"Let’s go! Come with me to see Master!" Min Wei said, practically bursting with excitement. He grabbed Chen Cheng and started pulling him toward the main residence where Mr. Zheng lived.

On the way, Chen Cheng asked Min Wei for the details of his and Mr. Zheng’s trip outside the city to hunt Demon Beasts.

Chen Cheng learned from Min Wei that Mr. Zheng had indeed been the one to slay the Tier Four Ink Flood Dragon from Qinghe County.

However, the battle hadn’t been as easy as the rumors in the Jianghu claimed. Furthermore, the one dispatched by the Demon Suppression Department hadn’t been the Lord Chief Director, but rather a Vice Director at the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm.

Before Mr. Zheng arrived, the Ink Flood Dragon had already been fighting the Vice Director from the Demon Suppression Department for several hours. Both combatants were wounded.

The Ink Flood Dragon was incredibly powerful, and it had nearly killed the Vice Director. Mr. Zheng intervened just in time, unleashing his Second Realm to slay the Ink Flood Dragon in a single strike and save the Vice Director’s life.

"That Vice Director is an absolute powerhouse himself. He comprehended the First Level Sword Skill Realm and was wielding a Top Grade Treasure Sword that could cut through iron like mud. He wanted to slay the Tier Four Ink Flood Dragon on his own, but unfortunately, he overestimated his own abilities.

Even though Master slew the Ink Flood Dragon in a single strike, he suffered some minor injuries as well. After all, he’s only a Perfect Martial Artist of the Bone Forger Realm. Forcibly using his Second Realm takes a massive toll on him."

When it came to a life-and-death battle between Martial Artists at the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm—a level above his own Bone Forging Realm—Min Wei couldn’t grasp the finer points, even having witnessed it firsthand. He could only give a general account.

Before long, the two arrived at Mr. Zheng’s main residence.

Min Wei was not only one of Mr. Zheng’s Registered Disciples but also the Hospital Chief Steward. He knew the grounds like the back of his hand, leading Chen Cheng through the main gate, across a central courtyard, and into the rear courtyard where Mr. Zheng practiced his Martial Dao.

The rear courtyard was quite spacious. It contained a training ground, and off to one side was a large garden with an elegant pavilion.

"Junior Brother Chen, Master is likely playing chess with the Third Mistress right now. Please wait here in the pavilion for a moment while I go get him," Min Wei said before hurrying off. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

In the center of the pavilion stood a pale green stone table with an antique air. A chessboard was carved into its surface, holding several pieces from what appeared to be an unfinished game.

Chen Cheng wasn’t an expert at chess, so he couldn’t make much of the board. He could only vaguely sense a powerful, unyielding momentum emanating from the placement of the pieces.

Several elegant works of calligraphy and painting hung on one side of the pavilion, but Chen Cheng was in no mood to admire them.

Suddenly, his attention was captured by a single character carved into one of the pavilion’s pillars. His gaze was fixed, unable to move.

It was the character for "Slay." The calligraphy was vigorous and powerful, carved deep into the wood. While the chess pieces on the stone table exuded an unyielding momentum, this character plunged Chen Cheng into a trance. He found himself involuntarily reliving his journey, recalling every enemy he had ever killed. Every move, every stance, every minute detail played back in his mind, right down to the subtle shifts in his foes’ expressions the moment he severed their heads!

"Slay! Slay every last enemy!"

After what felt like an eternity, Chen Cheng snapped out of his reverie, his eyes gleaming with a brilliant light.

"An excellent ’Slay every last enemy’!"

A deep, resonant voice rang out as Mr. Zheng strode into the pavilion.

Chen Cheng quickly bowed with his hands clasped. "Greetings, Master."

"No need for formalities." Mr. Zheng waved his hand and studied Chen Cheng for a long moment. A flash of surprise appeared in his deep-set eyes, and he nodded slightly. "Your progress in the Martial Dao is astonishingly fast, kid. I must say, I’m quite surprised!

I carved that ’Slay’ character over ten years ago. Neither Qin Ruiyang nor Shen Qingshuang could grasp its mysteries, yet you’ve voiced its true meaning in a single phrase."

Chen Cheng adopted a humble expression. "Thank you for the praise, Master. I was just spouting nonsense. My mind is a complete blank now; I have no idea what that ’true meaning’ was."

This was the truth. He hadn’t truly comprehended anything from the character. He had simply been inexplicably drawn into an abstruse, profound state of mind.

Now that he was back to his senses, it all felt like a passing cloud. He hadn’t managed to grasp any of that so-called "true meaning" at all. Not even a sliver.

"Hahaha! Interesting, truly interesting!" Mr. Zheng boomed with laughter.

"You’re truly remarkable, kid! Since that’s the case, I’ll show you what this so-called ’Realm’ is all about!"

Mr. Zheng’s interest was piqued. He waved to Min Wei. "Bring the large Iron Ball!"

"Yes, sir." Min Wei complied, quickly walking to the edge of the training ground. He stopped before a jet-black Iron Ball the size of a millstone. With a sharp exhale, he heaved the massive ball into his arms and, from a distance of over a hundred feet, hurled it violently toward Mr. Zheng.

The huge Iron Ball was immensely heavy and flew with incredible speed, whipping up a fierce wind. Its power was such that it could likely have flattened the entire pavilion.

Mr. Zheng suddenly shot forward. His right hand formed a claw and snatched the Iron Ball out of the air, holding it steady.

His fingers, as hard as steel, sank deep into the ball’s surface.

Then, he began to manipulate the Iron Ball. Using the combined strength of both hands, he crushed it flat, then proceeded to mold it into a constantly shifting series of shapes.

To an unknowing observer, it would have looked like a lump of soft clay, not an Iron Ball.

Mr. Zheng’s movements didn’t cease. He executed the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill, and the massive Iron Ball continued to morph between his claws. The powerful momentum felt as overwhelming as a thunderbolt, utterly unstoppable!

With a thunderous shout, he unleashed the move Claw Shattering Mountains and Rivers. The massive Iron Ball instantly exploded, shattering into a pile of slag.

’So this is the Powerful Eagle Claw Stance? It’s truly fearsome!’

Chen Cheng could tell that for that final strike, Mr. Zheng had only used the Powerful Eagle Claw Stance. Even so, the display of power left him utterly shaken.

’If it could do that to a massive Iron Ball, how could a mere mortal body possibly withstand the might of that claw?’

"Well?" Mr. Zheng said coolly, turning to look at Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng’s expression was grave. "Extremely strong!"

Mr. Zheng smiled faintly. He suddenly focused his mind and calmed his breath, once again executing the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill. As he moved, the iron slag on the ground swirled into the air. It slowly gathered between his claws, compressing tighter and tighter until it once again formed the shape of an Iron Ball.

His movements grew faster, the ball grew denser, until at last it solidified between his claws, once again a single, seamless, jet-black Iron Ball.

"Catch!" Mr. Zheng shouted, and the Iron Ball in his hands shot toward Chen Cheng.

The Iron Ball flew with menacing force, several times faster than when Min Wei had thrown it.

Chen Cheng didn’t dare to be careless. He leaped out of the pavilion, his hands moving in a blur as he executed the move Dragon Eagle Captures the Tiger to catch the Iron Ball securely.

The moment the Iron Ball touched his hands, Chen Cheng felt an immense force of several thousand pounds behind it, nearly sending him flying. He immediately began to move, fluidly shifting through the stances of the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill. He spun several times, using the circular motions to dissipate the ball’s momentum before finally bringing it to a steady halt in his hands.

’Good thing I used seventy percent of my strength,’ Chen Cheng thought. ’Otherwise, that one ball would have sent me flying dozens of meters away!’

"Hah!" Mr. Zheng’s eyebrows shot up, his face a mask of astonishment. He then clapped his hands in admiration. "Even though you relied on your Perfect Level Powerful Eagle Claw Skill to dissipate the force, catching that throw of mine is still quite an impressive feat for a kid like you!"

Min Wei, standing to the side, was also filled with admiration. "Junior Brother Chen’s talent is on par with the True Disciples from the Major Sects," he said earnestly. "Master, why don’t you accept him as a True Disciple?"

"A True Disciple..." Mr. Zheng mused for a long moment, then slowly shook his head with a soft sigh. "Forget it. What’s the point of a True Disciple? With my current Martial Arts Power, it would only bring more trouble."

With that, he turned and began walking slowly toward the main hall.

"Sigh..." Min Wei couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.

Chen Cheng frowned. ’I came here to ask Mr. Zheng for a Muscle Strengthening Realm Cultivation Technique Manual,’ he thought. ’What does he mean by just leaving without another word?’

Just then, Mr. Zheng’s voice drifted back to them.

"Chen the Kid, come with me."

"Yes, sir." Chen Cheng was overjoyed. He quickly set down the large Iron Ball and followed Mr. Zheng into the main hall.

Since Mr. Zheng hadn’t invited him, Min Wei didn’t dare to follow, and could only wait outside.

An hour later, Chen Cheng emerged from the main hall. Min Wei immediately rushed over and asked eagerly, "Junior Brother Chen, did Master accept you as a True Disciple?"

Chen Cheng thought for a moment before answering truthfully, "The Master said that while I’m not a True Disciple, it’s better than being one."

Hearing this, Min Wei was perplexed. He muttered to himself, "’Not a True Disciple, but better than being one’... When did the Master become so cryptic?"