Meng Chuan couldn't gauge the depth of this skirt-wearing woman.
However, anyone who could descend from the sky was undoubtedly a Grandmaster.
Because Master Luo had once said,
"I'm the only Martial Arts Master who can fly."
He dared not overstep, so he stood and greeted with the etiquette of a Martial Artist.
The woman's expression was icy, but she nodded in acknowledgment.
"Has Grandmaster Chen arrived?"
Principal Yang came over from the side and sat next to the woman named Chen.
At the same time, he introduced to Meng Chuan:
"This is Grandmaster Chen Qiushui from the United University's Grandmaster Class. She is likely to be your future class advisor."
Meng Chuan's demeanor turned solemn, and he bowed respectfully again.
This young one was clearly valued by Principal Yang, which made the woman give a serious glance and nod in approval.
After that, Meng Chuan had no place in the conversation, as he wasn't significant enough to join the dialogue between the Martial Arts Venerable and the Grandmaster.
But listening without speaking was allowed...
Yang Huan maintained a calm expression and said lightly:
"Grandmaster Chen, you should have already received the new regulations issued by the headquarters, right?"
Such matters weren't secret and needed no concealment.
Chen Qiushui frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and replied:
"Principal Yang, I understand the other regulations as they're policies beneficial to students.
But there's one thing I don't understand, and I'd like to consult with you.
Is there any meaning in the gradient division of resource allocation within the Grandmaster Class?"
Yang Huan smiled and said,
"Explain your thoughts."
Chen Qiushui:
"Personally, I think that the Grandmaster Class already comprises the cream of the crop of students throughout the United University.
Further division of resources might harm internal unity; I don't think this counts as healthy competition."
What Chen Qiushui said was true, being admitted to the Grandmaster Class didn't mean resting on one's laurels.
If one didn't continue to strive, they would face the risk of being replaced by students who hadn't been admitted to the Grandmaster Class.
Thus, the atmosphere within the Grandmaster Class was intensely focused on martial arts, with everyone assisting and advancing with each other, fearing that their fellow classmates might be replaced by others.
Chen Qiushui felt this pressure was enough, and implementing such a high-pressure policy of internal resource distribution could likely cause internal conflicts within the Grandmaster Class.
Though her nature was cold, she genuinely considered the interests of her students.
Yang Huan glanced at Meng Chuan, who was eavesdropping on the side, and then said,
"The headquarters has its considerations; the new regulations this time are not only for Yong'an but must be implemented by all campuses.
We should just carry it out. If the effect is not good, reporting back to the headquarters won't be too late.
We all know that Principal Sui is not someone who is impossible to communicate with."
Yang Huan did not explain much, confident that Chen Qiushui would understand the underlying reasoning.
Grandmasters were not merely puppets of power; they were people of great wisdom as well.
Chen Qiushui naturally knew this; she had only mentioned it in passing.
But she still felt a bit anxious, unsure of Principal Sui's intentions with this policy.
"The nation is vigorously promoting the Supernova competition, aiming to benefit more grassroots university martial artists.
The series of new regulations at the United University intending to channel resources towards the top seems somewhat counter to this intention.
Is it a disagreement in philosophy or..."
In an era where individual prowess was magnified infinitely,
for the top powerhouses who had lived from the founding of Great Chu, or even before, until now, Great Chu seemed more like a framework.
Within it, they could manifest their talents and aspirations on a broader scale.
But undeniably, the ultimate goal in the hearts of every righteous martial artist was to eradicate the Demon Path and extinguish the Celestial Demons.
Different paths leading to the same goal, ultimately it was to protect the homeland.
And martial artists trust only themselves.
Meng Chuan listened keenly from the side.
Regardless of other matters, he kept thinking if what the two said would benefit him in the future.
"Internal distribution means whoever has the strongest fists gets the most, right?"
Meng Chuan shook his head, stopping his train of thought, as the Grandmaster Class was not yet a certainty, and there were still six months until the martial arts examination, so there's no need to dwell on it.
Seeing that the two had stopped talking, he refocused on watching the competition; the students in the arena were also among the best of their age.
Though not better than himself, they each had their specialties, and Meng Chuan could naturally learn something from them.
...
Time ticked by, and Meng Chuan returned from lunch to find the finals on the arena had already begun.
He immediately spotted Xu Qingfeng standing ostentatiously on platform number three.
This kid was wearing a yellow robe today, with his long, flowing hair tied up with a gold pin, which made Meng Chuan feel like jumping down to kick him twice...
On the arena,
Xu Qingfeng's opponent was someone skilled in the Snake Form's cunning hand, at the peak of Qi Blood's seven levels, with extremely fierce techniques.
Facing the cunning hand, Xu Qingfeng arrogantly defended with one hand, wielding the Eight Trigrams with one hand, while hiding the other behind his back without revealing it.
He employed his Eight Trigrams Power seamlessly, while the opponent's hand was as flexible and natural as a soft snake.
The two seemed to be playing a game of mahjong on the spot...
"Xu Qingfeng is not being honest. Didn't he say before that he couldn't form the Eight Trigrams with one hand?"
Meng Chuan found it puzzling; previously, when Xu Qingfeng injured his hand, he was unwilling to spar no matter what.
Returning his gaze to the arena, he nodded as he watched, realizing he had indeed learned a lot.
In Elephant Form Sect's Snake Form, the most crucial aspect was training a pair of arms to be as supple as if they were boneless, focusing on the flexibility of body joints and parts.
When it came to soft fist techniques, Meng Chuan admitted he couldn't compare to this Snake Form practitioner.
Continuing to watch, Xu Qingfeng eventually demonstrated superior skills, finding an opportunity after dozens of rounds.
The snake-formed opponent first thrust with a hand, hissing like a rattlesnake, striking directly at Xu Qingfeng's throat.
Facing the crisis, he first retreated along the momentum.
Simultaneously, his left leg suddenly stomped the ground, borrowing the force of recoil to launch a counterattack.
Unlike the previous fluidity like water, once Xu Qingfeng exerted his strength, within the Eight Trigrams it was no longer dew but thunder!
The snake-formed opponent's slippery body suddenly fell into a stagnant state, and within a few moves, was tightly restrained from behind by Xu Qingfeng.
A light cracking sound came from the opponent's body, trying to slip away like a swimming snake.
But Xu Qingfeng obviously wouldn't let him succeed, the powerful Qi Blood of the Eight Close broke out, and his two palms struck the opponent's back like lightning, knocking him cleanly off the ring.
In the judges' seating, some high school leaders nodded secretly.
"Xu Qingfeng has improved a lot after advancing to the Eight Close."
"Indeed, Xu Qingfeng was already outstanding at the Seven Close, and looking at it this way, he has a decent chance of grabbing the championship in this tournament."
"Hmm, it's a pity for Hao Lin, if he hadn't encountered Xu Qingfeng, he might have had a chance to enter the top seven."
Including the newly promoted Xu Qingfeng, there are only three Eight Close students in the high school, with the remaining two being old students stuck at this level.
There are few finals matches, and after each, there is a judges' commentary session, catching Meng Chuan off guard.
He muttered secretly to himself:
"The master didn't mention this beforehand..."
After a few others spoke, it was Meng Chuan's turn.
He stood up and locked eyes with Xu Qingfeng...
"Well played..."
Meng Chuan gave a thumbs up to the opponent, then sat down and silenced his microphone.
They're all buddies, encouragement was enough.
Xu Qingfeng also smiled, clasped his hands in salute, with a bit of joy in his heart.
After all, if their roles were reversed and he was on the judges' seat, he would definitely take the chance to show off hard.
"Meng Chuan isn't bad, he can be a pal!"
Time ticked away, and the competition continued.
After each group of matches, Meng Chuan gave hearty encouragement.
The necessary teachings and guidance he had already shared with everyone during his practice sessions, no need to show off now.
The sun was about to set, and the final match was coming.
[Xu Qingfeng vs Fu Long]
With the lengthy competition, Meng Chuan had already completed his pile skills for the day, now watching the two competitors seriously.
He's crossed fists with Fu Long before, and this man is the only one in the entire high school who could withstand dozens of his moves.
Xu Qingfeng had just eliminated another Eight Close senior, yet still hadn't showcased his cloud intent.
Uncertain about how his cloud intent has progressed with cultivation advancement.
"Xu Qingfeng has just advanced to the Eight Close; his Qi Blood is at a disadvantage, Fu Long's attack is fierce, unsure if he can withstand it."
As it was nearing conclusion, Principal Yang casually asked:
"Meng Chuan, which of these two do you think will win?"
"Xu Qingfeng, I know him, although he exhausted quite some energy from the fierce Eight Close battle just now.
But this guy has good endurance, far from reaching his limit.
Coupled with his hidden cloud intent, Fu Long is likely to be defeated."
Yang Huan nodded in agreement, as a Venerable, eliminating the possibility of sudden outbursts.
Many matches haven't even begun before he can predict the outcome with a glance.
Seeing Principal Yang seemingly familiar with this kid, Chen Qiushui also asked:
"If you were on stage, could you confidently win?"
She could sense Meng Chuan's Qi Blood, merely at Eight Close, don't boast too much.
"Easily."
Meng Chuan said solemnly.
When it's time to show, he naturally wouldn't hold back.
If it were a life-and-death struggle, he was even confident in instantly killing Fu Long.
Brother Xu Qingfeng is too much of a roaming dragon, needs some effort to defeat.
Chen Qiushui nodded, with Principal Yang around, he didn't dare exaggerate, it appears this lad truly has something special.
No wonder his daughter seems a bit interested in this kid.
No doubt, what Meng Chuan doesn't know yet is that
his future homeroom teacher, might very well be Meng Jiaolong's mom...
...
The new year's grand finals began.
On the ring, Xu Qingfeng didn't hold back his cloud intent from the start.
Facing Fu Long, keeping one's skill hidden is disrespectful to the opponent.
Fu Long's initial attack was ferocious, his tiger-leopard dual form striking majestically, tiger roar and leopard hiss echoed over the mountain.
But Xu Qingfeng, with one hand using the Heaven and Earth Eight Trigrams, forcibly held on with his roaming dragon style for hundreds of moves.
As time went on, Fu Long's condition declined, his stamina gradually wane.
Eventually, he was forced to the edge of the ring by Xu Qingfeng, and smashed down.
The applause from the judges' booth and the entire audience was spontaneous for both competitors.
This was the most spectacular match of the entire day.
Principal Yang was very satisfied, Meng Chuan's pre-match analysis was spot on, Xu Qingfeng ultimately held out till the end.
At the edge of the ring, the students also enjoyed the show, simultaneously shouting aloud.
"Brother Xu, amazing, champion!"
Xu Qingfeng raised his arm in a show of triumph, his expression bold and spirited.
Someone secretly suggested:
"I think Brother Xu could carry the momentum of the championship and challenge Brother Chuan among the judges."
"Bold! Counter to the heavens!"