“Junior Tien Shinhan requests an audience with the master of the house!”
Alex didn’t rush to answer.
He had already decided to take Tien on as a disciple, but he needed to play the part of the elusive, worldly master first.
As for whether a real master actually lived in this dojo before him, Alex had no idea.
Outside the gates, Tien and Chiaotzu exchanged a glance.
“Tien, do you think no one’s home?” Chiaotzu asked, tilting his head.
“Should we just go in and check?”
“No, Chiaotzu,” Tien immediately stopped him.
“We’re here to ask for guidance.
We have to show respect and follow the rules.”
“Okay!” Chiaotzu nodded obediently.
“Junior Tien Shinhan requests an audience!” Tien called out again, louder this time.
When silence remained the only answer, Chiaotzu prepared to use his psychic abilities to scan the inside of the dojo.
Just then, a calm, indifferent voice echoed from within the hall.
“Come in.”
Tien and Chiaotzu’s faces lit up, and they hurried through the wooden doors.
Inside, they found a handsome young man dressed in a traditional Taoist robe, sitting cross-legged in the center of a massive Bagua symbol.
His eyes were closed in deep meditation.
It was, of course, Alex.
When Tien had first called out, Alex figured that if he wanted to pass himself off as a legendary master, he had to look the part.
He had quickly scrounged up an old robe he found lying around the dojo and thrown it on.
Tien carefully studied the young man in front of him from head to toe.
Was this the master?
Or just a disciple?
He extended his senses, trying to gauge the man’s ki—and felt absolutely nothing.
He couldn’t sense a single drop of energy coming from him.
Tien froze.
‘Could this really be the hidden master?’
As a seasoned martial artist, Tien knew that being unable to sense someone’s ki meant one of two things: either the person was an ordinary civilian, or their power was so vastly superior to his own that it couldn’t be comprehended.
This man might look young, but the serene, commanding aura around him was undeniable.
He was definitely no civilian.
Tien immediately pressed his hands together in a respectful bow.
“Senior, I am Tien Shinhan.
We have come seeking guidance.
Please take us as your disciples!”
Alex slowly opened his eyes.
His dark obsidian pupils seemed to flash with a piercing light.
Tien caught that sharp gaze and his heart skipped a beat.
‘I knew it.
This man is no ordinary youth.’ He had to be an ancient grandmaster who had mastered some secret longevity technique to maintain his youth.
Such things weren’t unheard of among elite martial artists—if they lived long enough, they became absolute legends.
Seeing the absolute reverence in Tien’s eyes, Alex knew he had hooked him.
“Seeing your sincerity, I will accept you,” he said smoothly.
Overjoyed, Tien dropped to his knees and bowed deeply.
“Thank you, Master!”
“Ding!
Congratulations to the host for taking Tien Shinhan as a disciple.
Rewarding: 1 Billion Power Level, Super Precognition, Telepathy, and Giant Dodon Ray.” “Current Host Power Level: 2 Billion.”
Noticing Chiaotzu still standing there in a daze, Tien shot him a quick, urgent look.
Chiaotzu immediately understood, dropping to his knees beside Tien.
“Thank you, Master!”
“Ding!
Congratulations to the host for taking Chiaotzu as a disciple.
Rewarding: 500 Million Power Level, Super Hyperbolic Time Chamber, God Ki, and Ultimate Kaio-ken.” “Current Host Power Level: 2.5 Billion!”
Alex was ecstatic as he listened to the system notifications.
These rewards were absolutely insane—especially the Super Hyperbolic Time Chamber and God Ki!
He couldn’t wait to see how his time chamber compared to the original one on Kami’s Lookout.
But now wasn’t the time to check his inventory.
He looked down at the two kneeling martial artists.
“Rise.”
Tien and Chiaotzu stood up, then respectfully took a seat on the meditation cushions across from him.
Alex casually swept his sleeve in a slow, dramatic arc, laying the mystique on thick.
“Tien…
your most powerful technique.
It’s called the Tri-Beam, is it not?”
Tien flinched, his head snapping up in shock.
‘How did he know about the Tri-Beam?’
He had never met this master before, nor had he ever demonstrated the technique in front of him.
Then, realization struck him, and he nearly slapped his own thigh.
‘He must have foreseen it!
A true master with the gift of clairvoyance!’
He had definitely come to the right place.
His gaze deepened into pure veneration.
“Yes, Master.
My ultimate technique is indeed the Tri-Beam,” Tien replied, nodding solemnly.
“I am quite familiar with the Tri-Beam,” Alex continued smoothly.
“Its destructive power is impressive, but it has one fatal flaw—the charge time is far too long.”
Tien was astonished.
To not only know of the secret technique but to instantly pinpoint its greatest weakness—this master didn’t just know about the Tri-Beam, he clearly understood how to perform it perfectly.
He quickly bowed his head again.
“Please instruct me, Master!”
Alex gave a slow nod.
“Your Tri-Beam requires a long charge time to maximize its destructive output.
However, without that immense power, it wouldn’t be a true Tri-Beam to begin with.
I possess a technique called the Super Tri-Beam.
It shares the same foundation as yours, but its damage multiplier is far greater, and its charge time is significantly shorter.”
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in.
“Today, I will pass it down to you.”
Thrilled, Tien thanked him profusely.
Alex then began to break down the theory and execution of the new technique.
“The reason the Super Tri-Beam hits harder and charges faster lies entirely in ki circulation.
When gathering your energy, you must compress it like this…
then channel it here…
exactly like that.”
Tien was mesmerized.
Even after Alex finished speaking, he remained in a state of deep contemplation.
The profound ki manipulation techniques felt like a revelation, as refreshing as a cup of fine wine.
Seeing Tien completely absorbed in his epiphany, Alex didn’t disturb him.
Instead, he turned his attention to the small psychic beside him.
“Chiaotzu.
I am aware that your primary offensive move is the Dodon Ray.
However, its current power output is too weak.
I will now teach you the Giant Dodon Ray!”
Chiaotzu didn’t actually care much about getting stronger.
As long as he could stay by Tien’s side, he was perfectly happy.
Still, if this master was willing to teach him, he was eager to learn.
“Thank you, Master!” he chirped brightly.
Alex walked Chiaotzu through the mechanics of the Giant Dodon Ray.
Since Chiaotzu already had a solid foundation with the standard version, it didn’t take long for him to grasp the concept.
Just as he finished, Tien finally stirred from his meditation.
Alex looked at the two of them.
“Judging by your expressions, I take it you both have grasped the concepts?”
“We have!” they replied in unison.
“Good.
Then step outside and demonstrate them for me.”
“Yes, Master!”