Lesser Heavenly Cycle Strength Training Fist

Anyang Martial Arts School.

"Master, this little brother Shi Yi is from the Dan River. Having heard of the great reputation of our Anyang Martial Arts School, he specifically came here to study martial arts."

Zhao Cheng led Shi Yi through the front courtyard where the school's disciples practiced, heading straight for the rear courtyard.

It was the pavilion where Lu Feng, the master of Anyang Martial Arts School, usually drank tea.

Basically, anyone who came to pay for martial arts training would be brought here.

Seeing the two approach, Lu Feng, who was seated in the pavilion drinking tea, set down his cup.

After Zhao Cheng and Shi Yi came before him, he rose to his feet and looked at Shi Yi.

"How old are you, little brother?"

Lu Feng placed a hand on Shi Yi's shoulder and applied slight pressure. As he felt his bones to examine him, he asked the question.

"Sixteen."

Feeling the pain from his shoulder, Shi Yi frowned slightly before answering slowly.

He knew this was an examination of his bone structure—his aptitude for martial arts—because Zhao Cheng had mentioned it on the way over.

This man was very strong.

His Double Pupils could see the blood essence on people's bodies, which was also a measure of their martial strength.

Among all the people he had seen while walking through Anyuan Town these past few days, Lu Feng, who now stood before him, ranked among the top three in blood essence intensity.

Of course, there were supposedly some very powerful people he had not seen, so he did not know the intensity of their blood essence. Thus, the conclusions he had drawn so far were not entirely accurate.

Still, judging by the intensity of Lu Feng's blood essence, it was certain that he possessed real skill.

"Your bone structure is exceptionally good, a superior choice."

"Though you are a little older than ideal, all things considered, not bad."

After examining Shi Yi's bone structure, Lu Feng's eyes lit up, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face.

In his view, since Shi Yi was already sixteen and had not begun Nourishing Blood Essence, his bone structure should have been exceptionally poor.

Martial customs flourished throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty. Even ordinary commoners knew a few simple punches and kicks. Such people found it difficult to become Blood Essence Realm Martial Disciples, but they would still begin to nourish their blood essence.

Shi Yi said nothing at those words.

He had been born with Double Pupils and had now awakened the Double Pupils Divine Ability. He was extraordinary by nature.

Naturally, he did not think he lacked the aptitude for cultivation.

He even believed he possessed the aptitude required to become an immortal, despite its far greater demands. That confidence came from himself, and from his Double Pupils.

"For someone with superior bone structure like yours, aside from the usual method of paying ten taels of silver for martial arts training, our Anyang Martial Arts School can offer you another choice."

"Your future training fees will be halved, but after you break through to the Blood Essence Realm, you must remain at the school and become an Inner Disciple of Anyang Martial Arts School—in other words, my disciple."

"If you can break through to the Flesh and Blood Martial Student realm before the age of twenty and complete two rounds of Flesh and Blood Inscription Tempering, I can personally recommend you to become a disciple of Anhe Martial Arts School in Ninghe County."

"What do you say? Will you choose this arrangement?"

Lu Feng released Shi Yi's shoulder and asked with a smile.

Having examined Shi Yi, he found his bone structure to be superior and exceptionally outstanding—far better than his own. He was a martial arts prodigy.

Naturally, his attitude toward ordinary people and martial arts prodigies was different.

While others normally began serious martial training at fourteen, Shi Yi had started somewhat late. Yet with Shi Yi's outstanding bone structure, he could completely overtake those who had begun before him. So long as he did not die prematurely, his martial cultivation would surely surpass Lu Feng's in the future.

Cultivating such a disciple would greatly benefit him in the future. If Shi Yi's subsequent performance proved particularly outstanding, he could even recommend Shi Yi to join Anhe Martial Arts School in the county town. That would also count as part of the achievements assessed for subordinate martial arts schools like his.

Anyang Martial Arts School was a subordinate school of the county town's Anhe Martial Arts School. It was responsible for finding martial arts prodigies for Anhe Martial Arts School, and this was one of the assessment criteria for subordinate schools like theirs.

As for Shi Yi's specific circumstances, he did not ask too much. Given the nature of his martial arts school, those who came to train were already a mixed bag of fish and dragons. Moreover, Shi Yi was merely an ordinary person who had yet to begin martial arts training, so there was no need to investigate him in such detail.

"Disciple Shi Yi pays respects to Master Lu."

Shi Yi was somewhat surprised upon hearing this, but he swiftly made his choice.

Though this choice would bind him to Anyang Martial Arts School, it was an excellent option for him at present.

He had originally intended to use Anyang Martial Arts School as a stepping stone. This was equivalent to deepening his relationship with it, which would produce even better results.

There was another point as well. He was still an unregistered person. Though he possessed a travel permit from the Dan River, it was forged and would not withstand careful inspection.

After joining Anyang Martial Arts School, he could use his status as a registered disciple of the school master to obtain a travel permit for Anyuan Town, completely resolving the problem of his travel permit.

This was even better than his original plan of buying one with money, and it would save him a great deal of trouble.

In Anyuan Town, having an identity with backing could reduce many troubles.

"This is this disciple's gift for entering under a master. Please accept it, Master Lu."

Shi Yi took out ten taels of silver from his robes and presented them with both hands.

Although the other man had said the fee would be halved, Shi Yi still chose to offer ten taels to show his sincerity.

"Mm, rise!"

"I will accept five taels of silver as your gift. You are now my registered disciple. Once you break through to the Blood Essence Realm, I will formally take you as my disciple."

"As for the remaining five taels, I will count them toward your medicine and food expenses for the first three months. Every day, you may eat two meals at the school and drink two bowls of Blood Nourishing Powder."

"The school can also reserve you a place to stay."

Lu Feng patted Shi Yi's shoulder approvingly.

Just as he had expected, Shi Yi had chosen the second option.

"Zhao Cheng, take your junior brother to the front courtyard training ground. Personally teach him the Blood Essence Chapter of the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Strength Training Fist, and have him first perceive blood essence."

Lu Feng then assigned Zhao Cheng the task of instructing him.

"Yes, Master Lu."

Zhao Cheng clasped his fists in reply.

He was also somewhat surprised by Shi Yi's aptitude. Since Lu Feng had made arrangements, he naturally acted according to them.

Besides, Shi Yi was favored by Lu Feng. Personally instructing him now would also benefit Zhao Cheng.

After all, according to Lu Feng, Shi Yi had a chance to join Anhe Martial Arts School in Ninghe County. His future prospects were limitless.

Befriending such a person would benefit Zhao Cheng as well.

"Junior Brother Shi Yi, come with me to the front courtyard training ground!"

After Zhao Cheng led Shi Yi to put away his bundle and change into training clothes, they arrived at the front courtyard training ground.

There were more than fifty people practicing martial arts there. According to Zhao Cheng, they were all people who had paid for training and could only cultivate there for three months.

If they still had not broken through to the Blood Essence Realm within three months, they either had to continue paying or leave Anyang Martial Arts School.

Most of them would basically not return after those three months.

Even if these people failed to break through to the Blood Essence Realm, they would still have mastered methods for Nourishing Blood Essence and learned some punching and kicking techniques. They could become thugs for gangs.

If they had a bit of skill, they could even become guards for restaurants.

That counted as having a trade to rely on.

Of course, if they could become Blood Essence Realm Martial Disciples, they would have many more options.

However, out of more than fifty people, having three or four Blood Essence Realm Martial Disciples emerge within three months was already considered quite good!

"Junior Brother Shi Yi, first watch me practice the Blood Essence Chapter of the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Strength Training Fist once to nourish blood essence. Afterward, I'll teach you the details."

"Watch carefully!"

After Zhao Cheng assumed his stance, his body began to move.

"Four Levels Body Solidifying Stance!"

"Jiazi Tianchen!"

"Ruowang Suitian!"

The fist technique had only three simple moves, but Shi Yi saw that once Zhao Cheng assumed the movements, the speed at which his body absorbed the red aura in the air increased, and the blood essence within him began to fluctuate as well.

Clearly, this was what the other man called Nourishing Blood Essence.