Mountain-Calming Martial Hall Comes to Challenge

After returning from reporting to the county office.

Lu Yuan trained at the fist hall day and night for ten days.

Lu An's Grinding Force had also begun to take shape.

At this moment.

The gates of Withered Wood Fist Hall were slowly pushed open, and a faint scent of blood drifted in.

Chen Wang returned with the Monster-Hunting Squad.

However, of the dozen or so who had set out, only seven or eight remained. Every one of them was wounded and listless.

Several more disciples had been left forever in the wilderness beyond the city.

"Go. Deliver the death compensation to the families of the fallen disciples. Take it from the accounts."

Chen Wang's voice was hoarse, and his face looked even more haggard.

"Yes, Master."

Seeing this scene, eldest senior brother You Tai did not feel well either.

But that was simply how the world was.

The atmosphere within the fist hall grew somewhat oppressive as well.

There were fewer and fewer disciples at Withered Wood Fist Hall.

From more than a hundred disciples before, there were now only around twenty-odd left.

"I, Chen Wang, have taught fist arts for half my life. I never expected things to turn out like this."

Chen Wang let out a sigh.

He did not know how much longer Withered Wood Fist Hall could endure at this rate.

"Master, the Demon Suppression Office has issued kill-point rewards for several specific demon beasts. If we can hunt the demon beasts listed in this proclamation."

"Once we accumulate enough points, we can directly apply to become subordinates of the Demon Suppression Office. When that happens, our Withered Wood Fist Hall will surely soar into the sky."

Lin Ruoxue spoke up.

"Senior Sister Lin is right. Give me a little more time, and killing those demon beasts will be as easy as turning my hand over, won't it?"

Su Yu chimed in.

He was extremely confident in his martial talent.

"Master, we have Junior Brother Su and Junior Sister Lin to thank for this time!"

"When we encountered that First-Order Low-Grade Gray Wolf Demon, if not for the two of them working together so seamlessly and holding that beast back, we would likely have lost several more brothers."

A disciple named Xu Xiao, his arm wrapped in bandages, forced out a faint smile.

At his words, Chen Wang's weary face looked much better.

"Little Yu, Little Xue, the two of you are exceptionally gifted and possess the sharp spirit to slay demons. That is a good thing."

"However, you must remember that demons are vicious. You must never be careless."

Chen Wang gave them a reminder.

"Yes, Master. We will remember it well."

Both Lin Ruoxue and Su Yu knew that their master meant well.

"Still, the two of you have done exceedingly well in slaying demons these past days."

"In just ten days, you not only completed the second level of Grinding Force and successfully achieved Grade Entry, becoming First-Rank Lower Martial Artists, but you were even able to join forces and kill a First-Order Low-Grade demon."

"With talent and practical combat ability like this, even compared to ordinary disciples of those great sects, you would not fall far short. In Pingyang County, you are unquestionably heaven's favored children."

"If there is truly an opportunity, I will recommend you to Mystic Mountain Sect."

Afraid of discouraging the two, Chen Wang naturally offered them encouragement as well.

"Mystic Mountain Sect!"

Upon hearing their master's words.

Everyone was shocked.

Even in a small town like theirs, they had heard of Qingzhou's Five Great Sects.

The Five Great Sects wielded immense influence. Even the imperial court needed their aid to govern Qingzhou's hundreds of millions of people. They were also holy lands yearned for by Qingzhou's martial artists.

"It is all thanks to Master's excellent guidance. Though that Gray Wolf Demon was fierce, under this disciple's Withered Wood Fist and Junior Sister's cooperation, it was ultimately put to death."

Su Yu's words were much more measured, but the pride in his eyes still could not be concealed.

Lin Ruoxue also gave a graceful bow, a reserved smile on her lovely face.

It left several male disciples nearby dizzy with admiration.

"Good, good."

Chen Wang nodded, a faint smile appearing on his face.

Afterward, Chen Wang began spot-checking the disciples' cultivation progress.

When he saw Lu Yuan.

Chen Wang frowned.

"Little Lu! Didn't I tell you that your aptitude... truly isn't suited to the martial path."

Seeing Lu Yuan still pouring sweat before the wooden trough, Chen Wang's brows immediately furrowed, and displeasure rose within him.

He had previously concluded that Lu Yuan's natural endowment was poor and that he had no talent. Continuing to stay here was nothing but a waste of time and silver.

Yet Lu Yuan had not even listened to the well-intentioned advice to leave.

"Your younger brother can stay..."

Perhaps feeling that his tone had been too harsh.

Chen Wang added another sentence.

Su Yu also spoke. "Lu Yuan, Master was doing this for your own good. He wanted you to cut your losses in time. Why won't you believe him?"

"It would be one thing if you insisted on clinging to the fist hall yourself, but you even brought your little brother here to freeload. Do you take Withered Wood Fist Hall for a charity house?"

Su Yu's tone was somewhat hostile.

Yet many people felt the same way.

In times like these, when Master had kindly advised Lu Yuan to leave.

He had even allowed his younger brother to come and inherit his place.

That was already showing great consideration.

"Senior Brother Su, that is a little too much."

Lin Ruoxue softly tried to dissuade him.

Of course, she did not think Lu Yuan was in the right either.

"Ruoxue, your heart is simply too soft."

Su Yu did not care.

Just then, eldest senior brother You Tai walked over. He coughed before saying, "Junior Brother Su, mind your words. Lu Yuan... has already successfully completed Grinding Force and officially become a martial artist."

"Hm! Impossible..."

Chen Wang abruptly turned his head as well, his gaze examining Lu Yuan.

His eyes were filled with doubt.

Grinding Force completed?

But the skin on Lu Yuan's arms was fair and smooth, without the slightest sign of turning bronze!

Su Yu, Lin Ruoxue, and the other disciples of the fist hall were also utterly astonished.

They stared straight at Lu Yuan.

Just as Chen Wang was about to ask, perhaps even step forward to inspect Lu Yuan.

A burst of noisy footsteps and arrogant shouting suddenly came from outside the fist hall.

"People of Withered Wood Fist Hall, come out and accept the challenge!"

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw Tu Zhenyue, master of Mountain-Calming Martial Hall.

He strode through the gates in an imposing manner, bringing more than a dozen disciples dressed in matching training uniforms.

It was an old tradition in town for martial halls to hold sparring challenges every few months, both to exchange techniques and establish prestige.

But Tu Zhenyue's posture at this moment made it clear that he had come to smash the place up.

"Hall Master Tu, the demon-slaying missions issued by the county office lately have caused countless casualties among all our martial halls. No one has had an easy time. Why not put these challenge rules aside for a while longer?"

Chen Wang's expression was grave as he stepped forward and cupped his hands.

The challenges between the various martial halls.

Had originally been a good thing, a way to test disciples and spar with one another.

But now was a season of troubles.

Chen Wang had no such intention.

"Put them aside?"

"If Master Chen does not wish to fight, that is fine. Either hang a no-challenge plaque outside your fist hall, or have your Withered Wood Fist Hall disband as soon as possible."

In response to Chen Wang's politeness.

Tu Zhenyue merely snorted coldly.

The flesh on his face trembled.

The moment those words were spoken, Chen Wang's expression changed drastically.

Though the town's martial halls were competitors, they generally would not drive matters to such a life-or-death extreme.

Hanging a no-challenge plaque was equivalent to publicly slapping the entire Withered Wood Fist Hall across the face, admitting inferiority and shutting their doors to visitors.

Who would ever come to Withered Wood Fist Hall to take a master afterward?

This was simply cutting off their very foundation.