Inner Courtyard

"Junior Sister Zhou."

Sun Wu noticed the dazed Zhou Yuqing and walked over with a smile.

He was quite satisfied with Zhou Yuqing's reaction.

Last time, hadn't she sworn with absolute certainty that Jiang Chen had either concealed his cultivation or taken some secret medicine?

Why did she now look so utterly incredulous?

She had misjudged him, hadn't she?

"Senior Brother Sun, has this junior brother's bone aptitude been carefully tested?"

Zhou Yuqing came back to her senses and immediately asked.

Jiang Chen's cultivation speed was far beyond the norm.

This definitely was not some Ordinary Bone Aptitude.

As for taking forbidden medicine that stimulated one's potential?

She had ruled out that possibility as well.

After forbidden medicine was consumed, it could indeed forcibly stimulate one's potential.

But it could only do so once.

After that one time, the potential would be completely ruined, and cultivation would never advance another step.

But Jiang Chen?

First, in just a few days, he had gone from initially condensing Blood Qi to completing the First Qi and Blood Gate.

Then, within a month, he had broken through from completion of the First Qi and Blood Gate to the Three Qi and Blood Gates.

There was no forbidden medicine in this world that could let someone soar by leaps and bounds without interruption.

Therefore, the most likely possibility was that there had been an error in the bone aptitude test.

"I tested him carefully. Junior Brother Jiang truly only has Ordinary Bone Aptitude."

Sun Wu said with a smile.

"Ordinary Bone Aptitude? That shouldn't be possible..."

Hearing this, Zhou Yuqing muttered to herself, unable to believe it.

"Though Junior Brother Jiang's bone aptitude is ordinary, his comprehension is extraordinary. Take the White Ape Combat Method, for instance. He only needed to watch it a few times before he could perform it skillfully."

"On top of that, Junior Brother Jiang's physique is extremely strong. Even high-quality Aperture Breaking Pills can be absorbed and refined by him at a rate of one a day..."

Seeing this, Sun Wu revealed what he knew about Jiang Chen.

Although a martial artist's talent was primarily determined by bone aptitude, when all other aspects were added together, they could still produce remarkable results.

"No matter how good one's comprehension and physique are, they cannot affect bone aptitude."

Zhou Yuqing repeatedly shook her head, unwilling to accept Sun Wu's explanation.

There was no shortage of people among the Inner Courtyard disciples with excellent comprehension and strong physiques.

Yet none had ever displayed such astonishing results as Jiang Chen.

A martial artist's cultivation speed ultimately still depended on the strength of their bone aptitude!

"Junior Sister Zhou, everyone has their own secrets. As far as the martial hall is concerned, as long as Junior Brother Jiang did not take secret medicine to stimulate his potential, there is no need to dig too deeply."

Sun Wu's smile faded as he spoke seriously, cutting off Zhou Yuqing's speculation.

In a word.

Why Jiang Chen cultivated so quickly was not important.

As long as he maintained this speed, he was worth investing resources in and cultivating as a priority.

"That makes sense."

Zhou Yuqing nodded and gathered her thoughts.

Indeed, as long as Jiang Chen had sufficient value to cultivate, that was enough.

As for where that value came from, that was not the key point.

"Junior Sister Zhou, I'm heading to the Outer Courtyard. Junior Brother Jiang is in your care."

After glancing at the sky, Sun Wu set off for the Outer Courtyard.

Zhou Yuqing remained at the Martial Arts Arena, watching Jiang Chen train bitterly with full attention.

"His moves... are improving every single time?!"

After observing carefully, Zhou Yuqing clearly experienced just how powerful Jiang Chen's comprehension was.

She discovered that every time Jiang Chen performed his fist technique, he made noticeable corrections.

The extent of that progress was simply terrifyingly fast.

No wonder Sun Wu had valued Jiang Chen so highly from the beginning.

With such a monstrous genius, even if his bone aptitude was mediocre, his future accomplishments would certainly not be low.

"Whew!"

Two hours passed amid his silent, arduous training.

By noon, Jiang Chen, his entire body steaming with sweat, finally withdrew his fists and straightened himself.

[Martial Art: White Ape Combat Method · Beginner 1%]

On the Myriad Dao Chart, the White Ape Combat Method's progress was gratifying. He had officially reached the beginner stage.

At this rate, even if he only practiced during spare moments, the White Ape Combat Method would reach completion in a few days.

His rapid progress was not only due to the Myriad Dao Chart's boost to his comprehension, but also because of his ancient martial arts experience from his previous life.

All paths shared the same origin. That was precisely what it meant.

"A systematic combat martial art truly is different."

Jiang Chen sensed the changes in himself.

Though the White Ape Combat Method had only just entered the beginner stage, it still gave his combat strength a considerable boost.

As he was now, even without Soul Seal Perception, he could easily crush those at the Three Qi and Blood Gates.

If he integrated it with ancient martial arts, then even against someone in the True Martial Realm, he could put up a fight.

This showed just how greatly combat martial arts enhanced a martial artist.

"Junior Brother Jiang."

Seeing Jiang Chen finish his training, Zhou Yuqing walked over.

"Senior Sister Zhou."

Jiang Chen naturally recognized Zhou Yuqing.

Not only was she the flower of the Inner Courtyard, but her martial talent was also exceptional. She was the secret object of affection for countless Inner Courtyard disciples.

"Now that you've entered the Inner Courtyard, we are family. If you encounter any trouble in the future, or anything you do not understand, you can come to me."

A smile graced Zhou Yuqing's pretty face. She thought very highly of Jiang Chen.

Although Jiang Chen could not compare to Tang Mu, he had the potential to stand shoulder to shoulder with people like Meng Wentao.

If properly nurtured, he might even have hope of joining the True Sun Sect in the future.

"Thank you, Senior Sister Zhou."

Jiang Chen was naturally delighted.

He had originally intended to display his talent, gain the hall master's recognition, then make the Zhou Clan take him seriously, allowing him to gain a firm foothold in Prefecture City.

Compared to Sun Wu, Zhou Yuqing possessed greater talent and was herself a member of the Zhou Clan, making her undoubtedly the better channel.

"It's nearly time to eat. Perfect, I'll introduce you to the senior brothers."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhou Yuqing brought Jiang Chen to eat.

Before long, the two arrived at the Inner Courtyard dining hall.

Compared to the Outer Courtyard, the Inner Courtyard dining hall was far more streamlined, but the scent of medicinal cuisine could be smelled from a great distance away.

Clearly, the Inner Courtyard's medicinal meals were far beyond anything the Outer Courtyard could compare to.

"Huh? Who is that beside Senior Sister Zhou? I've never seen him before."

"He really is unfamiliar. Did our Inner Courtyard get a newcomer?"

"He's the one Senior Brother Sun brought into the Inner Courtyard this morning."

"For Senior Sister Zhou to bring him personally, his talent must be anything but ordinary."

"Indeed. Though Senior Sister Zhou has a good temperament and treats people kindly, she would not value someone with mediocre bone aptitude so highly."

Seeing Zhou Yuqing personally bring Jiang Chen into the dining hall, the Inner Courtyard disciples all sized him up.

Across the entire Inner Courtyard, fewer than ten people received special treatment from Zhou Yuqing.

Naturally, they were rather curious about Jiang Chen's talent.

"Why do I feel like he looks somewhat familiar?"

At that moment, one disciple spoke thoughtfully.

He seemed to have seen Jiang Chen before, yet could not remember where.

"Junior Brother Jiang, let's sit over there."

Zhou Yuqing led Jiang Chen toward the most central area.

The disciples permitted into the central area were all the cream of the Inner Courtyard.

They were either personal disciples or elite disciples on the verge of breaking through.

By doing this, Zhou Yuqing wanted Jiang Chen to integrate into the most central circle.

"Jiang? I remember now! He's Junior Brother Jiang's clansman!"

The disciple who had found Jiang Chen familiar immediately reacted upon hearing how Zhou Yuqing addressed him.

When Meng Wentao had broken through to the True Martial Third Layer and hosted Inner Courtyard disciples at Thousand Fragrance Pavilion, he had seen Jiang Chen beside Jiang Xuan.

That was why he had seemed so familiar.

"Junior Brother Jiang's clansman?"

"You mean the person who broke into the Cursed House some time ago and encountered an evil spirit?"

"Did you mistake him for someone else?"

"Exactly. If he is Junior Brother Jiang's clansman, that means he entered the martial hall half a year ago and only reached the Three Qi and Blood Gates now. That talent isn't particularly strong."

The others were somewhat doubtful upon hearing this.

Although anyone who reached the Three Qi and Blood Gates within a year could become an Inner Courtyard disciple,

in the martial hall's view, anyone who took more than half a year to break through was basically fated never to reach the True Martial Realm in this lifetime.

Naturally, someone with that level of talent could not possibly receive Zhou Yuqing's attention.

"No! It's definitely him!"

That disciple was extremely certain.

"But as far as I know, Junior Brother Jiang's clansman only has Ordinary Bone Aptitude."

Among those disciples, someone who had heard of Jiang Chen spoke up.

Could someone with Ordinary Bone Aptitude reach the Three Qi and Blood Gates within half a year?

"Right, doesn't he have Ordinary Bone Aptitude?"

That disciple was also deeply astonished.

Let alone Ordinary Bone Aptitude—even Jiang Xuan, who stood out among those with Medium Bone Aptitude, had not been treated this way by Zhou Yuqing.

Could it be that Jiang Chen did not have Ordinary Bone Aptitude, and that his talent was even greater than Jiang Xuan's?