Martial Arts Secret Realm: Only I Can Know the Plot?

In the dark martial arts academy, competition is everywhere.

There is competition between students, and naturally there is also competition between teachers.

Besides, the teachers at the Dark Martial Arts School were all forcibly brought together by that principal, and each of them has a story to tell.

No one will tolerate anyone else's behavior, and although friction between them is not as frequent as among students, it still happens from time to time.

However, if these individuals were placed in the outside world, they would all be considered senior figures in the martial arts world. It wouldn't be appropriate for them to set up a stage and swing their arms and legs, so their disciples would handle the task on their behalf.

Teachers' evaluations should indeed primarily focus on teaching quality.

Among these teachers, the eight with the strongest disciples were known as the Eight Masters of the Round Table.

Aside from the elusive principal, they were the eight most influential figures in the Dark Martial Arts School.

And Shouhu's master was one of them.

Madman – Zhang Guangcheng.

Sun Fan was led to a quaint courtyard.

The courtyard was filled with a lot of equipment, all of very novel design, and Ximen Lianfeng enthusiastically introduced them to Sun Fan as they walked.

"This is the latest AR martial arts training system. It allows you to continue practicing martial arts in your mind while you rest, and the next day you'll feel as refreshed as if you've had a good night's sleep, still full of energy."

"Legend has it that there was once a martial arts technique called the Sleeping Arhat Skill, which allowed people to practice it while they slept. Now, with the help of scientific instruments, we can achieve a similar effect."

"Don't underestimate this kind of mental martial arts practice. According to tests, this method can achieve about 30% of the effect of regular training, which is already quite good."

Then he turned to the other side.

"This is an environment simulation room. As you know, many dungeons have rather extreme environments. This simulation room can generate various environments in advance, allowing people to adapt beforehand and perform exceptionally well when they arrive at the dungeon."

"Besides the usual extreme cold, underwater, and desert environments, it even includes some gravity training, which is very beneficial for practicing lightness skills."

Along the way, Sun Fan's eyes were opened to new sights.

The combination of traditional martial arts hammering techniques with modern technology has indeed made it much more efficient.

They walked until they reached a room, where two imposing stone lions stood guard at the main entrance.

"Go inside, your teacher is waiting for you."

After saying that, Ximen Lianfeng gently pushed the door open and stood guard at the door.

Upon entering, Sun Fan saw a sprightly old man of short stature, dressed in a magnificent robe that bulged out.

He stood with his back to Sun Fan, toying with two iron gallbladders in his hands.

Hearing the door open, he turned around, saw Sun Fan, and couldn't help but grin: "Hahaha, good lad!"

After saying that, he pointed to the chair next to him: "Sit."

He then sat down on the armchair not far behind him.

"Let me introduce myself first. My name is Zhang Guangcheng."

The old man's introduction was brief because he knew that simply stating the name would suffice.

Just like some people's business cards only have one name on them.

"I saw your performance in the ring today, very good, very good!"

"However, old man, there's still something I don't understand. Young man, could you help me clear up this confusion?"

Sun Fan nodded.

Zhang Guangcheng, who had been so amiable just moments before, suddenly became serious.

His imposing presence only slowly emerged when he became serious.

"Young man, do you know basic swordsmanship?"

Sun Fan nodded again.

"From my observation, your basic swordsmanship has likely already surpassed the third realm and reached the fourth realm, hasn't it?"

Sun Fan nodded again.

Zhang Guangcheng then asked, "Could you tell me how you practiced your basic swordsmanship?"

Zhang Guangcheng stared intently at Sun Fan, trying to discern every micro-expression on his face.

Under such immense pressure, ordinary martial artists would probably be too frightened to speak.

Sun Fan is not included in this list.

He has seen true masters.

Not one, but two.

Even though they spend every day together, this little bit of intimidation can't scare him at all.

"Practice"

It's like I said something, but it also seems like I didn't say anything at all.

Zhang Guangcheng continued asking questions, addressing Sun Fan, but also seemingly asking himself: "What kind of training? Basic skills, all about grinding and refining. It's the kind of training that doesn't rely on comprehension the most. Whether you're incredibly talented or incredibly dull, when it comes to this, it's all the same."

"The Four Realms, do you know what the basic skills of the Four Realms are? Even with the most advanced equipment available today, it would probably take at least 20 years of hard work to achieve them."

"Even if you started training from the womb, you probably wouldn't have had 20 years of experience, right?"

At this point, Zhang Guangcheng's gaze toward Sun Fan became even sharper.

Like an eagle.

Sun Fan paused for a moment, then slowly said, "Twenty years and one twenty-five days."

Then, he chuckled self-deprecatingly, "I'm not particularly gifted, so my master said he would only teach me one move to build a solid foundation."

"I know that diligence can make up for lack of talent, so I practiced the basics day and night."

"Spring goes and autumn comes, I've trained from a teenager to middle age."

"One day, I suddenly felt that this sword was no longer a sword; it was as if it were a hand that had grown onto my body."

I went to ask my master, and he smiled.

"He took me to meet someone, and that day, I learned a sword technique."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Guangcheng fell silent.

He knew that the master Sun Fan mentioned must be someone from the secret realm.

It is said that Sun Fan had a miraculous encounter, and there are various speculations about his encounter. Some say that Sun Fan obtained a peerless sword technique, while others say that he obtained advanced internal energy cultivation techniques that had been used for many years.

Zhang Guangcheng had previously thought it might be some kind of peculiar swordsmanship.

But now he understands, none of that is true.

It is far more precious than all of this.

The greatest adventure Sun Fan encountered was time.

The time of the martial artist.

This is an opportunity that all martial artists dream of. Which of those powerful families that control cultivation secrets isn't top-tier?

The secret realm slots they release, which only offer a short cultivation period of one year or even half a year, are enough to make countless people fight tooth and nail for them.

Sun Fan, on the other hand, had cultivated for a full twenty years.

He looked at Sun Fan with a hint of regret.

If he knew more, he wouldn't have spent twenty years practicing only basic swordsmanship, wasting this gift from heaven.

It was an opportunity that could be described as defying fate, but it only allowed him to solidify his basic swordsmanship.

Although the foundation was built as solid as it could possibly be.

But that was just the foundation.

He suddenly became curious, curious about that sword strike.

What kind of sword strike could it be that took a full twenty years to arrive?

He asked Sun Fan, "May I see your sword strike?"

Sun Fan nodded.

He always carried that ordinary iron sword. Yan Shisan once said that a swordsman should never be without his sword.

Draw your sword.

This was indeed just one sword strike, and just one move.

After witnessing this sword strike, Zhang Guangcheng fell silent.

He had prepared many arguments.

There can be many masters, but the masters in secret realms are not true masters. In the present world, there are many benefits to having a master or disciple.

But after seeing this sword strike, he couldn't utter a word.

This sword strike is worthy of those twenty years.

As for the way of the sword, I'm afraid I have nothing more to teach him.

After saying these words, Zhang Guangcheng, who had been quite vigorous, seemed to have aged considerably.

Sun Fan clasped his hands together, gripping the sword below, and performed a sword salute.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang. Goodbye."