Wang Yue and Xu Li headed toward the other side of the training ground, where the Martial Academy stood, not far from the training ground.
Yet it was far from those disciples in the rear courtyard who had yet to enter the sect—so far it was like a heavenly chasm.
The moment he pushed open the Martial Academy's gates, Wang Yue was drawn in by the sight before him.
Neatly arranged private rooms lined both sides, each with a small window and a few simple belongings on the sill. They were clearly the disciples' quarters. At the sight of the private rooms, Wang Yue could not help feeling a trace of longing. Back in the rear courtyard, he and Xu Li had shared a room with several others, packed in like sardines.
Further inside was a training ground twice the size of the rear courtyard's. Bluestones, sandbags, and other strength-training tools lay scattered across it. More than a dozen disciples were already cultivating there. Some carried bluestones on their shoulders to temper their strength, the veins on their foreheads bulging.
Others repeatedly practiced their fists against wooden posts, their fist winds sharp and fierce, the posts covered in punch marks.
Still others practiced footwork, their figures as nimble as civets.
The atmosphere here was utterly different from the rear courtyard. There was no idle chatter, no slacking off. Everyone buried their heads in advancing their martial arts, and even their breathing carried a taut focus.
"Wang Yue? Xu Li?"
A cool voice rang out. Wang Yue looked toward it and saw Jiang Peiling standing in the center of the training ground, withdrawing her stance.
She was no longer wearing that loose black outfit from before. Instead, she wore a light gray fitted training uniform that outlined her crisp, capable figure. A thin sheen of sweat slid down her cheeks from her temples, lending her a liveliness she normally lacked.
The several female disciples beside her stopped practicing upon seeing this, their gazes falling on Wang Yue and Xu Li.
One round-faced female disciple suddenly let out a charming laugh, teasingly saying, "Peiling, you actually started putting on face cream these past two days? You used to be someone who would not even touch rouge or powder. Don't tell me you've taken a fancy to one of these two new disciples?"
The surrounding female disciples burst into laughter, but Jiang Peiling's expression did not change. She merely glanced coolly at the round-faced disciple. "Enough nonsense. Practice your fists. This is a good chance for me to see whether you've improved at all over the past half month."
The round-faced disciple did not refuse. She immediately assumed the opening stance of the Harmonious Flow Fist and lunged forward with a smile. "Bring it on. This time, I'll definitely be able to take ten of your moves!"
The sound of fists and palms colliding soon rang out. Wang Yue withdrew his gaze, only to see a tall, burly disciple emerge from the crowd and walk straight toward him.
The man looked seventeen or eighteen. His features were resolute, his gaze steady, and the fluctuations of Blood Qi around him were several degrees stronger than Jiang Peiling's. He was clearly also among the best in the Blood Condensation Realm.
"You are Wang Yue?" The tall, burly disciple stopped before Wang Yue and cupped his fists in greeting, speaking politely. "The master teaching the fists specifically instructed me to bring you to see him once you arrived at the Martial Academy. My name is Wang Daoling."
After speaking, he turned to Xu Li and added, "Junior Brother Xu, Martial Uncle Wang Hu is waiting for you in the side room. You can go straight there."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Wang." Xu Li hurriedly cupped his fists in thanks, carrying his bundle toward the side room.
Wang Yue followed behind Wang Daoling, but ripples stirred in his heart. He had already heard Wang Daoling's name while in the rear courtyard.
He was the son of Wang Changyun, younger brother of Lineage Chief Wang Hezheng. Not only was his background illustrious, his root bone was also a rare supreme grade. Together with Jiang Peiling, he stood at the pinnacle of the Martial Academy's root bone talent and was publicly acknowledged within the lineage as a "future pillar."
Wang Yue pondered in secret, his gaze resting on Wang Daoling's back. With a supreme-grade root bone and the lineage's resources tilted in his favor, Wang Daoling's progress in martial cultivation might be even faster than his own!
Wang Daoling seemed to notice his gaze. He turned his head to look at him, his tone calm. "Quite a few people in the Martial Academy heard Peiling talk about how you killed Zhang Li on Lianmang Mountain.
"Your Harmonious Flow Fist has reached minor accomplishment, so you have real ability. But in the Martial Academy, ability alone is not enough. You also have to withstand pressure. The people training here were all carefully selected from the lineage. The competition is far fiercer than in the rear courtyard."
Wang Yue nodded. "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother. I understand."
Wang Daoling said nothing more.
He led Wang Yue through the training ground and all the way to the last row of rooms at the innermost edge of the Martial Academy before stopping outside a door.
He raised a hand and knocked, speaking respectfully. "Great-Uncle Grandfather, I have brought Wang Yue."
A low "Mm" sounded from within. It was Wang Shuo's voice.
Wang Yue pushed open the door and entered. Wang Shuo was seated in a broad pearwood chair, now dressed in a black martial training jacket with his sleeves rolled up to reveal sturdy forearms. He held a steaming cup of tea, its fragrance curling through the air.
Wang Daoling did not enter. Instead, he called out from outside, "Then I'll go practice my fists first. I won't disturb you, Great-Uncle Grandfather."
"Go." Wang Shuo waved a hand. Only after the footsteps had faded into the distance did he set down his teacup and suddenly rise.
Wang Yue only saw a blur before his eyes, and Wang Shuo had already appeared before him. The next instant, a rough palm seized his shoulder, and a strange, immense force similar to the one from the training ground examination surged into his body.
That force traveled once through his meridians with a gentle probing intent, yet it carried no sense of oppression. A moment later, it quietly dissipated.
Wang Yue's heart tightened. Could this be the martial realm beyond the Blood Condensation Realm?
Wang Shuo released him and returned to his chair, a smile on his lips. "An upper-middle-grade root bone. Not bad, not bad."
Wang Yue was completely baffled. Scratching his head, he asked, "Master Wang, my upper-middle-grade root bone is not considered outstanding in the Martial Academy. Why do you still say it's not bad?"
The Martial Academy had supreme-grade root bones such as Jiang Peiling and Wang Daoling, as well as quite a few disciples with upper-grade root bones. His middle-grade root bone could only be called "above average," hardly worthy of being called "not bad."
Wang Shuo took a light sip of tea and set down the cup as he explained, "Precisely because your root bone is not at the very top, yet you have progressed so quickly, I can be certain that your comprehension is high enough."
He paused, his gaze turning solemn. "Comprehension and root bone are not the same thing. Neither can be lacking in martial cultivation. Some people are born with exceptional root bones, yet cannot even grasp the methods of cultivation. They cannot even make their foundational fist stances solid. No matter how high their root bone is, what use is it? You were able to cultivate the Harmonious Flow Fist to minor accomplishment and condense six streams of qi and blood despite having few resources. That level of comprehension is far stronger than those supreme-grade-root-bone children."
Only then did Wang Yue understand. What Wang Shuo valued was not his root bone, but his comprehension.
At that moment, Wang Shuo picked up a yellowed stitched booklet from the desk and handed it to Wang Yue. "This is the original family copy of the Harmonious Flow Fist secret manual. It records the complete cultivation method for the Harmonious Flow Fist, from entry to perfection, as well as the cultivation insights of both myself and my teacher from back then. Do not spread it. Just read it in secret yourself."
"Don't thank me yet." Wang Shuo waved a hand. "The lineage chief remembers your merit in previously handing over the secret plans of the Zhao Kingdom's spy, so he specifically instructed that your reward would be decided by me. Tell me, what reward do you want?"
Wang Yue raised his head and met Wang Shuo's smiling gaze. Without beating around the bush, he smiled and said, "Master Wang, I feel that the one bowl of Blood Nourishing Soup per month in the rear courtyard wasn't enough. If it could be changed to one bowl a day, that would be even better."
"You brat!" Wang Shuo rolled his eyes and laughed as he scolded him. "You aren't climbing up the pole anymore—you're raising the banner and starting a rebellion! One bowl of Blood Nourishing Soup a day? Brewing one bowl requires at least three taels of silver worth of medicinal ingredients. Give up that thought!"
The smile on Wang Yue's face stiffened. Just as he was about to bargain, Wang Shuo continued, "But it isn't entirely impossible to discuss. One bowl every three days. That is the greatest concession I can make."
Then his tone shifted, turning stern. "But there is one condition. Every month, I will inspect your progress several times. If you dare to stop striving ahead or slack off in your fist training, then do not blame me for cutting off both your monthly silver and Blood Nourishing Soup, sending you back to the rear courtyard to loaf around with those disciples!"
Wang Yue's eyes lit up. One bowl of Blood Nourishing Soup every three days was ten times more than the previous one bowl per month. This was already an enormous benefit!
He had merely tested the waters a little, never expecting such a massive surprise to fall right onto his head.
He hurriedly cupped his fists, his voice excited. "It's a deal! Thank you, Master Wang! This disciple will definitely not slack off!"
"Get lost, get lost, you little bastard. Stop being an eyesore here. Hurry back and study the Harmonious Flow Fist secret manual." Wang Shuo waved a hand, though he could not hide the smile on his face.
Wang Yue turned with the secret manual in hand. He had just reached the door when the booklet in his robes suddenly emitted a dazzling golden radiance. Though it vanished in an instant, it lit up the entire room for a moment.
Wang Yue's eyes jolted wide, and he instinctively pressed a hand over the secret manual in his robes.
He did not dare linger. He hurried out of the room, stuffing the secret manual tightly into his robes, his heart still pounding. There is extractable spirit within it!
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