Reaching Heaven in a Single Step

Xu Yuan's side was still enjoying a peaceful life.

Meanwhile, Li Daqiang of the Wild Wolf Gang had been in a rather unpleasant mood lately.

"Brother Qiang, the gang leader sent someone to ask again why the Xu family's matter is taking so long," a subordinate reported in a low voice.

Li Daqiang frowned, feeling a wave of irritation. He turned to the junior member he had previously pushed down and asked, "What did your nephew say?"

After returning, he had investigated and found out that the Shangyang Family's reason for letting these laborers practice martial arts was simply to cast a wide net. They would consider it a success if they could catch a few 'fry,' and it was an effortless benefit.

However, if they couldn't break through to become a Martial Artist within two months, they would remain lowly laborers, and no one would bother with them.

Once the time came, he would handle the necessary arrangements, and everything would be in order.

"I've found out."

The ruffian, burly with a long scar across his forehead, quickly stepped forward and said in a deep voice:

"It's been over a month since the Shangyang Family's laborers started practicing martial arts. Those with poor aptitude have already been weeded out... According to my nephew, that Xu Yuan still hasn't even found the Essence of Qi and Blood."

"Just you wait, you brat, pretending to be someone you're not! I'll crush you later!"

Li Daqiang's eyebrows shot up, and he let out a cold laugh. He had some understanding of martial arts training from his early days following the gang leader.

He knew about processes like Stance Practice and refining Blood Essence.

Moreover, the gang leader had specifically mentioned that the Martial Path was highly dependent on talent, and it was considered a lot if one or two out of ten people could become Martial Artists.

Xu Yuan had been practicing martial arts for over a month and still hadn't found his Essence of Qi and Blood, clearly indicating he was a person of mediocre talent.

So, what did he have to fear?

"But there's no rush."

Li Daqiang shook his head. To be safe, he planned to wait until the end of this month before making his move.

With that thought, he instructed a subordinate, "Tell the gang leader there was a slight hiccup, but it will be resolved soon."

After speaking, a cold glint flashed in Li Daqiang's eyes.

Since he had already offended the Xu family, he would cut the weeds and eliminate the roots, lest Xu Yuan rise again from somewhere!

This was the survival strategy that had allowed him to establish himself in this dangerous outer city!

"Once this matter is done, my position as Hall Master should be secured."

At this thought, his mood improved slightly.

Shangyang Family.

In the evening, after all the Martial Masters had rested.

Xu Yuan and the other person returned to the dormitory after their practice.

As expected, Liu Hong was again inquiring about everyone's progress. Most people just shook their heads, indicating no progress.

Ever since the conflict last time, Liu Hong had stopped bothering them directly, but he still asked the others in the dormitory as usual.

After asking around, Liu Hong looked relieved, as if he felt much more balanced.

But there was one exception.

Tian Yang kept glancing at Liu Hong, seemingly eager to 'report' his progress. Seeing Liu Hong approach, he immediately said:

"Ah, I've been refining my Blood Essence to saturation these past few days. By sheer coincidence, I've hit a bottleneck... What does it feel like? There's no particular feeling. I was just practicing, and suddenly I reached this level."

"..."

Liu Hong stared, feeling his heart skip a beat.

The other people in the dormitory were equally speechless.

Damn it, you're showing off again!

Xu Yuan watched Liu Hong's expression, as if he had eaten something foul. Although he was envious, he had to pretend to congratulate him. He secretly shook his head, thinking, Why bother?

Comparing yourself to others daily, no matter the outcome, only brings you unhappiness. How others fare doesn't necessarily change your own situation.

After all, martial arts practice relies heavily on talent and accumulation.

If someone suddenly has a breakthrough, it only leads to restlessness and helplessness within yourself.

The next day.

Because news of Wang Huan and Sun Rong hitting bottlenecks spread.

The laborers, who had been somewhat relaxed, tensed up again. The morning hours felt insufficient, so they interspersed martial arts practice and Stance Practice during their work breaks.

As a result, they were caught and severely reprimanded in front of everyone by Fatty Wang and others, which eventually calmed things down.

During this time, some laborers who still hadn't found their Essence of Qi and Blood also lost their motivation.

From then on, they stopped practicing stances and returned to their old routines, diligently doing their service work.

Li Shan, as he had hoped, reached saturation in his Blood Essence refinement and hit a bottleneck on this day. Overjoyed, he even spent money to treat Xu Yuan and the other person to a substantial meat meal.

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.

Time flew by, and a few more days passed, bringing it to the fortieth day of the laborers' martial arts practice.

This morning, after Feng Xiao had the group practice Stance Practice a few times, Wang Huan suddenly showed a delighted expression and quickly raised his hand to announce his breakthrough.

Amidst the clamor of the Laborers, Feng Xiao had him circulate his Blood Essence to his palm and press down lightly on a wooden board, leaving a clearly visible palm print!

"Becoming a Martial Artist in exactly forty days, you've done very well!"

Feng Xiao was quite satisfied. Regardless of how much difference there was in Aptitude beforehand, if one hadn't crossed the bottleneck at a single moment, it wouldn't count.

Although this person couldn't be called a shining pearl, he was still considered a mid-to-low-tier strength within the family.

What's more, he would be able to afford a few more doses of medicinal soup with the extra performance he'd achieved this month.

Thus, in his joy, he personally led Wang Huan away from the dormitory to another courtyard.

Xu Yuan remembered that courtyard was also one that they, the Laborers, were responsible for cleaning.

He never expected that the roles had now been reversed.

"Wang Huan has truly leaped to become someone superior overnight!"

The Laborers who shared a dormitory with Wang Huan sighed with emotion.

While they wouldn't be served like Martial Masters, he still had a boundless future. At the very least, he wouldn't have to do all sorts of miscellaneous tasks anymore.

As for the few who had given up on practicing martial arts, their eyes were currently red with envy, wishing they could rush forward and snatch that position away immediately!

"Alright, with Wang Huan as an example, I believe you can all make progress too."

Feng Xiao returned and encouraged everyone before leaving with his hands behind his back.

Then, on the sixth day after that, Sun Rong unexpectedly overtook everyone, breaking through the bottleneck once again and becoming a formal Martial Artist.

This move greatly exceeded everyone's expectations.

After all, everyone had assumed Tian Yang would be the second person to break through to become a Martial Artist.

Among the crowd, Tian Yang's expression was grim, seemingly not expecting someone to be faster than him.

Xu Yuan looked at him, his heart as clear as a mirror.

Whenever Tian Yang made progress, he would loudly proclaim it. After reaching the bottleneck early on, he had become complacent amidst the constant praise from his roommates.

He spent a considerable amount of time just bragging and chatting daily, naturally slowing down his progress in Stance Practice.

Feng Xiao was also happy to see this. For him, one more person breaking through meant half a tael of silver more!

Furthermore, it might even catch the attention of the higher-ups.

Feng Xiao knew that among the many instructors of outer court Laborers, his speed was considered top-tier, truly exemplary teaching.

However, this time, he did not escort Sun Rong.

Once attention became too excessive, it lost its value.

Therefore, Xu Yuan and Li Shan, two acquaintances, volunteered to see her off.

Feng Xiao had no objections to this.

Sun Rong first went to pack her belongings before leaving with a leisurely stride amidst the envious gazes of the maids, without a word of farewell.

Subsequently, the few of them walked out of the back courtyard together and arrived at a spacious and bright courtyard.

The entire courtyard was paved with brightly lit bluestone slabs, and the surrounding walls were coated with a layer of fine, pure white lime.

In addition to the wide training area, several lush jade pine trees were planted on both sides.

The air was fresh, and the scenery was neat.

Just looking at it could lift one's mood.

Although Xu Yuan and Li Shan had been here a few times, they couldn't help but sigh each time at the difference between the Laborers' dormitory and this place.

Li Shan surveyed the surroundings, his face full of envy. "This is truly a good place. Even some of the gentlemen outside don't live much better than this, do they?"

"It's not that exaggerated. The environments for the gentlemen are definitely grander; this is just a dormitory." Although Sun Rong said this, her face couldn't hide her surprise and joy.

She had lived a life of abject poverty since childhood, never even eating a candied hawthorn. How could she have imagined that she would one day live in such an elegant residence?

As Sun Rong was sighing with emotion, she saw Li Shan about to walk further inside. She quickly pulled him back and bowed to bid farewell to the two of them. "Alright, Brother Li, Brother Xu, we'll part ways here today. This is a Martial Artist's residence inside."

She pointed inside as she spoke the last sentence, indicating that it was easy to cause offense.

Li Shan was taken aback and then realized. "Oh, oh, it was my oversight. Alright! Then we'll be going. If you need anything, just call out."

Xu Yuan quietly watched Sun Rong. She still had a smile on her face, but he detected a faint, elusive sense of distance from it.

"Mm, you two brothers should keep working hard!"

Sun Rong clenched her fist and offered them encouragement. Only after the two of them ambled away did she retract her smile, pick up her bundle, and walk alone through the porch.

Ahead, it seemed, lay a magnificent vista, waiting to be explored.

If you find this book to your liking, please remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.