Surging Strength

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

Host: Chen Xu

Strength: 2.3 (1.6)

Physique: 1.8 (1.3)

Agility: 0.8 (0.6)

Spirit 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 Yet Initiated), Great Strength Eagle Claw Technique (Not Yet Initiated), Nine-Step Body-Leaping Technique (Not Yet Initiated)

Special Effects: Tiger Might Level 2

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

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 were already exceptional 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. As a result, the Nine-Step Body-Leaping Technique had remained shelved for years.

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

His Spirit Energy instantly dropped by 10 points. The seventh, eighth, and ninth layers each cost only 2 points, while the tenth layer directly deducted 4 points of Chen Xu's Spirit Energy.

Once the Chen-Style Tiger Roar Fist reached the tenth layer, it turned gray on the panel, entering a state where it could be fused.

After glancing at his remaining Spirit 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 Spirit Energy into the Bronze Body Technique.

At that point, Chen Xu's attributes had become:

Host: Chen Xu

Strength: 5.9

Physique: 5.3

Agility: 2.8

Spirit 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 Yet Initiated), Great Strength Eagle Claw Technique (Not Yet 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 earth-shattering. If Chen Xu fought the version of himself from a few minutes ago now, it would be nothing short of crushing a weakling.

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

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

If he had once been a young tiger just beginning to show its ferocity, then the aura he now inadvertently revealed was like the king of beasts roaring proudly through the mountains and forests.

"If you're tired, get some sleep and restore your energy." Chen Xu turned to Chang Wei as though he were discussing something utterly unimportant. "Once dawn breaks today, the position of academy master 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. His greatest pursuit in life had been becoming deputy academy master. In just a few hours, Zhicheng Martial Arts Academy would nominally belong to him. How could he possibly sleep?

Seeing Chang Wei fidgeting restlessly, Chen Xu chuckled twice and closed his eyes to rest.

When one had strength, one had confidence in anything one did. And in this matter, no one had more confidence than him.

As daylight brightened, the students of Zhicheng Martial Arts Academy gradually arrived.

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

"This is the academy's newly hired consultant, Consultant Chen," Chang Wei hurriedly said. Chen Xu needed a title if he was going to involve himself in the academy. The remaining hours before dawn had been enough for Chang Wei to prepare everything properly.

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

"Look at Consultant Chen. He seems about the same age as us. How can someone so young become a consultant?" Wang Ren nudged the friend beside him, his face full of curiosity.

"Maybe he's capable," his friend replied perfunctorily. He felt that instead of discussing such matters, it would be more useful to practice their basics a few more times.

As the two chatted idly, a student with a white headband leaned in mysteriously. "I saw Consultant Chen yesterday."

"What?" Wang Ren's voice shot up several notches, drawing the attention of quite a few people.

His friend gave Wang Ren a hard smack and offered apologetic smiles to those around them. In a low voice, he said, "Keep it down, idiot."

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

Thinking of how Chen Xu had sat brazenly in the seat of honor, Wang Ren was startled. "Could he be here to challenge the academy? But why didn't Coach Chang..."

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

"If my strength were enough, I would have gone up there and driven Consultant Chen down already. I bet that once the academy master and deputy academy masters arrive, even our Coach Chang's position as a junior coach won't be secure."

"Good. Chang takes dirty money every day. He deserves it!" someone chimed in gleefully.

"Look, it's Deputy Master Yang!"

"Several senior coaches are here too."

Following everyone's gaze, Wang Ren saw Deputy Master Yang, whose graying hair was meticulously groomed, enter the area where Consultant Chen and Coach Chang were.

"Coach Chang, and Master Chen?" Hu Liming's expression shifted slightly. Yesterday, he had been one of the senior coaches who accompanied 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 Master Xu that way.

"Master Chen?" Deputy Master Yang looked puzzled. Hu Liming hurried over and whispered a few words in his ear.

After hearing him out, Deputy Master Yang let out a long "Oh." A hint of sharpness appeared in his aged eyes.

"So you are Master Chen of the Chen Martial Arts Academy. Your arrival from afar today truly brings honor to our humble Zhicheng Martial Arts Academy.

Chang Wei, this is your failing. 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 academy master 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 immediately brightened.

Why was Chang Wei grinning foolishly instead of answering?

Deputy Master Yang and the others could not figure it out. Had yesterday's blow been too much for him, leaving him addled?

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

Hearing his backer speak, Chang Wei seemed like a completely different person from before. "We're still missing two senior coaches and another consultant."

"Then more than half are already here." Chen Xu's aggressively sharp gaze swept over those present. "I think that's enough. Let's begin."

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

"Master Xu has not arrived yet. If Master Chen has business, 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 expensive formalwear 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 master of Zhicheng Martial Arts Academy. Who supports this? Who opposes it?"