Chapter 9: Talent for Combat (Please keep reading)

Lin Qi was quite satisfied; 1,000 Xia currency for just one hour of sparring was a great deal.

This was more than he had earned from any part-time job he had held before.

"You two, go warm up on the side. It will be your turn soon," the woman in blue, Sister Lian, reminded them.

"Understood!"

Lin Qi and Jiang Tao walked further inside.

They found an empty spot, set down their backpacks, and began to warm up.

Lin Qi took the opportunity to observe his surroundings. The corners of the martial arts studio were filled with various large training apparatuses.

There were brown cylindrical punching posts over two meters tall, a red punch-force detector that looked like a large cube...

In the corner, he could also see a medical recovery pod that looked as smooth and round as a white egg.

Furthermore, on a metal cabinet not far away, there was a cluttered assortment of bottles and jars he didn't recognize; just looking at the brands, one could tell they were worth a fortune.

The air was kept at a comfortable twenty-plus degrees—a perfect environment for martial arts training.

A hint of envy rose in Lin Qi. Who wouldn't want to train in such a comfortable environment? It could significantly increase efficiency.

"Bang! Bang!!"

The sound of combat pulled Lin Qi’s attention back.

He saw one of the men, his head wrapped in gear, leaving only a pair of sharp eyes exposed.

His movements were wide and powerful, his punches fierce and whistling like the wind, resembling a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey. With one claw strike, the air roared, causing a tremor.

"Bang! Bang~~"

The sharp tiger claw grabbed the opponent's arm, as if to tear it apart.

"Crack!"

"Ah!"

The opponent’s arm took a heavy blow, and he let out a scream. The overwhelming force sent him stumbling back several steps, clutching his arm while hunched over.

"So strong!"

Lin Qi was secretly shocked!

"Our employer this time practices the Tiger Form Fist."

"This guy has already mastered the essence of the Tiger Form Fist. He’s reached the 'Great Success' stage and is almost breaking through to 'Perfection'—the Second Tier."

"Also, Qi-ge, he practices the same Tiger Form Fist as you."

Jiang Tao sighed in admiration.

"Even though we both practice the Tiger Form Fist, he is much stronger than me."

Lin Qi couldn't help but nod in agreement. The other man's mastery of the fist technique was far higher than his own, and most importantly, he had already broken through to the Great Success stage.

"He is our employer for this session—Guo Heng!"

"They say his nickname is 'Vicious Tiger.' Look at his fist technique; it’s rigid and fierce, like a tiger pouncing on prey. He doesn't hold back his strength when practicing."

"He hits so hard. Sss, I think that guy’s arm might be fractured."

"No wonder the pay is so generous. Without extra money, who would want to be his sparring partner?"

"However, with Guo Heng’s style, 1,000 yuan doesn't feel like enough..."

"Qi-ge, we are no match for him. Be careful later."

Jiang Tao frowned, subconsciously clutching his own arm.

In the middle of the arena, Guo Heng took off his helmet, revealing a handsome face, and shook his head.

"Your physical fitness is too poor. Your blood-energy value is probably not even 4.5."

"Your mastery of the fist technique is too low."

"The improvement you bring me is negligible. You can go; next."

Guo Heng thought to himself: The sparring partners I’ve found are still too weak; the effect on my improvement is getting worse and worse.

It’s a pity that strong students won't come here to be sparring partners. I just hope the next person is a bit stronger.

The man opposite him walked to the side and took off his protective gear, his face pale. The exposed skin was covered in blue and purple bruises.

He sighed, grabbed his backpack, and turned to leave.

...

"It's your turn!"

Sister Lian walked over and instructed

"Remember, put on the protective gear before you go up. Use your full strength; don't worry about hurting the young master, because you couldn't possibly be his match."

"Of course, the longer you last, the more likely you are to be kept on for the long term."

"Do you understand?"

Lin Qi and Jiang Tao nodded, their hearts tightening.

"Alright, it's your turn. You go first."

Sister Lian pointed at Lin Qi.

"Okay!"

Lin Qi nodded without refusal. He walked to the cabinet, glanced at the new protective gear inside, and then at the old gear left casually on the floor.

He silently put on the old gear.

As he donned the black armor, a pungent smell of sweat hit his nose, accompanied by a sticky dampness.

Lin Qi remained expressionless, quickly putting it on without showing any disgust.

Opposite him, Guo Heng walked up directly this time without putting on his helmet.

"Hoo~"

The entire martial arts studio went quiet.

Only the sound of breathing could be heard.

He was nearly 1.9 meters tall. Wearing the deep black protective gear, his sturdy build made him look like an upright bear, and a sense of oppression enveloped Lin Qi.

"Hoo~"

The entire martial arts studio went quiet; only the sound of breathing could be heard.

Sister Lian looked at Lin Qi in the center and shook her head, thinking to herself

"It seems this one won't last long either. He’s too thin; he probably won't be able to hold out for very long."

In the arena, Lin Qi held his breath and focused, his body swaying as he assumed the San Ti stance.

Guo Heng’s eyes lit up when he saw this: "Tiger Form Fist?"

"Interesting!"

"Brother, my hands are heavy. Be careful."

With that, Guo Heng grinned, his aura changing drastically. He exerted force through his arms, spreading his hands wide, fingers splayed, then curled them into his palms like "tiger claws."

The next second, he moved. His body lunged, both claws striking out with force concentrated in his fingertips.

The tiger is the king of beasts; it is large, its pounce is fierce, and it acts with determination, without hesitation.

A fierce tiger descending from the mountain!

The fist technique was fierce and as fast as the wind.

"Hoo~"

"So fast!"

Lin Qi’s pupils constricted; he felt as if a real tiger was pouncing on him.

He subconsciously wanted to dodge, but it was too late. Guo Heng’s tiger claw caught him off guard and struck his chest.

"Bang!"

A sharp pain radiated from his body, and a piercing force traveled through the protective gear into his chest.

Lin Qi couldn't help but stumble back several steps, clutching his chest and feeling a burning sensation.

If not for the protective gear, Guo Heng’s claw would have shredded the skin on his chest.

So strong!

Seeing that the opponent was about the same age as him, he was shocked by how strong he was.

Lin Qi frowned, his mind highly focused. He continued to hold the San Ti stance, his feet shifting as he kept a close watch on Guo Heng’s "tiger claws."

Guo Heng continued his assault. With a crazed expression, he unleashed his fist technique; his blood flowed rapidly, and power erupted from within his body.

"Ha!"

With a sudden lunge, he closed the distance, his tiger claw striking out like an air cannon.

"Black Tiger Steals the Heart!"

Lin Qi sensed the danger. It felt as if something had awakened within his body, causing him to tremble as he raised his claws to block.

"Bang! Bang!"

He caught the claws, instantly dissipating the force, and shifted his feet to retreat!

Dissipating force!

Lin Qi’s heart skipped a beat. Most of the opponent's attack had been neutralized, and the remaining force was blocked by the protective suit.

Guo Heng continued to unleash the Tiger Form Fist, his aura intense and uninhibited, his strikes becoming increasingly fierce.

"White Tiger Offers its Claws!"

"Bang! Bang!!"

Fist collided with fist, the force penetrating through. Lin Qi let out a muffled groan under the gear, his blood-energy surging.

Even with the gear, Guo Heng’s strength was greater than his, and his speed was faster. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of him, leaving little room to dodge.

However, for some reason, when Lin Qi saw Guo Heng’s tiger claws, several ideas popped into his mind.

Move half a meter to the left, bend down, and block with a claw.

...

Lin Qi’s body followed suit, making the movements.

"Hoo~ Bang!"

His tiger claw blocked and dissipated the force once again.

"Eh?"

Guo Heng, opposite him, was surprised. He had actually been blocked; this was the first time.

"Lucky!"

He continued to strike with his tiger claws.

Lin Qi saw through Guo Heng’s intentions. He exerted force from his waist, using it to guide his body in a dodge.

But what greeted him was a short-range, hard-hitting assault like a rainstorm.

"Bang! Bang!!"

The gap in blood-energy and fist technique mastery was too large, Lin Qi thought to himself, forced to only take hits and dissipate force.

Practicing the fist starts with drills, then moves to punching posts. After reaching Great Success, the posts are dead.

To continue improving, one must hit "live posts"—sparring with people.

"Bang! Bang!!"

Another tiger claw slammed into his chest. Lin Qi’s body moved fluidly, and he immediately struck back with a tiger claw of his own.

"Black Tiger Steals the Heart!"

"Bang! Bang!!"

The two tiger claws collided. Lin Qi launched a counterattack, putting his full strength into it. Attack is the best defense; with the protective suit on, he only needed to focus on attacking.

At this moment, his mind was agile and fully concentrated. This was a state completely different from his usual self, especially as the Tiger Form Fist techniques Guo Heng used began to surface in his mind.

Wielding the Tiger Form Fist, he was in a better state than ever before.

His body coiled like a spring, then shot out like a sharp arrow. His tiger claws struck out fiercely, without any hesitation.

"Roar~"

Lin Qi let out a roar, causing Guo Heng to lose focus for a split second.

Immediately, his figure pounced out as nimbly as a cat, his Tiger Form Fist unleashed with even more astonishing power.

"Bang! Bang!!"

"Good!"

Guo Heng was delighted; this opponent was truly extraordinary.

In the middle of the arena, it was as if two fierce tigers were tearing into each other, the battle intense.

Jiang Tao watched from the side with great interest.

"Qi-ge is amazing. It’s like he’s a different person. Could this be his true self?"

...

"Good!"

Guo Heng felt nothing but exhilaration. Lin Qi’s tiger claws struck his body.

Every strike sent pain to his brain, stimulating his nerves—his brain was reminding its master that the body was suffering.

This was something other opponents couldn't provide; the pain only made him more excited.

...

(End of chapter)