"Senior Brother Wei, the one who just left, I heard he’s Liang Yan, the chief of the Changfeng Escort Agency, known in Jianghu as ’Off-string Arrow’. His archery is unparalleled."
"He competed with Master Yan, but it seems he couldn’t beat our Master Yan?"
Che Qi sidled up to Wei Quan, calling him Senior Brother with a familiar air, even though Wei Quan was a year younger. But having roughed it out at docks and construction sites, Che Qi had developed a thick skin and addressed him warmly.
Wei Quan enjoyed it and said with a smile, "In terms of archery, Liang Chief is top-notch, but when it comes to boxing, he’s still a little behind our head disciple." [Thumbs up] [Little finger]
Yan Chuan never avoids people when practicing boxing.
He always spars openly, never closing the doors, allowing everyone to watch.
Just now, ’Off-string Arrow’ Liang Yan came for a friendly spar. Although they stopped when necessary, seeing the mutual respect between them afterward, it was clear Yan Chuan had won.
This was the seventh old school expert to visit and specifically seek out Yan Chuan in over half a month.
Yan Chuan remained undefeated.
Cheng Fengxiao wasn’t at the Martial Arts Hall, but the reputation of his senior disciple quietly spread, with the names ’Jade-faced Tiger’ and ’Handsome White Crane’ gradually gaining traction in smaller circles.
An emerging Grandmaster.
Yan Chuan needed only to accomplish something significant, an event that would shake the world, to enhance his name and reputation, for he lacked not the strength but the renown to become a Grandmaster.
"Master Yan, truly incredible!"
Nineteen this year, Yan Chuan was actually only seven years older, yet already accomplished, matching old-school experts. In contrast, Che Qi was still like a newbie, honing his foundational skills.
Wei Quan was in a good mood, patting Che Qi on the shoulder: "You just got here a few days ago? Just watch carefully and patiently. Compared to the head disciple’s boxing and spear skills, his real strength lies in teaching and imparting martial arts."
"You know Guangling Academy, right?"
"Even the elite disciples of Guangling Academy have been running to the head disciple’s ’Advanced Study Hall’ in recent days, seeking just a few tips, willing to pay a hefty price. You can practice at the Martial Arts Hall for a year for only five taels, but those academy disciples have to pay one tael per session, for half an hour."
"Like Liang Chief, today he came, first to spar with such a promising talent like our head disciple, and second, wanting his son to join the Martial Arts Hall, to train under the head disciple."
"But for now, our head disciple has no plans to take on students, so he politely refused!"
"Our head disciple, truly extraordinary!"
Wei Quan praised Yan Chuan like a legend, unparalleled on earth and sky, covering every aspect, highly sought after.
"The head disciple, truly amazing!"
Che Qi was dazzled by the stories.
He joined the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall because Che Zheng mentioned it, he thought he’d come and have a look. Who knew, upon arrival, he witnessed Yan Chuan practicing boxing with divine skill, which deeply impressed him, setting his determination to train and seek apprenticeship.
Recently, he concentrated on standing stance, hoping to catch Yan Chuan’s attention, and had to work in the afternoons, with no energy left for other matters.
Che Qi only now realized—
"The head disciple can even guide academy disciples!"
"And they are willing to pay a high price, eagerly seeking his guidance!"
"Even martial arts experts like Liang Yan are eager to send their sons to the Martial Arts Hall to learn!"
"This time, I’ve truly found a goldmine!"
Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall, Yan Chuan fiercely dueling Xia Yingxing, making him the tenth renowned old-school expert he faced in over half a month.
Yan Chuan maneuvered with Tiger Crane Double Forms, tossing, hooking, colliding, inserting, his movements compact and his strength vibrant.
Xia Yingxing, nearing fifty, seemed to be declining physically, but his boxing skills were becoming more exquisite. He specialized in ’Nan Zhi Fist’, his movements simple, his punches powerful, his defense seamless, flexible, and changeable.
The two wove around each other, dodging and moving.
Attacking speed with speed, countering attacks deftly, their fists and feet clashed so rapidly that it was dizzying.
Each punch and kick was accompanied by swirling wind.
No one dared take it head-on.
Progressive Beng Fist!
Retreating and punching!
Yan Chuan’s rhythm was distinct.
Xia Yingxing was struggling —
His mastery of ’Nan Zhi Fist’ was substantial, believing himself not far behind Cheng Fengxiao, yet under Yan Chuan’s attack, he was mainly on defense and had difficulty making significant moves.
In his eyes, Yan Chuan was like a fierce tiger, and there was an evident roar of tiger power within his punches and kicks, making his head dizzy and defenses increasingly tiring.
In just a few dozen moves, he noticed Yan Chuan had already shown restraint three times—
Specified Central Plains!
Three moves and styles could have severely wounded him, but Yan Chuan held back each time.
Punches and kicks generated wind.
Not only were Xia Yingxing’s moves inferior to Yan Chuan, but during their exchanges, he felt Yan Chuan’s body was hard as iron, robust as steel, with his Qi and blood vigorous, causing Xia Yingxing’s hands, arms, feet, and legs to ache from the impact.
It was like facing a porcupine!
Every contact was painful.
"Tie Qiao Cheng has an heir now!"
"What ’Jade-faced Tiger’, what ’Handsome White Crane’, this kid is so tough, he should be called ’Iron Lump’!"
"Damn it! It hurts so much!"
Xia Yingxing was frustrated, but having lasted fewer than two hundred rounds, he was embarrassed to stop. Seeing the young man’s earnest and polite demeanor, he couldn’t slack off either, so he continued sparring with Yan Chuan, suffering quietly within.
Yan Chuan, of course, was unaware of Xia Yingxing’s predicament, engrossed in the fight.
This was his first exposure since his rapid progress in July. Xia Yingxing, as a renowned master of Nan Zhi Fist, had formidable techniques and style.
Although they say boxing fears youth, Xia Yingxing was not yet fifty and hadn’t been declining long, just progressing slowly; he hadn’t really regressed.
A rare opponent indeed.
Yan Chuan fought vigorously, his punches and kicks fluid, displaying his self-created and newly famed ’Tiger Crane Double Forms’ that were reverberating through Guangling City, but inwardly, he constantly experimented with energies beyond the ’Gang Energy’ and ’Soft Force’ of ’Cheng Family Boxing’, including the ’Spiral Force’, ’Rolling Power’, ’Whip Force’, ’Water-dipping Force’, ’Hooking Force’, and ’Shaking and Bouncing Force’ of the ’Six Harmonies Eight Techniques Fist’, all containing endless intricacies.
Lately, whether sparring with old school experts, teaching Martial Arts Academy disciples, or instructing Advanced Study Hall students, he pondered these forces deeply.
The deeper he pondered, the more amazed he became.
his understanding and mastery of these forces significantly accelerated his inspiration accumulation for ’Divine Movement Transformation’.
A multitude of benefits—
[Task Two: Inspiration +2]
[Your ’Six Harmonies Eight Techniques Fist’ has been enhanced, Skill Level +1]
Yan Chuan was concentrated on sparring, his mastery and demeanor already honed to a Grandmaster level in his punches and kicks.
Xia Yingxing saw it; the ’Cheng Family Boxing’ head disciple he watched growing up had indeed mastered ’Tiger Crane Double Forms’ with finesse, his force robust yet flowing like fish in water, his momentum tenacious yet agile like a crane soaring through the sky; moving like a mighty river in constant flow, resting firm as a mountain, immovably steadfast.
"Stretching and contracting with impermanence!"
"Opening and closing without trace!"
"If we continue, my old bones might fall apart!"
After Yan Chuan accidentally hit a nerve, Xia Yingxing, fearful, quickly gestured to stop and stepped out of the ring, unwilling to continue. As he backed away, he called to the stunned youth beside: "Blockhead! Hurry up and bow to your Master!"
"Master Xia, hold on!"
Yan Chuan hurriedly intervened!
You old man, no martial virtue!