Martial Apprentice Tournament

Jiangcheng Gymnasium.

The annual Martial Apprentice Competition—city-level qualifiers.

Chen Feng watched his female disciple, who was clearly dominating the match on the stage, feeling a surge of excitement in his heart.

"Three years... I’m finally about to complete my first Master Achievement System task."

Three years ago.

Chen Feng, who grew up in an orphanage, had just graduated at eighteen when he was diagnosed with poor bone structure—unsuitable for martial arts.

Yet, by sheer luck, he awakened the Master Achievement System.

His task was to take in disciples and teach them the techniques granted by the system.

As long as his disciples accomplished various achievements, he would receive rewards.

The only problem? Finding suitable disciples wasn’t easy—the requirements were strict.

Only those with a 100% compatibility rate with the system’s techniques could become his disciples.

Once a disciple was accepted, he would receive a complete set of techniques.

And as soon as the disciple mastered the basics, the master would instantly reach the pinnacle of that technique—

The Ninth Realm of Martial Arts: Harmony of Heaven and Man.

It sounded impressive—and it truly was.

Those who could cultivate a martial technique to the Harmony of Heaven and Man realm were as rare as phoenix feathers.

But to unleash the full power of these techniques, one needed an immense reserve of qi and blood energy.

Ironically, after activating the system, Chen Feng could no longer cultivate qi and blood energy—his existing reserves were even wiped clean.

There was only one path left for him to grow stronger:

Take in disciples, train them, and let them achieve greatness—only then could he earn qi and blood energy as rewards.

But back then, at just eighteen with zero qi and blood energy, no one was willing to become his disciple.

He encountered several candidates perfectly matched to the system’s techniques, yet all recruitment attempts failed.

No martial prodigy in their right mind would foolishly accept a powerless, ordinary young man as their master.

But Chen Feng was stubborn by nature—he refused to be defeated by such a minor setback.

To secure disciples, he traveled across multiple cities, eventually managing to "convince" two.

His first disciple, Xiao Ruohan, had been diagnosed with poor bone structure—deemed unfit for martial arts.

Chen Feng happened to be lurking in the hospital’s examination department when he seized this golden opportunity.

Xiao Ruohan had a 100% compatibility rate with the system’s technique: Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms.

After a motivational speech that could rival a cult leader’s, Chen Feng successfully roped her in.

After two years of training, she had finally achieved notable progress.

And since she was still under twenty, she qualified for the Martial Apprentice Competition.

According to the system, as long as Xiao Ruohan secured first place in the city-level competition, Chen Feng would receive qi and blood energy rewards.

During this time, Chen Feng also found his second disciple, Jin Youxi—a foreign exchange student from Korea with 100% compatibility with Buddha’s Palm.

Diagnosed with blocked meridians, she was also labeled unfit for martial arts.

This naive girl was even easier to trick.

Chen Feng simply told her:

"You have an extraordinary bone structure—a once-in-a-generation martial genius."

And just like that, she became his second disciple.

...

On the stage, two dazzling figures clashed, neither willing to yield.

This match would decide who would claim first place in the city—and who would settle for second.

Both girls were drenched in sweat, breathing heavily.

One wore a black bodysuit, her stunning face cold and ruthless—every strike she delivered was merciless.

The other, dressed in a short-sleeved top and shorts, was no less beautiful but carried an air of fragility.

Her attacks lacked decisiveness, her reluctance to go all out exposing her overly compassionate nature.

The audience watched with bated breath, hearts in their throats.

In the stands, family members and mentors of both fighters clenched their fists nervously.

Chen Feng frowned slightly as he observed Xiao Ruohan’s performance.

Beside him, Jin Youxi clung tightly to his arm, anxious.

"Master... does Senior Sister have some grudge against that girl?"

Chen Feng sighed.

"Your senior sister is too competitive—she takes victory and defeat too seriously."

He wanted Xiao Ruohan to win—needed her to, for the sake of completing his system task.

But her ruthless, cold-hearted personality left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Too eager for success.

Still, he had to admit—the system’s 100% compatibility wasn’t just for show.

In just one year, Xiao Ruohan had mastered the first seventeen forms of Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms.

The eighteenth form had a special requirement: the first seventeen must reach the Fourth Realm—Seamless Integration—before it could be learned.

Yet even with just seventeen forms, Xiao Ruohan had crushed every opponent in her path.

Undefeated since entering the competition, she had bulldozed her way straight to the city finals.

The nine realms of martial technique proficiency were:

First Realm: Rudimentary Grasp.

Second Realm: Skilled Execution.

Third Realm: Minor Mastery.

Fourth Realm: Seamless Integration.

Fifth Realm: Meticulous Precision.

Sixth Realm: Flawless Mastery.

Seventh Realm: Transcendent Artistry.

Eighth Realm: Unrivaled Pinnacle.

Ninth Realm: Harmony of Heaven and Man.

Right now, Chen Feng’s Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms and Buddha’s Palm had both reached the pinnacle—Harmony of Heaven and Man.

But with zero qi and blood energy, he couldn’t unleash their true power.

...

The match soon entered its final moments.

Xiao Ruohan let out a sharp cry:

"Dragon Battles in the Wild!"

Instantly, her qi and blood energy condensed into a golden dragon’s phantom, coiling around her body.

The sight stunned everyone present—even Chen Feng was taken aback.

"I didn’t expect Ruohan to achieve Seamless Integration with the first seventeen forms so quickly."

He nodded inwardly.

"After this match, I’ll teach her the eighteenth form."

"With that, she should have no trouble securing first place in the provincial competition three months from now."

"And in half a year, at the national finals, she might even stand a chance against the top talents of Great Xia."

"In the future, there’ll be the Martial Artist Competition, the Advanced Martial Artist Competition..."

"She’ll have plenty of opportunities to shine."

In the stands and at the judges’ table, murmurs of discussion erupted.

Dozens of cameras zoomed in on Xiao Ruohan, capturing her every move in close-up.

Even the live-stream audience was awed by her palm techniques.

"That Xiao Ruohan is no ordinary talent—she’ll go far."

"What kind of palm technique is that? It actually conjures a golden dragon’s phantom!"

"Liu Weiwei’s Wind God Legs have reached Minor Mastery, but she’s still slightly outmatched."

"Either of these two could easily rank in the top ten at the provincial level."

...

Amid the chatter, the head of the War God Dojo approached Xiao Ruohan’s parents in the stands.

With a smile, he asked,

"Have you two made your decision?"

Xiao Ruohan’s parents immediately stood up, bowing nervously.

"Rest assured, Dojo Master—we’ve already spoken to Ruohan."

"As soon as the match ends, we’ll make things clear with that Chen Feng kid."

The War God Dojo Master nodded, pleased.

"Your daughter is a rare talent."

"If she joins our dojo, she’ll undoubtedly become a powerhouse in the future."

Xiao Ruohan’s parents nodded eagerly, their voices sycophantic.

"Of course, of course!"