Funding, a Second Tempering

Lu Yuan turned to look. The one who had called out to him was a middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes.

"May I ask, young man, have you already become a martial artist?"

The well-dressed man smiled amiably as he asked Lu Yuan.

"Yes!"

Lu Yuan nodded.

Anyone who had mastered the basics of an inner cultivation technique and cultivated qi and blood within their body counted as a true martial artist.

Only after nurturing and tempering one's qi and blood to a certain degree, then successfully completing a first Blood Qi Tempering, could one become a Bright Energy Realm martial artist.

Though he was only a Bright Energy Realm martial artist now, he was about to undergo his second Blood Qi Tempering. Once he succeeded, he would become a Hidden Energy Realm martial artist.

"Then may I ask, young man, have you received any sponsorship?"

The man's smile grew broader at Lu Yuan's reply, and he hurriedly asked another question.

"Not yet!"

Lu Yuan shook his head. He had more or less guessed why the man had stopped him.

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

The man gazed at Lu Yuan, hope shining in his eyes as he asked.

A martial artist this young was worth investing in, regardless of his natural aptitude.

"What are the conditions?"

Lu Yuan thought for a moment, then asked in return.

He had heard Chen Pi mention before that geniuses with exceptional natural aptitude, like Hong Lei and Fang Chang, would soon be discovered by martial instructors from other martial halls even if they never met Master Song, and would receive better training.

In fact, as long as they were willing, many of the county's wealthy and influential families would compete to sponsor them.

Meat, medicinal soups, even precious resources like Rejuvenation Pills and Blood-Qi Pills—they had all they could want.

Although he had entered Song Academy, Master Song hadn't taken to him because of his natural aptitude, and he had never shown much of his ability. So he had never received sponsorship. He had relied almost entirely on his own efforts, taking one steady step after another to reach his current level.

Of course, with enough resources to support him, his cultivation progress would surely improve by leaps and bounds.

It might even be possible for him to attain a rank before the Martial Examination began.

So as long as the Zhou Family's conditions weren't excessive, he would naturally be happy to accept their sponsorship.

"There aren't any conditions. I simply want to form a bond of goodwill with you!"

Zhou Wen smiled and answered directly.

Though his Zhou Family couldn't compare to the truly great clans, they were wealthy, far more so than ordinary rich households.

They sponsored young martial artists in order to invest in their futures.

If someone actually passed the Martial Examination, the investment would have paid off.

And if they went on to place highly in the Martial Examination, it would be a tremendous windfall.

Even if they didn't pass, the Zhou Family would still have forged a bond of goodwill with them. Perhaps they might be able to help the family someday.

The Zhou Family wasn't short on money; what they lacked were connections among the powerful.

"If you're willing, you can come straight to Guangchun Hall's back courtyard every day and train alongside the others. Guangchun Hall will provide all the meat you need, without limit!"

Zhou Wen continued, "As for medicinal soups, for now you can claim one free serving of Qi-Replenishing Soup every five days. If you distinguish yourself from everyone else, you'll not only receive more medicinal soups, you'll also get to eat proper meat."

"But I'll be frank: if your performance is truly poor after a month, I'm no fool with money to burn. I'll have no choice but to ask you to leave."

"All right!"

Lu Yuan nodded without further hesitation.

The Zhou Family was clearly the family behind Guangchun Hall. They would probably do their best to sponsor and recruit any young martial artists who came to buy medicinal soups.

There were no excessive conditions, and they would provide all the meat he needed. He had no reason to refuse such a good offer.

Although he could only claim one serving of Qi-Replenishing Soup every five days, each serving was worth three taels of silver. That came to eighteen taels a month—far more than he could earn working for the escort agency or guarding someone's home.

Besides, as long as he showed what he could do, he could easily distinguish himself, receive more medicinal soups, and eat proper meat.

There was a saying that nothing was more expensive than something free, but with how quickly he was improving, he didn't need to worry too much.

"Shopkeeper, when he comes tomorrow, should we have Master Huang examine his bones first?"

After Lu Yuan left, the shopkeeper turned to Zhou Wen and asked.

"No need. Natural aptitude is important, but the world is unpredictable, and nothing is absolute. He's already a martial artist at such a young age. Even if his aptitude isn't exceptional, it certainly can't be too poor. And even if it really is only average, he must be incredibly diligent!"

Zhou Wen smiled and shook his head. "Either way, he's worth sponsoring for a month. It's only a mere twenty or thirty taels of silver. I, Zhou Wen, can afford to lose that. But if he really is a jade buried in dust, won't I have struck it rich? In any case, cast a wide net to catch the big fish."

"How wise, Master!"

The shopkeeper had nothing more to say.

When Lu Yuan got home, he immediately told Madam Yang the good news.

"My son has actually received sponsorship from Guangchun Hall? That's wonderful!"

Madam Yang was naturally overjoyed to hear it.

Though she didn't know the Zhou Family, she knew Guangchun Hall. It was a century-old establishment, and saying it made money by the bucketful would hardly be an exaggeration.

A Yuan had not only made great strides in martial arts, but had also received sponsorship from Guangchun Hall. The ancestors must be watching over them!

If A Yuan went on to place highly in the Martial Examination and earn the title of Martial Scholar, he would bring glory to the family.

"I'm so happy today. We ought to celebrate properly. I'll go make you some good dishes right now!"

As she spoke, Madam Yang bustled over to the stove.

"Big brother, Nannan wants to learn martial arts too!"

Just then, Nannan ran over and threw herself into Lu Yuan's arms, grinning as she spoke.

"If you want to learn martial arts, you little radish, you'll have to grow up quickly!"

Lu Yuan said with a smile.

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

Nannan nodded her little head over and over.

Before long, a whole table of steaming hot dishes was ready.

There was fish, meat, and eggs, along with white rice.

In times like these, that was already an exceptionally generous meal.

After eating his fill, Lu Yuan first downed the Qi-Replenishing Soup he had prepared.

Then he assumed the proper stance and began his second Blood Qi Tempering.

Compared to the first time, the qi and blood within him were not only much more abundant, but surged even more fiercely as they coursed through his body, the heat growing more intense.

He could even faintly see wisps of white vapor rising from all over his body.

As time passed, that surge of qi and blood became like a ball of fire, traveling through every part of his body.

Again and again, it swept through and tempered his flesh, while the crackling of his bones and sinews rang without pause.

His qi and blood burst forth, his flesh trembled, and his bones and sinews sang in unison.

Lu Yuan was drenched in sweat. The pain of having his flesh and bones tempered by his qi and blood continued unabated.

All he could do was grit his teeth, panting as he struggled to endure it.

He could clearly feel the qi and blood within him steadily dwindling.

Fortunately, he had taken the Qi-Replenishing Soup beforehand, which quickly restored what he lost. Otherwise, at this rate, it would hardly have been impossible for the tempering to fail.

"Boom!"

At last, Lu Yuan felt as if some shackle within him had been completely smashed open.