Martial Examination

After staying in the inner courtyard for over an hour, Cheng Heng finally came out.

This apprenticeship ceremony had been far less grand than Chen An's, but Cheng Heng had no other thoughts about it. His [Heaven Rewards Diligence] might not lose to superior bone aptitude. There was no need for envy.

The delay had mainly been because Wu Zhong tested Cheng Heng's bone aptitude again. Yet, as expected, it was still inferior bone aptitude, unchanged in the slightest.

However, Cheng Heng learned from Wu Zhong that secret medicines capable of improving one's bone aptitude actually existed in this world.

Still, a small county like Gaoyang County had no access to such pills. Only in prefectural cities or within martial arts sects would one have any hope of obtaining them.

Moreover, from their conversation, he learned that there was only one path into those great sects: participating in the Martial Examination.

Only by placing among the top ranks in the Martial Examination would one have a chance to enter those great sects and behold a broader world!

"At the Skill-Transforming Force realm, one can extend one's life by twenty years. Wouldn't the realms beyond it grant even more lifespan?"

"Or perhaps... could martial cultivation in this world allow one to live forever, shatter the void, and ascend beyond it?"

"This world is becoming more and more marvelous!"

Cheng Heng cast aside his stray thoughts. His foremost goal now was to cultivate as quickly as possible and break through to the Hidden Force realm!

Although the Bright Force realm qualified one to participate in the Martial Examination, reaching the top ranks required attaining the Hidden Force realm.

There were still more than half a year until Gaoyang County's Martial Examination. There was enough time; he should be able to break through to Hidden Force before then.

Thus, Cheng Heng once again plunged into round after round of tedious training.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten days passed.

Cheng Heng finally caught up on his Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique's progress, reaching the minor mastery realm!

[Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique Minor Mastery (1/5000): Train ten times a day; major mastery in one year, perfection in three years]

This also meant that Cheng Heng could be considered outstanding among those at the Bright Force level!

As usual, Cheng Heng did not return home from the martial arts hall until the sky had turned dark.

The moon hung high overhead, and the surroundings were silent as Cheng Heng walked into the quiet street.

Suddenly, Cheng Heng's heart tightened. His senses, sharper than those of ordinary people, allowed him to detect a furtive figure following behind him.

"Come out!"

Cheng Heng spun around sharply, his calm gaze fixed on the person behind him.

"Hehehe! No wonder Li Er and Wang Pockmark fell into your hands. So you had already started learning martial arts at the martial arts hall."

As the words fell, a short man with a scar across his face stepped out from the shadows.

He was none other than Li Black Tiger!

Cheng Heng was slightly stunned upon hearing this. It seemed his earlier methods had still left traces and been discovered.

"May I ask why Gang Leader Li has come looking for me today?"

Cheng Heng asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Cut the crap! You're just a brat who started learning martial arts, yet you dared to swindle money from my Black Tiger Gang. Spit out those twenty taels of silver you swallowed, and perhaps Tiger Lord will leave you a whole corpse today!"

Li Black Tiger curled his lips into a cold smile, then spoke viciously.

So that was what this was about. It seemed there would be no peaceful resolution today!

Cheng Heng sneered inwardly. No wonder the Black Tiger Gang was swallowed up by the River Tide Gang. Judging by how outdated their information is alone, they deserved to lose!

Not only was he no longer a novice martial arts apprentice, he had already stepped into Bright Force, and his fist technique had reached minor mastery!

Cheng Heng said nothing more. Instead, he gathered his entire aura to its peak, then flashed forward like a starving tiger pouncing straight at Li Black Tiger.

Li Black Tiger froze where he stood. This brat's aura did not look like that of someone who had only just begun learning martial arts!

He had thought a few threats would make the brat obediently hand over the money. He had never expected Cheng Heng to strike first.

Li Black Tiger's face twisted savagely. Drawing the long saber from his back, he prepared to take Cheng Heng's life with one brutal slash.

Cheng Heng used the Tiger-Subduing Fist's "Black Tiger Rips Out Heart." The fingers of his right hand were like steel sinews. Slipping past Li Black Tiger's cleaving saber, he drove one claw through his chest with ease.

Crack!

With the sound of his breastbone shattering, Li Black Tiger staggered back several steps!

The pain nearly made Li Black Tiger pass out. The old abdominal wound from when the River Tide Gang had ambushed him had not yet healed, and today Cheng Heng had pierced his breastbone in a single move!

Damn it!

He had misjudged badly!

This brat had played the pig to eat the tiger. Not only was he a Bright Force martial artist, but he had also trained the Tiger-Subduing Fist to a considerable degree!

Run!

As long as the green hills remained, there would be no shortage of firewood!

Li Black Tiger was about to flee, but how could Cheng Heng possibly give him that chance? Strike him while he was down and take his life!

Cheng Heng closed in on Li Black Tiger like lightning. His fists tore through the air, sending booming blasts rippling through the night.

He aimed specifically at his injuries.

He gave him no chance to catch his breath. Bang! Bang! Bang!

Punch after punch landed on Li Black Tiger's abdomen, sending blood spilling everywhere.

"Lord Cheng, spare my life! I won't dare do it again!"

Cheng Heng's gaze was icy. If he had known this would happen, why had he come here to deliver himself to death today?

The next moment!

Pfft!

Li Black Tiger's breastbone was completely shattered. His internal organs were likely pulp as well. His eyes flew wide open, then gradually dimmed.

"Phew!"

Cheng Heng let out a long breath. Your name was Li Black Tiger, and today you died beneath the Tiger-Subduing Fist. You died where you belonged!

He then picked up the saber that had fallen nearby and searched Li Black Tiger's body. In the end, he found only a copy of Mountain-Cleaving Saber Technique and a little over four taels of loose silver!

Bah! What a poor bastard. No wonder he came looking for him over twenty taels of silver.

Cheng Heng then hacked Li Black Tiger's corpse into a mangled mess with the saber, making sure no one could tell who had done it. Only then did he flash away and vanish into the street.

Early the next morning, just as Cheng Heng had washed up and was preparing to go out, he saw several burly men dressed in River Tide Gang attire approaching his door.

Leading them was a young man around twenty years old, with four or five underlings following behind him!

The young man's face was pale. Upon seeing Cheng Heng, he smiled and said, "I am Zhang Feng, the Young Gang Leader of the River Tide Gang. You must be Cheng Heng!"

Cheng Heng calmly cupped his hands. "So it is the Young Gang Leader of the River Tide Gang. I have long heard of you."

Zhang Feng returned the gesture politely. "Junior Brother Cheng, from today onward, this entire area will be fully taken over by my River Tide Gang. The Black Tiger Gang officially became history starting last night!"

"If Junior Brother Cheng needs anything in the future, just speak up. My father has heard your name and has long wished to meet you!"

Cheng Heng snorted inwardly. If your father truly wished to meet me, he would have come in person today.

It seemed the River Tide Gang had definitely investigated his background beforehand. Otherwise, they would not have made a special trip to his door.

He then put on a flattered expression. "Young Gang Leader, you flatter me!"

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Zhang Feng finally departed with his men.