Breakthrough

"Slowly improve my innate physique!" Su Yuan was stunned by the Trait's effect, but his expression remained unchanged.

Exhausted, he sat to one side and waited for Gao Mian to return.

Gao Mian had changed into a purple high-collared dress, her mature charm captivating.

She had a servant bring paper and brushes, then asked Su Yuan to paint the two of them.

[Painting: 1001/2000 (Perfect)]

After finishing the painting, Su Yuan asked Gao Mian again, "Sister Mian, can I take this Blood Origin Pill?"

"This is a new medicine from the Chai Family. I do not know much about it either. I advise you to proceed step by step and not rush for quick success, lest you follow in my footsteps. The Treasure Fish here are gentler; you may purchase them from me." Gao Mian had someone bring out two Treasure Fish.

Su Yuan ate the Treasure Fish and thought, I wonder whether this Trait can reconcile another person's inner energy. If it can, perhaps it could improve Sister Mian's innate physique.

But he did not know for certain yet, so he could only continue practicing finger push-ups.

Gao Mian guided him from the side, applying pressure from time to time.

[Origin-Returning Finger: 236/500 (Minor Mastery)]

Just then, the two young masters finished discussing business and arrived at the side hall, where they saw this scene.

Chai Nian lightly shook his fan and smiled as he scrutinized Shan Xiongqing's expression. "I heard Madam Gao has taken Su Yuan as her sworn younger brother?"

"Yes." Gao Mian pulled Su Yuan to his feet.

"Madam, this violates the rites and customs of the nobility. I will not acknowledge it." Shan Xiongqing's brows were tightly furrowed. If he had not already reached a deal with Chai Nian, and if Gao Mian had not been watching, he truly would have wanted to slap Su Yuan to death.

He thought even further ahead: the Su brothers were Chai Nian's subordinates, even his slaves. If he acknowledged this younger brother, would that not mean admitting that he stood beneath Chai Nian?

Chai Nian's question clearly harbored ill intent.

"There is no need for you to acknowledge him. It is enough that the Gao Family does. Chai Nian, if you are dissatisfied, I can take you as my sworn younger brother too. Then we would be equals." Gao Mian gave neither of them any face.

Chai Nian's smile stiffened, and he snorted coldly. "Su Yuan, it is time to go. What happened today is over."

Su Yuan looked at Gao Mian. Only after seeing her nod did he follow Chai Nian away.

Seeing that even Chai Nian did not dare show Gao Mian any attitude, Su Yuan finally understood just how thick a thigh he had latched onto.

Having an older sister really was wonderful.

Shan Xiongqing looked at Gao Mian's cold expression and sour face, his own face turning livid, but he did not linger any longer.

"Han Gui, call Little Four, Little Five, Little Eight... and the Seventeenth Madam! I need to vent properly!" What Shan Xiongqing hated most was Gao Mian's forcefulness.

She had clearly been cast out by the Gao Family, yet she always put on airs, bringing up the Gao Family with every other sentence.

Yet he could do nothing about her. Much of the support he received from his Lineage depended on this marriage alliance.

After all, the Gao Family came from the Wolf Tribe and had even once been royalty. Even the main Shan Family branch in Great Liang had to lower its head before them.

On the way back to the Martial Academy.

Tie Niu took the initiative to ask Su Yuan about the situation.

"It is fine now. Shan Xiongqing has said he will not make a move against you, but be careful yourself. Do not let others set their sights on you. It would be best if you stayed at the Martial Academy, so there would be less trouble," Chai Nian said.

Su Yuan knew this matter was far from over.

Even if he were to suddenly die one day, these people could still push the blame onto someone else.

He needed to become stronger.

And his greatest advantage was that no one knew he had already become a Martial Warrior. Everyone looked down on him.

He needed to raise the proficiency of the Cloud-Veiling Art and his other martial arts, while continuing to maintain this illusion.

As for staying at the Martial Academy long-term, that was impossible. He could not expose the Golden Horse-Head Technique. Daytime was still relatively safe.

Su Yuan decided to stick to his original plan: stay home during the day, return to the Martial Academy at night, and find time to visit Gao Mian and Yun Xu.

If necessary, he would send word again.

After Cloud-Striding Martial Hall rescued people, it sank back into silence.

Patrols throughout Ji City were strengthened once again, and Su Yuan instead felt somewhat safer.

However, the Liang People soldiers began conducting sweeping arrests of those connected to Cloud-Striding Martial Hall, throwing the city into such chaos that chickens and dogs had no peace, and cries of misery rose everywhere.

The Martial Academy's Blood Origin Pills went on sale smoothly. The academy disciples bought them one after another, making tremendous progress in a short time.

Su Yuan bought some as well, and their effects were indeed excellent.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

[Golden Horse-Head Technique: 197/1000 (Second Layer)]

[Origin-Returning Finger: 102/1000 (Major Mastery)]

[Flying Horse Leg: 6/1000 (Major Mastery)]

[Cloud-Covering Art: 235/500 (Minor Mastery)]

[Painting: 1532/2000 (Perfect)]

[Literacy: 1241/2000 (Perfect)]

"The third martial art has been mastered too." A wave of scorching Blood Qi rose from his legs and solidified in an instant, flooding every inch of muscle with surging force.

This month, he had still focused primarily on martial practice.

It turned out that the Blood Condensing and Blood Refining realms could each be further divided into three stages at this point.

He was currently at the first stage. Once he filled his progress to Major Mastery, he would reach the second stage.

The Golden Horse-Head Technique, however, remained in its second layer, so he only needed to grind it all the way through in one breath.

The Cloud-Covering Art truly was difficult to practice. Its progress had not improved much, but it was enough for now.

At Minor Mastery, it could disguise the Blood Qi inside his body as clouds drifting apart. To outsiders, his Blood Qi would appear scattered, making him look like someone who had not entered the martial path. It could also conceal his aura.

[Smoothing Edges] also helped Su Yuan better control the Blood Qi within his body, allowing him to cultivate a little faster.

But he was not sure whether that was the Trait's effect or whether his innate physique had quietly improved.

Su Yuan swept his gaze across the courtyard and saw many people looking excited as they gathered at the entrance to watch.

Since the Blood Origin Pills went on sale, many wealthy young masters had been swallowing pills like mad.

At this moment, several people had already reached their bottlenecks and were trying to break through outside.

The method for breaking through with Flying Horse Leg was to keep running, shatter one's limits, stimulate the Blood Qi in one's legs into twisting together like a single rope, and become a Martial Warrior.

Outside the gates, several people who had reached their bottlenecks were racing.

"Brother Ming, go!" Zhou Xun'er cheered Qin Ming on at the entrance.

"Senior Brother Huang, Senior Brother Du, go!" Lin Fan also cheered from the side.

The three of them ranked among the best in both talent and wealth, and had clearly become the leaders of this batch of disciples.

The others also shouted and cheered.

Jiang Yu stood to one side with her lips pressed together. Her family's circumstances were poor now, so she had not taken many pills.

Moreover, the Origin-Returning Finger had always progressed slowly. By now, her progress was even worse than that of some people with inferior innate physiques.

She glanced at Su Yuan, who stood blankly where he was, and felt a slight measure of comfort. At least someone is at the bottom.

Su Yuan continued appearing and disappearing like a ghost, spending little time at the Martial Academy.

"Ah—!" A miserable scream suddenly rang out, cutting off everyone's cheers.

Qin Ming had suddenly collapsed to the ground, clutching his leg and howling, "My leg! My leg is broken!"

Tie Niu hurried over with several others to inspect him. After pressing on Qin Ming's legs, he said solemnly, "The breakthrough failed, and the backlash was severe. I am afraid these legs are crippled."

Qin Ming's face went deathly pale. "Senior Brother Tie Niu! There must be a way! I cannot be crippled!"

"Go beg the young master! Is there any medicine that can heal Brother Ming's legs?" Zhou Xun'er wept at the side, covering her eyes and not daring to look.

Everyone carried the endlessly shrieking Qin Ming into the courtyard.

"What is all this noise!" Chai Nian walked out while shaking his fan. He swept his gaze over Qin Ming's bloody, mangled lower body and frowned. "Chai Lang, take him to have a look."

"Yes!" Several people carried Qin Ming away.

Chai Nian then looked toward the other two people outside the courtyard.

The two had been frightened out of their wits by Qin Ming's miserable state. Their speed plummeted, and the Blood Qi in their bodies rapidly dissipated.

Their breakthroughs had failed.

The two fell to their knees, cold sweat covering their heads.

Fortunately, they had kept their legs. They still had a chance to accumulate Blood Qi again and attempt another breakthrough.

"Is this a side effect of the medicine? The breakthrough is harder, and the backlash is more terrifying. Luckily, I have my fate." Su Yuan's gaze sharpened.

These three all had average innate physiques.

Those with inferior innate physiques who had taken the medicine were even more terrified.

Jiang Yu patted her chest as well, calming herself.

Seeing everyone's fear, Chai Nian spoke to reassure them. "The drawbacks of this medicine were explained long ago. Look at Huang Jiangyue and Du Ziqian. As long as you withdraw your strength in time, there will be no major problem. You can still rapidly accumulate Blood Qi and try repeatedly. After enough attempts, you will eventually become Martial Warriors."

But everyone remained silent.

Then a burst of laughter suddenly rang out. "Hahaha! I made it! I became a Martial Warrior! Father, Mother, I made it!"

Everyone looked over, but no one had much impression of the person.

He wore plain clothes and laughed wildly as he threw punches, tears and snot streaming down his face.

"Is that Junior Brother Meng Qi? Wasn't he of inferior innate physique? How did he become a Martial Warrior too?" someone exclaimed.

No one had expected this junior brother, ordinarily so unremarkable, to become the first Martial Warrior among this batch.

Meng Qi ran up to Chai Nian and said gratefully, "It is all thanks to the medicine bestowed by Young Master that I could become a Martial Warrior so quickly!"

Only then did everyone learn that Meng Qi's family had emptied all their resources, piled up debts, and even had relatives sell themselves, all to scrape together enough silver for him to keep taking medicine.

This all-in gamble had actually succeeded.

"Good, good! You are the first Martial Warrior among this batch. You should be rewarded!" Chai Nian applauded and had someone bring three Blood Origin Pills.

Meng Qi accepted them with trembling hands, but then said, "Young Master, could these... be exchanged for silver instead? My family urgently needs money."

"They can. Chai Lang, give him forty taels."

Upon hearing this, Meng Qi dropped to his knees with a thud and repeatedly kowtowed in thanks.

Everyone's gazes became fiery again, especially those with inferior innate physiques.

Lin Fan was the first to step forward and offer congratulations. "Congratulations, Junior Brother Meng, on becoming a Martial Warrior."

"What did you call me?" Meng Qi's gaze turned cold.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Meng." Lin Fan hurriedly changed his words and even took out one tael of silver.

Meng Qi accepted it and nodded in satisfaction, then swept his gaze over everyone else.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Meng..."

After watching this farce, Su Yuan wanted to leave the Martial Academy as usual.

But Meng Qi suddenly called out to stop him. "Junior Brother Su, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

He might not remember who had offered him gifts of congratulations, but he could see perfectly clearly who had not stepped forward to congratulate him.