Stake Training Breakthrough

10:35 p.m.

Lin Ye returned home and saw that the living room light was still on. His mother, Wang Xiulan, was sitting on the sofa knitting a sweater. At the sound, she immediately looked up. Seeing her son's figure, the worry in her heart finally settled, and she asked softly, "Why are you home so late today?"

At the entryway, Lin Ye paused while changing his shoes, his mind racing. He knew he absolutely could not say that he had been practicing the Martial Dao at the Martial Arts Pavilion. That would expose his determination to keep pursuing the Martial Arts Stream, and his mother would worry even more.

So he walked into the living room and casually placed his backpack on the table. "The mock exam is coming up. I wanted to prepare more, so I stayed in the classroom and read a little longer."

"Read a little longer?"

Wang Xiulan put down her yarn and carefully studied her son.

Under the lights, obvious fatigue showed on Lin Ye's face. His hair was slightly damp, and there were still sweat stains around the collar of his school uniform.

"Yeah. I was reviewing Brief History of Catastrophe. There are too many key points."

Lin Ye tried to keep his tone calm as he walked to the water dispenser and poured himself a cup. "Mom, you still aren't asleep?"

"I was waiting for you."

Wang Xiulan's gaze softened as she gently reproached him. "You need to take care of your health while studying too. Don't stay up so late. Are you hungry? There's still porridge in the pot."

"I'm not hungry. I ate at school."

After finishing his water, Lin Ye looked around and did not see his father. He could not help asking.

"Where's Dad?"

"Him? The factory's working overtime today. He said they have a batch of parts they need to rush, so he'll be back later." Wang Xiulan rose and walked over to Lin Ye, straightening his slightly crooked collar. "Xiao Ye, Mom knows you're working hard, but don't put too much pressure on yourself. Even if you can't get into the Martial Arts Stream, you can still find a good job after taking the academic track..."

"I know."

Lin Ye interrupted his mother with a gentle smile. "Mom, go to sleep. I'll take a shower and turn in."

Hearing that, Wang Xiulan seemed to want to say more, but in the end, she only nodded. "All right. You should sleep early too, Xiao Ye."

Returning to his room, Lin Ye closed the door and leaned against it, letting out a soft breath.

Lying did not feel good, especially to parents who cared about him. But he had no choice. The panel was his secret, and the Martial Arts Stream was a road he had to take. Before he truly achieved something, he did not want to reveal his intentions too early. That would only add to his parents' worries.

After showering, Lin Ye lay on his bed, and the System Panel appeared before his eyes:

[Primordial Stance (Beginner): 95/100]

[Rolling Stone Fist (Proficient): 270/300]

Over the course of the day, through his efforts, his Stake Training had gained 10 points of proficiency, while his fist technique had gained 20 points.

The next breakthrough was already close at hand. This made him quite pleased, and he looked forward to seeing what would happen after the breakthrough.

The next morning's academic classes passed peacefully.

At lunchtime, Lin Ye once again chose the basic paid meal package. As he spent 30 yuan, he glanced at his account balance. Only 262 yuan remained.

A sense of urgency rose within Lin Ye. He had to achieve results as soon as possible to win his parents' support and ease their worries.

That afternoon, at the Martial Arts Pavilion.

Inside Class Five's Martial Arts Hall, Stake Training began.

Lin Ye assumed the Primordial Stance. The System Panel clearly showed: [Primordial Stance (Beginner): 95/100]. Only 5 points remained.

For the first ten minutes, he maintained the standard stance. His calves began to ache, and his thigh muscles trembled faintly, but that was all normal.

When the ten-minute timer in his mind reached its end, his proficiency ticked up: [96/100]. The progress was smooth, and a trace of joy appeared on Lin Ye's face.

For the second ten minutes, Lin Ye slightly adjusted his breathing rhythm, trying to relax his body more. Sweat slid down his temples, staining the collar of his training uniform dark.

Ten minutes passed. [97/100]. Only 3 points remained.

As the third round of Stake Training began, Lin Ye took a deep breath. He could feel that he was on the verge of a breakthrough, and that anticipation sharpened his focus even further.

Yet reality was often like this—the more one looked forward to something, the easier it was to make a mistake.

In the sixth minute, a stiffness came from where his waist and hips connected. Lin Ye tried to adjust, but his movement was slightly too large. His center of gravity swayed, and his feet shifted several inches without his control.

That slight shift of his feet made the stance imperfect.

When the ten minutes ended, his proficiency did not increase.

Lin Ye slowly withdrew his stance and softly exhaled. Failure was commonplace. He had long grown used to it.

His fourth attempt.

This time, he calmed his mind and no longer deliberately chased after a "breakthrough." He simply focused on maintaining every detail. How the soles of his feet gripped the ground, how his knees bent slightly, how his waist and hips relaxed... he carefully experienced every link.

Ten minutes passed. [98/100]. Only the final 2 points remained.

His fifth round of Stake Training.

Lin Ye closed his eyes and immersed all his attention in the sensations of his body. The other sounds in the training room gradually faded away. In his world, only his breathing, his heartbeat, and every minute change in his body remained.

Ten minutes passed. [99/100]. Only the final point remained.

Before beginning his sixth round of Stake Training, Lin Ye rested for thirty seconds. He rubbed his aching thighs, adjusted his breathing, and then assumed the stance again.

This time, his condition was remarkably good. His body seemed to find its most comfortable position on its own. Every joint and every muscle was in exactly the right state.

Ten minutes later, the panel before his eyes jumped.

[Primordial Stance (Proficient): 1/300]

Boom!

In that instant, all his insights into the Blood Qi microcycle of the Primordial Stance became like scattered puzzle pieces, assembled whole by an invisible force. At that moment, Lin Ye understood the relationship between gravity and skeletal support. He was no longer rigidly propping up his body. He sensed that the Blood Qi between his waist and hips, which had always lain dormant, was not a pool of stagnant water, but a small stream choked by silt.

"So... Blood Qi isn't driven by 'force.' It has to be guided by 'intent.'"

That leap in understanding instantly stirred his body's instincts.

The aching numbness that had been blocked in his legs vanished at once. Following this newfound insight, his Blood Qi miraculously formed a tiny yet continuous cycle. The body he had once struggled to support suddenly felt much lighter. What had once required him to grit his teeth and endure now merely required endurance—it was no longer so painful.

As usual, Zheng Huai walked around the room with his hands clasped behind his back, inspecting the students' cultivation progress. When he came within half a meter of Lin Ye, his steps abruptly stopped.

He had originally thought that Lin Ye, as usual, had reached the end of his tether. But from up close, he was surprised to find that Lin Ye's breathing, which should have been disordered, had become light and long. At the same time, the flushed face that standing in the stance should have caused now carried an exceptionally healthy rosy glow. Then he looked at Lin Ye's legs.

"This kid actually mastered the Blood Qi microcycle."

Seeing those faintly moving ankles, Zheng Huai instantly understood that Lin Ye had truly mastered the Blood Qi microcycle. After giving Lin Ye an approving glance, he turned and went to guide the other students.