paranoianovel Chapter 4 Breakthrough
Chapter 4 Breakthrough
Four more matches were then held.
After each match, Chen Qiyuan would run to the loser, his persistent manner making Zhang Chunsheng take another look at him.
However, his actions naturally didn't earn him gratitude; he was either glared at or scolded. If the owner hadn't been there, he probably would have gotten a slap across the face.
Chen Qiyuan paid no attention to other people's opinions, watching with great interest as his proficiency in "Hun Yuan Zhuang" and "Tiger Form Fist" continued to increase. He was overjoyed, but he couldn't show it on his face.
Zhang Chunsheng stepped forward again and asked, "Is there anyone else who wants to come up on stage and show off their skills?"
No one spoke.
Chen Qiyuan was secretly anxious. What was wrong with these people? They never even got a chance to show their faces in front of the master. They were so useless.
It's no wonder he was anxious. In those five matches, he gained fifty points of skill proficiency and thirty points of martial arts proficiency.
Name: Chen Qiyuan
[Practice Technique: Hunyuan Stance (Beginner 91/100)]
Martial Arts Skill: Tiger Form Fist (Beginner 98/100)
One more, and I'll break through.
Unfortunately, he ultimately did not get what he wanted.
Zhang Chunsheng asked twice, and seeing that no one went up on stage, he bowed to the master and said, "Master, this competition is now complete."
"Um."
Wu Tianhuan nodded slightly and said in a magnetic voice, "Zhao Feng, come here."
From the last row, a kind-looking young man stepped forward, knelt on the ground with some excitement, and said, "Disciple Zhao Feng greets the Master."
Chen Qiyuan recognized this person; he also came from a poor family and had only been at the martial arts school for a month, yet he had already developed Ming Jin (a type of internal strength). No other new student could match his talent.
I never imagined that even the museum owner knew him.
Wu Tianhuan looked him over and said, "You have good aptitude. From now on, you will learn from your third senior brother. If you can comprehend the hidden strength within three months, you will become my seventeenth disciple."
These words caused an uproar among those present.
[Liu Shijie became jealous and his mind wavered, allowing your "Hun Yuan Zhuang" skill to seize three points of proficiency.]
[Li Qing was consumed by jealousy, his mind reeling. Your "Hun Yuan Zhuang" skill seized the opportunity to gain five points of proficiency.]
【…】
A series of prompts stunned Chen Qiyuan. Seeing that his proficiency in both "Hun Yuan Zhuang" and "Tiger Form Fist" had broken through, he was overjoyed.
We've finally broken through!
Chen Qiyuan looked at Zhao Feng, whose face was flushed with excitement and who was kneeling to thank the museum owner, and felt much more at ease with him.
……
After the event ended, only about ten people remained in the huge training ground. They had no interest in practicing martial arts anymore and gathered there to talk about Zhao Feng.
"A tofu seller, how could he have such incredible luck?"
"They have the talent, no matter how much you disagree, it's useless. They achieved the Mingjin level in a month, and what about you? Three months have passed, and you still haven't even scratched the surface."
"What can you tell from just one month of training? Martial arts is all about stamina and endurance."
"..."
Chen Qiyuan did not participate in their discussion and left directly; he had to pay his tuition.
On the way, he opened the panel and took a look.
Name: Chen Qiyuan
[Technique: Hunyuan Stance (Minor Success 13/200)]
Martial Arts Skill: Tiger Form Fist (Proficiency 3/200)
Achieving minor success in stance training means that he has developed internal strength, which is equivalent to reaching the stage of "manifested strength." He has moved beyond the ranks of beginners.
Once you've mastered Tiger Style Fist, you'll have a certain level of combat ability. You can easily take on three or five burly men.
As he walked, he pondered the mechanism of this cheat.
"The effective range is about five meters."
"Not limited to a single target."
"Moreover, it can be a third party that causes emotional fluctuations in the other party."
"A single target can plunder a maximum of ten proficiency points at a time."
Those weaker than me are less skilled at plundering.
These are all the conclusions he just made.
This gives us a lot more flexibility; we don't need to beat someone half to death like we did last night. It's not only safer, but also offers more options.
A martial arts school, with its many students, is the perfect place for him.
He quickly arrived at the tent's door. Suddenly, he heard a surprised voice from inside, "Can't register? What do you mean by this?"
There are people inside.
Chen Qiyuan stopped and waited at the door.
At that moment, an impatient voice rang out, "Don't you understand? It means you don't need to come anymore."
He looked inside and found that the accountant in charge of collecting money had changed; the one who used to be an old man had been replaced by a man in his thirties.
He also recognized the student who was paying the fee; two months ago, on the same day as him, the student's name was Xu Youcai.
Xu Youcai was naturally unable to accept this, and was both angry and anxious. "Why should I?"
The young accountant raised his voice, "Why should I? I'm asking you, have you never bought any Qi-replenishing pills here before?"
"So what?"
"Hmph, anyone who doesn't buy Qi-replenishing pills from this martial arts school will be barred from learning martial arts here again."
"What kind of rule is that in a martial arts school?"
The young accountant said, "We didn't have this before, but we have it this month. If you want to stay at this martial arts school, you have to buy a month's supply of Qi-replenishing pills."
Hearing this, Chen Qiyuan, who was standing at the door, frowned.
A month's supply of Qi-replenishing pills consists of six bottles, totaling twelve taels of silver. Adding the tuition fee, the total comes to seventeen taels.
He really doesn't have that much money right now.
Judging from the Wu family martial arts school's approach, they're trying to use bundled sales to increase profit margins. That's understandable, but it's frustrating that he's stuck on this.
……
Inside the room, the young accountant, Hu Zhijian, had long seen through Xu Youcai's impoverished nature and sneered, "If you can't afford it, then leave. Don't get in my way."
Xu Youcai pleaded, "Senior brother, please let me sign up. Those Qi-replenishing pills are too expensive; I really can't afford them..."
Hu Zhijian said with a look of disgust, "Get out of the way, so if your family is poor, don't come to learn martial arts..."
"Senior brother, please help me."
Suddenly, Xu Youcai knelt down with a thud.
Seeing this, Chen Qiyuan felt a pang of pity. This Xu Youcai, like the original owner of this body, was someone his family had high hopes for; they all expected him to learn martial arts and turn their lives around.
Now that this new rule is in place, I can no longer come to the martial arts school. And because I've practiced the stance training and boxing techniques of the Wu Family Martial Arts School, I can't transfer to another martial arts school.
It's like having your hope of becoming a martial artist extinguished.
Hu Zhijian said, "Kneeling won't help. This is a new rule set by the master. You can only be exempt from this rule if you have already developed Ming Jin (a type of internal strength).
Ming Jin?
Xu Youcai was in despair. He had only been at the martial arts school for two months. How could he have developed Ming Jin so quickly?
Hu Zhijian said, "Don't waste your time here, go and raise the money."
Xu Youcai left dejectedly, passing by Chen Qiyuan as he went out.
Chen Qiyuan followed him into the accounting room.
Hu Zhijian glanced at him, recognizing him from his clothes as a poor man, and asked, "Are you here to register too?"
"Yes, senior brother."
Chen Qiyuan took out the ten taels of silver he had prepared and placed them on the table.
Hu Zhijian said unhappily, "Didn't you hear what I said? No one can register without buying Qi-boosting pills."
"I heard you."
"Then why aren't you getting out of here?"
"Didn't my senior brother just say that as long as one masters Ming Jin (manifest strength), this condition can be waived?"
Hu Zhijian sized him up, and seeing how young he was, a hint of suspicion crossed his eyes. "You've already mastered Ming Jin?"
Without wasting words, Chen Qiyuan assumed a horse stance and threw a punch, producing a crisp sound. This was a sign that he had achieved the Ming Jin (manifest strength) technique.
Upon hearing the crisp sound, Hu Zhijian had no more doubts and a smile appeared on his face. "Junior brother, you've already mastered Ming Jin at such a young age. Your future is truly limitless."
The change of expression happened in an instant; he was already affectionately calling his junior brother.
Chen Qiyuan asked with a smile, "Can I register now?"
"Of course, what's your name, junior brother?"
"Chen Qiyuan".
Hu Zhijian quickly found his name and his gaze sharpened when he saw the time he joined the martial arts school: He had only been there for two months and had already developed strength.