Individual Choices

The crowd grew interested when they saw he wasn't faking his expression.

"What is it?"

"Yuanzi, just tell us already! Don't keep us in suspense like a play."

"Yeah, spit it out!"

Gao Yuan recalled the details and explained that the recruitment of Martial Students would expand next month, while the number of Laborers would remain unchanged.

The rest concerned the Martial Artist assessment: reaching the Second Meridian Realm, achieving basic proficiency in Thunderclap Fist, and earning a self-selected assignment for June. Cultivation breakthroughs required four months, while martial skill improvement needed three. Failing to achieve any of these would result in a random assignment.

"No way?!" Wang Huan sat up, startled by the news, and quickly spoke.

The others looked at Gao Yuan with similar surprise and solemn expressions.

Gao Yuan cleared his throat and slowly began, "They said they'll expand Martial Student recruitment next month. This clearly indicates significant pressure from the Bai Family, and the Shangyang Family is in urgent need of people to step up... On the other hand, this Martial Artist assessment is very important."

The crowd immediately understood. This meant that if they didn't get a self-selected assignment, they might be sent to the front lines to fight the Bai Family, putting themselves in danger.

"This..."

Xu Yuan and Tian Yang exchanged surprised glances. They thought everyone already knew about this.

I guess Master Feng didn't mention it to Wang Huan when he helped him move his luggage... Xu Yuan thought, seeing Wang Huan's bewildered expression.

What he didn't know was that when Feng Xiao helped Wang Huan move, he sensed a change in the latter's attitude and didn't even bother to say anything. He left after putting down the luggage.

Li Shan, Chen Sanli, and the others were even less likely to know.

As for Qin Yang and the other, they probably weren't highly valued by the Martial Masters among the Martial Students.

"Brother Wang, what do you think about this?" Chen Sanli was the first to ask Wang Huan, who was considered the most 'favored' by Master Feng.

Wang Huan pondered carefully and said, "For the assessment next month, achieving the best results requires improving both Stance Practice and martial skills simultaneously, which is too difficult."

"Therefore, if we're not confident, we should at least focus on one thing. It's better than being randomly assigned in the end."

"That makes sense. Brother Wang, which one are you planning to choose?"

"I'm still considering." Wang Huan looked conflicted. He had broken through to Martial Artist in forty days, and his talent was rated as above average, clearly indicating an advantage in physical Blood Essence.

However, after becoming a Martial Artist, refining Blood Essence was very costly, and the monthly stipend wasn't enough for even a month of training. He might have to drain his family's finances again.

In contrast, martial skills were more straightforward. While it might test comprehension, as long as he could eat his fill and occasionally take some precious medicine, it would be more or less sufficient.

So he was wondering whether to spend more money to continue refining his cultivation or to diligently practice the Thunderclap Fist martial skill.

"Sanli, what about you?" Wang Huan asked back.

"Me? My family is poor, we can't afford many medicines. I'll probably have to wait until the assignment money comes in to break through my cultivation. What about Brother Li?" Chen Sanli gave a wry smile, clearly intending to focus on practicing martial skills.

"Same as you," Li Shan sighed. His family had some resources, but they couldn't guarantee he'd break through next month. Therefore, choosing martial skills was more cost-effective.

"Brother Qin?"

"I'm fine with either." Qin Yang clearly wasn't focused on this, his mind still lingering on the actors in that opera troupe.

Xu Yuan wasn't surprised by this. Even before the college entrance examination in his past life, weren't there many people who slept when they should and played when they should?

"Brother Xiao?"

"I'm definitely going for martial skills." Xiao Sheng didn't hesitate much.

"What about Brother Yuan?"

"I still need to look into it." Gao Yuan's answer was vague.

"Brother Xu?"

"Haven't decided yet." Xu Yuan shook his head. Even though he was preparing to do both, he didn't want to say it out loud, lest people suspect where his money came from and become jealous.

"Brother Tian?"

"I'll probably go with martial skills." Tian Yang saw that Wang Huan was still hesitating, so he didn't think he could break through to the Second Meridian either, and his family didn't have that much money.

After asking everyone, Chen Sanli saw that most people had made the same choice as him and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Following the crowd, even if there were problems in the end, he wouldn't be the only one in trouble.

Amidst such discussions, the night grew deeper.

Lying in their beds, propping up their pillows, everyone contemplated their future direction.

Some couldn't sleep all night, while others fell asleep immediately.

It could only be said that everyone was different, and their choices varied according to their circumstances.

The next morning, the beginning of December.

The eight people in the dormitory received a notice. After breakfast, they arrived at the training ground early.

At this moment, dozens of people had already gathered in small groups on the field, men and women alike. The noise wove into a cacophony, like a marketplace.

It was still the hour of the Snake (9-11 AM).

A Martial Master in his forties, with fair skin and a round face, hurried over. A three-stripe pattern was embroidered on his shoulder.

He was clearly a Three-stripe Household Guard.

After taking stock of the sixty people present and confirming everyone had arrived, his expression eased slightly. He spoke loudly:

"My name is Chen Ze, and for the next month, I will be teaching you the martial art, Thunderclap Fist."

"You are all considered Martial Artists now. I don't have much else to say. At the end of this month, there will be an assessment that will greatly influence your future job choices. I believe some of you already know this..."

After explaining all the procedures, Chen Ze paused before beginning to explain the martial art:

"We Martial Artists refine our Blood Essence for two reasons. First, to strengthen our bodies, break through meridian blockages, and accumulate more Blood Essence."

"Second, to cultivate Strength. When Strength is controlled and projected externally, it can cause considerable lethality. The Strength you possess now is called Manifest Strength."

"Master Chen, does that mean there are other levels of Strength?" a Martial Artist with a sharp expression asked, raising his hand.

Chen Ze glanced at him. His sharp gaze forced the man to sheepishly lower his head before Chen Ze spoke again:

"After Manifest Strength, there are naturally other forms of Strength, known as Hidden Strength. However, that can only be mastered after becoming a Sixth Meridian. You lot?"

He let out a cold laugh and said no more.

"Alright, let's get back to Thunderclap Fist. This boxing technique emphasizes power, speed, and close-quarters combat... It's divided into four levels. The first is the entry level, where Strength leaves the body by one inch. The lowest cultivation required is the First Meridian."

As Chen Ze spoke, he had someone fetch a wooden board and place it in front of him.

Then, he clenched his five fingers and threw a punch. His fist stopped abruptly within a foot of the board, but the Strength that erupted from it blasted a large hole in the center of the wooden board from a distance.

Everyone present saw this clearly and gasped in unison.

Upon seeing this, Xu Yuan suddenly recalled that night when Tian Yang was attacked. Zhao Qiusheng's palm had not touched Liu Hong, yet Liu Hong's head had caved in.

"Thinking back now, it was probably the external projection of Strength from a foot away."