The training ground at Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy was silent as the grave.
Except for Li Sancheng and a couple others, everyone thought Han Zheng would certainly be completely crushed by Guo Mingyuan's advantage in cultivation level.
But to everyone's surprise, it was Guo Mingyuan, the one with the advantage in strength, who was crushed!
In actuality, Han Zheng was holding back.
He did not want to expose too much of the Dragon Elephant Wisdom, so he didn't display his strength as extravagantly.
Otherwise, with the power of Dragon Elephant Wisdom, even if Guo Mingyuan, who only practiced Iron Elephant Skill, had opened up one more meridian than him, even three more would be of no use.
At this moment, Li Jingzhong looked at Han Zheng with increasing delight.
Han Zheng's control over the Vajra Fist had even reached the point where it followed his arm as if it were part of his body, with energy following his will—a true grasp of the essence of Vajra Fist.
To think, it took nearly a year for Li Jingzhong to cultivate the Vajra Fist to perfection.
At the same age, Han Zheng had an even quicker grasp of the Vajra Fist than he had.
Guo Mingyuan awkwardly picked himself up from the ground, his face full of disbelief.
He had been defeated by Han Zheng?
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
Guo Mingyuan got up, his qi and blood surging around him, and with a low shout, he charged at Han Zheng.
This time, though, he did not use the Vajra Fist.
Guo Mingyuan's hands bulged with veins, somewhat similar to Gao Kaiyuan from the Sanhe Gang's Shattering Jade Hand.
His hands were like eagle claws, aiming directly at Han Zheng's neck, eyes, and groin, with ruthless and vicious moves.
Li Jingzhong frowned slightly, recognizing the martial skill used by Guo Mingyuan.
It was the Eagle Claw Skill of Qiu Tianying, the Gang Leader of Sky Eagle Gang.
However, the Eagle Claw Skill alone was just a postnatal grappling technique and needed to be combined with Qiu Tianying's other martial skill, the Black Demon Hand, to achieve the effect of an innate martial skill.
The Guo Family was wealthy; it was normal for Guo Mingyuan to learn the Eagle Claw Skill from Qiu Tianying.
But the Black Demon Hand was Qiu Tianying's true secret weapon, something he would never teach to anyone other than his own son.
"Seeking your own death!"
Han Zheng shook his head slightly.
The Eagle Claw Skill might be stronger than the Vajra Fist, but if you haven't even mastered the Vajra Fist, and then go on to learn the Eagle Claw Skill, it's just a waste of time.
Han Zheng's Vajra Fist stance unfolded, his arms surging with qi and blood like the great clubs of a Vajra, smashing, chopping, slashing, and crushing with great momentum and overpowering force!
Each move and posture was a well-known form of the Vajra Fist, extremely familiar to the other martial artists present.
But when Han Zheng performed them, they somehow felt different, as if a true Vajra's Angry Eyes demon-subduing Martial Monk was before them, each punch and move imbued with the essence of the martial Dao of Vajra Fist.
Guo Mingyuan's Eagle Claw Skill was very fast, whereas Han Zheng's Vajra Fist seemed plain and clumsy by comparison.
Yet each of his punches precisely suppressed Guo Mingyuan, making his so-called Eagle Claw Skill seem as foolish as a hen scratching in defense of its food.
After executing the full set of forms, Guo Mingyuan was sent flying off, both hands rendered bloody and miserable from the powerful energy of Han Zheng's punches.
"Han Zheng wins this round!"
Li Jingzhong announced the outcome of the match and quickly had the servants of the martial arts hall take Guo Mingyuan away to Shenghe Hall for treatment.
Now that the Guo Family was the wealthiest in Black Stone County, he couldn't afford to let Guo Mingyuan sustain any untreatable injuries.
Li Jingzhong turned back to Han Zheng and nodded in approval, "Not bad, you've truly captured the essence of the Vajra Fist. I have nothing more to teach you regarding this technique.
Even at the Vajra Bodhi Temple, your Vajra Fist would not be inferior to those disciples who have been ordained."
"It's all thanks to Master's excellent teaching."
Han Zheng humbly replied and returned to the midst of the other disciples.
Everyone else looked at Han Zheng with extremely strange expressions.
Master's excellent teaching?
We all learned the Vajra Fist together, from the same teacher, so why are you so outstanding?
Li Sancheng was still there, discreetly bragging in a low voice about how he hadn't boasted in vain and about how formidable his brother was.
The other disciples couldn't be bothered with him, but they had to admit that Han Zheng had indeed caused a sensation.
He was an orphan with no influential background, defeating Guo Mingyuan, who was privileged with daily Medicine Baths and secretly learned the Eagle Claw Skill, with just the basic Vajra Fist.
If Guo Mingyuan had won this round, they would certainly have been resentful, but since Han Zheng won, they were willing to accept it.
The next match was between Chen Zhao and Song Tianqing.
The other disciples also hoped to see another upset with a commoner disciple defeating a noble family disciple once again.
But sadly, there was no such reversal this time.
Song Tianqing had a solid foundation in cultivation and was likely assisted by various external resources, giving him far superior physical strength to Chen Zhao.
And while Song Tianqing's comprehension of the Vajra Fist had not reached perfection, Han Zheng saw it was close to 90% complete.
Chen Zhao was a true representative of the commoner disciples, without any external assistance, relying solely on his own talent and perseverance to reach this level of cultivation.
During the fight, he made no mistakes, but he was completely overpowered by Song Tianqing the whole time, ending up defeated and spitting blood from Song Tianqing's punch.
Seeing that Chen Zhao was struggling to get up despite coughing up blood, a cold smile appeared on Song Tianqing's lips as he took a step forward.
Li Jingzhong saw this and quickly announced, "This round is won by Song Tianqing!"
Hearing Li Jingzhong's declaration, Song Tianqing then stopped in his tracks.
"Enough for today. Everyone go back and rest. We'll continue the competition tomorrow."
Some disciples who were on good terms with Chen Zhao helped him to the medical hall, while others looked at Song Tianqing with unfriendly eyes.
Song Tianqing had been a bit too ruthless.
Facing an enemy, this might not matter, but they were all disciples of the Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy, essentially brothers. Even though there was competition, did he really need to beat someone to the brink of death?
They had all seen that, had Li Jingzhong not declared Song Tianqing the winner, he would definitely have rushed forward to strike again and completely cripple Chen Zhao.
Li Sancheng, jubilant, pulled Han Zheng aside, "Come on, let's go celebrate you defeating that guy Guo Mingyuan. Let's all have a good meal."
Zhao Jinming and Wang Bao, as well as several familiar disciples from the martial arts hall, followed behind them.
Han Zheng actually didn't want to go; he would rather spend that time practicing.
However, Li Sancheng and the others were so enthusiastic, Han Zheng had no choice but to go to the small tavern Li Sancheng had taken him to before.
"Brother Han, this time your defeat of Guo Mingyuan has avenged us all."
Zhao Jinming picked up his cup, a little excited as he toasted Han Zheng, and downed it in one gulp.
Han Zheng also drank a cup. The wine was somewhat cloudy and not very strong, the taste sour and astringent, not really good.
"That Guo Mingyuan, his family's grain shop made so much silver, yet he was so ostentatious. It's kind of hateful.
But seeing his defeat, you seem more than just relieved; you seem quite excited."
Han Zheng felt their attitude was a bit strange, as if they had some deep-seated hatred with that fellow Guo Mingyuan.
Zhao Jinming replied with a wry smile, "It's not excitement, really. It's just that we feel stifled.
Our headmaster Li teaches earnestly and strictly, accepting disciples based on talent and strength rather than family background. Those who fail the assessment are kicked out of the academy regardless of their background.
So, for us common-born martial artists in Black Stone County, Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy is the only place where we have a chance to make something of ourselves.
When the academy was not widely known, those wealthy and influential family disciples didn't come here to learn martial arts.
But now that the academy has a reputation, it has naturally attracted those rich and powerful disciples.
However, the headmaster only teaches one person the White Ape Extended Arm Fist each term, and naturally, those rich disciples have more resources than us.
With medicine baths and the opportunity to learn martial skills in private, how can we compete?
Originally, there was only one spot for each group of disciples, and now it's been taken by those rich and powerful ones. Of course, we feel stifled!
This time, Brother Han, you defeating Guo Mingyuan is like giving us common-born disciples a breath of fresh air.
What's the use of their wealth and power? They're still useless!"
Zhao Jinming spoke more and more passionately, and the others echoed his sentiments.
Han Zheng nodded thoughtfully, clinking glasses with them.
In both his past life and this world, there was never absolute fairness.
Actually, it's normal for the likes of Young Master Zhou to be the way they are. Coming from three generations of officials, why should you, a peasant, talk about fairness with them?
Zhao Jinming and the others were frustrated and angry not because Guo Mingyuan had the advantage of a medicine bath or could pay for private martial skills tuition.
But because he, already having so much money and opportunities, still had to grab those poor, scant chances from them.
In the earlier terms of Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy, only a few common-born warriors managed to learn the White Ape Extended Arm Fist when the school was not famous.
Later, as wealthy and influential disciples joined, the first spot was almost always taken by them.
This term, however, peripheral Han Zheng and Chen Zhao emerged, which provided some relief for these common-born warriors.
Unfortunately, Chen Zhao lost to Song Tianqing, leaving Han Zheng as their last hope.
"Brother Han, you must be careful tomorrow and must not hold back.
Song Tianqing is ruthless and cunning. If you hold back, he certainly will not."
After a satisfying meal, a martial arts hall disciple sincerely cautioned Han Zheng.
He had sparred with Song Tianqing and knew how viciously the man could strike.
After parting ways with everyone, Han Zheng headed straight home.
But as he passed through a small alley, Han Zheng suddenly stopped and furrowed his brows.
"Who's there? Show yourself!"
From the shadows of the alley, a white-haired elder wearing a long robe emerged at a leisurely pace.
Han Zheng thought it was someone from the Sanhe Gang up to something again, but instead, it was an old man without any sign of martial skill on him.
Han Zheng found the man somewhat familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before.
After a careful recollection, Han Zheng remembered that the man seemed to be an elderly shopkeeper under Song Tianqing.
Back when Song Tianqing was ostracized by the entire Song Family, he turned a loss-making shop around to profitability with the help of a similarly powerless elderly shopkeeper.
During the large classes at the academy, this very shopkeeper had personally delivered meals to Song Tianqing.
"My name is Zheng Zhishan; you must have seen me before. I'm here today to propose a deal to you."
Zheng Zhishan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, took out a silver note, and gazed at Han Zheng, "Tomorrow is your competition with my Young Master. If you willingly concede, these one thousand taels of silver are yours!"