Xiao Qiang was not wrong. Xiao Qiang had been in many fights since he was young, but this was the first time he encountered a situation like this. If it hadn't been for his impulsive mind, thinking he might implicate the old man, and because San'er and the other hooligans were distracted by the old man, he seized the moment when the hooligans were caught off guard to take them down. With some scattered martial arts skills he learned in high school and a bit of natural fighting talent, he was able to counterattack. Otherwise, if just two hooligans were enough, they could have easily overpowered Xiao Qiang, after all, these hooligans were used to fighting.

The old man laughed after listening, then with an air of wisdom, said to Xiao Qiang, "Young man, you have great talent, why not learn Martial Arts with me?"

When Xiao Qiang heard this, the image of the old man holding a hooligan and shouting loudly in his mind made him smirk and say with a chuckle, "You go practice yourself, I don't need it." Xiao Qiang then added, "By the way, I haven't asked your name yet, sir? I'm Xiao Qiang."

The old man was unfazed by Xiao Qiang's words and said, "I'm Duan Nantian, Xiao Qiang, huh? Hmm, this name has a deep meaning!"

Just as Xiao Qiang was about to say something, he suddenly felt the pain from the left hand and shoulder where he had taken a blow from the hooligans, making him grit his teeth in pain.

Duan Nantian saw Xiao Qiang clutching his left hand and immediately understood what was going on. He laughed heartily, "Haha, not bad, young man, your reactions are quick and you've got a bit of talent. My house isn't far from here, let's go there, and I'll apply some of my special Secret Medicine on you!"

With that, Duan Nantian led the way. Xiao Qiang, having no choice but to follow, walked behind, clenching his teeth and clutching his left hand.

As they walked, Duan Nantian glanced at Xiao Qiang and thought to himself, "This kid has a good nature. I came out on a whim today and didn't expect to run into this. I'll check his bones with the medicine to see if he's suitable to practice our Sect's skills. After all, our Sect needs to carry on!"

Meanwhile, Xiao Qiang looked at Duan Nantian in front of him and mused, "Training in martial arts? Could it be a skill specifically for scamming people? Even if it's useful, it would only come in handy when I'm seventy or eighty!"

With their own thoughts, the two walked a short distance before Duan Nantian stopped in front of a large brown gate that had an ancient charm (you can think of a martial arts gym from the Republic of China era) and said, "Xiao Qiang, come in!"

Xiao Qiang was full of surprise as he looked at the gate and thought to himself, "Wow, I rarely came here before and didn't notice there was such a courtyard gate." Above the gate were two large traditional characters "Martial Arts Hall." Hearing Duan Nantian's words, he helplessly retorted, "Uncle Duan, my name is Xiao Qiang, not Little Qiang. Is this your Martial Arts Hall?" Xiao Qiang sounded like Little Qiang, a name he had been called all the way from elementary school to college.

As he opened the door, Duan Nantian said, "What's the matter? Little Qiang, the indestructible Little Qiang, an unkillable cockroach, means you're quite suited for our Sect's skills!"

After Duan Nantian opened the door and entered, Xiao Qiang followed him into the Martial Arts Hall. Upon entering, they saw a large courtyard. Though it was called a courtyard, it was so large it could be called a small sports field, with various martial arts equipment set up inside.

Xiao Qiang, amazed, looked around and said, "Wow, Uncle, you've got quite a variety here!"

Duan Nantian replied with a bit of annoyance, "What variety? These are just for setting the environment." Then, with a sly look, he said, "Actually, I've been secretly following you for a week, Little Qiang."

When Xiao Qiang heard this, he suddenly felt a chill and quickly took a few steps back with vigilance, saying, "Uncle, why are you following me? I'm quite normal, I like women, and even if I liked men, I wouldn't go for an old man with a full face of wrinkles like you!"

Duan Nantian, a little exasperated, said, "What are you thinking? I was assessing to see if you fit our Sect's True Intent." He paused for a moment, then continued without waiting for Xiao Qiang to speak, "Our Sect has continued from the Pre-Qin Hundred Schools of Thought to today, and though we are not a major Sect, surviving to now has its own way."

Then, with a solemn expression, Duan Nantian said to Xiao Qiang, "Xiao Qiang, are you willing to join our Sect and become our Sect's thirteenth-generation heir?"

Hearing Duan Nantian's words, Xiao Qiang couldn't help but be stunned and said, "Old man, it's the 21st century, no matter how high your skills in Martial Arts, you can't beat guns and cannons, let it go!" Xiao Qiang glanced at the courtyard full of weapon racks and various martial arts equipment, stone locks, and then said this. After all, what if he really was one of those legendary practitioners?

Duan Nantian snorted coldly after hearing this, "Kid, a true Martial Arts Master can catch bullets with bare hands, block missile strikes!" As he spoke, he lightly stepped on the nearby bluestone slab with his right foot. With a crack, the bluestone slab shattered into pieces!

Xiao Qiang, eyes wide and mouth agape, stared at the bluestone slab, stammering, "I... I can't believe it... Old man, you're so awesome?" As he spoke, he bent down to touch the bluestone slab, and it was real!

After a moment, Xiao Qiang, coming back to his senses, looked at Duan Nantian with stars in his eyes and threw himself at Duan Nantian's leg, wailing, "Uncle, please take me as your disciple!"

Duan Nantian, with a face full of disgust, pushed Xiao Qiang away, "Stay away from me!" Then, after coughing twice, he said, "Alright, since you're so sincerely begging me, I'll graciously take you in."

Hearing this, Xiao Qiang excitedly said, "Wow, old man, no—Master, you're so great."

When Xiao Qiang was led into the house by Duan Nantian, his eyes immediately fell on a wooden plaque, on which were the two traditional characters "Body Sect." Duan Nantian silently looked at the plaque, then sighed softly after a long silence, "Kid, my Body Sect has been handed down since ancient times, going through countless hardships until now, martial arts has declined in today's society, do you know why?"

Before waiting for Xiao Qiang to answer, Duan Nantian continued, "Is it because of modern guns and cannons? No, it's because there is no longer the heart of a Martial Artist. People nowadays are too restless, unwilling to study the things passed down by their ancestors. Another reason is that in the past, there was a concept of Primordial Qi on Earth, but during the Ming Dynasty, Liu Bowen cut off the source of the Earth's Dragon Veins, separating Heaven and Earth and making Celestials impossible ever since."

Xiao Qiang listened with exhilaration, "Then why choose me, if there's a legend that Liu Bowen cut the dragon, does that mean the myth of immortality is true?"

Duan Nantian, a bit exasperated, said, "Do you think the ancient stories are fake?" After a pause, Duan Nantian continued, "During the Pre-Qin period, the Hundred Schools of Thought vied for the chance to achieve the Tao, causing significant casualties for the various Huaxia families. To this day, it has not been restored, and up until now, the opportunity to achieve the Tao has not appeared. With the dissipation of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, how can one transcend?"