As the saying goes, you can tell a real expert as soon as they make a move. Although Helen Hai's palm strike wasn't particularly fast, it was heavy and powerful—and Ian Song could tell she wasn't using her full strength. If he guessed right, this athletic, beautiful woman was already at Postnatal Perfection.
Bang!
Ian raised his hand to meet her, and two fingers collided with her palm in midair.
Helen Hai was shaken and staggered back two steps before steadying herself, while Ian stood perfectly still, not moving an inch.
Helen was surprised by the result, but even more than that, she was excited.
Though she was a woman, Helen loved fighting even more than most men. Among the younger generation, there were only a handful who could beat her—but now, a fellow expert who was five or six years younger had appeared. Her fighting spirit surged, and with a shout of "Again!" she lunged at Ian once more.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A rapid series of impacts echoed through the corridor, the force of their strikes making the whole hallway tremble.
Uncle Yong, Uncle Li—what do you think?
Watching the fight, Cliff Fu turned to the two middle-aged men behind him and asked.
He's unfathomable," Uncle Yong said gravely, his face serious.
Uncle Li added, "Miss Hai already used the Hai Family's signature technique, the Hai Swallow Eighteen Forms, but still couldn't do anything to that young man. His moves look ordinary, but he effortlessly neutralizes Miss Hai's attacks—clearly, he's still holding back!"
Hearing Uncle Li's analysis, Cliff Fu's eyes lit up. He quietly made a decision. Like the Hai Family, the Fu Family had transformed from a martial arts clan, so they placed great importance on the martial cultivation of their direct descendants.
Unfortunately, his own talent for martial arts was limited; he'd barely reached mid-Postnatal at nearly thirty.
He wasn't much of a fighter himself, but he loved befriending martial arts experts. The two men behind him, Uncle Yong and Uncle Li, were both Postnatal Perfection experts he'd recruited.
Now, Ian Song was only seventeen or eighteen, yet he'd already reached Postnatal Perfection—and was even suppressing Helen Hai. With talent like that, he'd definitely break through to Innate Master before thirty. If Cliff could recruit him, and Ian became an Innate Master, Cliff's position in the family would be unshakable.
After all, the Fu Family, with over two hundred years of history, had only two Innate Masters—his father, Zhenhai Fu, and his grandfather, Weilong Fu.
Thinking of this, Cliff Fu asked again, "Can you tell which family or sect his martial arts come from?"
Both Uncle Yong and Uncle Li fell silent. After a long pause, Uncle Yong finally said, "I can't tell. His moves are simple and direct—almost like military close-quarters combat."
"I think so too," Uncle Li agreed.
Military close-quarters combat?" Cliff Fu muttered, then suddenly had an idea. He whispered to the two men, "Uncle Yong, Uncle Li, attack together—try to force out his real skills."
Got it!
Cliff Fu treated them well, so of course they had no reason to refuse.
As soon as he finished speaking, Uncle Yong moved like lightning, flashing close to Ian Song and throwing a punch at his left shoulder. Uncle Li tapped his right foot lightly on the floor, darted to Ian's right like a shadow, and unleashed a flurry of rapid kicks.
Uncle Yong specialized in fists, Uncle Li in kicks. When they worked together, their combined power was formidable.
Hey, Cliff Fu, what are you trying to pull?
Seeing Uncle Yong and Uncle Li attack, Helen Hai refused to gang up on Ian. She jumped out and glared angrily at Cliff Fu.
Don't you think his moves are way too ordinary?" Cliff Fu said meaningfully.
You mean...?" Helen was startled, realizing Cliff Fu was hinting that Ian was still holding back. She was instantly annoyed—was this guy really not taking her seriously at all?
Cliff Fu smiled and nodded. "Uncle Yong and Uncle Li work perfectly together. Below Innate Master, no one can match them."
As soon as Cliff Fu finished speaking, Ian Song was forced to retreat again and again under the combined assault of Uncle Yong and Uncle Li.
When fighting Helen Hai, Ian hadn't felt any pressure at all—but against these two middle-aged men, he was feeling it. Without using true energy or his Shockwave Waves technique, there was no way he could beat them.
After weighing his options, Ian decided to reveal his Innate Master status.
So, as the two pressed in again, true energy surged through Ian's body in an instant.
Boom!
A powerful aura erupted from within him. Instead of retreating, Ian stepped forward and unleashed a punch and a kick.
Bang! Bang!
With two resounding impacts, Uncle Yong and Uncle Li were sent flying like straw, landing far away. When they finally steadied themselves, they looked at Ian Song with shock and disbelief.
Helen Hai's eyes went wide and her mouth hung open. The moment Ian's aura exploded, she felt a crushing pressure—one only an Innate Master could produce.
Did that mean this teenage boy was actually an Innate Master?
A seventeen- or eighteen-year-old Innate Master? Helen wondered if her senses were malfunctioning, but after seeing Uncle Yong and Uncle Li sent flying by a single move, she knew she wasn't mistaken—he really was an Innate Master.
Her breathing quickened, and a wave of intense frustration welled up inside her. A seventeen- or eighteen-year-old Innate Master—it was just too damn crushing.
She'd reached Postnatal Perfection at twenty-three, making her the strongest of the Hai Family's younger generation, and among young martial artists across China, she ranked near the top. But compared to this boy, the gap made her feel almost hopeless.
Uncle Yong, Uncle Li, are you alright?" Cliff Fu asked with concern. He hadn't expected such a sudden reversal—just moments ago, Ian Song had been on the defensive, and now his two top experts had been sent flying.
We're fine," they replied, snapping out of their shock. Both turned to Ian Song and respectfully cupped their fists. "Thank you for showing mercy, sir."
No problem," Ian said with a wave. He recalled Frank Zhao mentioning how rare Innate Masters were, but seeing the expressions of Helen and the others, he realized he'd underestimated the impact of revealing his realm.
Watching Uncle Yong and Uncle Li, Cliff Fu suddenly had a flash of insight and instantly understood—this teenager was an Innate Master.
He's actually an Innate Master?" Even Cliff Fu, who'd seen a lot in his life, couldn't keep his composure. He strode forward and respectfully asked, "Mr. Song, are you truly an Innate Master?"
You could say that," Ian replied with a slow nod.
Even though everyone had already guessed Ian was an Innate Master, hearing him say it out loud still left them stunned and unable to accept it.
Once Ian admitted to being an Innate Master, Cliff Fu immediately extended an invitation: "Mr. Song, everything that happened today was just a misunderstanding. I've prepared a banquet—would you do me the honor of joining us?"