Li Lin

[Chen Qinglin]

Lifespan: 14/56

Realm: Body Tempering Third Layer

Skills: Archery (Great Accomplishment 2754/5000), Iron Wire Fist (Proficient 317/500), Iron Sword Art (Skilled 23/200)

Currently, Chen Qinglin has practiced the Iron Sword Art to the Skilled level, allowing him to initially use the first three stances of the sword technique and unleash its power.

Even his master, Xie Feng, has not yet achieved Great Accomplishment in swordsmanship, and he cannot fully utilize the final stance, Sweep Across the Mountains.

Perhaps only the old Martial Arts School master, Xie Song, who has achieved Great Accomplishment in swordsmanship, can use the complete technique.

As for perfecting the sword art, that is a realm reserved for geniuses.

Not only can they unleash martial arts power beyond the norm, but the truly gifted can also comprehend its profound mysteries, defeat stronger opponents with weaker cultivation, and even fight across realms.

Since becoming a disciple, Chen Qinglin has not had to worry about resources for practicing martial arts in the short term. He has dedicated himself to training, and with Xie Feng's frequent guidance, his progress in martial arts has been rapid.

He has already broken through to Body Tempering Third Layer, capable of lifting a 500-jin stone. Even so, the growth in his strength has not kept pace with his martial arts progress.

His strength increases daily.

Regarding Archery, Chen Qinglin doesn't have as much time and can only practice when he has spare moments, which is why he hasn't perfected it yet.

As a formal disciple, he could have lived in the Martial Arts School. However, to look after Chen Qingshi, Chen Qinglin still resides in the rented courtyard.

He can teach Chen Qingshi during his usual training sessions. Chen Qingshi's fist techniques have now reached the introductory level, and he is sensing his vital energy and entering the Body Tempering realm. It's estimated to happen within these few days.

It's worth mentioning that ever since he took Xie Feng as his master, some people know he is Chen Liangpin's nephew.

No gangs dare to extort protection money from Chen Liangpin's stall, and his business has become even better.

He also visited his Second Aunt's home with Chen Qingshi. Having been in town for over half a month, it wouldn't be right not to pay a visit.

"Qinglin, I still haven't sensed my vital energy. Am I too stupid?" Chen Qingshi approached after seeing Chen Qinglin finish his practice.

"What you need now is to calm down and focus on your training. Don't think about how to sense your vital energy. When the time is right, it will happen naturally."

"Your stances have been getting distorted in your practice lately. It's no wonder you can't sense your vital energy."

Chen Qinglin pointed out the reason as he watched Chen Qingshi, who had been practicing with too much haste and couldn't find his rhythm in the past two days.

"Aren't I just too anxious?" Chen Qingshi felt a bit embarrassed. Having a powerful younger brother constantly guiding him, other disciples training martial arts envied him immensely.

If he still couldn't get started, wouldn't that make him useless?

"Martial arts are practiced for yourself, not for others. Don't be influenced by the outside world. Maintain your usual standard when practicing, and entering the Body Tempering realm will happen within these few days."

"Qinglin, I've noticed you're a bit like Uncle Liangwen now, hehe!"

They had both studied under Chen Liangwen for one or two years. Chen Liangwen was one of the few people of his generation in the clan who was educated. The Clan Leader gathered some grain and cloth, and hired him to teach the clan children how to read and write.

"Go back and practice your martial arts properly!" Chen Qinglin gave him a dismissive glance.

As a formal disciple of the Martial Arts School, he received three bowls of Body Tempering Soup each month. Although Chen Qinglin had only been a disciple for half a month, Xie Feng allowed him to receive three bowls of Body Tempering Soup this month as well.

Not only that, but after discovering his rapid progress, Xie Feng became even more satisfied with Chen Qinglin, occasionally giving him private tutoring and teaching him some techniques to conceal fluctuations in his vital energy.

He cautioned Chen Qinglin not to become complacent and to avoid showing off, as one should always be wary of others.

Chen Qinglin wholeheartedly agreed with this point. If he didn't know the Breath Concealment technique, even Xie Feng wouldn't know his progress.

Although Chen Qinglin wasn't an extremely cautious person, it was always wise to keep some cards hidden and leave yourself some trump cards.

At his current rate of progress, he might reach Body Tempering Great Accomplishment in a year. Currently, he could display Body Tempering First Layer, and in a year, displaying Body Tempering Third or Fourth Layer would be perfectly reasonable.

While contemplating this, he entered the Martial Arts School with Chen Qingshi.

If you can't find the book by searching the title, you can try searching for the author. Perhaps the name has just been changed!

Today is the third day of the month for distributing Body Tempering Soup, and he couldn't miss it.

Leaving Chen Qingshi outside to practice martial arts, Chen Qinglin headed towards the inner courtyard.

"Look quickly, that's Senior Brother Chen Qinglin. I heard Master Xie took him as a disciple just five days after he joined the Martial Arts School."

"Wasn't it six days?"

"Ah, that's not important. You just need to know that Senior Brother Chen is amazing..."

"..."

"Qingshi, I really envy you for having such a brother. With your brother guiding you anytime, your fist techniques must have reached the introductory level by now!" The disciples practicing beside Chen Qingshi expressed their envy without reservation.

"Yes, yes, Senior Brother Qingshi is probably about to sense his vital energy and enter the Body Tempering realm."

"Hahaha, it's not that exaggerated..."

"..."

Chen Qingshi roughly understood the reason behind their flattery. Unfortunately, some of them would likely have to leave the Martial Arts School in a few days.

Chen Qingshi had also just embarked on the path of martial arts. He himself relied on his cousin's care to even have a chance to knock on this door.

How could he possibly look after others? In the struggle of martial arts, only self-improvement mattered.

"Fourth Senior Brother!" Chen Qinglin called out to Li Lin, who was ahead.

"Is that our junior disciple? Are you going to get the Body Tempering Soup?"

"Yes, senior disciple. Shall we go together?"

"Let's go." Li Lin turned and saw Chen Qinglin, and the two walked towards the distribution area together.

"Senior brother, senior sister!" When they arrived, three senior brothers and sisters were already there, along with several disciples of Uncle Lin Hua.

"Senior Stone, Senior Lin." These were the two who stood behind Uncle Lin Hua when they first came to the Martial Arts School to learn martial arts; they had met a few times since then.

Watching the disciples practice martial arts wasn't solely Senior Brother Li Lin's responsibility. The Martial Arts School had its own subsidies for this, so other senior brothers would rotate in every month.

The senior brother or sister overseeing them differed, and naturally, so did the master they worshipped if they broke through to Body Tempering during that period.

"Junior disciple, how is your swordsmanship practice going? Do you want to practice with me, senior sister? I'll teach you!" Wu Jianxue, perhaps because of his young age, liked to tease the new junior disciple every time they met.

"No need, senior sister. I'll go back and practice by myself slowly." Over the past half-month, Chen Qinglin had learned this senior sister's temperament and refused her without hesitation.

"Oh, I see. So you want to go to my place. Don't be shy. It's not impossible to come home with me..."

Chen Qinglin watched his senior sister's antics with a blank expression when Senior Brother Jiang Zhong leaned over.

"I'll be escorting the Zhou Family Merchant Caravan to Dingyuan County in a few days. Is there anything my junior disciples want to buy? I can bring it back for you."

"Senior brother, please remember to buy some rouge for me from Hongling Workshop. The rouge in town is outrageously expensive..."

"Don't worry, junior sister. I'll definitely buy it for you when I get back."

Li Lin stood by, his expression somewhat downcast. Meanwhile, Senior Brother Zhao Dingming went back to practice martial arts after collecting his Body Tempering Soup.

Chen Qinglin watched the scene, lost in thought.

It seemed that both Senior Brother Li Lin and Senior Brother Jiang Zhong were interested in Senior Sister Wu Jianxue.

Senior Brother Li Lin was brought back by Master Xie Feng from outside five years ago. It was said his entire family was attacked by mountain bandits, and only he remained when Xie Feng arrived.

Seeing that he had no one to rely on, Xie Feng brought him back to Qingyan Town and taught him martial arts after his health recovered.

Li Lin was extremely grateful and treated the Martial Arts School as his home, dedicating himself to its affairs.

However, this also made him somewhat insecure. Facing Senior Sister Wu Jianxue, with whom he practiced martial arts, he didn't dare to express his feelings even though he liked her.