Dragon-Tiger Visage

Shangyi County had many martial arts schools, but only the one affiliated with the county yamen, the Martial Arts Academy, had the qualification for the Martial Arts Examination.

Because of his unsuccessful martial arts experience at a local school in his previous life, Li Ji'an had not chosen a martial arts school in this life. Instead, he was willing to pay a high price to enter the Martial Arts Academy.

This academy was government-run, and even its instructors and gatekeepers were officially employed.

Besides the apprentices sent by various martial arts schools after passing their assessments, the academy itself had high requirements for recruiting apprentices.

A comprehensive assessment of bone structure, temperament, and age.

In his past life, Li Ji'an had put in a great deal of effort and faced much criticism to get into this place.

"Are you perhaps Daoist priests from the Purple Heaven Temple?" As soon as they dismounted from the carriage, a young servant from the academy greeted them.

The middle-aged Daoist priest responded with a few pleasantries and then watched as Li Ji'an and Qingyun entered the academy.

"First, the two young Daoist priests will follow me to the Academy Administration Office to register, have your bone structure tested, and your temperament assessed. Afterwards, you can go to the training grounds to choose instructors you like..." The young servant did not treat them dismissively despite their young age, which showed that the Purple Heaven Temple had made sufficient arrangements and indicated its status in the county.

Walking the path he had walked for ten years in his previous life, Li Ji'an's mind was not on the servant but on searching for familiar figures.

It wasn't until they left the front courtyard that he finally couldn't help but ask, "Was there an old man guarding the gate before?"

The young servant's steps faltered slightly. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "Are you referring to... the old Huang from before? If so, he passed away three years ago."

"Oh." Li Ji'an nodded, saying no more and showing no emotional fluctuation.

Three years ago, Old Huang would have been over sixty.

In this era, that was considered a long life, a joyous passing.

Moreover, ever since his master passed away in his previous life, he had become very detached from life and death.

He had to be detached.

With "Rejuvenation," as long as he was sufficiently cautious and careful, not killed, and did not die accidentally, he could theoretically live as long as heaven and achieve eternal life.

Time was like a knife, killing everyone but him.

Fifteen years ago, when he first tried to enter the academy, he had a lot of back-and-forth with Old Huang, even fantasizing that Gatekeeper Grandpa Huang might be a hidden master.

Because of this, he had given Grandpa Huang a lot of wine and meat.

It wasn't until the end that he confirmed he was just an ordinary old man.

However, over time, a not-so-shallow friendship had been established.

They passed through the corridor and arrived at the familiar Academy Administration Office.

They also met the familiar Bone Structure Master and Temperament Assessment Master.

Bone structure assessment had some theoretical basis. It was based on the results of martial path achievements over the years, looking back at the bone structure before practicing martial arts, and inferring from the results – a kind of comprehensive experience.

People with certain bone structures practiced martial arts faster and had higher potential; that was considered good bone structure.

Conversely, it was considered useless.

Of course, this kind of experience, inferred entirely from results, would inevitably have some special cases. It was possible that someone with an unprecedented genius bone structure might be treated as ordinary or even inferior.

As for the temperament assessment... In Master Zhao's words, "For martial arts temperament, it depends on how determined he is to achieve success in the martial path and how much he is willing to pay for it."

The more willing one was to pay, the stronger their resolve, and the less likely they were to give up halfway.

In plain language, it meant how much money was given.

In his previous life, Li Ji'an had impressed the academy with his extremely firm resolve.

"Aspiring Immortal Seedling or Martial Arts for Body Strengthening?" the Bone Structure Master habitually asked as soon as people entered.

The academy offered two paths. One was for Aspiring Immortal Seedlings, which had high entry requirements and high fees because the academy would provide resources such as instructors, medicinal food, and assessments.

One needed at least mid-tier bone structure and superior temperament, and must not be older than fifteen!

The other was simply for Martial Arts for Body Strengthening, which Li Ji'an had chosen in his previous life.

"Sir, these two are from the Purple Heaven Temple..." the young servant reminded them promptly.

"Oh? Then they must be Aspiring Immortal Seedlings. Come on, old man, let me assess your bone structure." The Bone Structure Master understood and asked Li Ji'an and the other to step forward.

"Ouch~ It hurts, it hurts, be gentler," Qingyun, who was covered in fat, was the first to become the target of the Bone Structure Master. As soon as he touched him, a pig-like scream erupted.

Li Ji'an had anticipated this and shifted slightly to the side in advance, opening his mouth slightly to counteract the sonic wave.

The Bone Structure Master was accustomed to this. Not only was he not displeased by the scream, but a slight smile appeared on his face.

"Not bad, plump but strong, not weak at all. Thick bones and long tendons, a good seedling for martial arts." He touched Qingyun from his limbs to his spine, nodding frequently.

"It seems the nourishing tendons and strengthening bones formula from your Purple Heaven Temple is indeed extraordinary."

"Upper-tier bone structure!"

"Upper-tier bone structure?" Li Ji'an raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised that Qingyun had such good bone structure.

In his ten years at the academy in his previous life, he had only seen a handful of people assessed as having upper-tier bone structure by this Bone Structure Master. All of them had passed the county's Martial Arts Examination and successfully entered the Immortal Seeking Academy in the prefectural city.

As for himself, when he was thirty, this master had assessed him as having lower-tier bone structure.

"That's right. Although bone structure is influenced by childhood nourishment and development, and the influence is considerable.

However, the fundamental basis lies in congenital inheritance and prenatal shaping."

Senior Brother's family was well-off since childhood. When Qingyun was born, they were even wealthier. During the pregnancy, he must have been given plenty of nourishing supplements, giving him a good innate foundation.

Although he didn't undergo bone cleansing and strengthening before the age of eight, he was well-fed and developed excellently.

"Combined with undergoing bone cleansing and strengthening with me since the age of eight, it's only natural!" Recovering his senses, Li Ji'an smiled knowingly and cast an approving glance at Qingyun.

"Oh, sir, please do me a favor. Tell my master that I have a low-grade bone structure and am not suited for martial arts, okay? Please." Qingyun, however, was completely indifferent to this coveted top-grade bone structure, treating it as if it were a plague.

"..." The Bone Structure Master's eyes widened instantly. In all his years, he had never seen such a situation.

"Qingyun! Don't be ridiculous." Li Ji'an sternly reprimanded him at the right moment.

"Junior Brother, I..." Qingyun immediately lowered his head, filled with regret.

He had to admit, this was his last hope, and it had ultimately been dashed.

"Master, please examine mine." Li Ji'an changed the subject and stepped forward.

The Bone Structure Master, while glancing sideways at Qingyun, placed his hand on Li Ji'an.

He couldn't quite understand Qingyun's actions and felt frustrated by his lack of ambition.

"Mmm~" Suddenly, just as he was lamenting that Qingyun, with such excellent bone structure, lacked the will to practice martial arts, the sensation from his hand made him abruptly pull his gaze away from Qingyun. He looked directly at Li Ji'an, his expression of regret not even having time to fade.

Li Ji'an gritted his teeth, enduring the sharp pain emanating from his bones.

Seeing the Bone Structure Master's regretful expression, his heart couldn't help but tighten.

Could it be that my bone structure is still not good?

"If this body truly has congenital deficiencies from the womb, and even postnatal bone cleansing and strengthening cannot compensate, then the difficulty will increase. I'll have to find ways to scheme for those legendary divine pills and immortal treasures that can alter innate bone structure!"

After all, "Rejuvenation" occurred at age eight. He had complete autonomy over events after age eight, but he couldn't change anything before that.

He felt somewhat dejected by this outcome, but not entirely disheartened. After all, with "Rejuvenation" and the existence of divine pills and immortal treasures that could alter bone structure, if one life wasn't enough, then two, or at worst, ten or a hundred lives should suffice.

However, each "Rejuvenation" would bring another childhood trauma and risk, requiring him to be even more cautious and meticulously prepare for the next "Rejuvenation."

But at this moment, "Could it be... a Dragon-Tiger Visage?" the Bone Structure Master exclaimed in disbelief.