Terrifying Talent!

Zhao Heita was instructing several Inner Disciples in the Martial Arts Hall.

At Black Tower Martial Arts School, only Inner Disciples could regularly receive Zhao Heita's guidance.

As for Outer Gate disciples or martial arts school trainees, Zhao Heita generally appointed certain disciples as instructors to teach them. He did not personally instruct them.

"Master."

Jiang Hao arrived at the Martial Arts Hall and saw several Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters practicing martial arts.

"Jiang Hao, after practicing the Great River Blood Nourishing Technique for an afternoon, it's normal for your limbs to feel weak and sore. Everyone is like this the first time they practice."

"But don't give up. You must persevere. Even after returning home, you must keep practicing whenever you have time."

"Your bones shook with thirteen echoes, so your Bone Quality is quite good. If you persevere, you should nurture Blood Qi within a few days."

Seeing Jiang Hao drenched in sweat and gasping for breath, Zhao Heita assumed he had worked hard at his training.

Anyone practicing a blood nourishing technique for the first time would find it difficult to adapt, their entire body sore, weak, and aching.

But Zhao Heita did not want Jiang Hao to grow slack because of the pain, so he offered a few words of encouragement.

"Master, I think I've already nurtured Blood Qi..."

Jiang Hao knew his master had misunderstood, so he stated it directly.

Silence!

The Martial Arts Hall, which had been bustling only moments ago, fell utterly silent in an instant.

The Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters who had been sparring and training all abruptly turned their gazes toward Jiang Hao.

Every one of them wore an expression of utter shock.

What had they just heard?

Jiang Hao had nurtured Blood Qi?

How long had it been?

At most, only three hours.

Swish.

Zhao Heita abruptly rose to his feet, his eyes blazing as he stared at Jiang Hao. Even his voice trembled slightly. "Jiang Hao, what did you say? You nurtured Blood Qi?"

Seeing everyone's reactions, Jiang Hao immediately understood that nurturing Blood Qi so quickly was likely an astonishing feat.

"Master, you may examine me yourself. This disciple isn't entirely certain either..."

There was no use saying more.

Jiang Hao still let Zhao Heita investigate personally.

"Good. Try circulating your Blood Qi."

Zhao Heita gripped Jiang Hao's hand.

Jiang Hao began circulating his Blood Qi.

The moment he did, the Blood Qi within him surged like a great river, rumbling without end.

The sound was actually very faint, impossible to hear without paying close attention.

But the Martial Arts Hall was incomparably quiet at that moment, and everyone present was a martial artist. Naturally, they all heard it.

"Blood Qi like a tide, surging like a great river—it truly is the Great River Blood Nourishing Technique."

"This Blood Qi... it's so robust!"

"In only three hours, he's nurtured such vigorous Blood Qi? It seems Little Junior Brother has an excellent physical foundation. He must have consumed plenty of tonics since childhood."

"Of course. Little Junior Brother is the young master of Jiang Manor. With Jiang Manor's wealth, it's perfectly normal for him to have such a strong physical foundation."

"But this is still too unbelievable. I remember Third Senior Brother took two days to nurture Blood Qi back then, and that was already the fastest among all us fellow disciples. But Little Junior Brother? He took only three hours..."

"Little Junior Brother's talent surpasses all imagination. Our martial arts school has truly stumbled upon a treasure this time..."

While shocked, the many Inner Disciples were also excited.

Including Jiang Hao, Black Tower Martial Arts School had only nine Inner Disciples in total.

There was not much internal competition, in truth.

After all, everyone knew that with Jiang Hao's status, he would not care for the martial arts school's modest foundation.

On the contrary, the more talented Jiang Hao was and the greater his future achievements, the more beneficial it would be for them.

After all, they were Jiang Hao's Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters!

"Hahaha, after all these years, I've finally found a fine piece of jade!"

Zhao Heita was delighted as well.

"Enough for today. You may all leave first. Jiang Hao, stay behind for now."

The disciples immediately understood that their master intended to give Jiang Hao special instruction.

But that was only normal.

They had all gone through the same thing back then.

Thus, after congratulating Jiang Hao, they left the martial arts school.

Very soon, only Jiang Hao and Zhao Heita remained in the Martial Arts Hall.

Zhao Heita fixed his gaze on Jiang Hao and asked gravely, "Jiang Hao, how many Circulation Cycles did you complete in the Meditation Room?"

Jiang Hao knew he could not hide it from Zhao Heita. Besides, he had never intended to conceal it.

"Nine."

"Nine Circulation Cycles... then you've entered the Blood Qi Realm First Layer. No wonder your Blood Qi is so vigorous..."

Zhao Heita fell into thought.

Nurturing Blood Qi in a day was certainly the mark of a genius, but it was not unheard of.

Yet nurturing Blood Qi and completing nine Circulation Cycles in a single day, thereby entering the Blood Qi Realm First Layer, was entirely different.

They were simply two different concepts.

What was more, Jiang Hao had not yet reached his limit.

"Jiang Hao, circulate your Blood Qi here. Have a servant return and inform Steward Jiang that this is your first day practicing martial arts, so I will personally watch over you. You may return later today."

"Remember, circulate your Blood Qi with all your strength, until your body can no longer endure it. I want to see your limit!"

Zhao Heita had sent the other disciples away precisely because he wanted to see Jiang Hao's limit.

"Yes, Master."

Jiang Hao began circulating his Blood Qi again.

One Circulation Cycle, two Circulation Cycles, three Circulation Cycles, four Circulation Cycles, five Circulation Cycles...

Time passed bit by bit.

Nearly another two hours passed before Jiang Hao stopped.

He felt as though he could not move even a single finger.

He lay on the ground, gulping down breaths.

"Master, this disciple has reached his limit."

"How many Circulation Cycles did you complete this time?"

"This disciple completed roughly eleven more Circulation Cycles."

Jiang Hao answered truthfully.

"Eleven Circulation Cycles... added to the previous nine, that makes twenty Circulation Cycles!"

Zhao Heita's heart shook!

Twenty Circulation Cycles!

How terrifying was that?

A Blood Qi Realm martial artist with ordinary aptitude could only complete two or three Circulation Cycles in a day.

But Jiang Hao?

A full twenty Circulation Cycles, nearly seven times that of an ordinary person!

"Jiang Hao, do not mention to anyone that you can complete twenty Circulation Cycles a day!"

"Master, why is that?"

Jiang Hao was deeply puzzled.

"Jiang Hao, you are still young and do not understand the treachery of the human heart. In any case, you cannot go wrong by listening to your master."

"Ordinary people practicing martial arts can complete two or three Circulation Cycles a day. Those with better aptitude can complete five or six. Even Du Futian, praised as the greatest genius among several major martial arts schools, can only complete nine Circulation Cycles a day."

"Yet you can complete twenty Circulation Cycles in a day, and you have not even used an Herbal Bath. If you add an Herbal Bath, the number of Circulation Cycles you can complete will increase further. Every time you complete a Circulation Cycle, your Blood Qi increases somewhat. In other words, your Blood Qi will grow at least twice as fast as Du Futian's!"

"With talent like this, you would be an absolute genius even within the Huangtian Sect!"

Jiang Hao's eyes brightened.

"Master, then can I join the Huangtian Sect?"

Jiang Hao's goal had always been to enter the Huangtian Sect.

Zhao Heita knew this as well.

Therefore, Zhao Heita did not mind.

"With talent like yours, of course you can join the Huangtian Sect."

"However, you are still too young, and you have only just entered the Blood Qi Realm. If you went to the Huangtian Sect now, you could only become an Outer Gate disciple and would receive few cultivation resources."

"Stay at the martial arts school for now. With my careful instruction, you will certainly do better than if you remained in the Huangtian Sect's Outer Gate. Once you enter the Transforming Force Realm, I will use a recommendation slot to send you to the Huangtian Sect and have you enter the Inner Gate directly!"

"Only Inner Disciples can be considered true disciples of the Huangtian Sect!"

Jiang Hao fell into thought.

He knew that Zhao Heita's ancestors had been high-ranking members of the Huangtian Sect, so Zhao Heita understood many matters concerning the sect like the back of his hand.

It seemed this was indeed true.

"This disciple will follow Master's arrangements."

"Oh, right. I have an Herbal Bath prescription here. When you return, have Steward Jiang arrange an Herbal Bath for you every day. The medicinal ingredients listed in this prescription are all extremely expensive, but your Jiang Family is wealthy, so there should be no problem."

"You can also take nourishing foods, such as hundred-year ginseng. If you do not mind spending silver, the more the better."

"The Blood Qi Realm is a stage for laying one's foundation, centered on nurturing Blood Qi. The more robust your Blood Qi, the better. Herbal Baths, nourishing foods, and the like can all deepen your Blood Qi foundation."

Jiang Hao accepted the Herbal Bath prescription.

A prescription like this was actually quite precious.

Yet Zhao Heita gave it directly to Jiang Hao, also deepening the bond between master and disciple.

"Thank you, Master."

Jiang Hao took the prescription and left the martial arts school.

Outside, the maid Du Juan had long been waiting.

Jiang Hao had been forcing himself to hold on while inside the martial arts school. The moment he saw Du Juan, his body went limp, and he collapsed into her arms.

He did not want to move in the slightest.

"Quickly, go back. Give this prescription to the steward and have him prepare an Herbal Bath for me."

"Yes, Young Master."

Du Juan immediately carried Jiang Hao into the carriage, and they raced toward Jiang Manor.