New Batch of Martial Students

The next morning.

Xu Yuan went to the Personnel Hall as usual to pick up tasks. Since he had done a good job teaching the Martial Masters last month, he naturally continued in his position.

Afterward, he received his monthly stipend and the reward for breaking through as a Martial Artist, totaling forty-five qian of silver.

Walking slowly on the road, Xu Yuan began to ponder:

My current savings are over one hundred and twenty taels. Although the monthly wages I earn are not insignificant, they are far from enough to cover my expenses.

Moreover, according to Uncle Zhao, the resources and precious herbs needed for the Third Meridian realm will be even more expensive, requiring over ten taels of silver per month. Not to mention the Fourth Meridian...

Thinking this, Xu Yuan shook his head. Money really didn't last long.

But I can only move forward. As for what comes next, it's simply a matter of dealing with things as they arise.

After collecting his stipend and choosing his tasks, Xu Yuan emerged from the Personnel Hall to find Chen Sanli chatting with someone outside. Seeing him, Chen Sanli's eyes lit up, and he quickly approached.

"Brother Xu, good morning."

"Good morning." Xu Yuan nodded, then asked, "Why don't I see Tian Yang?"

Chen Sanli replied, "He finished choosing his tasks long ago and decided to go to the medicinal fields outside the city."

"Just now, I also ran into Wang Huan and Xiao Sheng. Wang Huan got two months of self-selected tasks and went to the Level 3 area. Xiao Sheng didn't move. As for Qin Yang..."

He said this with a hint of schadenfreude, "No need to guess, he's definitely still stuck in the Level 4 area. It's going to be tough for him in the future."

In fact, it was just as he predicted.

Qin Yang's mistake had caused his entire team to suffer heavy losses. Naturally, he was now disliked by everyone, and with his injuries, he could barely move.

Xu Yuan remained noncommittal. He didn't have much of a relationship with Qin Yang to begin with, so hearing the news, he just sighed and moved on.

The two chatted for a few more sentences, then Xu Yuan bid farewell and returned to the training grounds of the Outer Courtyard D.

Li Hua and another person were still in charge of guarding the Meridian Nourishing Soup this month. Xu Yuan greeted them, then went to the backyard to answer questions for the laborers. After a while, he left.

After all, what the laborers needed most now was diligent practice. As for other skills, no matter how much he talked about them, it would be useless.

He then arrived at the front yard and looked at a group of unfamiliar new faces. Xu Yuan didn't have many thoughts. He had them line up neatly, introduced himself, and then began teaching.

After a month, he was already very familiar with this routine.

After a simple explanation, he demonstrated the power of a Martial Artist as usual, receiving a wave of shocked gasps. Then, he began teaching everyone Stance Practice.

After completing a full set, Xu Yuan asked, "Did you all remember? That little fatty over there... yes, you, come up and demonstrate."

As soon as he spoke, some Martial Students in the crowd perked up, thinking: As expected, the Martial Master will call a few people up for personal guidance. This is a crucial opportunity, I must seize it!

The Shangyang Family had been expanding its recruitment of Martial Students for three or four terms now. Some 'seniors' who had left because they couldn't break through to Martial Artist status had a flash of inspiration and compiled what they saw and heard in the mansion into study guides, selling them outside.

As a result, many people who had bought the booklets now had a concept of this and held their breath, preparing to eagerly raise their hands.

A bunch of idiots. They probably don't even know what this means. When I get up there for personal guidance, you'll regret it to death!

Some Martial Students looked at others with confused expressions, feeling extremely smug, even fantasizing about the glory they would achieve after becoming Martial Artists.

However, Xu Yuan did not fulfill their wishes.

Seeing that the little fatty was practicing haltingly, he lost interest in giving guidance. After telling the boy to step down, he spoke directly:

"Alright, that's all for today. The rest of you can practice on your own!"

???

What the heck, man?

The Martial Students who were ready to raise their hands were instantly dumbfounded.

Why isn't this Martial Master following the usual routine?

Xu Yuan didn't care what they were thinking. If someone had performed exceptionally well and piqued his interest, he might have guided a few more people.

If you can't find the book by its title, you can try searching for the author. Perhaps the title has been changed!

But in reality, he didn't encounter anyone like that.

Just like before, when an incense stick had burned out, he left the training grounds and entered the quiet room.

Xu Yuan's rhythm of life remained unchanged. In the morning and afternoon, he would teach the laborers and Martial Students for the duration of an incense stick, leaving when the time was up.

His main focus was still on his cultivation. He could spare about four hours a day, and during the scattered free time, he would study boxing routines and martial techniques.

When life becomes regular, time passes quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it was the twentieth of the second month.

The new month was also nearing its end.

That morning, Xu Yuan was leading a group of Martial Students practicing Stance Practice when suddenly a Martial Student raised his hand and said with immense joy:

"Reporting to Martial Master Xu, I've broken through to Martial Artist!"

Saying that, without waiting for instructions, he consciously took out a wooden board and imprinted his palm on it.

"Hmm, not bad!"

Xu Yuan's gaze fell upon him. He had some impression of this person, named Li Shun. He was usually high-profile and had a tendency to show off.

"However, as long as they can help me complete my performance metrics, they are good students."

"Take your luggage and bedding to the training camp. Someone there will inform you of the next steps."

"Thank you, Martial Master Xu."

Li Shun replied excitedly. After breaking through to Martial Artist, his spirits had lifted considerably. He then took his luggage out of the dormitory. As he passed Xu Yuan, his steps faltered. After a moment's hesitation, he said:

"Martial Master Xu, even though it might offend someone, I still want to say... I became a Martial Artist solely through my own aptitude and effort. You never guided me, so I won't be grateful to you!"

The implication was that Xu Yuan had nothing to do with his becoming a Martial Artist.

Another implication was that he had broken through to the First Meridian in just twenty days, and he probably wouldn't need much longer for the Second Meridian. Seeing how outstanding his aptitude was, you must be regretting it now, right?

As he spoke these words, Li Shun felt an immense sense of satisfaction, a feeling of "my fate is in my own hands, not heaven's" and "don't bully a young man who is poor."

After all, he had tried to curry favor with Xu Yuan quite a bit before, but even when Xu Yuan guided others, he had never paid attention to Li Shun.

This small act of defiance made him feel like the center of attention, like a genius teenager in a storybook rebelling against authority!

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in a commotion, their expressions a mixture of shock and excitement, like witnessing a juicy scandal unfold.

His guts are quite something. I hope you'll still dare to speak like this after you've seen the true strength of a Second Meridian Martial Artist.

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes. However, he didn't argue with the student, merely saying calmly, "Mm, I understand."

Did he need Li Shun's gratitude? All he needed was the performance metrics Li Shun could bring him.

As for whether these words offended him?

Xu Yuan wasn't that petty. Besides, he truly hadn't guided the young man, so Li Shun was just stating the facts.

After all, Xu Yuan just finished his basic teaching duties and left each day, not taking his job too seriously. It was normal for students to have some complaints. He couldn't just unleash his Blue Silver Entanglement because he was provoked, could he?

Li Shun had initially hoped to see anger, rage, or a breakdown on the Martial Master's face. Instead, all he received was a dismissive remark.

This made him pause for a moment, and then he felt a pang of guilt, fearing the other man might suddenly lash out. He quickly turned and hurried away, his exit rather anticlimactic.

"Truly worthy of being a young man!" Although Xu Yuan wasn't that much older than them on the surface, he still let out a sigh.

He thinks he's reached the heavens after breaking through to the First Meridian Martial Artist? But this is just the beginning.

Xu Yuan shook his head and continued to teach the others their practice, his mood completely unaffected.

Because, after a month and a half of arduous training, he was also close to that next step.