C11 When the Martial Skill Felt the Pressure, It Would Release a Huge Amount of Energy..

Before Lu Chong could get a word in, Lou Qingqing was already protesting, clutching the elder's arm in a panic. "Elder Chen, how can you do this? He's my classmate, here to help me with my training."

It was clear that in Elder Chen's presence, Lou Qingqing resorted to pleading rather than commanding.

Elder Chen reassured her with a smile, "Miss, your father entrusted me with your care, so it's my duty to be responsible. Don't worry, I just want him to undergo a simple test. I promise he won't be harmed."

Turning to Lu Chong, Elder Chen inquired, "You don't mind, do you?"

Lu Chong responded with a smile, "No problem, I'm ready for the test."

Even if he did mind, what could he possibly do? He had come all this way and wasn't about to turn back in a huff.

He was here to earn money, after all, and was prepared to face the test.

"Good, I admire your forthrightness. Follow me, please," Elder Chen said, his face breaking into a warm smile as he led the way into the wooden building.

Lou Qingqing approached Lu Chong, apologizing sheepishly, "I'm so sorry, Lu Chong. I had no idea Elder Chen would do this." She finished with a mischievous grimace toward Elder Chen's retreating figure.

Entering the wooden building, Lu Chong remarked casually, "No worries."

Once inside, Elder Chen didn't waste a moment, taking Lu Chong directly to the basement, which was a world apart from above.

Gone were the antiquated aesthetics, replaced by a 300-square-meter state-of-the-art training facility, complete with every imaginable piece of equipment.

"This place is even better equipped than Hsiang's Dojo downtown," Lu Chong noted, visibly impressed.

"Our test is straightforward," Elder Chen said, facing Lu Chong. "If you can withstand ten moves from Xiaoyu, you can stay on as the miss's personal instructor."

"Sister Yu?" Lou Qingqing interjected with concern. "But she's a Stage 9 Martial Artist. How can Lu Chong possibly spar with her?"

Lu Chong eyed the cool woman in a suit and sunglasses who had entered with them. She was Xiaoyu, the one Elder Chen had mentioned—a Martial Artist even more formidable than the Class Teacher.

Lou Qingqing had a point; Lu Chong wasn't ready to face ten attacks from a Stage 9 Martial Artist. In fact, he couldn't even handle one.

Elder Chen chuckled, "Miss, please, hear me out. Xiaoyu will moderate her power to match Lu Chong's. She'll use only the most basic techniques—the Monument Breaking Hand and Nine Shadow Step. Lu Chong, if you can take ten moves from Xiaoyu without defeat, I'll double your pay. If you win, I'll quadruple it."

Elder Chen's eyes twinkled with amusement as he asked, "What do you say, Lu Chong?"

"Is that so?" Lu Chong couldn't hide his astonishment, quickly calculating the potential windfall.

His current hourly wage was a thousand yuan. Doubling it would make it two thousand, quadrupling—four thousand.

It was like hitting a jackpot. He could train and earn big at the same time.

"I'm in," Lu Chong declared without hesitation.

Despite knowing Sister Yu was holding back, he was aware of her extensive experience and skill. But he had his own reserves of confidence and was eager to test himself.

"Well then, let's get started," said Elder Chen with a grin.

As Elder Chen and Lou Qingqing stepped aside, the usually reticent Sister Yu addressed Lu Chong with a cold challenge, "I've always been the miss's training partner. Show me what makes you worthy of replacing me. It won't take ten moves for you to concede."

Lu Chong realized their overprotective nature must have hindered Lou Qingqing's progress.

It made sense why she'd want him as a sparring partner.

Without further ado, Lu Chong bowed to Sister Yu.

"First move!" Sister Yu announced, transforming into a whirlwind, her afterimages trailing behind as she charged at Lu Chong.

She was indeed holding back, matching Lu Chong as a Stage 4 Martial Disciple, employing the Nine Shadow Step.

Lu Chong could tell her mastery of the technique was nearly perfect, just shy of the Perfection Stage.

As they closed in on each other, Sister Yu's palm strike, nearing the peak of the Monument Breaking Hand technique, targeted Lu Chong's shoulder.

The Class Teacher had once explained the higher the skill level, the harder it was to advance. Many couldn't achieve the Perfection Stage in their martial skills.

Even high-level Martial Artists might struggle to perfect a Low-Grade technique. It required not just relentless practice but a deep affinity for the skill.

Just like Class Teacher Wang Tong, his Monument Breaking Hand and Nine Shadow Step had only reached the Arcane Stage. Yet, his mastery of the Middle Grade Martial Skill, Wind Splitting Leg, was already at Perfection.

Sister Yu was in a similar position. Her two foundational martial skills were teetering on the edge of Perfection, but she hadn't quite managed to cultivate them to that level.

Despite this, she had already outstripped Lu Chong.

Lu Chong couldn't afford to take her lightly. He instantly employed the Nine Shadow Step to rapidly retreat, casting a trail of afterimages in his wake.

But Sister Yu was far more formidable than Sun Ze from Lu Chong's class. She closed the distance swiftly, her hand, soft in appearance, constantly hovering over Lu Chong's shoulder.

"Let's try this!"

Realizing evasion was futile, Lu Chong steeled himself for an offensive, unleashing his own Monument Breaking Hand to meet Sister Yu's palm head-on.

When their palms met, Lu Chong felt as if he had struck nothing at all.

Puzzled, and with his strength waning, he caught Sister Yu's mouth twitching into a smirk as a torrent of power burst forth from her hand.

Lu Chong hastily executed the Nine Shadow Step to fall back.

Still, his right hand and arm succumbed to numbness.

"Is this really the Monument Breaking Hand?" Lu Chong questioned internally.

But it soon became clear to him that Sister Yu was indeed using both the Monument Breaking Hand and Nine Shadow Step.

As a high-level Martial Artist, she had the flexibility to skillfully integrate these techniques into live combat.

In their previous exchange, Sister Yu had subtly withdrawn her force, only to unleash a powerful counter the moment Lu Chong was about to initiate another strike.

It wasn't just a disparity in technique, but a gap in combat experience as well.

"No wonder she's so assured," Lu Chong mused.

Meanwhile, Sister Yu was on the offensive again.

Her movements were quicker, her form more elusive. It appeared she was gearing up to take Lu Chong down in one fell swoop.

Patience was both terrifying and exasperating. Lu Chong kept up his Nine Shadow Step, seeking an opening as he sparred with Sister Yu.

Yet, the vast difference in their martial skills and experience made it tough for him to fend off Sister Yu's assaults.

"I can't let this continue; she might take me down with her next attack," Lu Chong silently conceded, feeling the weight of both physical and psychological pressure.

Just then, a familiar alert resonated in his mind.

"The Nine Shadow Step has endured immense pressure and has rapidly advanced to the Stage of Perfection."

"Not to be outdone, the Monument Breaking Hand has had multiple epiphanies, achieving the Stage of Perfection."