Chapter 8: Registered Disciple

"Break through for me!"

My intent clicked on the plus sign.

5 points of energy flickered and instantly dissipated into nothingness, and the Zhengyang Stance underwent a transformation.

Great Success!

*Whoosh.*

Zhang Lingshan’s body trembled slightly. A heat flow, identical to the one from his previous breakthrough, flowed out from within him inexplicably, surging wildly through his limbs and bones.

*Chi chi chi.*

Zhang Lingshan suddenly heard a sound.

Strangely, this sound did not come from the outside, but from within his own body.

He sensed carefully and discovered that the sound was coming from his skin and flesh.

His body was seemingly growing!

Under normal circumstances, physical growth is a gradual change that occurs in an unconscious state.

But at this moment, the growth and changes were concentrated all at once.

Not only was his skin and flesh making a *chi chi chi* sound.

The bones within his body also emitted *ka ka ka* noises.

It was as if someone who hadn't moved for a long time had suddenly stretched, causing the joints in their body to pop and crack.

Zhang Lingshan immersed himself in this change, wishing only that time would not stop, letting himself grow forever.

Ever since he transmigrated into this world and inherited this short, stocky body, he had truly had enough of being under five feet tall.

Discrimination—there was discrimination everywhere!

He wanted to become taller, bigger, and stronger, so he would never be looked down upon again.

*Hoo—!*

He exhaled a breath of stale air.

Zhang Lingshan calmed down, and the changes to his body had completely ended.

He checked his height; he was about five centimeters taller than before.

Although it wasn't much, he had finally broken past the five-foot mark.

And since he was only fifteen years old, he still had room to grow, plus the improvements brought about by the panel.

The future was promising.

Continuing to check his body, Zhang Lingshan found that his skin and flesh seemed to have become firmer.

As a short, stocky person, his body was naturally wider than others; one could say he had only grown in width, not height.

But now that his body had elongated, his proportions had become more balanced, and his muscles had lengthened along with it, possessing greater contractile force and elasticity.

He could clearly feel that his strength had increased significantly.

'With my current situation, the Zhengyang Stance should be considered mastered, right?'

Zhang Lingshan thought to himself.

But as for how it really was, he had never seen what a truly mastered Zhengyang Stance looked like, so he tidied up and immediately returned to the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall.

During lunch, he heard everyone talking about how Tie Feng was going to take the Zhengyang Stance assessment that afternoon.

It was the perfect time to go and observe.

...

Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall.

Hong Zhengdao sat at the entrance of the main hall like a statue, his eyes like burning torches as he watched the apprentices practicing stances in the outer courtyard, frowning frequently.

Beside his table, Little Stone, Shi Lei, was serving him diligently, using a fan to cool his master.

"Stop fanning!"

Hong Zhengdao suddenly slapped the fan away impatiently, then stood up with a *whoosh* and shouted sternly.

"What are you all doing! You can't even master this little bit of stance work; are you even putting your hearts into it? You want to learn martial arts with this kind of attitude? I don't think you should eat dinner tonight; go back and think hard about why you spent so much money to come here!"

The apprentices didn't dare to make a sound, all hanging their heads as they listened to the Hall Master's lecture.

Just at this moment, Zhang Lingshan's figure emerged from behind the screen. Although he stopped in his tracks and lowered his head to listen, he still attracted Hong Zhengdao's attention.

"Where have you been! Not practicing properly, running around? If you little bastard don't want to learn, then just give me..."

He blurted out the scolding.

But he suddenly stopped, having recognized Zhang Lingshan: "It's you. Have you recovered from your injuries?"

"Recovered. Thank you for your concern, Hall Master."

Zhang Lingshan immediately climbed up the pole.

Hong Zhengdao nodded: "You're not bad. As soon as you recovered, you returned to practice immediately; you're much better than these lazy slackers. You truly live up to that time you smashed your head against the wall—you are a talent with a sincere heart for martial arts..."

As he was speaking, he noticed that everyone's expressions were off, all showing strange looks, as if they wanted to laugh but couldn't.

Hong Zhengdao's face darkened, and he was about to get angry and scold them.

Suddenly, he heard Shi Lei beside him say: "Master, you've misunderstood. This kid's injuries healed a long time ago, but he gave up on practicing stance work ages ago. He comes every day just to mooch two meals. Isn't it time for the afternoon meal now? That's why this kid came running over."

The apprentices nodded in unison, chiming in one after another.

Since a live target had arrived to attract the Hall Master's attention, they wouldn't have to be scolded anymore.

"Is that so?"

Hong Zhengdao looked at Zhang Lingshan with a gloomy face.

Zhang Lingshan said unhurriedly: "Replying to the Hall Master, the student has been practicing the stance work at home and has gained some insight. I ask the Hall Master to examine it."

Having said that, without waiting for Hong Zhengdao's permission, he immediately began to perform the eighteen forms of the Zhengyang Stance.

The apprentices didn't expect Zhang Lingshan to be so bold; he wasn't the least bit nervous in front of the Hall Master, and his performance was so solid.

At the very least, it was much smoother than most of them, and every stance was performed very standardly.

Just for this point alone, he had already surpassed half of them.

'This kid actually...'

Shi Lei's eyes were wide with shock.

He had only taught him once, and it had only been a few days—had he really mastered the Zhengyang Stance?

Could this kid have secretly found another senior brother to tutor him?

But even with tutoring, it shouldn't be this fast.

*Sigh*, if he had known this guy was so talented, why would he have given him a hard time over three coins of silver?

He had just called him a loser at noon, and by the afternoon, he had passed the stance assessment.

Regret was too late!

Shi Lei felt annoyed.

Because he noticed his master's body leaning slightly forward, his eyes shining with light, and a smile on his face—that was the look of someone who cherished talent.

With this kid's talent, plus his resolute heart for martial arts shown by smashing his head against the wall, he feared it wouldn't be long before this guy stood above him and became his senior brother.

'I have to find a way to build a good relationship. After all, I was the one who taught him the Zhengyang Stance; that counts as the grace of instruction.'

Shi Lei pondered secretly.

"Good!"

When Zhang Lingshan finished his routine and withdrew his stance, he heard a loud shout from Hong Zhengdao.

He strode over to Zhang Lingshan, squeezed his shoulders, lower back, and thighs, and praised: "Not bad, not bad. You practiced it quite solidly. Everyone, look closely; this is what a true martial arts practitioner looks like. He was injured and still managed to master it—what excuse do you have to be lazy? All of you, practice hard!"

Having said that, he pulled Zhang Lingshan to the main hall and said: "From now on, you are my registered disciple. You may call yourself a disciple and address me as Master Hong."

"Yes, Master Hong!"

Zhang Lingshan bowed quickly.

Hong Zhengdao smiled and told him to stand aside with Shi Lei, then sat in his chair and looked at Tie Feng: "Didn't you apply for the assessment? Perform it once for me to see."

"Yes."

Tie Feng quickly obeyed.

A moment later.

Hong Zhengdao nodded reluctantly: "Passable. You'll master it in a few more days. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll count it as a pass."

Tie Feng bowed quickly, secretly glancing at Zhang Lingshan beside Hong Zhengdao, his heart filled with mixed feelings.