Entering the Hall

East of Langshi Town.

This area was not any quieter for being far from Tiger Head Mountain. Unlike the west, the streets here were lined with more beggars and children in tattered clothes.

Whenever they saw a passerby, they would stretch out hands—some withered, others stained with filth—and kowtow, begging.

The air was thick with anxiety and stench. These people's actions rarely earned sympathy, only kicks and punches.

For a time, cries and sobs filled the air without end.

Following behind Senior Brother Xu Chang, Lin Yin frowned deeply. Around them, disciples were shoving aside the beggars blocking the road ahead.

"Senior Brother, this way..."

Sensing the stench in the air, Lin Yin's face showed no disgust, only a hint of gloom.

He thought back to his own situation when he first arrived in this world. Perhaps with just a small change in fortune, he and his mother might not have ended up like this, but they wouldn't have been much better off.

In the eyes of those pampered disciples, these wretches were nothing but trouble. But in Lin Yin's eyes, they... were who he used to be.

A mother, enduring kicks and blows, kneeling and begging, still shielding the child behind her despite the violence.

An old man, carefully handing a dirty steamed bun of unknown origin to the person in his arms, occasionally casting pleading, fearful glances at them...

The world was chaotic, the myriad faces of life—sweet, bitter, sour, spicy—beyond words.

"Sigh. Some of these people are refugees from outside. Of course, some are here because they couldn't pay their taxes."

Xu Chang's face showed little sympathy, only complexity and a sense of weariness.

He had seen this scene too many times. He was long numb to it.

"Taxes..."

Lin Yin thought of those two taels of silver.

Right. Even his mother's newly opened cloth shop needed two taels in tax. If not for the silver Li Sihhu had left behind, how could his mother, with less than a month of business, have scraped together two taels?

The high commercial taxes were the same, and the land tax went without saying.

Thinking of the consecutive poor harvests in Langshi Town in recent years, Lin Yin's expression grew darker.

He seemed to suddenly understand.

This world did not let people live!

Exorbitant taxes and levies only made life harder for the already impoverished common folk.

As he passed the ragged crowd by the roadside, Lin Yin knew how many would not survive this winter.

When green shoots rose and spring arrived in full bloom, this street would be "cleaned" until it looked brand new again.

"..."

Leaving the seemingly "bustling and chaotic" alley, Lin Yin and the group of disciples finally arrived at their destination.

Lingyun Martial Arts School...

The plaque above the tall red wooden door bore bold, flowing calligraphy. The stone lions flanking the entrance looked majestic and inviolable.

Two disciples in short blue outfits were waiting on either side. Xu Chang stepped forward, and they clasped their hands in greeting.

"Alright, take a walk around the courtyard. Be careful not to disturb the senior brothers and senior sisters who are training."

Xu Chang gave a brief instruction to Shi Zhong and the others, whose eyes were full of curiosity and anticipation. His main purpose today was to bring Lin Yin and the newly admitted disciples for assessment.

After all, the Fist Manor only laid the foundation. Many techniques, even certain aspects of Qi and Blood Circulation, required the master's personal guidance.

This monthly routine assessment was exactly for that purpose. Of course, only Lingyun Martial Arts School made things this troublesome, since the Fist Manor and the school were separate. Other schools found it much more convenient.

Lin Yin looked left and right, curiously examining the school, which wasn't very large. After passing through the spacious courtyard and entering the inner court, a man seated high on the platform came into view at once.

Lingyun Martial Arts School's Martial Master... Yun Tian Qing!

A plain blue robe hung loosely beneath his collar. His face was clean-shaven, and his relatively gentle features were set with eyes that seemed to shoot out sharp, piercing light.

One glance, and he inspired awe.

This was the rumored Grand Martial Master who had reached Transformation Force, able to release and retract Qi at will, wielding it like an extension of his own arm?

With just one look, Lin Yin quickly averted his gaze.

Faced with such a renowned expert, Lin Yin naturally understood the art of concealment.

All along, training at the Fist Manor had made it hard to avoid prying eyes, so he had devised his own method of hiding himself.

Normally, he would fully activate the Cloud Settling Stake Technique, then quietly circulate the Vajra Stake Technique, guiding the Qi and blood of the two to counteract each other. One rose while the other fell, making his aura appear weaker than those of the same cultivation level!

Yun Tian Qing sat calmly on the platform, looking down at the neatly lined-up disciples below.

His gaze lingered on Xu Chang and the other senior brothers, then swept across the training ground.

"Practice on your own. I will offer guidance as I see fit."

Lin Yin's heart stirred. He blended in with the disciples and began performing the Cloud Palm with practiced form.

Unlike his usual routine, his movements were smooth, but his breathing and rhythm remained deliberately strained.

Soon, after a round of martial demonstration, Lin Yin noticed from the corner of his eye that the figure was lingering among the disciples, occasionally offering a few pointers. His heart tightened, and he withdrew his gaze.

Until the Green Long Robe arrived before him.

"Mm... mm?"

The originally casual hum suddenly turned into a note of doubt. Lin Yin's heart leaped.

"Your Qi and Blood seems to be circulating a bit poorly?"

As the words fell, the man lightly patted Lin Yin on the chest. Lin Yin's soul nearly fled his body in fright, but after receiving the palm, his body felt no different—only the surging Qi and Blood within him settled somewhat.

He feigned calm, continuing to punch methodically, though he still rotated both techniques simultaneously!

Wan Tian Qing watched the green-faced youth before him, his brow slowly furrowing. At his current realm, he could probe another's Qi Mechanism through simple surface-level observation.

Logically, Lin Yin's movements were smooth, and his Stance Skill, with no obvious flaws, had already been practiced quite well. But the faint flow of energy felt off to him.

From time to time, he reached out and lightly tapped Lin Yin's various joints. The youth's aura before him rose and fell erratically, causing Wan Tian Qing to frown deeply.

"Are you a disciple who entered the school through Fist Manor?"

Withdrawing his hand and standing upright, Lin Yin quietly calmed the Qi and Blood stirred by the man before him. Pale-faced, he nodded in affirmation.

"There's a problem with your breathing and circulation. Have your Senior Brother guide you more when you have time."

"Yes, Master!"

"..."

Wan Tian Qing did not respond, merely waving his hand dismissively before continuing toward his next target.

Soon, he stopped beside the tall and sturdy Zhang Da Niu.

Compared to his furrowed brow and stern expression when facing Lin Yin, his eyes now carried a smile, and his face showed delight.

"Good! Very, very, very good! Such powerful Qi and Blood!"

Wan Tian Qing praised him lavishly.

Zhang Da Niu withdrew his fist and stood upright, cupping his hands and loudly calling out, "Master!" His honest face flushed slightly—clearly, he was excited too.

In response to Zhang Da Niu's call of "Master," Yun Tian Qing gladly accepted, stepping forward to pat him on the shoulder.

Feeling the surging power of Qi and Blood, he nodded with satisfaction.

"Brute Ox Strength is about to reach Minor Accomplishment, isn't it?"

"Yes, Master!"

"Good. My Lingyun Martial Arts School is about to produce another Talent." Wan Tian Qing beamed.

"Brute Ox Strength?"

Lin Yin, who appeared to be practicing his Stance Skill, raised an eyebrow.

Was this the Stance Skill Zhang Da Niu was cultivating?

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