Inner Courtyard

"Junior Sister Zhou."

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

He was very satisfied with Zhou Yuqing's reaction.

Last time, hadn't she been absolutely certain that Jiang Chen had either hidden his cultivation or taken some secret medicine?

Why did she look so incredulous now?

She must have misjudged him!

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

Zhou Yuqing regained her senses and immediately asked.

Jiang Chen's cultivation speed was far too excessive.

This was definitely not the work of ordinary bone structure.

As for having taken forbidden drugs to stimulate his potential?

She had already ruled out that possibility.

Forbidden drugs could indeed forcibly stimulate potential once consumed.

But they could only be used once.

After that one time, one's potential would be completely ruined, and one's cultivation would never advance another inch.

And yet, look at Jiang Chen.

First, in just a few days, he went from initially condensing his qi and blood to reaching the perfection of the First Qi and Blood Gate.

Then, within a month, he broke through from the perfection of the First Qi and Blood Gate to the Three Qi and Blood Gates.

In this world, there was no such forbidden drug that could allow someone to advance by leaps and bounds continuously.

Therefore, the greatest possibility was that the bone structure test had been wrong.

"I have tested him carefully; Junior Brother Jiang truly only has ordinary bone structure."

Sun Wu said with a smile.

"Ordinary bone structure? That shouldn't be..."

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

"Although Junior Brother Jiang's bone structure is ordinary, his comprehension is extraordinary. For example, with the White Ape Combat Method, he was able to perform it proficiently after watching it just a few times."

"On top of that, Junior Brother Jiang's physique is also very strong; he can absorb and refine even high-quality Aperture Breaking Pill at a rate of one per day..."

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

Although a martial artist's talent was primarily determined by the quality of their bone structure, other factors combined could still lead to impressive performance.

"No matter how good his comprehension and physique are, they cannot affect his bone structure."

Zhou Yuqing shook her head repeatedly, disagreeing with Sun Wu's assessment.

Among the disciples of the Inner Courtyard, it was not as if there were no people with good comprehension and strong physiques.

But no one had ever displayed such stunning performance as Jiang Chen.

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

"Junior Sister Zhou, everyone has their own secrets. As far as the Martial Arts Hall is concerned, as long as Junior Brother Jiang hasn't taken secret medicine to stimulate his potential, there is no need to delve deeper."

Sun Wu put away his smile and spoke earnestly, interrupting Zhou Yuqing's conjectures.

In a nutshell.

It did not matter why Jiang Chen could cultivate so quickly.

As long as he maintained this speed, he was worth investing resources into for key cultivation.

"That makes sense."

Zhou Yuqing nodded, collecting her thoughts.

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

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

"Junior Sister Zhou, I am heading to the Outer Courtyard; I leave Junior Brother Jiang in your care."

Checking the sky, Sun Wu set off for the Outer Courtyard.

Zhou Yuqing remained at the Martial Arts Arena, watching Jiang Chen, who was training diligently.

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

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

She discovered that every time Jiang Chen performed the fist technique, he made obvious corrections.

The magnitude of that progress was simply terrifyingly fast.

No wonder Sun Wu valued Jiang Chen so highly back then.

Such a monstrous talent, even with mediocre aptitude, would surely achieve great things in the future.

"Hoo!"

Two hours passed in silent, arduous training.

By noon, Jiang Chen, drenched in sweat, finally retracted his fists and stood upright.

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

On the Myriad Dao Chart, the progress of the White Ape Combat Method was gratifying; it had officially reached the entry level.

At this rate, even if he only practiced it during his spare time, the White Ape Combat Method would reach perfection in a few days.

That he could progress so quickly was due not only to the enlightenment bonus from the Myriad Dao Chart but also to his ancient martial arts experience from his past life.

All paths share the same origin; such is the truth.

"A systematic combat martial art is truly different."

Jiang Chen felt the changes within himself.

Although the White Ape Combat Method had only just reached the entry level, it still provided a significant boost to his combat power.

Now, even without using his Soul Seal to perceive his surroundings, he could easily crush those at the Three Qi and Blood Gates.

If he could integrate it with his ancient martial arts, he could even contend with those in the True Martial Realm.

From this, one could see just how much a combat martial art 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.

She was not only the flower of the Inner Courtyard but also possessed outstanding martial talent, making her the secret object of affection for countless Inner Courtyard disciples.

"Since you've entered the Inner Courtyard, we are all one family. If you encounter any trouble or have anything you don't understand in the future, feel free to come to me."

Zhou Yuqing smiled, clearly thinking highly of Jiang Chen.

Although Jiang Chen couldn't compare to Tang Mu, he had the potential to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Meng Wentao.

If nurtured well, he might even have a chance to join the True Sun Sect in the future.

"Many thanks, Senior Sister Zhou."

Jiang Chen was naturally pleased.

He had intended to reveal his talent to gain the Pavilion Master's recognition, then earn the attention of the Zhou Clan, and finally establish a firm foothold in the Prefecture City.

Compared to Sun Wu, Zhou Yuqing—who possessed superior talent and was a member of the Zhou Clan herself—was undoubtedly a better channel.

"It's almost mealtime. Perfect, I'll introduce you to the other senior brothers."

After some polite exchanges, Zhou Yuqing took Jiang Chen to eat.

Before long, the two arrived at the Inner Courtyard canteen.

Compared to the Outer Courtyard, the Inner Courtyard's canteen was much more refined, and the scent of medicinal cuisine wafting from it could be smelled from far away.

Clearly, the medicinal meals in the Inner Courtyard were far superior to those in the Outer Courtyard.

"Huh? Who is that with Senior Sister Zhou? I haven't seen him before."

"He does look unfamiliar. Did a newcomer join our Inner Courtyard?"

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

"To be personally escorted by Senior Sister Zhou, his talent must be extraordinary."

"Indeed. Although Senior Sister Zhou has a good personality and is kind to others, she wouldn't pay such attention to someone with mediocre aptitude."

Seeing Zhou Yuqing personally bringing Jiang Chen to the canteen, the Inner Courtyard disciples began to size him up.

Across the entire Inner Courtyard, those who could receive special treatment from Zhou Yuqing numbered no more than ten.

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

"Why do I feel like he looks familiar?"

At this moment, one disciple spoke up, lost in thought.

He must have seen Jiang Chen before but couldn't quite place him.

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

With that, Zhou Yuqing led Jiang Chen toward the most central area.

The disciples who could sit in the core area were all the elite of the Inner Courtyard.

They were either direct disciples or elite disciples on the verge of breaking through their cultivation bottlenecks.

By doing this, Zhou Yuqing intended to help Jiang Chen integrate into the most core circle.

"Jiang? I remember now! He's that kinsman of Junior Brother Jiang!"

Upon hearing Zhou Yuqing's address, the disciple who had felt a sense of familiarity suddenly realized who it was.

Back when Meng Wentao had broken through to the third level of the True Martial Realm and hosted a banquet for the Inner Courtyard disciples at the Thousand Fragrance Pavilion, he had seen Jiang Chen while trailing behind Jiang Xuan.

No wonder he had looked so familiar.

"Junior Brother Jiang's kinsman?"

"Are you talking about the guy who broke into the Cursed House and got possessed by an evil spirit a while back?"

"You must be mistaken."

"Indeed, if he is Junior Brother Jiang's kinsman, that means he entered the Martial Arts Hall half a year ago. Only reaching the Three Qi and Blood Gates now? That talent is hardly impressive."

The others were skeptical upon hearing this.

Although anyone who reached the Three Qi and Blood Gates within a year could become an Inner Courtyard disciple, in the eyes of the Martial Arts Hall, those who took more than half a year to break through were essentially destined to never reach the True Martial Realm in their lifetime.

Naturally, someone with that level of talent could never garner such attention from Zhou Yuqing.

"No! It's definitely him!"

The disciple remained quite adamant.

"But as far as I know, that kinsman of Junior Brother Jiang only has ordinary aptitude."

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

Could someone with ordinary aptitude reach the Three Qi and Blood Gates within half a year?

"Right, isn't he of ordinary aptitude?"

The disciple was also deeply puzzled.

Never mind ordinary aptitude; even Jiang Xuan, who had displayed remarkable performance despite having only mid-tier aptitude, had never been treated this way by Zhou Yuqing.

Could it be that Jiang Chen was not of ordinary aptitude, and that his talent was actually superior to Jiang Xuan's?