Chapter 4 Beauty

Words : 2666 Updated : Oct 8th, 2023

Before Stanley could respond, Hugh had already made his move. With a swift step forward, he slashed at Stanley's chest with a hand chop, the wind from his strike sharp and forceful. Stanley's face darkened as he quickly raised his arms to block the attack. "Boom!" Pain shot through Stanley's arm bones as the raw power from Hugh's strike forced him back several steps. "As expected of someone at the Seventh-level Lian Ti Realm. His speed and strength far surpass mine." Stanley steadied himself, his gaze growing serious. He quickly transformed his inner energy into the energy of life to heal the damage to his life map. The pain in his arms began to fade. "Hm? You're still standing? Seems like you've got some skill after all. No wonder you could injure my worthless little brother." Hugh frowned slightly. He was not only at the Seventh-level Lian Ti Realm but had also trained in third-level martial techniques. He was surprised that Stanley had survived his first strike. Still, it was only a minor surprise. Hugh was confident in his abilities. He snorted and attacked again, launching his Iron Eagle Claw toward Stanley's neck. The same martial technique Troy had used before, but Hugh's execution was far more powerful, as the wind from his strike roared forward at an alarming speed. "Stop right there!" A sharp, authoritative voice suddenly interrupted. Hugh immediately froze and turned his head. A woman with a cold expression, wearing a tight-fitting white martial outfit, approached them. Her figure was striking and her face stern. "Ms. Lu." The surrounding students quickly bowed in respect when they saw her. This woman was Winni, one of the instructors at Qing Yun Martial Hall, and a true martial artist who had reached the Qi Hai Realm. Her well-defined figure, long legs, stunning beauty, and incredible strength made her one of the most popular teachers in the martial hall. Even Hugh, for all his arrogance, didn't dare act out in front of her. He lowered his hands and backed off from Stanley. "Greetings, Ms. Lu." Both Hugh and Stanley bowed in acknowledgment. "You're Hugh, correct? A Seventh-level Lian Ti Realm student from the intermediate class, bullying beginners like this? Is that what a martial artist should be doing?" Winni's tone was icy, and she glared at Hugh. "Ms. Lu, you've misunderstood. Stanley injured my brother, so I came to settle the score," Hugh defended himself, his voice confident. Winni glanced at Stanley. She hadn't paid much attention to him before since he was an unremarkable student. The martial hall often turned a blind eye to conflicts between students, seeing it as a natural part of competition and survival. However, Stanley had recently beaten Troy, one of the stronger students in the beginner class, which had caught Winni's attention. "Fourth-level Lian Ti Realm?" She sensed the fluctuations in Stanley's inner energy. Just a few days ago, she remembered him being only at the second level of the Lian Ti Realm. Winni was surprised. "Could it be that he's been hiding his potential all this time and is now showing his true talent?" Some students possessed hidden martial talent that only emerged later in their training. Once their potential was unlocked, their growth could be rapid. She began to see Stanley as one of those rare cases, someone worth nurturing. Unlike the spoiled children of wealthy families, students from common backgrounds often worked harder and displayed more perseverance. This grit and determination were qualities Winni valued highly. Stanley felt uncomfortable under Winni's scrutinizing gaze. For a student like him, it was the first time an instructor had ever paid him this much attention. "Normally, I wouldn't interfere in student disputes," Winni said, withdrawing her gaze and addressing the group. "But the fairness and justice of the martial hall cannot be undermined." Her eyes shifted to Hugh. "If you want to challenge Stanley, I won't stop you. But wait for the assessment in three months. If Stanley makes it into the intermediate class, you can settle it then. For now, go back and focus on your own training." The crowd could clearly sense that this sharp, yet icy instructor was siding with Stanley. In the martial hall, it wasn't uncommon for senior students to bully the juniors. Troy had been able to run rampant in the beginner class because of his older brother's protection. Normally, as long as things didn't go too far, the instructors rarely stepped in. Many of the students watching looked at Stanley with envy, realizing that his recent victory over Troy had earned him the favor of Ms. Lu. Hugh clenched his fists, frustrated that he couldn't cripple Stanley right now. But even he knew better than to cross Winni. There were rumors in the martial hall that Ms. Lu had a mysterious and powerful background. Even the elders treated her with great respect. "Fine. In three months, I'll deal with him," Hugh growled, shooting Stanley a murderous look before bowing to Winni and storming off. The small confrontation ended as quickly as it had started, but everyone knew it wasn't over. Hugh was a Seventh-level Lian Ti Realm fighter, and even if Stanley managed to reach the fifth level in three months, the gap between them would still be significant. "Thank you, Ms. Lu," Stanley said, grateful for the intervention. Though he wasn't afraid of fighting Hugh, Stanley appreciated Winni's support. She had clearly helped him out. Winni smiled and nodded. "To make such rapid progress shows you have potential. Keep training hard, and aim to pass the assessment in three months." If Stanley had kept his old training pace, there was no way he could pass the upcoming assessment. But with his recent breakthroughs, Winni had taken notice of him and decided to give him a hand. However, Winni wouldn't fully consider Stanley a talented student just yet. If he couldn't maintain this pace of improvement, he'd simply fade into obscurity again. With that, Winni turned and walked away. The other students quickly dispersed as well, going about their business. As Stanley watched Winni's retreating figure, he furrowed his brow. He had seen something strange in Ms. Lu's life map. Her life energy fluctuated between strong and weak, and her heart's life map appeared slightly off. This was the first time Stanley had observed the life map of a Qi Hai Realm martial artist. While Lian Ti Realm warriors had life maps that glowed white, Qi Hai Realm fighters had life maps that glowed green. Stanley realized that Qi Hai Realm martial artists were far stronger than those in the Lian Ti Realm. Even with his special abilities, he wouldn't be able to damage their life maps. "It's clear I'm still weak. Just because I have a unique ability doesn't mean I can afford to be arrogant." With renewed determination, Stanley set off toward the martial hall's library. The library was a restricted area where the martial hall stored its vast collection of martial techniques. It was heavily guarded. Apart from a Xian Tian Realm elder who oversaw the library, some students also worked as part-time guards. Most of these students were from common backgrounds, as the wealthier ones didn't care for the small monthly payment of twenty or thirty silver coins. "Stop. This is a restricted area," two students guarding the library blocked Stanley's way. Stanley frowned as he looked toward the figures who had just entered the library. "Why didn't you stop them?" "Who do you think you are, comparing yourself to those noble brats? They either come here to buy martial techniques or have the strength to qualify for choosing them. You, a mere second-level Lian Ti Realm student, should just get lost!" The person speaking was Hui Wang, a student from the intermediate class and a fifth-level Lian Ti Realm fighter. He was also Stanley's neighbor, so they weren't strangers. Hui Wang, slightly older than Stanley at fifteen, had aligned himself with Hugh Zhang during his time in the beginner class, gaining some benefits from it. Otherwise, as someone from a common background, he would've struggled to get into the intermediate class. He blocked Stanley's path, speaking harshly, because he had heard Stanley had injured Hugh's younger brother, Troy. "Out of respect for our families being neighbors, I'm advising you to go and apologize to Mr. Zhang. Otherwise, not only will you suffer, but your parents and sister will also pay the price," Hui Wang said arrogantly, looking down at Stanley. Hui Wang didn't see anything wrong with following Hugh's lead. He believed it was smart to side with powerful people. Even if he eventually had to leave the martial hall without reaching the advanced class, he figured he could still rely on the Zhang family for support in the future. "So, this is the Stanley who beat up Troy Zhang? Never thought a nobody like you would have it in you…" another intermediate class student chimed in, mocking Stanley with a sneer. Stanley ignored the two. Hui Wang had been a childhood playmate, but after joining the martial hall, their paths had diverged. Everyone made their own choices, and whatever bond they had was long gone. "According to the rules of the martial hall, any student at the fourth-level of Lian Ti Realm is allowed to choose martial techniques from the library. Are you planning to break those rules?" Stanley asked coldly. "Fourth-level Lian Ti Realm?" Hui Wang burst into laughter. "Stanley, do you even hear yourself? I know you well. Just a few days ago, you were at the second level of Lian Ti Realm. You must have used some trick to hurt Mr. Zhang, but now you're acting all high and mighty?" Being blocked and ridiculed repeatedly, Stanley was growing increasingly angry. He shouted back, "Open your eyes and see for yourselves!" With that, Stanley activated his technique, releasing the energy of a fourth-level Lian Ti Realm fighter. His muscles and bones emitted a crisp sound, signaling his entry into the bone-refining stage. Hui Wang's laughter abruptly stopped. "This... this can't be. How did your cultivation improve so quickly?" Hui Wang exclaimed, his face darkening. "Even if you've reached the fourth level, so what? I said you're not going in, and you're not going in!" Stanley couldn't believe how far Hui Wang was willing to go. His eyes flashed with anger. "You dare violate the martial hall's rules?" "Rules?" Hui Wang sneered. "Rules only matter for certain people. To be honest, if you hadn't gone against Mr. Zhang, I might have let you through, given we used to be neighbors. But now that you've made an enemy of him, there's no way you're getting in!" "That's right. I heard you hurt Troy Zhang. Perfect timing—we'll take you down and hand you over to him," the other intermediate student guarding the library said, grinning maliciously. Before Stanley could respond, the student lunged at him, reaching for his collar with full confidence. As a fifth-level Lian Ti Realm fighter, he thought it would be easy to handle a beginner class student like Stanley. However, Stanley had had enough of their provocations. With a loud roar, he unleashed his Raging Fist. The force of his punch was fierce, the air around it swirling with power. There was a low sound like the bellow of a bull as his overwhelming strength surged forward.

Chapter 4 Beauty

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