Announcement (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

"Brother Zhao, your skills are wasted in the Outer City. If the opportunity arises, you should come to the Inner City to develop your career. I, Lin Yu, would welcome you at any time."

Zhao Qin replied, "I will keep that in mind, Brother Lin. If I have any thoughts on the matter in the future, I will certainly pay a visit."

"As for this little brother here." Only then did Lin Yu look toward Li Yuan. Since he was recruiting talent anyway, even if the Ox Skin Realm was a bit trashy, it was better than nothing, so he decided to recruit him as well.

He smiled and said, "The family gatekeeper position happens to be vacant. If Brother Li Yuan doesn't mind, you could come and give it a try. It only requires ten days a month, four hours a day."

"Of course, the compensation won't be lacking. The Zhao Family..."

"Many thanks for your kind offer, Brother Lin, but I have already promised to take up a post at Senior Brother Zhao's home." Li Yuan cupped his hands and replied.

Before Lin Yu could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Li Yuan.

Li Yuan sneered inwardly. Wasn't this guy clearly trying to make him a watchdog?

You dog, sooner or later I'll smash your head in!

With so many people here, I'll endure you for now.

Hearing this, Lin Yu nodded, unbothered, and walked away while snapping his folding fan shut.

If it weren't for the fact that Lin Mingsheng knew him, Lin Yu wouldn't have even bothered with some random Ox Skin Realm nobody from the roadside.

"From Ox Skin to Stone Skin, people in the Outer City usually need three to four years of tempering. This Li Yuan has barely entered the Ox Skin Realm, yet he really thinks he's something," he muttered with an amused shake of his head.

After finishing their meal, Zhao Qin paid the bill.

Li Yuan didn't know exactly how much it cost, but judging by the pained expression on Zhao Qin's face, it was clearly a significant amount.

When they stepped out of the restaurant, the sky was already growing dark.

The two walked together toward the exit of the Outer City. After becoming Stone Skin disciples, one was allowed to live in the courtyard, and Zhao Qin usually stayed there.

Li Yuan, however, preferred living alone; it was more comfortable.

On the way, he asked, "Senior Brother, do you know whether it is the noble families or the Imperial Court that truly calls the shots in Wuxi County?"

Li Yuan had harbored these questions for a long time.

In the Outer City, one rarely saw any constables, and even when they were spotted, they were usually in a state of not wanting to get involved in anything.

"Also, the prices of grain and meat have started to rise recently, and there are quite a few bandits and marauders outside..."

He sighed.

"Who calls the shots in Wuxi County depends on the results of the battles at the frontier. If they win, the Imperial Court is in charge; conversely..."

Zhao Qin paused, then added, "Originally, every county seat had an expert sent from the Prefecture or Commandery city to oversee things, specifically to prevent these noble families from privately raising their own troops. But now, all those experts have gone to support the front lines."

"That is what has given these noble families a chance to breathe."

Li Yuan frowned and whispered, "Do they not understand the principle that if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold?"

"Of course they understand, but you must realize that people are inherently selfish." Zhao Qin also sighed. "And the situation hasn't reached the point of total collapse yet. If it truly reaches that point, the Imperial Court will have to rely on them instead."

"Within Wuxi County, at least on the surface, the noble families still give the government some face. In a neighboring county, a magistrate was even assassinated, and they claimed it was done by foreign spies. Think about it—do you believe that?"

"Then is there no safe place?"

"There is: the Prefecture city or the Imperial Capital," Zhao Qin said in a deep voice.

"The Jin Prefecture city is the core of our Jin Prefecture, heavily guarded with experts as numerous as clouds. As for the Imperial Capital, it goes without saying—it is the heart of the dynasty. However, it is extremely far from us; even with Teacher's strength, it is not certain one could reach it safely."

Li Yuan understood. As they chatted, the two soon arrived at the entrance to the Outer City.

After saying their goodbyes, they each headed home.

Soon, winter passed and spring arrived.

More than two months of bitter cultivation passed quietly, and the snow on the mountains and roads began to melt.

During this period, Li Yuan not only took a post at the Zhao family's residence but also took on roles with a few small gangs.

He didn't seek out any large families because they generally required long-term commitments—at least three years, and sometimes up to ten.

The compensation was better than what he had, but there was no freedom.

Li Yuan still preferred his freedom.

On this day, Master Yang Chong summoned all the disciples in the hall to the front courtyard.

The group was confused and whispered among themselves.

Yang Chong's gaze swept over the crowd, lingering briefly on Li Yuan, before he cleared his throat and said:

"I have summoned you today to announce something."

"Your Junior Brother, Li Yuan, successfully broke through to the Stone Skin Realm yesterday."

"He is also the sixth personal disciple of this Five Animals Academy, Yang Chong."

Calculating carefully, if announced now, it would mean Li Yuan spent nearly four months tempering in the Ox Skin Realm.

While this speed is still a bit fast, it shouldn't attract too much unwanted attention.

As the words fell, the front courtyard went silent for a moment, followed by a chorus of gasps and exclamations.

"Stone Skin? Junior Brother Li Yuan?"

"How long has he been enrolled? Less than half a year, right?"

"He broke through so quickly? This... this talent..."

Gazes filled with shock, envy, and even some resentment turned toward Li Yuan, who stood at the very front with a calm expression.

This is the Stone Skin Realm, after all; one could basically serve as mid-level muscle for a great family or be an honored guest in most gangs.

Especially since Li Yuan went from an ignorant apprentice to the Stone Skin Realm in less than half a year, while many people remain apprentices even after half a year.

Li Yuan isn't even eighteen yet, is he?

He is in the prime stage of his life force, so it seems his chances of breaking through to the Iron Skin Realm are far higher than others.

Yang Chong chose to announce the news at this time not only to protect Li Yuan but also to boost the confidence of the other disciples.

The senior brothers, especially those who had joined long before him but were still lingering in the Ox Skin Realm, had particularly complex expressions.

The news spread rapidly inside and outside the Martial Arts Hall, and began to diffuse even further afield.

"The Five Animals Academy has produced a little genius!"

"Stone Skin in less than half a year! Incredible!"

"I heard his name is Li Yuan, he's still young, a bright future ahead!"

The title of "little genius" fell upon Li Yuan before he even realized it.

The benefits brought by this fame were tangible.

When he went to the Zhao Family to collect his monthly stipend, the Zhao Family steward was noticeably more polite to him.

Previously, the steward had questioned the young master for using connections to give such a high monthly allowance to an Ox Skin disciple.

He hadn't expected the young master to be so far-sighted; no wonder he was only a steward.

When he went to the butcher shop to buy meat, the shopkeeper recognized him, and the ten catties of meat that were usually cut with perfect precision suddenly became over ten catties.

When he sold his hunted goods at the market, the market manager would smile and say to him, "Brother Li, your goods are truly excellent. I'll waive the commission this time just to make friends."

Li Yuan had rarely even seen this market manager when he came by in the past.

With a different status and class, the people he encountered were different as well.

It used to be a market clerk weighing his goods; now, it was the market manager himself.

These changes made Li Yuan realize that in the eyes of ordinary people, the Stone Skin Realm was already an existence worth currying favor with.

No matter where one is, strength is always the best standard for measuring status and position.

Therefore, Li Yuan did not relax in the slightest.

He had been polishing his craft for over two months since reaching the Stone Skin Realm.

Not only had the accumulation of his life force slowed down several times over, but even his minor-success fist technique, combined with his intent, had begun to slow in progress.

Even with the ten catties of Black-Striped Tiger meat provided by the Zhao Family each month, plus the income he earned from holding nominal positions in other small gangs to buy more meat.

His body felt like a bottomless pit.

On this day, after finishing a few rounds of fist practice, he went to the backyard.

Yang Chong had something to discuss with him.

At this moment, Yang Chong was sitting on a stone stool, holding a small bowl and tinkering with something.

"Teacher." Li Yuan bowed respectfully.

"Practice your fist technique for me to see first," Yang Chong said.