A Bright Pearl Long Locked Away by Worldly Toil

After handling matters at home, Shi Ruyu came to the martial hall to practice boxing.

Not long after she entered, she saw Lu Chenzhou sparring with Du Men.

She stopped to watch for quite a while. Lu Chenzhou was extremely focused when sparring with others. To trade blows with a Third Stage opponent for more than ten minutes with the body of a Second Stage martial warrior was truly remarkable.

The Third Stage was the late Mingli Realm. Whether in explosive power, muscular endurance, or every other attribute, it surpassed the Second Stage by far—especially since Lu Chenzhou had only just entered the Second Stage. He had lasted this long purely on combat technique and willpower.

Shi Ruyu was very pleased.

When the senior assistant instructor returned, the students all greeted her.

Du Men scratched the back of his head and laughed.

"Senior Sister, my hands were just itching."

Shi Ruyu smiled gently.

"It's fine. Practicing martial arts requires sparring—otherwise, how can you improve? If you can enter Pingjiang Martial University, you can go take a look at the training grounds at four in the morning."

Everyone exclaimed in amazement.

"As expected, everyone who gets into Wuda works incredibly hard!"

Shi Ruyu walked over to Lu Chenzhou.

"You've reached the Second Stage?"

"Yes, Senior Sister."

"Advancing one stage in three months is truly impressive. Keep up this rate of progress, and becoming a Martial Artist is within reach!" Shi Ruyu had never been stingy with her praise for others.

"I'll work hard."

Other than his parents, the person Lu Chenzhou was most grateful to was Shi Ruyu.

Though they had not known each other long, this girl only six years older than him had left a deep impression on him. He was thankful to have a benefactor guiding him along the martial path.

The other students had assumed Lu Chenzhou had entered the stages long ago.

Only after hearing Shi Ruyu say this did their faces fill with shock.

"What? Junior Brother Lu has only been in the stages for three months?"

"Damn, with that kind of speed, he actually attends Culture High School?"

For those with ordinary innate bones, after entering the stages, even while maintaining diligent training, averaging one stage per year through the Lower Three Stages was already very good. The farther they went, the harder it became. The time required to advance a stage grew longer and longer, until they eventually fell into a bottleneck.

Du Men looked Lu Chenzhou over again.

He had joined the martial hall three years ago and considered himself diligent as well. He had entered the stages at fourteen, reached the Second Stage half a year later, and stepped into the Third Stage at sixteen. After that, his progress slowed. As for comprehending Hidden Force and setting foot into the Fourth Stage, he had no idea when that would happen. He could only place his hopes on Wuda.

"Junior Brother, you're incredible. It won't be long before you catch up to me."

He said it with heartfelt admiration.

Lu Chenzhou sensed that the way the students looked at him had changed. Before today, they might not have noticed him at all. Now, quite a few of them remembered him.

In this day and age, if one practiced martial arts, one had to become famous.

Only fame brought resources and the help of more people.

The All-Nations Martial Arts Tournament was the best path to fame.

That was why he did not refuse sparring matches.

He would start from the martial hall and make his name known, step by step!

Genius or hard work, strength reigned supreme!

If you were strong enough, no one would despise you for having inferior innate bones!

After that, more people wanted to spar with Lu Chenzhou.

Du Men shouted.

"What are you people thinking? Can't you let Junior Brother Lu catch his breath? Don't tell me you guys want to beat him while you have the chance, just so you can look stronger than me?"

Both his character and strength were good, and he held considerable prestige among the students.

Lu Chenzhou said.

"Thank you, Senior Brother, and thank you, everyone. Once I've rested a little, we can fight again. We're all from the same martial hall, so we can exchange pointers anytime, anywhere."

"Junior Brother Lu, I'm Chen Bin. Let's add each other on MicroChat."

"I'm Lin Xue..."

Because of that lively sparring match, everyone became more familiar with one another. It was also Lu Chenzhou's first time truly integrating into the circle of the Flying Swallow Martial Hall and getting to know more friends.

"Little brother, I'm Zhang Xun. Just call me Old Zhang."

A mature-looking man with a full beard came over to add him on MicroChat. He was not tall, but he was incredibly sturdy. His Blood Vitality surged powerfully, and his stage was not low.

"Hello, Brother Zhang."

Lu Chenzhou knew who this man was.

Besides students like him who wanted to test into Wuda, the martial hall also had older people who had already entered society and come to learn martial arts after making money.

Such people were generally social elites who were not short on cash.

They learned martial arts for self-defense, to strengthen their bodies, and to extend their lives.

Old Zhang had the highest cultivation among them. He was the same age as the hall master, yet at nearly fifty, he was only at the Fifth Stage. He had studied at this martial hall for eight years, having joined when it had first opened.

Old Zhang said.

"If you have any questions in the future, you can come find me too. You're welcome to spar with me."

Old Zhang's talent was ordinary. He had ground his way to the Fifth Stage entirely through time and supplements. Before his Blood Vitality began declining, becoming a Martial Artist was out of the question, and even the Upper Three Stages were a faint hope.

That was why he wanted to befriend some promising youngsters.

He had money.

Over the years, through martial halls and society, he had built some connections among Martial Warriors. He wanted to create a martial arts social platform focused on the market of young people with inferior innate bones.

That would make it convenient for young people to practice boxing and exchange ideas. Martial halls could also join the platform, which could provide intermediary services and earn commissions. There were quite a few similar platforms on the market already, but none suited his tastes.

That evening, Su City's lights had just begun to glow.

Old Zhang invited the students to a lavish meal at the Heavenly Immortal Drunk Restaurant outside. He spent over ten thousand yuan, enough to buy a box of Vitality-Boosting supplements, leaving Lu Chenzhou clicking his tongue in amazement.

Old Zhang also shared his idea with the students.

Du Men said.

"Sounds good, Old Zhang. If there's a need in the future, I'll take the coaching qualification exam through the Martial Artists Association and become a part-time coach on there. I can make some money too."

Lu Chenzhou was tempted as well.

He also wanted to start making money sooner and ease the burden on his family.

Old Zhang clasped his fists.

"Thank you all for showing your support. We're not looking to make it huge. Mainly, we want to provide ordinary people with inferior innate bones a platform to practice boxing and show themselves. Innate bones can't determine everything. There must be gold buried beneath the dust... like Junior Brother Lu, for example."

As Old Zhang spoke, many people looked over.

"Indeed, I think Junior Brother Lu has very good comprehension."

Du Men said loudly.

"How did that old saying go? Something about a bright pearl, something about being locked away... I think it suits Junior Brother Lu quite well, right, everyone? I think none of us are bad. We just have to keep working hard. Opportunities will come eventually."

"Exactly."

The young people had yet to be battered by society, and they refused to admit defeat in their hearts.

Old Zhang raised his drink and toasted the group of young people.

"I know the line Little Du meant... I have a bright pearl, long locked away by worldly toil; today the dust is gone and its light is born, illuminating ten thousand blooms across mountains and rivers! All of you have bright futures ahead! You minors can't drink alcohol, so come on, bottoms up with this watermelon juice!"

Before martial arts, age did not matter.

Those who shared the same aspirations could get along together.

Lu Chenzhou was somewhat moved as well.

"You flatter me. As long as everyone works hard, we will all achieve something."

After the meal, the students returned home one after another.

Qin Zheng went home as well.

Lu Chenzhou, meanwhile, returned to the boxing hall to continue practicing.

Shi Ruyu, who had been practicing boxing, stopped and asked.

"Old Zhang invited you all, didn't he?"

Lu Chenzhou nodded.

"Come, I want to tell you something."

They found a tea room, and Shi Ruyu had Lu Chenzhou sit down.

She sat across from Lu Chenzhou, upright and solemn. After taking a sip of tea, she said.

"Did you know? Old Zhang has been friends with the hall master since childhood.

"The hall master said that when Old Zhang was young, he always felt his talent had been buried. Now that he is older and has money, he wants to prove something. Still, he's a decent person.

"If there's an opportunity to make money with him, you can try it too.

"After all, your family's circumstances truly make it difficult to support your long-term martial arts training.

"But at your current stage, improving your strength should remain your priority. First, pass Pingjiang Martial University's special admissions examination in June. Even after entering Wuda, you cannot slack off. During those four years, you must advance by leaps and bounds. Only by letting Wuda see your potential can you remain there.

"I was stuck at the Sixth Stage for too long and failed to reach the Transcendent Realm. In the end, I had no choice but to leave. I was miserable for a while before finding myself again.

"Although I have now broken through to the Seventh Stage, and my cultivation is smoother than before, if I cannot become a Martial Artist before the age of thirty-five, I still won't be able to enter Wuda through social recruitment.

"Martial cultivation requires resources. The nation is still developing rapidly at this stage, and there are also potential threats like the Void Realm, so resources are given priority to geniuses.

"If you fall one step behind at any stage, you may be eliminated.

"Though you may still have a chance to rise again in the future, you will inevitably squander your years and waste the best time for martial cultivation. So work hard, Lu Chenzhou. Be neither arrogant nor impatient, and do not belittle yourself. The road ahead is still long, and the martial path has no end!"

After finishing her tea, Shi Ruyu turned sideways and stared blankly out the window.

Lu Chenzhou asked.

"Senior Sister, you're only twenty-two. Advancing to Martial Artist before thirty-five and then entering Wuda for further study shouldn't be difficult, right? I believe you can do it!"

Shi Ruyu said.

"On the path to breaking the First Shackles, the closer you get, the harder it becomes. Do you know what is most despairing? I knew a senior who, at thirty, had already reached the peak of the Tenth Stage and stood infinitely close to the First Shackles. Success was practically within arm's reach, yet he remained stuck on that final step for ten years without crossing it. He has been dejected ever since.

"That is the shackles binding humanity. In martial cultivation, one must press forward with fearless vigor! To go farther, innate bones, comprehension, hard work, and resources are all indispensable!"

Lu Chenzhou stood and thanked his senior sister.

"Thank you for your guidance."

Shi Ruyu said.

"It's nothing. With your current state and pace of cultivation, inferior innate bones are no longer enough to limit you. In ancient times, this was called sudden enlightenment. So just keep charging forward steadily and show the nation your comprehension and progress. Once you gain the attention of those people, you will receive the resources you deserve and soar into the sky from then on."

Lu Chenzhou murmured inwardly.

"Sudden enlightenment? That would explain why I've progressed so quickly. In truth, I haven't had a sudden enlightenment—I merely awakened the talent of the Martial Dao Tree."

Shi Ruyu saw Lu Chenzhou's doubtful expression.

"What? You don't believe me? Sudden enlightenment is a state beyond words. Keep cultivating, and you'll understand... Some even say that sudden enlightenment is a sign of awakening a Martial Bone Dao Fetus."

"Martial Bone Dao Fetus?"

Lu Chenzhou did not even dare imagine such a legendary aptitude. Anyone with a Martial Bone Dao Fetus was an apex genius, outstanding in both innate bones and comprehension!

Shi Ruyu burst out laughing.

"Did that scare you? It is indeed possible, but among a hundred people who experience sudden enlightenment, there may not be even one who awakens a Martial Bone Dao Fetus. Just keep an ordinary heart."

Lu Chenzhou nodded.

Shi Ruyu chatted with him for a long time, introducing Lu Chenzhou to quite a bit of information about Wuda. Only after they had finished a whole pot of tea did Shi Ruyu rise and say.

"It's getting late. Practice boxing for a while, then head back early."

On his first day of class today, the hall master had already praised Lu Chenzhou greatly.

Shi Ruyu believed that this young man would surely become a true disciple.

She would soon have a junior brother as a personal disciple.

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