Cang Song stood by the window, his back to the assembled clan heads, gazing into the distance with a faint smile.
"Perhaps… this is what they call talent?"
The clan heads exchanged glances but said nothing, quietly leaving the hall.
Only Cang Song and Zhen Yue, the current head of the Fist Emperor Clan, remained.
Cang Song looked at him casually and asked,
"Do you think that kid is still at that place?"
Zhen Yue glanced at the time.
"Probably. Why, do you want to go take a look? Then let's go."
The two quietly reached a high observation point. From afar, they could see—
Tian Lan was still practicing imaginary combat.
Cang Song snorted lightly.
"He's still doing those imaginary drills?"
Zhen Yue nodded.
"Yes, but he's replaced the opponent with Kuang Yan. And he's getting beaten pretty badly."
Cang Song tilted his head.
"Do you want to see if what I said earlier is true?"
Zhen Yue looked puzzled.
"See what? Talent? How do we confirm that?"
"Simple," Cang Song smiled.
"Just teach him a little, and you'll know."
Zhen Yue furrowed his brow in caution.
"Wouldn't that count as cheating?"
Cang Song shrugged.
"The rules say each clan can only send one participant… but they don't forbid giving a participant a little guidance, right? Besides, you're not teaching him Fist Emperor techniques, just basic skills. He isn't part of your clan—so it's not a violation."
Zhen Yue tapped his left palm with his right fist.
"Oh… right! Let's go!"
With that, he leapt from the high point and dashed straight toward Tian Lan.
Meanwhile, Tian Lan was still troubled by Kuang Yan's black scales.
"Strange… how did he injure him that day?"
He repeated the actions from that moment over and over, but something always felt off.
Unbeknownst to him—
Every single move he made was being silently observed by three clan heads: Cang Song, Zhen Yue, and, from farther away, Yao Feng.
When Tian Lan tried that particular strike again, Yao Feng's eyes brightened slightly.
"I see now…"
At that moment—
Zhen Yue descended from above, landing heavily in front of Tian Lan.
"Whoa!! What… what are you doing?!" Tian Lan jumped back in fright.
Zhen Yue smiled like a big bear.
"Hey, kid, you're Tian Lan, right?"
"Y-Yes, yes, that's me!"
Suddenly, Zhen Yue swung his fist with astonishing speed.
Driven by instinct, Tian Lan narrowly dodged and countered with a punch of his own.
Although he hit Zhen Yue, it was completely inconsequential.
"Good reaction," Zhen Yue commented.
"But I felt no real strength at all."
Cang Song leisurely walked up from behind.
"You're a little impatient, aren't you?"
Tian Lan saw him and exclaimed,
"Ah, it's the old man from the arena announcements!"
"Hello, I am Cang Song, the current head of the Magus Clan," he said.
"And this is Zhen Yue, the current head of the Fist Emperor Clan."
Tian Lan's eyes widened.
"Th-Then… you are part of the Nine Great Clans? The…"
Before he could finish, Cang Song gently interrupted,
"Is what you're about to ask urgent? Can it wait until after the Nine Luminaries Martial Tournament?"
Tian Lan thought for a moment.
"Ah, that's fine… but will I be able to find you after the tournament?"
Cang Song smiled.
"Of course. We can even make a promise now—"
"No, no!! If you say it's fine, then it's fine!" Tian Lan flailed his hands in panic.
"Did you come looking for me because of something that happened yesterday?"
Cang Song shook his head.
"Don't worry. It is related to that day, but not to scold you. It was our mismanagement that allowed a direct attack on a participant—that's our fault. We're here to make amends."
Tian Lan said,
"Huh? No need, he didn't really hurt me."
"Are you sure? During the third stage, Kuang Yan will be targeting you relentlessly."
Tian Lan's body shivered slightly.
Zhen Yue grinned.
"Come on, we plan to make you stronger."
Tian Lan froze.
"This… this is your way of solving it?"
"Not just stronger," Cang Song said,
"but strong enough—enough so that you can survive the third stage without being torn apart by Kuang Yan. Being personally taught by two clan heads isn't a privilege everyone gets. Or… are you so scared that you're thinking of quitting?"
Tian Lan—there were only twelve days left. Winning against that black panther? Impossible!
Cang Song continued,
"You also don't have to defeat Kuang Yan. The third stage is a hunting stage—various monsters provide points. As long as you avoid Kuang Yan, you can still advance. Goblins, black wolves, wild horned bulls, savage claw apes, brown magic bears… as long as you complete the hunting tasks, you'll earn points."
Hearing this, Tian Lan's body trembled noticeably.
Zhen Yue looked at him.
"So? Interested?"
After a moment of contemplation—
Tian Lan suddenly clenched his fists, raised his head, and his eyes grew determined.
He bowed deeply to the two clan heads.
"Please guide me!!"
The two clan heads exchanged smiles.
Zhen Yue picked up a piece of wood and pointed at Tian Lan.
"Come on—let's start fixing your movements! Remember, don't give up immediately."
Though his movements were slow, Zhen Yue appeared in front of Tian Lan in an instant.
He raised the piece of wood:
"Stab punch! Hit me with full force!"
"Yes!"
Tian Lan threw a punch—
Bang!
Zhen Yue tapped Tian Lan's shoulder with the wood.
"Shoulder lock too tight! Punch!"
Bang!
"Elbow too stiff! Hit again!"
Bang!
"Center of gravity too high! Again!!"
The wood struck repeatedly.
Tian Lan was corrected, adjusted, and fell again and again.
Until he was completely exhausted, collapsing to the ground, gasping.
Cang Song spoke:
"Alright, that's enough for today. We'll continue tomorrow. Rest well."
The two returned to the high observation point.
Cang Song asked,
"So?"
Zhen Yue's eyes shone.
"Promising talent. Lacking strength, but extremely perceptive. Looks like tomorrow I'll have to recruit him to the Fist Emperor Clan."
Cang Song smiled.
"Oh? Will he agree?"
"He definitely will!"
At that moment, they noticed—
Even though Tian Lan was utterly exhausted, he stood up again.
Muttering to himself:
"I should have tried that move earlier… to show Zhen Yue what was wrong… forget it, I'll ask tomorrow… why didn't it have the power from that day…"
He assumed the stance he had used to slash Kuang Yan that day.
At that moment—
From afar, Yao Feng suddenly stepped forward toward Tian Lan.
Cang Song raised an eyebrow.
"Why is Xiao Feng here too?"
(To be continued)