In fact, Zhou Heng had already guessed that the application of martial arts during combat with humans would actually increase his level of proficiency.
It made perfect sense too.
However, he had not expected actual combat with an opponent to grant him levels of proficiency.
If he were not mistaken...
If his level of proficiency for Eighteen Divine Power Styles reached level 1, he would officially learn this martial art!
In other words, as long as he prolonged the fight, he could even acquire the opponent's form of martial arts!
Generally, the martial arts school would only educate students on three types of ninth class martial arts, one type of Inner Strength Stance Technique, one type of body movement technique, and one type of offensive martial art. This was because they wanted to avoid the apprentices from becoming a Jack-of-all-trades but master of none, which subsequently led to complications in advancing to the ninth class.
Of course, one could learn more if he wished to.
But one could only learn by observing others while they sparred.
However, given an apprentice's limited experience in martial arts, they had to be a ridiculously insightful prodigy to self-teach themselves ninth-class martial arts.
It was nearly impossible.
Without the guidance and explanation of a ninth-class practitioner, one could even cripple himself for life.
Personal tutoring required even more expenditure.
It could burn a hole through pockets.
At the very least, it would cost tens of taels of silver. At most, it could reach hundreds of taels of silver!
The fee was much unlike that of a foundation learning course.
Such were the rules of a martial arts school.
But now, he could acquire new martial arts via combat!
This was as good as a windfall of money!
As he thought of this, Zhou Heng's eyes instantly brightened.
At that moment, Lin Cang stepped forward and smiled as he asked, "What's the matter, Zhou Heng? One palm from me was enough for you to waver, huh?"
"Who's wavering now?!" Zhou Heng raised the saber in his hand, laughed out loudly and said, "Master Lin, it's not over yet! Let's continue the battle for three hundred rounds!"
Buzz!
Clank!
The sound of the palm-generated wind collided with the saber, and the sound of the saber cutting through the air intertwined inside the big hall at Prosperity Martial Arts School.
Zhou Heng and Lin Cang kept moving about, intersecting with each other as they attacked. It was a very fierce battle.
It was difficult to distinguish who had the upper hand right then.
The people were watching the match very closely.
It was a rare opportunity for the apprentices at the martial arts school to take notes from live combat such as this.
As Yu He watched Zhou Heng holding his own against Lin Cang, he could not help but heave a sigh and said, "I didn't realize he has become that strong."
"Zhou Heng is amazing!" Yun Xiu was very happy as she watched Zhou Heng's movements. She said to herself, "An unranked martial artist with only one saber technique under his belt actually fighting on par with a ninth-class martial artist. He's indeed a martial arts genius."
"You're applying Ninth Class Prosperity Inner Strength Stance Technique to neutralize the attack power. The level of proficiency has increased by 1."
"You've applied the Ninth Class Twelve Mountain Splitting Saber Techniques and executed a marvelous attack. The level of proficiency has increased by 3."
"You've applied the Ninth Class Eight Flying Grass Steps to narrowly avoid an attack. The level of proficiency increased by 2."
"Lin Cang's applying the Ninth Class Eighteen Divine Power Styles on you. You successfully defended against his attack. Your level of proficiency with the Eighteen Divine Power Styles increased by 0.006."
"Lin Cang's applying Ninth Class Eighteen Divine Power Styles on you. You've perfectly defended against his attack. Your level of proficiency with the Eighteen Divine Power Styles increased by 0.2."
"Congratulations! After a fierce battle, your level of proficiency with the Ninth Class Eighteen Divine Power Styles has reached 1, and you have officially learned the martial art skills!"
"Since you've completed the cultivation of Ninth Class Twelve Mountain Splitting Saber Techniques and have gained certain insights in palm techniques, the level of proficiency with Eighteen Divine Power Styles has automatically advanced to the middle phase."
As Lin Cang persisted with his ferocious palm techniques, Zhou Heng employed various defensive skills to deflect and evade them. Eventually, he managed to grasp the ninth-class palm technique.
As such, the level of proficiency instantly advanced to the middle phase.
This was not something new. All the lower third-class martial arts related to sabers, spears, swords, halberts, fists and kicks were similar to one another. Eighteen Divine Power Styles could be seen a a saber technique performed with bare palms.
Just then, Lin Cang got more shocked as he continued the fight with Zhou Heng. In the beginning, Zhou Heng had a hard time deflecting his attacks, but soon, he became proficient at it. He was even getting so familiar with his form to the point of predicting his next moves.
He was only an apprentice. Not only was he holding his own against a ninth-class martial artist in combat...
He was gaining strength as they continued, and he could last for a very long time in the fight!
'Could this kid have acquired Eighteen Divine Power Styles during the very battle?' A very absurd thought suddenly popped up in Lin Cang's mind.
He quickly shot down the notion.
How was that possible?!
Ninth-class martial arts were not that particularly groundbreaking, but it was still not easy for an unqualified apprentice to officially pick up those techniques.
Thus far, he had never seen a genius picking up skills through the mere exchanging of blows!
But it was also evident that Zhou Heng was gaining more confidence at handling his palm attacks.
What was going on?
Lin Cang felt really puzzled.
"Master Lin, you're distracted!"
Zhou Heng noticed Lin Cang's emotional change. He shouted, and the saber in his hand slapped aside the oncoming palm-generated wind. It bypassed all defenses and slashed at Lin Cang's face!
"Ho! Splendid saber technique!"
"Is he going to win?!"
"That's awesome!"
"Oh my God!"
The people surrounding them could not help but watch the scene in awe. Their eyes widened, and they looked on in disbelief.
Zhou Heng was actually going to win?!
He had only practiced martial arts for two years. He was not qualified as a martial artist. Was he actually going to prevail against a ninth-class martial artist with more than a decade's experience?
Even if Master Lin was at a disadvantage against the saber-wielding Zhou Heng because he was only using his palms, his physical strength, power, and skills could all trump an unranked martial artist!
There was also the matter of having more than a decade of experience in battle skills and martial arts!
Even so, Zhou Heng was actually going to win?!
That was unbelievable!
Buzz!
At that moment, a deep and loud sound burst out. The air surged violently.
Against Zhou Heng's slash, Lin Cang brazenly held up his palm to defend!
The palm attack delivered was very powerful. It was akin to an immortal descending from the realm of divinity. The immortal's mere presence would move mountains and churn seas! The very air ten feet around Zhou Heng was caught up in the palm-generated wind. His movements were completely limited.
Zhou Heng could sense that the attack power from the boundless palm force carried an all-encompassing killing intent!
The danger was unavoidable!
He could only defend himself against the attack.
Clank!
The palm and saber clashed against each other!
The saber in Zhou Heng's hand trembled and released a sad whine!
The moment Lin Cang's palm struck the middle of the saber, Zhou Heng felt a vast and majestic power overwhelming him. His purlicue was in pain due to the shock, and the saber in his hand was blown away.
It appeared that the winner was in sight.
As the onlookers watched this, their euphoria just now quickly faded away.
In the end, he still lost.
Nonetheless, this was as expected, for the gap between an unranked and ninth-class martial artist was too huge.
"Phew..."
Lin Cang exhaled. He had given his all in that palm strike. He thought to himself. 'This kid's really not easy to deal with. How could he be so familiar with the Eighteen Divine Power Styles, as if he had just acquired the skill himself?'
At that moment...
Suddenly, Zhou Heng raised his left hand. He closed his five fingers tightly and gestured as if wielding a saber. He dashed forward as swift as lightning. With a knifehand strike, he touched the side of Lin Cang's neck.
Eighteen Divine Power Styles!
This was a saber strike executed by an amazing person!
Zhou Heng had won!
Lin Cang looked startled.
Yu He and the other apprentices in the martial arts school were struck dumb!
The big hall in the martial arts school was in pin-drop silence.
At the same time, Zhou Heng heard a series of prompts.
"Congratulations! You've defeated the equally matched Lin Cang. You'll be granted a Silver Lucky Bag."
"A Silver Lucky Bag is a bag equipped with literally everything. Once you open it, you'll gain a reward you will not expect."