May Your Martial Fortune Flourish

After Yang Chan left the Hall of Medicine Assessment Office, he had gained a Qingyuan Sect Formal Disciple waist token. It represented that he was now a disciple of the Qingyuan Sect and would receive its protection.

Following the reminder of the person who had issued him the token at the Assessment Office, he headed alone to the Hall of Bestowing Merit. The Ox Demon Strength Fist he currently cultivated was incomplete and still lacked the External Cultivation Method.

Luo Yang had left as soon as Yang Chan entered the Hall of Medicine Assessment Office.

The Qingyuan Sect's Hall of Bestowing Merit was not particularly far from the Medicine Hall. After asking a Formal Disciple for directions on the way, Yang Chan found it without spending much time.

Unlike the Medicine Hall, the moment he stepped into the Hall of Bestowing Merit, a dense force of qi and blood rushed toward him. At the same time, booming roars and the sounds of fist practice rang out everywhere.

With his waist token hanging from his body, Yang Chan entered the Hall of Bestowing Merit and saw many people sparring. Some Steward Disciples had even become living targets, helping those Formal Disciples practice their fists or temper their bodies.

Several Steward Disciples also held wooden clubs and struck the bodies of Formal Disciples, helping them temper their skin and flesh.

Once martial artists comprehended Jing Power, they would continuously accumulate it. After reaching a certain point, they would begin using Jing Power to temper their bodies, starting with the skin and flesh.

Once the skin and flesh of the body had been tempered to a certain degree, one would step into the External Cultivation realm, and one's strength would undergo a qualitative transformation.

"Senior Brother, are you a Formal Disciple who has just completed the assessment?"

A Steward Disciple stepped forward and took the initiative to ask.

He asked because Yang Chan was still wearing the coarse linen short clothes of a Steward Disciple, yet a Formal Disciple's waist token hung at his waist.

People like this were generally those who had only just become Formal Disciples.

"That's right. Please lead me to the Steward of Bestowing Merit, Junior Brother."

Yang Chan nodded.

After becoming a Formal Disciple, one could obtain the subsequent cultivation method for the Ox Demon Strength Fist from the Hall of Bestowing Merit. One could also receive Formal Disciple clothing, silver rewards, the key to a new residence, and other such things from the Hall of Internal Affairs.

Within the Qingyuan Sect, becoming a Formal Disciple was like swapping a bird gun for a cannon. Clothing, food, lodging, and travel all underwent a qualitative change.

"Senior Brother, please follow me."

After a look of envy appeared on the Steward Disciple's face, he led Yang Chan deeper into the Hall of Bestowing Merit.

"Senior Brother, this is Steward Lin of the Hall of Bestowing Merit. He specifically handles newly promoted Formal Disciples. You only need to show him your waist token."

"Junior Brother will leave you here. First, may your martial fortune flourish, Senior Brother."

The Steward Disciple led Yang Chan to the room at the very center of the Hall of Bestowing Merit, then looked toward the person still practicing calligraphy on the eastern side.

Before leaving, he offered a blessing anyway. It cost nothing, after all.

"Thank you, Junior Brother. May you achieve a breakthrough soon as well."

Yang Chan replied with a smile.

Kindness was returned with kindness.

He walked up to Steward Lin, who was practicing calligraphy, but did not rush to speak. Instead, he observed the other man.

Only then did Yang Chan notice that the brush in Steward Lin's hand was not an ordinary bamboo writing brush, but an iron brush forged from refined iron. The cold gleam upon it revealed the skill of its maker.

That brush alone weighed at least as much as half an adult, yet Steward Lin remained as steady as a mountain while writing with it, every character he wrote neat and orderly.

Though he appeared to be practicing calligraphy, he was actually training his bones, tempering the bones in his arms and wrists.

After finishing a sheet of calligraphy, Steward Lin finally set down the brush. It landed with a dull thud, and the entire table shook several times.

"You're a disciple who has just made a breakthrough?"

Steward Lin raised his head, revealing a pair of bright, piercing eyes. He stared directly at Yang Chan, as though he intended to see straight through him.

"This disciple is Yang Chan, a disciple of the Medicine Hall. I comprehended Jing Power last night and completed the Medicine Hall assessment today."

Yang Chan hurriedly replied. This steward's gaze gave him a sense of pressure.

"A Medicine Hall disciple!"

When Steward Lin heard that Yang Chan came from the Medicine Hall, a strange look appeared in his eyes.

Yesterday, after Medicine Hall Master Gu An went to the Azure Jade Hall where the Sect Master resided, the Sect Master soon summoned several other hall masters and elders to gather in the Azure Jade Hall to discuss an important matter.

After their discussion ended, Medicine Hall Master Gu An proposed a wager: whichever hall produced a Formal Disciple first would win, with a time limit of one month.

Yet someone from the Medicine Hall had made a breakthrough today.

He did not suspect that Hall Master Gu An had proposed the wager only after learning of Yang Chan's breakthrough. It was merely a small wager for amusement, so there was naturally no need to tamper with such a matter.

Gu An was not only the Hall Master of the Medicine Hall, but also an elder of the sect. His status was far from ordinary, and he was a rather forthright man.

"Yes, this disciple is indeed from the Medicine Hall."

Yang Chan nodded in confirmation.

Although he was somewhat puzzled as to why Steward Lin wore such a strange expression, he was not overly worried.

There was competition and conflict between the various halls within the Qingyuan Sect, but it had not reached the point of fighting to the death.

Besides, he was only a very ordinary Formal Disciple. He kept a low profile in both conduct and dealings, and had never offended any of the Qingyuan Sect's higher-ups.

"To comprehend Raging Bull Strength and become a Formal Disciple at this time is not bad. Are you interested in becoming a disciple of the Hall of Bestowing Merit?"

Steward Lin Shiyu of the Hall of Bestowing Merit returned to a normal expression and asked.

Yang Chan was stunned when he heard this. What was going on? Were Formal Disciples in the Qingyuan Sect really so sought-after?

"This disciple thanks Steward Lin for his favor, but this disciple has spent two and a half years on the mountain. Being able to comprehend Raging Bull Strength was thanks to Hall Master Gu, Steward Sikong, and the others granting me a bowl of Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup. Only then did I luckily make a breakthrough."

"This disciple has heard that all the senior brothers in the Hall of Bestowing Merit are disciples of exceptional aptitude. This disciple's aptitude is poor, so I shall not trouble Steward Lin."

Yang Chan did not understand why Steward Lin was doing this, but he directly refused. Still, his words were not overly blunt, instead taking a roundabout path.

He could not afford to offend someone of steward rank yet. If such a person targeted him and made things difficult for him, the loss would outweigh the gain.

"Then let it be."

When Lin Shiyu heard that Yang Chan had taken two and a half years to comprehend Raging Bull Strength, he frowned. He had assumed Yang Chan was a Steward Disciple who had only been on the mountain for half a year or a little over a year, which was why he had spoken up.

Moreover, after Yang Chan mentioned Hall Master Gu of the Medicine Hall, Steward Sikong, and the others, he lost all interest. Publicly poaching Hall Master Gu's disciple would simply be asking for trouble.

Hearing Yang Chan's words, he naturally went along with the flow, unwilling to let the matter grow any bigger.

"You just became a Formal Disciple. You came here to receive the subsequent cultivation method for the Ox Demon Strength Fist, correct?"

Though Lin Shiyu phrased it as a question, his tone was certain.

"Just as Steward Lin said, after this disciple completed the assessment, the disciple at the Assessment Office reminded me to come to the Hall of Bestowing Merit to receive the subsequent cultivation method for the Ox Demon Strength Fist."

Yang Chan nodded.

The Ox Demon Strength Fist he currently cultivated lacked the External Cultivation Method. This was also something the Qingyuan Sect had deliberately arranged.