Secret Art!

Arriving at the inner courtyard, Lu Li looked up at the blazing sun still hanging high overhead.

Should he lay bare all the strength he had hidden and tell his master everything?

After all, Lin Lanyi now knew that he had reached Fifth-Level Skin Tempering. There was no reason to keep hiding it from his master.

He believed his master was someone he could trust completely and would never harm him.

It was just that... how should he put it?

Having concealed it for so long made him seem somewhat less than sincere. Thinking back on how his master had treated him these past days, Lu Li felt embarrassed for the first time in his life.

With that mindset, he crossed the inner courtyard and arrived at his master's residence in the rear courtyard.

In places Lu Li did not notice, the inner courtyard's disciples all had different thoughts upon suddenly seeing him, and different changes appeared in their eyes.

Su Meiyi was here today as well.

For the past half month, he had come to the martial academy nearly every day to practice his fists. Of the nine inner courtyard disciples, everyone except Zhao Kuo had exchanged blows with him and lost.

That even included Wu Shuigen, who had already reached Sixth-Level Skin Tempering.

Just as Lu Li was about to knock, Shen Gangfu opened the door first with a creak.

"Did you succeed?"

Shen Gangfu looked at Lu Li's compact, upright body and smiled.

"Come in quickly. There's been a change regarding the Martial Lecture Hall's Martial Examination slots."

All the words Lu Li had prepared were already at his lips when his master abruptly cut him off.

There had been a change to the Martial Lecture Hall slots?

Wasn't there still three months left?

With thoughts swirling through his mind, Lu Li was pulled into the inner room by his master.

"The Martial Lecture Hall's Martial Examination has been moved up by three months."

Shen Gangfu lifted his chin slightly, indicating that Lu Li should sit first, then continued.

"The Martial Examination begins in three days. Each of the Inner City's seventy-two martial academies gets one slot. In three days, nine slots to enter the Martial Lecture Hall and become Martial Students will be decided."

Lu Li's thoughts raced. Sitting down with a bellyful of questions, he blurted out the thing he was most curious about.

"Why was it suddenly moved up? Has there ever been such a precedent?"

Shen Gangfu shook his head and let out a solemn sigh.

"Not in the ten years since I came to Golden Gate Martial Academy, nor in the twenty years before that. There has never been such a precedent. I hear it is related to some 'divine miracle,' though even I do not know the specifics... Perhaps Lin Lanyi knows more."

Lu Li nodded impassively, then asked again.

"Master, are all the disciples participating in this grand examination at the Skin Tempering realm? Also, why does our academy have a slot?"

Maintaining his solemn bearing, Shen Gangfu said in a deep voice.

"The golden period for martial training is from sixteen to eighteen, with sixteen being the best. Thus, Martial Lecture Hall Martial Students may not be over eighteen. In truth, nearly every batch of Martial Students is sixteen.

"Unless one possesses extraordinary talent or a background that reaches the heavens, the Martial Lecture Hall is more inclined to recruit sixteen-year-old Martial Students.

"This ironclad rule will not be broken.

"The Martial Lecture Hall has ten slots each year, and the Martial Examination is always held around year's end.

"Skin Tempering is a martial artist's first step, and one's foundation is especially important. Skin Tempering relies on patient, grinding effort. At most, one has a year; no matter how gifted one is, it is difficult to pass the second Gate-Breaking."

Shen Gangfu paused, then continued, "Thus, Martial Examination candidates are almost all first Gate-Breaking Skin Tempering martial artists.

"As for Golden Gate Martial Academy, it is actually an Inner City martial academy. It is only that ten years ago, when I became its resident master, I voluntarily moved it to the Outer City, all to give these impoverished Outer City disciples a chance..."

So that was it. Lu Li gradually came to understand.

If one began martial training at sixteen, even if one started at the beginning of the year, there would be at most a year before year's end. It truly would be difficult to undergo a second Gate-Breaking.

Nor could one begin a year earlier. At fifteen, the body had not fully developed. Rashly starting martial training would only damage one's martial foundation.

Seeing that Lu Li's gaze remained calm as still water, without the slightest ripple in his eyes, Shen Gangfu assumed Lu Li had retreated in the face of difficulty. That saved him from worrying that Lu Li might struggle to accept it for a time.

"Alas..."

Shen Gangfu sighed again.

"Time waits for no one. You will likely have to wait for next year's opportunity. Perhaps then you can still contend for it."

Next year, he would be seventeen. Would the Martial Lecture Hall make an exception for him?

Unless he displayed talent beyond ordinary men?

He was quite confident that, with extraordinary talent, he could win over next year's Martial Examination.

Given enough time, he could even shake all of Blackwater City, or even the entire Great Yong Dynasty.

But he could contend this year too.

There was absolutely no need to wait bitterly for another year.

Lu Li suddenly smiled sheepishly.

"Master, I have actually reached Fifth-Level Skin Tempering."

Under his master's slightly astonished yet delighted gaze, Lu Li continued.

"Back when I suddenly became emaciated, I had already reached Fourth Skin Tempering. I merely lacked Azure Membrane Paste, which was why my flesh and blood had been depleted.

"Yesterday, I succeeded in improving my Root Bone and naturally advanced into Fifth-Level Skin Tempering as well."

After speaking, Lu Li maintained his sheepish smile, hoping his master would not be angry over his concealment of his strength.

"Fifth-Level Skin Tempering!?"

The composure on Shen Gangfu's face instantly vanished. Stormy waves rose in his eyes, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his gaze was filled with shock and disbelief.

After a long while, Shen Gangfu recovered from his shock and astonishment, his expression once again becoming one of deep appreciation.

Finally, Shen Gangfu suddenly sighed.

"But this year will likely still be difficult. Your first opponent is Su Meiyi. He has already reached Fourth Skin Tempering, and more importantly, he has mastered a 'secret art'!"

A secret art?

This was Lu Li's first time hearing the term secret art.

As thoughts churned, Lu Li secretly speculated. Su Meiyi had begun martial training a month before him. With Upper-Grade Bone Aptitude, reaching Fourth Skin Tempering in three months was not all that astonishing.

He raised his eyes to Shen Gangfu and asked with great confusion.

"Master, what is a secret art?"

Shen Gangfu shook his head solemnly and said in a deep voice.

"I have taught you before that before Sixth-Level Skin Tempering, only secret techniques can break through a martial artist's skin membrane.

"But after Seventh-Level Skin Tempering, one's defense rises greatly. At that point, even secret techniques find it difficult to truly injure martial artists above Seventh-Level Skin Tempering.

"Only ultimate techniques can break the defenses of martial artists above Seventh-Level Skin Tempering."

So above secret techniques were ultimate techniques.

Lu Li's eyes shifted slightly, but little changed on his face.

"Above ultimate techniques are true 'arts.' Only second Gate-Breaking Flesh Refining martial artists can cultivate arts.

"Above arts come secret arts.

"Su Meiyi has not only gained entry into the Su Family's Rolling-Step Blade Interception secret art, he has also cultivated it to minor accomplishment...

"Today, every inner courtyard disciple, including Wu Shuigen at Sixth-Level Skin Tempering, lost to him. None of them could last more than ten moves in his hands."

Lu Li understood. No wonder the atmosphere had felt off when he passed through the inner courtyard earlier, carrying an air of lifeless gloom.

Lu Li's thoughts raced, and he suddenly stood up.

"Master, do you have a secret art? Teach it to me, and I'll go deal with Su Meiyi and bring some glory to our school."

"I do have a Rest-Step Hidden Blade secret art."

Lu Li's face filled with delight.

Shen Gangfu paused, unable to hide his disappointment as he said.

"But there is too little time. Gaining entry into a secret art is extremely difficult. How can you possibly learn it in just three days? Besides, Su Meiyi will not give you three days. I may have to submit the slot tonight."

Was a secret art difficult?

Lu Li steadied himself, then quickly pressed his case.

"Master, time waits for no one. Let's start learning the Rest-Step Hidden Blade secret art right now!"

Shen Gangfu was forcibly dragged by Lu Li to the rear courtyard's training room, the very place where Lu Li had first begun practicing martial arts.

Without wasting time, master and disciple swiftly entered their rhythm.

They even forgot to eat lunch and skipped their midday rest.

One taught with all his heart; the other learned with all his might.

Two hours later.

Shen Gangfu asked in a tired, slightly hoarse voice.

"Hua Yuan, have you learned it?"

"Master, I've forgotten almost all of it!"