The martial arts arena of the Vermilion Sword Hall was lighted in the morning sunlight, the clanging of wooden swords and the clatter of boots echoed through the spacious courtyard.
Students in red-trimmed robes chatted in small groups during their break, discussing martial arts techniques, spiritual root cultivation, and the upcoming assessment.
Li Zhang stood beside the stone weapon rack, arms outstretched. He possessed immense natural strength; simple warm-up exercises were child's play for him, but Instructor Zhuang never tolerated laziness, so he had to do the warm-up with everyone else. Just as Li Zhang reached for a heavy wooden sword, a dark shadow landed on the stone slab in front of him.
He turned around, his brow immediately furrowed when he saw the owner of the shadow. Standing a few steps away was Chen Liwei.
