"Senior Brother Lu."

"Senior Brother Lu..."

Lu Chao stepped off the ring and walked through the crowd.

After a brief, dead silence, the junior brothers watching nearby finally reacted, their faces filled with awe as they spoke respectfully.

He either didn’t act at all, or when he did, it was with the force of a thunderbolt, effortlessly defeating his opponent and seizing victory.

At that moment, they no longer had any doubt about their senior brother’s strength after he broke through to the Fighting Level.

"Junior Brother Lu, that was well done."

Zheng Wu strode over and clapped him on the shoulder, his face full of relief and approval.

He had also seen through Lv Chengfeng’s scheme.

The reason he hadn’t stopped it was simple.

Sometimes you have to throw the first punch to avoid a hundred more. Simple avoidance wouldn’t solve anything.

However, although he had some confidence in his junior brother, his performance had still been unexpectedly impressive, leaving him genuinely surprised.

"Just a lucky break."

Lu Chao smiled faintly and said no more.

He glanced over and saw Lv Chengfeng below the ring, his face swollen and his nose broken and sunken. He was being helped to his feet.

Perhaps sensing his gaze, Lv Chengfeng lowered his head in shame, knowing he was in the wrong.

A moment later, he dejectedly pushed through the crowd and left the martial arts hall.

...

"He probably just had the element of surprise."

Watching Lu Chao and Zheng Wu walk shoulder-to-shoulder toward the rest area, Fang Jingyi and the others snapped out of their astonishment, trying to reclaim their earlier composure and nonchalance.

"That Lv Chengfeng might be a bit cunning, but he underestimated his opponent far too much."

"Probably. I bet this Senior Brother Lu got his hands on some resources recently and quietly improved a fair bit."

"But you have to admit, those few moves of his were pretty ruthless..."

The young men and women from the inner-city circle murmured amongst themselves, their expressions returning to their initial indifference.

Not only were they stronger than Lv Chengfeng themselves, but their families also employed several Fighting-Level security guards and had elders at that level. A victory like this was certainly eye-catching, but it wasn’t shocking.

In the corner, Lin Qingxue had similar thoughts. She frowned for a few moments before her expression returned to its usual coldness.

TAP! TAP!

Unaware of these words, Lu Chao and Zheng Wu continued their slow walk.

Just as they were about to reach the rest area, a shadow fell over them.

A pair of black cloth shoes entered their vision, followed by the sight of Luo Qianshan, dressed in a white traditional jacket. He stood before them with his hands behind his back, as still as an ancient pine on a mountainside.

"Master?" Zheng Wu, surprised, quickly clasped his fist in salute.

"Mm."

Luo Qianshan nodded slightly, but his gaze wasn’t on Zheng Wu. Instead, it was fixed on Lu Chao, sizing him up from head to toe.

"Although the level of one’s Life Energy doesn’t entirely determine the outcome of a real fight—experience, Martial Skills, and on-the-spot adaptability also have a significant impact."

His voice was low and steady. After a brief pause, Luo Qianshan finally met Lu Chao’s eyes and said with approval, "However, it’s clear you’ve put in a lot of hard work recently."

Slightly taken aback, Lu Chao was a little surprised.

’Is he acknowledging my victory in the spar just now, as well as the effort I’ve put into my training?’

Suddenly, he realized.

It had been a very long time since he’d had a private conversation with the man.

"Zheng Wu tells me you’re working for the Patrol Department now?" Luo Qianshan asked, changing the subject.

Lu Chao snapped back to reality and nodded lightly.

"The Patrol Department has its share of factional struggles. I know you have a steady temperament and can tell right from wrong."

"But... it’s best not to get too deeply involved in certain matters."

His words were pointed, carrying a hint of admonishment, as if warning him about something.

Lu Chao grew pensive at his words, then nodded solemnly to show he understood. "Thank you, Master Luo. This disciple will take it to heart."

"Good."

Nodding in satisfaction, Luo Qianshan then waved his hand dismissively.

"Go on. If you have any questions about your training from now on, you can come find me anytime."

With that said, he turned and walked away.

A flicker of astonishment crossed Lu Chao’s eyes. He and Zheng Wu clasped their fists and watched Luo Qianshan walk toward the back courtyard.

’Is this... an offer to guide me?’

’Or was it just a polite courtesy?’

Lu Chao inwardly raised an eyebrow. He could feel a subtle shift in Master Luo’s attitude.

It wasn’t a huge change, but it was no longer as indifferent as before.

He had a few guesses as to why, but he shook his head and didn’t dwell on it.

After a short rest, he once again began a new training session.

...

「Dusk that same day.」

[Life Energy: 25→26!]

"WHOOSH!"

The panel appeared as Lu Chao finished his exhausting day of training.

He slowly exhaled a plume of hot, white breath, which condensed in the air for a few moments before dissipating.

’I’ve finally improved again.’

Nodding to himself, he carefully felt the more powerful, unceasingly surging force within his body.

He had thought this breakthrough would take another two days, but unexpectedly, the pressure from Lv Chengfeng had been just right, allowing him to succeed in one fell swoop today.

’That Lv Chengfeng isn’t actually weak. If he hadn’t been so arrogant and careless, he wouldn’t have been defeated so easily.’

’All things considered, I suppose I took advantage of him.’

Reflecting on today’s sparring match, Lu Chao shook his head to himself.

From the moment he realized his opponent was trying to pick on a soft target, he had carefully planned every step to seize the initiative.

However, a thought flashed through his mind. Recalling Luo Qianshan’s words, a subtle idea began to form.

’Martial Skills...’

Martial Arts Combat Skills, also known as Secret Techniques in the major martial arts halls, often possessed unique power-generation techniques. Their might was far greater than that of ordinary Fighting Skills.

If the gap in Life Energy wasn’t too great, one could even defeat a stronger opponent, turning the tables for a kill.

’Back then, Shen Tianchen was able to defeat a disciple from the Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall because he used the power of a Secret Technique.’

’And as for Lv Chengfeng today, if he had also mastered a Secret Technique, my victory certainly wouldn’t have been so easy.’

Suddenly, Lu Chao’s eyes sharpened, and a clear thought took root in his mind.

He needed a Secret Technique of his own!

Something to serve as a trump card, just in case!

As he thought it over, he frowned slightly.

Things like Martial Skills and Secret Techniques were rarely shared between the various martial arts halls. They were considered a core part of their foundation.

Luo Qianshan, for example, had only taught his to four true disciples, and not a single one of the other core disciples.

Beyond that, major corporations and key government departments held some, but those were also very rare...

"Hm?"

His eyes shifted as he thought of the Patrol Department’s internal contribution channel.

Before, due to the one-month probationary assessment, he hadn’t been able to complete the necessary intranet authentication to log in.

But now, a month had passed. He was through the probationary period and should be able to complete the paperwork.

With a rough plan forming in his mind, Lu Chao made a mental note.

Then, he glanced at the training hall.

Most of the disciples had already left. Only Li Dong and a few other junior brothers were still training hard.

Steam rose from their bodies like mist.

Some were practicing their punches and stances, while others were in a corner, gritting their teeth against the pain, silently applying medicinal ointment in a cold sweat.

Lately, whenever he came to the martial arts hall at night after his shift, he would always see these figures.

The hurdle of the Fighting Level was like a great mountain, a difficult trial for anyone to endure.

They each shouldered their own different hopes.

For some reason, Lu Chao was reminded of his former self.

His expression wavered, and he sighed silently.

In the end, he went to his sheet-metal locker, took out a bag of high-protein energy bars, and gave them to Li Dong before leaving.