A King's Word Is Law!

Inside the Gang Leader's mansion, Zheng Tong fell into deep contemplation due to Ye Li's self-recommendation.

To take Ye Li as a disciple...

Zheng Tong raised his head, looking at the black-clad youth bowing before him.

It had been less than an hour since Ye Li entered, and not a single word had been wasted.

He offered a treasure to show loyalty and provided an explanation to demonstrate his talent.

Zheng Tong had heard rumors about Ye Li.

The kid's trait was named [Green Agility], which could increase comprehension by 30%.

But to have modified a cultivation technique to such a degree after only two months of possessing it—clearly, his innate comprehension was already transcendent, reaching a level beyond human limits.

Such comprehension was unheard of to Zheng Tong; at the very least, within the entire Xia Kingdom, he had never heard of such a miracle.

To walk far on the path of martial arts, one needed both innate bone structure and comprehension.

Right now, Ye Li's breakthrough to the Body Tempering Realm in two months already proved his bone structure was not lacking.

Although his green trait was mediocre, this heaven-defying comprehension was rarer than even a blue trait.

For a moment, only one thought occupied Zheng Tong's mind:

The Pre-Heaven Realm is within reach!!!

A Pre-Heaven expert was a celestial figure who could house their soul within their internal organs, live for three hundred years, and change the color of the heavens and earth with a single thought.

Within the entire Xia Kingdom, a peak Post-Heaven Realm expert was enough to rule a city, while Pre-Heaven experts stationed in the capital were the pillars of the nation.

Even if the world changed and the Xia Kingdom fell, a Pre-Heaven expert could still roam the world freely.

As for Zheng Tong himself, after reaching the peak of the Post-Heaven Realm, he had cultivated bitterly for 30 years without a breakthrough, barely grasping a sliver of the Pre-Heaven mysteries.

Even so, at the age of sixty, his blood remained like a dragon, showing no signs of decay.

In Zheng Tong's eyes, Ye Li truly had a chance to ascend to the Pre-Heaven Realm.

At the very least, as long as Ye Li did not die prematurely, reaching his own level of the peak Post-Heaven Realm would be no problem.

For a moment, Zheng Tong thought of many things.

He thought of his beloved disciple who had died years ago during a surprise attack by the Poison Wolf Gang, and he thought of his own lifespan, which would burn out within thirty years.

He truly needed someone to succeed him and provide for his old age!

Every reason told him that he could indeed take Ye Li as a disciple, and he truly wanted to agree, but Zheng Tong felt a slight sense of dissatisfaction.

From the moment he entered until now, the rhythm of the entire conversation had been controlled by Ye Li; agreeing so easily felt like he was following the kid's lead too much.

Therefore, after pondering for a moment, he revealed a faint smile: "I heard from your master that if you reach the mid-stage of the Body Tempering Realm within five months, your debt of one thousand taels of silver will be waived."

"Reporting to the Gang Leader, that is indeed the case."

"In that case, if you can reach the mid-stage of the Body Tempering Realm within four months, I will officially take you as my disciple!"

As soon as these words left his mouth, Zheng Tong felt a tinge of regret, muttering to himself: The kid should be able to do that, right?

Relying on the unlimited supply of Body Tempering Pills every day, plus the Dragon-Tiger Pill, Ye Li's bone structure should be polished to the peak of the initial stage within three months.

Coupled with his heaven-defying comprehension for modifying the Azure Dragon Force, breaking through to the mid-stage of the Body Tempering Realm within four months should be a certainty.

Just as Zheng Tong was considering whether he should relax the time limit slightly, a firm and decisive response rang in his ears:

"Thank you, Master, for your grace!" Ye Li bowed again, his form of address already changed.

He straightened his body, his eyes like torches, staring directly at Zheng Tong, and declared in a ringing voice:

"Why wait four months? This disciple guarantees to you, Master, that within three months, I will surely break through to the mid-stage of the Body Tempering Realm!"

"Oh?!" Zheng Tong's pupils constricted slightly, and then an irrepressible sense of heroism and admiration surged in his heart!

The iron-blooded temperament he had forged over decades of slaughter and building his massive empire made him naturally appreciate such sharp, unreserved confidence.

"A gentleman does not go back on his word?"

Zheng Tong's voice suddenly rose, like a great bell, causing the candles in the hall to flicker.

"I speak only the truth!" Ye Li's reply was without the slightest hesitation; he was merely stating a fact.

He took a step forward, his momentum like a rainbow: "This disciple dares to make another vow!"

"Two months, just two months! If I fail to break through to the mid-stage of the Body Tempering Realm after two months, this disciple is willing to accept any punishment!"

"Good! Good! What a fine Ye Li!"

Zheng Tong slammed his hand on the armrest and stood up abruptly, his burly figure casting a long shadow in the candlelight: "What courage! What ambition! Today, I shall strike palms with you as a vow!"

He strode down from the main seat, extending a palm covered in calluses yet containing terrifying power:

"If you can truly break through to the mid-stage of the Body Tempering Realm within two months, I will send out invitations to every person of status in Guangming City and hold a grand apprenticeship banquet for you! I will announce to all that you, Ye Li, are my final disciple!"

Astonishing brilliance erupted in Ye Li's eyes. Without a moment's hesitation, he extended his arm, and their palms struck heavily in the air!

"Clap!"

The crisp sound of clapping echoed through the silent hall.

Ye Li bowed deeply, his voice trembling with irrepressible excitement:

"Disciple Ye Li thanks Master for your grace! I shall not fail your expectations within these two months!"

A moment later, having successfully achieved his goal, Ye Li left the Gang Leader's residence in high spirits.

Stepping outside, Ye Li felt deeply satisfied.

As long as he was apprenticed to Zheng Tong, most of his current difficulties were essentially no longer problems.

Take, for instance, the struggle for the position of Holy Son against Lu Xiuyuan.

Smart people always try to introduce new variables to resolve the issue at the source by going straight to the Gang Leader.

It reminded Ye Li of a news story he once heard: how should a bullied kid successfully fight back?

By directly fighting the bully?

If you could win, you wouldn't be getting bullied in the first place!

The best method is to attack the opponent's spawn point directly!

The kid in the news followed his bully home and gave the bully's father, Feng Yue, a brutal beating!

After that battle, under the deterrence at the spawn point, the bullying gang vanished into thin air.

After all, not everyone was motherless like Ye Li.

At this moment, Ye Li had precisely identified his own pain point within the gang.

The so-called conflict with core disciples was, in essence, just a matter of a single word from above.

Even if one were the sect's Holy Son, wouldn't they still have to obey the orders of the Sect Master?

Since that was the case, wouldn't it be better to just go straight to the top and apprentice under the Gang Leader?

There was no middleman to skim off the profits!

Outside the residence, Feng Yue paused when he saw Ye Li emerge.

He clasped his hands behind his back, stepped forward, and asked, "What was the result? Did you succeed or fail?"

"The result is yet to be determined! The Gang Leader said it depends on my efforts moving forward."

Ye Li understood the principle that matters are best kept secret to ensure success, so he did not recount the main process.

Otherwise, if the news spread, those jealous of him might trip him up, and a good thing could easily be ruined.

After all, in this world, some people are incapable of doing good, but they are incredibly professional when it comes to muddying the waters.

At the very least, Ye Li did not intend to reveal anything to anyone until he reached the mid-stage of Body Tempering.

Seeing that Ye Li's expression remained calm as an ancient well, Feng Yue guessed that he had likely failed and said without the slightest surprise:

"I told you long ago that since the passing of his last beloved disciple, the Gang Leader's heart has grown cold; it is impossible for him to take another apprentice."

"You even went to trouble Elder Yang. Fortunately, Elder Yang is kind-hearted and said that if it didn't work out, he could introduce you to another elder. That elder is at odds with Lu Xiuyuan's master and would certainly accept you."

Ye Li shook his head slowly: "Please thank the Elder for his kindness on my behalf, but I intend to focus all my efforts on breaking through the early stage of Body Tempering, so I won't trouble the old man further."