Tiger Form Fist Minor Accomplishment (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and another half-month slipped away.

Li Yuan had undergone a complete transformation in both spirit and appearance.

His eyes were sharp and focused, his temperament steady, and his once thin, frail body had begun to grow robust.

Especially since becoming an official disciple, the Five Animals Academy provided daily medicinal soups to nourish his blood and qi, occasionally even supplying medicinal wine to rub into his muscles.

This was used to alleviate the soreness that followed his training.

Li Yuan could clearly feel his blood and qi growing increasingly vigorous.

As for Lin Mingsheng, he had broken through to the Stone Skin Realm not long after entering the academy.

For a scion of a prominent family, eating well and having a solid foundation meant that a quick breakthrough was only natural.

With his outstanding talent and illustrious background, Lin Mingsheng soon gathered a small circle around him.

Aside from Lu Ming, who had long been eager to latch onto a noble family, there was also a senior brother named Huang Ren and a Second Senior Sister named Liu Yan.

Liu Yan possessed formidable strength and a fair share of beauty, while Huang Ren's family operated a security firm.

They were all disciples from relatively well-off backgrounds.

Someone like Li Yuan, who came from a family of hunters, was naturally not part of their circle.

Li Yuan would occasionally see them gathered together, conversing.

He did not care.

Li Yuan's goal was clear: to become stronger, to survive, and to live better.

On this afternoon, he was practicing his fist techniques alone in the courtyard, feeling the blood and qi within his body surging in rhythm with his movements.

After finishing a set of the Tiger Form, he retracted his stance and adjusted his breathing.

With a shift of his consciousness, the panel appeared.

Skill: Five Animals Tiger Form Fist (Entry)
Progress: 490/500 points
Note: Heaven Rewards Diligence; as long as you put in the effort, there will be a reward.

Just ten more points, and the Tiger Form Fist will reach the Minor Accomplishment stage. Li Yuan felt a surge of excitement.

Once the Tiger Form Fist reached Minor Accomplishment, his combat capability would surely climb to a new level.

He suppressed his excitement, preparing to rest briefly before continuing his practice.

Not far away, Lin Mingsheng and his group were gathered together.

"I'll be the host in three days. I've booked the Heaven-tier private room for seven at the Drunken Immortal Restaurant in the Inner City to treat you all to drinks," Lin Mingsheng said to those in his circle.

"Senior Brother Zhao, would you like to join us?"

He saw Zhao Qin nearby and decided to extend an invitation; Zhao Qin's family background met Lin Mingsheng's requirements.

To practice martial arts without money—what kind of martial arts could one even practice?

Wasn't the reason he, Lin Mingsheng, was able to break through to the Ox Skin Realm so quickly because he spent enough silver to build a solid foundation?

"I can," Zhao Qin replied.

"There are still extra spots. If you all have any senior brothers or sisters you'd like to recommend, feel free to bring them along."

Of course, the prerequisite was that they met Lin Mingsheng's standards.

"How about we bring Junior Brother Li Yuan along? He's a hunter by trade and hasn't even been to the Inner City yet; it would be a good chance to take him there to see it."

Zhao Qin hesitated for a moment, then thought of Li Yuan's background and made the suggestion.

If Li Yuan could integrate into this circle, it would surely be more convenient for him in the future.

"Senior Brother Zhao, when did I ever say I was inviting him?"

Hearing this, Lin Mingsheng glanced at Li Yuan in the distance and smiled faintly.

"The Drunken Immortal Restaurant is a place for prominent figures in the Inner City; not just anyone can sit at the table. In our Lin Family, even the capable guards and servants never sit at the main table to eat. The rules cannot be broken."

The implication behind these words was to compare Li Yuan to a mere servant or guard.

At such a young age, he had already firmly memorized the rules of the noble families.

Someone like Li Yuan would sooner or later end up either joining a gang or becoming a head guard for some family.

People like this were a dime a dozen in the Inner City.

Lu Ming chimed in from the side with a sycophantic laugh, repeating, "Yes, yes, yes."

Seeing Lu Ming so tactful, Lin Mingsheng was in a great mood.

He hadn't intentionally belittled Li Yuan; he simply felt that things were just the way they were.

Liu Yan and Huang Ren cast their gazes elsewhere, pretending they hadn't heard.

Zhao Qin's face showed a hint of awkwardness; he opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing more.

After the others had left, Zhao Qin walked over to Li Yuan, who was practicing his punches.

He recounted what had just happened to Li Yuan.

Seeing a rare opportunity, Zhao Qin hoped that if Li Yuan took the initiative to get close, there might be a turn for the better.

"They are from a prominent family. If we can build a connection, it will give us a way to make a living once we leave the academy, won't it?"

"Third Senior Brother, thank you for your good intentions, but I think I'll pass."

Li Yuan was anxious to make a breakthrough and had no interest in playing social games with them.

Zhao Qin tried to persuade him a few more times, but was refused each time. Finally, he said, "Junior Brother Lin comes from a different background; don't take some of his airs to heart."

Li Yuan smiled. "I understand. Don't worry about it, Senior Brother Zhao. I've never had much interest in such socializing. With this time, I'd rather practice a few more sets of punches."

Seeing that Li Yuan truly didn't mind, Zhao Qin relaxed and patted Li Yuan on the shoulder. "Alright then, you carry on. I'm heading over."

After Zhao Qin left, Li Yuan refocused his mind, pouring all his attention back into his fist technique.

The image of a fierce tiger descending from the mountain emerged in his mind, and a sense of ferocity rose from the depths of his heart.

"Roar!" A barely audible tiger's growl escaped Li Yuan's throat.

This time, he felt something distinctly different; the blood and qi within his body seemed to ignite, surging and roaring in perfect harmony with his fist momentum.

With every punch thrown, he felt his muscles and bones resonate, his power flowing unimpeded, devoid of the slight sluggishness he had felt before.

One set, two sets, three sets...

Sweat soaked his clothes, but he paid it no mind, feeling only that his blood and qi were growing increasingly scorching and his fist technique smoother than ever.

Finally, just as he was about to conclude an unknown number of sets, Li Yuan felt a soft "boom" in his mind, as if some sort of shackle had been shattered.

He slowly retracted his fists and let out a long, heavy breath.

With a thought, the panel appeared.

[Skill: Five Animals Tiger Form Fist (Minor Achievement)]

[Progress: 20/1000 points]

[Effect: Stronger muscles and bones, doubled strength]

...

[Skill: Five Animals Stance Technique (Minor Achievement)]

[Progress: 330/1000 points]

[Effect: Condenses blood and qi, focuses power to the extremities]

[Hint: Heaven Rewards Diligence; as long as you put in the effort, there will be a return.]

He had broken through! His Tiger Form Fist had officially stepped into the realm of Minor Achievement!

A wave of heartfelt joy surged into his heart.

Li Yuan clenched his fists, feeling the increased power within his body and the more fluid, effortless circulation of his blood and qi; his confidence grew tenfold.

He could sense that he was now roughly at the mid-stage of the Ox Skin Realm.

To reach Minor Achievement in a fist technique in just over half a month—this speed was already exceptionally impressive.

One must know that even Second Senior Sister Liu Yan and Third Senior Brother Zhao Qin had only reached Great Achievement in two fist techniques after several years of training.

Some formal disciples hadn't even reached Minor Achievement in a single technique after more than half a year of practice.

A Minor Achievement level Tiger Form Fist was enough to secure him a place among his peers.

Li Yuan felt lighthearted. He decided not to continue practicing, changed into clean clothes, and left the Five Animals Academy.

He prepared to treat himself.

He hadn't walked far when he spotted Chicken Brother at a street corner.

Not long ago, Chicken Brother had also signed up for a martial arts hall a few streets away from Li Yuan.

That hall taught the Iron Sand Palm.

"Chicken Brother!"

With his breakthrough in technique, Li Yuan's voice was also a few notches louder.

Chicken Brother turned at the sound, and upon seeing Li Yuan, a smile broke across his face. "Brother Yuan, hahaha, good news, truly good news."

The moment Chicken Brother saw Li Yuan, he couldn't stop grinning.

"Oh? What good news do you have?" Li Yuan raised an eyebrow; he hadn't even celebrated his own success yet.

"Wahahaha, you know that thug Yan Xiang who was always collecting protection fees at the market?"

"The little brat offended someone, went to apologize, but they didn't accept it and beat him to death on the spot! They left him in his room for days—he's already crawling with maggots!"

Li Yuan laughed upon hearing this.

"Good riddance!"

"Come on, it's a double celebration today! I'm treating you to chicken tails!"

Chicken Brother's eyes lit up. "Now that sounds good. I'm definitely going to make you bleed some coin today."