Martial Hall

At dusk, the setting sun was like blood.

"Hah!"

Jiang Chen, who had been standing in stance continuously, came back to his senses from cultivation.

[Myriad Dao Chart]

[Dao Master: Jiang Chen]

[Cultivation: First Qi and Blood Gate · Early Stage 14%]

[Technique: White Ape Stance · Perfected]

On the Myriad Dao Chart, the progress of the First Qi and Blood Gate had reached 14%.

In other words, after cultivating for six hours that afternoon, his Blood Qi had only risen by 12%.

And that was with the assistance of Blood-Qi Soup.

If he drank Tiger Bone Soup instead, the effect would probably be cut in half.

"When all is said and done, it still comes down to bone aptitude. I wonder if there's some secret formula that can improve one's martial bone aptitude."

Such a thought surfaced in Jiang Chen's mind.

With the same secret medicine and the same amount of time spent standing in stance, cultivation results could still differ vastly because of one's bone aptitude.

"Let's test the power."

Afterward, Jiang Chen came before an ancient tree.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

He threw several punches in succession, and dull impacts rang out without end.

"It probably increased my strength by three or four jin. My agility and defense have improved a little too."

Jiang Chen withdrew his fist in satisfaction.

The cultivation of martial Blood Qi was one step, one level—every step left an echo.

This feeling of gaining something for every bit of effort was simply too good!

"Chen'er, now that you've condensed martial Blood Qi, it's time to return to the martial hall."

During dinner that evening, Jiang Sihai brought up the matter of returning to the martial hall.

There were people at the martial hall who specialized in giving guidance. The results would far surpass burying his head in hard cultivation at home.

"Alright."

Jiang Chen nodded.

That was exactly what he had intended.

Once he returned to the martial hall, he would ask whether there was a way to improve his bone aptitude.

The next morning.

After breakfast, Jiang Chen took his bundle and prepared to head to the White Ape Martial Hall.

"Chen'er, I put the banknotes on the inside. Once you get to the martial hall, cultivate properly. Never go anywhere dangerous..."

Before he left, Lin Shuyun carefully reminded him of everything.

"Father, Mother, I'm leaving."

After making repeated promises, Jiang Chen headed for the martial hall under the watchful eyes of the old couple.

The vendors along the way had long since begun their business.

Breakfast stall owners set up their stoves, wisps of steam drifting upward.

Peddlers carrying shoulder poles walked slowly down the streets, their cries rising in scattered bursts.

Clerks from cloth shops and weapon stores swept the fronts of their doors...

The bustle of daily life gradually swelled, and the vast Prefecture City slowly came alive.

About three quarters of an hour later.

Jiang Chen arrived before an imposing residence.

Two stone apes stood at the main gate, looking majestic and awe-inspiring.

White Ape Martial Hall!

This was one of the renowned old martial halls in the East District.

Crossing the martial hall's main gate, Jiang Chen saw a spacious Practice Field before him.

The Practice Field was divided into three areas.

One area held rows of neatly arranged Plum Blossom Stakes.

One area contained stone piers, Stone Locks, and other such objects.

The last area was a vast expanse of open ground, exceptionally spacious.

It was only Chen Hour, yet more than a hundred disciples were already cultivating on the Practice Field.

Some cultivated atop the Plum Blossom Stakes, crouching like apes on the ground.

Some used stone piers, Stone Locks, and other objects to repeatedly practice controlling their Blood Qi.

Others swung their fists across the open ground, powerful gusts of fist wind howling without end.

"Junior Brother Jiang, has your body recovered?"

At that moment, a guileless-looking young man walked toward Jiang Chen.

Clearly, news of Jiang Chen's danger after entering the Cursed House had already spread through the martial hall.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Sun. I'm fine now."

This man was Sun Wu, a personal disciple of the hall master who was responsible for guiding the Outer Courtyard disciples.

As for the hall master, only elite disciples who had reached the Three Qi and Blood Gates could meet him.

"Train hard. Don't disappoint your parents' hopes."

Sun Wu patted Jiang Chen on the shoulder and encouraged him.

Jiang Chen returned to his residence, put down his luggage, and came to the Practice Field to stand in stance.

Very soon.

Martial Blood Qi surged within his body, continuously absorbing Primordial Energy to grow stronger.

"Hm?"

Sun Wu, who had been guiding the disciples, suddenly narrowed his eyes after making a round.

"Martial Blood Qi?!"

The person he was looking at was Jiang Chen.

This surprised him greatly.

If he remembered correctly, during the last assessment, Jiang Chen's White Ape Stance had only barely entered the beginner stage.

How long had it been? Jiang Chen had actually condensed martial Blood Qi already?

"Could he have used some special secret medicine?"

Such a thought instinctively arose in Sun Wu's mind.

One had to know that between entering the White Ape Stance and condensing Blood Qi lay several checkpoints: minor accomplishment, major accomplishment, perfection, Stance Sense, and more.

"No! He's comprehended Stance Sense!"

But Sun Wu immediately dismissed that thought.

Because Jiang Chen, standing quietly in stance, had a posture that seemed born of nature and an aura that was long, steady, and tranquil. At a glance, it was clear that he had comprehended Stance Sense.

In other words, Jiang Chen had truly crossed several realms within a single month?

Was that possible?

Or had Jiang Chen been concealing his abilities all along, having actually cultivated the White Ape Stance to perfection long ago?

"Not only has he comprehended Stance Sense... he can even maintain it continuously?!"

After observing for a long while, Sun Wu made another discovery, and the shock in his eyes deepened.

Jiang Chen was actually constantly in a state where Stance Sense was triggered?!

One had to know that even after cultivating the White Ape Stance to perfection, one could only trigger Stance Sense under extreme concentration.

It consumed an enormous amount of mental energy.

Even those disciples with outstanding bone aptitude could not sustain Stance Sense indefinitely.

It was Sun Wu's first time seeing someone like Jiang Chen, whose Stance Sense was permanently active.

And that meant that given the same cultivation time, Jiang Chen's cultivation quality would surpass others by several levels.

How exactly had he done it?

Driven by curiosity, Sun Wu kept watching, wanting to see how long Jiang Chen could last.

The blazing sun gradually climbed higher.

Several batches of disciples had already rotated through the Practice Field.

Only Jiang Chen remained, rooted like an ancient tree, utterly motionless.

"Senior Brother Sun, what are you looking at?"

At that moment, a crisp voice rang out.

A youthful, beautiful young woman with twin ponytails and a slender figure walked over.

"Junior Sister Zhou."

Sun Wu came back to his senses and recognized her.

Zhou Yuqing, the hall master's daughter, was also a core disciple of the martial hall. She possessed Medium Martial Bone and considerable talent, and many of her fellow disciples secretly admired her.

"Is there something strange about that junior brother?"

Following Sun Wu's gaze, Zhou Yuqing looked toward Jiang Chen, who was standing in stance.

"Junior Sister Zhou, have you ever heard of someone being able to remain in a Stance Sense state the entire time?"

Remembering Zhou Yuqing's status, Sun Wu asked.

"I've heard my father mention it before."

Zhou Yuqing nodded.

"How can one achieve that?"

Sun Wu was curious. Could someone truly reach such a level?

"First, their comprehension must be high enough to completely understand the True Meaning of White Ape Stance."

"Second, they must be focused enough to remain unaffected by external things while standing in stance."

Zhou Yuqing explained.

Although every disciple who entered the White Ape Martial Hall cultivated the White Ape Stance.

Throughout the White Ape Martial Hall's history, however, those who had comprehended the True Meaning of White Ape Stance were few and far between.

It was not that the martial hall's disciples all lacked comprehension.

Rather, ninety-nine percent of disciples crossed the First Qi and Blood Gate and entered the Second Qi and Blood Gate before comprehending the True Meaning of White Ape Stance.

Once they reached the Second Qi and Blood Gate, they had to cultivate the White Ape Fist. Naturally, there was no need to waste time further studying the White Ape Stance.

"So that's how it is."

Sun Wu suddenly understood.

No wonder he had never seen anyone maintain Stance Sense constantly after all his years in the martial hall.

"Senior Brother Sun, are you saying that junior brother can maintain Stance Sense the entire time?"

Zhou Yuqing understood as well and curiously studied Jiang Chen, who stood as steady as an old bell.

"I've observed him for more than an hour. Junior Brother Jiang has maintained Stance Sense the entire time."

Sun Wu nodded.

From what Zhou Yuqing had just said, Jiang Chen was clearly the sort of disciple with exceptionally high comprehension.

"Oh? Then what is Junior Brother Jiang's bone aptitude like?"

Zhou Yuqing grew even more curious.

Normally, those with high comprehension would not have poor bone aptitude either.

"Junior Brother Jiang has Ordinary Bone Aptitude. He entered the martial hall half a year ago."

Sun Wu said.

"Ordinary Bone Aptitude? Half a year ago?"

The moment she heard that, Zhou Yuqing lost interest.

Jiang Chen was still practicing static stance, which meant his cultivation was only at the First Qi and Blood Gate.

He had entered the martial hall half a year ago yet still had not stepped into the Second Qi and Blood Gate.

Even among those with Ordinary Bone Aptitude, Jiang Chen's talent was considered poor.

Someone with so little potential was naturally not worth her attention.

"Senior Brother Sun, at noon today, Senior Brother Meng is treating the Inner Courtyard disciples at Thousand Fragrance Pavilion."

Zhou Yuqing then explained why she had come and took out an invitation.

"Senior Brother Meng is hosting a banquet? Could it be... Senior Brother Meng has broken through?!"

Sun Wu accepted the invitation and opened it.

Sure enough, the contents announced that Meng Wentao had entered the True Martial Third Layer.

"Senior Brother Meng had been stuck at the True Martial Second Layer for nearly two years. He finally broke through the day before yesterday!"

Zhou Yuqing smiled.

Martial artists in the Blood Qi Realm could only be considered ordinary disciples in the martial hall. Even those at the Three Qi and Blood Gates were merely valued elite disciples.

The martial hall's true core disciples were those of the True Martial Realm.

And there were only a few core disciples in the entire martial hall who had reached the True Martial Third Layer.

Now that the martial hall had produced another True Martial Third Layer, it was naturally wonderful news.

"True Martial Third Layer..."

Looking at the invitation in his hand, Sun Wu's feelings were exceedingly complicated.

Among the personal disciples, only he, the injured one, still remained at the True Martial First Layer.

If nothing unexpected happened, he would never have a chance to enter the True Martial Third Layer in this lifetime.