Qian Xiaoling was Zhou Yaning's subordinate.
She had also been there when they entered the black mist before. Lu Chengchuan remembered her somewhat. Though she looked soft, cute, and harmless, she showed no fear at all when fighting monsters.
"I'm Advanced Member No. 127. This is my friend."
After they finished talking, Qian Xiaoling turned and showed the waiter her identification—a small, matte-black token hanging down. Once he learned that she was an advanced member, the waiter became even more respectful and stopped pressing the issue of membership.
Qian Xiaoling led Lu Chengchuan to the third floor, where Zhou Yaning and several others were waiting.
Lu Chengchuan entered the private room. Zhou Yaning was sitting on the sofa speaking with someone. When he came in, everyone stopped talking and looked over at him.
"He's here. This is Lu Chengchuan."
Several people rose to greet him. Lu Chengchuan swept his gaze across them. Besides several familiar faces from the Investigation Team, there were three men in the room whom he had never seen before.
"This is Master Zhao Chuanshan of the Giant Elephant Style. These two are his disciples, Qin Sheng and Li Ming." Zhou Yaning came over and introduced the three of them in turn.
A master of the Giant Elephant Style—it sounded like he was the head of some martial arts sect.
Lu Chengchuan turned his gaze to Zhao Chuanshan and observed his every movement.
Zhao Chuanshan was in his forties. The arms exposed beneath his sleeves were powerful, and his eyes shone brightly. The other two were his disciples. They carried themselves well and wore confident expressions at all times.
As Lu Chengchuan sized them up, the man being observed was also studying Lu Chengchuan, examining this "martial arts prodigy."
He looked Lu Chengchuan over from head to toe, recalling what Zhou Yaning had told him.
The young man before him did not seem particularly remarkable, aside from the faint glint in his eyes that made him seem far from ordinary.
Lu Chengchuan did not think Zhao Chuanshan looked especially formidable either. From appearances alone, he was merely a very strong, energetic middle-aged man.
"Hello."
Zhao Chuanshan took the initiative to greet him and extended his right hand.
Lu Chengchuan responded and reached out to shake his hand a few times.
After the two exchanged pleasantries, Zhou Yaning came over. "Didn't you want martial arts techniques? Master Zhao told me that as long as you can satisfy him, he'll teach you his style's martial arts unconditionally."
Zhou Yaning had not forgotten his request. After returning and handling her affairs, she had gone to explain the matter to the director.
The Investigation Bureau was also very interested in Lu Chengchuan. A powerful martial artist unlike any they had ever seen before naturally aroused their curiosity.
Zhao Chuanshan's sect was based in Anyang City, and he had connections with the Investigation Bureau. Zhou Yaning found Zhao Chuanshan and told him about the matter. Upon learning that there was such an unknown figure, Zhao Chuanshan could not wait to meet him.
"What does Master Zhao want me to do?"
Rather than feeling happy at the offer of martial arts techniques for free, Lu Chengchuan became even more puzzled.
After all, nothing was more expensive than something free. They were strangers, so why would they give him martial arts techniques for nothing? Was there something waiting for him here?
Not blinded by the prospect of gain, Lu Chengchuan calmly asked Zhao Chuanshan what conditions he had.
Zhao Chuanshan shook his head slightly. He knew what Lu Chengchuan was worried about, but he had no intention of explaining. Instead, he slowly said, "You don't need to do anything. Just have a match with me."
"A match? With you?" Lu Chengchuan thought he had misheard.
"Yes. Fight me. As long as you can defeat me, I'll teach you the martial arts techniques." Zhao Chuanshan nodded, his tone incomparably firm.
Without exchanging blows, he would never know how strong Lu Chengchuan truly was. It was not that he distrusted Zhou Yaning, but he wanted to see the truth with his own eyes.
The others were also surprised to hear that he wanted to spar with Lu Chengchuan. They had not known this was Zhao Chuanshan's plan and had thought he merely intended to ask Lu Chengchuan to handle some matter.
"Now? Right here?"
When Zhao Chuanshan nodded in confirmation, Lu Chengchuan went along with it and directly asked whether he was ready.
"Right here. We'll go over there."
Zhao Chuanshan pointed to the other side of the room. The private room was spacious enough for them to fight. After saying that, Zhao Chuanshan walked over first, and Lu Chengchuan immediately followed.
The others also hurried over and gathered around to watch the match.
One was a martial arts master renowned for years, a Giant Elephant martial artist who had once defeated ten opponents alone. The other was an unknown young man.
Zhao Chuanshan's two disciples examined Lu Chengchuan. This young martial artist, who was around their age, seemed far from simple, but they did not think he was all that formidable.
Lu Chengchuan stopped opposite Zhao Chuanshan. They stood seven or eight meters apart, leaving plenty of room for them to fight.
"Please!"
Zhao Chuanshan raised his hand in salute first, then let out a loud shout and attacked first.
Like an enraged giant elephant, he stomped toward Lu Chengchuan step by step. Once he reached him, Zhao Chuanshan threw a punch at Lu Chengchuan's chest.
This punch could shatter bricks. It would not feel good if it landed on a person.
Since Zhou Yaning had said Lu Chengchuan was very strong, Zhao Chuanshan had no intention of holding back. He used his full strength from the very first move.
Lu Chengchuan remained where he was. It was not that he had failed to react. Rather, Zhao Chuanshan was simply too slow. The moment he threw his punch, Lu Chengchuan already knew where it would land.
He raised a hand and caught Zhao Chuanshan's fist in one motion.
It happened too quickly for the spectators to see clearly. All they saw was Lu Chengchuan suddenly and steadily catching Zhao Chuanshan's fist without moving an inch himself.
The fist struck his palm, but Lu Chengchuan felt nothing.
The punch was slow and weak. After reaching the third level of mastery in the Eagle Claw Iron Body Skill, his skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and membranes had become stronger than ordinary people could imagine. Taking this punch was effortless for him.
Zhao Chuanshan saw that Lu Chengchuan stood as steady as a mountain, while his full-strength punch had failed to move him in the slightest.
From that one punch, Zhao Chuanshan knew Zhou Yaning had not been wrong. This man was very strong—far stronger than he had imagined.
Shocked, Zhao Chuanshan tried to pull his hand back, but Lu Chengchuan was faster. He seized Zhao Chuanshan's wrist with his other hand and pulled hard toward himself.
Zhao Chuanshan could not resist at all. His body instantly lost balance as Lu Chengchuan easily dragged him over.
After pulling him close, Lu Chengchuan quickly let go and struck him with a palm. Zhao Chuanshan was sent flying by the blow and landed flat on his back.
Lu Chengchuan had held back a great deal with that strike. Otherwise, Zhao Chuanshan would not have merely ended up lying on the floor.
"Master! Are you all right?"
Seeing their master fall, Qin Sheng and Li Ming rushed forward to help him up.
"Cough, cough! I'm fine. A true master! Cough, cough!" Zhao Chuanshan was helped up. He tried to speak, but the pain made him cough several times before he finally recovered.
Fast—far too fast. And the force was immense as well. Zhao Chuanshan had not even seen the movement before he found himself on the ground.
"Let me help you recover."
Seeing Zhao Chuanshan coughing, Lu Chengchuan stepped forward, circulated his qi through both hands, and placed them against Zhao Chuanshan's chest.
In an instant, Zhao Chuanshan felt a stream of heat enter his body. The pain in his chest dissolved immediately, his stagnant blood and qi began to flow freely, and his aching body suddenly felt incomparably light.
"This... is qi?"
Before you continue