Chapter 552: Chapter 357 "Falling Flowers Divine Sword Palm"! "Orchid Brushing Acupoint Hand"! "Whirlwind Leaf Sweeping Leg"!
"Disciple Hao Meng!"
"Disciple Duan Hong!"
"Greetings, Palace Master!"
Hao Meng and Duan Hong entered the command tent filled with excitement, not daring to lift their heads, respectfully paying their respects. They only dared to look up cautiously after hearing the voice from the top seat. When they did, they saw the renowned "Guangling Shadowless Kick," "Guest Professor of Taikang Academy," "Master of the Hundred Flower Palace," "Champion of the Jian Province Competition," "Head of the Top Twelve of Cang Mountain Sword Discussion," "Sixth on the Great Yan ’Hidden Dragon List,’ known as Yama," "Commander of the Yan Family Army," and "City Lord of Tan Valley Royal City in the Mountain and Sea Realm"—
Yan Chuan!
The two of them had seen this legendary figure from Jian Province at Taikang Academy and the Jian Province Competition. In terms of popularity and renown, "Yama" Yan Chuan was only beneath two Innate figures in Jian Province—
"Double-Handed Sword" Chen Ze!
"Boxer" Jiang Bianliu!
Only below these two.
Yan Chuan of Jian Province, famed throughout the land.
Now, seeing this legendary figure again in the Mountain and Sea Realm, in Tan Valley Royal City, Yan Chuan’s strength, fame, and status had undergone earth-shattering changes. With these external transformations, the two found Yan Chuan’s appearance seemingly different, more stranger than familiar compared to before.
Commanding without anger!
Daring not to look directly.
Yan Chuan looked at the two with a sense of familiarity, "Did you listen to my lectures at Taikang Academy?"
"Yes, yes!"
Hao Meng nodded repeatedly.
Duan Hong quickly said: "We have a relative named Chen Hongyuan, who practices the ’Character Gate Fist.’ He sparred with the Palace Master during the Guangling City Martial Arts Competition and told us about the Palace Master’s demeanor in Guangling. So, when the Palace Master lectured at Taikang Academy, we went the first chance we got. Later, at the Jian Province Competition, when the Palace Master explained in the audience seats, we were not far behind and spoke with you!"
Hao Meng was excited!
Duan Hong was also excited, doing his best to draw closer to Yan Chuan.
Chen Hongyuan!
Character Gate Fist!
Guangling City Martial Arts Competition!
A long time ago.
As Yan Chuan listened, he subconsciously recalled. It didn’t take long for him to remember that Chen Hongyuan, who practiced ’Character Gate Fist,’ was a spirited young man. During the Guangling City Martial Arts Competition, Chen Hongyuan challenged Yan Chuan on stage, but the one who responded was only Yan Chuan’s third disciple, Wei Quan. Chen Hongyuan couldn’t even defeat Wei Quan.
Yet, Chen Hongyuan told Hao Meng that he sparred with Yan Chuan, evidently to elevate himself.
Recalling the past.
Thinking of the Guangling City Martial Arts Competition, it was the place where dreams began. Yan Chuan started to rise from there. "Mutual Teaching and Learning," with rapid progress, his unique style of enjoying pointing and nudging during competitions was officially formed then.
Some loved it to tears!
Some hated it to death!
Even to this day.
Looking at Hao Meng.
Looking at Duan Hong.
Yan Chuan seemed to see his former self. He smiled at the young pair: "There aren’t many limit breakthroughs in the Hundred Flower Palace. You two are the mainstay from now on. Today I have some free time, you both practice ’Xingyi Boxing’ and ’Eight Diagram Palm,’ and I will take a look."
"Ah!"
"Thank you, Palace Master!"
The so-called "take a look" meant guidance.
Duan Hong reacted quickly, hurriedly pulling Hao Meng to first express their gratitude, then swiftly set up the stance. The ’Eight Diagram Palm’ was quite presentable, directly attacking Hao Meng!
...
"Different!"
"Truly different!"
When Hao Meng and Duan Hong walked out of the command tent, they felt their steps were light and their whole bodies were floating, as if in a dream.
They had listened to Yan Chuan teaching martial arts lectures before, but it was always a "big class." It was the first time they received one-on-one guidance like today. During Yan Chuan’s tutoring on ’Xingyi Boxing’ and ’Eight Diagram Palm,’ many questions were resolved. Many previous confusions were easily addressed by Yan Chuan even without explicit queries, merely during the process of practicing in front of him.
So satisfying!
So relaxing!
With Yan Chuan’s guidance, it felt as though their cultivation was on fast track. The progress was perceptible, significantly noticeable to the naked eye.
"During Palace Master’s guidance, when he explained ’Xingyi Boxing,’ you were so focused, there was light in your eyes; a focus that you never had before!" Duan Hong looked at Hao Meng, "If you cultivated with that kind of focus regularly, your progress would be even faster!"
"You too!"
Hao Meng felt that Duan Hong had spoken what he wanted to say.
He observed that when Yan Chuan guided ’Eight Diagram Palm,’ Duan Hong was so absorbed, all his mind was fixed on Yan Chuan, staring intently, utterly devoted. In that state of focus, Duan Hong’s ’Eight Diagram Palm’ became increasingly exquisite, making it difficult for Hao Meng to withstand, and only when Yan Chuan guided him again could he regain an edge.
So it went.
Back and forth.
Under Yan Chuan’s guidance, the two experienced a spiritual transformation, exhilarated to the extreme, floating amidst it all!
This encounter was enough to be a lifelong memory for both.
...
Time passed in a flash, three days later.
After Yan Chuan’s 700 points, Wang Ge steadily and securely also broke through 700 points, reaching the minimum standard to join the ’King City Competition.’
Congratulations!
Up until now, only Fu Yunzhan was left.
That evening, bad news arrived—
"...Yun Zhan was unlucky. In the last round, as soon as he got in, he unfortunately ran into the top expert, Liang Ting, with over 800 points and was killed in seconds, losing 38 points!"
Yan Chuan listened as Wang Zhengyi recounted Fu Yunzhan’s encounter, slightly furrowing his brows.
Fu Yunzhan’s original Heavenly Ladder score was close to 700. Now, with a loss of 38, if luck is on his side, he might recover it in five or six days. However, if things go wrong and he drops another 38 points in one go due to bad fortune, there’s no telling when he’d return to 700 points.
And the day after tomorrow, October 20th, marks the start of the first round of ten-day tournaments in the ’King City Competition.’
This timing, they would definitely miss it!
"I’ve held everyone back!"
Fu Yunzhan, with a slick appearance, was very apologetic.
Yan Chuan waved it away: "You indeed have the strength for 700 points, but this attempt at quick scoring was too rushed, not your fault."