I Can Replicate Martial Arts

"Everyone’s here. Team members Level 8 or Above, come with me to register. The rest of you, continue training!"

Wang Zhanshan nodded, then turned and walked toward the equipment building behind the main hall.

Zhao Rui and the others hurriedly followed him.

After taking just two steps, Wang Zhanshan suddenly turned back around, snorting heavily. He frowned at Zhao Rui and said, "Where do you think you’re going? You stay put."

Zhao Rui sheepishly scratched his head and chuckled. "Coach, I can’t help myself!"

Hearing this, Wang Zhanshan grew even angrier. He shot Zhao Rui a glare, then turned and stalked off.

Those who knew the situation all lowered their heads, trying to hide their snickers.

Wang Dalong looked completely baffled. Once they were out of the main hall, he curiously asked Cai Zhengyang, "What did Zhao Rui do *this* time?"

"’This time’? An excellent choice of words!"

Cai Zhengyang raised an eyebrow, his expression complex. "Captain Zhao has already advanced to the Grandmaster Realm!"

...

Wang Dalong’s eyes bulged as if they were about to pop out of their sockets. Stunned, he repeated, "The Grandmaster Realm?"

"Yep. Our Captain Zhao caught Elder Ge’s attention! His Profound Skill is simply heaven-defying. Just a few days ago, he thrashed a veteran Grandmaster Realm expert like a dog."

Cai Zhengyang had already resigned himself to his fate. He was no longer sighing about being Zhou Yu, forever overshadowed by Zhuge Liang. Instead, he would play the role of Sima Yi. ’Let that old scoundrel... er, let this old man bide his time.’

You see, this time, Zhao Rui had advanced too quickly and, as a result, lost his eligibility to compete.

And as for him, Cai Zhengyang, his moment to make a name for himself had finally arrived.

After hearing what Cai Zhengyang said, Wang Dalong was completely rattled.

Even his normally placid state of mind was now roiling with monstrous waves.

’I just mastered the Twelve Dragon Subduing Palms. I thought my combat power was exceptional, that I could take on anyone below the Grandmaster Realm. I was even looking for a chance to spar with Zhao Rui.’

’And now he’s already in the Grandmaster Realm!’

’Is it really that easy to go from the True Transformation Realm to the Grandmaster Realm?’

With his mind in turmoil, Wang Dalong numbly followed the rest of the team.

He didn’t even register what Cai Zhengyang said next.

Seeing Wang Dalong’s dispirited look, Cai Zhengyang rejoiced internally. ’His composure shattered? Is that all the resilience he has? Tch!’

’This is my chance to seize the moment and rise up! From now on, I’ll be the second-in-command of this Martial Arts Team!’

A glint flashed in Cai Zhengyang’s eyes, his fighting spirit soaring!

The registration process was the same as for the provincial tournament, and it took the group only about half an hour to finish.

This time, Zheng Minghao and Shen Xinzhu were added, while... well, it’s not like Zhao Rui ever participated anyway.

Additionally, a few of the fourth-year students had left the team, as they were no longer eligible to compete as university students.

The team’s overall strength had decreased slightly, but among its top-tier fighters, Cai Zhengyang and Wang Dalong were definitely stronger than Gongye Lingchen and the others from before.

If Zhao Rui could also participate, they would be guaranteed a shot at the top ten!

They would even have a real fighting chance in the team competition.

Wang Zhanshan sighed at the thought. Now, he could only pin his hopes on Wang Dalong.

Back in the Martial Arts Hall at Mingcan Courtyard, Wang Zhanshan called Zhao Rui over, his face stern.

He said irritably, "From now on, you are to assist Wang Dalong and the others with their cultivation. You’ll be their full-time sparring partner. Also, find time to teach Shen Xinzhu the training camp’s enhancement methods. Make sure she masters them as soon as possible..."

"Oh, okay, Coach!"

Zhao Rui agreed readily. What others saw as the thankless chore of being a sparring partner was, to him, a gift from the heavens.

He couldn’t be more grateful!

Seeing how agreeable Zhao Rui was, Wang Zhanshan’s expression softened slightly. He had thought Zhao Rui might pull rank with his "Uncle Master" status and disobey him.

’Looks like the kid is pretty responsible after all.’

"Keep up your cultivation, and don’t complain. You’ll have plenty of opportunities next year," Wang Zhanshan said, offering a rare word of encouragement.

"Understood, Coach!"

With an affirmative, Zhao Rui returned to the Martial Arts Hall, gathered the competitors, and began their special pre-competition training.

"Xinzhu, you’ll need to put in some extra work. Even though you’re already Level 9, the opponents at the nationals are incredibly strong. Every little bit of strength you can gain will be a plus."

After urging the others to train rigorously according to the training center’s methods, Zhao Rui went over to Shen Xinzhu to relay Coach Wang’s instructions.

Shen Xinzhu was already prepared. If it hadn’t been for the matter with Peng Yuanshan, she would have started this training long ago.

Getting to spend more time with Zhao Rui was, in fact, the primary purpose of her trip.

’She refused to believe that with her looks, figure, and strength, she couldn’t find a way into his inner circle.’

Thinking of Peng Yuanshan, Shen Xinzhu inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. ’That was a close call.’

You might wonder why the people from the Holy Lotus Sect arrived so quickly.

It was because she had acted decisively and summoned them herself.

Thankfully, Peng Yuanshan hadn’t revealed her identity.

Otherwise, if he had compromised the Sect Leader’s grand plan, a hundred deaths wouldn’t have been enough for him to atone for his sin.

But even without him talking, the crime of secretly cultivating the Illusionary Sound Technique was enough to land him in a Holy Sect dungeon for several years.

’What’s so captivating about this Illusionary Sound Technique? What would make Peng Yuanshan risk offending the Sect Leader to force himself to cultivate it?’

Shen Xinzhu couldn’t help but wonder.

Time flies during cultivation, and a week went by in a flash.

Zhao Rui threw himself into his sparring duties, doing his best to identify and shore up the weaknesses of Qin Rui and the others.

With a great expert like him, one who was familiar with their flaws and knowledgeable about all sorts of martial arts, he was the ideal sparring partner for helping them improve.

Unlike before, Zhao Rui’s role this time was to push the team members by fighting at a level slightly beyond their own, but without the gap being too large.

The goal was to better stimulate their on-the-spot adaptability and potential for breakthroughs.

One day, the team was training as usual in an unused side hall at Mingcan Courtyard.

Coach Zeng Hongyi gave him a call.