Harvest

Jiang Tian moved with agility, turning Zhang Qingfeng's home upside down to search for silver notes and bullion.

One thousand taels in silver notes, plus three hundred taels of gleaming silver.

This windfall finally resolved his most pressing needs.

The next day, at the Five Animals Martial Hall.

Before the morning light had fully blanketed the courtyard, a figure was already darting back and forth. His posture was as straight as a pine, his fist wind whistling as he struck with the ferocity of a tiger.

It was none other than Zhou Mu.

Over the past few days, Zhou Mu had seemed like a different person. He might not have been the first to arrive, but he was always the last to leave.

"I've reached the Body Tempering Realm!"

Zhou Mu's lips curled, his eyes unable to hide his joy.

He twisted his neck, his gaze sweeping toward the corner of the courtyard—where another figure was also practicing his punches with diligence.

Jiang Tian.

"Hmph, I'm only a few days behind you." Zhou Mu's eyes sharpened, a bold idea exploding in his mind.

Since they were both in the Body Tempering Realm, he wasn't necessarily weaker than Jiang Tian.

Besides, he could show off in front of Tan Hongyu and Li Batian... and step on Jiang Tian to climb higher!

Thinking of this, his resolve hardened.

At noon, the scorching sun hung high in the sky.

Jiang Tian sat cross-legged under a large tree eating his meal as usual—yes, the food was still being delivered by Li Batian.

Just as he finished the last few bites, the light in front of him suddenly dimmed; a figure blocked the sunlight from above.

"Senior Brother Jiang, I'd like to spar with you."

Jiang Tian raised an eyebrow and looked up. Zhou Mu stood before him, his face full of confidence, a hint of provocation hidden in the depths of his eyes.

Body Tempering Realm.

No wonder he wanted to spar; he had made a breakthrough.

As for why Zhou Mu had singled him out, he knew perfectly well—it was nothing more than the belief that he had stolen what should have belonged to the other man.

Jiang Tian brushed off his backside, stood up slowly, and tilted his chin at Zhou Mu: "Come on then, my food is getting cold."

"Huh?!"

Zhou Mu's eyes widened, his face flushing red instantly. He never expected that Jiang Tian would... look down on him so much?!

"Fine! Fine! Fine!" He was so angry he began to laugh.

"Then let me see what your Five Animals Fist is made of!"

With that, he stepped back, cleared a space, and assumed a rock-solid fighting stance.

"Come!"

It was lunchtime, and this scene instantly drew the attention of almost everyone present.

"Yo, we get a show while we eat?"

"Why is Zhou Mu picking a fight with Jiang Tian? Anyone can see that Jiang Tian is Master Yuan's favorite right now."

"What else could it be? Just jealousy."

"Zhou Mu looks like he's reached the Body Tempering Realm too... hey, who do you think will win?"

"That goes without saying, it has to be Jiang Tian. Zhou Mu just broke through, while Jiang Tian has been in the Body Tempering Realm for days."

"That's not necessarily true, look at how hard Zhou Mu has been training these past few days..."

Jiang Tian kept one hand behind his back and beckoned casually to Zhou Mu with the other.

"Arrogant!"

Zhou Mu let out a low roar, his blood and qi surging. He lunged forward in a flash, his punch striking like a tiger, his Momentum heavy as a bear!

However, the moment he took that step—

His feet were suddenly nailed to the ground, and his entire body froze in place, as if struck by a binding spell, unable to move a muscle.

"Boom!"

It felt as if something had slammed into him head-on. The air suddenly turned viscous, pressing down until he couldn't catch his breath.

The Jiang Tian before him was like a white tiger trapped in a cage—just by standing there, he exerted an overwhelming sense of oppression.

It felt as if the moment the other party struck, he would be like a tiger unleashed, delivering a fatal blow!

Zhou Mu's calves began to tremble uncontrollably, his eyes filled with terror.

"Are you coming or not? If not, I'm going to eat." Jiang Tian picked at his ear, his tone full of impatience.

He had only released a sliver of his Momentum, and it had scared this kid into such a pathetic state.

How truly boring.

Zhou Mu gritted his teeth, ignoring the surprised gazes of those around him, and turned to leave.

This scene left everyone dumbfounded.

"What's going on?"

"Why did he just run away? Junior Brother Jiang Tian didn't even make a move!"

Ordinary Body Tempering disciples could not see the trick behind it.

But Yuan Manzhi and another Manifest Energy disciple in the Martial Arts Hall saw it clearly.

Yuan Manzhi's eyes flickered, her small mouth slightly agape, and her face, usually cold to the extreme, was now filled with shock.

The other Manifest Energy disciple shouted it out directly.

"Hidden Energy!"

At his shout, the other disciples were still a bit confused.

But once they saw the scorching, intense look this senior brother was giving Jiang Tian, they understood in an instant.

"What? Senior Brother Jiang Tian has already broken through to Hidden Energy?!"

"My god! Is... is he even human?"

"Senior Brother Jiang Tian hasn't even been at the Martial Arts Hall for ten days, right? Hiss... this is too terrifying!"

Not far away, Li Batian stared with burning eyes, his hands trembling uncontrollably, his face flushed red with excitement.

Hidden Energy!

Breaking through to Hidden Energy in less than ten days!

If he could completely win Jiang Tian over... then who else but him could claim the position of the next head of the Li Family!

At this moment, he had already made up his mind.

At any cost, he had to make Jiang Tian his own!

Sharing a similar expression was Tan Hongyu in the corner.

Tan Hongyu's eyes shone as she stared at Jiang Tian, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground eating, already happily daydreaming in her heart.

In the near future... she would become a wealthy lady, drinking tea in the afternoon, eating late-night snacks in the evening, never having to practice boxing again, and never having to run around for a living...

Jiang Tian was completely unaware of all this.

After finishing his meal and resting for a while, he continued to practice his boxing.

Transformation Energy was not far off.

He would practice for a while, then pop a Blood Vitality Pill into his mouth.

[Ding! You possess Innate Martial Bone and Superb Comprehension! Five Animals Creation Play +9]

[Ding! You possess Innate Martial Bone and Superb Comprehension! Five Animals Creation Play +9]

[Ding! You possess Innate Martial Bone and Superb Comprehension! Five Animals Creation Play +9]

In the evening, just as he walked out of the Martial Arts Hall, a figure blocked his path.

It was none other than Li Batian.

Previously, when Li Batian faced him, although he always wore a winning smile, Jiang Tian, having lived two lives, could tell that a trace of disdain was hidden beneath that smile.

But today, that trace of disdain had completely vanished. The smile on Li Batian's face held a bit more flattery, and even his form of address had changed.

"Brother Jiang!" Li Batian said with a smile, "Could you do me the honor today? I've set up a table at the Drunken Wind Pavilion..."

Jiang Tian waved his hand and casually found a reason.

"I'm a bit tired from practicing boxing today, let's do it in a few days."

Now that he had 1,300 taels of silver in his hands, he was no longer in need of Li Batian's Blood Vitality Pills. Originally, he had thought that if Li Batian asked him again, he would have to go.

The smile on Li Batian's face stiffened abruptly. A flash of anger crossed his eyes, but it was quickly suppressed, and he put his smiling face back on: "Then let's do it in a few days."

Jiang Tian nodded slightly and walked away.