Breakthrough, Talent: Vitality Surge

In the lower-right corner of the formation, Gu Yang was intently practicing the Blood Nourishing Stance Art.

Even though he had heard what Qin Hu said, his expression did not change in the slightest.

One movement followed another. Gu Yang's body rose and fell slightly, every transition flowing with incomparable smoothness.

Before long, he finished a full set of stance training, and a line of small text flashed before his eyes.

Skill 'Blood Nourishing Stance' proficiency +1

"Finally full..."

Muttering to himself, Gu Yang lowered his head and closed his eyes.

The next instant, text appeared.

Skills: Blood Nourishing Stance · Beginner (100/100); Azure Dragon Dance · Beginner (57/500)

Talent: None

This was the first time Gu Yang had ground a skill's proficiency all the way to the limit. Though it was merely the initial Beginner stage, his heart was still brimming with accomplishment.

Ignoring the furtive glances from the others, Gu Yang took a step back and sat down to rest.

With both hands braced behind him on the ground, he closed his eyes and tilted back his head, letting the sunlight spill across his face.

This time, he rested for quite a while.

Only after he felt that his mental state had completely recovered and more than half his stamina had returned did Gu Yang rise to his feet again and assume the Blood Nourishing Stance Art posture.

"Place your center of gravity between your legs; push, pull, draw, and lift like a tumbler that cannot be knocked down..."

"Strength rises from beneath the feet, power passes through the waist..."

Scenes of Qin Hu instructing the disciples surfaced in his mind. Gu Yang drew a deep breath, adjusted his breathing rhythm, and began practicing the Blood Nourishing Stance Art once more.

"Exhale..."

"Inhale..."

Three sets of stance training, forty-eight movements, unfolded like drifting clouds and flowing water.

After one round, Gu Yang's body paused slightly, and a smile appeared on his face.

"I broke through!"

Even without that line of small-text notification, he could feel the changes taking place within his body.

His physical constitution was growing stronger, and his strength was increasing as well!

Though he had not tested it specifically yet, Gu Yang could tell by feel that in just that brief span, his strength had increased by at least several dozen jin.

He withdrew the stance and exhaled.

The next instant, two lines of small text flashed before his eyes!

Skill 'Blood Nourishing Stance' proficiency +1

Skill 'Blood Nourishing Stance' realm has broken through, potential development in progress...

"Potential development? Does that mean my first talent is about to appear?!"

Gu Yang was both startled and overjoyed.

He had never imagined that merely breaking through the Qi Cultivation stage would cause his first talent to appear.

"What will it be?"

Gu Yang took a deep breath, anticipation filling his heart.

Initial potential development complete. Talent 'Vitality Surge' successfully manifested!

A few breaths later, another line of text flashed before Gu Yang's eyes.

"It's here!"

"But Vitality Surge... what kind of talent is that?"

After glancing around, Gu Yang lowered his head with a blank expression and closed his eyes, looking toward the starlight before him.

Skills: Blood Nourishing Stance · Minor Achievement (1/200); Azure Dragon Dance · Beginner (57/500)

Talent: Vitality Surge.

Neither skill's proficiency had changed in the slightest, but there was now an additional talent: Vitality Surge.

As his thoughts focused, the detailed description of this talent immediately surfaced in Gu Yang's mind.

Talent Vitality Surge: A small portion of the vitality hidden within the body has been activated. Stamina recovery speed and injury recovery speed are slightly increased.

"'Slightly increased'—to what extent?" Gu Yang could not help feeling curious.

Although he was somewhat disappointed that his first manifested talent did not increase his strength or any other attribute, the more important thing now was to first figure out this talent's characteristics.

Even if this time it was not a talent that enhanced combat power, as long as the Blood Nourishing Stance's proficiency continued to rise, a second and third talent would appear later. He could afford to wait.

"Hm? This is..."

Before he could think of a way to test it, Gu Yang suddenly sensed an unusual change in his body with each breath.

His stamina was recovering so quickly, at more than double its previous speed!

Was this rate of recovery also only a "slight" improvement...

Then what would a major improvement look like? Could he become a "perpetual-motion machine"?

The disappointment in Gu Yang's heart instantly turned into delight.

A doubling in stamina recovery speed meant that his future efficiency in practicing stance training could increase by at least twice as much.

For Gu Yang, who was currently most lacking in time, this was undoubtedly tremendous news.

With the support of the Vitality Surge talent, it seemed he might have a chance to contend in the Year-End Grand Competition.

Not to mention that this talent could also improve injury recovery speed, meaning he no longer had to fear getting hurt during sparring.

Very soon, a quarter of an hour passed.

In just that short quarter of an hour, Gu Yang felt that more than half his stamina had recovered.

He no longer kept his head lowered and his eyes shut. Opening his eyes, he began practicing the Blood Nourishing Stance Art again.

As the stance training unfolded, Gu Yang's stamina began to slowly drain away.

But at the same time, he discovered that something within his body seemed to be surging forth without end, constantly replenishing his stamina.

"Vitality... so this is what they call vitality? I never expected the human body to contain something so miraculous."

Gu Yang split his attention in two, practicing the stance training on one hand while sensing the changes within his body on the other.

Before long, he finished a full set of stance training. Gu Yang took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. He could clearly feel that his stamina was still abundant.

Under the effect of the continuously surging vitality, this round of stance training had consumed fully half as much stamina as before.

"Keep going. Let me see your limit!"

Excitement flashed in Gu Yang's eyes. He assumed the stance training posture and began practicing once more.

"Haah, haah..."

As the sun slanted westward, Gu Yang let out a long breath and finally stopped moving. With both hands on his knees, he panted heavily.

"So tired..."

His vision blurred, his chest heaved violently, and the muscles in his limbs spasmed without pause. Waves of soreness surged into his brain, and Gu Yang even felt that if he lay down, he could fall asleep immediately.

Yet the results of this bout of high-intensity training were equally obvious. Over the course of more than half a day, the proficiency +1 notification had appeared in his vision six times.

This was the speed of his progress after breaking through Strength Training and manifesting the Vitality Surge talent.

Too fast!

At this rate, if he continued cultivating the Blood Nourishing Stance Art with all his strength, the stance training would break through again in less than a month.

What did that mean?

Martial Academy disciples took an average of eight months to break through Qi Cultivation and two years and seven months to break through Strength Training. As for the final Blood Condensation stage, many disciples could not achieve it even by the time they turned sixteen.

From this comparison alone, one could see just how terrifying Gu Yang's rate of progress was.

Of course, Gu Yang could not keep practicing the Blood Nourishing Stance Art forever. After breaking through Strength Training, he also had to pick up Martial Techniques.

Practice kung fu but not martial arts, and never raise your hand when you meet someone.

If he could not fight, then during the Minor Competition, he could only take a beating.