"You can't spend money like this, no matter how much you have. This is enough to cover your tuition for a whole month."
Lady Liu said that, but still put the money away.
She knew that if she didn't accept it, Zhou Yun wouldn't be able to focus on his training.
"By the way, I haven't seen Sister Ning Yue. Where did she go?"
Only after seeing Lady Liu put the money away did Zhou Yun ask.
"Ning Yue's still working as a seamstress at the clothing shop. She probably won't be done until dinnertime."
Lady Liu sighed. "Ever since her father died, she hasn't had any other family. You know how your grandfather is—he'd suck the blood right out of you. We're lucky he hasn't asked Ning Yue for money to pay for Zhou Chuan's martial training..."
"If there's nothing else to do, stay home and help Mother feed the chickens and ducks. I'll find a way to handle the money."
For some reason, Zhou Yun had a feeling that a great upheaval was coming to Black Stone County, especially with the recent stirrings among the Shen branch of the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall.
On top of that, everything that had happened over the last two days had only made him more eager to head to the main city.
But to place in the top three at the Three Halls Martial Tournament, he would at the very least need to successfully knock on the gates of Dark Force. Even then, a top-three finish wasn't guaranteed.
Only if he reached the minor stage of Dark Force, while also drawing on the solid foundation of two martial arts mastered to great completion, could he secure a place in the top three.
"Very well. I'll pass that along to her."
Lady Liu nodded and stood. "You must be hungry. Do you want Mother to cook you something?"
"No, Mother. I'm going to the market to buy a few things, then I'll head back to the martial hall."
Zhou Yun had no intention of staying long. He'd only stopped by because it was on his way.
Now, all he wanted was to devote himself to martial arts and secure a future where he could see the light.
"Very well. I won't keep you, then. Remember to know your limits at the martial hall. Don't ever work yourself to the point of exhaustion."
As she spoke, Lady Liu brought out several robes she had sewn by hand. "I made these clothes in my spare time. Take them with you to wear at the martial hall."
The robes were stitched with meticulous care, without a single loose thread, and they felt just right to the touch.
She must have spent quite a few coins on the fabric, not to mention many days and nights sewing them.
"I understand, Mother."
Zhou Yun packed the robes into his bundle and slung it over his back.
He walked out of the courtyard, and Lady Liu followed him outside, watching as he walked away.
Only when Zhou Yun waved did Lady Liu turn her gaze away, her heart full of worry for her son.
Black Stone Martial Hall, Martial Arts Arena.
"Today, I'll teach you the Black Ape Movement Technique."
As was customary, Master Liang had come to teach the newly enrolled disciples a martial art. As before, it was the Black Ape Movement Technique.
His open-minded approach to teaching meant that every batch of Outer Courtyard disciples included a few who grasped something of the art. It helped him identify promising talents.
But this time, no one stepped forward to demonstrate as Zhang Hu had. The Outer Courtyard disciples had a clear understanding of their own talents.
"Since no one is willing to come forward and demonstrate, that concludes today's lesson."
Master Liang felt no disappointment. No one stepping forward was the norm; things had always been this way.
On his way back to the Inner Court Martial Hall, he happened to run into Zhou Yun, who had been looking for him.
"Master Liang."
Zhou Yun greeted him, then got straight to the point. "This disciple was just looking for you."
"Oh? Is this about something else concerning the Shen Family?"
Master Liang raised an eyebrow, indirectly confirming that he, too, had been keeping an eye on the matter lately.
"It's not about the Shen Family. It's about me."
Zhou Yun said, "This disciple has reached the minor stage of Bright Force. I urgently need to find a suitable weapon and a weapon-based martial art, so I'd like to ask your advice."
"A weapon-based martial art? Have you mastered both Black Ape martial arts to the minor stage?"
Master Liang grew interested and asked without thinking.
"Yes. This disciple has reached the minor stage in both the Black Ape Fist Technique and the Black Ape Movement Technique."
Zhou Yun answered at once.
Since Master Liang hadn't asked further, there was no need to mention that he had mastered both arts to great completion. That wouldn't count as deceiving his teacher.
"Not bad. You have a fair amount of talent."
Master Liang nodded. To reach the minor stage in two martial arts while only at the minor stage of Bright Force meant Zhou Yun already had the strength to match someone at the major stage of Bright Force.
If he advanced even further in one of those arts, it wouldn't be impossible for him to trade a few blows head-on with some Dark Force fighters whose foundations were weak.
"Since you've reached the minor stage in both martial arts, you must have already grasped a trace of the true intent behind the Black Ape martial arts."
Master Liang continued.
"True intent?"
Zhou Yun was a little puzzled.
He was just about to ask when he saw a wisp of force flickering across Liang Wanshan's palm.
The force took the shape of a Black Ape, performing both the Black Ape Fist Technique and the Black Ape Movement Technique within the tiny space of his palm!
"Force taking shape—how terrifying a Transformation Force master is."
Zhou Yun couldn't help exclaiming. Transformation Force masters could shape their force as easily as if it cost them nothing.
He had heard that once they reached the stage of taking shape, the force in their dantian could arise without end and circulate through their bodies at any time.
In other words, as long as a Transformation Force master was breathing, blades, spears, swords, and halberds couldn't wound their vitals—unless the attacker possessed overwhelming strength or was at the same realm.
If a Transformation Force master so wished, they could also let their force flow outside their body as freely as if it cost nothing. It would consume a little more energy, but could already form a full-body shield.
According to the rumors around town, once a Transformation Force master opened their field of force, even dozens of ordinary fighters couldn't get near them.
"True intent is what you comprehend after cultivating martial arts of a similar nature to a certain level. It offers martial artists many benefits."
The Black Ape in Master Liang's hand disappeared. He explained to Zhou Yun:
"As for Black Ape True Intent, it sharpens your five senses and can even let you sense the circulation of other martial artists' blood and force. It's an exceptionally powerful form of sensory true intent."
No wonder my senses had improved so dramatically when I fought that Dark Force Old Woman after mastering both martial arts.
Zhou Yun silently committed this to memory. It seemed that when choosing martial arts in the future, he should also learn related arts of a similar nature, so he could cultivate more martial true intents.
"The same goes for saber arts, sword arts, spears, and halberds."
Master Liang continued, "I do have several weapon-based martial arts, but none of them have anything to do with the Black Ape martial arts."
"There's the Flowing Wind Sword Technique, the Thunder Meteor Spear Art, the Vast Sea Sword Art..."
Zhou Yun carefully memorized the names and weighed their pros and cons.
Weapon-based martial arts seemed to have nothing to do with animals. Their names were tied to mountains, rivers, and the like.
As for what to learn, there was the saying that every inch of extra reach gave you an inch of extra strength. The spear was the king of weapons.
"I choose the Thunder Meteor Spear Art."
Zhou Yun made his choice.
"You chose that one? You have a good eye."
Master Liang seemed surprised, but continued, "I came across this martial art by chance in the hands of an expert during my travels in Xiang City. But only a fragment remains."
"An expert, and only a fragment?"
Zhou Yun couldn't help clicking his tongue. It seemed he was about to stumble upon something valuable this time.
"That's right. Even as a fragment, this spear art is more than enough for an ordinary martial artist to cultivate all the way to the great completion of Transformation Force."
Master Liang's expression turned unusually grave. "Even I would have no choice but to avoid its edge."
Before you continue