Thunderclap Fist

Next, he opened a quiet room and went inside. The space inside was not large, only enough for one person to move around.

Xu Yuan sat cross-legged inside, pondered for a moment, and opened the fist manual that had been distributed earlier.

"Thunderclap Fist, primarily for combat, with long sweeps and short strikes, swift and unpredictable, fierce, fast, and powerful... reaching a profound realm allows for splitting stone and breaking rocks!"

Xu Yuan flipped through the Thunderclap Fist manual in his hands, becoming more engrossed as he read, as if his entire being was immersed in it.

"This Thunderclap Fist might not be a top-tier martial skill, but it suits my taste quite well."

After a while, Xu Yuan had memorized the entire set of fist techniques and then practiced a few forms, mimicking the movements.

His excellent physical talent began to manifest, and soon he felt a warmth in his hands.

[Skill: Tai Chi Exercise (Major Accomplishment 1%)
Stone Platform Stance Practice (Minor Accomplishment 3%)
Thunderclap Fist (Novice 1%)]

[Aptitude: 8 (Unusual Bone Structure)]

"The fist technique has been recorded."

Xu Yuan wiped away his sweat, feeling quite pleased.

This fist technique actually required a high level of comprehension. With his initial aptitude, he might not have been able to record it even after a whole night.

"This is the overall change brought about by the improvement in talent. For all cultivation techniques that require comprehension and physical prowess, the efficiency of practice has increased by an unknown number of times."

Xu Yuan's eyes gleamed. After practicing another set of forms, he then consolidated his stance practice, fully refining all the medicinal effects from earlier. This caused his Blood Essence to increase significantly, feeling warm and comfortable, like a small furnace.

"With such accumulation, even without mobilizing Blood Essence, a Martial Artist's various bodily functions can far surpass ordinary people."

"Moreover, I am only at the First Meridian Realm. If I reach the Fourth Meridian, Sixth Meridian, or even cultivate the Extraordinary Meridians, to what extent will my body be strengthened? I would likely be considered non-human."

Xu Yuan sighed, then examined his body's meridians.

"Next, I should gradually guide my Blood Essence into the Governing Meridian. Once it is tempered to its limit, and no further progress can be made, I will encounter the bottleneck of the Second Meridian."

"And I also need to practice Thunderclap Fist to the novice level. I want both!"

He had just calculated that he still had some money on him, so he didn't need to worry about cultivation resources for the time being.

Meridian Nourishing Powder and Blood Activating Pill had the best combined effect, but they were prohibitively expensive. Most people likely only used Blood Activating Pills, and Meridian Nourishing Powder only occasionally.

Even so, one tael of silver was a tight squeeze.

Xu Yuan shook his head, feeling quite emotional about this.

Practicing martial arts relies on the body, but it burns money.

Once you manage a household, you understand the cost of daily necessities. When Xu Yuan breaks through to the Second Meridian, Third Meridian, this considerable sum of money likely won't last long.

However, he had no regrets. Money was meant to be spent, especially on oneself, as the cultivation it converted into was tangible.

He would worry about future expenses when they arose. The cart will find its way when it reaches the mountain.

By the time Xu Yuan came out, it was already late at night. The cold wind that blew in drilled into his neck. His expression remained unchanged as he returned to the dormitory.

At this moment, Tian Yang had already returned. Upon seeing Xu Yuan enter, he quickly came over and whispered, "Brother Yuan, I heard about what happened this afternoon. What do you say, should we teach that kid a lesson?"

Tian Yang had known Chen Sanli's character since their time in the outer court: greedy for petty gains, opportunistic, and with mediocre aptitude. There was no guilt in bullying him.

Xu Yuan shook his head. It was a minor matter, and there was no need to escalate it. He rubbed his stomach, feeling hungry after practicing martial arts.

"At this hour, I wonder if there's any late-night supper?"

"Yes, I already found out. The cafeteria closes at the hour of the dog (7-9 PM). We can still get some if we go now." Tian Yang was also clearly craving something to eat.

As the two left the dormitory, they saw other people returning one after another. Upon learning that they were going to eat, Chen Sanli couldn't help but say, "Brother Xu is only going to eat now. Did he not want to eat with us earlier?"

Xu Yuan looked up at him. Before he could speak, Tian Yang retorted, "He didn't want to eat with you. What's it to you? Can you control it?"

Chen Sanli rubbed his nose and continued to smile, "It's nothing, really. We're all in the same dormitory, and everyone wants to get along."

The implication was that everyone else was hanging out together, and he was being unsociable, looking down on others?

Xu Yuan glanced at him and said nothing, leading Tian Yang, who still wanted to speak, away.

He greeted Li Shan when they met.

"Brother Xu is only going to eat now?" Li Shan asked curiously.

"Yes, I'm a bit hungry after practicing martial arts."

After their conversation, the two walked in different directions.

Xiao Sheng smiled amicably at the two. As for Wang Huan, he merely glanced at Xu Yuan before entering the dormitory on his own.

"Hmph, Wang Huan is putting on airs."

Tian Yang was somewhat displeased upon seeing this and muttered, "What's the use of having good talent? He might get stuck at the First Meridian and never progress..."

"Alright, let's eat first," Xu Yuan said, shaking his head at him.

Formal Martial Artists have their own large dining hall, while the outer courtyard is specifically for Martial Students and the Martial Masters who teach them.

Most other Martial Artists eat in the dining hall. The food here is much better than when they were laborers, with meat and vegetables, plenty of oil and fat, and they can even get seconds after finishing.

The prices are also much cheaper than outside eateries, considered an internal discount.

After eating their fill, the two returned to the dormitory. After washing up, they each lay on their beds and chatted.

Suddenly, Chen Sanli's expression changed, and he muttered, "My stomach hurts." He quickly threw on his clothes and prepared to go out.

However, as soon as he reached the door, he seemed to remember something and said to Li Shan, who was lying on the bed, "Brother Li, quick, I need an emergency favor, lend me some toilet paper, I can't hold it anymore!"

"It's in the bag, get it yourself." Li Shan nodded his head towards the bundle hanging by the bed.

Chen Sanli didn't stand on ceremony. He opened the bundle and grabbed a large handful, which made Li Shan curse with heartache, "You really have the nerve to do that!"

Chen Sanli ignored him, holding up his pants, he hurriedly opened the door and left, not even closing it.

"This son of a bitch..." Li Shan cursed under his breath, shivered, and quickly got out of bed to close the door.

Although he had become a Martial Artist with Blood Essence strengthening his body, the cold winter night wind still felt uncomfortable on his skin.

Not long after, Chen Sanli ran back in, shivering and making "hissing" sounds from the cold, and quickly retreated into his blanket.

"You didn't close the door again, you bastard?" Li Shan's angry voice rang out.

"Sorry, sorry, I was in a hurry and forgot. Could Brother Li please close it? Thanks!"

Chen Sanli gave him a fawning smile, and a few kind words quickly pacified Li Shan.

"Really, be careful..."

Li Shan grumbled a few times and went to close the door. He suddenly regretted being so nice to him, thinking only of finding loopholes all day.

The other people in the dormitory saw this and smiled faintly, teasing him a few times, but didn't take it to heart.

Xu Yuan watched coldly, saying nothing. If he had compromised with Chen Sanli today, perhaps this would have been his treatment.

Shaking his head, he no longer paid attention to them. He turned over and thought about his recent practice of Thunderclap Fist, his eyelids soon grew heavy, and he fell asleep.

The next morning.

A group of six people went to the dining hall for breakfast in an orderly fashion.

At the fork between the training ground and the dormitory, Li Shan saw Xu Yuan turn, heading towards the training ground, and couldn't help but ask:

"Brother Xu, you're going to start practicing already?"

"Mm."

"No way, Brother Xu, we just barely became Martial Artists, and after resting for only a few days, you're already pushing yourself like this. You need to balance work and rest!" Chen Sanli couldn't help but say.