CHAPTER 281: CHAPTER 259: DECADENT OLD LU, THE ADVANTAGE IS MINE!

"Why hasn’t Brother Chuan arrived yet? Is he drifting?"

Li Tong looked around, only Meng Chuan was absent from the class.

Excluding the days in Shanghai, he hadn’t attended the class for almost a month.

Moments later.

Everyone remembered the originally ice-cold Grandmaster Chen, who walked in with a strong young man, chatting and laughing.

Upon a closer look, it was the long-absent Meng Chuan.

Xu Qingfeng clicked his tongue and said:

"Wow Meng, you’ve got some face, even Grandmaster Chen is smiling for you..."

Meng Jiaolong, displeased, said:

"If you win a national champion in a competition, my mom would smile at you too."

Meng Chuan’s championship brought glory to the school, and Chen Qiushui, as the top leader of the school, also gained benefits.

Xu Qingfeng laughed awkwardly; he was eliminated in the first round of the Supernova contest, lacking such skill.

Hastily changing the topic, he invited Meng Chuan to sit down.

On the platform, Chen Qiushui sat floating, and slowly began to speak:

"Today before the lecture, I need to inform you all a grave fact.

The military has urgently mobilized all schools. Most martial artists from major universities are being deployed, and the Demon Nest crisis has fully escalated.

Even though you are martial artists and won’t step onto the battlefield, you cannot have a naive mindset. You must expedite your cultivation and enter the realm of the martial arts family early. Only then will you not waste the efforts of the country and the school in your training."

Seeing everyone still digesting her words, she continued:

"Starting tomorrow, I will also leave the school to lead a team into the Demon Nest for battle. If you have urgent matters, find your respective fist skill teachers to handle them."

Teachers with specific teaching duties within the school won’t participate in this nationwide recruitment at the national level.

College martial artists are not only the foundation of each Martial Arts University, but also the future of the country.

A martial arts family member must guide and teach them. Until the critical moment of life and death, there’s no need for a complete mobilization.

If everyone acted impulsively because of the Demon Nest rumors, it would only c interfere with decision-making.

As Chen Qiushui finished speaking, the temperature in the classroom dropped sharply, and everyone’s thoughts diverged.

Meng Chuan recalled the Demon Nest mutation mentioned by Grandmaster Chen, and a sense of crisis prickled at his back.

Although he won the Supernova championship, facing the impending dark tide, his strength was far from sufficient.

Only by entering the martial arts family realm will he have a basic foothold, preventing him from being crushed by the overwhelming wave when it arrives.

...

That night, at Huaqing Pool.

Since Meng Chuan’s return from winning the championship, the three hadn’t celebrated yet.

Meng Jiaolong specially ordered a large table of mountain delicacies from the foothills for today.

Intended for a "two-person world" with Meng Chuan, Xu Qingfeng came over smelling the aroma.

"Can’t you leave already..."

Seeing Xu Qingfeng enjoying the lobster claw contentedly, Meng Jiaolong was quite irritated.

After the meal, they sat together to digest, reminiscing about Grandmaster Chen’s talk from today.

Meng Chuan managed pretty well, understanding most of it.

Considering today was a Martial Artist Class special lecture, what Grandmaster Chen spoke of was about things martial artists should be cautious of before entering the martial arts family realm.

These principles were previously taught by Master Luo, and Grandmaster Chen elaborated more.

Meng Chuan absorbed it thoroughly, combining it with his memories, and began to teach the two.

After explaining, Meng Chuan felt thirsty from talking, Xu Qingfeng swiftly offered beer.

"Brother, cheers!"

Meng Chuan accepted without hesitation, drinking it all.

"It’s still a bit early for you two to absorb this; advance to the ninth checkpoint first."

Both Xu Qingfeng and Meng Jiaolong had bitter expressions.

It’s not that easy; not everyone is like Meng Chuan.

"Wow Meng, you have to wait for us, don’t advance to the martial arts family yet; Meng Jiaolong and I are still at the eighth checkpoint..."

Meng Jiaolong nodded upon hearing this and then curiously asked:

"Meng Chuan, when can you break through to the martial arts family realm?"

"Hmm... probably around mid-next year? I’ll try to make it before the Martial Extreme True Inheritance contest."

"Wow! Freak!"

The two exclaimed in unison.

...

After the meal, the two helped Meng Chuan clean up the leftovers.

Before leaving, Xu Qingfeng chuckled:

"I just got a message from United University; I’ve made it onto the Earth Demon List!

The rankings settle just before month-end, so if I hold steady, I’ll earn 30 credits; that’s nice."

Meng Jiaolong was skeptical:

"You made it onto the Earth Demon List? Did someone break through to the martial arts family, opening up a spot for you?"

Though Xu Qingfeng’s Qi Blood was slightly weaker, and his score was about the same as Meng Jiaolong’s.

But his martial arts aptitude and comprehensive potential were impressive, not only surpassing Meng Jiaolong, but even many others on the list.

Therefore, he always hovered near the lower edge, close enough to touch the bottom of the list.

Xu Qingfeng was indignant; why couldn’t it be that his potential had improved?

He took out his phone, intending to prove himself by displaying the Earth Demon List.

At that moment, he was suddenly stunned.

"Wow Meng... you’re number one on the list."

Meng Jiaolong’s eyes lit up, leaning over to say:

"Meng Chuan subdued Motohiko? Looks like those in the headquarters have good judgment, national champions are indeed formidable!"

Meng Chuan glanced at it, understanding the situation.

Although his scores had improved across the board, he was still slightly behind Motohiko, not to mention the second place wasn’t the latter.

Thus, the only possibility was that Motohiko had already broken through to the martial arts family realm... and dropped from the list.

Xu Qingfeng also understood, he stepped forward, patted Meng Chuan on the shoulder and said:

"Not necessarily, maybe he’s dead?"

"..."

...

December 30th.

Early this morning, the front page of the United University’s campus network no longer congratulated Meng Chuan for winning the national championship.

Instead, it welcomed the news of Motohiko, the first freshman of United University to break through as a Martial Arts Family, with the title [Tiger King]!

The campus media even predicted that it might be another era of [United University ruled by Tiger Form].

Xu Qingfeng’s curse failed, as Motohiko clearly walked ahead of everyone among the United University freshmen this year.

"Tiger King?"

Meng Chuan had just practiced boxing for an hour, and took a moment to check things out during his resting period.

Seeing the opponent’s title, he felt astonished.

Not because of its imposing nature, but because it made him recall memories buried deep in his heart...

He wanted to compete with the opponent for the Martial Extreme True Inheritance, it seemed he could gain an advantage from the qualities first.

"I remember, wasn’t Tiger King suppressed by the Raptor God with one hand..."

But this title has the word [God] in it, I wonder if it could be changed to Raptor King...

Seeing Master Lu approaching from afar, Meng Chuan abandoned his nonsensical thoughts and continued practicing boxing with him.

Until lunchtime, their hand movements finally came to a halt.

Today, Lu Zhuxiao was somewhat silent, only quietly teaching, his face devoid of his usual smile.

Meng Chuan naturally understood why, but he had no solution either...

Although not officially announced, past battles for Martial Extreme True Inheritance were usually held on June 1st, during the anniversary celebration of Northern United University.

By that time, it would be good enough if he could achieve the status of Martial Arts Family.

He’s not presumptuous enough to think he could easily outpace Motohiko, who had half a year’s more training.

Motohiko is certainly no pushover, if the opponent hadn’t reached the extreme of Qi Blood.

During the Taihang War for the Northern Lands Championship, he probably would have stopped here.

Moreover, at the extreme of nine gates, he could exchange over a hundred moves with a Martial Arts Family.

After breaking through the realm, his strength was definitely far superior to before, and among the Martial Arts Family at one limit, he wouldn’t be a weak presence.

Therefore, all he could do was take one step at a time.

He had absolute confidence in eventually surpassing the opponent in the future.

But surpassing within half a year... definitely not in terms of cultivation, in terms of fighting, Meng Chuan felt he might still have an opportunity.

The opponent’s Hard Skills absolutely couldn’t compare to his own, and he possessed a lot of combat characteristics, with the feedback of Dragon Demon’s essence, and a pair of Third Grade True Martial Fist Blades.

Plus the strong characteristic [Flower of Flesh], it could also lead to a Limit Breaking success in the first half of the next year, with the factors influencing the battle all compounded.

Motohiko wasn’t invincible, the advantage was his!

But all these things were his secrets, naturally he couldn’t tell Master Lu.

Seeing the whole person’s mental state as if barely holding on, looking a bit dispirited.

Meng Chuan advised him to go back and rest, he could practice on his own.

"I’m fine, you continue practicing."

Lu Zhuxiao’s mouth twitched, producing a slight smile.

Then he perked up and kept watching Meng Chuan practice boxing, promptly correcting which moves could be better executed.

Time passed by in punches and kicks, Lu Zhuxiao slowly immersed himself in the world of boxing.

Neither mentioned anything about Motohiko.

Lu Zhuxiao raised his hand to check the time, the pointer already at one o’clock.

"A match before going for lunch?"

"Bring it!"

Meng Chuan was feeling quite ready, ever since returning from winning the championship, he felt a bit complacent.

Now upon learning the news of Motohiko’s breakthrough, his fighting spirit was triggered instead.

Meng Chuan slightly closed his eyes, exerting force, his Qi Blood surged like a tide around him.

In the next moment, Power erupted from his waist and spine like a great dragon, his five fingers closed into a fist, though the fist edge hadn’t appeared, the stance was already formed!

His Five Elements Boxing Stance climbed gradually from his internal organs, fierce as wildfire spreading, sharp as metal and horses, strong as a tough pine and bamboo, powerful as surging waves crashing against the shore, the five breaths naturally circulated, all condensed within the boxing stance.

In Lu Zhuxiao’s eyes, Meng Chuan’s momentum seemed to rush straight into the sky.

This force gave him the illusion of facing a Martial Arts Family.

Lu Zhuxiao couldn’t help but grin.

"I was overthinking..."

He had thought too much before, why think about so much?

What if Motohiko is a Martial Arts Family? Catching up directly was the way.

Lu Zhuxiao had absolute confidence because after all, he was Meng! Chuan!

"Show your full strength!"

"Understood."

With those words, Meng Chuan’s figure silently moved like a night owl assaulting, his fist edge fell from above Lu Zhuxiao’s head, the full force exerted produced a series of piercing sonic booms in the air.

Ultimately, it plunged steadily and fiercely into the opponent’s head.

Impossible!

Even though Master Lu didn’t use True Qi, he certainly wouldn’t be killed by a single strike, having a Martial Arts Family’s diversified body already becoming non-human!

Meng Chuan narrowed his eyes tight, amplifying his perception, feeling a faint tingling at the back of his head.

He exhaled two streams of white from his nostrils, his spine erupted like a spring, retreating a half step avoiding the incoming knife hand.

"Focus your Heart Spirit, be careful."

In the next moment, Lu Zhuxiao stomped the ground with both feet, his palms inwardly clasped and pushed back, simply exerting power and bursting forth, it was precisely Old Ape Hanging Seal!

Meng Chuan back-pulled his arm, his right arm like a python coming out of its hole, surrounded with surging water attacking, countless tiny ice chips condensed and shattered within, converging into a massive ice-blue vortex.

Behind this fierce kidney-water boxing stance, hid a pair of sharp eyes.

Noticing Meng Chuan’s ferocity, Lu Zhuxiao couldn’t help nodding secretly.

"Good kid, quite stylish."