Chapter 23: The Fifth Candidate for Entering the Manor

Canglang Martial Arts Hall.

The front courtyard.

Following Wang Jin's announcement, the crowd erupted into a complete frenzy.

"The Inspectorate is actually real! I heard my father mention it before, but I never thought it was true!"

"The power of the Inspectorate is too immense! They monitor the masses, patrol the world, and can execute first and report later. Once you join, wouldn't you instantly become a person above men?"

"Naturally! Once you join, you will inevitably become a guest of honor for all major factions! Moreover, joining the Inspectorate grants access to the supreme secret methods for achieving Blood-Refining Grandmaster and Spirit-Nurturing Grandmaster realms! You might even receive guidance from that Martial Saint! The temptation is too great!"

"What use is temptation? By the end of this year, every prefecture, state, and county must establish an office. Our teacher even said that one must achieve Great Success in the Five Animals Fist and enter the Martial Dao ranks within three months to be eligible. Can you do it? Or can I?"

"Exactly! The teacher telling us about this opportunity is likely just to motivate us to study martial arts harder—to give us a glimmer of hope."

After the heated discussion, the crowd fell into a sudden sense of despondency.

Suddenly.

Someone spoke up: "I know someone who has hope!"

"Who?"

"Senior Brother Cheng Ran!"

As soon as these words were uttered, everyone turned their heads to look at Cheng Ran.

At this moment, Cheng Ran wore a smile, seemingly enjoying the focused attention of the crowd.

The person continued, "Senior Brother Cheng Ran's vitality and blood have long since reached perfection, and both his Crane and Tiger stances have reached Minor Success! There is no doubt he has a chance to break through his fist technique within three months, and entering the Martial Dao ranks will be even easier for him!"

Hearing this, the crowd looked at the smiling Cheng Ran with even greater astonishment.

Just then.

A man dressed in loose white training robes, with his black hair simply tied with a red band, walked out with a commanding and dignified presence.

"I am Xiao Peng, greetings, Teacher!" The man bowed slightly toward Wang Jin.

"What is the matter?" Wang Jin asked.

Xiao Peng clasped his hands and said, "A week ago, this disciple comprehended the spirit and form of the Tiger Stance, bringing the Tiger Form Fist to the stage of Great Success. Furthermore, my vitality and blood have reached Great Success and are nearing perfection! My Ape Form Fist has also reached the stage of Minor Success."

As he spoke, Xiao Peng was high-spirited, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

At this moment, his vitality was overflowing, and his physique erupted with a faint aura that exerted a sense of pressure on those around him.

"Heavens! Senior Brother Xiao has reached this stage without anyone noticing?" someone exclaimed.

"Indeed! Senior Brother Xiao truly is a man of few words who makes a grand impact! To have reached Great Success in the Tiger Form Fist a week ago and have the restraint to keep it quiet until today!"

"Great Success in the Tiger Form, Minor Success in the Ape Form, and Great Success in vitality connecting the four limbs... does this mean the remaining slot has already been locked in by Senior Brother Xiao Peng?"

"Looking at it that way, yes. Although Senior Brother Cheng Ran has a chance, he is clearly a step behind. There is an insurmountable chasm between Great Success and Minor Success in fist techniques!"

"Exactly! Senior Brother Xiao Peng was able to train the Tiger Form Fist to Great Success and the Ape Form Fist to Minor Success within just four months of joining the hall. Given another three months, his Ape Form Fist will surely reach Great Success. As for entering the Martial Dao ranks, with the wealth of his father, Xiao Wanguan, it would be easy to pile resources upon him until he reaches that rank!"

In an instant, everyone's gaze shifted to Xiao Peng.

Xiao Peng enjoyed the attention, his face full of high spirits.

Wang Jin glanced at Cheng Ran, then settled his gaze on Xiao Peng.

"Great Success in the Tiger Form, Minor Success in the Ape Form?"

Facing Wang Jin's gaze, a fine sweat broke out on Xiao Peng's forehead. He lowered his head and said, "Yes!"

"Demonstrate it for me!" Wang Jin commanded.

Hearing this, Xiao Peng felt as if he had been granted a reprieve.

At this moment.

The eyes of the crowd also fell upon Xiao Peng.

In the next moment.

Xiao Peng took his stance and began to perform the fist technique directly before everyone.

Every move and every strike was powerful and vigorous, possessing great momentum.

Finally, as he concluded the Tiger Form Fist and threw out a final punch.

"Roar!"

A tiger's roar erupted from within his body.

At this moment, everyone's eyes widened in shock.

"Surging vitality and the sound of a tiger's roar! It truly is the Tiger Form Fist of the Great Success realm!"

Xiao Peng withdrew his hand, looking calm and composed, seemingly indifferent to the crowd's astonishment.

He clasped his hands toward Wang Jin: "Teacher, your disciple has finished the demonstration."

"Practice the Ape Form Fist as well!" Wang Jin said.

"Yes!" Xiao Peng responded.

Immediately, the crowd watched as Xiao Peng performed the Ape Form Fist.

It wasn't until Xiao Peng finished his movements that Wang Jin gave a slight nod.

"Not bad! The Tiger Form Fist is indeed at Great Success, and the Ape Form Fist shows significant proficiency; it must have reached Minor Success long ago."

"Teacher's insight is truly profound!" Xiao Peng continued with a bow. "My Ape Form Fist reached Minor Success a month ago. I am confident that I can break through to Great Success within the next three months!"

Wang Jin nodded. "Having such confidence is a good thing!"

He then looked at Xiao Peng: "Since you have reached Great Success in the Tiger Form Fist within four months of joining, you have successfully passed my test! From this day forward, you are my true disciple!"

"I pay respects to Master!" Xiao Peng knelt on one knee and performed a formal salute.

"Good!" Wang Jin nodded again. "From today on, all your tuition fees are waived, and you will be provided with three bowls of medicinal soup daily!"

"Thank you, Master!" Xiao Peng bowed again.

Wang Jin nodded slightly. His gaze swept across the crowd, lingering for a brief moment on Jiang Ning.

*A pity, this boy has poor luck! Even with talent, it is too late!*

He then spoke to the crowd: "Practice your fist techniques well. Within three months, everyone still has a chance!"

Then he looked at Xiao Peng: "Follow me!"

"Yes, Master!" Xiao Peng saluted, then stood up and followed Wang Jin inside.

Watching the two depart, the crowd could not help but show expressions of envy.

Standing at the back of the crowd, Jiang Ning clenched his fists.

*Within three months, I must enter the Martial Dao ranks to seize this massive opportunity and join the Inspectorate.*

[Skill]: Five Animals Fist (Entry 90/100)

Based on the experience he had gathered previously

To go from Entry to Proficiency in the Five Animals Fist required 100 experience points.

From Proficiency to Minor Success required 200 experience points.

From Minor Success to Great Success required 500 experience points.

The current total deficit was 710 experience points.

Even if he only gained a guaranteed one point of experience per practice, he would only need to practice 710 times.

Currently, because he had the highly restorative wild ginseng gifted by Senior Brother Zhou Xing, he could practice over twenty times a day—morning, noon, and night.

Calculating with 25 times a day, it meant that at this efficiency, he could grind the Five Animals Fist to Great Success in thirty days.

However, a single wild ginseng wouldn't last many days. Even without the ginseng, his practice frequency would at most be halved.

Even if halved, he could still grind this technique to Great Success in at most two months.

That part wasn't difficult!

But the hardest part for him was entering the Martial Dao ranks.

Jiang Ning's brow furrowed slightly.

To enter the Martial Dao ranks, his vitality and blood needed to connect throughout his entire body.

He immediately mobilized the vitality within his body into his right arm, and his brow furrowed again.

"It has only connected about one-third! It is still far from perfection!"

"But according to the manual, at the Entry stage of the five stances of the Five Animals Fist, one practice session can condense at most one wisp of vitality."

"When the technique reaches Proficiency, one practice session can condense two wisps."

"Minor Success yields three wisps!"

"And Great Success yields five wisps!"

"Three months... there is still time!"

"Therefore, for now, grinding experience is the only way."

(End of Chapter)