CHAPTER 80: CHAPTER 73: LIGHTWEIGHT SKILL

One to two weeks left, and then the Eight Cities Eighteen Schools, Mountains and Rivers, Rivers and Lakes Joint Exam.

His pills and money are enough to support two weeks of intensive cultivation.

Zhou Leng remembered Xue Chengsong’s assessment of the joint exam; he must fight for ranking and visibility, to prepare for the upcoming high-level scholarships and training camps.

"Then... eat three meals of meat herbal cuisine in the cafeteria every day, take one Blood Replenishing Pill, three to five Great Nourishing Pills, and after every practice of the Establishing Image Chapter, take one Replenishing Essence Pill. Also, prepare some essential pills for the joint exam..."

"Consume pills worth a million within one or two weeks..."

Zhou Leng took a deep breath and began cultivating punches under the Frost Tree.

The next day, the news of Martial Arts School student Zhou Leng winning three consecutive bets against second-year students of West Sea Martial Arts Academy spread even in Ruda.

Especially in Xu Qingjin and Cao Jiajia’s classes, there was much discussion among the people.

Ruda’s new student Ji Changnian finished his morning exercise and frowned as he looked at the classroom chat messages.

"Qi follows body movement? It might be just rumors and misinformation."

"A Martial Arts School student like him couldn’t possibly achieve Qi follows body movement so quickly, even I’m still a big step away."

"Even in West Sea Martial Arts Academy, those who achieve Qi follows body movement are no more than a dozen, and they’re all those who’ve paid giant tuition fees since childhood to learn from the Innates."

"I don’t believe it."

"Let’s see the results in the monthly exam, in the Eighteen Cities Joint Exam..."

Ji Changnian, dressed in white, stared firmly.

That evening, the funeral for Tian Wenbao was held.

Tian Wenbao’s son, Tian Chengchang, returned.

Late at night, dressed in mourning clothes, Tian Chengchang looked at Yan Fenggang opposite him.

"Fifth Uncle Yan, you know my uncle’s character, though his methods are ruthless, sometimes he’s too obsessed with rules."

Yan Fenggang nodded: "Yes, if Brother Hu had been a bit more ruthless back then, our Five Tigers of Shuizhou would have certainly reached greater heights."

"I probed my uncle’s intentions; he believes revenge is acceptable, but not now. We must wait for the Secret Treasure struggle to end."

"He told me the same thing," Yan Fenggang said.

"But watching my father being murdered, I cannot just stand by and do nothing."

"It’s hard for you, sigh..."

"I can’t touch the people from the Martial Guard Department, nor do I dare, but why should Zhou Leng trample on my father’s corpse and flaunt his strength? Killing him would provoke retaliation from the Martial Guard Bureau, but crippling him, they wouldn’t dare kill me!"

"Even if I get imprisoned afterward by the Martial Guard, I’ll cripple him. I punch without regrets, my father can die, but not in vain!"

"My father indeed had a bad reputation, cultivated demon skills, and even beat and scolded me when I was young. But on building my martial arts path, he never lacked pills or money! Even if he did, he’d swallow his pride and seek my uncle."

"Fifth Uncle Yan, I just have one question for you, will you help me?"

Yan Fenggang sighed, patted Tian Chengchang’s shoulder, and said: "Alright! With a son like you, Leopard Brother can rest peacefully in the afterlife. Let’s find a time to discuss when to strike. But preferably not in the city, you understand?"

"I get it, best to wait for him to enter Demon City, and into an area without surveillance," Tian Chengchang said.

"He’s quite capable, I’ll send more people then. Speaking of, you know Chang Yuanzhong and Chang Luan, right?"

"Yes, I used to play with Chang Luan for a while, but played less after I went to East China Martial Arts Academy."

"Chang Luan is in the same class as Zhou Leng and is the class monitor. He was supposed to contend for the position of Senior Brother of the Martial Arts Hall but got disrupted by Zhou Leng. We can’t move against Zhou Leng now, but we can have him find ways to trouble Zhou Leng and slow down his cultivation."

Tian Chengchang nodded firmly, "Good, I’ll go talk to Chang Luan."

"Let’s go together."

"Thank you, Fifth Uncle!"

Yan Fenggang smiled, didn’t speak.

Tu Rong was his subordinate’s junior, publicly admitted his mistake by serving tea to Zhou Leng, which had become the neighborhood’s underground gossip.

The next night, at Dong’s Private Kitchen.

Deng Zhijue, the chief instructor of Class 01, looked at the private room number and walked in.

Chang Yuanzhong and Chang Luan quickly stood up, smiling to welcome him.

After exchanging pleasantries, they chatted about everything.

Deng Zhijue initially didn’t want to get too close with students’ parents but couldn’t refuse due to friendship obligations.

Chang Yuanzhong and Chang Luan, both skilled in socializing, quickly made the conversation lively.

After the meal, Chang Yuanzhong smiled and presented a stack of Pill Vouchers: "Instructor Deng, in the future, we’d really appreciate your care for Chang Luan."

Deng Zhijue glanced at the Pill Vouchers, didn’t reply.

Chang Yuanzhong coughed lightly, "We’ve heard there’s a student named Zhou Leng in your class, who got the best scholarship, can you think of a way to let Chang Luan have it?"

Deng Zhijue looked at Chang Yuanzhong, eyes filled with doubt, disbelief, and an undisguisable chill.

Deng Zhijue slowly stood up, stared at Chang Yuanzhong and his son.

They felt the chill from Deng Zhijue’s gaze, remained motionless.

Deng Zhijue raised his palm, gently slapped it on the table, then slowly said, "Our relationship ends here, if there’s a next time, this table will suffocate."

After finishing, Deng Zhijue left.

The door slammed shut.

Crack...

The table split, countless wood shards and cups fell, leaving a mess everywhere.

Only the bare table leg stood.

Chang Yuanzhong and Chang Luan’s father and son faced each other.

"Dad, why was Instructor Deng’s reaction so strong?" Chang Luan asked.

"I also don’t know, does he think we’re using this matter to frame him?"

"It can’t be. Does he have a particularly good relationship with Zhou Leng? Haven’t heard of it."

"Even if they are particularly good, he should have warned us, how could he directly break off over a table slap?"

The two felt incredulous, as slamming the table and severing ties in the Martial Arts Era was a very serious matter; going a step further, it meant a fight to the death.

Even Tian Wenhua and Xue Tongming, despite their fierce rivalry, never severed ties face to face.

"Let’s wait and see, maybe there’s a chance to turn things around."

Deng Zhijue returned to the Martial Arts Hall to report to Wang Boxiong.

Without lifting his head, Wang Boxiong said, "Let Chang Luan transfer himself tomorrow. If he can’t, expel him."

"Yes!"

In front of Wang Boxiong, Deng Zhijue called Chang Yuanzhong, informing him to have Chang Luan transfer schools.

In the living room of the Chang family’s large flat, Chang Yuanzhong and his son Chang Luan exchanged glances, speechless for a long time.

The next day, Chang Luan arrived in the morning and left in the morning.

In the afternoon, class 01 learned about Chang Luan’s transfer news, causing a buzz; many asked questions but got no answers, unclear of the reasons.

The class re-elected the class monitor, and since it was purely by votes, with Zhou Leng’s support, the enthusiastic and righteous Wei Hong became the new monitor.

Wei Hong, who picked up the monitor position without effort, was so delighted he couldn’t close his mouth. After graduation, the class monitor of the Martial Arts Hall is certain to enter the city’s Martial Guard Bureau.

On his first day as class monitor, Wei Hong went to find Deng Zhijue to push for Zhou Leng’s scholarship.

Deng Zhijue glanced at this silly boy, unsure if he was smart or foolish.

Ruge District People’s Hospital.

Chang Luan carrying fruit walked into Tao Bing’s hospital room, explaining his situation.

Tao Bing’s eyes widened, his body chilling.

"You mean, Zhou Leng dominates the Martial Arts Hall?"

"Hard to say, but I can’t think of any other reason why Instructor Deng would act so decisively."

"Could it be the atmosphere of the Martial Guard or his temper?"

"Even if his temper flares, he wouldn’t dare force me to transfer schools without the chief instructor or even the hall master’s approval."

Tao Bing looked up at his leg suspended in mid-air, wrapped in thick plaster.

Once his leg heals, should he return to the class?

Suddenly, Tao Bing felt the hospital was quite warm.

Class 01 Martial Arts Dojo.

Other classmates were either strengthening their bodies, sparring, or practicing External Skills.

Zhou Leng stood by the parallel bars, occasionally leaping up.

The demonized watch hung on the parallel bars, playing a famous instructional video on the "Cloud Stepping" lightness skill of the Qi Blood Realm.

Some students not yet in the Blood Transporting Period curiously watched Zhou Leng.

Seeing Zhou Leng amass his Qi and blood, seemingly with a light jump, his body shot straight up.

His feet were estimated to be a full three meters off the ground, equivalent to jumping straight to the basketball hoop.

But it didn’t stop there; in mid-air, Zhou Leng further revolved his Qi and blood, his feet seemingly gaining extra propulsion, his body rising another whole foot.

Then, unable to continue, he descended from mid-air.

His toes hit the ground, his legs slightly bent, his form graceful.

Students in the Qi Nourishing Period felt envious.

Lifting and leaping has three major benefits: firstly, the most direct, jump higher; secondly, improve the ability to stay aloft and fight in the air; thirdly, ease the impact of falling.

Theoretically, with a high enough level in lifting and leaping, one could even mitigate a fall from a ten-thousand-foot mountain.

Wei Hong asked Lu Juncai, "He’s already started practicing the ’Double Step’ lifting and leaping, how is your practice going?"

"I’m a Pill Student, I don’t have the ability to Double Step in such a short time, still slowly enduring the Single Step stage. Lightness Skill tests True Qi manipulation more than any other cultivation technique, without surprise, Zhou Leng can quickly cultivate it to Great Success or even Perfection," Lu Juncai replied.

Zhou Leng picked up the demonized watch, sat down to manipulate his Qi and blood, then left the Martial Arts Dojo.

There are three main forms of Lightness Skills: first is lifting and leaping, second is speeding, and third is light body.

Stepping Technique mainly aids in small-range dodging and maneuvering, intersecting with Lightness Skills, but quite different.

Lifting and leaping goes upwards, speeding goes forwards, light body encompasses both.

Zhou Leng watched the Grandmaster’s instructional video again, letting his Qi and blood surge into his legs, activating the demonized watch timer.

Zhou Leng started with a few steps of accelerated running, then took large strides.

From a distance, it looked like a triple jumper constantly taking big leaps, or an antelope running.

With each step covering seven or eight meters, it seemed as if he was gliding through the air, far faster than Qi Manipulation run.

Like a white crane gliding low.

Speed Light Skill, Flying Crane Technique.

Zhou Leng raced swiftly around the Great Martial Arts Dojo, the wind howling around him.

Zhou Leng sensed that, under the boost of Lightness Skill, his speed had exceeded 25 meters per second, with an hourly speed over 90 kilometers per hour.

These past days, Zhou Leng had been experimenting with various Qi Blood Realm Lightness Skills.

In martial arts perception, Cloud Stepping and Flying Crane Technique suited him best.

Once familiar with lifting and leaping and speeding, he could then combine the power of the two cultivation techniques to refine a new lightness skill generally called Light Body Technique, like Grass Flying or Water Floating.

The True Qi consumption of Speed Light Skill far exceeded Qi Manipulation running.

Before long, his True Qi exhausted, Zhou Leng halted, looking at the timer.

Duration: 1 minute 05 seconds.

Zhou Leng blinked; the consumption was quite large, but the speed gain wasn’t as considerable as expected.

However, he had only just begun cultivating, and as his Lightness Skill realm and True Qi improved, the consumption would decrease and speed would continue to increase.

Speed Light Skill was inherently unsuitable for long-term use, only for short-distance speed contests.