I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1878 - 309: Born Warrior

Chapter 1878: Chapter 309: Born Warrior

Jiejiang City, Yang Fan?

No matter how the young masters of the aristocratic families present tried to recall, they couldn’t remember any family with the surname Yang in Jiejiang City, let alone a person like Yang Fan.

But since he wasn’t from the aristocratic families, could he possibly be a disciple who joined a sect in Jiejiang City?

Having no other considerations, Young Master He could only think this way, so he asked the young Unparalleled Wind Media brother again, "May I ask, which sect does this Young Master Yang Fan belong to?"

Many of the incorrect judgments in the world stem from one’s own incorrect perceptions. In the eyes of these arrogant aristocratic disciples, those who could pass the test must at least be people from the aristocratic families, and if not, they would have to be sect disciples.

But evidently, this time they were terribly wrong. The Wind Media brother waved his hand with a smile and said, "This gentleman is not a young master from any aristocratic family, nor a prominent disciple of any sect, just an ordinary martial artist, without affiliation, self-taught, and his cultivation was only at the middle stage of the transformation realm when he ascended the Cloud Ladder."

As the words fell, the young masters within the three outer layers looked ashen-faced, while the wandering martial artists at the three outer layers were overjoyed.

...

At this time, the commoner hero who was being celebrated throughout Xiling City was somewhat awkwardly standing in the back mountain of Unparalleled Academy, facing a mortal Martial Arts Monarch.

The two men looked at each other, one was filled with interest, while the other was somewhat hesitant.

Tang Luo didn’t hold back, the rules of the Cloud Ladder were the same for everyone. He was surprised that the once exceptionally gifted young boy had truly embarked on the path of the martial artist.

Looking at the calluses on his hands and the extraordinarily active spiritual energy flowing through his limbs, despite having no high-level heritage, this kid’s physical skills were unexpectedly good.

Even more remarkable was his mindset; with ninety-nine steps to the Cloud Ladder, one slip of doubt or hesitation in his heart, and he would fall.

"How did you manage it?"

Tang Luo asked with a smile, "Cloud Ladder ninety-nine, it gets thinner the higher you go. Weren’t you afraid at the time?"

The dazed Yang Fan heard the dean’s inquiry and apologetically cupped his fists in salute, "Dean, at the time, I only wanted to step on the Cloud Ladder to ascend to the heavens. I didn’t have time to be afraid."

"Is that so, what a good child."

Tang Luo praised with a smile, the term "good child" wasn’t only a commendation for Yang Fan’s current mindset but also a reward for his ten years of unyielding practice: "Tell me, why do you want to practice martial arts?"

Seeing the dean’s expression suddenly become somewhat serious, Yang Fan was suddenly alarmed, the answer he was about to blurt out was forcibly swallowed back.

Why practice martial arts?

Perhaps this question was the most meaningless one on the Xiehe Continent.

As long as the conditions allowed, who wouldn’t want to practice martial arts?

But wanting is one thing, and truly achieving it is another.

Yang Fan furrowed his brows, carefully recalling his original motivation for wanting to practice martial arts, and the once blurry memory gradually became clear again.

It was an extremely cold midnight, the monastery’s bell could not block the chilling wind, nor could the broken straw cover their bodies; he and a few siblings could only huddle tightly in the corner.

Then Brother Mi’s sudden arrival, saying he would take them away from Xiling, but on the way, they encountered a gang of ruffians.

That very night, he witnessed the splendor of Xiehe martial arts, the magnificent star-moon beast, and the unparalleled swordsman on its back.

The sword aura slicing through the air, as the ruffians who troubled them all fell. In the course from near-death to life, the other children cheered and rejoiced, but only Yang Fan had a burning thought in his mind; he wanted to cultivate, he wanted to learn martial arts.

Was it then because he didn’t want to fall into the same dangerous situation again that he chose to cultivate?

Yang Fan raised his head, intending to share the answer he had when he first embarked on the path of cultivation, but when he saw Tang Luo’s eyes that seemed to be able to perceive everything, he hesitated.

Because the reason of not wanting to fall into danger again seemed insufficient to fully express all the reasons he embarked on the path of cultivation.

So Yang Fan once again bowed his head and began thinking about more reasons for practicing martial arts.

After some time, he raised his head, "Because I don’t want to let myself or those around me fall into danger and be powerless again, so I have to cultivate!"

On the youth’s face was full sincerity, this unwavering determination was indeed admirable.

But Tang Luo just smiled, "So, you practice to protect. Then, answer me, if those people no longer needed your protection, would you still practice martial arts?"

Yang Fan evidently didn’t anticipate this follow-up question, and not quite understanding the dean’s intent, sincerely replied, "I don’t understand."

"For example, now all your relatives are under the protection of Unparalleled City’s rules. There are garrison warriors ten times stronger than you, Star Generals of the Marshal Star Pavilion a hundred times stronger, and even the protection of The Academy’s rules. Everyone you need to protect is in a much safer environment now, and your protective responsibility has been completely taken over. If your motivation to cultivate was just for protecting those around you, you should have relaxed after coming to Red Cloud. What makes you continue to practice diligently?"

Tang Luo smiled and asked, "If all the people around you were gone, would you stop cultivating? Think carefully before answering."

An outsider sees clearly, while those involved are often baffled. Many times, people don’t know what they actually want.

They merely set a target for themselves subconsciously and pursue it persistently.

In this pursuit, some might gradually understand their True Heart, but many cases are obscured by the mundane.

Yang Fan is very young and pure-hearted. Although orphaned, thanks to Mi Bai’s care and teaching, his nature is kind.

But these are not the reasons he could climb the ninety-nine steps of the Cloud Ladder. The fundamental reason he could reach the heavens is because he is a naturally born martial artist.

What is a naturally born martial artist? It’s someone who inherently sees cultivation as a joy. For them, what seems like tedious training to others can be a delightful immersion, with an hour feeling as brief as a quarter-hour.

Even without Xu Lao Ying’s intervention back in the days, Yang Fan would have certainly embarked on the path of a martial artist.

And now, Tang Luo aims to point out his True Heart, because cultivation is never for serving anyone or any purpose.

Cultivation is merely cultivation, and only those natural martial artists who see it as a joy have the qualification to reach the supreme state.

Beyond this, aptitude, birth, martial skills, and lineage are all irrelevant!

Yang Fan’s entire being was shaken by the monarch’s question, and in his eyes were a myriad of scenes revealing countless possibilities.

There was the moment when Xu Lao Ying arrived late, ultimately only saving him, provoking thoughts of avenging revenge once he had honed his martial skills to return to Xiling.

There was the scenario of no intervention from the Yuanzhou swordsman, where they fled back to the city in batches, and he sneaked into a martial school to eke out an existence.

There were countless other scenes of seeking visits, drifting across various prefectures, serving as a wandering martial artist, an assassin, a kitchen hand, a laborer, a sailor, a farmer...

No matter the identity, the eventual scene was always the same - completing his duties before training earnestly, drenched in sweat but with a smile on his face.

Watching the countless scenes where he couldn’t help but smile as he waved his arms, Yang Fan suddenly realized.

It turns out, he has never practiced for anyone or anything; he simply loves cultivation, itself.

"From this day forth, Yang Fan shall be The Academy’s Founding Upper Disciple, and also Eldest Senior Brother of the Unparalleled Inner Court!"

The decree of the Mortal Martial Arts Monarch spread instantly across the thousands of miles of the Lingjiang Central Region, and the declaration, mighty as thunder, made everyone here remember a name that is ordinary yet destined to be extraordinary.