Martial Arts Third Rank and Breaking Limits

Two thousand taels of silver, that's enough for a hundred Tiger Tendon Leopard Blood Pills.

If I could use my status as a disciple of Dongshan Martial Academy to buy them at a 30% discount within the Martial Academy, I could get nearly 150 pills.

If I were to swallow all 150 pills, with my Martial Saint Body's absorption efficiency, I might actually be able to break through to Late Sixth Rank before the monthly competition.

At that point, I'd have the strength to contend for the top three and a chance to enter the Crimson Dragon Pool.

Thinking of this, Lin Yi felt excited and immensely grateful to Dean Zhao Hai Shan:

"Dean Hai Hong! If you have a chance to see Dean Hai Shan again, please pass on my thanks for me."

"Along my journey, Dean Hai Shan has helped me so much, I truly don't know how I can ever repay him."

"Heh heh, no need for repayment."

Zhao Hai Hong smiled and shook his head:

"Hai Shan's aptitude is average, and he's old now. Without any unexpected breakthroughs, he basically has no hope of becoming a Third Grade Martial Artist in this life."

"He grew up in the sect, benefiting greatly from it. So, in the remaining days of his life, his greatest wish is to cultivate more strong individuals for the sect."

"Therefore, as long as you cultivate diligently and become stronger, becoming a Third Grade or even a Second Grade expert in the future will be the best way to repay him."

"Yes! I will definitely work harder from now on and will not let down Dean Hai Shan's expectations."

Lin Yi nodded heavily.

"Good! It's good that you have this intention."

Hearing this, Zhao Hai Hong smiled and said:

"As for the two thousand taels of silver, I will gather it for you tomorrow. Now, I'll take you to the Pavilion of Essays."

"Thank you, Dean!"

With that, Lin Yi followed behind Zhao Hai Hong and quickly headed towards the Pavilion of Essays.

The Pavilion of Essays of Dongshan Martial Academy is located in the southwest corner of the Martial Academy, covering a vast area of nearly ten mu.

It houses a hundred pavilions, each exquisitely constructed and uniquely decorated.

Connected together, the hundred pavilions are less like a single building and more like a sprawling architectural complex, appearing incredibly magnificent.

"Lin Yi, this is the Pavilion of Essays of our Dongshan Martial Academy."

At the entrance of the Pavilion of Essays, Zhao Hai Hong explained:

"The entire Pavilion of Essays has a total of 103 pavilions, and each pavilion contains the essays left behind by the martial artists in the history of Dongshan Martial Academy."

"The lowest grade of these essays is Fifth-Rank Martial Art, and the highest is First-Rank Martial Art."

"Of course, essays of First and Second Rank Martial Arts are too profound, so usually only the Dean, myself, and another Vice Principal will read them."

"Most other Martial Academy teachers and disciples generally read essays on Third, Fourth, and Fifth Rank Martial Arts, so the number of essays in these three levels is the largest."

"For example, the Fourth-Rank Martial Art you are cultivating, Full Moon Star Saber, is quite common in our Dongshan Martial Academy. Many disciples and teachers practice it, and since it's a Fourth-Rank Martial Art, I estimate there should be at least over three thousand copies."

"As for the exact number and which pavilion they are in, you can ask the guardian teacher below each pavilion."

Saying this, Zhao Hai Hong personally led Lin Yi to inquire with a nearby guardian teacher. After confirming the specific location of the Full Moon Star Saber essays, he took Lin Yi directly to that pavilion.

And so, soon, in Pavilion No. 97, on the third floor, on the fifth bookshelf.

At Zhao Hai Hong's signal, Lin Yi casually took out an essay from the second row of the bookshelf, then opened the cover and began to read.

"To the future juniors who welcome you to read my recorded essays, since we are fated to meet in books after centuries, why not listen to my life story before you begin reading!"

"Life story?"

Seeing this, Lin Yi frowned slightly. He was solely focused on improving his strength right now and had no leisure to read about someone else's life.

However, since this senior had written it on the very first page, it meant he placed great importance on his life story.

Fine, since I am reading his essays and inheriting his legacy, I should spend some time reading it!

With that thought, Lin Yi didn't turn the page and continued to read.

Thus, as lines of text were browsed by him, the life of a powerful martial artist unfolded before Lin Yi's eyes.

"My name is Sun Lu Shan. I come from a second-rate family, the Sun Clan, in Dongshan Prefecture, Qingzhou. Our clan has seven Fourth Rank Experts, and I am a direct descendant of the Sun Clan."

"Because of my good background, and the fact that the clan spent great resources to build my foundation from infancy, I displayed astonishing talent when I first came into contact with Martial Arts at the age of six."

"I started practicing martial arts at six, entered Martial Arts Nine Ranks in three months, broke through to Martial Arts Eighth Rank at seven, and broke through to Martial Arts Seventh Rank at ten."

"At twelve, with the strength of Peak Seventh Rank and Great Accomplishment in Fifth-Rank Martial Arts, I successfully got admitted to Dongshan Martial Academy for cultivation."

"After less than a year of cultivation at the Martial Academy, at the age of thirteen, I broke through to Martial Arts Sixth Rank and comprehended the Extreme Strength Realm, becoming the disciple in our Sun family's history who comprehended the Extreme Strength Realm the fastest!"

"Instantly, the entire Sun family was shaken. Not only my father, mother, and uncles were overjoyed."

"Even our clan's old ancestor, who had been in seclusion for a long time and was at Peak Fourth Rank, came out of seclusion to personally meet me, placed great hopes on me, and took me under his wing to personally teach me, hoping to cultivate me into the Sun family's first Third Grade Martial Artist."

"At that time, I was also full of ambition, believing the world was at my feet. I was convinced that after joining the Tianshan Sect in two years, I would definitely break through to the Third Grade Martial Arts realm in my lifetime and become the pride of my family!"

"However, what I never expected was that Third Grade Martial Arts is too difficult! It's difficult beyond my imagination!"

"I joined the Tianshan Sect at fifteen. After cultivating in the Tianshan Sect for only twelve years, I broke through to the Fourth Rank Martial Arts realm, much faster than many disciples of the same cohort."

"But after breaking through, I never expected I'd be stuck in this Fourth Grade realm for over twenty years."

"In over twenty years, through constant cultivation, my Martial Arts cultivation has long reached the peak of Fourth Grade. My Extreme Strength realm has also reached Perfection, and as for my Martial Skill realm, it has reached Grand Perfection of Third Rank Martial Skills! I'm no worse than many Third Rank Martial Artists."

"However, no matter how high my Martial Skill realm is, I still can't comprehend the mystery of breaking through the limit and become a Third Rank Martial Artist."

"And so, time flew by. I'm fifty-six this year, and in four more years, I'll be sixty."

"Once I reach sixty, even with the vigorous vitality of a peak Fourth Grade Martial Artist, my body's vitality will gradually decline afterwards."

"By then, even if I comprehend breaking through the limit, I won't be able to break through to Third Rank Martial Arts."

"Therefore, in the coming years, I will go to some extremely dangerous places on the Nine Provinces Continent for life-and-death trials, hoping to stimulate my potential in the face of death and make me comprehend breaking through the limit."

"Finally, to the descendants who come after me, wish me good luck, and may I successfully comprehend breaking through the limit and break through to Third Rank Martial Arts!"

"If I can ultimately break through, then I will return again and add my insights on comprehending the breakthrough at the end of this personal essay for later generations to reference. This can be considered my final contribution to Dongshan Martial Academy!"

"-- August 3rd, Year 5896 of the Martial Emperor Calendar, left by Sun Lu Shan."