Banquet

"In just over a month, he broke through consecutively and entered the Three Qi and Blood Gates. At the very least, he has Medium Bone Aptitude—perhaps even the very best among them!"

The more Wang Qingzhu thought about it, the more excited she became, until a flush even rose to her cheeks.

The golden tortoise son-in-law she had always wanted to hook had actually been right by her side.

How could that not delight her?

If some other Outer Courtyard disciple possessed such talent, she would not have been this excited.

But Jiang Chen was different.

Ever since he had joined the martial academy, Jiang Chen had been infatuated with her, circling around her all day long.

Although Jiang Chen had changed greatly during this period, she did not believe he had truly let go.

As long as she showed the slightest bit of favor, Jiang Chen would surely come flocking over like before.

She was still extremely confident in her appearance and figure.

"Xiaoyue, do me a favor."

Wang Qingzhu, who had originally intended to head straight to the Inner Courtyard, forcibly stopped in her tracks.

No.

She had to be reserved.

If she went rushing over to him, she would have a hard time keeping him in hand later.

"All right, I'll go right away."

Hearing Wang Qingzhu's words, Zhao Xiaoyue hurriedly ran to the Inner Courtyard.

She also wanted to see with her own eyes whether Jiang Chen had truly become an Inner Courtyard disciple.

Before long, all the Outer Courtyard disciples heard about Jiang Chen.

It caused quite a commotion.

The Inner Courtyard disciples had merely heard a little about Jiang Chen. After hearing it, they let it pass.

But to the Outer Courtyard disciples, Jiang Chen's deeds were as thunderous as a clap beside their ears.

He had once been a notorious bootlicker and had nearly thrown his life away over it.

Though he had come to his senses during this time, surely he could not have advanced to the Inner Courtyard in such a short span?

Could Jiang Chen also be some peerless genius with Superior Bone Aptitude?

Inner Courtyard private room.

It was nearing You Hour.

Whoosh!

Jiang Chen, who had been sitting cross-legged in meditation, slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.

[Cultivation: Three Qi and Blood Gates · First Aperture 100%]

The cultivation entry on the Myriad Dao Chart changed once again.

The Primordial Pure Qi within the First Aperture had been completely absorbed and refined.

His martial Blood Qi had smoothly completed its transformation, becoming as pure and flawless as crystal.

That familiar aura of heaven and earth Jiang Chen had sensed also grew increasingly dense.

This further confirmed his guess.

The cultivation of the Three Qi and Blood Gates was a process of returning from the acquired state to the innate.

If he was not mistaken, cultivation in the True Martial Realm was very likely related to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

This cultivation system linked ring after ring, fitting together with remarkable precision.

"It is time to strike at the Second Aperture."

Jiang Chen took out an Aperture Breaking Pill and swallowed it. Its peculiar medicinal power swiftly merged into his martial Blood Qi.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...

At once, a faint grinding sound arose, like stone scraping against metal.

If one could see through his body, one would find his martial Blood Qi continuously surging toward the Second Aperture.

One mark after another appeared in succession on the turtle shell of the Second Aperture.

Gurgle, gurgle.

Cultivation knew no years.

Only when darkness fell and hunger rose from his belly did Jiang Chen awaken from that state of intense concentration.

"Time to eat."

Jiang Chen left his room and headed to the Inner Courtyard dining hall.

Back in the Outer Courtyard, not only had he been forced to sleep in a communal bunkroom, but he had also needed to pay for his own meals every day.

But after advancing to the Inner Courtyard, even the most expensive medicinal meals cost him nothing.

Moreover, the martial academy provided a monthly resource allowance.

Medicinal baths, massages, acupuncture, and even Aperture Breaking Pills for the Three Qi and Blood Gates were all supplied free by the martial academy.

This rule had naturally been prepared for disciples from ordinary families.

Those disciples with wealthy family backgrounds instead looked down on the free resources offered by the martial academy.

Of course, the martial academy's resources were not provided without conditions.

Every month, the martial academy held an assessment.

If one's cultivation was not up to standard, or one's cultivation speed failed to meet the requirement, the allowance would be reduced or even cut off entirely.

To put it plainly, the martial academy only tilted its resources toward those with potential.

"Did you hear? That new junior brother only has Ordinary Bone Aptitude."

"No way. Could Ordinary Bone Aptitude make Senior Sister Zhou value him so highly?"

"It can't be wrong. Senior Sister Zhou said it herself, and Senior Brother Meng and the others all know."

"If he has Ordinary Bone Aptitude, why did Senior Sister Zhou take him into the core area? Could it be that he offended Senior Sister Zhou?"

"I heard his comprehension is extraordinary. That should be why Senior Sister Zhou values him."

"Comprehension? With the talent of Ordinary Bone Aptitude, no matter how strong his comprehension is, it will be hard for him to achieve much."

When Jiang Chen arrived, the Inner Courtyard disciples in the dining hall whispered among themselves.

Clearly, word of what had happened at noon had already spread through the Inner Courtyard.

Jiang Chen naturally did not care. He filled his plate with lavish dishes and wolfed them down.

The higher his cultivation grew and the stronger his physique became, the greater his appetite grew as well.

Compared to when he was at the First Qi and Blood Gate, he could now eat two or three times as much.

"Junior Brother Jiang."

After dinner, just as Jiang Chen was about to return to cultivate, a familiar voice called out.

"Senior Brother Sun."

Turning his head, Jiang Chen saw that Sun Wu had indeed arrived.

Four Inner Courtyard disciples with extraordinary bearing followed beside Sun Wu.

"I heard all about what happened at noon. They are just a bunch of short-sighted rats, so there is no need to stoop to their level. They will have their day of regret."

Sun Wu walked over and consoled him with a smile.

"It seems the Inner Courtyard disciples have factions too."

Jiang Chen smiled politely, but thoughts churned in his heart.

From Sun Wu's words alone, he could tell that Sun Wu was not on the same path as Meng Wentao and the other core disciples. Otherwise, he would not have spoken so harshly, even calling them short-sighted rats.

This did not surprise him.

Where there were people, there would be conflict.

It had been so since ancient times.

"By the way, Junior Brother Jiang, let me introduce you. This is Junior Brother Zhou Yu, Junior Brother Wu Quan, Junior Brother Li Mo, and Junior Brother Han Jin."

Sun Wu introduced the four.

"Greetings, four senior brothers."

Jiang Chen clasped his fists in greeting.

He had not seen these four at noon. They were probably not part of the core circle.

It seemed Sun Wu, a personal disciple, was in a somewhat worrying position.

Those elite disciples with outstanding aptitudes were all not on his side.

"Junior Brother Jiang."

Zhou Yu and the other three greeted him with smiles.

Compared with the invisible barrier around the core circle, Zhou Yu and the other three seemed far more sincere.

"Junior Brother Jiang, tomorrow at noon, we will hold a banquet at Thousand Fragrance Pavilion to celebrate your advancement into the Inner Courtyard. You cannot refuse."

Sun Wu stated his purpose, clearly intending to draw Jiang Chen into his small circle.

"Rest assured, Senior Brother Sun. I will definitely be there on time."

If it had been anyone else, Jiang Chen truly could not be bothered to entertain them.

But Sun Wu was different.

The reason he had been able to enter the Three Qi and Blood Gates so quickly was largely due to high-quality pills.

Naturally, he could not refuse Sun Wu's kindness.

"Then it is settled."

Seeing Jiang Chen agree, Sun Wu smiled happily.

After some polite exchanges, the group went their separate ways.

"Senior Brother Sun, is this Junior Brother Jiang's talent truly so outstanding?"

After leaving the dining hall, Zhou Yu could not help asking.

Han Jin and the other two also looked toward Sun Wu.

They had heard something about what had happened at noon as well.

Precisely because of that, they were all the more puzzled.

They did not understand why Sun Wu said Jiang Chen's potential was not even weaker than Meng Wentao's.

After all, Meng Wentao possessed top-tier Medium Bone Aptitude. He had reached the True Martial Second Layer two years ago, and this year he had broken through into the True Martial Third Layer.

If Tang Mu had not appeared, Meng Wentao would undoubtedly have been the martial academy's number one.

And Jiang Chen? He only had Ordinary Bone Aptitude. Even if his comprehension was monstrous, his potential was ultimately limited.

In the martial world, there had never been a precedent of someone with Ordinary Bone Aptitude standing shoulder to shoulder with someone of top-tier aptitude.

"You will understand later."

Sun Wu smiled but did not explain.

Seeing once was better than hearing a hundred times.

Once Jiang Chen entered the True Martial Realm in a few months, there would be nothing left to say.