This Child Is No Weaker Than Qin Hao

"Junior Brother Qin Hao is incredible. He sensed the Iron Line in half a month, and before half a month had even passed, he had completely stabilized it."

"Why call him Junior Brother? From now on, he's our Senior Brother. Senior Brother Qin Hao is already someone from a different world than us."

"Yeah, didn't you see how all the other senior brothers were called back by Master specifically to attend Senior Brother Qin Hao's initiation ceremony?"

"..."

In the Outer Courtyard, several disciples who had been training heard the commotion coming from the Inner Courtyard and had already lost all interest in cultivation.

Their gazes occasionally swept past the high walls, their eyes nearly piercing through them as they landed on that familiar yet unfamiliar figure.

Their eyes revealed envy that was impossible to conceal.

The fellow who had arrived later than them had now transformed in the blink of an eye into someone they could only look up to.

They could not help but sigh at the fickleness of the world.

Li Mo, who had come out of the Inner Courtyard, looked at the distracted crowd. His lips parted, but in the end, he did not scold them.

Glancing at Qin Hao, who was surrounded by Zhou Tao and the others, he thought it over and ultimately decided to come outside for some air.

After all, he did not have much in common with them.

Compared to him, Zhou Tao and the others all came from decent families. Naturally, Qin Hao was more willing to befriend them.

Rather than go over and join the excitement, he might as well be sensible and avoid pressing a warm face against a cold backside.

Besides, deep down, he was still somewhat resistant to such lively gatherings.

Suddenly, Li Mo spotted Su Chen walking toward him.

"Junior Brother Su, you..."

He looked at Su Chen. After not seeing him for half a month, Su Chen seemed to have undergone a complete renewal in both spirit and bearing.

"Senior Brother Li Mo."

Su Chen replied with a smile.

Seeing Su Chen's smile, Li Mo hesitated to speak. In the end, he let out a soft sigh.

"It's good that you came. How has your stance training been these past few days? If you have nothing to do today, stay behind. I'll formally teach you the fist technique."

He had not seen Su Chen for more than ten days and had assumed Su Chen had given up martial arts training.

Now that he saw Su Chen, he had originally wanted to ask why, but after thinking it over, he decided to let it go.

When he had first seen Su Chen's difficult circumstances, he had thought Su Chen would train diligently after becoming a disciple.

Yet Su Chen had fished for three days and dried the nets for two, with none of his thoughts on martial arts at all.

After several attempts to persuade him yielded no results, Li Mo gradually stopped paying attention to Su Chen.

Still, Su Chen had become a disciple after all, so Li Mo had to fulfill his duties.

Thus, he planned to directly teach Su Chen the fist technique. As for the final outcome, that would depend on Su Chen's own fortune.

Su Chen did not notice Li Mo's expression. After hearing this, he hesitated for a moment but still said,

"Senior Brother, I came this time because I wanted to ask you how a martial artist's realms are divided."

"Why are you suddenly asking about that?" Seeing Su Chen aiming too high once more, Li Mo's expression changed slightly as he asked.

Su Chen did not mind. He spread out his arm and controlled the Blood Line, gradually revealing it.

"Y-you cultivated a Blood Line?"

With a smack, Li Mo grabbed Su Chen's arm and examined it closely.

The instant the Blood Line appeared, his eyes widened abruptly, and he asked in a startled voice.

Su Chen nodded. "Yes. It appeared while I was training."

"This really is..." Li Mo stammered, not knowing what to say.

But soon, he jolted as though something had suddenly come back to him.

He muttered, "I remember you only became a disciple a little over twenty days ago. When did you cultivate the Iron Line?"

"Today!"

Su Chen thought for a moment, then casually gave a date.

"Ha! Good lad, come on. I'll take you to see Master!"

After staring blankly for a moment, Li Mo suddenly laughed. He grabbed Su Chen's hand and led him straight into the Inner Courtyard.

At this moment, in the Inner Courtyard.

Qin Hao was like a dazzling bright moon, surrounded by stars paying tribute to the moon.

Zhou Tao smiled. "With Junior Brother Qin Hao's talent, I'm afraid it won't be long before you cultivate the Iron Wire Fist to great mastery. When that time comes, perhaps none of us will be your match, Junior Brother."

"Senior Brother Zhou Tao flatters me. I only relied on diligent practice." Qin Hao smiled bashfully.

"Haha, Junior Brother is still too modest."

Zhou Tao shook his head. He understood better than Qin Hao just what sort of talent it took to master the Iron Wire Fist in a month. Then, his tone shifted.

"I wonder if Junior Brother has time tonight? Come to think of it, as your senior brother, I've never properly treated you before. Since today brings Junior Brother such happy news, I plan to host a banquet at the Drunken Immortal Restaurant. I hope Junior Brother will honor us with your presence..."

At this, Qin Hao's expression shifted slightly. The Drunken Immortal Restaurant was a famous restaurant in White Stone City.

He had heard that a single meal there cost dozens, even hundreds, of taels. Even his father was not qualified to dine there.

He had not expected Zhou Tao to offer so readily. He felt deeply honored, but still said awkwardly, "Senior Brother, wouldn't that be too costly?"

Zhou Tao waved his hand. "Ah, Junior Brother, it's merely the Drunken Immortal Restaurant. With my means, I can't eat there every day, but three or four times a month is no problem."

Hearing this, Qin Hao no longer insisted. "In that case, thank you, Senior Brother."

"Haha, I was waiting for you to say that." Zhou Tao smiled.

"Eh, isn't that Junior Brother Li Mo? Why is he in such a hurry? What could have happened?"

At that moment, Hu Zong noticed Li Mo hurrying over, his face filled with confusion.

"Li Mo, what is it?"

Hong Ming also saw Li Mo and spoke up to ask.

Li Mo stopped, gave a salute, and said, "Master, there's something I need to tell you. Someone else in our Martial Hall has sensed a Blood Line."

"Oh?"

At once, Hong Ming's gaze fell on Su Chen.

He walked over to Su Chen and gestured for him to display it.

Su Chen skillfully revealed the Blood Line.

Looking at the faintly visible Blood Line on Su Chen's arm, Hong Ming nodded slightly. "Good. Not bad."

With Qin Hao's pearl and jade already before him, he was clearly not very interested in Su Chen.

At this moment, Li Mo spoke up. "Master, Junior Brother Su has been in the Martial Hall for less than twenty days!"

The moment those words fell, Su Chen could feel everyone's gazes land upon him.

Even Hong Ming looked at Su Chen with a trace of surprise.

He slapped his forehead, as though he had suddenly remembered Su Chen.

"You're the disciple who became a disciple some time ago?"

Hong Ming did not have much of an impression of Su Chen. The only thing he remembered was Su Chen's firmness and decisiveness when paying the fee.

Su Chen nodded slightly.

"Haha, very good. How about this: if you can stabilize the Blood Line within a month, just like Qin Hao, I'll formally take you as my disciple and waive your tuition fee!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Hao's expression changed slightly, but at this moment, no one paid attention to him.

"Thank you, Master."

Su Chen cupped his hands in thanks. These reactions had all been within his expectations, so he did not find them strange.

What he had not expected was the waiving of his tuition fee.

"Today brings double happiness. Su Chen, stay and eat with us as well."

As mealtime approached, Hong Ming simply kept Su Chen there to dine with them.

At the dinner table, Hong Ming treated Qin Hao and Su Chen equally. Yet on closer inspection, it was obvious that he favored Qin Hao more.

Still, he did not neglect Su Chen too much.

In his view, if Su Chen could stabilize the Blood Line within a month, then in the future, he might not be weaker than Qin Hao.

Qin Hao, who had originally been in the limelight, became somewhat sullen because of Su Chen's appearance.

Su Chen naturally noticed the change in Qin Hao's expression, but he did not care.

When faced with Zhou Tao and the others' congratulations, he merely responded with a few simple words, his attitude neither warm nor cold.

Before long, they had eaten and drunk their fill.

Zhou Tao, Qin Hao, and the others left together, while Li Mo and Su Chen walked out of the courtyard.

Having held it in for far too long, Su Chen looked at Li Mo and asked the question in his heart.

"Senior Brother, I would like to ask: how exactly are a martial artist's realms divided?"