Purple Mist Dao Master
Chapter 47: Martial Arts Competition, The Path of the Grandmaster, The Peak Battle! [Double at the beginning of the month, asking for next month’s tickets!]

Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Martial Arts Competition, The Path of the Grandmaster, The Peak Battle! [Double at the beginning of the month, asking for next month’s tickets!]

"Master Xia, please don’t joke."

"Without my master’s approval, how dare I take on a disciple on my own accord."

Yan Chuan forced a wry smile on his face, laughing inwardly, as at this moment, these notions of ’old school,’ ’master,’ and ’legacy,’ originally considered ’dross’ and ’shackles,’ became his most polite excuse for refusal.

Xia Yingxing couldn’t say much, so he remarked, "Let’s wait for Old Cheng to return before discussing further."

The conversation ended.

He pulled Yan Chuan to a secluded corner and said privately, "My dear nephew, your current strength is not inferior to your master back then. However, to become a true grandmaster, it’s not just about boxing and martial arts, but also demeanor and impression."

"Our visits from the old guys are to build momentum for you and help you gain composure."

"But that is not enough. For traditional martial artists to become true martial arts grandmasters, they must travel far and wide, visiting sects and challenging renowned masters, and even grandmasters of previous generations."

"Defeating opponents one by one and progressing step by step, only then can one be considered a true grandmaster."

"What happens now is just small skirmishes."

"However, traditional martial artists have declined. In Guangling City, only a few old guys like us can barely offer you some guidance and trailblazing. To continue, you must go outside the city, starting with small sects and independent masters, and finally the two great sects of Songhe Sect and Immortal Mist Mountain."

"When you have perused such a circle, you will be acknowledged as a grandmaster in Guangling City!"

"Your mental state and strength will have been refined!"

Solidify your foundation.

Refined study.

Travel and hone.

And then face peak after peak, bravely climb higher, honing your willpower.

Skill!

Mental State!

Willpower!

When all these three reach their peak, it is what the ’old school’ refers to as the ’Grandmaster Realm’!

"The Grandmaster Realm!"

"There’s no limit!"

"Every traditional grandmaster surpasses ordinary martial artists by a vast margin."

"In those days, the ’Guangling Ten Tigers’ were renowned, but not many were true grandmasters. Your master was one, and others, not so certain."

Xia Yingxing, also an ’old stubborn,’ spoke candidly to Yan Chuan, as he was one of the rare ’young stubborn.’ He took out a list from his bosom and handed it to Yan Chuan, "I’ve inquired about this list of famous masters in and around Guangling City. Keep it for reference. No need to rush into fights; wait for your master’s return to seek advice, and then proceed; it won’t be too late."

Yan Chuan took the list, feeling touched, "Thank you, Master Xia!"

However.

Taking it is one thing.

Feeling grateful is another.

Yet, Yan Chuan had his own ideas—

"Twenty years ago, martial arts practitioners weren’t divided; all the masters were in the ’old school.’"

"Immortal Mist Mountain!"

"Songhe Sect!"

These are the two highest peaks within Guangling County. Break through them, and you achieve ultimate refinement, reaching grandmaster status.

But in today’s times, regardless of Songhe Sect or Immortal Mist Mountain, and even those top masters and grandmasters of the old school, none are at the peak any longer.

A new storm has emerged!

To challenge the heights—

"’Guangling Academy’ is the highest peak!"

Even if Yan Chuan wanted to follow the traditional grandmaster path of the old school, the challenge was not Immortal Mist Mountain, nor Songhe Sect, but ’Guangling Academy’!

A new era brings new challenges, new paths.

"Travel far and wide, traverse eight mountains."

"Already outdated."

"No longer necessary now."

"On the martial arts competition on October 24th, experts from across the county, including elites from ’Guangling Academy,’ will gather. Then, I will step onto the platform, facing masters from all paths. If I stand firm, the grandmaster realm will naturally be achieved!"

If defeated.

Then there would be no choice but to start over!

In reality, this ’traditional grandmaster path’ wasn’t exclusive to Yan Chuan, a ’talented old school.’ The new faction did as well, such as Tu Tiannan, the leader of the new martial artists, who once ascended Immortal Mist Mountain to challenge the renowned swordsman of the Jianghu, ’Golden Saber User’ Chu Cheng, is also on this path.

The new faction opposes the old school, but they do not reject all of it; rather, they integrate, taking its essence and discarding its dross, making it their own.

Everything is for better self-improvement.

If the secret medicine is good, take the secret medicine!

If the treasure land is good, create a treasure land!

Similarly—

If the ’grandmaster path’ is good, the new faction also has a ’grandmaster path’!

"My dear nephew, a grandmaster’s future is expected, don’t rush."

"Proceed step by step, and the future is boundless!"

Xia Yingxing came and went, but left his sixteen-year-old son behind. Yan Chuan claimed he couldn’t take on disciples without his master’s presence, and Xia Yingxing didn’t force him, but let his son Xia Lin stay at the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall, practicing boxing with other apprentices.

Yan Chuan couldn’t refuse.

Fortunately.

Xia Yingxing and Xia Lin weren’t the first; several old school masters and seniors who had come before also left their juniors behind.

Seeing the old school decline, these ten old school masters are all stubborn, unwilling to engage with the new faction, unwilling to let their offspring go to Guangling Academy.

But Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall is different.

In the olden days, martial arts hall masters and Jianghu sects often did not teach their own children, frequently exchanging ’hostages.’ You teach my son, I teach your son, switching things around so they could fight and scold without hurting family relationships.

Yan Chuan!

Advanced Study Hall!

Great Virtuous Master!

A future grandmaster!

His strength and deeds convinced people; good timing means to start early, and the earlier, the better!

Yan Chuan didn’t mind, managing one sheep equals managing ten.

Equal treatment for all.

No preferential admission.

Let them be.

Currently, what he cared most about was not the old school masters, nor the increasing number of disciples seeking mentorship recently, but the upcoming seventh ’Martial Arts Competition’!

...

"’Guangling Academy’ has been open for eight years, and for this session, nearly all of the top-tier disciples from the first and second batches have almost reached the grandmaster threshold."

"Tu Tiannan’s challenge to Chu Cheng."

"That’s just one example."

"More and more new faction disciples are challenging various old school martial artists."

"Challenge!"

"Gather momentum!"

Yan Chuan read the report, analyzed his own situation, compiled various information, and gradually realized, "The final showdown is highly likely to occur in this martial arts competition. Whoever emerges victorious will break through and open the ’grandmaster path,’ becoming Guangling County’s strongest grandmaster in a century, quickly outpacing the defeated!"

Martial Arts Competition!

The ultimate battle!

"Can I seize the crown and reach the top in one go?"

Yan Chuan uttered the question, but a smile and anticipation appeared on his face—

Twenty years of dedicated practice!

Months of refinement!

He now thirsted for battle, yearned for stronger opponents!

"Tu Tiannan!"

"Zhong Le!"

"And my good martial brothers—Chen Ze, Wang Jinbao."

"Guangling Ten Outstanding?"

"Let’s see who the victor will be!"

...

Time went on.

Yan Chuan’s fame spread within a narrow scope, particularly in two groups—

One was among the middle and lower levels of disciples at Guangling Academy, especially those preparing for the ’graduate entrance examination,’ where ’Advanced Study Hall Master Yan’s fame was quite notable.

The other was among the old school martial artists in the city.

Many, upon hearing that Yan Chuan had created the ’Tiger Crane Double Forms,’ adding another absolute skill to ’Cheng Family Boxing,’ curiously visited to see his skills, and subsequently regarded Yan Chuan as the hope of the old school, expecting him to be the next grandmaster in the old school martial arts world.

There were even enthusiasts who grouped Yan Chuan with the ten other young talents within Guangling Territory and called them the new ’Guangling Ten Tigers,’ distinguishing them from the previous batch led by Cheng Fengxiao, also known as the ’Later Ten Tigers,’ specifically to face off against the new faction’s ’Guangling Ten Outstanding.’

Never lose composure in defeat!

Make sure the fame is resonant!

Thus, thanks to these efforts, Yan Chuan’s fame increasingly rose.

Sitting at home, fame comes from the skies!

Yan Chuan!

From this moment, truly became famous in a city!

...