On the platform, Lan Yi assumed his stance.
As a certified instructor from the Sea Blue Martial Arts Hall, he had been in many fights, had a wealth of experience, and would not underestimate any opponent.
Even if this opponent looked weak!
He bellowed, settled into a bow stance, his right hand extended forward, his left hand hidden at his waist.
This was the starting form of the Sea Blue Martial Arts Hall’s secret boxing technique.
Many martial arts schools in the Star Alliance originated from ancient times and possessed various secret methods.
The boxing technique Lan Yi had learned was called ’Sea Wave Form’; it began with standing meditation, imagining the body being swept and washed by wave after wave, and in the end, no matter how fiercely the opponent attacked, one would stand as immovable as a rock in the ocean.
Therefore, his starting form was a masterful defensive position, also secretly harboring the power to counterstrike.
"If I make a move, you’ll hit the ground immediately," Zhong Shenxiu said with his hands behind his back, exuding the demeanor of a Grandmaster, "I’ll let you have three moves."
As he spoke, he had already started channeling his White Bone True Qi, not releasing it outwardly but instead stimulating the Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt, causing his skin’s surface to instantly tense.
Although Hua Wu’s Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt was only at a minor level of proficiency, with his True Qi stimulation, it was practically at the level of the Iron Cloth Shirt’s major completion for others.
Lan Yi charged forward with a feigned attack of his right hand.
When he reached Zhong Shenxiu, he suddenly pivoted on his right foot, spinning around and getting behind Zhong Shenxiu, smashing a fist into his back.
"I hit him," the audience and Luo Xiaoqing exclaimed in surprise.
But Zhong Shenxiu did not move a muscle.
Lan Yi felt even more intense; his punch felt as though it had hit an iron plate, causing his joints to ache faintly.
Now knowing he was facing a true expert, he took a deep breath and hooked his right foot forward.
Zhong Shenxiu’s legs seemed to be rooted to the ground, immobile.
Seeing this, the disciples erupted into an uproar.
Clearly, they too realized that to the challenger, Lan Yi was as weak and powerless as a child.
"Quick, go call the eldest senior brother."
Below the platform, a few instructors were already panicking.
Lan Yi was no ordinary instructor but a top fighter among them, handling five or six ruffians as if playing.
But now, he was on the verge of losing.
"This man... his body hardening is incredible."
Lan Yi’s face turned red, he took a deep breath, and his hands rapidly struck out: "Triple Wave!"
This was a secret technique bestowed by the hall master after five years of being an instructor, allowing him to hide three types of force in a single palm strike.
If he could master this secret technique and develop the triple hidden force, he would be taken as a Direct Disciple, which had a much higher status than an instructor.
As for being a True Inheritor? An old martial master might not even teach one or two in a lifetime, so most had only one, the true inheritor of the mantle.
Zhong Shenxiu stood unflinching, allowing the opponent’s palm strike to hit his chest, feeling the hidden force bypass the defense of the Iron Cloth Shirt, threatening to rattle his organs.
But with a mere circulation of White Bone True Qi, the force dissipated into nothing.
’This is the Martial Arts of this world? It seems to focus on Qi-Blood and strength, seeking complete control over one’s body, refining the force utterly, a different path indeed. But it feels... somewhat lacking,’ he shook his head to himself.
These Martial Artists, even if they train their bodies to the limit, it’s still just the limit of a mortal, still just flesh and bone.
Not like himself, where each breakthrough in a major realm was a qualitative change.
Or it could be said, the Martial Arts of this world were a reluctant choice made when the body could no longer undergo a qualitative change.
Mortals, no matter how they train their bodies, still have their limits!
Once the qualitative changes of qi, divine skills, and primordial pills take place, the very nature of life differs.
"The physical foundation is too small, say it’s only 1, even with great skill, the combat power multiplier only increases to 2, 3... 5, 6 at most for a top-notch expert, but once a cultivator enters the path, the physical foundation starts at 10..."
Zhong Shenxiu instantly understood the martial arts of this world, "Low realm choices are just temporary. Take a quick look and move on, no need to pay much attention."
Having seen all he wanted, he smiled at Lan Yi opposite him, "It’s time to end this."
Lan Yi hurriedly gave up as he saw Zhong Shenxiu about to make a move.
There was no choice but to concede, for even with the opponent standing still, he could not win; the gap was too vast, as if reaching the heavens.
Should he not concede and instead wait for the other to send him to the hospital?
’A true master, even the eldest senior brother might not be able to win... perhaps even the dojo master... Is this what a martial artist is? Such a young martial artist?’
Lan Yi’s mind raced with many thoughts, while the audience below had a different emotion.
"Did he really win?!" Luo Xiaoqing was both shocked and pleased, hastily looking towards the live stream, where a flurry of "666" was posted:
"This guy, pretty awesome."
"Looks like his hard training has paid off, how many beatings must he have gone through."
"Super tanky, he must’ve made his opponent surrender."
Besides that, there was a flood of flowers and the occasional rocket ship, causing Luo Xiaoqing to burst into laughter, "Tsk, tsk, at this rate, might actually be able to pay off the debts, puh-lease... Why am I even thinking about actually sharing the money with him..."
Half an hour later, Lan Xiangyu, the eldest senior brother of the Sea Blue Martial Arts Hall, arrived.
Indeed, this senior brother and true disciple of Lan Wangchuan also bore the Lan surname; in fact, he was Lan Wangchuan’s nephew.
The secrets of martial arts, of course, would be passed on to relatives rather than outsiders.
Although the Lan Family ran a martial arts hall, the true inheritance of the ’Sea King Fist’ could only be learned by one direct line descendant, an ancient rule.
In reality, if not for Lan Wangchuan’s son having no interest in martial arts and being utterly useless, he wouldn’t have even considered taking in his nephew.
"Lan Xiangyu, please enlighten me."
Lan Xiangyu, a handsome young man in his twenties dressed in blue training attire, exuded an air of grace and poise upon his entrance, drawing cheers from some of the female students.
Not only was this senior brother handsome, but his martial arts were genuinely formidable.
According to the dojo master, he had a very good chance of reaching the martial artist level before thirty!
Despite Zhong Shenxiu’s strong performance before, like a great demon king, the apprentice observers still believed the senior brother could turn the tide.
Zhong Shenxiu yawned, somewhat bored.
With a casual movement, he breezed up to Lan Xiangyu, pressing down with a claw aimed directly at Lan Xiangyu’s head.
Lan Xiangyu’s blood surged within him, emitting a wave-like sound as he attempted to block with both hands.
But the next moment, he felt an overwhelming power smash down on him, not just a surge of waves, but a torrent of steel!
In the face of this power, any reef would be pulverized, overthrown!
His hands dislocated, pinned down on the platform by Zhong Shenxiu.
Zhong Shenxiu, having succeeded in his move, did not pursue further but walked away.
Lan Xiangyu rolled over, blood streaming from his nose, already unconscious.
The crowd below froze. How had their senior brother turned into a beaten dog in the blink of an eye? Could this be a fake senior brother?