A Sponge

To Head Instructor Liu, geniuses were nothing new, but he had truly never seen anyone who could compare to Huang Tian. Not just anyone could watch the Spirit Tiger Mountain-Smashing Fist and Ferocious Crane Fist a single time and immediately comprehend them, stepping straight into perfection! Indeed, through the brief "sparring match" between Huang Rui and Huang Tian, Head Instructor Liu could already conclude that in the blink of an eye, Huang Tian had practiced both fist techniques to perfection. Like a Grandmaster of those arts, he could scarcely advance them any further. Such terrifying comprehension was truly inhuman! *With Huang Tian's bone structure, comprehension, and temperament, so long as he does not die, he will surely become a pillar of our Martial Restraint Guard in the future. I should recommend him to my superiors so he gains their attention as soon as possible, secures more resources early on, and paves his path of martial arts...* Having made his decision, Head Instructor Liu called out, "Two of you, carry Huang Rui over to Physician Mo's!" Yet as his voice fell, not a single person moved. Everyone looked toward Huang Tian, terrified that carrying Huang Rui off for treatment would invite Huang Tian's displeasure. Thus, they all froze in place, even the martial students who had once been on good terms with Huang Rui. The atmosphere turned strangely eerie for a moment. Head Instructor Liu was no fool and quickly realized what was happening. He raised a hand and casually pointed to two students. "You, and you—the two of you carry him over!" The two who had been singled out braced themselves and stepped forward. Coming to Huang Rui's side, one supported his shoulders while the other took his legs, lifting him into the air. Suspended midair, Huang Rui turned his head, glaring at Huang Tian with venomous, brooding hatred. Seeing this, Huang Tian frowned slightly and raised a hand just enough to wave away the dust floating in the air. Yet Huang Rui blanched in terror. Believing Huang Tian was about to strike him again, his body shook violently, instinctively twisting to dodge. To his shock, with a loud *thud*, he rolled right out of their grasp and crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Head Instructor Liu: "..." The two carrying him: "..." The martial students: "..." The atmosphere grew rather awkward, broken only by Huang Rui's hisses of agony. Annoyed, Head Instructor Liu snapped, "Can't the two of you even hold an injured man properly? Hurry up and take him away!" The pair gave embarrassed laughs and hurriedly lifted Huang Rui once more. This time, Huang Rui had clearly learned his lesson. He closed his eyes tight and refused to look at anyone, lest their mocking gazes shatter his pride and send him into a fit of shame and rage. Once Huang Rui had been carried away, Drill Ground Tian One returned to calm, though it was not entirely tranquil. Head Instructor Liu returned to his spot with his hands behind his back. Surveying the crowd, he cleared his throat and asked, "Does anyone else wish to spar?" After a moment of silence, Luo Chan, clad in black martial attire, stepped forward. "Head Instructor, I would like to spar a bit with Brother Huang." The moment the words left his mouth, everyone was astonished. Even Head Instructor Liu looked at Luo Chan in bewilderment. He had a favorable impression of Luo Chan. The youth came from an impoverished background and had no one to rely on. In his childhood, he had survived on meals from a hundred households. In his youth, he had been taken in by an old monk at a dilapidated temple. The old monk had not shaved his head to make him a monk, and had even taught him the overbearing Heaven-Supporting Palm. Over the years, Luo Chan had successfully entered the ranks. By then, however, the old monk's lifespan had run out, and he passed away into nirvana. Before dying, he told Luo Chan not to guard the ruined temple, but to venture out and make his way in the world. Luo Chan thus roamed the Jianghu, eventually earning a recommendation to enter the Guard Academy. Upon entering the academy, he had easily knocked down every single ninth-rank martial student. His Heaven-Supporting Palm simply possessed far too majestic and surging a force, and paired with blood and qi that were practically at the perfection of the first transformation, a single palm strike was enough to send an opponent flying. Even so, he had an upright character and never used his strength to bully others. Why today...? "You want to spar with Huang Tian?" Head Instructor Liu's brow furrowed. Luo Chan nodded, turning to look at Huang Tian. "Not right now, however. Brother Huang fought Huang Rui today and expended quite a bit of strength. How could I take advantage of someone in such a state? Therefore, I would like to set a match with Brother Huang for tomorrow. Today, we should focus on nurturing our qi and force, building up our sharp edge." Having said that, he looked toward Huang Tian with a hint of anticipation. Although Huang Tian believed he had not expended much strength at all to defeat Huang Rui, he still nodded in agreement. Delighted, Luo Chan gave Huang Tian a slight bow and retreated to his spot. Only then did Head Instructor Liu understand. He had assumed Luo Chan wanted to stand up for Huang Rui; now it was clear the young man was merely a martial addict whose interest was piqued by a worthy adversary. "Does anyone else wish to spar now?" he asked once more. With Luo Chan's interruption, the atmosphere on the drill ground grew much livelier. One by one, the martial students stepped forward to exchange moves with others. Yet no one challenged Luo Chan or Huang Tian. The former was remarkably powerful, the undisputed first among them, and they had no desire to seek abuse. The latter's lingering prestige from thrashing Huang Rui left them completely uncertain of his depth. At least until they had a full grasp of Huang Tian's character, they would not rashly fight him. None of them wanted to be beaten like a dead dog in public as Huang Rui had been—it was simply too humiliating! With no one challenging him, Huang Tian sat cross-legged on his prayer mat, quietly watching the students exchange blows. Cloud-Overturning Palm, Ground-Tumbling Legs, Mountain-Collapsing Fist, Tiger Fiend Fist, Cold Fang Snake Fist... All manner of distinct fist and palm arts were displayed before him, kicking up gusts of wind in a dazzling array. Yet Huang Tian's mind was racing. Just as he had memorized the two fist techniques taught by Head Instructor Liu earlier, the various martial arts were deeply imprinted into his mind. Then, tens of thousands of miniature versions of himself assumed stances and began practicing the different arts. Like a sponge, he rapidly absorbed the essence of each style, making them entirely his own. The morning passed by quickly. After Head Instructor Liu announced the end of the session, he hurried out of the Guard Academy, heading toward the Martial Restraint Guard government office. Walking all the way inside, he went straight to the quarters where Battalion Commander Xia Hong conducted his official duties and knocked on the door before stepping in. "Liu Kuo, do you have business here?" When Head Instructor Liu walked in, Xia Hong was inspecting a treasured saber in his hands, with a wanted portrait resting beside him. Liu Kuo asked, "Battalion Commander, if I remember correctly, was it not you who sent Huang Tian into the Guard Academy?" Xia Hong raised an eyebrow. "Indeed. Why, did something happen to Huang Tian? A few days ago, someone mentioned to me that he had developed force, calling him promising material." Liu Kuo smiled. "Something did happen, but it is good news." "Oh?" "He entered the ranks yesterday! Moreover, today he effortlessly defeated Huang Rui. His comprehension is astonishingly high—in mere moments, he grasped both the Tiger and Crane fist techniques, performing them with the bearing of a Grandmaster! He is undeniably a genius seen once in a decade, several decades, or even a century within our Martial Restraint Guard!" "Is what you say true?!" Xia Hong instantly turned solemn. He had been occupied with pressing matters over the past two days and had no time to follow the happenings in the Guard Academy. He truly had not known that Huang Tian had entered the ranks in just a few days, let alone that this martial arts "newcomer" could actually defeat Huang Rui. "I would not dare deceive the Battalion Commander," Liu Kuo said. Xia Hong instinctively stroked the scabbard twice, his gaze turning deep as he murmured softly, "To think that a mere son of a maidservant could possess such extraordinary talent. He is indeed worth nurturing well..."