C6 Fight for the Top

"Water Serpent Style..."

Meng Yang's gaze was intense as he gripped his fists, striding forward with determination. His body shifted once more in a fluid motion.

This time, the burly man chose not to use his legs, but his fists—a punch that seemed to shatter all in its path.

As the ferocious wind of the punch approached, Meng Yang, with a tingling scalp, leapt into the air.

His toes hooked, and he unleashed a Water Serpent Style kick aimed at the man's face.

The burly man's eyes sparkled with recognition, his eyebrows lifting as he quickly pulled back his fist to dodge. Yet, Meng Yang's Water Serpent Style was equally swift.

Though it lacked killing power, being struck would be humiliating.

Considering his options, the man also leaned his head back, trying to increase the distance between them.

But Meng Yang had anticipated this. As he descended, his Soul Stealing Palm struck out towards the burly man's groin.

He doubted the man would risk his most vital part for the sake of pride.

If the man chose to protect himself, he would have to lower his head.

And in that moment, the Water Serpent Style would surely land on his broad face.

Meng Yang's tactics might have been underhanded and sly, but they were undeniably effective.

He presented the burly man with a choice: safeguard his dignity or his head.

As for any potential retaliation, Meng Yang had either dismissed the thought or never considered it.

Just as Meng Yang was confident of his impending victory, the situation took an unexpected turn.

The burly man, instead of showing anger, chuckled. With a firm stomp, he propelled himself into the air, his knees bending rapidly before delivering a swift kick that met Meng Yang's outstretched hand.

Not only did he avert the crisis to his groin, but he also used the momentum to execute a backflip and land gracefully.

Meng Yang, however, was sent flying off the platform with a pained cry, crashing heavily onto the ground.

The flesh puppet skill absorbed the attack, increasing his proficiency by 4 points.

Current proficiency: 1171/10000.

"Again..."

The burly man bellowed with laughter, pointing at Meng Yang as he issued another challenge.

After only three exchanges, Meng Yang was sent flying once more. The pain was so intense that he felt as if his bones were coming apart, and his stomach churned violently.

Meanwhile, the burly man was thoroughly enjoying himself. His roars of "again, again!" compelled Meng Yang to repeatedly stand up, only to be hammered into the air time after time. It wasn't until Meng Yang was punched so hard that he coughed up blood and passed out that the burly man finally ceased his assault.

In the aftermath, reveling in the surge of power from the Blood to Spirit Transmutation, the burly man grinned and mused, "The Blood to Spirit Transmutation is now perfectly aligned. It's time to cultivate the Scripture of the Triune Soul. The Convergence of Five Energies is within reach." Laughing heartily, he left the training ground.

When Meng Yang's eyes fluttered open, it was already the next day. Overwhelmed by the agony that seemed to radiate from every broken organ, he couldn't help but cry out sharply, his body tensing.

"Quit your howling. Surviving the intermediate training ground means you're one of the lucky ones."

The square-faced man, who had previously ignored Meng Yang, couldn't resist a jab now that he saw him awake. Despite his own bruises and swelling, he was recovering swiftly thanks to the medicinal porridge. The vicious scar across his chest, however, looked like it would take much longer to heal.

"Thanks for looking out for me earlier," the square-faced man said with genuine gratitude after a while.

But Meng Yang was in too much pain to respond. He silently read the proficiency levels in his pupils for comfort: Soul Stealing Palm at 7561/10000 Beginner, Flesh Puppet at 2171/10000 Beginner, and Water Serpent Style at 7344/10000 Beginner.

"You've shown me true kindness; I'll be sure to repay you."

Hearing the square-faced man speak of repayment, Meng Yang, despite his desire to ignore him, turned his head to look, enduring the sharp pain. To his dismay, he caught the square-faced man diving back under the covers, nearly causing him to choke on his own blood in frustration.

Are you messing with me? The excitement was just building up, and you've gone off to sleep?

Two days later...

Meng Yang watched the man with the square face blather on without a hint of shame or hesitation. He couldn't be bothered to call him out on it.

Yet, Meng Yang's look of disdain was unmistakable, though it seemed lost on the square-faced man, who continued to boast about his past glories of being chased by dozens.

The more Meng Yang heard, the wider his smile cracked, and the thicker the scorn in his gaze became.

Since the last time he helped him, this man, who used to be so reserved, had become uncontrollably talkative.

Ignoring the spray of spit, the real issue was the man's lack of filter, saying whatever came to mind.

And when it came to women, his tales were so vivid and lurid that even Meng Yang felt a nameless irritation flare up inside him.

"I can't delay any longer; I need to practice. Tomorrow is another day at the training ground."

As the square-faced man was about to launch into another story about his romantic escapades, Meng Yang, feeling helpless, rubbed his forehead and sat up from the bed.

After two days of recuperation, he felt his external injuries had nearly healed, though his internal wounds would take much longer to mend.

Just thinking about the Water Serpent Style and Soul Stealing Palm, both so close to reaching 10,000 proficiency, sent a thrill through him.

Regarding the other man in the room, his injuries were more severe, and he remained unconscious. Meng Yang had overheard the square-faced man mention that the goatee butler from the Sparring Courtyard had visited, giving the injured man a week to recover.

If he didn't come to by then, they would stop his medicine and let nature take its course.

"You're about to practice? Hear me out first..."

Upon seeing Meng Yang get up, the square-faced man's demeanor shifted to one of seriousness, catching Meng Yang off guard.

"I've said before, I owe you for your help, and I intend to repay you. I don't have much to offer, but I can teach you how to fully harness the power of your martial arts during training."

"Oh?"

This piqued Meng Yang's interest, and he gestured for the man to continue.

The square-faced man's deep-set eyes shimmered as he reflected for a moment before speaking. "I've secretly watched you train before, and I must admit, you're incredibly dedicated. I've never seen anyone as committed as you in the Lin family's Sparring Courtyard. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call you a true martial arts enthusiast."

It's odd, despite your diligence, the impression I get when you train is like you're merely stamping out the same pattern over and over. You lack adaptability, and there's none of the boldness or ruthlessness that a martial artist should have. It's as though you're just repeating a single motion."

Meng Yang's eyes widened in astonishment upon hearing the square-faced man's critique. Internally, he couldn't help but commend the man's remarkable insight. With just a few words, he had clearly dissected Meng Yang's level of proficiency.

The attention to detail and the depth of understanding left Meng Yang in awe. As Meng Yang looked on in disbelief, the square-faced man sighed and shook his head, confirming his own thoughts.

"Perseverance can indeed wear down a stone, but intuition is equally crucial. A martial artist must be competitive and decisive. It's not merely a motto, but a resolve. Only with this resolve will your martial arts emanate the energy of a true warrior."

"With this warrior's energy, your martial arts will develop a unique flavor. And this flavor becomes our strength."

"Never underestimate this strength. As you master martial arts, in a clash between experts, the one with the stronger presence will remain invincible. Conversely, the weaker one will not only suffer in combat strength but may also be swayed in their mental state, leading to poor judgment and even illusions."

"You, however, are missing this strength."

With these words, the square-faced man smacked his lips and offered a knowing smile, reminiscent of a wise hermit.