Ye Langtian was the third young master of the Ye Family. He had joined the Cangying Martial Arts Hall half a month before Xu Qing. All told, it had taken Ye Langtian twenty-six days to master the Upper Chapter of Cyan Eagle Force and the Eagle Claw Technique.
He was considered quite talented.
He had already met the threshold and requirements of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall.
"Young Master Ye is truly amazing! It's been less than a month since he joined the Cangying Martial Arts Hall, and he's already mastered the Upper Chapter of Cyan Eagle Force and the Eagle Claw Technique."
"That's right! That's right!"
"Young Master Ye is a martial arts prodigy."
"Young Master Ye is a role model for us all!"
"We must all learn from Young Master Ye."
"..."
All around, the Outer Courtyard Students of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall were flattering him shamelessly, their faces plastered with fawning and sycophantic expressions. Ye Langtian had become the center of attention.
"There's no need for all this, everyone."
The corners of Ye Langtian's mouth tilted up slightly, revealing a faint, perfectly calibrated smile. He waved his hand with feigned nonchalance. "I've seen how hard everyone has been practicing their Martial Arts and diligently cultivating these past few days."
"When the time comes,"
"even if you can't become Official Disciples of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall, you can still join my Ye Family. You can become a Martial Artist Guard for my family and still secure a promising future."
"That's wonderful!"
"Young Master Ye is incredible! So domineering!"
"Young Master Ye is just too awesome..."
"..."
The crowd cheered.
"Mm."
Zhang He gave a faint nod. He was, of course, well aware of Ye Langtian's identity and background. Many of the Outer Courtyard Students had already been won over by him.
After all, the Cangying Martial Arts Hall had numerous Outer Courtyard Students, but very few could actually master the Upper Chapter of Cyan Eagle Force and achieve Ming Jin within a month.
Therefore, most of these students would simply learn some Martial Arts at the Cangying Martial Arts Hall before leaving to join the various families, merchant guilds, and gangs of Qingbei Town.
Perhaps after a few years, or even more than a decade, these students might finally manage to completely master the Upper Chapter of Cyan Eagle Force and become Mingjin Martial Artists.
At that point, they could obtain a certain degree of status and achievement within the various families, merchant guilds, and gangs of Qingbei Town's Outer City. That, most likely, would be the peak of their entire lives.
"Then come with me," Zhang He said.
"Yes."
Ye Langtian nodded, shooting a sideways glance at Xu Qing from the corner of his eye. His expression remained placid, but a thought formed deep inside him. 'Truly an unfortunate soul. He has some talent but can't endure hardship. In the end, he'll just waste that talent and fade into obscurity.'
"Wait a moment."
Just then, Xu Qing suddenly spoke up, his tone calm. "Instructor Zhang He, I have also mastered the Upper Chapter of Cyan Eagle Force. I have condensed my Ming Jin."
"What did you say?"
Zhang He stopped in his tracks and turned around. He stared at Xu Qing, his shocked gaze tinged with anger. "Do you have any idea what you're saying?"
"Hahaha..."
"You're killing me."
"Did you guys hear that? He... he said he's achieved Ming Jin too?"
"He must be crazy, right?"
"This guy has only been in the Cangying Martial Arts Hall for eleven days—today *is* the eleventh day. And he only came to the Martial Arts Hall to practice for the first three days! For the past seven or eight days, he hasn't shown up at all. Not even once."
"This is the biggest joke I've heard all day."
"..."
Instantly, the students burst into an uproar. Mocking laughter echoed throughout the entire Outer Courtyard as, at that moment, Xu Qing seemed to have become the biggest joke in the Cangying Martial Arts Hall's Outer Courtyard.
"Instructor Zhang He, I know perfectly well what I'm saying."
Xu Qing ignored the mocking laughter from the other students around him. He simply looked at Zhang He with a calm gaze and answered his question. "Because I have, in fact, achieved Ming Jin."
Instructor Zhang He took a deep breath.
"Xu Qing, let me give you a piece of advice. Sometimes it's best not to overreach."
Ye Langtian offered a "kind" reminder, saying, "At the Cangying Martial Arts Hall, if you lie about your training progress—insisting you've achieved Ming Jin when you haven't—and you get exposed, the rules of the Martial Arts Hall dictate that you'll have both your legs broken and be thrown out."
"If your legs are broken, your entire life will be ruined."
"Thank you for the reminder, Young Master Ye."
Xu Qing glanced at Ye Langtian. "My legs won't be broken, because I have, in fact, achieved Ming Jin."
"You can't reason with a man who wants to die."
"Isn't that the truth."
"Young Master Ye was kind enough to warn him, but he's still so stubborn."
"Then let him go and get himself killed."
"Yeah! Yeah!"
"..."
The students muttered amongst themselves.
"Suit yourself."
Ye Langtian shrugged.
"Fine."
Zhang He's gaze was calm. He was already completely disappointed in Xu Qing, so he didn't bother saying anything more. He just gave a faint nod. "Both of you, come with me."
"Yes."
"As you command."
Ye Langtian and Xu Qing clasped their fists in salute and followed behind Zhang He, heading toward the Inner Courtyard of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall. The other students also hurried to follow them.
At the entrance to the Inner Courtyard, Xu Qing and Ye Langtian followed Zhang He inside. Compared to the Outer Courtyard, the Inner Courtyard was much larger and filled with one pavilion after another.
There was even a huge martial arts demonstration ground.
"HAH!"
"Cyan Eagle Hand!"
"KILL!"
"..."
BANG! BANG! BANG!!!
Faintly, Xu Qing could hear shouts coming from the demonstration ground, along with the sounds of Martial Artists clashing. The collision of their energies produced explosive cracks.
"Zhang He, what brings you here?"
Just then, a tall woman with delicate features and a valiant air walked over. Upon seeing Zhang He, she asked the question.
"It's like this."
Zhang He said, "Today, two students from the Outer Courtyard both claim to have achieved Ming Jin, mastering the Upper Chapter of Cyan Eagle Force and the Eagle Claw Technique."
"So,"
"I brought them here to see the Hall Master and let him test them and make a decision."
"Oh."
The valiant woman raised her willow-leaf eyebrows. Although her individual features seemed ordinary, together they possessed a unique charm. Coupled with her tall figure and long, fair, and shapely legs, her looks were indeed quite impressive.
"Eldest Senior Brother isn't here today."
The valiant woman looked Ye Langtian and Xu Qing up and down a few times, her interest piqued. "How about this?" she said. "I'll take you to see the Hall Master."
"You two, hurry up and thank Second Senior Sister," Zhang He barked.
"They don't have that privilege yet."
But the valiant woman waved her hand, cutting Zhang He off. "Let's wait until after they pass the Hall Master's assessment and become Official Disciples of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall."
"That's true."
Zhang He nodded.
「The Main Hall.」
Xu Qing once again saw Du Cangying, the Hall Master of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall. Although he was an old man whose temples were mostly white, he was like a fierce tiger, his body containing an indescribable Power and exuding an oppressive aura that felt like it came from a higher plane of existence.
The valiant woman obediently came to Du Cangying's side, lightly took his arm, and called out in a sweet tone, "Dad. These are the two who claim to have achieved Ming Jin."
"Mm."
Du Cangying nodded. "Weren't you going to the auction held by Wanbao Tower? Why are you bothering with such a trivial matter?"
Obviously, this valiant woman was Du Cangying's own daughter, Du Luan, and also the Second Senior Sister of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall. Du Cangying had her late in life and doted on her immensely.
"It was boring."
Du Luan shook her head. "I just got word from a good friend that there's nothing I want at this auction. They were using false advertising."
"Is that so."
Du Cangying chuckled.
Du Cangying and Du Luan chatted and laughed, the father-daughter pair conversing as if they had completely forgotten about the standing Zhang He, Xu Qing, and Ye Langtian.
Zhang He and the others didn't dare say a word. They just stood there silently, only daring to stir after Du Cangying and Du Luan had finished their conversation.
"Hall Master."
Zhang He clasped his fists in a salute. "Ye Langtian joined the Cangying Martial Arts Hall twenty-six days ago. Today, he claims to have mastered the Upper Chapter of Cyan Eagle Force and the Eagle Claw Technique. We ask for your assessment."
"Xu Qing joined the Cangying Martial Arts Hall only eleven days ago and also claims today that he has mastered the Upper Chapter of Cyan Eagle Force and the Eagle Claw Technique. He likewise wishes to become an Official Disciple of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall."
"Eleven days."
A surprised expression crossed Du Luan's face. She looked Xu Qing up and down and said, "That's fast! That's only one day slower than me, and three days slower than Eldest Senior Brother."
"Second Senior Sister."
Hearing Du Luan's praise, Ye Langtian couldn't help but interject, "Xu Qing is completely deceiving us! He only learned the Upper Chapter of Cyan Eagle Force and the Eagle Claw Technique from Instructor Zhang He for the first three days."
"Also,"
"Starting from the fourth day, he never came back to the Cangying Martial Arts Hall to practice again. So, it's impossible that he truly mastered the Upper Chapter of Cyan Eagle Force and the Eagle Claw Technique. He couldn't possibly have condensed his Ming Jin."
"Is that so?"
Du Cangying looked toward Zhang He and Xu Qing.
"Yes."
Zhang He nodded.
"That is correct."
Xu Qing also admitted it with a placid expression.
"It seems you're quite confident."
Du Cangying glanced at Xu Qing.
"Hall Master, it's because I have, in fact, achieved Ming Jin," Xu Qing said.
"Good."
Du Cangying nodded. "Then you will go first. Demonstrate the Eagle Claw Technique before me, performing it in conjunction with the Cyan Eagle Force."
"Yes."
Xu Qing clasped his fists in a salute to Du Cangying.
Then, Xu Qing walked to the empty space in front of them.
'Still putting up a front.'
Ye Langtian curled his lip in disdain.
BOOM!!!
The next moment, Xu Qing slowly assumed the stance of the Eagle Claw Technique. The fingers of both his hands curved into the shape of sharp talons, and the faint, imposing aura of a hunting hawk materialized around him.
"Eagle Claw Technique."
HAH!
Xu Qing began to perform the Eagle Claw Technique, combining it with the Cyan Eagle Force. Every move and every form faintly exuded a piercing sharpness.