"Acting? Why do I feel like I've been taken advantage of."

In class, Qin Chuan looked at the apology message sent by Meng Wantang and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Turning off the phone screen, he began to both attend the class and cultivate.

The classroom environment was very quiet, besides the teacher on the podium, only the sound of classmates' pens scratching on paper could be heard.

This allowed Qin Chuan to focus and multitask.

Soon, the afternoon class ended.

Normally, he was supposed to go home with Ye Wenxi.

However, Qin Chuan knew that Yang Monian would definitely come to seek answers from him today.

So, after careful consideration, he decided to go home alone.

After sending a message to Ye Wenxi, Qin Chuan stayed at school for a while before deciding to leave.

Just as he stepped out of the school gate, a black business car stopped in front of him.

The hunched figure of Yang Monian, leaning on a cane, appeared before him.

"Young friend, have you thought it over?"

Yang Monian laughed insidiously, the wrinkles on his face stacked up, with a touch of sinister horror.

Qin Chuan nodded, responded calmly, "I'm used to idleness, not interested in being your Vice Hall Master."

"Oh?"

Yang Monian was slightly surprised.

Although not top-tier, the Dog Hall was considered a powerhouse in Red Dragon Association.

In the whole Jiangcheng, it was a formidable force.

Many people would break their heads to join.

Qin Chuan actually refused the olive branch he personally extended?

"Seems I've misjudged you."

Yang Monian regained his composure, instead of being angry, he smiled: "In that case, could young friend return the Yin Yang Beads to us?"

"Return?"

Qin Chuan shook his head: "The Yin Yang Beads were a gift from Hall Master Meng, when did they ever belong to your Dog Hall?"

"I sought to genuinely make friends with young friend, alas, young friend seems unaware of the situation."

With these words, Yang Monian's hunched figure suddenly disappeared from his spot.

His speed was so fast that it left an afterimage.

Qin Chuan's eyes widened, a strong sense of crisis erupted from the depths of his heart.

Without thinking, he instinctively retreated two steps backward.

But the strong sense of crisis did not disappear.

On the contrary, it grew increasingly intense, like a nightmare, lingering in Qin Chuan's mind, refusing to dissipate.

Suddenly.

Qin Chuan detected a slight movement on his left.

It was like a gentle breeze blowing by, nothing unusual.

If it weren't for his high concentration, he would not notice such a subtle change.

Qin Chuan furrowed his eyebrows and instinctively projected a Heart Strike Elbow directly at it.

With a "bang," Qin Chuan felt as if his elbow had struck a solid wall, the rebounding force made his arm tingle with pain.

"Hmm?"

Yang Monian, who was knocked back by Qin Chuan, stared at him with furrowed brows and surprise.

This kid is somewhat peculiar!

Yang Monian hunched his body and secretly tightened his grip on the cane.

Though it was a brief encounter, he had already discerned quite a bit.

Qin Chuan was indeed at the threshold of mastery.

Yet his reaction speed and strength were not inferior to an Ancient Martial Artist at an accomplished level.

Especially the burst of strength he displayed.

Even a seasoned Ancient Martial Artist like Yang Monian at an accomplished level was repelled, having no choice but to avoid his edge.

"Innate Divine Power?"

Yang Monian racked his brains but couldn't understand the oddity in Qin Chuan, attributing it all to natural talent.

"So young friend is exceptionally gifted, no wonder the Cheng brothers lost to you; their defeat is not unjust." Yang Monian said lightly.

Qin Chuan shook his sore arm with no relaxation in his demeanor.

Yang Monian was so far the most formidable opponent he had ever faced.

His speed and strength were extraordinary.

Moreover, he hadn't even drawn his stick yet.

Yin Hand Stick was Yang Monian's specialty.

Qin Chuan dared not underestimate it.

"Young friend, it's just a string of Yin Yang Beads, why fight to the death?"

Yang Monian slowly lifted the cane in his hand, then began to twist it.

Soon, a cane transformed into two separate short sticks.

The black stick body emitted a metallic glow.

Clearly, Yang Monian was starting to take things seriously.

"Before I draw my stick, there's still time for regret." Yang Monian continued.

Indeed, with short sticks in hand, he was confident he could defeat Qin Chuan.

However, fists are speechless; if Qin Chuan fought hard, it could pose considerable trouble.

Yang Monian thought it best not to fight if possible.

Unfortunately, Qin Chuan turned a deaf ear.

Because in his hand, there were no Yin Yang Beads at all.

What could he give Yang Monian?

However, Qin Chuan was not worried and instead took out his phone to check the time.

"Sigh..."

Seeing this, Yang Monian sighed softly, then stepped forward, leaving an afterimage.

His speed was so fast, Qin Chuan couldn't catch his movements.

Witnessing the movement, Qin Chuan retreated several meters.

His gaze locked onto Yang Monian's arm.

But Yang Monian was clever, keeping both hands hidden behind him, making it impossible for Qin Chuan to catch his move.

Qin Chuan's alert was high, suddenly perceiving danger approaching.

He glanced sideways and saw a short stick suddenly appear beside his cheek, about to strike down.

"Hiss!"

Qin Chuan took a sharp breath, tilted his head, and with a "thud," Yang Monian's short stick slammed onto a nearby tree trunk.

The large tree, which required two people to embrace, shook violently.

On the tree trunk, a half-finger-deep dent appeared from the strike.

It was imaginable, had this stick landed on a human head, the skull would likely be shattered.

Qin Chuan distanced himself, showing some apprehension.

"Forgot to tell you, I'm just a step away from the Grandmaster Realm." Yang Monian smirked with a hint of pride.

"Grandmaster Realm?"

Qin Chuan realized that the next level after masterful skill was indeed the Grandmaster Realm!

However, it seemed that entering the Grandmaster Realm wasn't easy.

Yang Monian had one foot in the grave yet hadn't taken that final step, which was proof enough.

This showed how strong the opponent Qin Chuan was facing this time.

"Miss by a hairbreadth, and you fall short by a thousand miles, a step away is still a step away."

While Qin Chuan was pondering, a loud voice suddenly echoed from behind him.

Upon hearing the voice, Qin Chuan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Old Gu, you finally made it."

Qin Chuan's tone carried a hint of complaint.

"Apologies, there was traffic on the way." Old Gu blushed.

"Gu Zhongqiao?"

Yang Monian's gaze sharpened, speaking sinisterly: "Is your injury healed?"

"Take a guess?"

Gu Zhongqiao chuckled.

Yang Monian's expression fluctuated, his hold on the stick alternated between tight and loose.

Unlike Yang Monian, Gu Zhongqiao had long entered the Grandmaster Realm.

He was one of the few Martial Arts Grandmasters in Jiangcheng.

As Gu Zhongqiao said, a step away is still a step away.

The barrier from masterful skill to Grandmaster Realm had blocked countless Martial Artists.

Yang Monian was one such case.

Given his current age, achieving the Grandmaster Realm seemed impossible.

However, reliable sources said.

Gu Zhongqiao had been injured for many years and was terminally ill.

In recent years, he rarely made a move.

Rumors claimed his strength was not what it once was.

Thus, there might be a chance for a showdown.

A cruel glint flickered in Yang Monian's sinister eyes.

Seeing this, Old Gu smiled and said, "Dare to exchange some blows?"

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