Bottleneck

That morning was the once-every-three-days Fist Force test day.

Jiang Ping opened his eyes from sleep. His Eyes were bright, his long hair black and thick, and even his complexion had changed somewhat, no longer so dark.

Am I going to turn from a dark ancient one into a pale ancient one? Jiang Ping thought. His skin was becoming more and more delicate.

It should be that, as my realm rises, my body's condition is undergoing some changes.

With that thought, he glanced at his Destiny:

[Nourishing Life Technique Ninth Layer (58/300): Practice a hundred times daily, and it will be completed in three years]

[Flying Snow Saber Qi (1997/2400): Practice a thousand times daily, and it will be completed in ten years]

It had been a full month since Jiang Ping joined the Four Seas Escort Agency.

The changes could be called earth-shaking. Martial Artists he had once looked up to from afar now numbered him among their ranks, and he was even close to cultivating the Nourishing Life Technique to its utmost limit.

His talent in Blade Art was even more without equal. Jiang Ping had reached in merely half a month the level Head Escort Liang had attained after ten years of saber practice, and he was about to enter a realm of the saber Head Escort Liang had failed to master even after twenty years.

He, Jiang Ping, could absolutely be called extraordinarily gifted!

However, Jiang Ping understood the principle of preserving oneself through wisdom. Even if he possessed gifts beyond others, he still had to be cautious in all his actions.

"Jiang Ping, want to go wash up together?"

A voice interrupted Jiang Ping's Train of thought, but he politely declined.

"Sun Zheng, let's go." Luo Tiegen pulled along Sun Zheng, who had just gotten out of bed.

After the two of them left, Qian Dele crawled out from his bunk, glanced at Jiang Ping, and said with a smile, "Luo Tiegen used to call you Brother this and Brother that whenever he saw you, nodding and bowing. Why has he suddenly changed his tune lately?"

Time was the best medicine. Qian Dele and Jiang Ping had never held any deep grudge against each other, nor did they have any conflicting interests. Besides, they came and went from the same dormitory. Later, they would nod in greeting whenever they met. Though they could not become friends, their relationship had grown harmonious enough for them to exchange a few words.

Perhaps it was also because of Jiang Ping's strength. Even Sun Zheng now respectfully called him "Brother Jiang," without any of his former hostility.

"Who knows?" Jiang Ping answered casually.

In truth, Liu Wensheng had told him that Luo Tiegen had attached himself to Fang Yong. The two were quite close and often drank and ate meat together.

Of course, that was someone else's private affair, and Jiang Ping could not go around talking about it recklessly.

"Come on, Brother Jiang, let's wash up. There's still the Fist Force test later." Qian Dele sighed after speaking. "Only now do I know how difficult the Nourishing Life Technique is. Half a month has passed, and I'm still stuck at the Second Level."

Before long.

The youths stood in neat ranks on the Training Ground.

At the front, Escort Huang still held that Yellow Booklet, looking calm and composed. The Head Escort beside him was imposing without anger, bearing himself with uncommon poise.

At the entrance to the dining hall, an ordinary-looking young man cradled a large bowl. As he ate meat, he leisurely watched everyone's expressions—some tense, some crestfallen. Chewing his food, he seemed to find a unique flavor in it.

This was Fang Yong. Because of his exceptional strength, he did not need to undergo ranking tests. Thus, whenever the others were tested, he liked to watch from the sidelines and occasionally offer a few remarks. The usually stern Head Escort neither got angry nor reprimanded him, simply allowing him to act as he pleased.

This made many people jealous and uncomfortable, but there was nothing they could do.

After all, who could blame them? He had cultivated the Nourishing Life Technique to the Fifth Layer in only a month, and the Head Escort had declared that his Flying Snow Saber Technique would soon enter the beginner stage.

How could the elders possibly be harsh with such an outstanding person?

"Zhang San!"

As the familiar name rang out, the Fist Force test began.

"Sun Qi, two hundred and seventy-three jin."

"Little Sun still hasn't broken through the Third Layer. Is the Nourishing Life Technique really that difficult? It's already been half a month." As Sun Qi's result was announced, Fang Yong immediately spoke in puzzlement.

Yet anyone with eyes could hear that he was mocking Sun Qi.

Half a month ago, Fang Yong had been at the Fourth Level while Sun Qi was at the peak of the Second Level. Half a month later, Fang Yong had reached the Fifth Layer, while Sun Qi remained unable to move forward.

Sun Qi's expression turned somewhat cold, but he did not dare argue back. First, he lacked the ability; second, he did not have Head Escort Liang's backing.

Soon, Jiang Ping and Liu Wensheng, the two considered somewhat talented, also finished their tests. Their situations were much like Sun Qi's—there had been no great improvement in half a month, and neither had broken through the Fourth Level.

Fang Yong likewise commented on them with a lofty, condescending attitude. Jiang Ping remained calm, but Liu Wensheng could not quite endure it. He had wanted to speak up and argue, yet at Escort Huang's warning glance, he ultimately chose silence.

A Fist Force test hurriedly came to an end. Everyone's progress had gradually begun to falter. Even Sun Qi, once The first person, had failed to break through the Third Layer, let alone the rest.

"What a bland test. Without Brother Fang, it feels like something is missing—there's less of a surprise to it." Luo Tiegen spoke with some regret.

No one paid him any attention. This man had shamelessness far beyond everyone else's and had managed to befriend Fang Yong. They asked themselves whether they could do the same, and the answer was no.

At the edge of the Training Ground, the Head Escort had intended to leave, but Liu Wensheng jogged over to him and asked:

"May I ask, Head Escort Liang, I also eat four portions of Nutritious food at every meal. I reached the peak of the Third Layer as early as ten days ago, and since then, I have continued to train diligently every day. Why have I still not broken through to the Fourth Level?"

Head Escort Liang glanced at him and said, "Because of a Bottleneck."

"A Bottleneck?" Liu Wensheng looked puzzled.

At this point, many people had gathered around Liu Wensheng. Clearly, they were also very interested in his question.

"A so-called Bottleneck is neither tangible nor intangible. You may understand it simply this way: when you do something to a certain extent, no matter how hard you try, you cannot improve even a fraction. Yet if you continue striving, after some time enlightenment suddenly dawns upon you, and you can continue improving. That is breaking through a Bottleneck."

"Of course, it is also possible to remain stuck there. No matter how hard you work, you cannot advance an inch. Just like many Senior Drafters in our Escort Agency—they cultivate the Nourishing Life Technique to the Sixth Layer and can no longer break through. Some have remained stagnant for decades, and some may remain so for an entire lifetime."

"A lifetime..." Liu Wensheng's expression changed. The others first looked relieved, then their faces abruptly changed as well.

Did that not mean they had encountered a Bottleneck now, which was why they could not advance a single step? And they might even remain stuck for their entire lives?

Seeing that everyone's expressions had turned grim, the Head Escort continued, "Bottlenecks before becoming a Martial Artist are not actually that difficult. As long as you persevere, you can still master the Sixth Layer of skill. Of course, if you have Nutritious food better than beef, you can also use its powerful vitality and blood to stimulate your Five viscera and six bowels, quickly charge through the barrier, and even become a Martial Artist."

Liu Wensheng's eyes lit up. "There is Nutritious food better than beef?"

"Naturally. There is a special livestock beast that grows in the north of Great Li. It resembles a cow in size and is called a Spirit Rhino. It does not eat grass, but meat. Its flesh is even more potent than certain precious medicinal ingredients that nourish vitality and blood. If you ate Spirit Rhino Meat as nourishment at every meal, breaking through a Bottleneck would take no more than a few days."

Head Escort Liang's words left everyone both excited and intensely eager. Sun Zheng was especially resentful as he muttered, "If such Nutritious food exists, why hasn't the Escort Agency provided it?"

Escort Huang glanced at him and raised his brows. "You've gotten used to freeloading, haven't you?"

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare." Sun Zheng realized he had said the wrong thing, and his face immediately flushed red.

"Such meat must be very expensive, right?" Liu Wensheng asked. Meat this good could not possibly be cheap, but he still wanted to know the price. Perhaps he would have to eat it someday.