After waiting for a moment, ten contestants entered the stage one after another, anticipating the most exciting part.
With great anticipation, Meng Chuan watched as Northern Lands' guardian, Celestial Bear Shaking Mountains·Lu Ang, slowly approached the stage.
His physique was enormous, standing before the other contestants like a towering shadow.
Scanning around, Lu Ang slowly spoke,
"Everything that needs to be said, Principal Zheng has already addressed.
In short, I hope each of you can represent your city, represent my vast Northern Lands,
and compete in Shanghai, spreading the fame of Northern Lands!"
Everyone bowed and responded,
"The junior remembers the teachings of Celestial King Lu!"
Lu Ang was Great Chu's latest-promoted sixth-limit Martial Arts Celestial King.
He was also currently the sect leader of the Elephant Form Sect's Bear Form Boxing, the highest in mastery of bear form.
The northern guardian was the supreme leader of the entire north, his status comparable to the principal of the main campus of the Special Martial Arts University.
One is in politics, the other in education, but the one constant is the necessity of having enough strength to support them.
The Celestial King guardian didn't have much free time, needing both to train and manage affairs, thus he didn't say much more.
Lu Ang personally handed the prize money plaques marked "20,000,000" to everyone, starting from the tenth place.
Finally reaching today's champion, Meng Chuan.
He stood before Meng Chuan, devoid of any threatening aura, yet Meng Chuan regarded him as if facing a terrifying ancient giant bear.
But Meng Chuan was not intimidated because he had his own confidence; he would eventually reach Martial Arts Celestial King!
Seeing Meng Chuan unfazed, Lu Ang showed a look of appreciation and encouraged,
"Young man, you fought well earlier; it was truly spectacular, haha.
But in your cultivation, you need to push harder. The world of the Martial Arts family far exceeds your recent fist stance exchanges.
Flying through the air, traversing miles in thought, all lies within the body's limitations waiting to be unlocked, more exciting than you can imagine."
"The junior adheres to the teachings!"
Meng Chuan nodded seriously; what Celestial King Lu said was also what he was pursuing.
"But don't rush for quick success; you need to be down-to-earth and progress step by step. Start with Shanghai and showcase the might of Northern Lands!"
"Meng Chuan understands."
Lu Ang nodded and, like Principal Zheng earlier, vanished in an instant.
...
After having dinner with his sister Meng Yiyi, she left after the meal to hurry back to submit her return to campus application.
Meng Chuan returned alone to the hotel, just in time to see that his mobile bank card was already credited with twenty million, feeling quite pleased.
"Next, there's still Hanhai's twenty million, getting rich..."
Having never fought such a wealthy battle, Meng Chuan bought a bunch of Five Elements Soup materials and some body refinement paste, spending just a fraction.
"Awesome!"
A moment later, Meng Chuan was browsing the online auction at the Martial Arts Association mall, trying to suppress the sudden rich mentality.
"These daily consumable pills, each costing over ten million..."
At this moment, a pill was being auctioned, one from Hanhai Pharmaceutical that could help a Martial Arts Grandmaster accelerate cultivation daily.
Meng Chuan couldn't help but click his tongue, the swelling feeling in his heart dissipating completely.
"As the Martial Arts path progresses, it becomes more costly; I must strive harder to earn money."
If he tops Shanghai, Hanhai would still have to pay him fifteen million.
Now he was just a Martial Artist, an opportunity to earn such a substantial sum must be seized.
Moreover, the most crucial point was that he could exchange for the pill Master Luo mentioned, one that could improve the roots from the national treasury.
At this moment, a pill named Bone Strengthening Dragon God Pill was being auctioned, its price already exceeding nine figures and still climbing.
This was a rare treasure pill that could enhance root quality, only born from fortunate coincidences, unable to be mass-produced.
Meng Chuan, unlike those heirs from martial families or descendants of Celestial King Great Saints, even if he were to lose everything, he couldn't afford it.
But he could take it from the treasury with his iron fists!
"My biggest drawback is the lackluster root quality; a pill that enhances root quality is as meaningful to me as gaining comprehension-type traits, if not more significant."
Stronger roots would benefit him for life.
The sooner he acquired it, the more proficient he would become in liver practice, gaining more traits and ultimately achieving a beneficial cycle.
Master Luo once told him about a Great Saint's great-grandson who encountered unknown problems upon birth.
Not a trace of Great Saint potential inherited, instead born with inferior root quality.
But that Martial Arts Great Saint forcefully elevated him to superior root quality, a terrifying feat!
Steeling his heart spirit, Meng Chuan couldn't sit still; he needed to earn money and progress!
He immediately entered the Martial Arts Chamber in his room, continuing to practice fists to increase proficiency.
While Master Luo was boasting about his apprentice to friends over drinks, Meng Chuan practiced alone, his heart spirit fully submerged in the fist skill.
After half an hour, Meng Chuan was still focused on practicing fists, unaware that someone had been standing behind him for a while.
"Is it the Five Elements Qiankun Fist? Your Heart Fire stance is well executed; pay attention to the power transmission in the Earth Spleen stance, which needs strengthening."
"Who?"
Meng Chuan instantly felt his pores tighten and muscles tense, turning while gathering momentum.
In the next moment, as he saw the face of the person, his aura instantly shrank.
"Good day, Celestial King Zheng... Why did you suddenly come in here..."
The visitor was none other than Dragon-riding Guanyin·Zheng Yulan!
Earlier today, he had beaten this person's grandchild; now, Meng Chuan didn't dare raise his voice in conversation.
Zheng Yulan wore a smile, unaffected by anything.
"I left a message at the hotel front desk; Xiaomeng, you might not have received it.
No matter, I wanted to..."
Before Principal Zheng finished speaking, another figure appeared in Meng Chuan's room.
This person wore a Northern United University practice suit, exuding an indescribable weightiness.
"Sui... Principal Sui!"
Meng Chuan was utterly astonished; what day was it that the principals of two Special Martial Arts Schools all appeared in his room.
Especially Sui Chunqiu, Celestial King Sui, whose every match Meng Chuan had never missed.
When he was young, it was one of his spiritual pillars to persist in the National Obligation Basic Boxing!
Sui Chunqiu nodded in acknowledgment towards Meng Chuan.
"You fought well today, showcasing the Northern United University's style.
Step out for a while, I have words to exchange with Principal Zheng."
"Alright."
Meng Chuan left his room to the pair, turning to wait patiently in Master Luo's room.
From the moment Celestial King Zheng appeared, he already understood the other's intention.
For this, Meng Chuan felt quite proud, for the Martial Arts Celestial King had personally come; evidently, he was quite sought after...
...
Meanwhile, inside Meng Chuan's room.
Zheng Yulan looked at the suddenly appearing Sui Chunqiu, the atmosphere was quite heavy.
In the next moment, the tension was swept away.
She smiled faintly,
"Well, I originally came to take my grandson back, might as well test a bit.
Now that you're here, I won't waste words."
Sui Chunqiu said calmly,
"I helped you balance the Jiao Demon within that Demon Nest, is this how you repay me?"
"Different matters should be treated separately, the kindness of Celestial King Sui is something I will never forget."
"Don't evade, tell me, what did you see in Fate and Causality?"
Zheng Yulan would not personally invite Meng Chuan to join Yanhua, this breaks the rules more than the exemption from the Grandmaster Class.
Which student would dare refuse the King's invitation?
But if she wanted to do this, there must be a certain reason.
Zheng Yulan clasped her hands together, silently chanting a Buddhist litany.
"Principal Sui, you're overthinking it, I was merely idle and fell a move. You agreed to the exemption for the Grandmaster Class, I wish to see why this child could make you break the rules.
As for Fate and Causality you mentioned, I'm far from that level, perhaps even those people can't achieve it."
Sui Chunqiu nodded, whether true or false, a reply was sufficient.
"You seem quite close to that step."
"Within three years, I will attempt once."
Upon hearing her words, Zheng Yulan reflected,
"Then I will take my leave, I hope the King will soon break through the seventh limit, adding another pillar to Great Chu."
"Wishful thinking."
Zheng Yulan's figure vanished from the room, returning instantly beside Zheng Chengcheng.
"Losing is no matter, you can win back another day."
"I understand, Grandmother."
Seeing Zheng Chengcheng merely hugging his phone, repeatedly watching Meng Chuan's final move, studying its form, without a hint of resentment.
Zheng Yulan nodded.
"Rest early, tomorrow morning we'll go to Yong'an to pick up your sister and return with me to Yanhua Mountain."
"Alright, Grandmother, I'll study a bit more, you rest early."
Zheng Yulan no longer needed sleep to heal her Heart Spirit, she gazed at the night sky, her mind contemplating something unknown.
"Past and future, causality only varies in size, not in good or bad. Bringing Chengcheng to Yong'an, now it seems like the right decision..."
...
Elsewhere, Meng Chuan was suppressing his curiosity, yet suddenly a voice echoed beside his ear.
It was Principal Sui transmitting from afar, Meng Chuan calmed his Heart Spirit, returning to his room.
Meng Chuan listened respectfully to the other's encouragement, finally, Sui Chunqiu said,
"With the exemption confirmed, focus your Heart Spirit and practice your fist skills well. I hope to see you in next year's Martial Extreme True Inheritance competition."
With that, Sui Chunqiu similarly vanished without a trace.
These formidable beings, for some reason, always liked to appear and disappear suddenly...
After Principal Sui left, Meng Chuan felt more puzzled, what exactly was this Martial Extreme True Inheritance...
At the same time.
Military Academy folks learned of Sui Chunqiu coming to Wu'an, abandoning their high-paying "recruitment" plan for Meng Chuan.
A King cannot be insulted, poaching in front of them would purely be seeking one's death.
...
The next day dawned.
Meng Chuan woke early, standing atop the hotel rooftop.
The sunrise gradually rose, he had not practiced fists on the rooftop for quite some time.
His body's recovery rate was now quite monstrous, dealing with the sword rain injuries caused by Zheng Chengcheng, just one night's sleep had even erased scars.
At this moment, Meng Chuan felt the fresher air as the gentle morning breeze blew by, a feeling of peace and satisfaction washed over him.
Standing on the high platform, the closer he got, the more Meng Chuan wished to reach that higher sky.
Meng Chuan slowly practiced his fist skills, stretching his muscles, while subconsciously gazing afar.
The city's skyline was edged with gold, glass curtain walls reflected tiny rays of light, Meng Chuan's fist stance extended with his sight, in a trance, he witnessed a world never seen before.
He initially held no expectations, yet Unexpected Enlightenment quietly activated in an unintentional moment!
Unknowingly, Meng Chuan's Heart Spirit immersed entirely in the mysteries of the Five Elements rotation.
At this moment, it was as if his soul had ventured outside his body, transforming himself into a part of the World's Qi, using the perspective of Five Elements Qi, shifting along with the fist stance.
Qi collected from his palms, flowing through liver, heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys, Meng Chuan's Qi Eating Skill was increasingly perfected, the path of Qi within his body became more intricate.
A moment later, an entire set of Five Elements Qiankun Fist was completed with unprecedented fluency.
As the sensation of the soul returning to the body arrived, Meng Chuan had already exited this mystical state.
Feeling a lingering unfinished desire, Meng Chuan's inner thoughts stirred.
He sensed even stronger powers continuously surging within, accompanied by rejuvenated Qi Blood filling his limbs and bones.
Meng Chuan realized that this bout of enlightenment yielded significant gains.
The progress of Five Elements Qiankun Fist had reached substantial achievement!