Body Tempering First Level

But in Chen Qinglin's eyes, it became—

Taught by someone with Iron Wire Fist at Minor Accomplishment. Iron Wire Fist proficiency +7

Proficiency +7

Proficiency +7

[Chen Qinglin]

Lifespan: 14/56

Realm: Mortal

Skills: Archery (Minor Accomplishment 342/1000)

Iron Wire Fist (Beginner 11/100)

Chen Qinglin began practicing the Iron Wire Fist. He was still somewhat awkward at first, but as he progressed through the moves, he soon began to look the part. After running through the entire set of fist techniques once—

Proficiency +1

Seeing this, Chen Qinglin practiced even harder. Who could understand the feeling of knowing that effort would definitely be rewarded? Chen Qinglin immediately wanted to grind himself to the bone.

The disciple in charge of supervision was named Li Lin. Watching everyone practice martial arts, he knew in his heart that most of them would not stay long. Most of their families could only support them for one or two months. If they failed to cultivate Blood Qi within that time, they would likely have no fate with the path of a Martial Artist.

When his gaze swept over the new disciples, his eyes narrowed. He watched for a while longer and muttered to himself, "Looks like this batch has produced one with some talent." A disciple with a bit of talent like this would appear once or twice every few years.

Li Lin silently memorized the new disciple's face, intending to observe him further later on.

After practicing four or five times, Chen Qinglin could feel his strength increasing. Soon after, his stomach felt empty, and he grew a little hungry.

"Brother Qingshi, want to go eat?"

"Sure! I've been starving for ages!"

After informing Li Lin, he and Chen Qingshi left the Martial Arts School and went outside to get something to eat.

There was also a place to eat within the Martial Arts School, but it was only available to official disciples. For disciples like Chen Qinglin and the others, the school only taught fist techniques and handled nothing else.

Only by entering the Body Tempering Realm could one become an official disciple. Food and lodging were provided, along with disciple benefits and instruction from renowned teachers within the school.

The two squatted by the roadside, gnawing on the buns they had bought. Chen Qingshi complained, "Qinglin, money in this town disappears way too fast."

At this bun shop, one bun cost one copper coin, while a meat bun cost three.

The two had brought a total of three hundred copper coins when they came. Together with the fees paid to the Martial Arts School for training, it had already consumed most of both families' savings.

If they failed to make something of themselves within this month, the two would have to pack up and return to the village. If they were luckier, they might find work guarding the gate for some wealthy household.

"It really doesn't go far. Let's practice martial arts for a few days first, then go take a look at the mountains near the outskirts of town after a while."

Hearing that, Chen Qinglin also felt that they needed to find a way to make money. He was not worried about failing to get started in martial arts. With his talent, he had already begun to grasp the fist technique.

It probably would not be long before he could sense Blood Qi and enter the Body Tempering Realm. With money to buy more meat and practice the fist technique a few more times, his progress would be even faster.

With that in mind, Chen Qinglin decided that once he had gotten started over the next few days, he would go hunting outside the city.

"Alright then. With the skills of us brothers, wouldn't entering the mountains be the same as going there to stock up?" Chen Qingshi took a vicious bite out of his bun, already imagining himself slaughtering everything in the forest.

After returning to the Martial Arts School to practice for another half day, the two left, bought some vegetables, and reluctantly weighed out a pound of meat before heading back to their residence together.

After preparing the food, the two began practicing martial arts in the courtyard.

As Chen Qinglin practiced, he suddenly felt heat spread through his entire body, his blood like boiling water. He hurriedly sat down, calmed his mind, and focused his spirit, sensing the Blood Qi within himself. He emptied his body and let his consciousness perceive the changes within.

In a daze, he seemed to see wisps of mist inside his body, slowly rising. Chen Qinglin tried to control them and gather them together. They condensed into a thread of Blood Qi, slowly flowing through his body.

When Chen Qingshi saw Chen Qinglin suddenly sit down, his whole body turning red, he seemed to realize something. He immediately began watching the surroundings, standing guard for Chen Qinglin.

Feeling his strength increase, Chen Qinglin opened the panel.

[Chen Qinglin]

Lifespan: 14/56

Realm: Body Tempering First Level

Skills: Archery (Minor Accomplishment 342/1000), Iron Wire Fist (Beginner 24/100)

Having advanced into Body Tempering, Chen Qinglin recalled what he had seen and heard at the Martial Arts School that day and knew that his strength should be around one hundred and fifty jin.

The Body Tempering Realm was divided into nine levels. At the Body Tempering First Level, one unified one's body and possessed one hundred and fifty jin of strength. The second level had three hundred jin, the third five hundred jin, and by the fourth level, one would possess the strength of a thousand jin. Even those born with divine strength were probably no more than that.

After feeling out his newfound strength, Chen Qinglin slowly opened his eyes and saw Chen Qingshi standing not far away, watching him with a worried expression.

"I'm fine, Brother Qingshi," Chen Qinglin said, looking at Chen Qingshi.

"Qinglin, you... did you..." Thinking of something, Chen Qingshi began to stammer.

"Mm, just like you think. But don't spread it around," Chen Qinglin said without hiding it.

"Oh, oh! Qinglin, you're incredible! You became a Martial Artist so quickly!"

After saying that, Chen Qingshi chuckled to himself, thinking that since his cousin had become a martial artist so quickly, he might become a big shot someday.

If Brother Qinglin struck it rich, wouldn't that mean I'd be striking it rich too?

Seeing his cousin grinning foolishly off to the side, Chen Qinglin's face darkened. "This little bit of strength is nothing. Don't go spreading it around. In the future, I'll correct your boxing technique. As long as you work hard at martial arts, Brother Qingshi, you'll have your day too."

"Thanks, Brother Qinglin, haha...!"

Chen Qinglin could not be bothered with him. Then he thought that this progress might be a little too fast, so he said to Chen Qingshi, "When you go to the Martial Arts School tomorrow, tell Senior Brother Li that our pockets are empty and we need to head to the nearby woods outside the city. We won't be going to the Martial Arts School these next few days."

"Uh, Qinglin, what does 'our pockets are empty' mean?" Chen Qingshi scratched his head after hearing that.

"It means we don't have any money on us," Chen Qinglin replied irritably. Then he remembered that the two of them had only studied for two years under the clan elders, so it was normal for Chen Qingshi not to understand. He let it go.

Early the next morning, Chen Qingshi went to the Martial Arts School and gave Li Lin a heads-up, explaining the reason.

Li Lin did not mind either. He simply said he understood and let him leave.

After all, as long as you paid the Martial Arts School, they would teach you whenever you came that month. If you did not come, it was your own loss. Come or don't come—it was up to you.

Li Lin had seen this sort of thing countless times. He could only sigh that it was truly too difficult for poor people to practice martial arts. Unless they had talent, it was simply hard.

Even among the townsfolk, Li Lin felt that most of them were just here to hand over money. It would already be good if two or three of them could join the ranks of martial artists.

If one were born into a wealthy family, with support from home and a martial artist teaching them every day, then there would still be the day they entered the Body Tempering Realm.

Thinking this, Li Lin shook his head. He found it a pity that Junior Brother Chen seemed somewhat talented, and wondered when he would be able to enter the Martial Arts School's inner sect.

Chen Qinglin took his bow, arrows, and hunting pouch. After thinking it over, he went to the herbal shop for some powders and, while he was there, asked around about the nearby forest. Only then did he meet up with Chen Qingshi at the city gate. After leaving the city, the two headed straight north.

Before long, green mountains and dense forests stretched out before them, the ground blanketed in thick fallen leaves.

"Brother Qingshi, it's our first time in these woods, so we need to be careful." To guard against trouble, Chen Qinglin had also prepared insect-repelling powder, realgar powder, and medicine for treating snake venom.

People occasionally came to this forest. There were hunters in town, as well as martial artists who entered the woods to search for medicinal herbs or joined together to hunt large ferocious beasts.

Having entered the Body Tempering Realm, and with his archery to back him up, Chen Qinglin could hunt some slightly larger wild animals.

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