All of us are one

Chapter 5 The Classification of Martial Artists in the Martial Arts Alliance

Jiang Yanming looked up at the other person, and various messages about him flashed through his mind.

Qin Wu, the second true disciple of Jingtao Martial Arts School, is currently the strongest martial artist in the school. He has participated in the martial arts competition held by the Martial Arts Alliance. Although he did not achieve a very good ranking, he still made a name for himself in the Jingtao style.

"Come on up." Qin Wu's figure disappeared around the corner of the corridor.

Jiang Yanming glanced back at his disciples who were practicing in the training ground, then quickly went up to the third floor.

Jingtao Martial Arts School has four floors. The first floor houses functional rooms such as a reception area, restaurant, storeroom, pharmacy, changing room, and bathroom.

The second floor has only one huge training ground, which is where the martial arts school's registered disciples, who are the main source of income, practice. The school's formal or true disciples also teach the registered disciples there.

The third floor has a martial arts arena for competitions, a training ground for formal disciples, and changing and shower rooms.

Jiang Yanming followed his second senior brother Qin Wu directly to the fourth floor of the martial arts hall. After passing a small training ground, he entered the core area of ​​the martial arts hall by scanning his face.

"This is your second time visiting the martial arts school since your master passed away, isn't it?" Qin Wu sat on a single sofa, his hands clasped in front of his chest, his eyes fixed on Jiang Yanming who had just entered.

Faced with the aggressive Qin Wu, Jiang Yanming sat calmly on the single sofa opposite him, sizing up his second senior brother.

Qin Wu was a descendant of the Shenwu Kingdom. He had black hair and black eyes, a resolute face, and skin as pale yellow as jade. At first glance, he looked like a true Shenwu Kingdom citizen.

"I really don't understand why Master wants you to be the acting head of the martial arts school," Qin Wu said coldly. "Your heart is clearly not in martial arts. I don't think you can pass the Martial Arts Alliance's review at all."

"Is it possible that I have grasped the true meaning of the surging waves?" Jiang Yanming said calmly.

"You've grasped the profound meaning?" Qin Wu suddenly stood up, his face filled with disbelief.

"Otherwise, why would Master appoint me as the acting headmaster instead of you, Second Senior Brother?" Jiang Yanming retorted.

"I see." Qin Wu sat down in understanding. "No wonder Master was like that... It seems I worried for nothing."

"Did the Martial Arts Alliance come to Crescent City to examine whether I am qualified to serve as the head of the Surging Waves Martial Arts Academy?" Jiang Yanming asked.

"Not entirely," Qin Wu replied. "Besides reviewing your qualifications, we're also checking the venue for the next martial arts tournament."

"Jingtao Martial Arts School was selected?" Jiang Yanming asked in surprise.

Jingtao Martial Arts School was established less than twenty years ago, making it one of the relatively newer martial arts schools. He was quite surprised that it was selected as the venue for the annual martial arts tournament.

"Junior brother, I know your mind is not on martial arts, but as the leader of my Jingtao School and the master of the Jingtao Martial Arts Hall, you must know some common sense."

Qin Wu reminded them, "The Martial Arts Alliance is a semi-official organization supported by the Four Nations Alliance. The Martial Arts Tournament is a grand event for martial artists within the Four Nations Alliance. Therefore, the Martial Arts Tournament is held in rotation by the four nations. This year, it is the turn of the Democratic Republic of St. Petersburg."

"Crescent City is one of the top-ranked metropolises in the Democratic Republic of St. Petersburg, and my Surging Wave Martial Arts School is the only martial arts school in Crescent City, so it is naturally on the shortlist."

"But now... the chances of my Jingtao Martial Arts School being selected are almost zero."

Qin Wu paused for a moment before explaining the reason: "More than ten years ago, the martial arts schools in Crescent City were removed from the list. It was because my master defeated many masters of the Martial Arts Alliance that he established the Shocking Wave Martial Arts School in the metropolis of Crescent City. In doing so, he offended countless martial arts masters."

Jiang Yanming understood.

If Master were still alive, the higher-ups of the Martial Arts Alliance would naturally have to give him face and would most likely have held the Martial Arts Tournament at the Jingtao Martial Arts Hall. But things are different now.

"If you don't grasp the true essence of my Surging Waves style, it will be very difficult for my Surging Waves Martial Arts School to survive." Qin Wu seemed much more relaxed.

"How strong is Master?" Jiang Yanming asked curiously. "More than ten years ago, he was able to defeat many masters of the Martial Arts Alliance at the age of nearly sixty."

"I don't know." Qin Wu shook his head, then suddenly thought of something and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Perhaps... Senior Brother knows."

Upon hearing Qin Wu's words, a memory surfaced in Jiang Yanming's mind.

The eldest disciple of the Jingtao Martial Arts School was the only one among the six disciples who was not a descendant of the Shenwu Kingdom, and did not even have a trace of Shenwu Kingdom blood.

Jiang Yanming had never met his senior brother, because in his memory he had only been in the martial arts school for three years, while the latter had disappeared ten years ago, with no news of him and no knowledge of his fate.

"How strong is Senior Brother?" Jiang Yanming asked.

Qin Wu narrowed his eyes slightly: "When I became a true disciple, my senior brother was already at the peak of martial arts."

"Forging martial arts?" Jiang Yanming asked, puzzled.

"You don't even know this?" Qin Wu exclaimed incredulously. "How did you become a true disciple?"

Jiang Yanming recalled: "One day I was practicing boxing when my master happened to see me, and that's how I became his disciple."

"You..." Qin Wu took a deep breath, then tried to explain calmly, "As I said before, the Martial Arts Alliance is a semi-official organization used by the Four Kingdoms Alliance to monitor martial artists. All formal disciples of martial arts schools must be registered, which includes information such as strength and address."

"The Martial Arts Alliance divides martial artists who have entered the field into three levels: Martial Arts, Martial Arts Training, and Martial Arts Mastery."

Jiang Yanming made a mental note of it, then asked, "Second Senior Brother, what is your strength?"

"Peak of Martial Arts Forging," Qin Wu answered frankly.

"At the same level as the senior brother from ten years ago?" Jiang Yanming asked in surprise.

"Why do you think our eldest brother was exceptionally accepted as a true disciple by our master?" Qin Wu asked matter-of-factly.

"An exception?" Jiang Yanming asked, puzzled.

"Besides our eldest brother, have you noticed any similarities among us true disciples?" Qin Wu continued to ask.

"The Divine Martial Kingdom," Jiang Yanming replied knowingly.

"Yes, apart from our eldest brother, all of us true disciples are descendants of the Divine Martial Kingdom," Qin Wu sighed. "Perhaps that's why our eldest brother left the martial arts school."

Jiang Yanming fell silent upon hearing this, unsure of what to say. Was this considered racial discrimination?

"Second Senior Brother, if you encounter two armed robbers, can you kill them with your bare hands before they fire?" Jiang Yanming asked casually, recalling what happened last night.

"It depends on the situation." Qin Wu thought for a moment. "If the distance is close and we can catch them off guard, it's easy to do. But if the distance is far and there's no cover, even if I manage to kill the two bandits, I'm afraid I'll be in grave danger."

"It seems the person who killed those two illegal immigrants last night was a martial artist at the Mingwu level." Jiang Yanming nodded thoughtfully, thinking to himself, "So, Uncle Li's strength is above the Mingwu level?"

"Second Senior Brother, is the strongest martial artist only Mingwu?" Jiang Yanming asked.

"Of course not." Qin Wu shook his head, a look of longing in his eyes. "When I participated in the last martial arts tournament, I heard someone mention that his grandfather once tore an armored vehicle apart with his bare hands!"

"Is this even human?" Jiang Yanming asked in astonishment.