Chapter 90: Chapter 58: The New Sprouts Have Arrived, Gearing Up

Zhao Rui recorded the information at the side.

“Meridian permeability: 92%!”

“True Qi capacity, 100% increase compared to an average person.”

“Cell regeneration speed: 290%.”

Over an hour later, Zhang Kui and Zhao Rui stared at the astounding data in complete shock.

“Compared to them, our stats are a pile of shit!”

Zhang Kui muttered self-deprecatingly.

“You’re shit, I’m not!”

“You’re worse than shit.”

The two exchanged wry smiles.

After politely declining the new team members’ questions about their test results, Zhao Rui and Zhang Kui led them to the data collection room.

The room was still guarded by the same grizzled old man known as Master Deng, and the atmosphere was just as silent and somber as before.

Zhang Kui greeted Master Deng in a low voice before leading everyone to the machines to register their information.

Meanwhile, Zhao Rui helped out on the side, maintaining order.

It took another half an hour before the entire data collection process was finally complete.

Afterward, Zhao Rui and Zhang Kui brought the new members back to the main hall and reported the test results to Wang Zhanshan.

Wang Zhanshan already had a good idea of what to expect. After all, they had all been recruited from the Martial Arts Academy, so he was already aware of their skill levels.

Unlike Zhao Rui, whose appearance had been rather unexpected.

“You two can go now.”

Seeing that their business was concluded, Wang Zhanshan waved his hand, dismissing Zhao Rui and Zhang Kui.

As soon as the two left, he summoned ten people based on the test reports and led them to a secluded, private room.

They didn’t emerge until half an hour later.

When they came out, all ten of them had excited expressions. Although they tried their best to hide it, their heartfelt joy was still visible.

What happened in the main hall had nothing to do with Zhao Rui and Zhang Kui. After leaving, they each returned to their own squads.

They began to diligently practice their Martial Arts.

’Everything else is fleeting. The only thing that matters is your own strength.’

This exchange competition had given Zhao Rui a better understanding of his own abilities.

This period of “Cultivation,” especially his success in replicating High-tier Martial Arts like the Prajna Palm and the Great Strength Vajra Leg, had led to a qualitative leap in his power.

Previously, if he had fought these Talent Type fighters, he probably couldn’t have even held his own against a Level 6.

But now, he could take on anyone below Level 8.

Such was the confidence that High-tier Martial Arts brought.

A good Martial Art not only circulated Inner Qi faster and widened the Cultivation Meridians more, but it also generated more Inner Qi than ordinary Martial Arts.

In the novels from his past life, Zhang Wuji had cultivated the Nine Yang Divine Skill for just a few short years, yet his Inner Strength had become unmatched in the world.

His Power was far deeper than that of the old masters from various sects who had been cultivating for decades.

This was just one of the benefits brought by a top-tier Internal Cultivation Method.

Unfortunately, Zhao Rui had yet to encounter a Martial Art of that level.

’Maybe that old man has one?’

The image of the white-haired, youthful-looking old man soaring into the air in the dense forest resurfaced in Zhao Rui’s mind.

Time flew when one was cultivating.

In the blink of an eye, it was time for the afternoon’s combat practice.

Zhao Rui and Zhang Kui were still standing with He Zhiyan’s squad.

The other areas were divided into three groups: official members, unofficial members (also called substitutes)…

…and the newly joined freshmen.

Wang Zhanshan scanned the crowd, nodded slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

’Now this is more like it.’

“Sunning, Sun Pengfei, Li Yinuo…”

As Wang Zhanshan called out the names, twelve people stepped out from the freshman group, waiting curiously for the coach to speak.

“You twelve, go to the sparring partner group for now!”

Hearing the coach’s words, the twelve of them cried out in surprise. They had just arrived, and they were already being sent to the sparring partner group?

“What are you ’ah-ing’ about? This is competitive Martial Arts. How can you grow without sparring? You’re all sparring partners for each other. As long as you’re not an official member, the training regimen is the same.”

Wang Zhanshan raised his voice slightly, silencing the clamor from these “newbies.”

The twelve who had been called out reluctantly moved over to He Zhiyan’s side.

As they walked over, they immediately spotted Zhao Rui in the squad.

Their expressions changed instantly. So this peer of theirs who had arrived early was just a sparring partner.

They had thought he was a Martial Dao genius like Miao Miaomiao or Wang Dalong.

Once they realized this, their gazes toward Zhao Rui became a little more relaxed, in a different sort of way.

“I’ll send out a list with the squad assignments later. For today, just follow the established training plan. The sophomores will continue to train separately.”

“He Zhiyan will teach the new members the Mimicry Fist…”

After assigning the training tasks, Wang Zhanshan clasped his hands behind his back, strolled back to his desk, and leisurely crossed his legs.

The talent had arrived. He could finally start showing what he was capable of.

“Over here, Zhao Rui!”

At the edge of the Martial Arts Arena, Zeng Hongyi saw Zhao Rui standing somewhat at a loss by the sparring partner group and waved him over.

“You’ll still train with me!”

Zeng Hongyi was quite pleased with Zhao Rui and naturally wanted to mentor him more.

“What, trying to be a ’fresh young face’ again? Nope, you’re already an old fossil.”

Zhang Kui slung an arm around Zhao Rui’s neck and pulled him into the squad.

Everyone burst into laughter.

Zhao Rui couldn’t help but laugh as well. To be honest, he really liked being with this group of sophomores.

He really wouldn’t feel comfortable if he had to start training all over again with the freshmen now.

“Alright, settle down. Regarding the exchange meet a while back, frankly, everyone’s performance exceeded my expectations…”

“But the gap is also very obvious. Everyone needs to work even harder…”

After a brief opening statement, Zeng Hongyi began to give one-on-one pointers to the members.

“The Prajna Palm is about intent, not form. Zhao Rui does this very well. You can all discuss it with him more in private.”

“By the way, Zhao Rui, last time I saw you use Cao Guannan’s Great Strength Vajra Leg, it was completely fluid. How did you do that?”

After teaching for a while, Zeng Hongyi remembered Zhao Rui’s match and couldn’t help but ask.

Hearing his question, everyone else perked up their ears to listen.

“It was a bit of a fluke, I guess. I’m naturally sensitive to techniques. Usually, after sparring with someone for a while, I can copy the moves and get the gist of it.”

“Later, after practicing the Mimicry Fist, I gave it some thought and came up with this method to create a convincing imitation.”

Zhao Rui explained as best he could.

However, although it was just an excuse, it was actually feasible in practice.

So-called Martial Arts consist of more than just the external techniques we see; there are also the internal pathways and the Inner Strength that is unleashed.

The external techniques are just the skin. What’s truly important are the Meridian pathways and the Inner Strength generated through Cultivation.

Without the correct method for circulating through the Meridians, Inner Strength cannot be accurately channeled.

This was why in his previous life, so many martial arts performers had the form but lacked any actual combat ability.

The Martial Arts that Zhao Rui simulated were all ones he had already successfully replicated through his system panel, so the Meridian pathways were already open for them.

No matter what technique he used, he could subconsciously channel his Inner Strength to the point of exertion.

What’s more, he had even gained some insight into using the Hidden Meridian, which allowed him to arbitrarily switch the Meridians he used to exert force when executing a move.

For example, both the Cloud Hand Star-Picking and the Prajna Palm used the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian pathway.

When he threw a palm strike, if he used a Cloud Hand Star-Picking technique, it was Cloud Hand Star-Picking. If he used a Prajna Palm technique, it was Prajna Palm.

Since he was proficient in both, he could switch between them at will.

After listening to Zhao Rui, Zeng Hongyi pondered for a moment, then tried to experiment according to Zhao Rui’s explanation. He immediately felt an unbearable, swelling pain in the Meridian he was using to exert force and couldn’t continue at all.

He couldn’t help but shake his head and say, “Your method must be related to your constitution. I can’t use it.”

He then added, “A tricky method like this can only be used once. If your opponent is prepared for it, you’ll lose the initiative. You should use it less in the future.”

Although he was skeptical about the practical effectiveness of Zhao Rui’s technique, he still offered advice based on his past experience.

“I know, Coach. I normally wouldn’t use it.”

Zhao Rui smiled. He had gone through that long-winded explanation just to have a plausible story for the future, in case he occasionally used other Martial Arts Techniques.

’Even though Martial Arts are widespread, it would still be too strange for one person to know every type of Martial Art.’

’However, in the Martial Dao, the further one progresses, the less one needs specific techniques.’

’As they say, “one strength overthrows ten skills.” Once your Power is sufficient, even plucking a flower or throwing a leaf can become a Killing Move.’

’A true master wouldn’t care about such superficial things.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep