Seeing Compensation Again, Keep Training Until It Kills Me

Whether it was the Golden Bell Shield, Iron Shirt, or Bone Tempering Technique, all required corresponding medicinal baths and ointments for cultivation.

At least, that was the case before Initiation. After Initiation, they could be improved directly through Epiphany.

Chen Mo certainly could not soak in a bath barrel and cultivate in front of others, so he could only practice the Wind Slaying Blade, Flying Swallow Steps, and Fierce Tiger Fist.

He further familiarized himself with these three cultivation techniques that had already reached Perfect Accomplishment.

His cultivation realms had risen too quickly, and Chen Mo always felt that he had yet to fully bring out the power of these techniques.

That was clearly not right.

When cultivating, Chen Mo had no intention of holding back. After all, whether it was Jing Ming, Ling Ling, or Yan Cheng, none of them would reveal the state of his strength.

He went all out, striving to force his use of these techniques to the limit and thereby achieve a breakthrough. It felt incomparably exhilarating.

The direct result was that, after less than two days, Yan Cheng no longer required Chen Mo to cultivate alongside Pu Jing Ming and Jiang Ling Ling. He even explicitly stated that Chen Mo could cultivate alone in the courtyard where he lived.

He had originally wanted Ling Ling and Jing Ming to feel some pressure and have another role model to strive toward. Who would have thought that the pressure would so obviously exceed the limits of what the two could bear?

Even the aftershocks from Chen Mo's cultivation could easily knock them down. That feeling was truly unbearable. The two said they could not take it anymore. They had suffered a tremendous blow; not only had their enthusiasm for cultivation dropped, but they had also begun doubting themselves.

Their strength had only barely surpassed the standards of the Mountain Entry Grand Competition. Even if they entered the sect, they could only become Outer Disciples. In the future, they would most likely be assigned to open Martial Arts Schools in County Towns like Yan Cheng, supplying talent to the sect.

After being provoked like this, Jing Ming and Ling Ling's minds were now filled with Chen Mo's invincible figure. Their confidence in passing the Grand Competition and entering the sect had nearly collapsed.

Even Yan Cheng was dumbfounded by the sight.

You two had merely witnessed the bearing of a true genius after constantly being praised as geniuses yourselves. Was there really any need to react so strongly?

Had all those things he usually said about how they were not geniuses simply gone in one ear and out the other?

Jing Ming, Ling Ling: Weren't you saying that just to keep us from becoming arrogant?

Yan Cheng: No, you really are not geniuses.

Still too young, Yan Cheng sighed inwardly.

He had come to Hequ County nearly fifteen years ago and discovered that this place was simply too remote and too peaceful.

Over such a long period, the only turmoil he had ever witnessed was a group of moderately capable rebel troops arriving ten years ago, only to be easily defeated.

Demonic Anomalies had barely appeared at all.

Even when they occasionally did appear, they were all the lowest-ranked kind and could be eliminated with ease.

The rare Exotic Beasts discovered in the surrounding mountains and forests were all the kind that held little hostility toward humans.

As long as no one took the initiative to provoke them, there would be no danger.

Those born and raised in such a peaceful, remote place clearly lacked a certain bloody spirit. With so few people around, no truly outstanding martial artists had ever emerged.

Over more than a decade and two Mountain Entry Grand Competitions, not even the best performer had entered the Inner Sect. That was enough to show the level of talent among the people here.

Jing Ming and Ling Ling were simply the tallest among dwarfs. They could be called geniuses in Hequ County, but once they left Hequ County, they were fairly ordinary. Even the cleverest housewife could not cook without rice; Yan Cheng could do nothing about it.

Yan Cheng had originally held no expectations for this year's Mountain Entry Grand Competition. Yet after hearing about Chen Mo, his interest was immediately stirred. After meeting him in person and exchanging blows, Yan Cheng had confirmed Chen Mo's combat strength—it was absolutely at the level of the top three in the Grand Competition.

He might even have had a chance to take first place.

That was assuming no Bloodline Warrior appeared in this Grand Competition.

Among ordinary martial artists, even in the capital, few fifteen- or sixteen-year-olds could cultivate to the Divine Valor Realm, much less reach the Late Stage of the Divine Valor Realm.

In Yan Cheng's eyes, Chen Mo's combat strength had absolutely reached that level.

Chen Mo definitely did not need to fear any ordinary martial artist in the Grand Competition.

But Bloodline Warriors had appeared in both of the previous two Mountain Entry Grand Competitions. This year might not be much more promising.

No matter how highly he regarded Chen Mo, Yan Cheng undoubtedly still had feelings for Pu Jing Ming and Jiang Ling Ling, the two disciples he had taught for nearly five years. He did not choose to give up on them and deliberately had Chen Mo cultivate alone from then on, without coming over to train with them anymore.

If this happened a few more times, the two would likely have their confidence completely crushed and no longer even want to participate in the Mountain Entry Grand Competition.

There was no helping it. In their eyes, Chen Mo was simply too monstrous, while they themselves were as weak as ants on the ground, easily crushed to death.

"So it's my fault for being strong?" Chen Mo shook his head and happily cultivated by himself.

He could focus all his energy on cultivating the three Body Hardening Cultivation Techniques and strive to reach Initiation as soon as possible.

Now that he had more than enough Exotic Beast Jerky, he no longer needed to worry excessively about consumption. He could cultivate to his heart's content every day. His aptitude had also improved tremendously, reaching the level of a genius. Chen Mo felt that he should soon be able to cultivate these three techniques to Initiation.

Yet during this process, a minor incident left Chen Mo somewhat surprised.

"This is compensation from the Guo Family and Yu Family?"

Looking at the Martial Arts School Disciple standing before him, who stared at him with a nervous expression, Chen Mo quickly understood.

"Fine, leave it here. Thank you for your trouble."

"It was no trouble, Instructor Chen. The people sent by the two great families asked me to ask whether you have time these next few days. They want to apologize to you in person at First Grade Hall Restaurant," the disciple said.

Hearing this, Chen Mo refused without hesitation. "Forget the in-person apology. Help me turn them down. Tell them that I've accepted the gifts, and the grudge between us is wiped clean."

"Alright~"

After responding, the disciple turned and ran off.

Chen Mo did not even have time to offer him some payment for his trouble. With a helpless sigh, he turned his gaze toward the compensation piled up like a small mountain.

"This compensation is quite substantial."

This was the second time Chen Mo had received compensation since coming to Hequ County.

The first time had been from the Green Gang. This time, it was from the Guo Family and Yu Family.

It could only be said that these people were too shrewd, leaving not a single drop to spill through the cracks in everything they did.

Picking up the gift list for a look, he saw that Exotic Beast Jerky alone amounted to sixty catties—thirty catties from each family. It was an absolutely lavish gesture.

They had also sent five thousand taels of silver and a Sharp Weapon-grade longsword.

Weapons in this world were divided into four grades: Mortal Weapons, Sharp Weapons, Treasure Weapons, and Spirit Weapons.

Although this was only a second-grade Sharp Weapon-level longsword, it was something money could not buy within Hequ County.

It was clear that both the Guo Family and Yu Family were completely sincere. They obviously did not wish to remain enemies with Chen Mo.

At least at this critical juncture, they did not want Chen Mo, who had successfully joined the True Martial Arts School, to become their enemy.

Once their reshuffling struggle with the Fan Family and the local authorities was over, they likely would not dare to make a move against Chen Mo openly either.

Of course, if the two families knew Chen Mo's true strength, they would one hundred percent no longer harbor any improper thoughts.

Picking up the longsword, Chen Mo casually swung it a few times. The sound of it slicing through the air rang out repeatedly. Chen Mo nodded in satisfaction. It was indeed a fine blade, capable of cutting hairs blown against its edge. Unfortunately, it was too light. He wondered how hard it was and whether it could withstand his abuse.

He decided against testing it. If he directly broke it, that would truly be a loss that outweighed the gain.

With the sixty catties of Exotic Beast Jerky "sponsored in friendship" by the two families, along with the twenty catties of Exotic Beast Jerky provided by the Martial Arts School each month, Chen Mo would not need to restrain his cultivation time for quite a while.

Keep training until it kills me!

And that was exactly what he did.

Reality further proved the terrifying endurance of a Divine Valor Realm martial artist. Cultivating continuously for ten hours felt like child's play, with no sign that his body was about to run out of strength.

As a normal person, Chen Mo did not insist on testing the limit of his physical stamina. He stopped after training intensely for ten hours. After resting for a while, he continued studying the Pharmacopoeia, then went to the Martial Arts School's pharmacy to personally examine and taste the medicinal ingredients.

Whenever he grew tired of that, he would stroll around the Martial Arts School and, along the way, guide the disciples in their cultivation.

As this went on, the disciples gradually became much bolder around the approachable and easygoing Chen Mo. At the very least, they were no longer as restrained as they had been at first.

But this peaceful life did not last long before it was shattered by the sudden arrival of Fan Family members...