The White Ape Martial Arts Hall appeared small and was situated in a secluded location.
On the training field, an elderly man with a lean body and spirited demeanor was seated majestically on a Taishi Chair, toying with a purple clay teapot and sipping tea occasionally, while urging two young people to train. "Asang, Xiao Bo, our White Ape strength must be developed through stance training—live stances. The skills are static, but people are dynamic. By holding this stance, your Qi-Blood becomes like a monkey, a mind-monkey! Subduing the mind-monkey is subduing your own Qi-Blood, then you can Embrace Elixir..."
"Master, we can’t do it anymore."
Xiao Bo and Asang struggled to maintain a posture for a long time and suddenly collapsed on the ground with howls, their faces flushed with blood.
"Ah... nowadays, people eat much better than before, there are so many nutritional medicines, you’re all equipped with the best, and your bodies meet the requirements, but your spirits, tsk tsk, are far inferior to the ancients."
The old man shook his head repeatedly in disappointment, and suddenly looked toward the doorway.
"Martial Artist, White Ape Liu San?"
Zhong Shenxiu strode in, followed by Luo Xiaoqing.
Ever since the sweet taste of gaining some Heavenly Show Points from the previous challenge, for such private duels, he definitely brought a live broadcaster.
As for public competitions, they naturally had TV broadcast, no need for that.
The old man took a sip of tea and suddenly laughed, "You’re not here to pay respect as a disciple, so you must be here for a challenge?"
"To challenge us, you must first overcome this hurdle."
Xiao Bo immediately jumped up, but his legs trembled as if he would collapse at a mere gust of wind.
The previous White Ape Posture had drained too much of his energy, and now he felt like a limp shrimp.
"I am Hua Wu, primarily here for a recommendation letter from the Martial Artist Association, I wonder if the master could help?" Zhong Shenxiu spoke candidly and unabashed.
"For my master to issue a recommendation letter with that attitude!" Asang became immediately displeased, "In your dreams..."
Liu San stood up and slowly shook his head, "Asang, don’t underestimate our guest. My friend, I am old, I can’t fight nor do I wish to any longer, how about we match wits instead, come lend me a hand."
He stretched out his right hand, which appeared aged and bony, the surface like weathered tree bark.
Zhong Shenxiu pondered for a moment, suddenly smiled, and reached out his hand, both hands clasped together.
Upon contact, he felt various strengths surge from the other’s palm, aiming to blast him away.
’Playing with force, I’m really not good at this kind of thing.’
Zhong Shenxiu thought internally, no matter how much strength came at him, he countered with a surge of White Bone True Qi.
Force was the subtle power emitted by the body.
Qi-Blood involved transferring blood and the power brought about by muscle movements.
Though both forces were potent for the layperson, for True Qi, they were merely ordinary.
The simplest example, even if one trained their force to the transformation stage, reaching the legendary ’Inner Strength,’ it could only strike three inches through the air!
However, an Innate Martial Practitioner who had mastered True Qi, once their Innate True Qi was fully developed, could release True Qi three feet outward!
Length has its advantages, shortness its weaknesses.
Three feet of True Qi, even enough to form an Innate Qi Wall!
Thus, when Liu San and Zhong Shenxiu exchanged blows, the outcome was obvious.
A figure flashed, Liu San flew back and collapsed on the Taishi Chair, his face showing some confusion and disbelief, "What... what kind of unique force is this?"
’This old man, his thinking has become rigid, attributing everything to Qi-Blood and force.’
Zhong Shenxiu rolled his eyes and bowed his fist, "Thanks for letting me win."
Actually, this old man was quite capable, even just now when shaking hands, the other’s blood elixir hadn’t exploded yet.
If he burst out with full power, this old man would probably be slightly stronger than Lan Wangchuan, truly a genuine Martial Artist!
"Generation after generation, Jianghu produces talented individuals..." Liu San’s eyes sparkled, "Friend Hua, what did you train in?"
"White Bone Grappling Hand."
Zhong Shenxiu responded.
Liu San paced a few circles, seemingly having made a decision, "You’ve won, you can even take the plaque of my martial arts hall, but this recommendation letter, I cannot give you."
’Oh? This old man still has a good heart.’
Zhong Shenxiu nodded inwardly.
If it were before meeting Uncle Niu and knowing about the underhanded dealings within the Martial Artist Association, Liu San’s response would have seemed like repressing a junior, but now, it was a protective gesture.
"Rest assured, I am very interested in the tests for official Martial Artists,"
Zhong Shenxiu smiled.
"It seems you know a thing or two, rightly so, reaching this level in martial arts, one ought to know a bit..." Liu San stroked his beard, "but still, I cannot give it...a formal Martial Artist, there’s only one recommendation spot per year, and I’ve already promised it to someone else."
"I see, then I apologize for the disturbance."
Zhong Shenxiu turned and left.
In reality, even if he had obtained the recommendation letter, he would still have participated in competitions.
How could he miss out on making a big splash?
As for what a formal Martial Artist might encounter, he did not ask, since he knew Liu San wouldn’t tell.
Once outside, Luo Xiaoqing looked speechless, "You could at least have thrown a few punches like last time; now the fans are saying it’s boring and not good to watch... We’re taking a big loss this time. Not only were there fewer tips, but I also lost many followers."
Zhong Shenxiu rolled his eyes, "What would you have me do, beat up an old man on the live stream? Where has your integrity gone?"
"That sort of thing, I threw away long ago."
Luo Xiaoqing answered earnestly.
Although she said this, she still hesitatedly followed behind Zhong Shenxiu, faint voices carrying behind them:
"Ah... forgot to ask him for a meal, my feast today still hasn’t been sorted out."
"Mr. Hua, let me make this clear, I might have been fooled once, but you won’t trick me a second time!"
When Zhong Shenxiu had left, Asang then spoke, "This person is so young, yet already has the strength of a Martial Artist, how impressive..."
Xiao Bo nodded, "In the future, I also want to become a formal Martial Artist like master."
As soon as his words fell, Liu San slapped him on the head, "If you want to train to be like him, go through another ten years of hard training... And remember, in our White Ape Gate, only one formal Martial Artist is allowed per generation, that’s the rule."
Liu San’s expression was very stern.
"Why? Being a formal Martial Artist has such good benefits, like you, master, doing nothing yet still earning a seven-figure yearly salary..."
Xiao Bo held his head, sorely perplexed.
Liu San generally shunned commercial performances and accepted discipleship selectively without charging tuition; if not for the support from the Martial Artist Association, this White Ape Martial Arts Hall would have closed down long ago.
He just didn’t understand why his master urged them to diligently train in martial arts, yet at the same time, forbade them from aspiring to the Martial Artist Association.