CHAPTER 197: CHAPTER 186: WHAT? VENERABLE YIN IS GOING TO BE A JUDGE AGAIN? (3K)

The daily recovery boost from the [Bone Tempering Blood Formation Ointment] can increase proficiency by about 2%.

It’s about to reach perfection on the second or third day of the competition.

"I hope I don’t encounter any strong opponents before then."

Meng Chuan thought to himself.

Iron Cloth Shirt is a comprehensive enhancement to the body and a second-tier hard skill; achieving perfection would greatly aid his combat performance.

Li Weigang, who was nearby, also knew about Meng Chuan’s participation in the competition.

He laughed and said:

"I got tickets for my family as well. It’ll be a great chance to relax; we’ll be there to cheer you on."

It’s expected that this competition is the highest standard martial arts event in Yong’an this year.

Everyone is enthusiastic, with front-row seats in the inner field selling for over ten thousand yuan each, and the outer field tickets, priced at three thousand each, have gone on sale too.

"Thanks, Brother Gang."

...

At night.

Luo Guanyun didn’t have to go on duty at the Demon Nest today and stayed with Meng Chuan practicing fist skills until eleven at night.

Seeing Meng Chuan still full of energy, he said:

"Want to keep going for a bit longer?"

"Sure, I’ll practice the Thunder Dispersing Palm a bit more."

This skill was created by Master Luo, and under the master’s guidance, the proficiency increases faster.

Luo Guanyun smiled and said:

"Your stamina has always been good; since practicing Iron Crotch Skill, it seems even stronger."

Meng Chuan asked back:

"Master, haven’t you practiced it as well? How’s the effect?"

Luo Guanyun’s old face turned a shade of red.

"It’s not bad..."

This has been verified by his wife, and the effect is solid.

In the Martial Arts Chamber.

The master and apprentice moved swiftly in the room, with Luo Guanyun focused on feeding moves to his apprentice; an hour passed without them noticing.

When they stopped and regulated their breathing, Luo Guanyun said:

"Thunder Dispersing Palm suits your style well; your progress is quite fast."

"Yes, it feels exhilarating when I perform it."

Every fist skill created by Luo Guanyun fits Meng Chuan’s tastes perfectly.

"That’s good, haha."

Having a disciple who loves the fist skills he created, nothing could make him happier.

"How’s your progress with the Pile Skill recently?"

"Almost complete."

Luo Guanyun nodded.

Pile Skill requires enduring effort, and talent doesn’t have much effect on it.

Meng Chuan reaching perfection before the ninth level is proof that he has put in considerable effort.

"When your Qi and blood can rise and fall as you wish, your meridians are strong and smooth, and all five paths are connected, it indicates Human Posture has reached perfection.

Then you won’t need to practice the stance anymore and can spend time accumulating Qi and blood by practicing fists, focusing on reaching true mastery, then moving onto the Earth Posture Chapter."

Meng Chuan nodded; he had also felt during his practice recently that he was nearing the realm described by Master Luo.

Seeing Meng Chuan still full of energy, Luo Guanyun spoke again about the relation between spirit and body in martial theory.

After analyzing, Meng Chuan concluded that his spiritual power might be somewhat weak, possibly a natural shortcoming.

Luo Guanyun patted his shoulder and comforted him:

"It’s not a big deal; martial arts can change everything.

A lack of innate spiritual power can be compensated by learning skills later.

Many Martial Arts True Skills include methods to hone the spirit; just learn them when the time comes, for instance..."

Meng Chuan interjected:

"Primordial Spirit Thunder Planting Skill?"

After a brief pause, Luo Guanyun nodded.

"Yes, indeed."

To distract his disciple, he continued:

"Secret skills like Dragon Sitting Meditation to strengthen spiritual power are rare; when you head to United University, you can look for them, using study points to exchange."

Meng Chuan nodded in understanding.

The benefit of Martial Arts University lies in this; many cultivation manuals are exclusive.

It’s not about being stuck in tradition; rather, each has its respective entry threshold, and without guidance from a master, many True Skills and secret techniques are difficult to learn.

Realizing it’s getting late, Luo Guanyun said:

"You should head back, get some rest.

Oh, during your competition, I’ll be attending as a judge representing Yong’an Martial Arts Dojo.

Put on a good show!"

Meng Chuan laughed and said:

"Then I’ll wear our Martial Arts Uniform as a promotion for the dojo."

"Hahaha, good idea."

Preparing to leave, before walking out, Meng Chuan suddenly thought:

"If Master Luo is judging from the dojo’s side, would there be judges from universities too?"

He then informed Luo Guanyun about the "Master’s Teacher’s" matter.

Upon hearing this, Luo Guanyun laughed heartily.

Yet afterward, with a strange expression, he said:

"Don’t worry; Principal Yang not being upset shows he doesn’t mind, you’re clever in exploiting clout like that.

However, the university’s panel isn’t Principal Yang but Principal Yin from Yong’an Martial Arts University."

"Alright then."

No problem, Meng Chuan returned home, washed up, and prepared for sleep.

Before sleeping, he rested his head on his arm, still pondering.

"Venerable Yin is quite free; the last twenty-four university exams too..."

Thinking about this, Meng Chuan abruptly sat up.

He seemed to have discovered a problem: why is it that every competition he’s in, Yin Tianshou attends?

Then he relaxed, convincing himself he might be overthinking.

Yin Tianshou, as the principal of a prominent local martial arts university in Yong’an, attending such youth martial arts competitions is quite normal.

But Meng Chuan felt it was still quite odd.

Yin Tianshou has been in position for nearly ten years, and while he has attended such events in the past, it has been rare.

He speculated the most likely scenario is:

"The last time at the top of Xiang King’s Tomb, Principal Yin being there was truly a coincidence."

But when he fought Xu Qingfeng to exhaustion and triggered the Rainbow Light Rejuvenation, it led Yin Tianshou to start showing interest in him.

This time, he’s here as a judge in the Supernova Competition, likely to observe and further verify certain hypotheses.

"Either way, still need to be cautious. Who knows, he might really be observing me...

The point of interest should be my [special traits], this time I must absolutely avoid using the Rainbow Light Rejuvenation to enter the second state..."

Compared to the risk of being watched by a Venerable, winning or losing the competition doesn’t mean much.

It seems capturing that monster statue was a blessing in disguise.

Before enhancing my spiritual power, my mind wasn’t able to think this fast...

But Master Luo’s words have always warned him, never to take the evil path of absorbing spiritual power, or else he’d inevitably suffer from hidden dangers.

"Better to focus on practicing Dragon Sitting Meditation, even though it’s slow, it wins in stability."

Haste makes waste, he’s still young, there’s plenty of time.

Meng Chuan didn’t know that after he left, the lights in Huayun Prefecture Building A003 remained lit.

After his disciple left, Luo Guanyun took out that piece of tortoise shell engraved with Demon Skill and continued researching it.

Just researching its surface, without stimulating meridians to practice.

During that night’s study, he made new discoveries.

The secret may relate to the trio of [essence, qi, and spirit].

Essence is the source of life, qi is the driving force of life, spirit represents all mental activities of the human body.

With all three in perfection, one advances to Grandmaster.

Luo Guanyun naturally comprehended this principle.

"Primordial Spirit Thunder Planting Skill is not a divine skill, it inherently lacks, emphasizing [spirit] over [essence and qi].

Whereas this Demon Skill seems, from the text, to specifically plunder the two meridians of essence and qi..."

He had a bold hypothesis.

Could it be that thousands of years ago, the Spirit Platform Demon Seed and his family’s Primordial Spirit Thunder Planting Skill were originally one?

Upon this thought, a chill swept through his Grandmaster body.

"When Chuan gets into college, let’s visit the ancestral home in Lu Province."

...

Time slowly passed.

The days until the nationwide Martial Arts Supernova Competition drew closer.

On this particular morning, Meng Chuan was practicing fist techniques at the martial arts dojo.

He received a call from Zheng Zhenzhen, and unintentionally picked up while slipping.

Lately, Zheng Zhenzhen’s been calling him often, refusing wouldn’t be nice, so he placed it aside, practicing while listening.

[Hey hey hey, Xiaomeng, are you listening?]

Responding to her was the sound of fierce wind from his punches over the phone.

Zheng Zhenzhen brought her lips closer to the receiver, puffed her cheeks, and shouted:

[Meng Chuan!]

On his end, Meng Chuan finally halted his movement, bringing his ear to the receiver:

[What’s up?]

[I’m injured too badly and withdrew from the competition, could you spare some time to visit me in the hospital?]

She had stayed overnight at the Yong’an Martial Artist Specialized Hospital.

Later, her brother Zheng Chengcheng transferred her to Yanhua Martial Arts University’s self-sustaining hospital.

Zheng Zhenzhen looked nervously at her waist injury, if Meng Chuan didn’t visit soon, it might actually heal...

Meng Chuan was speechless.

He knew Zheng Zhenzhen’s injuries well, just that part on her waist was nothing serious.

[I’m busy practicing and can’t come. Let your brother take good care of you, and just watch me perform from the audience seats later.]

Due to that night’s incident, Meng Chuan gradually became familiar with the other party, casually joking around.

[Darn it... goodbye.]

Zheng Zhenzhen hastily hung up when she saw her brother coming in with food.

Zheng Chengcheng opened each food container and placed them on his sister’s bedside, then spoke:

"Was getting injured over Meng Chuan worth it?"

"It’s not related to Meng Chuan, it was that Demon Path bandit..."

Zheng Zhenzhen’s tone was somewhat unsteady, she was worried her brother would figure something out.

Zheng Chengcheng calmly replied:

"Meng Chuan has some talent worthy of recruitment by the Zheng family.

But it must come with personal safety, don’t be so reckless next time."

Zheng Zhenzhen nodded like a pecking chick, internally relieved.

"Forget it, brother’s always practicing on the mountain, knows nothing..."

The siblings ate while chatting about the upcoming Supernova Competition.

"You don’t need to worry about Meng Chuan, I’m set to let him see what real martial arts are about.

It’s just showing off in a small place, being a frog at the bottom of a well."

Zheng Chengcheng’s philosophy is straightforward: to conquer with martial arts.

Zheng Zhenzhen felt perhaps her brother spent too long on the mountain and was a bit disconnected from society.

But there was no way, even their grandmother couldn’t dissuade him.

She ate while saying:

"Just go easy on him..."

In her heart, the chance of Meng Chuan defeating Zheng Chengcheng was minimal.

Only those who’ve seen Zheng Chengcheng in action know what a real genius is like.

On Yanhua Mountain, and countless Yanhua branches.

Anyone who understands Zheng Chengcheng has internally recognized him as the next [Head of Divine Power].

Head of Divine Power, similar to United University’s [Martial Extreme True Inheritance], is Yanhua Martial Arts University’s annual senior disciple title.

Divine Power refers to extraordinary abilities gained through cultivation.

Head signifies the [top divine power user] among countless students.

It’s not because of his grandmother, but because Zheng Chengcheng possesses solid strength.

In terms of roots, comprehension, and even special traits, Zheng Chengcheng leads the way.

Regarding actual combat.

This year he hasn’t entered university yet but already has the strength of nine gates.

Next year, advancing as a Martial Arts Family member, participating in the year-end title contest, to clinch Head of Divine Power is nearly a foregone conclusion.

Zheng Chengcheng’s words interrupted Zheng Zhenzhen’s musings.

He calmly said:

"Understood, your suggestion isn’t bad, respecting talent and treating others well makes sense."

"..."

Zheng Zhenzhen fell speechless, focusing on her meal.