Mountain and Sea Demon Martial Arts, Starting with Vertical Pupils

Chapter 2 Zhengyang Martial Arts School

In this chaotic world where demons and monsters possess supernatural powers, the only way to survive and make a living is through martial arts.

As a result, the martial spirit in this world is extremely strong. In just the small Qingshan County, there are more than ten martial arts schools that teach people to practice martial arts.

The Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy in front of Chen Luo is the largest martial arts academy in Qingshan County, with the most disciples.

Its most notable feature is that it's free.

Indeed, Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy is somewhat similar to the charity schools of the previous life, subsidized by the county government and without charging any tuition fees. As long as one enters the prefecture, regardless of gender or age, one becomes a martial arts disciple of Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy.

Chen Luo and Zhou Xiaoliang followed the crowd into the mansion. Compared to the crowds on the street, the number of people inside the martial arts school was several times greater.

The first thing that catches the eye is a very wide circular platform, which is the martial arts training ground of the martial arts school, and several thousand private school disciples scattered in the platform, some sitting and practicing their boxing, others chatting and talking, creating a lively and spectacular scene.

However, Chen Luo was used to it. He and Zhou Xiaoliang walked through the crowd and found an open space to sit cross-legged.

Evening practice doesn't start until 9 AM, so it's not time yet.

Having worked hard all day, Chen Luo was exhausted and needed to rest before practicing martial arts.

Zhou Xiaoliang did the same. He plopped down on the ground, let out a sigh of relief, and took out two steamed buns from his pocket, handing one over.

"Hurry up and eat something to fill your stomach. I'm exhausted after working in the fields all day."

Chen Luo accepted it with a smile without being polite, saying, "You're lucky you have fields to cultivate, unlike me who spends all day catching snakes in the mountains."

"Yes, you have it even harder."

Zhou Xiaoliang, chewing on a steamed bun, glanced at Chen Luo, hesitated for a moment, then casually asked, "By the way, Luo, are you still in contact with Song Ruokui?"

Chen Luo shook his head. "It's been a long time."

"Of course you won't see it."

Zhou Xiaoliang sighed, "She's really doing well now. I heard yesterday that she's training at the Jingyi Martial Arts Academy and will be joining the Qingyun Martial Arts School soon!"

Chen Luo listened with confusion, "Jingyi Martial Arts Academy? Isn't that a private school? Where did Song Ruokui get the money to train in martial arts at a private school?"

Martial arts schools in Qingshan County are divided into two types: private schools and charity schools, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

There is only one martial arts academy in Yishu, Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy. Its advantage is that it does not charge tuition fees, so even the poorest person can get in to learn martial arts.

The disadvantage is that because no tuition fees are charged, there are too many disciples, and the instructors do not have the energy to guide each disciple. Disciples can only learn martial arts on their own most of the time, which is very inefficient.

Private schools, on the other hand, take a small but excellent approach, where each disciple can receive specific guidance from the master, at the cost of paying high tuition fees, which are often only affordable to wealthy families.

Like Zhou Xiaoliang, Song Ruokui was also a childhood playmate of the original owner of the body. Both came from ordinary farming families and should not have been able to afford the tuition fees for private school.

Zhou Xiaoliang snorted, "Why would she need to pay money? With her talent for martial arts, private schools would be begging her to go."

"I see." Chen Luo suddenly realized, that's true.

Song Ruokui was different from them; she had an exceptional talent for martial arts and therefore did not need to pay tuition to attend the private school.

After all, a private school is a business, so it naturally needs to attract some geniuses to make a name for itself.

"I also heard that she's already at the sixth level of the Nine Yang Strength, just one step away from the threshold of the Qingyun Martial Arts School," Zhou Xiaoliang said indignantly.

Chen Luo glanced at him with amusement. "It's her business if she's successful. Why are you so angry?"

"Of course I'm angry for you!" Zhou Xiaoliang's voice rose. "You two used to have such a good relationship, almost at the age to get married. But ever since we came to this martial arts school, her talent for martial arts has become apparent, and she's been intentionally distancing herself from you. You don't even know where she is now!"

Chen Luo shrugged. Song Ruokui was beautiful and had grown up with his predecessor. In his memory, his predecessor did like her. Before coming to Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy, Song Ruokui also seemed to have some affection for his predecessor.

And after reaching the age suitable for learning martial arts, the story that followed was somewhat like "the first sword strike after landing, the first to kill the one you love".

The specifics are a bit complicated, but then again, what does the past have to do with Chen Luo, who transmigrated here?

He didn't care, "That's all in the past."

Zhou Xiaoliang stared at Chen Luo for a while, trying to confirm whether Chen Luo really didn't care.

But he couldn't see anything and could only sigh.

"You're quite carefree. Thinking back to the four of us who were best friends, Song Ruokui has gone to a private school and is making great progress in martial arts, with a bright future ahead; Huang Chen has simply given up martial arts and become a grain manager in the suburbs, which is quite comfortable for him. In the end, only the two of us are left struggling here."

"However, I actually understand why Huang Chen gave up martial arts."

He turned his gaze to the other martial arts school disciples around him and said with a sigh, "I've heard that those private school disciples not only have one-on-one guidance from their masters, but some private schools even provide various medicinal diets to enhance their strength. They're born with a natural advantage, achieving twice the results with half the effort. Unlike us poor children, we can only come to the free school to train hard day after day. If we don't have any talent, we'll probably never amount to anything in our lives."

"It's good enough to have the opportunity to learn martial arts, don't think too much about it," Chen Luo said earnestly.

Unlike Zhou Xiaoliang's complaints about the free school, he cherished it very much.

This world is filled with mystical martial arts, where martial artists can use their skills to defy prohibitions, and it is also a feudal society. Logically speaking, the opportunity to learn martial arts should be monopolized by a few powerful and wealthy individuals, or even used as a tool of rule.

The reason why free schools exist is actually because there are many demons in the mountains. Almost every year, a monster tide occurs in Qingshan County, which not only harms the people, but also makes the people in power sleep in peace.

Therefore, due to external conflicts, the county government urgently needed martial arts personnel, and even went so far as to establish free schools to deal with those monsters and the like.

—Only those who practice martial arts can withstand the power of demons and monsters.

In short, it was precisely because of this advantage that a lowly snake catcher like him had the opportunity to learn martial arts at the charitable school.

At the same time, his experience of living two lives taught him a profound lesson: life offers few opportunities, and once you have one, you must seize it with all your might.

Unfortunately, Zhou Xiaoliang didn't understand these things. He shook his head and said, "You make it sound so easy. Learning martial arts is such a difficult thing. For example, out of the thousands of people in this martial arts school, probably less than ten can actually get into Qingyun Martial Arts School."

Qingyun Martial Arts School is the only martial arts school in Qingshan County and the highest point of martial arts in Qingshan County.

It is precisely because of the existence of Qingyun Martial Arts School that other places of martial arts practice only dare to call themselves martial arts academies.

The difference is like that between high school and university in a previous life; only the best students from private schools and charitable institutions were qualified to enter the Qingyun Martial Arts School.

Chen Luo knew that Zhou Xiaoliang was upset because of Song Ruokui's situation, which was why he seemed so disheartened.

So she patted him on the shoulder reassuringly, "Don't say anymore. How can you be so sure you're not one of those ten?"

Zhou Xiaoliang pursed his lips, "A Luo, why are you always so optimistic? You've been practicing martial arts for a whole year without making any progress, but your mentality is as good as a martial arts genius."

"Are you praising me or belittling me?" Chen Luo immediately became displeased.

Zhou Xiaoliang chuckled, feeling a bit better. He wanted to say a few more words, but then he noticed the crowd around him suddenly fall silent.

He immediately realized that the martial arts instructor had arrived, and quickly patted his bottom and stood up.

Chen Luo also stood up and looked straight ahead.

At the end of the round altar, on the martial arts platform, appeared a middle-aged man, who was the martial arts instructor of Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy.

The instructor, dressed in a long robe, had a stern and square face. As he stepped onto the stage, hundreds of disciples on the round platform stood up, spaced themselves out, and quickly formed a square formation.

"Evening practice begins tonight."

"As a martial art based on strength, the most important thing about Nine Yang Strength is the word 'strength'. Every time you throw a punch, you must feel the transmission of internal strength. Use strength to drive power and power to guide strength. The saying goes, 'Internal strength guides external force, and seven layers of strength can move a thousand-pound stone.' It means that you must have strength first before you can unleash power."

The instructor didn't waste any words; he started by explaining the key points of martial arts training, and his voice was so strong that Chen Luo could hear him clearly even from more than ten feet away.

He took a deep breath and shouted in a deep voice, "Like this!"

He then raised his fist to his abdomen, gathered his strength, and punched the air with a powerful blow!

With a muffled thud as if the wind had been cut, a visible surge of air erupted from his fist!

"What powerful punches!"

"As expected of Instructor Li!"

"sharp!"

"..."

The disciples below the stage watched with wide eyes, and cheers of approval rose and fell.

"I could feel the force of a punch even from more than ten feet away. When will I be able to have that kind of punching power?" Zhou Xiaoliang couldn't help but sigh.

Chen Luo was also amazed. The instructor was named Li Shen, and his martial arts skills were so profound that it was said he could easily shatter a thick wall with one punch.

"Alright, I will now begin demonstrating the prelude to the Nine Yang Force. Please follow along with me."

"Gather light at the center of the head, stand upright; sink energy into the internal organs, keep the back level and straight..."

After demonstrating his punches, Li Shen immediately assumed a stance and began practicing martial arts.

Seeing this, thousands of disciples below the stage all started practicing together, creating a rather spectacular scene.

This is the martial arts training model of the Yishu (charity school): the instructor demonstrates on the stage, and thousands of disciples practice below, with almost no interaction between the two.

Whether a disciple can master the skill largely depends on their individual martial arts aptitude and comprehension; one cannot expect the instructor to personally guide them.

After all, Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy has several thousand disciples, so how could the instructors have the energy to guide each one individually?

For example, Chen Luo, who had been training at the martial arts academy for a whole year and was called a disciple of the academy, had never spoken a single word to Li Shen, and had not even had a chance to greet him.

This kind of martial arts training is indeed very inefficient, so it's no wonder Zhou Xiaoliang complained, but everyone knows that there's nothing that can be done about it.

However, unlike the other disciples...

Chen Luoxue and Li Shen assumed a horse stance, and at the same time, a panel invisible to others quietly appeared.

【Nine Yang Strength (Beginner): 73/100】