Chapter 18: Comparing Talents?

“Managed to break through by luck! I’m at the second level of Martial Master now.”
Xiao Yang didn’t try to hide it.
All along, his master and Zhou Yan had put in so much effort to help him with his cultivation.
But unfortunately, his talent had been so poor that, no matter how hard he trained, he remained stuck at the first level of Martial Apprentice.
Now that he had finally broken through, he figured it was time to let them share in his joy.
Zhou Yan, however, stood there with her mouth agape, disbelief written all over her face.
“Second level of Martial Master?”
Was she stunned speechless?
Just a short while ago, he’d still been a Martial Apprentice. How long had it even been? How could he possibly be at the second level of Martial Master already?
But soon, Zhou Yan seemed to realize something.
Without warning, she reached out and pinched Xiao Yang hard on the waist.
“Senior brother, you’re clearly this strong, but you pretended to be stuck at the first level to fool me. You’re terrible!”
She tightened her grip as she spoke.
Xiao Yang hissed in pain.
He hurriedly tried to explain.
“No, I swear I didn’t lie to you! I swear to the heavens!”
After some frantic begging for mercy,
Zhou Yan finally let go, though she was clearly still displeased.
“I’ll believe you this time, for now.”
Rubbing his aching side, Xiao Yang thought to himself, This girl really doesn’t hold back.
He finally understood why Meng Changsheng was so afraid of Zhou Yan.
If she treated him this way, what about others… best not to imagine it.
“You bastard!”
Meng Changsheng touched his forehead, suddenly furious!
A bump!
A huge bump.
He’d been disfigured!
“I’m going to kill you.”
With this commotion, the two turned their attention back to Meng Changsheng.
“Pfft! Hahaha!”
On Meng Changsheng’s forehead was a great swelling, making him look utterly ridiculous.
Xiao Yang was momentarily taken aback.
He hadn’t even used much force—how did it swell up so badly?
“Argh! I’ll fight you to the end!”
Being laughed at like this, Meng Changsheng lost all sense of dignity.
He charged straight at Xiao Yang.
“Go easy on him, or else Second Elder will come looking for you.”
Now that she knew Xiao Yang’s strength, Zhou Yan didn’t try to stop him.
“Alright!”
With that, Xiao Yang stepped forward.
He easily deflected Meng Changsheng’s fist, then reached out with his fingers,
ready to flick several more bumps onto the boy’s head—
to let him know just how treacherous the world could be!
Realizing what was coming, Meng Changsheng quickly retreated, not daring to fight anymore.
He also realized he was no match for Xiao Yang.

“You’re shameless, bullying someone younger!”
He shouted in humiliation and anger.
This left Xiao Yang momentarily speechless.
He’d underestimated Meng Changsheng’s shamelessness;
it was Meng Changsheng who started this, and now, unable to win, he cried foul, accusing Xiao Yang of bullying the weak.
“Little Meng, have you heard this saying?”
Meng Changsheng was curious but pretended to act aloof.
“What saying?”
“I have never seen anyone so brazen and shameless!”
With that, Xiao Yang borrowed Zhuge Liang’s famous words.
Meng Changsheng’s face flushed red at once, knowing full well he’d gone back on his word first.
But he’d made up his mind— for the sake of the girl he liked, he’d be as shameless as needed today.
“Hmph! You think you’re justified in bullying someone younger?”
He raised his chin, voice cold.
Xiao Yang could see that this kid was thick-skinned and ready to keep at it.
“Forget it, why bother with a brat like you.”
Xiao Yang shook his head.
After all, he’d lived two lifetimes—over thirty years combined.
To argue seriously with a child would be beneath him.
“You brat, mess with me again and I’ll teach you a lesson.”
He made to leave with Zhou Yan,
but Meng Changsheng blocked their way.
“Are you asking for a beating?”
Xiao Yang glared, growing impatient.
“No! I want to compete with you.”
“You sure you’re not just looking for another thrashing?”
He looked pointedly at the boy’s swollen forehead.
Meng Changsheng’s face burned with embarrassment and anger, but he didn’t dare attack.
He was afraid of ending up with more lumps and being too ashamed to show his face.
“I’m not talking about a fight!” he shouted.
Xiao Yang asked, puzzled,
“Then what do you want to compete in?”
At this, Meng Changsheng lifted his chin haughtily.
“For a martial artist, the most important thing is talent. No matter how strong you are now, in a few years you’ll still be a nobody.”
Xiao Yang glanced at him.
Clearly, this was meant as a jab at himself.
“You really are asking for a lesson.”
Zhou Yan grabbed Meng Changsheng’s arm, ready to give the boy a beating.
Everyone knew how poor Xiao Yang’s natural talent was.
Back when they’d trained together, Zhou Yan had advanced through several realms, while Xiao Yang hadn’t even entered the basics.
Still, he worked harder than anyone,
training nearly ten hours a day.
For this reason, Zhou Yan felt that these past ten years had been hard on Xiao Yang,
for all his efforts, he’d only just reached the second level of Martial Master.
But Meng Changsheng was different.
As he claimed, he was a true prodigy.

At thirteen, he’d already become a Martial Master—
the youngest in the Giant Spirit Sect in the past ten years.
There was simply no comparison between the two.
Thinking of this, Zhou Yan scolded Meng Changsheng loudly,
“If you keep making trouble, don’t blame me for using force!”
Instantly, Meng Changsheng’s tone softened.
“If he’s too scared, just forget I said anything,” he muttered, brimming with dissatisfaction.
Xiao Yang couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.
Someone actually wanted to compete with him in talent—was this boy clueless about the meaning of self-doubt?
To be honest, your talent isn’t even worth a chicken’s!
“Fine, I accept.”
Xiao Yang agreed at once, wanting to see what Meng Changsheng would do after losing again.
“I knew you wouldn’t—wait, you agreed?”
Meng Changsheng had been prepared for a long negotiation, never expecting Xiao Yang to accept so readily.
“Are you sure? We’re competing in talent, not fighting.”
He asked uncertainly.
“Stop dithering like a woman—just tell me how we’ll compete.”
Xiao Yang pressed,
determined to crush this boy’s spirit before visiting his master and then seeking out the Chicken Tyrant.
Meng Changsheng had already decided on the contest and spoke up immediately.
“We’ll compete in martial skill comprehension. We’ll both study the same martial art, and within a set time, see who achieves deeper mastery.”
“Wait, senior brother!”
Seeing Xiao Yang about to agree, Zhou Yan hurriedly pulled him aside and whispered,
“You can’t make this wager—this guy only needs an hour to master a low-grade yellow martial art. Even I can’t compete with him.”
Xiao Yang was surprised,
but inwardly unimpressed. He’d thought Meng Changsheng’s talent was something exceptional—
yet it took him a full hour to master a yellow-grade martial skill?
Wasn’t that something you could master at a glance?
“Is he really that confident?”
Xiao Yang glanced over at Meng Changsheng, noting that the boy seemed rather well-off.
He decided to help him lighten his load a little.
Zhou Yan nodded uncertainly, unable to see through her senior brother anymore.
“Not a hundred percent, but he’s at least ninety percent sure.” She tactfully shaved off a tenth.
Xiao Yang nodded.
“Alright, I understand.”
He turned and walked back to Meng Changsheng.
“Hmph! You big idiot, I’m not talking to you anymore.”
Zhou Yan snorted, intending to walk away, but, worried for Xiao Yang, she trailed after him in silence.
“We need a wager—otherwise, what’s the fun?” Meng Changsheng pulled out a slip of paper.
He didn’t think much of it.
After all, what could a ten-year menial servant possibly wager that was worth anything?
Xiao Yang replied coolly,
“I’ll bet a million silver.”
But as soon as he said this, Meng Changsheng’s face filled with scorn.