I Admit He Surprised Me, But I Don't Think...

The largest courtyard in the Martial Hall.

Lin Chen and Lu Yongfeng stood there with the others, waiting for the instructors to arrive.

Lin Chen was the only one present whose strength had yet to reach five hundred pounds.

Even compared to Yan Dexing, the weakest among them, there was still a gap of more than a hundred pounds between them.

In the past, Yan Dexing and the others would not have spared a second glance for a student with such a disparity. Yet now, the five of them kept looking Lin Chen over.

"Junior Brother Lin, how did you do it?"

Zhao Jingchuan still had not recovered from his shock. Fifty pounds of strength gained in just a few days—were you trying to defy the heavens?

"I just punched my way there." Lin Chen answered modestly.

"What do you eat every day?" Lu Yongfeng asked in a deep voice.

"Beef and Qi Nourishing Soup."

"That's it?"

"Mm. That's it."

Those two lightly spoken words, "that's it," plunged Lu Yongfeng and the other five into silence.

While Lu Yongfeng and the others were silent, the three instructors outside the courtyard gate were also talking.

"Brother Yu, give us the truth. Did you really not give Lin Chen any help?"

"No."

Yu Yongnian smiled. He knew the two of them would not believe him, but that was the truth.

"Then that really is strange. How did Lin Chen manage it with nothing but the cafeteria's beef and Qi Nourishing Soup?"

Instructor Liu held a ledger in his hand. It recorded every student's spending in the cafeteria, and Lin Chen's expenses were listed there in black and white.

As instructors, aside from the salary issued by the Martial Arts Administration, they also received a cut from the cafeteria expenses of the students they taught.

Yu Yongnian did not care about those commissions. He was alone, had no great ambitions in the martial path, and the salary from the Martial Arts Administration was enough for him to live on.

That was also why, when students first entered the Martial Hall, he reminded them not to pursue rapid advancement.

"What a pity. If Lin Chen had improved his meals earlier, he might have had a shot at cultivating Essence Energy within a year. But now, it's a little late."

Regret showed on Instructor Chen's face. Even though Lin Chen's strength was increasing quickly, five hundred pounds was another hurdle. After five hundred and fifty pounds, every additional ten pounds was another hurdle. Yet there were not many days left before the one-year deadline.

"Not necessarily. Perhaps Lin Chen will give us a surprise." Yu Yongnian smiled.

"Difficult. There's too little time. If Lin Chen had another three months, I wouldn't doubt it. But unfortunately, there are less than two months left now." Instructor Chen shook his head. He still did not quite believe Lin Chen could do it.

"Whether Lin Chen can do it or not is a matter for later. Right now, the three of us need to give Lu Yongfeng and the others special training."

Special training!

Every class at the Martial Hall had it, and it was meant for students who had a chance to cultivate Essence Energy within a year.

The Martial Hall truly taught only the Warm Sun Fist. But if a student was just one step away from cultivating Essence Energy, the instructors would lend them a hand.

Yu Yongnian and the other two stepped into the courtyard. Seeing Lu Yongfeng and the others standing silently, they were somewhat surprised.

"From now on, the three of us will give you special training and help you clear the places in your bodies where your blood and vitality are obstructed. Lu Yongfeng, come here."

Instructor Liu spoke first. Lu Yongfeng walked up to him, while Lin Chen and the others watched curiously.

"Perform a set of the Warm Sun Fist."

"Yes."

Lu Yongfeng threw his punches, the wind whistling around them. Instructor Liu watched intently. After Lu Yongfeng finished, he suddenly grabbed Lu Yongfeng's right hand and pressed a finger beneath his armpit.

In just three breaths, Lu Yongfeng's entire right arm had swollen purple-red.

"Your blood and vitality meet resistance when they flow through this point. From now on, focus on practicing the ninth move of the Warm Sun Fist."

"Thank you, Instructor."

Delight appeared on Lu Yongfeng's face, and Zhao Jingchuan and the other four grew excited as well. Yet Lin Chen's eyes held some confusion. Why had the instructors not pointed this out earlier? Why wait until now?

It could not have been just to create a tense atmosphere, could it?

Yu Yongnian glanced at Lin Chen. Seeing the confusion in his eyes, he knew that his student lacked certain knowledge of the martial path, so he explained, "Only when one's blood and vitality have reached a certain level, when they are just one step away from cultivating Essence Energy, can we instructors detect where the obstruction lies."

Hearing the explanation, Lin Chen understood.

If the body's meridians were compared to a network of pipes, then every pipe had a membrane blocking it.

To cultivate Essence Energy, one had to break through all those membranes. But because one's blood and vitality were not vigorous enough, or for certain other reasons, when they broke through these checkpoints, the membranes were not fully shattered. Though they had been pierced, remnants remained. This prevented the blood and vitality from flowing at their fastest, making it impossible to condense Essence Energy.

"Starting today, you will practice in this courtyard as well. The cafeteria will send your meals here. As for the three taels of silver rewarded by the Martial Arts Administration, I'll directly add it to your cafeteria meals."

"Thank you, Instructor." Lin Chen looked deeply grateful.

Next, the three instructors each pointed out the areas Zhao Jingchuan and the other four needed to practice separately. Lu Yongfeng and the others did not waste any time and quickly threw themselves into training.

One move, one punch, one sweeping kick...

Repeated again and again. So long as the instructors did not call for them to stop, not one of the five stopped.

The pressure!

Lin Chen felt that pressure, and he also felt how resolute those five were in their pursuit of martial arts.

He wanted to change his fate, and change his family's fate as well.

Lu Yongfeng and the other five were the same. Different family circumstances brought different aspirations, but they all understood the importance of learning martial arts.

Lin Chen threw himself into training as well. He wanted to catch up to Lu Yongfeng and the others by the end of the month. He too had to Seize Every Second.

No one slacked off. They only voluntarily trained more.

With unlimited beef every day and Qi Nourishing Soup, there was no danger of overtaxing their bodies.

Eight days later!

Lin Chen spoke again. "Instructor, this disciple wishes to try the five-hundred-pound Stone Weight!"

Lu Yongfeng and the others, who were practicing their fists diligently nearby, all halted at the same time.

Had they heard wrong?

Lin Chen said he wanted to lift a five-hundred-pound Stone Weight, not four hundred and seventy, four hundred and eighty, or something like that?

"Good!"

Yu Yongnian's pupils contracted. He turned and left the courtyard, returning shortly afterward with the five-hundred-pound Stone Weight in one hand.

Lin Chen walked before the Stone Weight. This time, Lu Yongfeng and the others had completely stopped. They wanted to see whether Lin Chen could truly lift the five-hundred-pound Stone Weight.

Instructor Liu was absent. Out of curiosity, Instructor Chen stepped directly in front of Lin Chen and stared at him closely.

2513/3000

Lin Chen gave the System Panel one final look, bent down, and gripped the Stone Weight's handle. Though it took some effort, he ultimately lifted it.

Yu Yongnian beamed, while Instructor Chen's eyes shone brightly.

At that moment, the corners of Lu Yongfeng and the others' mouths twitched. They exchanged glances, not knowing what to say.

"It's fine. He's only at five hundred pounds. We're already at five hundred and ninety. He can't possibly surpass us."

Yan Dexing comforted the others.

"I admit Lin Chen surprised me, but he can never catch up to us. I'm confident I'll cultivate Essence Energy before this month ends." Lu Yongfeng pressed his lips together, pride ringing in his words.

Zhao Jingchuan and the other three felt the same. There was no enmity between them, but no one wanted to be outdone.

Originally, the five of them had competed with one another. Now they also had to guard against Lin Chen catching up.

"Lin Chen, disciple of the Kaohe Town Martial Arts Academy, possessed four hundred pounds of strength last month. In fifteen days, his strength increased by one hundred pounds. Verifier: Yu Yongnian."

Yu Yongnian's expression was solemn. Only after speaking did a smile return to his face. "Lin Chen, your strength has increased by one hundred pounds in a month. According to the Martial Affairs Department's announcement, you will receive a reward of ten taels of silver. The Martial Hall will issue it to you tomorrow."

Hearing Yu Yongnian's words, Instructor Chen glanced at him, his eyes carrying the smugness of someone who had seen through everything. Yu Yongnian claimed he had not given Lin Chen special treatment, but he had been helping Lin Chen all along.

Normally, to receive Silver Coins, the Martial Hall had to report it to the city's Martial Arts Administration, which would then have the Martial Affairs Department issue the money. Fast, it took three to five days; slow, it could take ten days to half a month.

"Thank you, Instructor."

Lin Chen did not know the details and thought the Martial Hall directly issued the money to its students.

Yu Yongnian did not explain. He knew Lin Chen's family circumstances. Lin Chen likely did not have much Silver Coins left on him, and the Martial Arts Administration needed time to issue the money, so he would advance it to Lin Chen first.

A determined young man should not be let down!

PS: Thank you to Little Chubby Mama and Misty Rain, Mortal Dust for the ten-thousand-coin tips. Love you both, mwah! Please keep reading, everyone—don't let the new book sit in your libraries during its release period. I'm begging you on my knees!