Another Setback, Low-grade Bone Structure

A servant who chopped firewood and delivered meals for a restaurant had trained up four or five hundred jin of strength at such an age—it was simply unimaginable.

Yuan Tieyi's eyes gleamed as he sized Zhou Qiming up and down, as though trying to see straight through him.

The disciples immediately cast envious looks at the youth. This guy had struck it rich—why wasn't I the one stealing the spotlight?

Not only would he become Master Yuan's final disciple, receiving every available resource to cultivate his martial arts, but he would inherit the martial arts hall in the future as well, gaining an extremely stable source of income.

Cheng Yu smiled as well, patting Zhou Qiming on the shoulder and giving him a look, urging him to hurry and acknowledge his master.

"Greetings, Hall Master." Zhou Qiming cupped his fists in salute.

"You are quite good."

Yuan Tieyi stepped forward, waved a hand, and added, "There is no rush to take you as a disciple. Let me first examine your root bone."

Checking one's bone age and potential was of the utmost importance when it came to the inheritance of disciples.

"Mm, fifteen years old indeed."

Hall Master Yuan nodded pensively and continued feeling his bones. His force passed over several joints, and his brows immediately knitted tight. He shook his head in disappointment. "What a pity. Your root bone is far too poor, only low-low grade. Your potential has been exhausted, and you have already overdrawn too much of your vitality and blood foundation."

In his view, Zhou Qiming had been born with strength exceeding a hundred jin. Either he had been lucky enough to rely on some External Objects or supplements, or he had trained too fiercely and drained his Blood Qi.

Whichever it was, root bone could not lie. With his experience and strength, he could tell at a glance.

With Zhou Qiming's condition, he might still progress smoothly through the Skin Grinding and Muscle Cultivation realms, but Bone Forging and Muscle Tendon Changing beyond them would be difficult.

The hope of revenge and turning his life around crumbled. Yuan Tieyi looked dejected, as if he had aged several years in an instant.

Zhou Qiming was not discouraged in the slightest. Smiling, he said, "So what if my root bone is low-grade? So long as I study diligently and train hard, I may not be unable to break the Innate realm limit and transcend to sainthood."

He had never placed his hopes on anyone else to begin with. Besides, with the Martial arts panel, his root bone could continue evolving without limit.

This world was fraught with danger. Zhou Qiming naturally would not be foolish enough to reveal his Trump Card, nor did he offer Yuan Tieyi any further explanation.

Strength was the source of confidence. Before his Perfection realm Blade Technique, there were truly few people besides Fang Hai and Cheng Yu whom he needed to regard highly.

And if he used points on his Blade Technique to achieve Limit Breaking, he could absolutely crush Fang Hai.

"Heh, the temperament of youth. You do not know the height of heaven or the depth of earth."

Yuan Tieyi gave an arrogant laugh and did not bother arguing with Zhou Qiming. The Body tempering realm had four great hurdles: Skin refinement, Muscle Cultivation, Bone refinement, and Tendon refinement. Each one was more of an impassable chasm than the last.

Those with superior root bone could not only train each stage to the utmost limit, but with the same time and resources, their absorption and feedback were better as well. They achieved twice the result with half the effort!

For someone with Zhou Qiming's aptitude, the investment in Bone forging pills and Tendon transformation powder alone would be a bottomless pit, without the slightest investment value.

So-called root bone meant one's body's compatibility with cultivation methods and medicinal pills. It was not something a mere servant could understand.

Seeing this, Fang Hai and the other disciples all knew that their master's standards were too high and his eye too sharp. Clearly, he had not taken a liking to Zhou Qiming.

Cheng Yu's expression turned unpleasant. He wanted to offer a few words of encouragement, but for the moment, he could not bring himself to speak.

"Heh, I thought he was some martial arts genius. And he still wants to become a personal disciple?"

"You should honestly pay the hundred taels of silver for the apprenticeship gift. Perhaps Master will still consider it."

"With neither root bone nor family background, practicing martial arts is like climbing to heaven."

The crowd sneered repeatedly, making no attempt to hide their hostility.

Just then, a carriage stopped at the entrance. A Young Master in brocade robes entered amid the escort of several Old Servants, cutting a vigorous figure.

"Eh, why is it so lively today? Greetings, Master Yuan." The Young Master spotted Old Man Yuan at once.

"It is Junior Brother Xiao Tian." The others cried out in surprise.

"Master, I have broken through." Xiao Tian was tremendously excited as he directly announced the good news.

He knew that only by displaying his talent and strength could he earn his master's appreciation and gain more resources. Hiding one's abilities was simply foolish.

"Good that you have broken through. I will add another tenth to your monthly share of Blood Qi soup."

Yuan Tieyi was clearly somewhat absentminded. His tone was perfunctory, as he was still thinking about Zhou Qiming.

"Master, I have trained Iron Cloth Force. I can begin Bone Forging!"

Xiao Tian spoke again, his eyes brimming with anticipation. If he wanted to forge his bones quickly, he had to receive Master Yuan's support and resources.

"What!" Yuan Tieyi's eyes flew wide open, shocked and delighted.

At the Bone Forging level, let alone in this little town, one would be considered a capable expert even in distant Luoshan County Town!

"As your master recalls, it has not even been a year since you broke through the great hurdle of Muscle Cultivation. How have you broken through again?"

Yuan Tieyi racked his memory, only then realizing that he had been leaving his disciples to fend for themselves and had not paid attention to Xiao Tian's growth.

From controlling Blood Qi to Skin Grinding and Stone Skin, it had taken a year. Another year had barely carried him into Muscle Cultivation, yet who could have imagined that after merely ten months, he had trained Iron Cloth Force and begun Bone Forging?

Such progress could be called a head rising above the crowd, with extraordinary talent.

On top of that, Xiao Tian's family was well-off. With sufficient resources to follow, the Tendon Transformation Realm would certainly not be his limit. Compared to a Restaurant Servant, he held far greater investment value.

"Junior Brother Xiao Tian, come lend a hand." Fang Hai stepped forward and assumed a stance.

How had so many geniuses appeared in a single day? Zhou Qiming was one thing, but now there was Xiao Tian too. Perhaps it was all some misunderstanding.

"Be careful, Senior Disciple Brother." Xiao Tian was eager to try, without the slightest fear.

Space was cleared in the courtyard as the two faced one another and unfolded the forms of the Iron Cloth Skill.

The two sturdy figures raised their hands, Blood Qi surging as their sleeves fluttered. Carrying rolling force, their palms collided with a bang.

With a crisp crack, Fang Hai was sent flying backward and crashed heavily to the ground.

Xiao Tian, meanwhile, did not move an inch. The difference between them was immediately clear.

"Thank you for going easy on me." Xiao Tian stepped forward and helped him up.

"It truly is Iron Cloth Force at great mastery. How is that possible?" Fang Hai's face went deathly pale, suffering a tremendous blow.

Even he, the Senior Disciple Brother, had been stuck at the great hurdle of Muscle Cultivation for a long time.

Throughout the martial arts hall, Fang Hai had regarded neither Cheng Yu nor anyone else as worthy of notice. Yet Xiao Tian had hidden himself too deeply—silent until he spoke, then astonishing the world.

"So strong." Cheng Yu sighed in amazement, bitterness in his voice. His diligence was inferior to Fang Hai's, and now Xiao Tian had surpassed and crushed him in root bone and talent as well.

The onlookers were left dumbstruck. They were several times more shocked than when they had seen Zhou Qiming, feeling as though they were witnessing a dazzling new star slowly rise.

"Heavens, is this the gap between Muscle Cultivation and Bone Forging?"

"Junior Brother Xiao Tian is incredible. Within a few years, he will definitely become a Tendon Transformation expert."

"Heh, now this is a true Prodigy of a genius."

Compared to Xiao Tian's rocket-like rise in strength, Zhou Qiming lifting the Stone Lock no longer seemed so earth-shattering. The crowd quickly cast it from their minds.

"Good, good, good! Xiao Tian, from today onward, you are your master's final disciple. In ten days, I will hold a banquet to celebrate your breakthrough."

Yuan Tieyi's face glowed red. In such a short span, he had gone from delight to disappointment, then back to delight, his emotions like a roller coaster. If he poured all his effort into nurturing Xiao Tian, perhaps he truly could return to the County Town in his lifetime and restore the martial arts hall's signboard.

"Greetings, Master!" Xiao Tian was overjoyed. It was settled.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother." The others offered their congratulations.

Cheng Yu also knew that Zhou Qiming's apprenticeship was no longer possible.

At barely twenty years old, Xiao Tian had already crossed into the great hurdle of Bone Forging. Anyone could see that his future was boundless and that he could inherit the mantle.

Yuan Tieyi had already lacked much interest, and now another genius, Junior Brother Xiao, had appeared. All one could say was that Zhou Qiming's Auspicious Qi had turned against him. If only he had joined a few years earlier...

"So this is the Iron Cloth Skill." Zhou Qiming watched without blinking, silent.

If he could get his hands on the Iron Cloth Skill, it would give him another means of preserving his life.

He was not disappointed. Having seen a Bone Forging expert make a move, Zhou Qiming now had a rough idea of his own level of strength.