Unconvinced

Zhao Chuanshan grabbed Lu Chengchuan's hand, his face full of shock as he felt the warm current circulating through his body.

This was Inner Energy—Inner Energy from martial arts. Today, he had actually encountered a martial artist who had cultivated Inner Energy. To him, it was simply unheard of.

As far as he knew, no such person had appeared in the martial arts world for at least a hundred years.

If he had known Lu Chengchuan had cultivated Inner Energy, there would have been no need for him to test Lu Chengchuan's strength.

"Inner Energy?!"

When the two disciples heard that Lu Chengchuan had cultivated Inner Energy, they were equally shocked. They had practiced martial arts for years themselves, yet had gained little.

Still, they knew what Inner Energy was. No one could cultivate such a thing these days. Learning that he had done it, both of them stared fixedly at the palm resting on their master's body.

After a while, Lu Chengchuan withdrew his hand and guided the energy back into his lower dantian.

"You actually cultivated Inner Energy. Genius, a genius." Zhao Chuanshan rose to his feet, still refusing to let go of his hand.

He was so excited that he had lost his composure somewhat.

Lu Chengchuan said nothing. A genius? He had traded his life for this. If he really were a genius, he would not have needed to burn through his lifespan.

"Come, come. Didn't you want to learn other martial arts? I'll teach you. I'll teach you."

Having found such promising material, Zhao Chuanshan was happier than if he had had a child. For years, he had been searching for someone who could inherit his school's martial arts. Now, he had finally encountered a genius.

Lu Chengchuan had no sect or school. Though he possessed martial arts and considerable strength of his own, he was already quite content.

"Master, I have something I'd like to say to you."

At that moment, his disciples Qin Sheng and Li Ming walked over, wanting to speak with their master.

Seeing their expressions, Zhao Chuanshan understood what they wanted to say. He had not wanted to discuss it, but after thinking it over, he still nodded. "Young Friend Lu, wait a moment. I'll speak with my two disciples."

Hearing that Zhao Chuanshan wanted to teach him martial arts, Lu Chengchuan was naturally delighted. Yet the sudden interruption from the two men gave him a bad feeling. These two... couldn't possibly be unwilling, could they?

Just as he had expected, Zhao Chuanshan and his two disciples entered a small room. The moment they went inside, Qin Sheng immediately stepped forward and said, "Master, this is our school's greatest secret. You intend to..."

"That's right, Master. He's an outsider. How can you teach him our martial arts?"

Li Ming beside him also voiced his opposition.

They had not known about this when they came. They had only been told they were meeting a powerful martial artist. They had never expected their master to teach the Giant Elephant Skill to that martial artist. How could they accept that?

"I know the two of you cannot accept this, but I have no choice. You became Espers and your strength increased greatly, yet your accomplishments in martial arts have remained limited. Finding a martial arts genius today is the fortune of the Giant Elephant Style."

"My mind is made up. You two... say no more!"

Zhao Chuanshan hesitated somewhat. He was determined to pass the martial art on to Lu Chengchuan; what troubled him was only how to soothe his two disciples afterward. They were his personal disciples and had stayed by his side for more than ten years. They also managed many of the businesses under his name. They were truly his personal disciples.

"If you insist, we won't say anything more. But there is one condition: I want to see his strength! I want to fight him. If he truly has the ability, then I'll acknowledge him!"

"That's right! Master, we want to see what he's capable of and whether he can take the Giant Elephant Skill."

"You two! Sigh, forget it... We'll do as you say." Zhao Chuanshan looked at his two disciples, helpless.

They were Espers. After awakening, they had obtained strength far beyond that of ordinary people. In terms of combat ability, both disciples were stronger than him—not merely by a little.

He also knew Lu Chengchuan was strong, but Espers were too new. He did not know whether a martial artist who had cultivated Inner Energy could contend with an Esper. Zhao Chuanshan thought it over but could not come up with an answer, so he could only agree to his disciples' request.

Outside the small room, Lu Chengchuan walked over to Zhou Yaning. "What do you think they're talking about?"

The three of them had looked none too pleased when they entered. They were probably discussing whether to give him the martial art.

"What else could they be talking about? Nothing more than trying to persuade their master." Zhou Yaning replied coldly, then asked, "They're Espers, and neither of them is weak. Can you beat them?"

"Who knows? I'll only know after fighting them." Lu Chengchuan had not expected them to be Espers. It seemed obtaining the martial art would not be so easy.

"Captain, they're coming out."

The two turned their gazes over. Master and disciples emerged from the room, with Zhao Chuanshan in front, his expression far from pleasant.

Seeing his look, Lu Chengchuan knew things would not be so simple.

"Young Friend Lu, my two disciples want to spar with you. They want to know whether you have the strength to receive the Giant Elephant Skill, so..."

Zhao Chuanshan was deeply helpless. He could barely bring himself to say such words, but there was no way to resolve the matter without saying them. He could only swallow his pride and explain the reason to Lu Chengchuan.

"No problem. Which one of you wants to spar with me?" There were no surprises; Lu Chengchuan had already been prepared.

"I'll fight you!" Qin Sheng stepped forward.

Since he had been the first to make the suggestion, he would be the one to spar with Lu Chengchuan.

"Then please."

They returned to the place where Lu Chengchuan had just sparred with Zhao Chuanshan. Lu Chengchuan felt helpless, but he had no choice but to fight. This concerned his future, and he did not want to miss the chance to obtain a new martial art.

"Please!"

The two stood apart. There was no pointless exchange of pleasantries as they spoke in unison.

The instant they called out "please," Qin Sheng pushed off the ground. His entire body shot into the air, crossing more than ten meters in a flash as he surged toward Lu Chengchuan on a gale.

Fast! Extremely fast.

This Esper really had some skill. Lu Chengchuan could barely make out his movements.

The gale whipped at his clothes and hair. Even the onlookers nearby felt the powerful wind sweep over them. Zhao Chuanshan was somewhat worried, afraid that Lu Chengchuan would be unable to defeat his disciple.

Yet amid the violent wind, Lu Chengchuan remained as steady as a mountain.

As Qin Sheng charged in, he merely struck out with a swift palm. Qin Sheng happened to rush straight into it, and the palm strike landed directly on his body.

Qin Sheng was fast, but not so fast that Lu Chengchuan could not react. And though the gale looked imposing, it had no negative effect on him whatsoever.

Qin Sheng had been thinking of defeating him quickly and making Lu Chengchuan retreat in the face of difficulty. Yet the moment he charged out, pain shot through his chest, and his entire body was sent flying backward.

He slammed heavily into the ground, and the uncontrolled gale instantly died down.

Everyone present looked at Qin Sheng lying on the ground, but no one spoke. This was different from what they had expected. They had thought the two would exchange several rounds. But this was it?

Qin Sheng did not seem all that capable after all. The gale had felt highly oppressive, yet he had been sent flying with a single move.

Lu Chengchuan walked over to Qin Sheng, cupped his fists, and said, "You let me win!"

He had thought the other man possessed some formidable ability. In the end, aside from being somewhat fast and making the breeze pleasantly cool, he could do nothing else.

The private room fell completely silent, and Qin Sheng did not know how to speak.

At that moment, the other disciple, Li Ming, stepped forward. "I'll fight you!"