NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2
Chapter 2: The Level of Familiarity Keeps Increasing
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Solo Nine Swords!?
5
Was it ‘the’ legendary Solo Nine Swords?
It was an eighth-class martial art!
At Prosperity Martial Arts School, few ever attained eighth-class martial arts. Even the ninth-class teachers barely qualified to handle the teaching.
This style alone was already considered eighth-class martial art!
If he learned the entire set, would he not reach the seventh-class?
It was said that there was only one seventh-class martial art at Prosperity Martial Arts School. The master of the school learned the art by himself and would not pass it down to any outsiders…..
Was this what you would call a hax?!
9
A System!
Zhou Heng was thrilled!
It had been almost two and a half years!
Soon, it was going to be three years!
Finally, God pitied him. Other transmigrators either became immortals or obtained divinity within two and a half years. Meanwhile, he had remained an apprentice at a small martial arts school!
2
It was not that he did not work hard.
It was because the cheat code had not been delivered!
1
‘Why did you arrive only now?!’
1
As Zhou Heng explored the System and opened the Solo Nine Swords from the Lucky Bag to begin cultivating, a tall and sturdy figure walked toward him.
He was a middle-aged man in his forties. He had smooth features and a robust physique. He donned a traditional black martial arts outfit and stood still. His stature looked like that of a mini mountain.
He was Zhou Heng’s teacher at Prosperity Martial Arts School.
A ninth-class martial artist.
He was Lin Cang.
“Zhou Heng, were you enlightened just now?! Lin Cang looked extremely delighted. “I saw you practicing saber techniques and suddenly, the style became perfect. Then, you remained still for quite some time. Have you been enlightened?!”
‘Actually, it was only the delivery of a cheat code…’ Zhou Heng smirked to himself, then he nodded. “Yes, just now my mind went blank, soon, I was able to perform my saber technique without any hindrances.”
At the same time, he glanced around his surroundings and realized that the empty hall was now occupied by more than ten people. Each of them were watching him in envy.
He was only seventeen years old and had been practicing martial arts for two years. Despite this, he had already perfected one of the ninth-class martial arts!
He was indeed extraordinary!
This suggested that Zhou Heng might be able to advance to ninth-class before reaching twenty!
Generally, such a phenomenon would only appear among the people in the majestic martial arts school at county-levels or among those great families and clans with long-established histories.
4
Those people could be said to be pseudo-ninth-class martial artists!
It was indeed rare to have one such individual appearing at Yellow Wood City.
If Zhou Heng were to advance to the ninth class before reaching twenty, it would certainly benefit both Prosperity Martial Arts School and Lin Cang.
“Good! Good! Good! We’ve got a genius at Prosperity Martial Arts School! Haha!”
Lin Cang had repeated the word ‘Good’ thrice excitedly. He was extremely happy. He flipped his palms, set up his stance, and said to him, “Come, Zhou Heng. Give me your best. Let me see how far you are from the ninth class.”
1
A ninth-class martial artist was still at the level of strengthening their physiques and cultivate their power. As such, it was highly unlikely for him to identify the level of cultivation that Zhou Heng had reached with a single glance.
A fight was needed to find the truth.
“Alright!”
Zhou Heng nodded. After all, he too wanted to know the actual level of his own capabilities.
As soon as the crowd heard them, they immediately dispersed to form an empty space.
Most of the time, people were delighted to hear such news. Not only could they spectate an exchange of knowledge, but they would also learn of their own weakness.
However, discussions stirred up inevitably since everyone was young.
“Is Master Lin going to fight Zhou Heng empty-handed?”
“Nothing’s surprising there. Master Lin has been a ninth-class martial artist for more than a decade. If he were to fight with a weapon, Zhou Heng would not even lay a finger on him.”
“What are you all thinking about? Master Lin’s assessing Zhou Heng’s capability. This is not a competition. After all, Zhou Heng has practiced martial arts for only two years!”
“That’s right. Even if he’s talented, lasting for a few moves against Master Lin would be enough of an achievement.”
What was said was all true.
It was within the realm of conventional wisdom.
At that moment, an elegant and graceful figure walked into the martial arts school.
1
“Hey! Ms. Xiu, why are you here?”
Someone noticed her.
“Zhou Heng paid an extra two coins. I’m here to return them to him.” Yun Xiu smiled gently as she said. Then, she spread out her fair palm, revealing two coins.
‘I’ll never admit that I’m actually here to admire Zhou Heng’s demeanor during his martial arts practice!’
3
Yun Xiu looked at her surroundings and asked in puzzlement, “What’s happening? Is Master Lin going to assess Zhou Heng’s kungfu?”
“Yes. No doubt.” Yu He nodded and said, “Just now, Zhou Heng perfected the cultivation of one of the ninth class saber techniques. As such, Master Lin wants to see how far he is from the ninth class.”
“Perfected one of the ninth class saber techniques?” Yun Xie cried in surprise. Her beautiful eyes widened, and she stared at Zhou Heng in amazement. “That’s amazing! He… I remember that Zhou Heng has practiced martial arts for two years only.”
There was hardly anyone like him at the big martial arts school in the county either!
“Hey! Zhou Heng’s a genius.” Yu He smiled as he said.
“Hurry up! They’re starting now!”
“Great saber technique!”
“Zhou Heng, you’re awesome!”
Suddenly, there was a scream of surprise from the surroundings.
Zhou Heng stepped forward swiftly and came before Lin Cang within a blink of an eye. The saber in his palm cut through the air as if creating a white line. With the might of splitting mountains apart, he slashed at Lin Cang!
The slash was so fast that it even caught Lin Cang by surprise!
Still, he was an experienced ninth-class martial artist. As such, he was more experienced than Zhou Heng. As Zhou Heng was about to slash him, his right palm emerged beneath his armpit!
“Be careful!” Lin Cang shouted.
Clank!
Like a clash between gold and iron, his palm slammed into the side of the long saber in Zhou Heng’s hand!
Zhou Heng felt as if the saber in his hand had been struck by a mountain. The terrifying force caused the saber to vibrate violently and almost slip out from his hand.
So, this was the power of a ninth-class martial artist!
As the crowd watched the scene, they could not help but panic. Would Zhou Heng be defeated with just one move?
Was the gap between an unranked martial artist and a ninth-class martial artist that wide?
Buzz!
At that moment, suddenly, the hum of a quivering saber was heard. Zhou Heng dropped the saber from his hand and transferred the power of the saber to his own body.
At the same time, he stomped his feet and unleashed his energy!
Thump!
Lin Cang’s power was diverted away, and it crashed together with Zhou Heng’s power on the floor of the martial arts school!
Although Zhou Heng had neutralized Lin Cang’s move, he never stopped his own movements!
The moment he negated the force, he used the recoil from the power of his stomp to surge forward.
Again!
He swung the saber and struck!
1
The air was cut through!
With his gleaming saber reflecting the morning light in a reddish hue, he slashed at Lin Cang, who had just attacked with his palm and who had yet to be able to retract his power!
“Not bad!”
Lin Cang complimented him. With a turn of his heels, he evaded Zhou Heng’s slash. At the same time, he also distanced himself from him to be out of the range of his slash!
That scene had stupefied the surrounding people. Everyone stared at Zhou Heng in amazement.
What the heck?!
He was actually not at a disadvantage against Lin Cang?!
Instead, his slash had forced Master Lin to take a step backward!
Was this what happened when someone perfected a ninth-class saber technique?
Zhou Heng was unbelievably strong.
He had been practicing martial arts for two years only!
“That’s awesome!” Yun Xiu was thrilled, and her face blushed.
She clenched her fair fist and restrained herself from the thought of intending to swing her fist to cheer for Zhou Heng.
“He’s strong!” Yu He was equally stunned.
He and Zhou Heng joined the martial arts school together. Within two years, their differences in capabilities were like heaven and earth.
Perhaps… Sun Zhengpin might not be a real match for him?
Zhou Heng felt excited too. It was not from the praises from the surrounding people nor gaining the upper hand temporarily in the match against Lin Cang.
But it was because during that brief duel, he had received a series of notifications!
“You’re applying the Ninth-Class Twelve Mountain Splitting Saber Technique to attack. The level of familiarity increased by 1.”
“Lin Cang applied the Ninth-Class Divine Power Eighteen Styles to attack you, and you’ve been able to withstand him. Your level of familiarity with the Divine Power Eighteen Styles increased by 0.05.”
“You applied the Ninth-Class Prosperity Inner Strength Stance Technique to neutralize his attack. The level of familiarity increased by 1.”
“Lin Cang applied the Ninth-Class Divine Power Eighteen Styles to attack you. You’ve been able to withstand his attack. Your level of familiarity with the Divine Power Eighteen Styles increased by 0.06.”