79: The new building is fitting, but is it just another old friend with the same name?
The morning sunlight filtered through the century-old trees in Lingxiu Hall's training ground, casting dappled light and shadow on the bluestone floor.
The air was suffused with a faint, clean fragrance of grass and wood, a stark contrast to the sweat-filled, masculine atmosphere of the Fierce Wind Martial Arts Hall.
Chen Meng, wearing a brand-new, plain white martial arts uniform, stood somewhat stiffly at the end of the line, following the Senior Sisters in the morning breathing exercises.
The rules at Lingxiu Hall were far stricter than at the Fierce Wind Martial Arts Hall, and the cultivation pace was much more intense.
Most Disciples here were young women around her age, each looking valiant and spirited with focused eyes.
She worked hard to adapt to everything here—from the new Cultivation Techniques and new Martial Skills to the way of interacting with her Senior Sisters.
Because of her identity as a 'former member of the Fierce Wind Martial Arts Hall,' for the first few days, many Senior Sisters looked at her with a trace of scrutiny and distance in their eyes.
But Chen Meng paid it no mind; she simply poured all her energy into cultivation.
Her talent was already considerable, and driven by a fierce determination, she progressed rapidly.
In just half a month, she not only caught up with the hall's cultivation schedule but even showed signs of surpassing her peers in comprehending some basic Martial Skills.
Diligence and talent are the best credentials.
Gradually, the Senior Sisters' attitude towards her shifted from scrutiny to acceptance, and even to a little admiration.
'Junior Sister Chen Meng, you picked up that 'Flowing Cloud Step' so quickly! Any secrets?' asked a Senior Sister named Lin Wei, who actively came over to seek advice.
'No secrets, just more practice and more thought,' Chen Meng replied with a somewhat embarrassed smile.
Through interacting with the Senior Sisters, Chen Meng gradually integrated into this new group.
She cherished this hard-won opportunity, living each day with immense fulfillment.
Until that afternoon, a piece of news dropped like a massive stone into a calm lake, stirring up monstrous waves throughout Lingxiu Hall and even the entire Jinling City.
'Have you heard? The City Lord's Manor just announced news about the Great Xia Martial Competition!'
'Of course I've heard! It's the triennial grand event of our Great Xia Dynasty!'
'That's not the key point! The key point is Jinling City's participation slots this time!'
Several Senior Sisters, chattering excitedly during their break, gathered together, their Faces full of shock and disbelief.
Chen Meng, holding a water cup, curiously moved closer.
'Senior Sister Wang, what about the slots?'
The woman addressed as Senior Sister Wang, the most well-informed person in the hall, lowered her voice and spoke mysteriously.
'You'll never believe it! The City Lord's Manor has unprecedentedly directly reserved one slot internally this time, completely bypassing the city's selection tournament!'
'What?!' everyone exclaimed in unison.
How important is the Great Xia Martial Competition!
Jinling City, with a population of over a hundred thousand, only has three precious participation slots.
These three slots have always been determined through a brutal and bloody city-wide selection tournament, where the three strongest youths are chosen from among all the martial arts halls' Prodigies.
Directly reserving one internally?
What kind of privilege is this?
'Who is it? Who has such great Face?' Lin Wei asked urgently.
'Could it be some illegitimate child of the City Lord?'
'Impossible! The Great Xia Martial Competition concerns the glory of all Jinling City and the City Lord's own future path. The City Lord wouldn't engage in favoritism.'
'Whoever receives a direct invitation must possess overwhelming strength that leaves no room for objection!' another Senior Sister analyzed.
Senior Sister Wang took a deep breath and finally revealed the name of that privileged individual.
'The City Lord's Manor's announcement states clearly: the person directly invited is a Disciple from the Iron Bone Martial Arts School in the west city.'
'Li Qing!'
'Iron Bone Martial Arts School?'
Upon hearing this name, everyone was stunned for a moment before erupting into even louder discussion.
'Iron Bone Martial Arts School?'
'That nearly bankrupt, rundown martial arts school? Did I hear that right?'
'Is there a mistake? What kind of Genius could come from a place like that?'
'Li Qing... such an ordinary name. I've never heard of any Prodigy by that name in Jinling City!'
The Senior Sisters' Faces were filled with absurdity and confusion.
An obscure, dilapidated martial arts school? An unheard-of name? And this person surpassed all the long-established Geniuses in Jinling City to directly secure an internal slot?
This was stranger than a fairy tale.
Meanwhile, standing within the crowd, Chen Meng's entire body stiffened abruptly upon hearing the two words 'Li Qing.'
The water cup slipped from her hand, clattering to the floor.
But she was completely unaware.
It was as if a thunderclap had exploded in her mind, leaving it blank.
Li Qing?
Li Qing from the Iron Bone Martial Arts School?
That youth from the Slums, whom she and her father viewed as having no future and had even considered 'helping' out?
No... impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
The night was as dark as ink.
In the Chen family's small courtyard, lights shone brightly.
Chen Meng sat despondently in a chair, her Face pale, her eyes vacant, as if she had lost her soul.
Opposite her, her father Chen Shui, after hearing the news his daughter brought back, wore an equally stunned and dazed expression.
The teacup in his hand hovered in mid-air; scalding tea spilled over, burning the back of his hand, yet he remained oblivious.
'Li... Li Qing?'
Chen Shui's voice was unbearably dry, as if sanded by coarse paper.
'Iron Bone Martial Arts School... Li Qing?'
Father and daughter exchanged a glance, seeing the same stormy waves of shock and disbelief in each other's eyes.
That name was all too familiar to them.
Not long ago, they were still discussing that Slum-born attendant who had voluntarily resigned.
In their understanding, Li Qing's future was clearly visible from the start.
Without their help, even survival would be a problem for him.
His grave might already be overgrown with grass a zhang high.
'No, impossible!'
Chen Shui slammed the teacup onto the table with a loud bang.
Scalding tea splattered everywhere.
He breathed heavily, as if trying to dispel the absurdity in his heart through sheer force.
'Absolutely impossible! How many people in this world share the same name?'
'Jinling City is so big. What's strange about another Genius named Li Qing appearing?'
His voice was loud, his tone resolute, as if trying to convince Chen Meng, but even more so, trying to convince himself.
Startled by her father's roar, Chen Meng's vacant eyes gradually regained a sliver of focus.
Yes... it must be someone with the same name.
She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms.
She knew that Li Qing all too well.
An ordinary person who couldn't even touch the threshold of martial arts—how could he soar to the heavens in just half a month, becoming a peerless Genius personally invited by the City Lord?
It defied all reason!
It violated all the laws of martial arts!
It definitely couldn't be that little nobody she knew!
It must be another Li Qing.
A true Prodigy!