its special effect was activated, he poured all his remaining Psychic Energy into the Bronze Body Technique.

At this moment, Chen Xu's panel had become:

Host: Chen Xu

Strength: 5.9

Constitution: 5.3

Agility: 2.8

Psychic Energy: 1.16

Martial Path: None

Martial Arts: Chen-Style Tiger Roar Fist (Tenth Layer, Can Be Fused), Bronze Body Technique (Eighth Layer), Great Stone-Stele Smash (Not Initiated), Great Strength Eagle Claw Technique (Not Initiated), Nine-Step Body-Leaping Technique (Fifth Layer)

Special Effects: Tiger Might Level 6, Bronze Body Level 4, Aerial Leap Level 1.

The change in his strength was heaven-and-earth overturning. If Chen Xu fought the version of himself from a few minutes ago, it would be no different from crushing weaklings.

Thanks to his improved constitution, the bloody hole in his chest had scabbed over. At most, it would take a day or two to heal completely without leaving even the slightest scar.

Chang Wei's gaze swept over Chen Xu. He did not know whether it was an illusion, but Chen Xu seemed to have grown a whole size larger, and his strength appeared to have increased considerably again.

If he had originally been a young tiger beginning to bare its fangs, then the aura he now revealed without meaning to was like the king of beasts roaring proudly through the mountains and forests.

"If you're sleepy, get some sleep and restore your spirits." Chen Xu turned his head toward Chang Wei as though he were mentioning something utterly insignificant. "After dawn today, the position of martial arts academy director will be yours. When the time comes, handling the transfer procedures at the Martial Pavilion will take quite a while."

"Gulp." Chang Wei could not help swallowing. Originally, the greatest pursuit of his life had been becoming a deputy director. Yet in just a few hours, Zhicheng Martial Arts Academy would nominally belong to him. How could he possibly sleep?

Seeing Chang Wei scratch his ears and cheeks, unable to sit still, Chen Xu chuckled twice and closed his eyes to rest.

With strength, one had confidence in everything one did. As it happened, no one had more confidence than him in this matter.

As daylight brightened, Zhicheng Martial Arts Academy's students gradually arrived.

"Coach Chang." After greeting him, the students looked toward Chen Xu in the seat of honor, confusion showing in their eyes.

"This is the academy's newly appointed consultant, Consultant Chen," Chang Wei said quickly. Chen Xu needed some sort of title to intervene in academy affairs, and the remaining time before dawn had been enough for Chang Wei to prepare everything perfectly.

"Hello, Consultant Chen." Scattered greetings rang out. Afterward, Chang Wei sent the students away to practice on their own.

"Look at that Consultant Chen. He looks about our age, doesn't he? How can someone so young become a consultant?" Wang Ren nudged the friend beside him, his face full of curiosity.

"What, people can't be consultants if they have the strength?" his friend replied perfunctorily. He felt that instead of discussing such matters, it would be more useful to practice the basics a few more times.

The two chatted idly when a student nearby with a white headband mysteriously leaned over. "I saw that Consultant Chen yesterday."

"What???" Wang Ren's voice rose several pitches, drawing the attention of quite a few people.

His friend gave Wang Ren a hard slap and flashed an apologetic smile at the surrounding students. Lowering his voice, he said, "Keep it down, idiot."

Seeing that he had attracted the attention of several people nearby, the white-headbanded student put on airs, coughed a few times, and deliberately lowered his voice. "Yesterday, when I went to the Martial Pavilion with Director Xu, Director Xu exchanged a few words with that Consultant Chen. The two parted on bad terms."

Thinking of how Chen Xu had swaggered into the seat of honor, Wang Ren's heart jumped. "He isn't here to challenge the academy, is he? But why didn't Coach Chang..."

"Why didn't he stop him? The reason is simple. The one surnamed Chang can't beat him." The white-headbanded student's tone was disdainful.

"If my strength were enough, I would have gone up and driven that Consultant Chen off long ago. I'd say once the director and deputy director arrive, our Coach Chang's position as a junior coach won't be safe either."

"That'd be great. The one surnamed Chang takes dirty money every day. He deserves it!" someone chimed in with glee at his misfortune.

"Look, it's Deputy Director Yang!"

"And several senior coaches. They're here."

Following everyone's gaze, Wang Ren saw Deputy Director Yang, his graying hair meticulously groomed, stepping in one after another with the others toward where Consultant Chen and Coach Chang were.

"Coach Chang, and Director Chen?" Hu Liming's expression changed slightly. Yesterday, he had been one of the senior coaches who followed Xu Lie to the Martial Pavilion, and Chen Xu had left a deep impression on him.

After all, there were not many people in Jinning Commandery who dared speak to Director Xu that way.

"Director Chen?" Deputy Director Yang looked puzzled, and Hu Liming hurried forward to whisper a few words in his ear.

After hearing him out, Deputy Director Yang let out a long "Oh," and a trace of sharpness appeared in his aged eyes.

"So it is Director Chen of Chen Martial Arts Academy. Your journey here today truly makes our Zhicheng Martial Arts Academy shine in humble surroundings.

Chang Wei, this is your fault. When a guest arrives, you should have informed us first."

Chang Wei could not be bothered to respond. If this old fox had not secretly obstructed him, he would have had the chance to become deputy director years ago. Why would he have had to wait until now?

Then he thought of how, after today, Zhicheng Martial Arts Academy would bear the Chang name. His mood could not help improving.

Why was Chang Wei grinning foolishly instead of answering?

Deputy Director Yang and the others could not make heads or tails of it. Had yesterday's blow been too great? Had he gone stupid?

Just as they were about to speak, Chen Xu from the seat of honor interrupted them. "Chang Wei, has Zhicheng Martial Arts Academy's leadership all arrived?"

Hearing his backer speak, Chang Wei was like a completely different man from before. "Two senior coaches and the other consultant are still missing."

"Then more than half have already arrived." Chen Xu's highly aggressive gaze swept across those present. "I think that's enough. Let's begin."

"Begin what?" Deputy Director Yang signaled several senior coaches to surround them, his gaze shifting back and forth between Chen Xu and Chang Wei.

"Director Xu has not arrived yet. If Director Chen has business here, please wait a moment. Once he arrives, we can make a decision."

"No need to wait for him." Chen Xu rose from the seat of honor, straightened the formal suit worth over a thousand that he had borrowed from the warehouse, and addressed everyone present. "I propose that, starting today, Chang Wei take over as director of Zhicheng Martial Arts Academy. Who agrees? Who objects?"

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