Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone, Top-Tier Physique

Wang Yuan sat cross-legged on the cold earthen kang, his eyes tightly shut. Veins bulged on his forehead, and fine beads of cold sweat continuously seeped out, tracing paths down his pale cheeks.

The moment he confirmed his "Awakening."

A tearing sensation, far more intense than any pain he had felt before, erupted from the depths of his limbs and bones.

It felt as though countless red-hot steel needles were piercing and churning within every inch of his skeleton.

Or perhaps unseen hands were frantically pulling and reshaping the major sinews throughout his body.

The agony was so profound it threatened to crush his will, making him want to scream out loud. Yet, he gritted his teeth, his jaw clenched so tight that his mouth filled with the taste of blood.

Wang Yuan's entire body trembled violently.

Beneath his skin, it felt as though tiny snakes were writhing, swelling, and his bones emitted a grating, teeth-aching creak.

A searing torrent of energy, centered on the talent bead in his chest, raged through his meridians, transforming his physique.

[Awakened Talent: Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone (First Layer)]

A stream of profound information flooded his mind along with the searing pain.

Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone, as the name suggested, meant his major sinews were as resilient and long as a flood dragon's, unleashing immense power. His bones were as hard and strong as a fierce tiger's, containing robust Blood Essence.

It was an extremely rare and superior root bone in martial arts cultivation, with Blood Essence far surpassing that of ordinary mortals!

After an unknown period, the excruciating pain, enough to make one faint, slowly receded like a receding tide.

Wang Yuan collapsed limply on the kang, gasping for breath. His body, completely drenched in sweat, felt as though it had just been fished out of water.

Extreme fatigue washed over him.

But beneath the exhaustion lay an unprecedented sense of fullness and strength.

He slowly clenched his fist, his knuckles emitting a crisp popping sound.

His seemingly still slender body now felt like it harbored a dormant beast, brimming with explosive power.

Blood Essence surged and flowed within him, warm and comforting, dispelling the previous weakness and chill.

His senses had also become exceptionally sharp; he could clearly hear the helpless sighs from his parents' room next door and, distantly, the muffled sounds of the night watchman from far outside the window.

He didn't get up, just lay there, feeling the earth-shattering changes in his body, his eyes flashing with a mixture of excitement and calm.

Power!

This was the feeling of power!

Even though it was only the first layer, Wang Yuan could sense that his current strength alone was likely comparable to those burly men who had practiced external martial arts for several years.

But it wasn't enough.

The Black Tiger Gang could run rampant in the outer city of Gaoye City; they must have true martial artists guarding them.

He possessed strength and excellent bone structure, but without corresponding martial skills and combat experience, wielding this power would be like a child swinging a heavy hammer – dangerous.

He needed time to adapt to this body, and more importantly, he needed a legitimate way to acquire martial skills and a patron to offer him temporary protection.

He stayed awake all night.

Wang Yuan silently adapted to his newfound strength, controlling the aura that was slightly leaking due to the surge in Blood Essence, until the sky began to show the pale white of dawn.

In the early morning, Madam Zhou silently placed breakfast on the table. It was still thin congee and pickles.

But next to it was a small dish of sliced dried meat he had brought back last night.

However, by the time breakfast was finished, no one had touched the dish of dried meat.

"Father, Mother, Sister, why aren't you eating this meat?"

Wang Yuan asked, putting down his bowl and chopsticks.

Wang Gui, engrossed in his congee, didn't reply.

Madam Zhou looked at the meat, then at Wang Yuan, and sighed, "Yuan'er, this meat... it's too precious."

"Your health is important, you eat it."

"As for the rest... perhaps we should return it? And that money..."

She didn't finish, but her meaning was clear; she was worried about the "loan" of unknown origin.

Wang Yu also said softly, "Yes, Brother Yuan, we'll be fine with just congee."

Seeing his family treat that small portion of meat as a rare treasure, willing to go hungry themselves to save it for him, a pang of sadness struck Wang Yuan's heart. But it was overshadowed by a stronger resolve to change all of this as soon as possible.

The Black Tiger Gang's threat extended to him and his family; they had to be eliminated.

Wang Yuan shook his head and said calmly, "Father, Mother, Sister, you don't need to worry about the money; I have things under control."

"This meat was bought for everyone to nourish themselves. If you don't eat it, it will spoil."

He picked up his chopsticks and personally placed pieces of dried meat into his parents' and sister's bowls: "Eat."

"Things will get better at home, trust me."

Looking at their son's steady gaze and unyielding attitude, Wang Gui and Madam Zhou exchanged a glance before finally quietly eating the meat.

Wang Yu looked at her parents, then at her younger brother, and also began to eat small bites.

After the meal, Wang Yuan said to his family, "I'm going out for a walk, to stretch my muscles. Lying around all the time isn't good."

Leaving the house, Wang Yuan didn't linger in the dirty and messy bluestone alley but walked directly towards the south.

His steps were steady, yet his speed was not slow. After awakening the Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone, his stamina and endurance far surpassed ordinary people.

His goal was clear—Panshi Fist Academy.

Since he had decided to find a backer, displaying his talent was undoubtedly the fastest way.

Such a superior root bone as the Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone was an absolute rare genius, encountered once in a hundred years in Gaoye City!

He believed that as long as the instructors at Panshi Fist Academy weren't blind, they would never let such a raw gem like him slip away.

Joining a martial arts school would not only allow him to practice martial arts legitimately and gain protection, temporarily avoiding the harassment of the Black Tiger Gang.

It would also allow him to use the school's resources to obtain food more quickly, accumulate energy, and prepare for the next awakening of his talent bead.

Arriving at the South Ward, the sign of Panshi Fist Academy could be seen from afar. Compared to the decay around the outer city, this area appeared much more orderly.

The South Ward was the wealthiest and most orderly part of the outer city. Although not as good as the inner city, it was where major wealthy merchants resided.

To have a fist academy occupying such a large area in this affluent district showed how powerful its influence was.

The Black Tiger Gang, which occupied an entire alley, was undoubtedly just a small bug in front of Panshi Fist Academy, easily crushed.

At this moment, the vermilion gate was wide open, and the sounds of shouting and fists breaking through the air could be vaguely heard from within.

Wang Yuan didn't enter immediately but stood not far from the entrance, observing for a moment.

Inside the courtyard, dozens of youths dressed in uniform grey short tunics were practicing fist techniques under the guidance of a robust man. Their movements were synchronized and their presence was imposing.

Occasionally, a disciple would exert force, and the wind from their fists would stir, demonstrating a considerable external martial arts foundation.

"It seems this Panshi Fist Academy truly has some substance."

Wang Yuan mused inwardly.

Then, he took a deep breath, suppressing the slightly agitated Blood Essence within him due to anticipation, and strode through the vermilion gate.

As soon as he entered, a shadow fell over him.

It was a man eight feet tall, with bulging muscles all over his body, a face full of rough flesh, and wearing the uniform grey short tunic of the academy.

The words "Panshi" were embroidered on his chest. He looked down at the slender Wang Yuan with a disdainful gaze and grunted, "Kid, what are you doing here?"

"This isn't a place to watch the fun!"

Wang Yuan stopped, cupped his hands slightly without being subservient or arrogant, "Senior brother, I'm here to learn martial arts and become a disciple."

"Become a disciple?"

The burly man sized him up. Seeing his ordinary, even shabby, clothing, a hint of pity flashed in his eyes.

It seemed he was another one of those outer city youths who used their family's savings, full of passion, wanting to practice martial arts and make a name for themselves.

But martial arts were not that simple, especially for the poor.

It was just that Panshi Fist Academy accepted disciples openly, taking anyone who could pay.

Otherwise, they wouldn't even have the chance to come into contact with martial arts.

The burly man didn't say much, just nodded his head gruffly.

"Follow me."

The burly man led Wang Yuan through the training grounds in the front courtyard. The disciples practicing their fists cast either curious or indifferent glances at him.

They arrived at a larger open space in the back courtyard, where twenty to thirty people were already gathered, standing clearly in two groups.

One group was dressed in bright, luxurious silks and satins, some even accompanied by servants.

They were clearly the children of wealthy merchants or families with some background in the inner city. They carried themselves with arrogance and chatted amongst themselves.

The other group, like Wang Yuan, wore coarse linen clothes, their faces mostly showing nervousness and unease, standing silently in a corner.

In front of the open space, a grand tutor's chair was placed, and an old man sat upon it.

This old man was thin, dressed in a simple grey long gown, with deep wrinkles on his face and a stern expression, showing no particular emotion.

But just by sitting there casually, an invisible pressure permeated the air, quieting the entire noisy space.

His eyes, as they opened and closed, glinted with sharp light, sharp as a falcon's. When his gaze swept over them, people dared not look directly.

This person was the head of Panshi Fist Academy, Zheng Shan.

In the outer city, and even the inner city, of Gaoye City, he was one of the truly influential figures.

The muscular man brought Wang Yuan into the crowd in the open space and then stood by Zheng Shan's side on his own, clearly holding a significant position.

He was Zheng Shan's personal disciple, named Shi Long.

Zheng Shan's gaze swept across the entire venue, his voice not loud but clearly reaching everyone's ears, "The rules, I believe you all know."

"The discipleship fee is two taels of silver per month. Payment first, then bone examination."