Leaving, Qi-Replenishing Soup

As time slowly ticked by.

Bear Form Stance, complete!

Ape Form Stance, complete!

Tiger Form Stance, complete!

Crane Form Stance, complete!

Deer Form Stance, complete!

Until the very last movement concluded, Lu Yuan had successfully practiced the Five Animals Fist once again.

This time, it not only took nearly an hour, but the physical exertion was immense.

Of course, the results of this practice did not disappoint him.

[Five Animals Fist: Perfection (Unbroken Limit: 1%)]

Looking at the ancient scroll, the Five Animals Fist had not only reached Great Perfection, but the proficiency level trailing behind it seemed to have undergone a significant change.

However, what the three words "Unbroken Limit" specifically represented, and how to increase proficiency further, he was not yet entirely clear; he estimated it would require verification from multiple sources.

He then checked the blood-qi within his body; it had not only increased to ten wisps but had also intertwined into a single stream.

This stream of blood-qi should be sufficient to support his second blood-qi tempering and allow him to break through to the Dark Force level.

However, to ensure there were no mishaps, he planned to prepare another medicinal decoction capable of rapidly restoring blood-qi.

After resting for a while and consuming the complimentary meat, Lu Yuan walked over to Chen Pi.

"Brother Chen Pi, I may not come here anymore after this!"

Lu Yuan smiled at Chen Pi and spoke directly.

Among these outer academy martial disciples, his relationship with Chen Pi was the closest.

Not only was it Chen Pi who taught him how to practice the Five Animals Fist on his very first day at Song Academy, but in the days that followed, Chen Pi had also taken good care of him; he would naturally remember this favor.

"Why is that? You have not only mastered the Five Animals Fist but also learned the Wind-Breaking Blade Technique. If you just keep working hard, it is not impossible for you to become a Bright Force martial artist, and there is even hope for you to pass the martial examinations in the future!"

Chen Pi was stunned upon hearing this, then looked at Lu Yuan with complete bewilderment.

Although many veterans had left Song Academy before, they either struggled to master the Five Animals Fist or lacked the silver to continue their training, making their departure a forced necessity. Why was Lu Yuan doing this?

"I want to try a different path!"

Lu Yuan did not elaborate, then smiled and said, "Brother Chen Pi, if you ever encounter difficulties in the future, you can come find me!"

"Very well, then I wish you a bright future!"

Seeing that Lu Yuan had made up his mind to leave, Chen Pi could only say this.

He paused, then added, "I will go call Fang Chang for you!"

Without waiting for Lu Yuan to reply, he hurried into the inner academy.

Lu Yuan stood there quietly; even if Chen Pi hadn't mentioned it, he would have spoken to Fang Chang regardless.

Before long, Chen Pi and Fang Chang walked out of the inner academy one after the other.

"A-Yuan, are you really leaving?"

Fang Chang frowned slightly and asked Lu Yuan.

"Yes, I feel that staying here no longer holds much significance!"

Lu Yuan nodded with a smile and said.

Unless he revealed his full potential and was personally selected by Master Song to become a direct disciple, entering the inner academy to receive full training and even compete with Fang Chang and Hong Lei for resources and the inheritance of Song Academy, there was no point.

Otherwise, even if he stayed, there would be no good path for advancement.

Moreover, he had no intention of competing with Fang Chang for anything, nor did he consider inheriting Song Academy a good thing, and he certainly did not wish to be forced into a life-or-death duel in half a year because of it.

Since that was the case, it was better to leave early and take a better, straighter path.

"Your foundation is indeed difficult to cultivate further, so changing paths early is not a bad thing. With your current mastery of the Five Animals Fist, whether you join a security firm to guard caravans or work as a gatekeeper for a wealthy family, you will be able to earn a living!"

Fang Chang looked deeply at Lu Yuan and then said, "I only hope that no matter what the future holds, the bond of brotherhood between us will remain!"

Although he had the best relationship with A-Yuan, A-Yuan's foundation was too poor, and he was not as diligent as Chen Yong and the others; if that day truly came, he might not be able to help him much.

"I will!"

Lu Yuan nodded and smiled.

"Master told me to inform you that there is no need to bid him farewell; just take care of yourself from now on!"

Fang Chang turned his head to look at the inner academy behind him, then lowered his voice and continued, "He also said that whether it is the Five Animals Fist or the Wind-Breaking Blade Technique, you must not easily pass them on to others, otherwise, he will deal with you personally!"

"Understood!"

Lu Yuan's expression remained unchanged, and he still nodded with a smile.

Master Song had never paid much attention to the outer academy disciples like them, allowing them to come and go as they pleased.

As for passing on the Five Animals Fist and the Wind-Breaking Blade Technique to others, he had never once entertained the thought.

"When I take charge of this Song Academy, you can return to assist me; I certainly won't treat you poorly!"

Fang Chang took another step forward and whispered, "Ah-Yuan, could you lend me three taels of silver? I will definitely pay you back in the future!"

Lu Yuan looked at Fang Chang in surprise, not expecting the other to actually ask him for money.

Logically speaking, Fang Chang was highly valued by Master Song, so whether it was meat or medicinal supplements, he shouldn't need to spend his own money; how could he possibly need to borrow any?

However, Lu Yuan did not ask further and simply took out three taels of silver to hand to Fang Chang.

If not for a single word from Fang Chang back then, he would never have been able to enter the Song Academy for free, nor would he have known when he might have finally touched upon the path of martial arts.

He certainly wouldn't have been able to achieve his current level of success in less than a month.

Based on this alone, a mere three taels of silver was nothing.

"Ah-Yuan, until we meet again!"

Fang Chang raised his hand to pat Lu Yuan on the shoulder before turning and heading into the inner courtyard.

"Brother Lu Yuan, could you lend us some silver as well?"

At this moment, several of the senior martial disciples suddenly crowded around him.

"I have none left!"

Lu Yuan waved his hand in refusal, then walked straight out of the Song Academy.

"Is he really not coming back?"

Watching the back of Lu Yuan as he departed, Wu Yu said with some astonishment.

"If he doesn't come, he doesn't come. By the time we meet again, he and we will likely be people of two different worlds!"

Chen Yong curled his lips and remarked.

Immediately after, he stopped paying attention and continued to practice diligently.

Although he had never managed to win against Lu Yuan even once from start to finish, leaving him feeling somewhat stifled, the thought that the other had no future ahead of him brought a sense of relief; his own prospects were vast, and his gaze should be set higher.

After leaving the Song Academy, Lu Yuan went to a pharmacy called Guangchun Hall.

"Young master, what would you like to buy?"

The shopkeeper asked Lu Yuan with a smile on his face.

"Do you have any medicinal soup that can rapidly restore blood-qi?"

Lu Yuan asked directly.

"Qi-Replenishing Soup, three taels of silver per portion. It can be taken in three doses, and within three days, it will rapidly restore your blood-qi!"

The shopkeeper replied hurriedly.

"I'll take one portion!"

Lu Yuan did not hesitate and spoke directly.

Although three taels of silver for one portion was certainly not cheap, his upcoming second round of blood-qi tempering was crucial, and this money could not be saved.

"Young master, Blood-Qi Pills are twenty taels of silver each. They not only restore blood-qi faster but also last for a longer duration. Would you like some of those as well?"

The shopkeeper asked again.

"Next time!"

Lu Yuan shook his head. The Blood-Qi Pills at twenty taels of silver each were naturally better, but unfortunately, he could not afford them for the time being.

Taking the medicinal herbs wrapped up by the shopkeeper, he prepared to leave immediately.

"Young man, please wait!"

Just at that moment, a shout suddenly came from behind.