Peak of the Body Tempering Realm's Middle Stage! A Challenge? The Martial Arts School's Higher-Ups...

After all this time spent cultivating, along with the nourishment of Body Strengthening Soup, Su Mo's cultivation had already broken through to the peak of the middle stage of the Body Tempering Realm.

At most, he was a month away from being confident of breaking through to the late stage of the Body Tempering Realm.

His cultivation speed was so fast that he was every bit the equal of the martial arts prodigies in the school. Even so, the school's higher-ups still didn't think much of Su Mo.

Su Mo had expected as much. What he hadn't expected was that Guande Martial Arts School had three Body Tempering cultivation techniques to choose from, each of which could be cultivated all the way to the Tendon Changing Realm. That meant he didn't need to worry about finding a follow-up Body Tempering technique.

As long as he reached the peak of the late stage of the Body Tempering Realm before turning nineteen, he could switch to one of these three complete Body Tempering cultivation techniques.

While Su Mo devoted himself to cultivation,

business at the martial arts school kept growing.

Lately, many disciples had joined Guande Martial Arts School to learn martial arts. Not only were there people from Qingshan Town, but plenty had come from other major towns as well.

This continued for a long time.

Soon,

news spread through the school.

In a few days, martial arts schools from other major towns would bring their disciples to pay Guande Martial Arts School a visit and exchange martial arts knowledge.

Several major towns fell under Anyuan County Town. Some of them were quite prosperous, and naturally had martial arts schools of their own.

At first, these schools hadn't minded Guande Martial Arts School opening in Qingshan Town. But the Azure Origin Body Tempering Art it taught was unusual: it gave ordinary people a high chance of becoming Martial Artists. Even though it lacked staying power, it had still driven many people wild with enthusiasm.

As a result, many people from other towns had flocked to Guande Martial Arts School to learn martial arts.

This caused the number of apprentices and disciples at schools in those towns to plummet. With Guande Martial Arts School stealing so much business, some schools naturally took issue with it and decided to pay a visit for an exchange.

They called it an exchange of martial arts knowledge.

But anyone with eyes could see they were there to kick down the door.

When the news came out, Guande Martial Arts School's higher-ups told the martial arts prodigies to get ready.

Even Xie Baolin, back in the dormitory, was informed by the school's higher-ups that he might have to take part in this exchange between the two schools.

Clearly, the higher-ups weren't afraid of schools from the other major towns coming to challenge them. They were even happy to accept.

In the meeting hall of Guande Martial Arts School,

many of the school's higher-ups had gathered. Even the elusive head of the school, Yu Guande, was there.

The meeting was mainly about the other schools coming to challenge them.

"Our school has only just opened. Its prospects are so good that it was bound to attract attention and make some of our fellow schools unhappy. It's only natural that they've come to challenge us under the guise of an exchange."

"I don't ask for much. When Guande Martial Arts School exchanges martial arts knowledge with other schools, we absolutely must not lose. At the very least, we must not bring shame upon our school."

From the seat of honor at the head of the hall, Yu Guande spoke. His voice was aged, yet as deep and solid as a mountain.

He had come from Anyuan County Town to open a school in Qingshan Town. It was only natural that schools from other major towns would come to challenge him. After all, Guande Martial Arts School had become a conspicuous target, and it had recruited far too many disciples lately. So many people wanted to join them.

But they absolutely could not lose this exchange.

If they did, those old fogeys in Anyuan County Town would surely laugh at him.

Yu Guande wouldn't allow that. The older a person got, the more he cared about his face.

So he had ordered his senior disciples: they could only win, never lose.

"Rest assured, Master. We absolutely won't lose this exchange with the other schools."

Yu Guande's eldest disciple, Liu Feiliang, replied respectfully.

"Master, you can rest easy."

The other disciples nearby chimed in. Among them were Luo Lianbo and Lin Yutong.

Only those who had reached the Meridian Opening Realm were qualified to become higher-ups in the school and truly earn Yu Guande's regard.

As soon as the news had spread, Liu Feiliang, the school's eldest senior brother, had already told its prodigies to get ready.

This whole matter had started because of the Azure Origin Body Tempering Art, which had allowed Guande Martial Arts School to take business away from the other schools.

So the exchange would mostly involve Body Tempering Realm disciples sparring.

Martial Artists in the Meridian Opening Realm wouldn't take part.

"Eldest Senior Brother, we could have Su Mo take part in this exchange too. He's exceptionally strong for someone in the Body Tempering Realm."

Luo Lianbo spoke at just the right moment.

He had brought Su Mo into the school and had always thought highly of him, believing he had potential.

Lin Yutong, as his senior sister, said nothing.

"Su Mo? You mean the disciple who joined Guande Martial Arts School after making a living by hunting? I heard he started cultivating far too late and his bones had hardened badly. Though he's barely managed to reach the middle stage of the Body Tempering Realm, he'll probably need at least five to ten years to break through to the late stage."

"Junior Brother Luo, a disciple like Su Mo probably isn't qualified to take part in this exchange."

Before Liu Feiliang could say anything, their second senior sister, Ao Lingyu, spoke in a cool voice, directly rejecting Luo Lianbo's suggestion.

There were plenty of martial arts prodigies at Guande Martial Arts School. Su Mo had only barely reached the middle stage of the Body Tempering Realm at eighteen. Did he really qualify to step up for an exchange? He couldn't compare to the school's prodigies—Zhong Wanyu, Qi Yaxue, Qin Shuqin, Jin Guangqing, and Zheng Mengyang. He was probably not even as strong as Xie Baolin, his own dormmate.

Master Yu Guande was advanced in years, his vital energy and blood severely depleted, so his disciples managed most of the school's affairs.

Ao Lingyu naturally knew about Su Mo, and that was why she thought he wasn't strong enough.

"Second Senior Sister, actually, Su Mo is—"

Luo Lianbo hurried to explain. He thought Su Mo was far more capable than he seemed, but before he could finish,

Liu Feiliang cut him off. "Junior Brother Luo, we'll do as your second senior sister says. Su Mo isn't qualified, so he can't take part in this exchange."

Luo Lianbo could only give up.

Lin Yutong remained quiet nearby, staying out of her senior siblings' decision.

Ao Lingyu smiled faintly, thinking Luo Lianbo had poor judgment.

At the head of the hall, old man Yu Guande closed his eyes and rested. He left the school's affairs to his disciples and only cared about the outcome...