A moment later, Meng Chuan followed Zong Ping's guidance and logged onto the United University Preparatory High School's internal forum.
The first thing that caught his eye was three trending posts related to him...
The first one was recently uploaded, clearly showing his appearance when he fiercely beat up Lin Yue.
Looking at his own ferocious face, Meng Chuan understood.
"Find some time to patch up the relationship with the classmates..."
Since he would be practicing at the preparatory high for a long time, Meng Chuan felt it would be best to get along with the classmates.
Twelve noon.
The meals at United University Preparatory High School were indeed excellent, and with his pass, Meng Chuan successfully got a free nutritious meal.
Money for medicine was running low, so saving a bit was crucial.
He ate three servings in one go, preparing to audit the fist skill class in the afternoon, needing some energy for practicing fists.
Four in the afternoon.
After the fist skill class, Meng Chuan gained a lot.
Although the instructor practiced not Xingyi, but the Tiger Form master "Mountain Patrol General - Zhang Yuehu".
Yet, Meng Chuan still learned many things. Regarding some issues with his Five Qi of the Viscera, Teacher Zhang also gave him several pointers.
[Five Elements Qiankun Fist: Beginner (53%)]
As he became more skilled in the Qi Eating Skill, now he didn't need to swing his arms; he could operate Qi while standing still.
However, the progress speed in Five Elements Qiankun Fist didn't increase much as a result.
"Although I haven't practiced this fist skill, I know its great reputation.
The progress is slow because when you inhale, the amount of Five Elements Qi is too little. As it flows through the viscera and returns to the meridians, the power to stir Qi Blood is naturally insufficient.
In my impression, there's no one at the preparatory high practicing this fist skill. I'm a Martial Arts Family member of Elephant Form Sect, but I'm afraid I can't teach you how to train it specifically."
Walking while recalling Zhang Yuehu's words, the special car waiting for him at the entrance.
Meng Chuan prepared to go back for standing meditation and research how to absorb more Five Elements Qi.
Just then, a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Meng Chuan, in the name of a brother, want to spar again?"
Xu Qingfeng's hand was healed, and the first thing he wanted was to regain his honor.
He felt that he had underestimated his opponent last time at the top of Xiang King's Tomb.
Recently, although he hadn't practiced much, during this leisurely time, his understanding of Cloud Intent had deepened quite a bit.
Xu Qingfeng thought, at worst... he could at least draw the match.
"Alright, shall we go to the second-floor arena?"
The two quickly headed to the Martial Arts Dojo, Meng Chuan rushing back for standing meditation, Xu Qingfeng eager to prove himself.
Standing on the arena, the two assumed fighting stances.
"I'll try a new fist skill, fists and feet have no eyes, be careful yourself."
Meng Chuan wanted to test the practical application of Five Elements Qiankun Fist in combat.
Even though his proficiency in the fist skill was only at the beginner's level, thanks to his foundation in Fire Attribute fist skill.
In combat, gathering Heart Fire to execute Flame Burst Fist was still feasible.
Upon first contact, Xu Qingfeng felt a greater pressure than the time on the mountaintop.
During this period, Meng Chuan had improved in many fist skills. Although his Qi Blood hadn't broken through the eighth stage, it had improved quite a bit.
With fists shadowing each other, Xu Qingfeng was completely on the defensive, having to constantly use Cloud Intent and Eight Trigrams to deflect Meng Chuan's attacks.
Meng Chuan could tell that Xu Qingfeng's willpower had indeed improved, but it still wasn't enough before himself.
Meng Chuan hadn't practiced Killing Intent much lately, but that didn't mean he hadn't made progress.
Meng Chuan's Killing Intent was still at the first stage of concentration, but it became much more solid after merging.
Finding the right opportunity, Meng Chuan leapt up with a hook punch, Heart Fire Qi quickly coating the fist edge, mingling with Killing Intent, and hammered into Xu Qingfeng's waist.
Xu Qingfeng dodged sideways, but was still forced to the side of the arena by the heavy punch.
Just after stabilizing his stance, he immediately felt a burning sensation on his waist.
Looking down, he saw a big hole burned through the fabric on his waist.
"Damn, you ruined my clothes with heat, what kind of fist skill is that?"
The United University Preparatory High School's uniforms, considering students' martial practices, put great effort into elasticity, extension, and durability, usually hard to damage.
"Just learned Five Elements Qiankun Fist, how is it?"
"Awesome, I tried this Xiang King's inheritance martial arts before, but it's too hard to get started.
But this fist is great, call me next time when you spar with Meng Jiaolong, I want to watch."
Meng Chuan was speechless, wouldn't that make it a rogue fist?
"Slow down, let me try other fist paths."
"Alright, I came to feed you moves after all..."
Xu Qingfeng originally wanted to regain his honor, but he realized, continuing to go head-to-head with Meng Chuan would just mean he gets to the dorm naked, might as well just go along with it...
Taking this opportunity, Meng Chuan slowed down the pace of his attacks, attempting to deploy the other four kinds of Qi.
Half an hour later, Metal, Wood, and Earth Qi were barely usable in combat, but Kidney Water Qi was not.
Meng Chuan's foundation in Water Attribute fist was too weak. To successfully perform the Overlapping Waves Shattering Rock Fist, Xu Qingfeng would have to be like a wooden post, completely unmoving, in order to give enough time to activate it.
Xu Qingfeng couldn't stand it anymore and said speechlessly:
"Stop, you'd better go downstairs to hit the silicon post, I'm like a wooden figure, it's no fun."
"Alright, I won't use the Five Elements Fist anymore, let's go all out in one last bout and end it."
When using a person, use them to the fullest, Meng Chuan switched to his most familiar Luo's Eight Extremes, beginning to accumulate Limit Breaking proficiency.
After a hundred moves, Xu Qingfeng was knocked out of the arena by a powerful elbow strike.
Sitting on the ground, he felt dizzy.
"Awesome, have you perfected this fist skill? It's much stronger than before."
Last time he could easily defend, this time it was especially difficult.
"Reaching perfection was mainly delayed by your hand injury for a while, it's nothing."
Meng Chuan comforted him, and this time he didn't go all out, also considering the opponent's hand injury was just healing.
"Forget it, let's go. I'm easygoing, losing is no big deal."
Meng Chuan jumped off the ring, joking:
"You're not calling me 'bro' yet, even if it's in Brother's name?"
"...My hand injury hasn't fully healed yet, this one doesn't count."
They cleaned up and walked downstairs side by side.
Xu Qingfeng asked again:
"Do you know about Lin Yue's situation? That kid recently woke up, hating you so much his teeth itch, he's been lying in bed every day throwing things, threatening to kill you."
"Yeah, I know."
"Well, take care of yourself, that bastard indeed deserves a beating."
Xu Qingfeng worried Meng Chuan might be so focused on martial arts that he wouldn't know when Lin Yue might sneak attack on him.
"Alright, thanks. I've got it covered."
Because of this, An Jing had looked for him several times, hoping he would apologize to Lin Yue.
Apologizing was out of the question, his answer was firm.
"Isn't that absurd? Why should I apologize? If he has the guts, he should recover and fight again."
At the time, he did exert too much force, and that last brutal throw was purely out of venting.
Lin Yue was the first to show killing intent, so he couldn't blame Meng Chuan for hitting hard.
The complete bone fracture was just a minor punishment. If it weren't at school, he wouldn't even have a bone left.
...
Meng Chuan sat in the back seat of the special car with his eyes closed, listening to Chen Yu's hard skill online course through his headphones.
He looked at the panel, over an hour of actual combat increased the proficiency of the Five Elements Qiankun Fist by a bit.
Only then did Meng Chuan remember it was time to eat.
He picked up the thermos cup from the cup holder, took out a small packet of white powder from his pocket, pinched his nose, and poured it into the cup to stir.
It was time for the painful moment, he closed his eyes and opened his mouth, downing the large cup of Five Elements Soup.
Feeling the medicinal effect working within him, Meng Chuan felt somewhat relieved.
The stock left by his master was running low, so he opened the Martial Arts Merchant Mall and bought a three-month supply.
He tried going two days without the Five Elements Soup relying purely on practicing fists, and the proficiency improvement rate almost halved.
Martial arts can change fate, but martial arts are expensive.
So expensive that the monthly income of an average family can't even afford a bowl of medicinal soup. This is the real-life version of literature for the poor, martial arts for the rich.
"I still have some money that will last for a while, so I shouldn't scrimp to save it. Enhancing strength can lead to a big return in the Supernova tournament."
The day before yesterday, Principal Yang Huan from United University called him about Lin Yue and then urged him to prepare well. After the New Year, they would select affiliation slots.
"Prepare well. To place high in the Supernova tournament, you can't neglect not just fist skills and Qi blood but hard skills as well... "
With progressing mastery of the Iron Cloth Shirt, Chen Tie could no longer satisfy Meng Chuan; he needed to find an even stronger, more professional body refinement master.
...
Early the next morning.
Meng Chuan followed the address Chen Tie gave him and arrived at 18 Yanta Road, Qindu District.
Huayun Prefecture was also in Qindu District, not far from where he lived, just a bit off the beaten path, so he had never been there.
He looked up at the sign, [Gangzi Hard Skill Club].
"Hiss, this martial arts family... gave it quite a down-to-earth name."
Meng Chuan lifted the thick soundproof curtain and stepped inside.
The receptionist, used to seeing muscle fanatics day in and day out, was suddenly dazzled to see a handsome young man walk in.
"Hello, do you have a reservation with one of our teachers, or are you self-training?"
It was already winter, and the store was stuffy from the heater.
Meng Chuan felt the heat, casually took off his coat, revealing a black tank top convenient for practicing hard skills.
He said:
"I'm looking for [Iron Immortal·Li Weigang] teacher, I made a phone reservation last night."
Once his coat was off, Meng Chuan revealed his compact muscles.
As he tucked his coat under his elbow, his muscular chest surged with tension, pressing the tank top tautly upwards, each muscle contour above thoroughly visible.
The receptionist was instantly downcast, realizing he wasn't some handsome young man coming to workout, but another muscle fanatic.
Anyone training with Brother Gang would indeed be a top-tier muscle fanatic.
"Take a seat, have some water, just a moment."
A moment later.
"Are you Meng Chuan?"
Thud, thud, thud!
Solid footsteps echoed, and Meng Chuan looked over to see a tall, over two-meter-tall bald man with a square face standing before him.
"A muscle brick man..."
Meng Chuan thought with some mischief.
But he quickly composed himself because the martial artist aura the man exuded was unmistakably genuine!
"Yes, I booked with you last night."
"Hmm, I remember Chen Tie mentioned you; the hard skill prodigy from Ping'an Middle School?"
Meng Chuan replied with a smile.
"I don't know about being a prodigy, just fond of hard skills."
"Hahaha good, this place was opened for the many hard skill enthusiasts in Yong'an, you're in the right place."