At noon, a heavy rain suddenly fell on the East Sea, pouring down like water.
The downpour came suddenly and left just as quickly, stopping after only an hour.
The air after the rain was exceptionally fresh, with a beautiful rainbow arching across the sky.
On the paths of Shenxianju, Jiang Wuming and Xia Dong walked side by side towards the training grounds.
Today, Jiang Wuming was to give a martial arts class as a guest teacher. Including Xia Dong, almost all students at the academy had signed up for his class.
This was because Jiang Wuming had broken through to the Nine-star Martial Artist realm, killed Taige who had broken through to the One-star War God, creating a new myth in the global martial arts world and topping the潛神榜 (Qian Shen Bang - Hidden God Ranking). This had sent shockwaves through the entire martial arts community, and all students at the East Sea Martial Arts Academy wanted to attend Jiang Wuming's class.
Today, Xia Dong had her hair in a ponytail, wore a white robe, and carried a long sword on her back, resembling a female sword immortal from a fairy tale.
In contrast, Jiang Wuming, with his buzz cut and black robe, looked somewhat out of place, lacking any aura of a martial arts grandmaster.
"Brother Wuming, look, a rainbow!"
As they walked, Xia Dong pointed at the rainbow in the sky, exclaiming excitedly.
Despite being only twelve years old and already a Seven-star Martial Artist, Xia Dong was still a child and found many things novel.
"Xiaodong, do you regret becoming a martial artist?" Jiang Wuming couldn't help but ask.
"Ah—"
Xia Dong was a bit stunned and instinctively replied, "Brother Wuming, why do you ask that?"
"If you hadn't embarked on the path of martial arts, you would be like most children, attending regular schools and having a normal, happy childhood," Jiang Wuming said.
"Brother Wuming, I don't regret it," Xia Dong replied thoughtfully and seriously.
"Why?"
It was Jiang Wuming's turn to be curious.
"Because I know the danger this world is about to face. Mom said my martial arts talent is very good, and I will become a powerful martial artist, able to protect others in the future."
Xia Dong spoke slowly, displaying a sense of responsibility far beyond her years.
"Yes, Xiaodong will definitely become a powerful martial artist," Jiang Wuming said, smiling and patting Xia Dong's head.
"I'll follow your example, Brother Wuming."
Xia Dong made a funny face, but she spoke her truest feelings.
As Jiang Wuming topped the 潛神榜 (Qian Shen Bang - Hidden God Ranking), he was seen as a role model by the young martial artists of the East Sea Martial Arts Academy and even the entire Dragon Country.
This was also why, even as a guest teacher, all the students had signed up for his class.
A few minutes later, when Jiang Wuming arrived at the training grounds, the place was already packed. The students were waiting there early.
"Teacher Wuming is here!"
"Teacher Wuming is amazing!"
"Teacher Wuming, can I take a photo with you after class?"
...
Jiang Wuming's appearance caused the training grounds to erupt in cheers, and the students shouted excitedly.
Among them, the girl who had asked for a photo with Jiang Wuming immediately felt a gaze of intense pressure the moment she finished speaking.
Huangfu Weixia, dressed in a red robe and with her proud assets prominently displayed, stared at the girl with a half-smile, her expression conveying: "Little sister, I advise you to calm down!"
"Teacher Wuming, I am Xiao Han from the class of 2018. May I become your disciple?"
Just as the students were excitedly cheering upon seeing Jiang Wuming, a thin young man stepped forward and bowed deeply to Jiang Wuming, asking the question.
Become a disciple?
At the mention of Xiao Han's request, the previously noisy training grounds quickly fell silent. All eyes turned to Jiang Wuming and Xiao Han.
On one hand, this was the first time someone had proactively asked to become Jiang Wuming's disciple since he began teaching at the East Sea Martial Arts Academy.
On the other hand, Xiao Han was a very famous martial arts genius at the East Sea Martial Arts Academy. At only eighteen years old, he was already an Eight-star Martial Artist.
His name contained the character "Han" (寒 - cold), and he came from a humble background. As a child, he practiced martial arts under a nameless martial artist in his town. In just two years, his strength reached the level of his teacher, who then suggested Xiao Han seek discipleship from major martial arts sects or enroll in the East Sea Martial Arts Academy.
However, due to his extreme poverty and other issues, his parents disagreed with him pursuing martial arts. He could only study while practicing the cultivation techniques left by the nameless martial artist on his own.
As with most things, practicing martial arts required a systematic and correct method, as well as various medicinal aids. Xiao Han, practicing on his own, naturally couldn't achieve great success.
At fifteen, he was still only a Three-star Martial Artist.
But that year, the head of the Martial Affairs Office in Xiao Han's city discovered this gem of a talent and sent him to the East Sea Martial Arts Academy, providing a subsidy to Xiao Han's family.
Over the past three years, Xiao Han received systematic training at the East Sea Martial Arts Academy, and his martial arts prowess improved rapidly. In just three years, he cultivated from the Three-star Martial Artist realm to the Eight-star Martial Artist realm, setting a cultivation record for the East Sea Martial Arts Academy!
More importantly, since he began cultivating, he had never taken any gene-enhancing drugs, only consuming qi and blood pills to aid his practice.
This indirectly proved how astonishing his martial arts talent was!
"My God, why would Xiao Han want to become Teacher Wuming's disciple?"
"Yeah, I remember Teacher Xia Xueqin and Principal Ren Xiaoyao both offered to take Xiao Han as their disciple, but he didn't become anyone's disciple!"
...
After a brief silence, a wave of exclamations arose from the crowd.
Even Huangfu Weixia's attention was drawn to Xiao Han. Everyone looked at Xiao Han with confusion.
"Xiao Han, as a fellow student just said, Principal Ren and Teacher Xia both expressed their willingness to take you as a disciple back then, yet you refused them. Why do you wish to be my disciple?" Jiang Wuming also felt a bit curious.
"Teacher Wuming, there are two reasons."
Xiao Han straightened his back, unaffected by the gazes of everyone present, and said word by word: "First, I have never taken gene-enhancing drugs since I started practicing martial arts. I have always wanted to find a strong person like you as a teacher. This way, if I encounter any problems in my cultivation, my teacher will have the experience to handle them.
As far as I know, Teacher Wuming, you have also never taken gene-enhancing drugs.
Second, you have just broken through to the Nine-star Martial Artist realm, killed a One-star War God, created a new myth in the global martial arts world, and topped the 潛神榜 (Qian Shen Bang - Hidden God Ranking)!
In my heart, you are the strongest martial arts genius of this era. I believe that by becoming your disciple and cultivating with you, I will achieve something in the martial arts field!"
"Xiao Han, you must have heard some things about me. My identity is very special, and I may encounter a lot of trouble and enemies in the future. If you become my disciple and cultivate with me, you will be implicated."
Jiang Wuming pondered for a moment and then spoke.
With his true strength and experience, guiding Xiao Han in cultivation was not a problem.
After all, he had taught a few children in the Zhan Long Hall and had experience in taking disciples.
But as he said, he worried that if Xiao Han became his disciple, his future development would be affected.
"Bang!"
Xiao Han responded to Jiang Wuming with a muffled sound.
Under the gaze of everyone, Xiao Han knelt directly in front of Jiang Wuming and kowtowed three times.
"I will not forget my original intention and will forge ahead with determination. Xiao Han is willing to fight alongside my teacher, and I will have no regrets in this life!"
After kowtowing, Xiao Han spoke firmly, his voice echoing through the training grounds.
...