The group made their way to the training compound.
Xu Yuan surveyed the surroundings. It was basically no different from Sun Rong's courtyard.
There were six dormitories, each housing eight people. Xu Yuan and Tian Yang were assigned to the D-Class Room together.
The next moment, Li Shan and Wang Huan, having heard the commotion, actually came out as well. Seeing the two familiar faces, both of them were clearly somewhat surprised.
"Brother Xu, you broke through?"
Li Shan froze for a moment, then hurried over with delight written all over his face and punched Xu Yuan lightly on the shoulder. "I knew you could do it!"
Wang Huan's gaze flickered as he noticed Feng Xiao carrying their luggage behind them.
Master Feng had actually helped these two carry their luggage over?
Could there be something special about them?
But after hearing that the two had broken through together last night, he relaxed once more.
Master Feng had probably only come to carry their luggage himself on a whim.
Wang Huan pondered inwardly, while a smile also appeared on his face, making him seem warmhearted.
Xu Yuan smiled at Li Shan, then cupped his hands toward Feng Xiao. "Thank you for seeing us here, Master Feng."
Seeing this, Tian Yang hurriedly followed suit and cupped his hands in thanks.
Feng Xiao nodded slowly and said blandly, "Since you all came from the same rear courtyard, I told them to arrange for you to share a dormitory if possible."
Naturally, everyone thanked him again.
A moment later, the two entered the room and looked around. Though the space was not large, it only held four sets of bunk beds, so it was not crowded. It was also much neater than the outer courtyard.
The two lower bunks farther inside had already been claimed. Xu Yuan asked Tian Yang beside him, "Do you want the top bunk or the bottom bunk?"
"Brother Yuan, you choose first. Either is fine with me."
Tian Yang had enough sense to know his place, not to mention that the other man had saved his life.
Xu Yuan nodded. Without any fuss, he chose a lower bunk slightly farther inside. The nearest bed was by the door, and with the weather growing colder by the day, opening and closing the door would easily disturb whoever slept there.
Tian Yang was quick-witted as well and chose the bunk above Xu Yuan's.
Seeing this, Feng Xiao slowly explained:
"The Lineage has expanded the proportion of recruits and Laborers studying martial arts, so a few extra beds were added. Once next month passes and you are assigned duties, your lodging will improve."
"So your progress next month will be extremely important. It concerns your future standard of living and lodging conditions."
"Thank you for your guidance, Master Feng," the group said in unison.
Xu Yuan set his luggage on the bed. Before he could even spread it out, he rose and said to Feng Xiao, "Master Feng, let's leave our things here for now and head to the registration office."
The man had specifically brought them here and explained so many matters. That was already a tremendous favor, and it would be inappropriate to keep him waiting here.
"That is indeed what we should do." Feng Xiao nodded. Naturally seeing through Xu Yuan's thoughts, he could not help praising the young man inwardly once again for his thorough consideration.
Afterward, Li Shan and Wang Huan remained in the dormitory, while Xu Yuan and Tian Yang followed Feng Xiao toward the registration office.
"This small stone forest on the left is specifically for practicing the Thunderclap Fist... The plum-blossom stakes in that corner are best suited for practicing stance work."
"And there are the meditation rooms here. They can calm the mind and nourish the spirit, allowing you to temper your qi and blood and break through in cultivation."
As Feng Xiao walked, he introduced the surroundings. Then he cautioned them:
"You two had better put your backs into it. You are no longer competing only against Laborers, but also against those Martial Students. They have better physical foundations, and their families are wealthier than yours."
At this point, he revealed another piece of information. "At the end of next month, you will have an assessment. If you can break through to the Second Meridian Realm by then and bring the Thunderclap Fist to the entry level, you may choose your own duty assignment, for a term of six months."
"The deadline for breaking through the second meridian is four months, while the deadline for advancing in martial arts is three months. If you accomplish neither... then you can only accept a random assignment."
"Right now, the Shangyang Family and the Bai Family are like fire and water. They are fighting for resources everywhere, and battlefronts have already opened in many places."
Feng Xiao's expression turned grave as he instructed the two:
"So this chance to choose your own assignment is extremely important. Even if you cannot manage both, you must succeed in at least one!"
"Otherwise, if the front lines become desperate and you are sent over there, then whether you live or die will truly be left to fate."
These words could be considered heartfelt advice.
Naturally, Xu Yuan knew good from bad, so he gave Feng Xiao a deep bow. "Thank you for your guidance, Master Feng."
Perhaps even if Master Feng had not said these things, he would have understood them eventually. But he would have taken many detours and wasted much time.
Now that Feng Xiao had brought it up of his own accord, the road ahead had been laid bare before him. He had to acknowledge this favor.
Listening from the side, Tian Yang's expression gradually grew solemn as well. He too bowed respectfully to Feng Xiao.
Before this, he had respected Feng Xiao mostly because of the man's strength and status, with fear making up the greater part of that respect.
But now, that respect carried a few more traces of genuine feeling.
Xu Yuan understood that Feng Xiao was trying to forge a good connection with them through these words. Only because the two had become martial artists and displayed their value was the man willing to do this.
But there was nothing wrong with that. There had never been kindness that came from nowhere in this world.
"Xu Yuan, you only came close to breaking through at the end of the month, so your aptitude is clearly average. But there is no need to worry too much."
Feng Xiao continued, "Next, you can focus on the Thunderclap Fist. Once you cultivate it to Minor Accomplishment, take the initiative to choose a suitable assignment. After saving some money to buy precious medicine, you may still have hope of reaching the second meridian."
"Oh?"
Xu Yuan's expression shifted at those words.
"There is precious medicine that can improve one's aptitude?"
Feng Xiao was stunned for a moment, then shot him an annoyed look. "Aptitude is bestowed by heaven and nurtured by earth. How could it be changed? Even if such a treasure existed, it would not be something people like us could ever touch."
"What I mean is that once you become a martial artist, you can buy Blood Activating Pills. They can increase the foundation of your qi and blood, raising the chance of a breakthrough."
"After all, your bodies have been depleted since childhood. You are the ones who most need medicines that nourish qi and blood to solidify your foundations. Otherwise, it will be difficult for you to go far."
So that was it.
Xu Yuan suddenly understood. Sure enough, things that could improve aptitude were rare treasures no matter where one was.
"Right, I remember telling you long ago that Stone Platform Stance Practice must be used together with Meridian Nourishing Soup."
Feng Xiao suddenly seemed to recall something and spoke again:
"Though Stone Platform Stance Practice allows for rapid breakthroughs in the early stages, it actually drains the body's potential severely. The farther you go, the slower your progress will become. Perhaps at some realm, it will become impossible to advance another inch."
"That is why I told you to drink Meridian Nourishing Soup whenever possible. It can provide at least some protection."
The two were instantly shocked. Stance practice actually held such a secret?
Once he recovered, Xu Yuan could understand it. The Shangyang Family was not running a charity, after all. Naturally, it would not hand out some excellent secret stance art.
What it taught these Martial Students and Laborers would only be a quick-success version. Even if it squeezed out their potential, as long as it could rapidly create fighting strength, it suited the Shangyang Family's current interests.
Tian Yang did not think that deeply. He only felt a chill spread through his heart.
So the reason he had mastered stance practice so quickly was that it had come at the cost of exhausting his own potential?
What was he supposed to do in the future?
Seeing his dispirited expression, Feng Xiao snorted coldly. "Enough. Stop acting as though you are dying. You rose from a mere Laborer to become a martial artist, and you are still not satisfied?"
Xu Yuan, on the other hand, did not think it mattered.
For others, this stance practice might make it impossible to advance another inch after reaching a certain point.
But for him, as long as his skills kept breaking through, his aptitude could keep improving.
What bottleneck?
If I cannot break through, then my aptitude simply is not high enough yet!
So I'm different from them—I have cheats! Xu Yuan thought to himself.
Before you continue