After Savage Bull Fist broke through, Shen Fan's talent and lifespan increased, and he became faster at practicing it.
Shen Fan's change went unnoticed. After all, among the dozens of people present, at least ten had already reached the entry level in Savage Bull Fist.
No one paid much attention to someone like Shen Fan, who had taken over a year of hard practice just to reach the entry level.
Everyone was busy with their own affairs, focused on their own growth.
And that was exactly what Shen Fan wanted.
Having realized what the Attribute Panel could do, Shen Fan practiced with renewed vigor. By the time morning passed, he still felt that he hadn't had enough.
But the hunger in his belly left him no choice but to go eat breakfast.
After breakfast, Shen Fan and the other apprentices still had to help the Martial Hall with odd jobs: chopping firewood, cooking, cleaning, and even serving as sparring partners for the entry-level disciples.
These were also required lessons for Martial Hall Apprentices every day.
Otherwise, the Ox Demon Martial Arts School would never have taken in so many apprentices. After all, feeding so many mouths took a lot of grain.
But Shen Fan and the others worked hard without thinking there was anything wrong with it. The Martial Hall sheltered them, fed them, and even taught them martial arts.
So working for the Martial Hall was only right. Especially in these turbulent times, having a stable life was already pretty good!
Working diligently at the Martial Hall and perhaps one day becoming a true disciple—that was the lifelong dream of these apprentices.
If Shen Fan hadn't transmigrated here, he probably would have thought the same way.
But with the Attribute Panel, he wanted more than that. Now that he had discovered what it could do, Shen Fan felt he needed to set his sights a little higher. For starters, how about living forever?
For the next several days, Shen Fan immersed himself in martial arts practice, unable to pull himself away. After finishing his required daily work, he always made sure to practice until he was completely exhausted.
Every time he practiced, Shen Fan could feel himself making slow progress. The feeling of growing stronger bit by bit was truly addictive.
In the blink of an eye, a week passed.
That day, Shen Fan and the other apprentices were doing their usual morning exercises on the training ground when one of them suddenly spoke up. "Senior Brother Zhao, I've brought my Savage Bull Fist to Minor Accomplishment and successfully started Skin Refining!"
"Oh? Come over and let me have a look!"
Zhao Kuo's eyes lit up.
The crowd parted, and a burly young man walked up to Zhao Kuo and held out his hand.
Zhao Kuo quickly took the young man's hand and nodded. Then he turned his palm into a claw and gave the young man's skin a firm squeeze.
"Not bad. You've indeed reached the Skin Refining stage. Congratulations—the door to the Martial Path has opened for you. You're now qualified to become a true disciple of the Martial Hall!"
"If I remember right, your name is Chen Chong, and you only joined the Ox Demon Martial Arts School six months ago?"
"To bring Savage Bull Fist to Minor Accomplishment in just six months—you really do seem to have good talent!"
"Good. Starting today, you're my junior brother. You won't have to do those odd jobs anymore. From now on, go practice in the front courtyard. You'll be provided with Medicinal Cuisine every day, so I'm sure you'll improve even faster!"
"Huh?! Thank you, Senior Brother Zhao! Thank you, Senior Brother Zhao!" The burly young man named Chen Chong was beside himself with excitement.
Starting today, he would become a true disciple of the Martial Hall. The door to the Martial Path had opened to him. He was bound to become a true powerhouse, and his status was now entirely different from that of the other apprentices!
"All right, come with me." Zhao Kuo smiled.
Finding someone with decent talent who could help the Martial Hall grow would earn Zhao Kuo a reward too. Otherwise, why would he be so eager to teach this bunch of ordinary apprentices?
Zhao Kuo waved his hand, swept his gaze across the crowd, and said with a smile, "See? As long as you bring Savage Bull Fist to Minor Accomplishment and complete Skin Refining, you can become true disciples of the Martial Hall. This is an enormous opportunity for you, so make sure you seize it!"
The apprentices were all fired up, their blood surging with excitement.
Even Shen Fan, who had lived two lives, felt a little stirred.
Seeing their reaction, Zhao Kuo nodded with satisfaction. This was exactly the effect he wanted. Finding another Chen Chong with decent talent in such a short time would be difficult, but who knew? It might happen.
Teaching apprentices was a cushy job, but it only lasted for a limited time. Zhao Kuo wanted to reap as many benefits as he could during his term!
Zhao Kuo left with Chen Chong.
The apprentices on the training ground immediately buzzed with excitement.
"So that guy's name is Chen Chong!"
"This kid's only been here six months, and he's already become a disciple of the Martial Hall. He really hit the jackpot!"
"Exactly! Chen Chong's made it big this time!"
"From now on, Chen Chong and we are on different paths..."
"What a shame. My Savage Bull Fist seems close to breaking through too, but I lost out by a single step. It's so frustrating!"
Some in the crowd sighed, some were jealous, and some were consumed by ambition. And then there were people like Shen Fan, who watched with indifference.
There was no need to envy someone else's opportunity. Your own hard work was what mattered most. The world spun on, and we kept moving forward—that was enough!
After taking a couple of deep breaths, Shen Fan immersed himself in Savage Bull Fist once more.
As he practiced, he could feel the words "Entry Level" beside Savage Bull Fist on the panel flickering slowly. This was a sign that his experience was steadily increasing!
Shen Fan knew that as long as he worked hard, he would reap rewards.
The Attribute Panel not only displayed all of Shen Fan's attributes, but also reflected every bit of progress he made. All of this greatly spurred on his determination.
What was more, every major breakthrough—such as a breakthrough in a martial arts technique—could bring him unimaginable improvements!
Talent and lifespan weren't things one could improve through ordinary means. At least as far as Shen Fan knew, Martial Artists in the Qi and Blood Great Realm couldn't extend their lifespans.
Only by breaking through the Qi and Blood Great Realm and becoming Xiantian could one gain a hundred years of life!
Improving one's talent was even more difficult. It was practically impossible.
But for Shen Fan, who had the Attribute Panel, both were much simpler. As long as he improved his martial arts techniques, he could endlessly increase his lifespan and talent!
And once his lifespan and talent improved, Shen Fan would be able to master stronger techniques even faster and continue improving, creating a virtuous cycle.
The further he progressed, the greater his advantage would surely become. That much was obvious. So by following the Martial Path, Shen Fan really might achieve immortality!
Though there would surely be limits later on, by now Shen Fan had already been won over by the panel's miraculous powers.
Practicing martial arts had become what Shen Fan was most passionate about—and of course, it was also what the other apprentices were most passionate about.
As time passed, Zhao Kuo's term teaching the apprentices was about to end. Yet, as if by some miracle, two more apprentices brought their Savage Bull Fist to Minor Accomplishment in the days that followed. They broke through Skin Refining and became true disciples of the Martial Hall.
Their success made Zhao Kuo happier still. Their achievements would surely bring him even greater rewards!
In the end, three Martial Artists had emerged under Zhao Kuo's tutelage, and all three had become the envy of every Martial Hall Apprentice present.
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