First Glimpse of Brilliance

"For the Xu Household's opening, we of the Xu Lineage, being fellow residents of Dongxi Village, naturally couldn't let the occasion pass without a gesture."

"Here are ten Qi-Blood Pills. Consider them my congratulatory gift."

"That's quite a generous gift, Second Master Xu," Xu Chuan said with a faint smile.

Xu Zhen said, "Naturally, the gift won't be so easy to take. I hear quite a few of your Xu Household's children practice martial arts. Why not have them spar with the young men of my Xu Lineage?"

"It would liven up your opening, too. What do you say?"

Xu Chuan lowered his head in thought. Xu Mingxuan said, "Dad, ten Qi-Blood Pills are there for the taking. Let me go first."

Seeing how eager he was, Xu Chuan smiled, then turned to Xu Zhen. "Second Master Xu, we'll have a few bouts. We stop before anyone gets seriously hurt."

"In a spar between martial artists, broken bones are hard to avoid. If you're afraid, you can refuse."

"Enough talk. I'll take the first bout. Who are you sending?"

Xu Zhen chuckled. "So the Xu Household does have someone with spirit. You can't be more than ten or so. Xu Feng, go spar with him."

"Yes, Second Grandpa."

The boy who stepped out stood half a head taller than Xu Mingxuan and looked eleven or twelve.

Everyone was happy to watch the excitement. They moved aside, giving the two plenty of room.

Xu Mingxuan's Fate Talent gave him no powerful boost in the Martial Way, but his comprehension was good, and he learned moves and martial techniques quickly.

That was why he and Li Zhi had caught the eye of a Houtian Peak expert from the Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts School and been taken on as disciples.

Though only nine, Xu Mingxuan had opened more than twenty Apertures with the Xu Household's full support. Li Zhi's talent for martial arts was far greater than his.

Li Zhi was only one step away from becoming a Third-Rate Martial Artist.

Xu Feng had opened only sixteen or seventeen Apertures. His Inner Force was weaker than Xu Mingxuan's, and his martial techniques fell short as well. He was defeated in just over a dozen moves.

Xu Mingxuan held back, injuring only Xu Feng's arm.

His restraint drew praise from the onlookers.

"What a fine young lad!"

"The Xu Household has raised its children well!"

"They'll surely rise to prominence one day."

Xu Mingxuan looked toward Xu Zhen and the others. "Who's next?"

"What an arrogant brat. Xu Wei, you go."

"Yes, Second Grandpa."

Xu Wei was fifteen or sixteen. He struck viciously, lunging without a word and raking his fingers toward Xu Mingxuan's chest.

Xu Mingxuan met the attack calmly.

Though his Inner Force was lacking, a martial artists' bout was not decided by Inner Force alone.

How one used martial techniques could also decide victory or defeat.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After dozens of exchanges, Xu Mingxuan knew he would lose if they kept going. He deliberately exposed an opening, luring Xu Wei in.

Then, with a move that injured them both, he broke Xu Wei's arm.

He suffered an internal injury himself, however.

Bai Jing looked worried. Xu Chuan said, "Mingxuan, you've won two bouts. You've had your fun. Come back."

"Let your big brother handle the rest."

"Yes, Dad."

Xu Zhen's face darkened, and he glared at Xu Wei.

Xu Wei was mortified and dared not meet his eyes.

Xu Zhen sighed inwardly. The young men he had brought today were the best of the Xu Lineage.

Yet two of them in succession had failed to beat a nine-year-old boy.

In another ten years or so, the Xu Lineage would likely be unable to hold back the Xu Household's rise.

Xu Mao was furious too. He cursed and grumbled, "Second Uncle, let Gan'er go. He'll surely restore some pride to our Xu Lineage."

"He's our only choice."

"Father, Second Grandpa, don't worry. I won't bring shame on the Xu Lineage."

Xu Gan walked to the center of the clearing and shouted toward Xu Chuan and the others, "I'm Xu Gan! Who from the Xu Household will face me?"

"Xu Gan? I've heard of him. He's a genius from the Black Wind Martial Hall. He's only in his early twenties and already a Second-Rate Martial Artist—one of the talents there with a chance of reaching the Houtian Peak."

"I think the Xu Household is in trouble this time. Even their eldest son is five or six years younger than him."

"And I heard only three of the Xu Household's sons have entered a Martial Arts Hall."

Listening to them, Yang Zhao turned to Xu Chuan. "Brother Xu, would you like me to step in?"

"Brother Yang, I invited you today to look around. There's no need to trouble you over such a small matter."

Yang Zhao fell into thought.

Across the street, on the restaurant's second floor.

"Young Master, I think the Xu Household is going to lose. That one from the Xu Lineage looks formidable. Xiao Mei vaguely heard that he's as strong as a Second-Rate Martial Artist."

"A Second-Rate Martial Artist in his early twenties is impressive. He may reach the Houtian Peak, but the Xiantian realm is likely beyond him."

"Let's see how the Xu Household responds."

Chang Haowen paid it little mind and continued drinking as he watched.

Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "Shitou, you go. Don't let down the Xu Household's name."

"Yes, Dad."

Xu Mingwei had practiced martial arts day and night since he was six, never once showing off.

He understood what Xu Chuan meant today: he no longer needed to lie low.

His spirits rose. He strode into the clearing with the bearing of a dragon and the tread of a tiger, his eyes blazing as he faced Xu Gan.

The force of character he revealed without meaning to drew even Yang Zhao's gaze. Yang Zhao could not help but exclaim, "I thought your third son was already outstanding, but seeing your eldest now, I finally know what it means to be a dragon among men!"

Bai Jing was delighted. "Brother Yang, you flatter him. Shitou has never trained properly. He only practices a little with his father when they have time."

"You're too modest," Yang Zhao replied with a smile.

Xu Mingwei kept his eyes on Xu Gan and turned his right palm upward in invitation. "Brother Xu, please!"

Xu Gan said nothing more. His figure darted like a phantom, shifting left and right so fast that afterimages overlapped and the eye struggled to follow.

In the blink of an eye, he shot forward like an arrow loosed from the string and closed in on Xu Mingwei.

Seeing Xu Mingwei remain still, he sneered, clenched his fist, and smashed it toward his face.

Xu Mingwei's left hand flickered.

With a muffled thump, Xu Mingwei caught Xu Gan's fist easily in his palm.

Then his hand turned like a dragon's claw and clamped tight around Xu Gan's wrist.

One step back. One sharp pull.

Unable to resist, Xu Gan dropped straight into an involuntary split.

He felt a wrenching pull beneath him.

My balls!

He could not help sucking in a sharp breath.

Everyone understood what had happened and struggled not to laugh.

Xu Mingwei had not expected it either. He lifted Xu Gan with one arm, intending to fling him away.

Xu Gan seized the chance to kick at his chest.

But Xu Mingwei blocked the kick with his other hand. Then an irresistible force sent Xu Gan flying.

"Brother Xu, you're no match for me. Have someone else come."

Chang Haowen's pupils narrowed slightly. "I never expected Xu Mingwei to be this strong. I certainly couldn't tell when I last saw him."

"At fifteen, he's comparable to a First-Class Martial Artist. If he can reach the Houtian Peak before twenty, or even go a step further and break through to Xiantian, he has the makings of a Grandmaster.

"A Grandmaster can live to a hundred and twenty. That would be enough to establish an Aristocratic Clan in the Commandery Seat."

"That wooden-headed fool is actually so strong!" Xiao Mei exclaimed. She gazed out the window at Xu Mingwei, her eyes bright with interest.

"What, has he caught your fancy?"

"No. I'm just curious how a family out in the countryside produced someone so remarkable. Even in the Commandery Seat, he'd be a rare sight, wouldn't he?"

"Don't underestimate families among the common folk. Who knows how many Aristocratic Clans climbed up step by step from beginnings just like theirs?"

"I understand, Young Master."

Xu Mingwei's easy defeat of the Black Wind Martial Hall's genius left everyone amazed.

Yet he cupped his hands toward Xu Zhen. "I've long heard of your reputation, Second Master Xu. I'd like to ask you for a lesson today, if you're willing."