Senior Brother Yan, consider this money a loan, Extreme Seal, Basic Cultivation not yet entered

Shi Wen sized the person up and immediately nodded, "Hello, I am here to seek an apprenticeship."

The young man looked to be about seventeen years old.

His family background must have been quite well-off; he was actually wearing a martial arts tunic made of fine cotton, with brocade trim at the collar and cuffs. The shorts he wore were cinched at the legs, he wore soft-soled leather boots, and his clothes were secured with a brocade belt. He even wore leather bracers on his wrists, knee pads, and a headband across his forehead.

He reckoned this outfit alone would cost enough to keep his own family fed for eight to ten years without them having to earn a single cent.

"Come on in and take a seat, kid. I'll go tell Master Li right away."

Yan Kai chuckled and trotted all the way to the inner courtyard.

He returned after a moment and said with a smile, "Master Li says you can go to the inner courtyard to see him."

"Understood, thank you, Senior Brother!"

Shi Wen cupped his hands in a salute and said, "My name is Shi Wen. May I ask how to address you, Senior Brother?"

"Hahaha, no need to be so formal. My name is Yan Kai. I only joined Master Li's place half a year ago myself. Let's go, I'll take you to see Master Li."

Shi Wen followed Yan Kai into the courtyard.

The courtyard was quite large and spacious, with sandbags, stone locks, and other equipment placed in specific spots.

The people in the courtyard were mostly practicing stance work or throwing punches.

There was no one supervising them here.

If you wanted to practice, you practiced; if you didn't want to, you could go sit in the shade under the trees. No one would even care if you didn't show up to train at all.

It was all about freedom and spontaneity.

Compared to the forty or fifty people in the outer courtyard, there were fewer than ten in the inner courtyard.

Each one was lean and powerful, with sharp eyes, and the sound of their punches was exceptionally forceful.

The training equipment in the inner courtyard was also much more extensive than in the outer, and Shi Wen even spotted a weapon rack.

The blades on those racks were all sharpened.

"Master Li, this young man is here to seek an apprenticeship today," Yan Kai said hurriedly.

Quite a few inner courtyard disciples glanced over before looking away again.

They continued their training, too indifferent to pay attention to these disciples who came and went like flowing water.

Only those who had tempered their blood and energy to enter the inner courtyard were considered true disciples, worthy of learning genuine martial arts!

Under a tree.

A tall, thin, middle-aged man sat on a stone stool. He had an ordinary appearance and a thin, drooping mustache, with nothing particularly remarkable about him.

He was smoking a dry pipe, puffing out clouds of smoke, "Come over here and let me take a look at you."

"Yes!"

Shi Wen hurried forward.

Li Heshan stood up and walked toward him, smoking his pipe while sizing Shi Wen up.

Only when Li Heshan stood up did Shi Wen realize that this plain-looking man was nearly one meter ninety tall. Although thin, his sharp gaze was like a blade, making one feel a chill in their heart, as if they were being stared at by a wild beast!

Suddenly, Li Heshan struck.

Before Shi Wen could even see the man's movements clearly, he felt a wave of pain all over his body.

It turned out Li Heshan was testing his bone structure.

"Fifteen, right? Fifth-grade bone structure, average talent. If you have the heart to practice, perhaps you can learn a few moves to defend yourself."

Li Heshan sat back down on the stone stool and puffed on his pipe, "Yan Kai, take him to your Senior Sister later to pay the tuition, then spend two days with him and teach him the basics."

The inner courtyard disciples nearby glanced over.

But they quickly withdrew their gazes.

Average bone structure—neither high nor low.

In Black Cloud County, with its population of four or five hundred thousand, such people were a dime a dozen and not particularly outstanding.

Furthermore, starting martial arts at fifteen did not offer much of an advantage.

Perhaps those with perseverance and grit might have a chance to temper their blood and energy.

It was just a pity that such people were too rare; it was hard to find one in a thousand.

Most of those who came to learn martial arts at this age were from poor families with no other way out, bringing their meager savings to try their luck, hoping to rise above their station.

But very few had the patience to actually learn.

Even if one had the patience to keep at it, without money to buy medicine to nourish the body or money to eat meat, it was extremely difficult to temper one's blood and energy.

It is hard for a true dragon to emerge from the common rabble!

"Yes! This disciple understands."

Yan Kai brought Shi Wen into a room in the inner courtyard.

Inside, a young girl of about sixteen was busy calculating accounts.

She was quite tall, looking to be at least 175cm, half a head taller than Shi Wen was currently. She wore a light cyan ruqun, her hair simply tied up with a hairpin.

Her features were not as plain or sharp as Li Beheader's.

She was beautiful, with a very gentle and sweet appearance.

She possessed exactly the kind of temperament Shi Wen associated with a senior sister.

"Senior Sister Li, someone has come to apprentice today."

Before entering, Yan Kai had straightened his clothes, and his voice was much quieter, as if he were afraid of startling this senior sister.

"Mm, I know."

Li Qianqian glanced at Shi Wen's attire, seemingly letting out a silent sigh.

She opened the disciple ledger and said softly, "State your name and age."

Shi Wen quickly replied, "Greetings, Senior Sister Li. My name is Shi Wen, and I am 15 years old."

"Mm, Li Beheader's apprenticeship is based on a two-month term. The two months include one meal at noon and a bowl of medicinal soup in the afternoon. The fee is 9 guan. Do you have any issues with this?"

Li Qianqian stared into his eyes.

"Senior Sister, I have no issues."

Shi Wen nodded.

The reason he came to Li Beheader to learn martial arts was precisely because the tuition was cheap.

If he were to learn from those other martial arts masters, it would cost much more and come with many more conditions.

Besides, Li Beheader had a reputation in Black Cloud County.

Just a while ago, during a sparring match on the ring, he had defeated several famous martial arts masters in a row and won quite a bit of prize money!

"Since that is the case, pay the fee."

Li Qianqian nodded. Only then did Shi Wen take the money out of his basket, placing it on the table string by string, along with quite a few loose copper coins.

Li Qianqian and Yan Kai's expressions shifted slightly.

Both of them could see that the youth before them was staking everything on this.

But how could the path of martial arts be so easily attained?

Those who came to apprentice often arrived with high spirits only to return in disappointment.

"Treasure coins? We do not accept treasure coins here."

Li Qianqian shook her head.

Treasure coins had to be exchanged on the black market at a 20-to-1 ratio; even then, they wouldn't amount to nine guan. Who would want treasure coins?

Shi Wen, who had been counting the treasure coins, suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.

He was at a loss for what to do.

He had originally thought the money from selling his land plus his savings would be enough for the tuition.

He hadn't expected them to refuse treasure coins.

Seeing the youth's embarrassed state, Yan Kai took two strings of copper coins from his robes and smiled. "Senior Sister Li, his money here should be worth about seven guan. I happen to have two guan here. Added together, that makes nine guan. Please count and see if it is enough."

Li Qianqian glanced at Yan Kai, then silently wrote down Shi Wen's name.

She then took two sets of clothes from the cabinet. "From this moment on, you are a disciple of our courtyard."

"Many thanks, Senior Sister Li."

Shi Wen took the clothes, turned to Yan Kai, and said earnestly, "Senior Brother Yan, thank you. I will repay this money once I have it in the future."

"It's nothing, just a small amount of money. Come on, Junior Brother, let me teach you the basic techniques."

Yan Kai laughed and draped an arm over his shoulder. "Come to think of it, you look quite handsome, kid. Seeing you reminds me of my own younger brother. Your expression just now made me unable to bear it; you looked so pitiful. Don't feel any psychological burden for my help just now; this bit of money means nothing to me."

Shi Wen listened quietly to Yan Kai's chatter.

He etched this favor into his heart.

This money might not mean much to the other party, but to him, it was like charcoal in the snow.

He would never forget this kindness!

Li Qianqian suddenly spoke up, "Junior Brother Yan, come here for a moment."

Yan Kai was startled. He told Shi Wen to go on ahead and stayed behind. "Senior Sister Li, is something the matter?"

"Actually, there is no need for you to help these people. You have helped quite a few people over the past half year. Besides wasting money, what purpose does it serve?"

Li Qianqian said sternly, "It would be better to use this money to buy meat to eat."

"You say you've helped quite a few people, but in the end, who among them remembers your kindness?"

"There is no loyalty in this courtyard; once a person leaves, the sentiment vanishes. Stop wasting this money, do you understand?"

"Stop reading those martial arts novels. The pugilistic world is nothing but deceit and treachery; there is no such thing as brotherly loyalty. If I recall correctly, Junior Brother Yan, you've been in this courtyard for six months, and you're still at the early stage of the Blood-Tempering Realm? Junior Brother Wei Shan joined a month after you, and while his aptitude is the same as yours, he has already reached the mid-stage of the Blood-Tempering Realm."

"You are seventeen this year. If you cannot break through to Blood Coagulation by the end of the year, your future cultivation will only become more difficult..."

Under Li Qianqian's stern reprimand.

Yan Kai lowered his head, a look of shame appearing on his face.

After making repeated promises to Li Qianqian.

He finally left.

"Let's go, Junior Brother Shi. I will teach you the basic techniques now. Once you've learned them, you can decide whether to go back and rest today or come back to practice tomorrow; it doesn't really matter."

"I'll be guiding you for the next two days, so just ask me directly if there's anything you don't understand."

Yan Kai called out to Shi Wen as he stepped outside.

Shi Wen had been standing outside the door and had heard every word of their conversation.

He nodded without saying a word and followed Yan Kai away.

The two arrived at the outer courtyard, where Yan Kai led him to an open space to begin his instruction.

"The outer courtyard teaches the Baji Fist Introductory Foundation. Don't underestimate these basics; if you master them, dealing with three or five men will be effortless."

"If you can use these basic techniques to temper your vital energy and blood, you'll be able to take on a dozen sturdy men without breaking a sweat!"

"Once you temper your vital energy and blood and become a Blood-Tempering Realm martial artist, you can enter the inner courtyard, where there are even more benefits for disciples."

"Only after becoming an inner courtyard disciple will Master Li teach you the true Six Harmonies Baji Fist. I cannot overstep my bounds and teach you that now. If an outer courtyard disciple who hasn't tempered their vital energy and blood dares to practice inner courtyard martial arts in secret, Master Li will issue a kill order, and there will be no place for you to survive in Black Cloud County."

Upon hearing this, Shi Wen nodded earnestly, "Senior Brother Yan, I understand."

"Junior Brother, watch closely. The Baji Fist Introductory Foundation centers on the Yin-Yang Stance and the Charging Step. You must sink your shoulders, drop your elbows, hollow your chest, and straighten your back. Once you practice until your lower body is rooted and your power flows, you will be able to do as I do: condense your scattered strength into a focused force, channeling it through your entire body to explode with double or even triple the power at a single point!"

"The Prop Punch, Mountain-Splitting Palm, Face-On Palm, Silk-Reeling Crushing Punch, Heart-Piercing Elbow, and Mountain Leaning Strike are the core killing moves of the foundation."

"Don't let the small number of moves fool you. If you master them, you can take down a sturdy man in a single strike. The Baji Fist taught by Master Li emphasizes fierce, explosive power—shaking a thousand pounds with an inch of force!"

"Once you have mastered the Yin-Yang Stance and the Charging Step, you will practice slowly in a fixed position to find your power, then move quickly to practice the explosions."

"The essence lies in starting from the feet, transmitting through the legs, leading with the waist, and reaching the extremities. This is how you activate your vital energy and blood, driving your entire body's muscles to explode at a single point!"

Yan Kai performed a set of basic techniques on the spot.

Though the foundation sounded ordinary, when Yan Kai practiced it, he sounded like a roaring beast, and a wave of heat rose from the top of his head as he moved.

Every move he executed was extraordinarily fierce and powerful!

The man who had been so carefree a moment ago suddenly became formidable, like a fierce tiger descending from the mountains.

Shi Wen watched, unable to look away.

"These few moves are all you need. Once you have mastered the stance and the Charging Step, keep practicing. As long as you are diligent, you will eventually be able to temper your vital energy and blood through these basics just like your senior brother and become a Blood-Tempering Realm martial artist!"

When he reached this point.

A proud smile appeared on Yan Kai's face, "Back then, it only took me a month and a half of practicing the foundation to become a Blood-Tempering Realm martial artist!"

"If you can't temper your vital energy and blood after two months of practicing the basics, perhaps your potential isn't very high."

"Martial arts look impressive, but many people cannot endure the hardships of this path. I have seen many junior brothers start with great enthusiasm, only to practice for ten days or so before becoming inconsistent, and eventually, they disappear entirely."

Yan Kai sighed with emotion.

He began to teach Shi Wen the Yin-Yang Stance, the Charging Step, and the six killing moves hand-in-hand.

After giving a few final instructions, he went off to practice his own martial arts.

Perhaps it was the shame he felt from Li Qianqian's words earlier.

Yan Kai was filled with a drive to succeed; he lifted two hundred-pound stone locks, practiced his stance with his arms parallel to the ground, and stood as immovable as an old pine tree rooted in the earth!

Shi Wen recalled the movements he had just seen.

He began to explore them on his own.

Truth be told, while it looked easy when Yan Kai did it, it was truly difficult when he tried it himself.

The Yin-Yang Stance required at least half an hour of standing to count as effective training.

Gritting his teeth, he practiced the Charging Step for a long time, his movements awkward and his posture stiff, before he finally finished the half-hour of stance training.

After finishing the stance, he practiced the Charging Step again.

Then, he tried to link the six killing moves together.

Throughout the entire morning.

Shi Wen practiced until he was drenched in sweat and gasping for breath, barely managing to complete the entire set of basic techniques once.

The moves he performed were crooked and lacked form, completely devoid of any core essence or spirit.

Clearly.

Shi Wen did not possess particularly high talent when it came to martial arts.

"I wonder... if it worked."

Shi Wen lowered his head to look at the center of his left palm, a look of anticipation appearing in his eyes.

Soon, a line of text emerged upon his palm.

[Extreme Seal]

[Martial art Baji Fist Introductory Foundation detected. Digitize it?]