Bai Changlin raised an eyebrow. This disciple was not just at Initiate Great Accomplishment; his posture was fluid and carried a subtle momentum that surpassed everyone else.
"Who is he?" Master Bai asked. Li Jinshan signaled Gao Zheng to approach.
Gao Zheng bowed and replied softly: "Su Yan, a mountain-man from Cloud-Front Village. He is a close acquaintance of Song Qi from the Hundred Herb Hall."
"No wonder." Li Jinshan said, "He is only fifteen or sixteen years old. His talent must be good. I will call him over." Great Accomplishment in Stance Skill at fifteen or sixteen was almost unheard of in Yun Cang Town. The stance required training, combat, and enlightenment, and even with extreme compatibility, it required time.
Bai Changlin's eyes flickered, but he slowly said: "No hurry. Let's observe a little longer."
As he spoke, Master Bai's aura suddenly surged. True Essence circulated, and his spiritual will condensed. A massive white ape phantom, two to three zhang (meters) tall, rose from his body. Although a phantom, the white fur hung low, its body was white as jade, its face noble, but its eyes were fierce—a truly terrifying Exotic Beast True Intent.
The moment the White Ape True Intent appeared, its powerful presence instantly shattered the focus of most of the disciples. They broke their stances, their bodies trembling, looking at the ape phantom in terror.
Only Dian Jing, Li Shun, Ma Xiaodong, Li Ying, Liu Yinglong, and Su Yan (six people) could hold their ground. However, even Dian Jing and the others quickly became overwhelmed, panting heavily and breaking their stances. Stance Skill required the unity of form and intent. Losing that mental state meant the stance became just a wooden posture.
Only Su Yan remained standing.
Su Yan's face was crimson, his veins bulging. He felt as if a colossal mountain was pressing down on him. The ferocious, wild beast aura threatened to crush him completely.
'Is this the power of True Intent? Beast Spirit True Intent and power augmentation—is this martial arts or some form of divine magic?!' Su Yan had imagined a single punch could shatter the sky, but the manifestation of this Beast Spirit True Intent, which seemed to materialize martial skill, still filled him with astonishment.
But he was stubborn. He had endured the Poison Skin Powder bath; he would not be cowed by a mere phantom. He focused his sharp gaze, his veins bulging further, but his blood energy surged like a river flowing backward, faintly shrouding his body in white mist.
"Hahahaha, that's interesting! But stance work alone isn't enough." Bai Changlin finally laughed out loud, his eyes flashing with brilliant light. The White Ape True Intent opened its eyes, gazing at Su Yan like a giant copper bell.
In that instant, Su Yan's momentum collapsed. His body staggered, and he stepped back two paces, unable to maintain his stance.
"Thank you for the guidance, Master Bai." Su Yan cupped his fists, breathing heavily, but his posture remained ramrod straight.
[Golden Ape Stance Skill: 89/400 (Great Accomplishment)]
Although his stance could not withstand the White Ape True Intent, Su Yan had gained sudden insight during the exchange. The ultimate stage of the Stance Skill (Transcendence) seemed to have a connection to True Intent.
Bai Changlin retracted the White Ape True Intent and said: "Stance Skill is fundamental, but refining it to the unity of form and intent, continuously deciphering its essence, and manifesting its spirit is helpful for condensing True Intent." He had spoken on instinct, adding that while Stance Skill Transcendence wasn't a prerequisite for manifesting the White Ape True Intent, mastering the stance more deeply would save many detours when visualizing True Intent.
"How long have you been with the academy?" Master Bai personally asked the question. Li Shun and others' eyes widened, filled with jealousy, wishing they were the ones standing before the master.
"I joined last month." Master Bai's expression remained calm, but his pupils contracted slightly. One month! Such progress, even with the help of the Hundred Herb Hall, his Aptitude...
"Good." Master Bai nodded, then said: "Begin the sparring match. Let me observe the progress of your fist techniques." As a True Intent expert, the more interested he was in Su Yan, the more he wanted to see.
Su Yan's eyes flickered, and the corner of his mouth curved slightly. 'He nominated me to defend the platform? Then I should be the first to step up.'
Gao Zheng, standing at the end of the line next to his Master, looked at Su Yan with immense delight. 'This junior brother has such capability! When the time comes for the Desolate Mountain, why not let him share the effort? I'd be doing him a favor.'
Li Jinshan received his Master's approval, stepped forward, and announced clearly: "In that case, Junior Brother Su will defend the platform! The rest of the junior brothers will compete using their own skills. Stance is stance, and fighting is fighting. If you perform exceptionally, you may still have a chance!"
The spirit of a martial artist lay in "contending"—contending with oneself, with others, and with heaven. Even if their Stance Skill was lacking, should they not still fight for an opportunity? His words lit a fire in the hearts of the thirty-plus Outer Door Disciples.
Su Yan's gaze was calm, his breathing recovered. He walked to the empty space in the center of the courtyard, his eyes sweeping over the crowd.
"Senior Brothers, I, Su Yan, request instruction."
After his words fell, no one dared to step up immediately. Even Ma Xiaodong, Li Ying, and Liu Yinglong looked uncertain; they didn't know his true limit. Li Shun, consumed by jealousy and doubt, glanced at his four or five lake-dweller associates and quickly gave them a look.
Those few men, who were originally planning to go up later to drain others' energy, could only steel themselves. "We request instruction from Junior Brother Su."
One man stepped forward, tall and strong. He rushed at Su Yan using the Ape Leap Step, his muscles and bones flexing, his punch delivered with full power. Su Yan merely swung his hand out, caught the punch, and with a single shake, sent the man flying.
"Next."
Su Yan said the word, his eyes fixed on Li Shun.
"Interesting." On the viewing stand, Master Bai, Li Jinshan, Zhao Tianwen, and Elder Li Chuan all smiled. They could clearly see the petty conflicts between the Outer Door Disciples. However, none of them cared. Where there are people, there is contention. It was just a shame that these Minor Accomplishment in Skin Refining disciples couldn't truly test Su Yan's abilities. They had lost seven parts of their courage before the fight even began, and their fist techniques were clumsy—how could they win?
Su Yan's gaze was calm, fixed on Li Shun like a knife. Li Shun felt a chill down his spine but still didn't step forward. He gritted his teeth and gestured, sending the predetermined group of followers forward one after the other.
"The second." "The third." "The fourth."
Three more people consecutively stepped up. They were all in the Minor Accomplishment in Skin Refining stage, possessing hundreds of jin of strength, but none were a match for Su Yan's single blow. All were defeated with one strike. They suffered bruises and swelling, and two who fought dirtier were knocked unconscious.
"Good technique. That's at least a Minor Accomplishment fist art."
"Minor Accomplishment? Arms like iron, body like an ape—that is Great Accomplishment in the fist art!" Zhao Tianwen had just spoken when Elder Li Chuan squinted and corrected him.
"What?" Zhao Tianwen was wide-eyed. Great Accomplishment in Stance Skill, Great Accomplishment in Fist Art—this level of capability was Great Accomplishment in Skin Refining. Was his talent truly this good?
Su Yan had eliminated all the lake-dwellers' disciples. Li Shun, though wanting to send more people, now had no one left to put forward. Li Shun's eyes flashed with malice: 'Damn mountain trash! How can he be this strong? I don't believe he still has strength left.' He gritted his teeth, cupped his fists, and stepped forward.
"I request instruction from Junior Brother Su." He strode into the center, knowing he was forced into a corner. If he didn't fight, forget the lake-dwellers looking down on him, Master Bai and the others would never let him enter the Inner Door. Having initiated a scheme, retreating halfway in a cowardly manner was disqualifying.
Su Yan smiled: "Finally. Begin."