From afar, Galon could only see the three contestants, including his sister, gently release their bowstrings, and three arrows swiftly flew out, lodging into the target. His vision wasn't the best; he could only make out that the other contestants' arrows were somewhat off, whereas his sister Ying'er's arrow was much closer to the bullseye.
A mix of cheers and jeers echoed from the field, with the loudest cheers coming from Ying'er's Class 6. Then came the second and third rounds... Galon didn't understand the rules; he just watched as Ying'er's every shot drew waves of cheers, with the girls from Class 6 shouting Ying'er's name. It seemed she was quite popular, unlike her timid demeanor in front of their parents at home.
The competition lasted over an hour before it concluded. Galon, yawning through the event, waved goodbye to his sister before leaving for the martial arts hall as the testing time approached, making his way through the crowd.
Emerging from the bustling crowd, the school's regular teaching area seemed deserted, with only the occasional student or teacher rushing by, presumably preparing for some sports event.
Galon noted the time; the sun was pale, casting no warmth, and the autumn breeze felt chilly.
Exiting the quiet school gate, he turned towards the street where the Baiyun Martial Arts School's branch was located. The school had set up a branch on the street next to Saint Yinge College, attracting many students from the college. This was part of a comprehensive quality education, which the college administration did not oppose.
With key in hand, Galon entered the front hall of the Baiyun Martial Arts School, where several people in white robes, both old and young, sat, including the instructor who had taught them, the beautiful Shamanra, among others he didn't recognize.
The chairs in the front hall were usually reserved for the branch's administrative staff, and while students were not prohibited from sitting there, the few good seats right at the entrance were not typically taken by juniors out of respect.
Galon nodded politely to Shamanra before heading down the left corridor towards the inner courtyard. Not entering the courtyard, he continued under the eaves to a small room with a white-painted door and knocked gently.
"Come in, the door is unlocked," a young man's voice answered.
Galon pushed the door open and entered.
Inside was a room resembling an office or archive, with a genteel man sitting at a desk, circling something on a document as if deep in thought.
"The enrollment period has passed. If you want to register, you'll have to wait until the next quarter," the man said without looking up from his documents.
"I'm not here to register. I was recently selected as an official disciple of this branch. My name is Galon," Galon approached the desk and sat down, "I'm here to process my application to become an official disciple of the main school."
"Oh, that. It's simple. Fill out this form first."
The man handed over a form with white background and black borders, requiring details like name, age, family, parents, siblings, etc.
Galon took the pen and smoothly began filling out the form. Cheers from outside seeped in, seemingly from disciples sparring, surrounded by an excited crowd.
Galon glanced back, seeing through the open door a few onlookers clapping and cheering.
"Those kids outside are betting on fights; the loser treats everyone to dinner tonight. Stop looking and finish your form," the man said with a smile.
After quickly completing the form and handing it back, Galon watched as it was reviewed and stamped with approval.
"Alright, take this to the main school's finance department, pay the 1000 application fee, and wait for your schedule."
"Got it. I haven't collected my stipend yet; it can be deducted from there," Galon stood and left the office, heading back through the eaves, form in hand, towards the bustling courtyard.
The crowd centered around a sparring match, and Galon caught a glimpse through the gaps. The fighters were just average students from the branch, not much stronger than Galon himself.
Heading back through the martial arts school to the college, the focus had shifted to a women's swimming competition, drawing whistles for the scantily clad competitors.
Without lingering, Galon headed outside, catching a horse carriage to the main school.
Ten minutes later...
"Today, three people are applying for the disciple master's assessment. Remember, if you don't pass, the fee you paid will be wasted," a middle-aged man with a goatee, dressed in black, announced to the three young people before him.
"Understood!"
The three, a black-haired girl, Galon with his purple hair and red eyes, and a massive burly man, all dressed in white martial arts uniforms, responded loudly.
"The requirement is simple: last half a minute against me to qualify," the man with the goatee stated calmly, arms crossed in front of his strong chest and dark hair.
"Half a minute?" Galon and the others tensed, aware of the challenge implied by his words.
"Don't worry, it's just a comprehensive quality check," the goatee man said lightly, "Who's first?"
"I'll go," the black-haired girl stepped forward.
Without any pleasantries, they began. The goatee man's swift punch, unexpected for a Baiyun Martial Arts School instructor, took the girl by surprise. Despite her attempts to dodge and counter, she was quickly overwhelmed and fell to the ground.
"17 seconds," he noted, without any sign of fatigue.
"Thank you for the lesson," the girl said, getting up and bowing before stepping aside to watch the others, clearly interested in their performance despite her failure.
Galon knew he couldn't fully utilize the secret techniques and explosive punch he had just learned; mastering such skills in weeks would label him not just talented, but a monster.
So, he prepared to showcase just enough strength to pass.
Observing the burly man's worried expression, Galon realized all present had trained in the explosive punch and Baiyun's secret techniques. The level of the burly man's techniques was unclear, but his physique suggested he was nearing mastery of the beginner level.
"Let me go next," Galon stepped forward, not wanting to waste time.
The goatee man glanced at him, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes.
"Seeing you still have the fighting spirit after the previous test shows promise," he commented.
"Confidence isn't just for show," Galon replied, steadying himself.
"Shall we begin?"
"Please."
Galon stood firm as the goatee man launched another quick punch. This time, Galon's instincts told him dodging would be easy. He sidestepped, ready to counter, but the punch retracted and struck again at an unexpected angle.
Grazed and unable to fully dodge a second punch, Galon felt a slight burn on his shoulder. Before he could react, another punch came, forcing him to awkwardly evade, revealing his lack of dodging practice.
Fortunately, his training had toughened his skin, and the grazes were merely irritating.
"Interesting," the goatee man muttered, surprised by Galon's resilience to the numbing effects of his punches.
After several seconds of evading, Galon found himself unable to move his right arm following a direct hit.
"Ten seconds," the goatee man declared, disappointed by the lack of challenge.
"Next," he said, ready to conclude the day's tests.
The last burly man stepped up, determined to face the challenge.
Galon walked to the side, feeling somewhat helpless. He knew he wouldn't qualify, given the vast difference between half a minute and ten seconds. He had thought mastering the Explosive Fist Technique would surely make him a high-ranking disciple, but even a mere tester was this formidable. He speculated that if he fully unleashed his power without holding back, he still wouldn't stand a chance against him.
The tester's punches were too fast and powerful, and they carried a strange numbing sensation. Just two consecutive hits on the same spot could decide the outcome, as had just happened to him.
Bang, bang!
As expected, the muscular contestant couldn't last twenty seconds before stepping down, clutching his shoulder.
The tester with the goatee seemed relaxed, not even sweating, as he put away his fists and addressed the three casually.
"Alright, the test is over. Your results are far from qualifying. You need to work harder. You can go now."
Only then did Galon realize he hadn't even exerted his full strength against them; it was like playing to him. Galon silently assessed the tester's level and strength.
"His strength must be at the peak of adult physical capability like mine. But his speed is much faster, and his Explosive Fist Technique is definitely not basic, probably intermediate or higher. Given his status, his Baiyun Secret Technique must also be at an intermediate level or above. Plus, he's skilled in combat techniques."
After comparing himself with the tester, Galon felt somewhat reassured.
The black-haired girl, seeing the test concluded, took a step forward.
"Teacher, could you tell us what level of martial artist you are now?"
"What level?" The tester smiled, adjusting his slightly wrinkled robe. "You're aware of the martial artist ranking system, right?"
The girl nodded. "I only know about the federation's fighter grade levels."
"That doesn't count. Those are just for show, for performance competitions," the tester dismissed casually, his interest piqued. "Let me tell you about our own circles' classification."
He held up three fingers. "The first level is just ordinary people who know some combat techniques, enthusiasts, or ordinary special forces in the military. They can easily handle one or two thugs on the street. We call this the Enthusiast level."
"Enthusiasts are our main source of income, right?" the muscular contestant chimed in.
"Yes. Because these enthusiasts enjoy martial arts, they're willing to spend money on it, just like when you first started school. Also, high-level martial artists are sometimes invited to teach in the homes of influential enthusiasts. It's also a source of our circle's network. Teaching a disciple isn't just about physical qualifications but also family background and influence."
"That makes sense," Galon nodded. "It's not like the teacher teaches someone and then has to take care of their lodging and food without getting paid. Teachers are human too and need to live."
"I know that," the black-haired girl added. "That's how our Baiyun Martial Arts School operates. And the headmaster himself is a wealthy businessman with large assets."
"You're all official disciples, and you might even go out and teach martial arts yourself one day. So I'm giving you a heads-up," the tester nodded. "In our martial arts world, disciples are generally divided into two categories."
He raised a finger.
"One type is those with powerful backgrounds and influence. These disciples serve as a shield for influence, enhancing the industry's impact. They don't need to be very skilled, but they must benefit the master's industry."
Then he raised a second finger.
"Next, the real heirs. This type mainly looks at one's root bone and talent, trained to step in when the master is old and weak. To avoid letting their style be trampled upon and to maintain their martial arts' status and reputation in the circle, this type of heir needs to come forward."
"Choosing an heir is strict, totally different from teaching ordinary disciples. Many of them come from poor backgrounds. So, it's up to the teacher to train them. This kind of master-disciple relationship is the most solid in the martial arts world. It's like a father-son relationship. Later, everything of the teacher's will be handed over to the strongest disciple. This type of disciple is meant to uphold the face."
"So, when you choose a disciple in the future, pay attention to these things. If you want to train a disciple, you must have money and resources."
The tester seemed to reminisce, perhaps recalling something.
"Right, we were originally talking about martial artist levels, how did we end up here?" he laughed. "Let's talk about that classification. The Enthusiast level is the lowest, followed by professionals raised from a young age. It gets complicated from there, from being able to handle three to five thugs to not fearing confrontations with ten or even dozens of people, as long as firearms aren't involved. Without a direct confrontation, no one knows the depth of another's skills, so we can only guess the internal ranking from fame and influence. Oh, and the federation's classification from A to E level can also roughly divide the circle's strength. Like me, I'm considered an E level, indicating lethal capability."
"Within the enthusiasts, the ranks are from 1 to 9. Above that are the letter grades."
"Beyond that is the headmaster level, a rare qualification in the martial arts world. It's not just about running a martial arts school but a distinct level."
"Is that level the one I've heard about, where someone could shatter a large bluestone with one punch?" the muscular contestant's eyes gleamed.
"Hehe... that was something Master Resaro of the Northern Fist once did. Roughly speaking, that's the level. They've reached the true limit of human capability unimaginable to ordinary people. Master Resaro's body could even withstand bullets, making him one of the top in martial arts defense," the tester chuckled.
"You won't reach that level. But it's because of such aspirational feats that we stand up to practice martial arts, right?"
"I aspire to reach the peak like Master Resaro!"
"For a headmaster level, does that mean they can take on a hundred?" the black-haired girl asked.
"If it's just ordinary thugs, they can easily defeat them one by one. Barely managing one against a hundred can be considered. This level's top masters have no obvious weaknesses in stamina or speed; those with weaknesses would have died in combat long ago," the tester shook his head, reflecting.
"Alright, go back and train more. Come back when you're ready." He waved them off. "A hot water soak on the bruised area will be fine."
"Yes," the three responded. Although they didn't pass this time, they were excited to learn about the unknown aspects of the martial arts circle.
For Galon, it was his first time hearing about the situation in this world's martial arts circle, feeling similar to the state of traditional Chinese martial arts on Earth. He feigned an excited expression while pondering his situation as he walked out.
"It seems to receive core teachings without reservation; I must become one of these two types of disciples. The first type is out of the question for me, but the second type is possible, albeit difficult."
"Wait up, that Galon kid!"
Suddenly, the tester's voice called out from behind.
Galon paused, then turned around.
"Do you need something else?" he asked, puzzled, as the tester approached.
"You passed, why are you leaving?" the tester looked confused.
"I passed?" Galon was astonished.
"Yeah, you're only 16, different standards apply to you. Didn't you notice they're all adults?" the tester said with a chuckle. "It's rare for someone your age to pass the test in years. Which branch do you belong to? Who's your instructor?"
Galon quickly caught on, feeling a surge of joy.
"I'm from the Saint Ying Academy branch, under instructors Shamlar and Roya."
"Good physical condition," the tester squeezed Galon's shoulder. "A little training and you're already at a 45-degree level. You took two of my punches without much issue, especially the second one, which you've already recovered from. But looking at your records, you were quite thin last month. You've grown quickly!"
Galon chuckled, unsure how to explain.
"Good! Kid, you've got potential. Come on, let's meet your other senior brothers and sisters. I didn't expect I'd take another disciple at over fifty," the tester smiled, stroking his beard.
"You're taking a disciple?" Galon was taken aback. "Are you Master Fei Baiyun of Baiyun Martial Arts School?" He had thought the tester was just an instructor.
"What? Doesn't it seem like it?" the tester smiled wryly.
"No, no... it's just that you look so young, barely forty. I heard the headmaster was over fifty..." Galon quickly spoke the truth.
"You little..." Master Fei Baiyun ruffled Galon's hair in disbelief. "Actually, I'm just old and bored, so I decided to stay in the martial arts school and test students, looking for new talents. I never expected to find a few over the decades, including your senior brothers and sisters."
"By the way, you were holding back just now, pretending to hide your strength. When you meet your senior brothers and sisters, don't let your basics show, or you'll embarrass yourself. Especially your senior sister, who once killed over a dozen adult polar bears by herself."
Master Fei Baiyun chuckled.
"Polar bears...!!" Galon was thoroughly impressed. He had read about these creatures in textbooks, standing taller than a person, tough and resistant, not easily harmed by bullets unless shot at close range. Their strength was about a ton, roughly 2,000 pounds. The unseen senior sister could kill over a dozen polar bears, which was unimaginable!
"Of course, it's not like she fought them all at once, but one by one in practice. Polar bears aren't very fast, so as long as you dodge and counterattack, you can win. But every dodge can't be wrong, or it's life-threatening. It's only under such life-threatening pressure that your senior sister could progress so fast," Master Fei Baiyun said, somewhat nostalgically.
"Let's go. I'll introduce you, and your family situation I've seen, let's skip the formalities of hosting a feast. I'll invite some peers to witness a simple ceremony. Your family life needn't worry, from now on, your martial arts expenses will be covered by the school. In a few days, have your parents come over for the witnessing feast, and I'll formally accept you as a disciple."
"Alright, Master!" Galon nodded firmly, not expecting this step to come so quickly.
This world, this era, the real martial arts circle was about to unfold before him.