Martial Arts Examination Triumph

Reality is always cruel.

Three months later, Li Ji'an was initiated into the Golden Strength Technique, a wisp of Vital Energy and Blood was born, and he began to temper his Muscle and Membrane.

Meanwhile, Qingyun had only barely managed to get started with the Seventy-Two Stance Forms, and it was unknown when he would achieve mastery.

"Four months! It's been four months! Do you... do you even care?" Ma Yuan's attitude towards Qingyun gradually lost its warmth.

Qingyun's face was full of grievance. "I'm sorry, Instructor Ma. I'm just stupid. I... I really tried my best. Maybe... maybe I really don't have the talent. I'm too ashamed to stay under your tutelage. Why don't you let my father come pick me up?"

"Hoo~ Hoo~" Ma Yuan took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the rage within him.

"It's not that bad, not that bad! Hmm, however, shame can be a spur to courage. I still believe in you. Just put in a little more effort. You have superior Bone Structure, and once you start practicing the Golden Strength Technique, your advantages will explode. By then, your junior brother won't even be able to catch up."

Seeing that he hadn't given up yet, Qingyun was slightly disappointed and had to find a way to make him completely give up.

At the same time, Wu Cheng was constantly paying attention to Li Ji'an. He even casually reminded him not to become arrogant or complacent, to improve his comprehension, to progress faster in the stance forms, and to get started with the Golden Strength Technique more quickly. However, the difference in Bone Structure would be reflected in the quality and quantity of Vital Energy and Blood refined later, as well as the speed at which Vital Energy and Blood tempered the Muscle and Membrane.

Therefore, he should remain humble and patient, and continue to work hard.

Li Ji'an agreed on the surface, but deep down, he couldn't suppress his excitement.

His ten years of tempering his skin in his previous life made him realize the advantages of his comprehension and Bone Structure in this life.

Now that he had just been initiated into the Golden Strength Technique, the Vital Energy and Blood refined within his body had already reached the quantity he had achieved at minor completion in his previous life. Moreover, he clearly sensed that the efficiency of Vital Energy and Blood flushing his Muscle and Membrane was more than 30% faster than at the same stage in his previous life.

"If this continues, as more and more Vital Energy and Blood are refined, I might achieve complete skin tempering in just one year!"

At this moment, he finally understood the difference between a genius and a mediocre person.

Half a year later, Exactly ten months after they were admitted!

"What? Complete skin tempering!"

"How is that possible? That kid... what kind of Bone Structure does he have? He can't also have superior Bone Structure, can he?"

"Ten months to complete skin tempering? Even superior Bone Structure might not be able to achieve that."

"Hiss~ Old Wan kept saying that Qingyun had superior Bone Structure, but he didn't say anything about Li Ji'an. Could it be that two geniuses have appeared at once, and Li Ji'an's Bone Structure is even better?"

"Is he really Old Cripple Li's son? I remember Old Cripple Li had very poor Bone Structure."

The news that spread from Instructor Wu's disciples today instantly ignited the entire martial arts academy.

Subsequently, some interested parties found out that Qingyun, who had been receiving private instruction from Ma Yuan since six months ago, had not yet refined a single wisp of Vital Energy and Blood.

In an instant, malicious rumors and gossip flew everywhere.

"Instructor Ma ruined a genius!"

"Instructor Wu is a true talent scout!"

"Qingyun was so serious and hardworking, but the result... alas."

Ma Yuan, who had been holding back, finally exploded after being provoked by these rumors.

"You are truly as stupid as a pig! No! Even a pig would be better than you! To have such superior Bone Structure and be worse than that cripple's son, you are simply wasting heaven's gift! How dare you continue to live in this world? Get out! Get out of my courtyard!"

That day, Qingyun finally got his wish and welcomed his father, Houde Zhenren.

Others might not understand Qingyun and be deceived by him, but his father understood him too well. After a simple inquiry, he suddenly looked at Qingyun.

Just as his father put on a ferocious expression, as if intending to disown him, Li Ji'an stepped forward at the opportune moment.

"Master, everyone has their own aspirations. Senior Brother has no interest in the Martial Path, and forcing him will not lead to success.

Moreover, if he can take your place and manage the Pure Heart Hall in the future, perhaps it will be a good thing. At least the incense will continue to burn."

As the second generation of the Daoist Temple, Qingyun was not bad. Being able to stay peacefully in the temple, enjoy life steadily, and not aim too high or try to prove himself was already considered a qualified successor.

His contented attitude, coupled with the foundation laid by Liu Deshan, meant that if there were no accidents, he would be happier than 99% of people in the world.

What is the meaning of life?

To live according to one's true heart until death, within the scope of one's abilities.

Of course, for Li Ji'an, who had "rejuvenated," this did not apply entirely, and there were still some differences. After all, he could avoid "death" in the true sense.

This also became one of his true intentions: to do his best to avoid "being killed."

Secondly, he would never again allow himself to fall into the desperate suffering of his childhood in his previous life.

Liu Deshan's nature of listening to advice remained the same as always. It wasn't that he lacked his own opinions, but rather that he was too lazy to think about many things.

In the end, Qingyun got his wish. Overjoyed, he tearfully bid farewell to Li Ji'an and left with Liu Deshan.

One year later, Li Ji'an was fifteen years old and had achieved complete Muscle Compaction!

There were two months left until the biennial Martial Arts Examination.

The threshold for previous Martial Arts Examinations was generally at the introductory stage of Muscle Compaction. Minor completion of Muscle Compaction was almost a sure thing. As for those who achieved complete Muscle Compaction in the preliminary examination, there were only three such individuals in Shangyi County in a hundred years.

Li Ji'an's reputation for genius had spread throughout Shangyi County.

Furthermore, some busybodies had fabricated countless stories about his life and deeds.

The most widely circulated was that his father, despite his disabilities, was determined to secure a better future for his descendants and had cultivated a genius. The fabricated stories were so convincing that they even filled in details Li Ji'an himself hadn't fully considered.

This dispelled the worries Li Ji'an had before his "rejuvenation" in his past life, where he fretted about certain details not being seamless.

"The ancients truly didn't deceive me. Once I pass the pass, there will be Great Scholars to debate scriptures with me!"

Meanwhile, Instructor Ma's reputation within the martial arts academy plummeted, while Instructor Wu's flourished, earning him numerous accolades.

Two months later, Li Ji'an achieved perfection in Muscle Compaction and, as expected, won first place in the Shangyi County Martial Arts Examination. He secured second place in the entire Chong'an Prefecture, encompassing three cities and eighteen counties, and was successfully selected for the Chong'an Prefecture Immortal Seeking Academy.

The entire Shangyi County celebrated with three days of uninterrupted fireworks.

The Martial Arts Examination in this world did not involve combat or fighting, nor were there categorized assessment sections. The sole criterion for evaluation was the degree of physical body tempering, which was linked to bone age. The younger the bone age, the higher the degree of tempering and the better the ranking.

At fifteen years old, Li Ji'an achieved perfection in Muscle Compaction, setting a new record for Shangyi County.

This also filled the Shangyi County Martial Arts Academy with immense anticipation.

If Li Ji'an were chosen by an Immortal Master during the next selection of Immortal Seeds, the dean of the Shangyi County Martial Arts Academy and the instructors would be promoted three ranks.

Even if he ultimately did not become an Immortal Seed, his progression to becoming a Qi and Blood Grandmaster was virtually guaranteed.

Therefore, before heading to the prefectural city's Immortal Seeking Academy, the martial arts academy awarded him one thousand taels of silver. The dean personally gifted another thousand taels, and all the instructors pooled together another thousand taels.

Before departing for the prefectural city's Immortal Seeking Academy, Li Ji'an returned to Purple Heaven Temple to bid farewell to old acquaintances and pay respects to his Master.

The prefectural city was three hundred li from Shangyi County. Given the transportation convenience of the time, an ordinary person leaving would likely be saying goodbye forever.

Li Ji'an, at fifteen years old in this life, was in his prime, like the rising sun. Looking at his Senior Brother, who had passed the age of fifty, with streaks of white in his hair and his vitality beginning to wane, Li Ji'an couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Given their ages, this separation might truly be a final farewell.

The Abbot, representing Purple Heaven Temple, generously gifted three thousand taels of silver notes and urged Li Ji'an to write often, subtly expressing his hope that Li Ji'an would look after them in the future.

As he left Purple Heaven Temple once more, Li Ji'an felt a sense of peace. The seven years from age eight to fifteen, the most precarious period of his "rejuvenation" in this life, had passed safely. He now possessed some confidence, not only from the six thousand taels of silver notes in his bosom but, more importantly, from his current strength with Muscle Compaction perfected.

With his skin and membranes perfected, his Muscle and Membrane was as tough as cowhide, making him resistant to ordinary swords and blades. He possessed the strength of three hundred jin and his reflexes and speed surpassed ordinary people. Even with a flurry of untrained punches, he could handle several strong men, allowing him to protect himself to a certain extent.

With Muscle Compaction perfected, his skin was thick and tough, and he possessed the strength of five hundred jin. He had the ability to protect himself even if he encountered small groups of bandits or outlaws, possessing the basic strength to travel the martial world.