"Grandfather, just judging by background, our Lineage has Summoners too. What's so great about that?" the young man in blue said with a frown, unconvinced.
"Summoners differ from Summoners. Lower, middle, upper—every tier is separated by an enormous gap. And even among high-ranking Summoners, You Ying is among the strongest. Her father is an elder of the Sha Yue Sect, her mother came from a great Inner City family, and she herself is cruel and vicious. Among the Three Sects and Six Clans, she studied under the deputy sect master of the Floating Mountain Sect. Her strength and background are even more outrageous..."
Huang Shangying sighed. "And that Lin Hui—at only nineteen, he has already reached the limit of Body Tempering. Though he still refuses to give up the Clear Sword, so he may be somewhat weaker in actual combat, his movement technique is fast enough and his ability to preserve his own life is strong enough. For someone with his background, that is enough. The gap between people like him and you..."
He did not finish the rest, but everyone understood what he meant.
The two young men looked somewhat grim, yet they remained unconvinced. Still, Lin Hui had left an extremely deep impression on them.
Elsewhere.
Mingde led Lin Hui slowly out of the tavern and along the pedestrian path beside the street.
"Tell me. What did you come to see me for?"
"Master, this disciple wishes to ask: how can second Body Tempering give rise to inner strength?" Lin Hui asked quietly.
"Your first Body Tempering is complete?" Mingde was taken aback.
"Yes."
"...Did you use medicine?"
"I used some," Lin Hui answered honestly.
"Then the impact won't be great." Mingde let out a breath. "For second Body Tempering, have you truly decided to use the Clear