"Have you been practicing Jujutsu recently?" Lu Yuan chatted with Lu Jing while eating.

After returning to Burnt Rock, Lu Jing had obediently followed Lu Yuan's instructions. Every day, when Lu Yuan went out for his cultivation, she would accompany him to the Origin Martial Arts Hall.

Although it was considered "work," Qin Feng didn't dare assign Lu Jing any real tasks. She simply roamed around the hall each day.

The siblings had reached an unspoken agreement on this matter: they wouldn't mention a word about the Crane Sect, the Origin Martial Arts Hall, or the archaeological team to their family.

A few days ago, Lu Yuan heard that Lu Jing was practicing Jujutsu with a coach at the martial arts hall, so he casually brought it up.

"Yes, Coach Wu said I have great talent and I'm progressing very quickly."

"That's for sure." Lu Yuan nodded. "You're my sister. Even if you were as stupid as a pig, she would still praise you as a genius."

"You..." Lu Jing made a motion as if to hit him, but looking at Lu Yuan's arms resting on the table, she thought better of it and restrained herself. She grumbled, "Haven't you noticed that my complexion and figure have improved recently?"

"Hmm, regardless... practicing is always beneficial," Lu Yuan said. "The coach, Wu, who is teaching you has good skills. If you can learn even a bit from her, you won't have to fear ordinary bullies."

He had seen Lu Jing's Jujutsu coach: a woman in her forties with martial arts skills around the professional second-dan level. Generally speaking, for ordinary people without a sect's heritage, reaching this level was pretty much the limit.

Lu Yuan felt Lu Jing's "Hmm" was a bit dismissive. Looking up, he saw her tapping away on her phone, chatting with someone. His Spiritual Power probed slightly, and he asked expressionlessly, "Is it your best friend again? Talking about me?"

"No... not at all. Just casual chatting." Lu Jing put down her phone, her gaze a little evasive.

Lu Yuan didn't know what to say. Ever since they returned from the Crane Sect, Lu Jing's best friend, Wu Xinlei, had been pestering her daily, urging Lu Jing to convince Lu Yuan to leave the Crane Sect. Wu Xinlei kept saying how bad the Crane Sect was, warning her not to jump into a pit of fire.

Lu Jing had been somewhat swayed and had tentatively tried to persuade him twice, but then she never mentioned it again.

This woman... I'll have Sun Zhihua from the Moon Shadow Sect deal with her later! Lu Yuan thought.

He had added Sun Zhihua's contact information last time. The two chatted occasionally, though it was usually Sun Zhihua who initiated, asking Lu Yuan if he wanted to attend various martial arts salons or classical combat seminars. His social media posts were also mostly about such events, but Lu Yuan rarely paid him any mind.

As for the Crane Sect, Lu Yuan had considered it long ago. Whether the Crane Sect was righteous or an Evil Sect didn't much concern him. Old Liu treated him very well now, always ready to help. Even if he joined a truly prestigious and righteous sect, he might not receive such treatment.

Moreover, Lu Yuan's perception was exceptionally keen. So far, among the Crane Sect's inner disciples, not a single one had shown any 'malicious' emotions towards him. At most, they were merely indifferent.

The rights and wrongs of the Martial Arts Circle can't be judged by ordinary logic. The Crane Sect was branded an Evil Sect, likely because they weren't strong enough... If Old Liu were a Grandmaster, he would probably be the true Heavenly Water Crane Immortal by now.

Sun Zhihua is a good example. An heir of the Moon Shadow Sect, actively adding my contact information... Isn't it because he was afraid I might accidentally kill him? Lu Yuan mused, slowly stuffing the food from the plate before him into his mouth and chewing methodically.

After clearing most of the dishes on the table, Lu Yuan suddenly remembered something. He asked Lu Jing, who was already full and now sipping her drink while scrolling through her phone, "How have the members of your archaeological team been doing lately?"

Lu Jing paused for a moment, then quickly nodded. "They're all doing well. Just as you said, every day I note down who's active in the group chat, and for those who are lurking, I message them individually to confirm. Everyone's fine... It's just..."

Lu Yuan's eyes flickered. "Just what?"

Lu Jing hesitated. "A professor who was leading the team hasn't been reachable since he returned. I heard from my classmates that the professor's family reported him missing a few days ago..."

"What's this professor's name?"

"Xia Weimin."

「A vast and empty arena.」

A large, black-and-gray ram's head statue hung high on the dome, its hollow, lifeless eye sockets silently observing everything below. Amidst restless drumbeats and music with a strong ancient, tribal style, two figures appeared on the massive ring.

One wore a short black tunic and a three-eyed ram mask. He stood tall and had a slightly imposing build. He just stood there quietly, yet it seemed as if invisible undercurrents were constantly surging in the air around him.

The other was a man wearing a brown striped vest and a black saber-toothed tiger mask. The latter was very strong. In both height and build, he was significantly larger than the former. The two were like the difference between a medium and a large size.

However, beneath the black saber-toothed tiger mask, a rugged face was currently contorting slightly. Fine beads of sweat covered every inch of his face. When it accumulated enough, it trickled down his chin and neck to his chest, leaving visible sweat marks.

Finally, the man could no longer bear it; he felt he was about to be crushed by the invisible pressure in the air.

"ROAR—"

The man let out a low growl, a sound like a wild beast roaring from beneath his mask. The floor beneath his feet instantly exploded, creating a small crater. Accompanied by a WHOOSHING wind, his entire body lunged forward like a fierce beast.

As the man made his move, the mood of the audience in the vast venue seemed to ignite simultaneously. Many people stood up, subconsciously crying out the man's name—"Rampage Tiger!" "Rampage Tiger..."

But then, with a soft THUD, the fervent atmosphere that had just been ignited was doused as if by a bucket of cold water.

On the ring, the man in the saber-toothed tiger mask held his arm out, fist clenched, ready to strike. The sheer sight of his blood-engorged, bulging muscles hinted at the explosive power contained within his body and that punch...

Unfortunately, this force was firmly blocked by a fair, slender palm. The owner of the palm, the man in the ram mask, had only made a simple motion of raising his hand... yet it had completely pressed back all that erupting ferocity.

It was as if a thick, insurmountable wall stood before 'Saber-Toothed Tiger.' His Adam's apple bobbed, and his lips quivered beneath the mask as he spoke, "They said... in the past... you'd always let your opponent attack for a while."

"You said it yourself... that was in the past."

As his words fell, a palm rose high, then slammed down fiercely.

With a deafening SLAM, the terrifying force drove 'Saber-Toothed Tiger,' mask and all, into the cement floor beneath, smashing out a large, shallow crater.

The vast arena fell silent for several seconds, countless faces in the audience frozen in shock.

Moments later, a triumphant voice boomed from the loudspeakers.

"Feast Eater... WINS!"

BOOM!

Deafening music and cheers erupted simultaneously.

Lu Yuan, treading through this commotion, calmly walked down the ring. From the fighting arena to his private lounge, people were constantly talking about 'Feast Eater.' Lu Yuan was surrounded by gazes filled with admiration, awe, fervor, fear, or eagerness to challenge him, yet he felt it was utterly uninteresting.

These opponents are too weak...

In the lounge, Lu Yuan removed his mask and his tight black shirt, revealing a body with muscles as sleek and flowing as quicksilver.

Mosa's 'Boiling Night' is becoming more and more like a proper fighting competition... Lu Yuan found this thought a bit strange. Hadn't he always hoped Mosa's competitions would become more legitimate? Perhaps it's because my strength has increased, leading to some curious shift in my mindset.

A challenge! Lu Yuan felt his desire for one growing much stronger. He began to yearn to explore vaster horizons, face stronger opponents, and... delve into more mysterious and unknown Extraordinary realms.

The feeling of being watched is still there... I wonder if Lin Zhiquin knows I'm still competing at Mosa...

After changing his shoes, Lu Yuan took the Moon Snatching boxing gloves from his bag, glanced at them, and then put them back. Ever since obtaining 'Moon Snatching,' he had mostly carried them with him. Being prepared for unforeseen needs was only a small part of the reason; the main thing... was the desire to show off cool gear whenever he got the chance.

Even if he knew, he couldn't say anything to me... After all, I'm a direct disciple now... Lu Yuan still remembered Lin Zhiquin seriously telling him the rule: official disciples were not allowed to participate in for-profit fighting competitions. He hadn't thought much of it back then, but now he felt Lin Zhiquin was, in some respects, so rigid it bordered on being 'hidebound.'

Perhaps even Old Liu doesn't remember setting such a rule for the Origin Martial Arts Hall... Abandoned by the Crane Sect in Burnt Rock for so many years, yet he still stubbornly adheres to it... It's quite pathetic... yet also strangely respectable.

I should try to find out more about Coach Lin's story when I have the chance. Which of the Crane Sect's inner disciples seems like the biggest gossip? Lu Yuan mused as he changed his clothes, slung his backpack on, and walked out of the lounge.

Now, the front entrance to the Mosa Club's second basement level arena was also open. He pretended to be a spectator who had bought a ticket, blended into the crowd, and stepped into an ascending elevator.

It had been over two weeks since Lin Zhiquin took his daughter, Lin Mo, to Sum Nation for surgery. Lu Yuan wondered if everything had gone smoothly.

Lu Yuan insisted on coming to Mosa every day for a few 'newbie-crushing matches' and 'smurfing sessions.' Besides gaining routine professional experience, his main goal was to accumulate more 'victories' for Lin Zhiquin—it seemed Lin Zhiquin needed them to sustain Lin Mo's life.

I hope they won't be needed... Letting out a soft sigh, Lu Yuan left the Mosa Club.

The evening sunlight shone on him, carrying the accumulated heat and swelter of the day. Lu Yuan squinted his eyes, observing the increasingly bustling area, then walked to a nearby stall selling roasted sausages and bought two. He then found a spot in the shade of a bus stop, eating while waiting for his bus home.

As he was starting on his second sausage, the phone in his pocket rang. He took it out, and his eyes flickered slightly upon seeing the caller's name before he answered.

"Hello, Uncle Liu."

Liu Si's respectful voice came from the other end of the phone. "Young Hall Master, I've found information on the matter you entrusted to me. Is now a convenient time for you?"

Lu Yuan glanced into the distance. A bus was approaching, but it wasn't the one he was waiting for. "Go ahead, Uncle Liu."

"...Professor Xia Weimin, whom you asked me to investigate, disappeared from Ping City Airport on the afternoon of the 8th, while the Xixu Archaeological Team was returning."

"Kidnapped?"

"No. According to airport surveillance, he slipped away from the group on his own. He had deliberately not boarded the plane and was carrying a large black suitcase."

"So where is he now? Any news?"

"Dead. Early in the morning on the 13th, Xia Weimin's body was found in a small hotel in Wengzhou, over a thousand kilometers from Ping City. His entire body was torn to pieces, almost a pile of pulp. It looked as if... he had been brutally killed by some extremely powerful palm technique... The suitcase he was carrying is also missing..."

Dead? Killed by a palm strike? Lu Yuan frowned and asked, "Uncle Liu, are there more detailed records, or perhaps hotel surveillance footage? Could you send it to me..."

Liu Si chuckled bitterly on the other end. "Young Hall Master, this is as much as I could find out. As for the rest... my contact isn't willing to disclose more, even if I offer more money."

"Alright." Lu Yuan nodded. "Thank you, Uncle Liu. I appreciate the trouble."

"Not at all, Young Hall Master."

After hanging up, Lu Yuan's expression gradually darkened.

He suddenly realized something. All this time, everything with Lu Jing's archaeological team had seemed quiet and uneventful.

It wasn't because the matter was over.

It was because...

This was just the beginning!

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