Arrival of the Martial Pavilion Inspector

"Unauthorized release?" Chen Xu's expression shifted slightly, and he immediately searched for news related to the Martial Way.

"The Qinghe Commandery Martial Arts Academy Tournament officially begins."

"Creating brilliance once more! Tiansheng Province's number one Martial Artist participates in the Great Abyss Martial Arts War and wins a top three finish."

"Eleven-year-old girl becomes the disciple of the Great Abyss Martial Arts number one, a future full of promise!"

After watching several match videos of the so-called commandery and provincial martial arts number ones, and then looking up relevant information, Chen Xu shook his head with a light sigh.

Just as he expected, the ostensible Martial Way on the surface fundamentally lacked realms like [Martial Form].

There were only Martial Artist First Grade up to the highest Martial Artist Ninth Grade, collectively referred to as professional Martial Artists, with the classification of amateur Martial Artists beneath them.

In surface-level martial arts, gaps existed between the commandery number one, the provincial number one, and even the currently recognized world martial arts number one, but they definitely did not reach a world-shattering degree.

Chen Xu estimated that with his current strength, wanting to scrape together the title of provincial number one would pose not the slightest problem.

The next day.

"Is Mr. Chen in, please?" A man dressed in Martial Pavilion attire and wearing a timid expression softly knocked on the rust-filled iron door.

"Something the matter?" Chen Xu walked out from the house draped in a coat, finding that due to the changes in his height and build, he could no longer wear his previous clothes at all.

Hearing Chen Xu's voice, the man hastily said, "I am Deputy Pavilion Master Ling's new secretary, you can call me Xiao Yu. Today I'm here to deliver your VIP card, and you can contact me in the future if you have any matters."

Even though the door was not open, he held the card in both hands and bowed to offer it upward.

Squeak.

The old, rusted iron door pulled open, and Secretary Yu's peripheral vision swept over the visitor's legs, wanting to see what difference actually existed between a formidable Martial Artist and an ordinary person.

Chen Xu took the VIP card and the business card beneath it, scanned them for a few moments, and then gripped them in his hand: "Secretary Yu, I happen to have a small matter. I don't have any clothes that fit me here, could I trouble you to make a trip?"

Secretary Yu raised his head slightly and saw Chen Xu's image of large shorts matched with a coat, feeling as though something inside his heart shattered with a loud crash.

"Alright, please wait a moment." Secretary Yu forced a smile. He yearned for the Martial Way, but because of his physique reasons was unable to set foot in this field, always holding a yearning toward the various martial arts powerhouses.

Striving to enter the Martial Pavilion was precisely to get closer to this group of people he yearned for.

Yet today...

Walking a few steps toward the urban area direction, as if remembering something else, he respectfully said, "Pavilion Master Chen, Deputy Pavilion Master Ling asked me to inform you that the Martial Pavilion Inspector lord from above will arrive today. Wishing in advance that you officially obtain the title of pavilion master today."

Chen Xu nodded to indicate he understood, turned back, and closed the iron door.

Outside the Jinning Railway Center.

Passing pedestrians occasionally looked toward the man towering like an iron tower, and upon seeing the medal on his chest, involuntarily revealed looks of awe.

"Sorry to trouble Deputy Pavilion Master Ling to come out and welcome us, He is truly honored."

Not far away, a group of two men and a woman moved briskly, the leader cupping his fists together as his icy expression forced out a trace of a smile.

"What are you saying, Inspector He? Commandery-level inspectors have always been on equal footing with commandery deputy pavilion masters, and this pavilion welcoming you is only as it should be. Even if all personnel of the Martial Pavilion were present, it would be no more than right."

Inspector He waved his hands repeatedly: "He lacks the qualifications to have the pavilion master personally welcome him."

Ling Xiangshan signaled the followers behind him to open the car door, inviting the three to take their seats.

"The welcome banquet has already been prepared, please."

"Please."

The vehicle traveled smoothly, and He Tao leaned back on the sofa, taking a piece of paper handed over by the female disciple at his side.

"Zhengxin Martial Arts Academy, Inquiry Martial Arts Hall, Chen Martial Arts Academy.

Are these three the martial arts academies that need to undergo the new pavilion master tests?"

"Yes, these are the profiles of the three testers, please take a look."

"Huang Bai, married, forty-seven years old. The previous pavilion master retired ten days ago, and it was decided that he would succeed as the new pavilion master.

Lin Qi, unmarried, has a younger sister at home, sixteen years old. Moved here from Peishui County the year before last, opened a martial arts academy, and can serve as the first pavilion master of Inquiry Martial Arts Hall after evaluation."

"Sixteen years old?" He Tao pinched a grape and placed it into his mouth. "I remember there's also a tester who is only seventeen, right? Jinning Commandery is producing many talented people this year."

"Yes, the last one is the successor of Chen Martial Arts Academy—Chen Xu. According to the information we understand, he is not a member of the Chen family, but merely an orphan taken in by the previous pavilion master out of momentary kindness."

"Chen Xu..." He Tao recalled Deputy Pavilion Master Xu's phone call while on the train.

"Chen Xu of Chen Martial Arts Academy should have the strength of a Jinning Commandery martial arts academy master, ranked in the bottom tier of the top ten. I heard he walks quite close to that fellow Ling Xiangshan, so try to recruit him a bit first, and if that doesn't work, knock him down a peg or two.

If he is willing to submit to us, we can swallow up a bit more of the Refining Liquid share."

Putting down the paper, the car door happened to be pulled open by a follower: "Inspector He, Jinning Grand Hotel has arrived."

As soon as he got out of the car, He Tao saw a middle-aged man around forty or fifty years old approaching at a fast pace.

"Inspector He, nice to meet you, nice to meet you. I am Huang Bai, unworthy to act as the acting pavilion master of Zhengxin Martial Arts Academy."

"Oh~~," He Tao dragged out a long tone, nodding arrogantly. "So it's Pavilion Master Huang, nice to meet you."

Huang Bai rubbed his hands together, handing over a slip of paper with lightning speed before taking his leave.

He Tao's peripheral vision swept over the text on the slip of paper, his expression satisfied. This fellow knew how to play the game; when the time came, he would just loosen the standards and let him pass.

Failing to see the figures of the other two pavilion masters, He Tao's expression grew a bit gloomy.

As expected of underage children, they really didn't know etiquette.

When the time came, they shouldn't blame him for handling matters strictly by the book and showing no favoritism.

Three rounds of wine passed, and five courses were served.

Huang Bai nodded and bowed at the side, completely lacking the demeanor a Martial Artist should have, occasionally pouring wine for the few of them, allowing the two disciples who came with their master to experience the feeling of being superior beings with power and influence.

"In my view, apart from Pavilion Master Huang, those two unfeathered brats actually wanting to pass the test is simply laughable." The male disciple drained the wine in his cup in one gulp, and Huang Bai immediately helped him fill it back up.

"You flatter me. In my view, as Inspector He's disciple, you are more than qualified to assume this inspector position." Huang Bai continuously flattered them. In order to successfully inherit the position of pavilion master, he did not plan to keep this old face of his.

He knew his own strength; wanting to pass properly was simply too high in difficulty, so it was better to suck up to these few people and let them ease up on the standards.

"The information says Chen Xu's strength..." The female disciple wanted to refute, but was immediately interrupted by the male disciple.

"Junior Sister, you are simply too young. It's definitely a recording error. What kind of concept is a top-ten commandery martial arts academy master? I think it's just overly exaggerated.

It's already good if his strength can approach the top ten; he doesn't even have any combat achievements, and I don't know how much money he wasted just to build up his illusory reputation."

"Senior Brother has seen too many people like this. Their individual strength isn't much to speak of, but they manage to make their names resound with thunder. The ethos of the martial arts world is ruined precisely by this group of fellows.

If I get the chance to make a move, I will definitely let that Chen Xu know the price of bragging blindly.

Jinning Commandery top ten?

It should be Jinning Commandery's biggest joke!"

Huang Bai hastily chuckled and chimed in, only he himself knowing his true thoughts.