CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 54: RIFLED GUNS AND ARMOR-PIERCING SHELLS

Liu Ru was in a good mood and walked forward with a smile, saying to everyone:

"Does anyone want to watch the competition tomorrow? Those who want to go, please come here to register your names, and I’ll count the numbers to arrange a coach."

Except for a few who had family matters, almost all the students present raised their hands.

Liu Ru patiently recorded it on her phone and also @mentioned everyone in the martial arts dojo’s chat group to count those who weren’t in the dojo today and would want to see the competition tomorrow.

"Excluding those with matters who aren’t coming and those who will use their own transportation, two additional buses should be enough."

Now that he was here, Meng Chuan, as the senior brother of the martial arts dojo, just having a title was not enough.

"Yes, punch a bit higher and carefully feel how the Ming Strength is transmitted, just like this."

Meng Chuan was instructing the students in fist skills.

He stood sideways for the students to observe more conveniently, then swung his sleeve and punched into the air sideways. Suddenly, the sound of the punch exploded like thunder, prompting the students in front to hurriedly cover their ears.

[Cannon Fist: Perfection (66%) Waiting for Limit Breaking]

[Limit Breaking Trait: Heavy Strike (Basic)]

Meng Chuan was gradually figuring out how to break the limit of Cannon Fist, and that was to generate Dark Strength with the fist, merging Ming and Dark strength.

Cannon Fist is the most fierce among the third-rate fist skills of the Xingyi Sect.

To break the limit, of course, you can’t rely solely on strength, after all, the Cannon Fist from a martial arts family hits harder than his own.

So he thought of Dark Strength.

The characteristic of Dark Strength is to be hidden and undelivered, obscure but not evident; once struck, it must strike through tendons and bones, directly affecting the opponent’s body.

Ming Strength is a concentrated power emitted through the powerful control of muscles; Dark Strength is a penetrating power emitted through tendons, bones, and Qi Blood driving.

Combining the two strengths will show explosive power on the surface while incorporating penetrative power internally.

That is to say, when the rifled cannon becomes an armor-piercing shell, the Cannon Fist will inevitably break the limit!

His current level is still at the penetration stage and he hasn’t managed to combine Ming and Dark strength to produce the Cannon Fist.

But the next step of practicing has become clear; the direction is right, and the rapid increase in proficiency is the best proof.

Wiping off the sweat from his forehead, Meng Chuan thought to himself:

"Don’t be impatient, just practice according to the plan, and my second trait [Heavy Strike] is about to emerge!"

...

"The punches should be straightforward, think about how to punch before you strike.

Once you make a move, don’t get distracted, maintain firm belief, hesitation in the mind while punching is the biggest taboo!"

The students nodded slightly, somewhat understanding.

"This is the fist intent you asked about, actually very simple, not so complicated."

Liu Ru, standing by the side, saw that Meng Chuan was rarely willing to teach others. She smiled waiting beside him, seeing that the time was about right, and reminded:

"Xiaomeng, let’s go, it’s almost time to head out for the draw."

Only then did Meng Chuan stop, feeling unfulfilled. Usually being reprimanded by Master Luo, lecturing others felt quite good at this moment.

The two walked out of the dojo and hailed a taxi.

"Driver, to the City Sports Center stadium."

"Alright."

"Are you the contestants going for the draw? Hahaha, I got two tickets to take my son to watch tomorrow."

The dojo ranking competition is the first match of the year in Yong’an City, attracting quite a bit of attention.

Especially for families with children wanting to learn martial arts, the match between the martial arts dojos of Yong’an City is particularly interesting to them.

Liu Ru smiled and said:

"Yes, master, we are the defending champions!"

"You guys are from the Infinite Martial Arts Dojo, I’ve heard of you, but it’s so expensive. I’ve been driving taxis all my life, still not enough for the kid to practice for two years."

The pricing was set by the hall master, and the two of them didn’t know how to respond at this moment.

The driver, seeing them silent, chimed in jokingly:

"Oh, it’s fine. I personally still very much support your dojo!"

"Especially your hall master, dressed in that lightning spark attire, it’s just so cool!"

The driver’s words also sparked Liu Ru’s thoughts.

"Hall Master Luo has personally witnessed my efforts these few days, performing well tomorrow, maybe it’ll work out!"

Liu Ru couldn’t help but secretly pray, hoping to draw a good lot.

...

A red banner hung over the main gate of the stadium.

[Yong’an City’s 46th Martial Arts Dojo Ranking Competition Venue].

The small semicircular arena inside could accommodate three thousand spectators.

Currently, the seats were still empty, but thinking about them being fully occupied tomorrow with three thousand spectators watching the competition, Meng Chuan felt an electric sensation coursing through him.

The aerial big screens surrounding three sides allowed even distant audiences to see the contestants’ movements clearly.

"Relax, Xiaomeng, when you go to college later, the number of people at any casual match in the school will outnumber this; just see this as rehearsal."

"It’s fine, Sister Ru, I’m not nervous, just a bit... excited."

Liu Ru laughed:

"Excitement is good; maintaining this momentum will bring out stronger performance."

Meng Chuan nodded.

The central ring in the arena was already set up, measuring twenty meters by twenty meters, enough to meet the body technique needs of contestants below the martial arts family level.

The ground, wrapped with harder leather, can prevent damage from contestants below the martial arts family level.

Surrounded by load-bearing pillars wrapped in soft gel with elastic side ropes, similar to in the dojo.

The matches at the martial artist level are held at a different venue, as the City Sports Stadium is limited in size; live audience can only watch through the big screens.

The draw area was right beside the ring, already crowded with people.

A photographer carrying a camera was livestreaming the draw process.

Today’s martial arts competitions are paramount, allowing no form of cheating inside or outside the arena.

Any discovery would be considered illegal, and the responsible person wouldn’t escape imprisonment.

Aside from the hall master level, all contestants had arrived.

Only Yuan Huan, the hall master of the Ape God Martial Arts Dojo, was present at the master level.

Meng Chuan found him quite possessing the demeanor of a master, his white robe and long beard imparting an otherworldly aura, with a transcendent air about him.

But why did his apprentice who was going to compete seem a bit dull and foolish?

Whenever someone familiar greeted, the response was always slightly delayed.

"Could this be what they call a martial arts fanatic?"

Without looking at the other side, the youth group was about to start the draw, and Meng Chuan’s attention was caught by the drawing screen.

Liu Ru went to draw first, facing the lottery machine with hands devoutly clasped together.

"Give me a weaker one, a weaker one..."

The lottery machine kept spinning, with a total of 16 contestants, matched one by one with their opponents.

At this moment, Liu Ru’s heart was clenched.

Youth Group [No. 3 White Bird Martial Arts Dojo Xu Chengfei - No. 12 Infinite Martial Arts Dojo Liu Ru].

"Xu Chengfei..."

Liu Ru’s expression turned grave, as this draw result wasn’t quite perfect.

Xu Chengfei was also at the peak of Dark Strength at the sixth Qi and Blood Gate, but the difference in Qi and Blood Value between each gate for martial artists becomes larger as one advances.

A martial artist just entering the sixth gate has a Qi Blood of only 32 points, but the peak of the sixth gate has nearly double that value.

Liu Ru pondered in silence.

"My Qi and Blood Value is 57.42; there should be no one higher than me among the sixth Qi and Blood Gate contestants, I hope it’s not that unlucky..."

The youth group draw ended, and it was the under-18 group’s turn.

Meng Chuan’s age was actually a disadvantage, as next year he would be eligible to compete.

And the opponents this year were all a year older than him, nearly adult borderline contestants.

"It’s alright, success will be shown in action."

No matter if one is younger, the path of martial artists should be fearless.