Chapter 143: Chapter 132 Displaying Holiness in Public, Studying the Five Elements (3k)
Xue Na’s eyes were filled with tears as she recalled the grand promises Meng Yongzhi had painted to convince her to sign Meng Chuan up for the martial arts school.
[In the future, when he gets into Martial Arts University and becomes a martial artist, what house couldn’t Chuan’er buy for you?]
Yet the day had come too quickly, even before Meng Chuan could become a martial artist.
At this moment, everything had come true.
Meng Yongzhi’s focus was not on the house, he asked excitedly:
"Chuan’er, so now, are you the strongest high school student in Yong’an City?"
Meng Chuan calmly replied:
"There are always higher mountains; I dare not claim to be the best, especially since many didn’t participate.
This is just a small joint exam, I still need to remain humble and consistent as I move forward."
"Good! A man should be a bit more reserved like this. In the future, when you achieve success as a martial artist, your uncle will host a grand feast for three days!"
Finally, they decided on a moving date; the house was empty and needed a lot of furniture.
But Meng Chuan didn’t need to worry about these things; Meng Yongzhi wanted him to focus on practicing martial arts.
"Chuan’er, find some time to invite your master, we’ll have a meal together and express our gratitude to him."
Meng Chuan pondered:
"My master is busy recently, let’s wait until the moving day."
Meng Yongzhi nodded and then went to discuss furniture with Xue Na.
...
Morning.
Ping’an Middle School.
Meng Chuan looked at the huge red banner at the school gate, amazed at how quickly the school had acted.
He felt a sense of nostalgia.
Looking back at this time last year, he was still standing on the playground at four in the morning, training the Child’s Fist for Limit Breaking, alone.
In the blink of an eye, he had become the pride of the entire school, the ’leader’ of Ping’an Middle School in the eyes of others.
Principal Zong waited at the school gate early in the morning, and hurried towards Meng Chuan when he saw him.
"Come quickly, Meng Chuan! Look at the banner, isn’t it grand?"
Meng Chuan didn’t dampen the spirit, smiling and nodding:
"It’s great, Principal. Very spirited!"
Principal Zong was also delighted and continued:
"Alright, the students are all in the auditorium waiting for you to say a few words, show them the invincible aura you had on the mountain yesterday!"
Meng Chuan was caught a bit off guard, as there was no prior notice to prepare...
"Originally, I was following your idea to keep things low-key, but the students’ enthusiasm couldn’t be contained—they all want to hear your guidance."
Meng Chuan had no choice but to nod.
...
Inside Ping’an Middle School auditorium.
Most of the teachers and students of the school were present, eagerly waiting for today’s protagonist to take the stage.
Wang Yue, as Meng Chuan’s closest friend, unreservedly sat in the front row with the teachers, feeling both nervous and excited.
"Damn, Brother Chuan has really taken off!"
At this time, Principal Zong took the stage to speak a few words, allowing Meng Chuan time to prepare for his speech.
"Now, let’s welcome the champion of the 24-school joint exam, Meng Chuan!"
The crowd erupted in applause as Wang Yue, seeing the familiar figure walk to the microphone, couldn’t help but tear up.
Among everyone present, only he truly understood how much effort Meng Chuan had put in to get here.
"Brother Chuan, you’ve really made it big now..."
Chen Jian looked at the confident figure on stage, feeling a pang of regret.
"I used to mock him for practicing the Child’s Fist, but really...I didn’t recognize Mount Tai when I saw it!"
Meng Chuan wore the Ping’an Middle School uniform he hadn’t donned in a long time.
His physique had become exceptionally robust due to his hard skills, making the ordinary white school uniform look extremely stylish.
Even before he stood still, a powerful aura of martial arts swept towards the audience.
Once Meng Chuan stood firm, he spoke into the microphone:
"Hello, teachers and students, I am Meng Chuan.
A year ago, I was still a martial arts enthusiast who hadn’t entered the martial path, tirelessly practicing the National Fist every day on the playground.
And now I..."
As Meng Chuan finished speaking, the audience couldn’t contain their excitement.
A year ago, Meng Chuan was just an ordinary person like them.
And now he had soared to the top, so why couldn’t they?
Principal Zong watched with satisfaction from below, this was the true purpose of inviting Meng Chuan to speak.
To inspire the fighting spirit of the entire school!
"Damn! Brother Chuan is awesome, number one in Yong’an!"
"It’s really something to be proud of, even the neighbor says our school is a cradle for champions when they hear it’s Ping’an Middle School."
Even the teachers who had no classes couldn’t help but sigh.
"Deputy Director Wang is really lucky, encountering a once in a millennium opportunity, how did he get so lucky?"
"Your news is outdated, haven’t you seen the messages in the group? Yesterday, after the joint exam results came out, Old Wang was directly promoted to full director, the ’deputy’ part is gone."
"Damn, who was it that carelessly added him back in, hurry and kick him out, seeing him annoys me..."
After the speech, Meng Chuan left the backstage first.
Principal Zong held him back and said earnestly:
"Meng Chuan, the joint exam is over, you must continue to train hard in martial arts.
Don’t be complacent because of a temporary victory, although I know you are not that kind of person, I still can’t help but want to remind you.
Make this moment eternal, keep winning!"
Meng Chuan nodded in agreement.
The joint exam was just a small test; getting the money in hand was more important than anything else.
"Let’s go to the Martial Arts Dojo. Chen Tie and Liang Weilong are waiting for you to train.
These two guys are now calling themselves champions’ teachers, their tails almost lifted to the sky, hahaha."
Meng Chuan smiled knowingly.
"Teacher Chen Tie helped me with strike training, and Teacher Liang taught me Transformed Strength and Fist Skill. They are precious people in my life, and I will definitely repay them in the future."
...
Nighttime.
During the day, after training with Chen Tie, Meng Chuan learned a third-rate Earth Attribute fist skill, [Thick Mountain Fist], and was now reviewing it on the rooftop.
Nowadays, third-rate fist skills were almost effortless for him to practice.
He only practiced twice and already got the hang of it.
At this moment, he took a deep breath, his legs rooted into the ground like large trees.
Feeling the power of the earth rise from his feet, slowly permeating his whole body.
In an instant, Meng Chuan moved.
As his right foot stomped heavily on the ground, his right fist gathered strength and punched forward, with the momentum of a collapsing mountain, full of heaviness.
This is—The first set of fist moves of the Thick Mountain Fist [Sinking Mountain Strike]
Chen Tie taught him the Earth Attribute fist skill, with only three sets of moves in total, the other two are called [Defensive Barrier] and [Earth Rejuvenation].
Half an hour passed, Meng Chuan practiced several times, and his proficiency was rapidly increasing.
Seeing that it was almost time, he stopped punching.
[Thick Mountain Fist: Beginner (15%) → (30%) Awaiting Limit Breaking]
[Limit Breaking Trait: Combined Strength (Basic)]
Because Meng Chuan’s understanding of fist skills far exceeded the requirements for third-rate martial arts.
Today, his main practice was still Master Luo’s Bajiquan, and he only practiced the Thick Mountain Fist for a total of one hour including during the day.
Continuing to practice at the current rate, he could reach mastery in no more than three days.
Attaining its Limit Breaking Trait wasn’t that difficult either. Like learning the Wood Attribute Crumbling Fist before, it would take only two to three months of spare time practice.
With the advancement of martial principles, this time could be further shortened.
Meng Chuan longed for the day when he could go from Perfection directly to Limit Breaking in one stretch...
Then he would become a trait collection machine, perhaps not far from achieving countless traits...
But some traits, he would never touch.
Meng Chuan had heard that there was a trait called [Wugen Sheng], which, although powerful, was equivalent to self-castration if practiced.
He thought to himself:
"I wonder if there is a martial art called [Evil-Repelling Swordsmanship] in this world, this one cannot be practiced at all, must avoid falling into the trap..."
Collecting his thoughts, Meng Chuan contemplated as he replenished his energy.
"Unfortunately, the Qi and Blood provided by third-rate fist skills are still too little. Otherwise, I could pile them up to the ninth level just by practicing these.
After reaching the seventh-level advanced martial artist realm, in order to significantly increase Qi and Blood values, one must rely on first-rate fist skills.
With one more Water Attribute fist skill, I can meet Master Luo’s standard for cultivating [Five Elements Qiankun Fist]."
There was still some distance for Luo’s Bajiquan to reach Perfection, but Meng Chuan was not in a hurry.
Because Master Luo had said:
"First-rate martial arts cannot be learned too early; the Qi and Blood momentum can’t keep up and instead harms the body."
Finally practicing two more rounds of Golden [Palm Strike] for familiarity, Meng Chuan returned to his bedroom for today’s Pile Skill practice.
...
In the bedroom.
Meng Chuan held his hands near his dantian, quietly practicing Human Posture.
The practice of Pile Skill was tedious and tasteless, but he could endure it, partly for himself, and especially for Master Luo.
At this moment, his body, having gone through strike training during the day, was also becoming more resilient under the effect of Muscle Regeneration Ointment.
[Body Armor Skill: Proficient (87%) → (88%) Awaiting Limit Breaking]
This competition made Meng Chuan realize the advantages of Hard Skills in actual combat; truly the embodiment of internal and external cultivation, invincible in the same realm!
Xu Qingfeng’s Qi and Blood were far greater than his, yet he couldn’t do anything to him, only exhaust himself fighting.
If this first-rate Hard Skill reached Perfection, Meng Chuan felt he could protect his vitals, lying on the ground and letting him hit without moving...
Thinking of the vital points, Meng Chuan couldn’t help but recall the Western Regions’ Doma series body protection technique—[Doma Iron Crotch].
Instantly, he felt a surge of impulse to practice it immediately.
But soon, Meng Chuan suppressed the thought.
"Once I break through the entire Doma series, thoroughly mastering the Hard Skills’ techniques, I’ll practice it,
that practice matters, will lead straight to the Evil-Repelling Swordsmanship if practiced wrong."
Looking at his body like a rock, Meng Chuan was full of appreciation, his hard work did not go to waste!
The progress of the Doma series was swift, the earliest practiced Iron Arm was nearing Perfection.
[Doma Iron Arm: Advanced (66%) Awaiting Limit Breaking]
"Wondering how to break the limit for Hard Skills, just like before with strike training?"
Meng Chuan had never pushed Hard Skills beyond their limits and didn’t know the difference compared to fist skills.
"No need to overthink, I’ll find out when the time comes."
...
Meanwhile, in the Northern United University preparatory dormitory.
Zhao Jian had already woken up, resting in the dormitory without practicing martial arts.
In the dead of night, he murmured to himself in front of the mirror:
"Xu Qingfeng from our school won first place, his Qi and Blood value was too high, I couldn’t beat him.
Meng Chuan’s power...but as long as I can use the Holy Skill, I can handle him."