"Yes, that's right." Gu Yang nodded calmly.
It seemed that although Li Zhiwu knew about how he had defeated Xiahou Ji with seven punches, he did not know that Gu Yang had spent the first six punches defending...
They were both seven punches, yet there was a fundamental difference between them.
Of course, there was no need to let Li Zhiwu know such a thing. It would be too damaging to the boy's confidence.
After thinking for a moment, Gu Yang gazed at Li Zhiwu and said sincerely, "Perhaps while you were working hard, I wasn't wasting my time either, so I improved faster!"
"But I train for a full six shichen every day. Could it be that you train even longer than I do?" Li Zhiwu's face was full of confusion and incomprehension.
Six shichen...
Gu Yang understood at once. No wonder Li Zhiwu's improvement had been so tremendous after only a few days apart. He had secretly been working hard, planning to astonish everyone.
Six shichen was indeed quite a lot, by all rights.
Even Gu Yang only cultivated for eight shichen a day...
Of course, Gu Yang could endure training for longer, but he could not keep it up for long.
Even if his body could take it, his mind could not.
Besides, sleeping, walking, and various other matters took up roughly four shichen every day.
Still, there was no need to tell Li Zhiwu that either. Children ought to train while playing; being too caught up in the rat race was no good.
Ignoring Li Zhiwu's confusion, Gu Yang stepped forward, pulled him to his feet in one motion, then heavily patted his shoulder and said solemnly, "Being stronger first doesn't mean being strong forever. Don't lose heart. You're still young—the future belongs to you!"
"..."
It seemed Gu Yang had reignited his fighting spirit. With the resolve to wipe away his former humiliation, Li Zhiwu left without looking back.
Gu Yang did not pay it any mind and simply continued practicing his Stance Training.
Practice after practice, insight after insight.
Time always passed quickly when one focused on a single task. By the time Gu Yang felt his strength nearing exhaustion and stopped his Stance Training to rest, he realized that the sun had already slanted westward, hanging low over the distant mountains.
Without his noticing, an entire day had slipped away.
The bell from the depths of the Martial Academy rang at just the right time. The disciples who had been sitting and resting while chatting, as well as those sparring, all rose and headed toward the Training Ground exit.
Watching the disciples leave with smiles spread across their faces, as excited as elementary school students hearing the final bell, Gu Yang took a deep breath and calmed his restless Blood Qi. Once his heartbeat had gradually steadied, he followed the crowd out at an unhurried pace.
Near Nine Bends Ward, Gu Yang brushed past two City Guard soldiers. He was hurrying home and failed to notice that the two guards turned to watch him.
"Fifth Brother, those are Wild Ox Leather Boots on that kid's feet, right?"
"Yeah. A pair of boots like that is worth at least three taels of silver."
"That kid lives in Nine Bends Ward. Where did he get that much money?"
"Won't we find out if we get the chance to ask him?"
"You're right. Heh heh..."
The sun set, and the moon climbed above the branches.
A dim oil lamp lit the cramped room. Gu Yang's family of four sat around an old wooden table, in the center of which sat a large earthenware bowl nearly two chi across, filled to the brim with pork, dried vegetables, and stewed vermicelli.
That evening, Gu Yang's family ate dry coarse rice along with the large bowl of stew.
Though there were more vegetables than meat, the broth was still covered in glistening oil.
Gu Dashan leaned over the earthenware bowl and took a deep breath, immediately revealing a look of satisfaction.
"Smells amazing!"
He picked up a wooden ladle, scooped up a spoonful of meat broth, and poured it over the rice in his bowl. Seeing Gu Yingying excitedly raise her bowl high, he smiled and poured a spoonful each over hers and Gu Mother's bowls as well.
Ever since that night when Gu Dashan and Gu Mother had opened their hearts to their son, the two of them finally dared to cook meat dishes regularly.
However, they only spent the money Gu Yang had earned recently. The family's previous savings remained untouched, kept aside to serve as a safety net or for emergencies.
Under the lamplight, Gu Dashan and the other two all held the same posture.
They held their rice bowls in hand, their chopsticks darting back and forth between the earthenware bowl and their own bowls. A bite of rice, a bite of stew—they ate in great mouthfuls. Only Gu Yang had nothing before him but a bowl of water.
After taking a Military Rations Pill, it was unsuitable to eat. That was experience passed down by their predecessors, and Gu Yang naturally would not turn a blind eye to it.
For the past seven days, he had been doing the same, and his family had long since grown accustomed to it.
Though he did not eat, he still remained to accompany the three of them through their meal.
After cultivating at the Martial Academy for an entire day, resting for a while now was enough to relax his mind.
At last, once he watched the three of them pick the dishes clean from the earthenware bowl, then pour the meat broth into their rice bowls and noisily slurp it down, Gu Yang rose and walked outside. Standing beneath the bright moon, he continued practicing his Stance Training.
The sun rose.
The sun set.
The following evening, in the Training Ground.
After completing a set of Stance Training, Gu Yang let out a long breath and finally stopped.
Skill 'Blood Nourishing Stance' Proficiency +1
After glancing at the small text, Gu Yang closed his eyes and focused ahead.
In an instant, two lines of text appeared.
Skill: Blood Nourishing Stance · Minor Accomplishment (200/200); Azure Dragon Dance · Minor Accomplishment (95/1000) Talent: Vitality Surge, Power Surge.
After this period of arduous cultivation, the proficiency of Blood Nourishing Stance at the Minor Accomplishment stage had finally filled up.
Next, he only needed to continue practicing until his Stance Training broke through!
"Exhale..."
"Inhale..."
With his eyes closed and mind focused, he quietly sensed the rhythm of his breathing.
He straightened his chest, raised his arms, spread his legs shoulder-width apart, and assumed the opening stance of the Blood Nourishing Stance Art.
A thread of cold wind swept past, yet Gu Yang remained standing.
The Martial Academy's bell suddenly rang. The other disciples began leaving one after another, but Gu Yang remained deaf to it all.
That morning, he had anticipated that he might break through that evening, so he had informed Gu Dashan beforehand not to wait for him at the entrance. He would return on his own later.
The Martial Academy gradually fell quiet, while Gu Yang continued holding the opening stance without moving a muscle.
Until...
At a certain moment, when the rhythm of his breathing aligned with the opening stance, Gu Yang suddenly opened his eyes.
His feet slid, and in an instant, he shifted from stillness to motion. The movements of his hands unfolded like drifting clouds and flowing water.
Swinging his arms, sinking his shoulders, bending his legs...
Crack, crack~
Streams of force gathered within his body. His bones and joints trembled and ground against one another, while his stamina drained rapidly.
Gu Yang's face showed neither sorrow nor joy as he continued practicing the Stance Training with complete focus.
Step after step paired with movement after movement, coordinated with the ever-changing rhythm of his breathing.
Before he knew it, all three stance frames and forty-eight movements had been completed. Only the final closing move remained.
His movements shifted once more, and the foot he had stepped out with drew back at just the right moment.
He inhaled and withdrew the stance.
Gu Yang suddenly closed his eyes, stopped moving, and stood there perfectly still.
At that moment, he was the only person left in the empty Training Ground.
Silent. Dim.
An atmosphere of stillness quietly arose, though no one knew when it had begun.
"Exhale..."
He let out a long breath and opened his eyes, only to find them brimming with joy.
His strength was beginning to rise. The Blood Nourishing Stance Art had broken through!
The next instant, two lines of small text flashed before his eyes, confirming his judgment.
Skill 'Blood Nourishing Stance' Proficiency +1 Skill 'Blood Nourishing Stance' realm has broken through. Potential Development in progress...