Different Treatment? Fine!

The inner courtyard of the Azure Cloud Martial Hall was a world apart from the Outer City.

Here, there was no scent of damp earth or mustiness, only the crisp, refreshing fragrance of bamboo leaves.

The bluestone path underfoot was perfectly level, without a single weed to be found in the cracks.

Pei Guang led the way, his pace unhurried.

"From now on, you will live here."

Pei Guang pointed to a small, independent courtyard with a blank wooden plaque hanging on the gate.

"This is a privilege reserved for a True Disciple. The courtyard is equipped with training posts and stone locks. Don't go running off to the outer courtyard when you have nothing to do; focus on your cultivation."

Li Pingsheng pushed open the gate.

The courtyard was not large, but it had everything: a stone table, stone stools, and a Wooden Dummy.

The doors and windows of the side rooms were freshly coated in tung oil, glistening under the sun.

This place was far larger and much cleaner than the shack back at the Li Family.

Seeing Li Pingsheng merely surveying the courtyard without any sign of wild excitement, his expression calm and steady, Pei Guang couldn't help but nod inwardly.

This kid had a truly composed temperament.

"Take your waist token and martial uniform, and go change."

Pei Guang handed over a bundle.

The bronze waist token felt slightly heavy in his hand; the front bore the characters "Azure Cloud" in a cloud pattern, while the back had a newly carved "Li," the mark still fresh.

The martial uniform was made of fine cyan cotton, far superior to the washed-out, faded robe he had been wearing.

When Li Pingsheng emerged after changing, his refined face carried a newfound air of vigor.

Pei Guang looked at him and nodded in satisfaction before pulling a thread-bound booklet from his robes; the pages were yellowed and the edges frayed.

"This is the foundational fist technique of our Azure Cloud Martial Hall, Thunderbolt Fist."

"You have good bone structure and your blood energy is more vigorous than most. That is a good thing. But remember, the path of martial arts comes down to two words: diligence."

"Study this technique on your own for now. Three days from now, go to the Martial Practice Field, and I will personally see how you are progressing."

Li Pingsheng took the manual with both hands; it felt heavy.

"Thank you, Master Pei."

"Mm."

Pei Guang grunted, gave a few more instructions regarding the hall's rules, and then turned to leave.

Once Pei Guang's back disappeared behind the moon gate, Li Pingsheng closed the courtyard gate.

He returned to his room, sat at the table, and opened the Thunderbolt Fist manual.

The moves were not complex—only nine in total—but the margins beside each illustration were filled with small red-ink annotations explaining how to circulate energy and exert force.

A thought flickered through his mind.

[Li Pingsheng]

[Martial Arts: Thunderbolt Fist (Not yet initiated)]

[Talent Traits: Primary Blood Strengthening (Vitality), Primary Tiger Bone (Bone Structure)]

[Talent Potential: 0.05]

The martial arts section had indeed lit up.

However, looking at that mere 0.05 in Talent Potential, Li Pingsheng shook his head.

Trying to reach the initiation stage of the fist technique with this little potential was pure fantasy.

It seemed he would have to practice honestly and diligently on his own.

The next day, just as the sky began to brighten.

Li Pingsheng rose and headed toward the Martial Practice Field reserved for True Disciples.

The Martial Practice Field was vast, paved entirely with thick blue bricks. Already, a dozen or so disciples in cyan martial uniforms were practicing on their own.

When Li Pingsheng arrived, no one paid him any mind.

He found a corner and, imitating the others, began the opening stance of the Thunderbolt Fist move by move.

He did not rush to exert force, instead following the manual's instructions to feel how his blood energy circulated through his body.

Just then, a commotion broke out at the entrance of the Martial Practice Field.

A youth dressed in gold-woven brocade, surrounded by a group of auditing disciples, strolled in slowly.

The youth was quite handsome, but his brows and eyes were filled with arrogance; he held his chin high, glancing at people only from the corners of his eyes.

His name was Zhao Ming, the eldest legitimate son of the Zhao Family from the Inner City of Qingyun County, and he was also one of the new arrivals with superior bone structure.

Zhao Ming's eyes swept across the field, finally landing on the thin figure in the corner: Li Pingsheng.

He let out a scoff, loud enough for everyone in the circle to hear.

"Heh, the threshold for the inner courtyard is getting lower and lower these days; any stray cat or dog can just waltz in."

"I heard he crawled out of a place like the Wealthy District. Tsk tsk, probably got lucky, stuffed himself with medicine to force his blood and qi up, and managed to fool Master Pei, right?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the disciples listening nearby caught on immediately and chimed in.

"Brother Zhao is right. What kind of real skill could someone from a place like that possibly have?"

"Exactly, there's just no comparison to someone born into wealth like you, Brother Zhao."

"I bet he'll be packing his bags and slinking off in a few days."

The chatter buzzed around him.

But Li Pingsheng continued his routine, focusing intently on his punches, one move at a time.

Being treated like air made Zhao Ming's face darken instantly, his heart brimming with frustration.

Just as he was about to say something else, a middle-aged instructor walked onto the Martial Practice Field carrying a large wooden crate.

"Quiet."

The man was Instructor Wu.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and gathered around.

Instructor Wu cleared his throat and swept his gaze over everyone's faces. When his eyes landed on Zhao Ming, his face immediately broke into a smile—a truly sycophantic one.

"Alright, line up. It's time to collect this month's Bone Strengthening Pill."

Instructor Wu opened the wooden crate, revealing rows of small cyan porcelain bottles inside.

"Zhao Ming."

"Instructor Wu."

Zhao Ming stepped forward, his face once again wearing that arrogant expression.

Instructor Wu's face was practically beaming as he took three porcelain bottles directly from the crate and handed them to Zhao Ming personally.

"Young Master Zhao, your talent is exceptional and you train diligently. The master of the hall personally approved these; keep these three bottles well."

Three bottles.

The surrounding disciples' eyes were filled with envy.

Zhao Ming glanced triumphantly in Li Pingsheng's direction, his meaning couldn't have been clearer.

Then, Instructor Wu continued distributing the pills, giving one bottle to each of the other disciples.

Finally, it was Li Pingsheng's turn.

Instructor Wu called out, his face devoid of expression.

"Li Pingsheng."

Li Pingsheng stepped forward.

Instructor Wu picked up the last porcelain bottle, pulled out the stopper, and flicked his wrist.

Clink.

A brown pill rolled out from the bottom of the bottle and landed in his open palm.

Just one.

Instructor Wu tossed the empty bottle back into the crate, his movements dripping with contempt and impatience.

The entire Martial Practice Field went silent.

Everyone stared at Li Pingsheng and the single pill in his palm.

Zhao Ming laughed out loud, clearly eager to watch the spectacle unfold.

Li Pingsheng's brow finally furrowed.

He looked at Instructor Wu and asked calmly:

"Instructor Wu, why do I only have one?"

Instructor Wu sneered.

"Why? Oh, you newcomer, don't you understand the rules?"

He pointed a finger toward Zhao Ming and then toward the other veteran disciples.

"In our martial arts hall, resources are never distributed equally. Want more? Sure."

"Then prove your strength to me!"

"When you can stand your ground on this Martial Practice Field, then come back and ask me why."

"For now, take your share and get lost; don't hold up everyone else's training!"

Li Pingsheng looked down at the pill in his hand, then back up at Instructor Wu's expressionless face.

He didn't say another word.

"A fine 'might makes right' indeed!"