In the days that followed, Zhou Academy returned to a semblance of calm.
Chen Qing's life became a rigid routine between two points. By day, he trained Tongbei Stance Practice relentlessly at Zhou Academy, tempering his sinews and bones. At night, he returned home to focus his mind on cultivating Toad Catching Strength in the small courtyard, honing the Gale Blade Technique.
Other than eating and sleeping when necessary, he poured nearly all his time into cultivation, free of distraction.
This almost self-abusive training continued for over two months.
[Fate: Heaven Rewards Diligence, Effort Never Goes Unrewarded] [Tongbei Stance Practice Mastery (952/2000)] [Tongbei Fist Mastery (815/2000)] [Gale Blade Technique Mastery (21/1000)] [Toad Catching Strength Lesser Mastery (287/500)]
With the support of [Heaven Rewards Diligence], the progress bar for Tongbei Stance Practice advanced slowly yet steadily. Everything seemed to be proceeding in an orderly fashion.
At first, his master Zhou Liang still held a trace of expectation for Chen Qing, this newly minted Martial Scholar. From time to time, he would check on Chen Qing's progress, to see whether this uncut jade of "below-average aptitude" truly had a chance to knock open the gate to the third Transformation Force breakthrough.
Yet Chen Qing's speed in tempering his Internal Force was ultimately far from astonishing. The limitations of his natural endowment revealed themselves beyond doubt through day after day of training.
Without the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] fate, his destiny would likely have been little different from Guo Dachui's, who had left in dejection.
Gradually, Zhou Liang checked in less and less often.
Chen Qing's lack of progress was not the only thing that failed to kindle hope. What worried Zhou Liang even more was that Zhou Academy's ability to replenish its own