Sponsorship, Second Body Tempering

Lu Yuan turned his head to look, only to see that the person calling out to him was a middle-aged man dressed in fine silk robes.

"Might I ask, young brother, have you already become a martial artist?"

The man in fine robes wore a kindly smile as he asked Lu Yuan.

"I have!"

Lu Yuan nodded.

Anyone who has successfully mastered an internal cultivation technique and nurtured Blood-Qi within their body is considered a true martial artist.

Only after tempering and refining that Blood-Qi to a certain degree, and then successfully completing the first Blood-Qi Body Tempering, does one become a Mingjin martial artist.

Although he was currently only a Mingjin martial artist, he was on the verge of his second Blood-Qi Body Tempering; once successful, he would become an Anjin martial artist.

"Then, I wonder if you have received any sponsorship?"

The man in fine robes' smile grew even brighter at these words, and he quickly asked again.

"I have not!"

Lu Yuan shook his head; he had largely guessed the reason the man had called out to him.

"My name is Zhou Wen. Would you be willing to accept sponsorship from my Zhou Family?"

The man in fine robes stared intently at Lu Yuan, his eyes filled with hope.

Such a young martial artist, regardless of his innate talent, was worth investing in.

"What are the conditions?"

Lu Yuan pondered for a moment before asking in return.

He had previously heard Chen Pi mention that top-tier geniuses with exceptional talent like Hong Lei and Fang Chang would be discovered by masters from other martial arts schools and receive better training even if they hadn't met Master Song.

If they were willing, many prominent, wealthy families in the county would even scramble to sponsor them.

They would have access to all the precious resources they could want, from meat and medicinal soups to Rejuvenation Pills and Blood-Qi Pills.

Although he had entered Song Academy, Master Song had not favored his innate talent, and because he hadn't revealed much of his potential, he had never received any sponsorship. He had relied entirely on his own hard work, taking it one step at a time, to reach his current level of achievement.

Of course, if he could have sufficient resources to assist him, his cultivation progress would undoubtedly increase significantly.

It was not impossible for him to successfully enter the ranks before the martial examinations began.

Therefore, as long as the Zhou Family's conditions were not excessive, he would naturally be happy to accept the sponsorship.

"There are no conditions; I simply wish to build a favorable connection with you!"

Zhou Wen smiled and said directly.

Although his Zhou Family could not compare to the true aristocratic clans, they were still financially powerful, far exceeding the average wealthy household.

The reason they sponsored these young martial artists was to invest in their futures.

If someone could truly pass the martial examinations, then it would be a profit.

If they could go on to place highly in the martial imperial examinations, that would be an even greater profit.

Even if they didn't pass, they would have established a good relationship, and perhaps they could help the Zhou Family in the future.

The Zhou Family did not lack money; what they lacked were high-end connections.

"If you are willing, you can simply come to the backyard of Guangchun Hall every day to practice with the others. Guangchun Hall will also provide unlimited daily rations of meat!"

Zhou Wen continued, "As for the medicinal soup, you may receive one portion of Qi-Replenishing Soup for free every five days for now. If you can stand out among the others, not only will you receive more medicinal soup, but you will also be able to eat true premium meat."

"However, I will say this plainly: if after one month your performance is truly poor, then I am no fool, and I will have to ask you to leave."

"Very well!"

Lu Yuan did not hesitate any longer and nodded directly.

The Zhou Family was clearly the power behind Guangchun Hall, and they likely tried to sponsor and recruit every young martial artist who came to purchase medicinal soup.

Not only were there no excessive conditions, but the offer of unlimited daily meat was a good deal he had no reason to refuse.

Although he could only receive one portion of Qi-Replenishing Soup every five days, a single portion was worth three taels of silver. That amounted to eighteen taels a month, which was far better than working at a security firm or guarding someone's house.

Furthermore, as long as he did his best to show his potential, he could certainly stand out, earn more medicinal soup, and eat the premium meat.

Although there is a saying that "free is the most expensive," given his rate of growth, he didn't need to worry too much.

"Master, when he comes tomorrow, should I ask Master Huang to examine his bones first?"

After Lu Yuan left, the shopkeeper asked Zhou Wen.

"There is no need for that. While innate talent is important, the world is unpredictable, and nothing is absolute. For him to have become a martial artist at such a young age, even if his talent isn't top-tier, it certainly won't be poor. Even if his talent is truly mediocre, he must be extremely hardworking!"

Zhou Wen smiled and shook his head, saying, "Regardless of which it is, he is worth my sponsorship for this month. It is only a mere twenty or thirty taels of silver, which I can afford to lose. But if he truly is a hidden gem, then wouldn't I have made a huge profit? In short, one must cast a wide net to catch the big fish."

"Your insight is excellent, Master!"

The shopkeeper said no more.

After returning home, Lu Yuan immediately shared the good news with Madam Yang.

"My son has actually received funding from Guangchun Hall, this is truly wonderful!"

Madam Yang naturally appeared quite overjoyed upon hearing this.

Although she did not know the Zhou Family, she knew of Guangchun Hall; it was a century-old establishment, and it would be no exaggeration to say that it brought in a mountain of gold every day.

Now that Lu Yuan had not only achieved success in martial arts but also secured funding from Guangchun Hall, it was truly the ancestors blessing him!

If Lu Yuan were to pass the martial examinations in the future and attain the title of Martial Xiucai, it would bring even greater glory to their ancestors.

"I am so happy today, it is worth a proper celebration. Mother will go and cook you a few good dishes right now!"

As Madam Yang spoke, she went to the stove and began to busy herself.

"Brother, Nannan wants to practice martial arts too!"

At this moment, Nannan suddenly ran over and dove into Lu Yuan's arms, saying with a giggle.

"You want to practice martial arts? Then you little radish sprout will have to grow up quickly first!"

Lu Yuan said with a smile.

"Mm-hmm... Nannan will eat lots of food and grow up fast!"

Nannan's little head bobbed up and down incessantly.

Before long, a table full of steaming hot dishes was laid out.

There was fish, meat, eggs, and even white rice.

In this day and age, this could already be considered an extremely lavish meal.

After eating his fill, Lu Yuan first drank the Qi-Replenishing Soup he had brewed in one go.

Then, he assumed his stance and began his second round of Qi and blood body tempering.

Compared to the first time, not only was the Qi and blood within his body more robust, but as it circulated through his entire body, it surged incessantly, and the burning sensation was even more intense.

One could even faintly see white steam rising from every part of his body.

As time passed, that Qi and blood acted like a ball of fire, roaming through every part of him.

Over and over again, his flesh and blood were scoured and tempered, and the crackling sounds from his sinews and bones were endless.

Qi and blood erupted, flesh and blood trembled, and sinews and bones resonated in unison.

Lu Yuan was already soaked in sweat, and the pain brought about by the Qi and blood tempering his flesh and bones continued to persist.

He could only clench his teeth, panting incessantly, and struggle to hold on.

He could clearly feel the Qi and blood within his body constantly diminishing.

Fortunately, he had consumed the Qi-Replenishing Soup beforehand, which could rapidly restore the depleted Qi and blood; otherwise, if it continued to decrease at this rate, it was not impossible that the body tempering would fail.

"BOOM!"

Finally, Lu Yuan felt as if some shackle within his body had been completely shattered.