A Gathering of Momentum

"How has the eldest been lately?"

In the dim side room, Old Master Lin drew on his long-stemmed pipe, his voice even.

"Father..."

Lin De looked surprised.

"When the eldest was alive, you were the closest to him. I figured that no matter what I said, you wouldn't truly abandon his wife and child."

Old Master Lin's voice held a trace of melancholy and a complicated feeling that was hard to put into words.

No matter what, Lin Yin was his grandson, and Wang He was his eldest daughter-in-law. Even though things had turned very unpleasant over Lin Lin before, he hadn't truly hardened his heart and stopped asking after them.

That was why he'd turned a blind eye to some of Lin De's actions.

"Lin Yin's been working very hard. I heard he recently got the hang of the Stance Skill and joined Lingyun Martial Arts School."

As if he understood what was on the old master's mind, Lin De let out a breath of relief. When he spoke of Lin Yin's impressive progress, he couldn't help praising him, his expression brightening.

"That boy's bone structure is poor, and yet he really did manage to get started..."

Old Master Lin drew on his pipe, looking surprised.

"Good, good. That's good..."

A long sigh filled the room. Old Master Lin closed his eyes and began resting again.

Seeing that the old master had only praised Lin Yin without offering any further support, Lin De's face took on a trace of helplessness.

He knew Lin Yin had done well, but it was clear the old master's attention was fixed on his youngest grandson, Lin Lin. The concern he showed Lin Yin seemed more like a bond of blood than anything else.

But that was only natural. Compared with Lin Yin finally managing to join a martial arts school "with great difficulty," Lin Lin had been praised for his exceptional bone structure from the start and chosen by his master. The two simply couldn't be compared.

"Ah..."

With a soft sigh, Lin De quietly left the room.

The next day, Lingyun Martial Arts School.

As the hour of the hare drew to a close, the spacious school was bustling with noise. Some students practiced their punches, while others trained their stances.

As usual, Lin Yin found a quiet corner and practiced Cloud Palm on his own.

His palm technique had grown more and more refined. One strike flowed into the next, his body moving with his palms, their rhythm unbroken. As he practiced, Lin Yin felt someone's gaze settle on him.

He lowered his hands and steadied his breathing. Just then, the other person walked over.

"Junior Brother Lin, your transitions between strikes are becoming more and more seamless. I'd say you're not far from Minor Accomplishment."

Xu Chang's eyes gleamed. Having mastered Cloud Palm, he could recognize a thing or two about the technique.

"Senior Brother, I still need a little more practice."

Lin Yin remained composed.

In truth, besides Cloud Palm, the Qi and Blood Circulation within his body and the rhythm of his breathing were both subtly in sync with Cloud Stance. He was practicing both techniques at once!

This unique training method was his own invention!

"Good, good! As long as you know where you stand."

Xu Chang patted Lin Yin on the shoulder, his voice full of feeling.

"Those fellows judge heroes by bone structure alone. They're blind as bats.

"Junior Brother, you've gone from starting out to approaching Minor Accomplishment in just over a month. Even among the disciples who went straight into the school, you'd be one of the best!"

"But to be fair, though Cloud Palm is a fine technique, the Stance Skill is the foundation you stand on. Don't abandon the root to chase the branches, and neglect your stance training."

Xu Chang suddenly grew serious and offered a few words of warning.

He was worried Lin Yin would become so absorbed in practicing Cloud Palm that he'd neglect the foundation of Qi and Blood Circulation.

"Only when your Stance Skill reaches Minor Accomplishment and you officially step into Bright Strength can you call yourself a true Martial Artist!"

Looking at Xu Chang, who spoke with such earnest concern, Lin Yin didn't argue. Instead, he nodded seriously.

He obviously couldn't tell him that Cloud Stance was also nearing Minor Accomplishment, with his stance and palm techniques progressing side by side. Saying so would be a little too "showy."

"You understand, then..."

Xu Chang nodded.

"Make sure to eat plenty of meat these days. Reaching Minor Accomplishment in the Stance Skill is no small matter. The more abundant your qi and blood, the better your chances when you attempt the breakthrough.

"Even if the attempt fails, with your qi and blood to rely on, you may still be able to try again. Remember, the Stance Skill is the foundation."

Xu Chang urged him again. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he hurried off.

Watching Xu Chang stride away, Lin Yin's eyes turned thoughtful.

Though Xu Chang hadn't said anything outright, Lin Yin could clearly sense the urgency in him. It seemed this senior brother had placed certain hopes on Lin Yin.

During his days at the school, Lin Yin had learned about many unspoken rules.

Just as Xu Chang had said, once a student achieved Minor Accomplishment in the Stance Skill and became a formal Bright Strength Martial Artist, their status at the school would rise like a boat on a rising tide.

Compared with Second Senior Disciple Brother's steadily growing influence, the side of the relatively low-profile eldest senior brother was short on people. Xu Chang seemed desperate enough to clutch at straws.

Lin Yin's expression didn't change. He went back to training.

He hadn't wanted to get involved in the rivalries within the school, but he was also grateful for Xu Chang's care over the past days. So he didn't intend to stick his neck out, but he could still do what little he could to help.

"I should break through as soon as I can."

To keep a "low profile," Lin Yin had been diligently training Golden Bell Shield and Vajra Stake Technique, while slowing down his practice of Cloud Stance and Cloud Palm.

After all, once Cloud Stance reached Minor Accomplishment, no matter how much he "showed off" with his palm technique, it wouldn't look bad. That would make it easier for people to notice.

Gathering his focus, Lin Yin continued practicing his stance.

Two days later, an unexpected piece of news caught Lin Yin's attention.

"Senior Brother Shi Yan failed his breakthrough!"

Xu Chang's voice was heavy, his face dark as a storm cloud.

"Senior Brother Shi Yan?"

Lin Yin's expression shifted slightly. He'd met the man a few times. When Lin Yin had first joined the school, Xu Chang had introduced him as a senior brother from their faction.

Shi Yan's Cloud Stance had long been close to Minor Accomplishment. He'd been stuck at the bottleneck for nearly a month, and Lin Yin had heard he was preparing the Great Medicine needed for his breakthrough.

It had been nearly two months, so surely he'd gathered all the Great Medicine and everything else he needed. Yet now, unexpectedly, he'd failed his breakthrough.

Xu Chang looked grim, and Lin Yin could see the tension on his face.

Xu Chang's cultivation was no weaker than Shi Yan's, and his Cloud Palm had reached Major Accomplishment even before his Stance Skill.

Now he'd heard that a Martial Artist at his level—and a friend of his, no less—had failed to break through. No wonder he was so unsettled.

"He spent months building up his qi and blood with Great Medicine, and it's all gone to waste. Senior Brother Shi's in grave danger this time. If he can't calm the upheaval in his qi and blood over the next few days, then..."

Xu Chang didn't finish. His face had turned grim with fear.

Beyond the initial hurdle of joining the school, every subsequent breakthrough carried great risks.

Shi Yan's situation was clearly among the worse outcomes. His failed breakthrough had triggered Qi Blood Backlash. Now, instead of growing stronger, his qi and blood were collapsing, and his cultivation might even regress.

Xu Chang was nearing a breakthrough himself. Hearing such terrible news naturally sent a chill down his spine.

"Let's wait a little longer. Just a little longer..." Hearing Senior Brother Xu mutter under his breath, Lin Yin was reminded once again of the risks that came with attempting a breakthrough.

This time, Xu Chang clearly didn't feel like making conversation with Lin Yin. He hurried away after delivering the news.

Lin Yin's expression returned to calm. Just as he thought life might gradually settle back into its usual rhythm, what happened next once again upended his understanding.

The senior brothers, long quiet within the school, seemed to be making their moves. Even Xu Chang often disappeared from sight, the qi and blood around him surging dramatically, as if he were on the verge of a breakthrough.

Lin Yin sensed that the atmosphere throughout the school was growing increasingly strange.