Internal Energy (Seeking Follow-up Reads on Tuesday)

"Xuan'er!"

After about half an hour, Jiang Guiyuan finally emerged from the inner hall with Jiang Xuan, and Jiang Junyue hurried forward to meet them.

The other clan elders gathered around as well.

"Father, I've broken through!"

Jiang Xuan could not hide the excitement on his face.

Once he stepped into the True Martial Realm, he could become a personal disciple of the Martial Arts Hall, and from then on, both his status and strength would undergo a transformation.

"Good, good, good!"

Hearing Jiang Xuan confirm it with his own ears, Jiang Junyue was so overcome with excitement that he could only repeat the word "good" over and over.

"Heaven bless our Jiang Clan!"

The other clan elders were equally thrilled.

Ever since City Lord Yu left his post, the Jiang Clan had been struggling at every turn.

Now that Jiang Xuan had broken through to the True Martial Realm, they finally saw hope.

"I'd like to see what Jiang Chen has left to compete with my son!"

Jiang Junyue thought of Jiang Sihai again and couldn't help but hum with smug satisfaction.

So what if Jiang Sihai had a sharp mind?

So what if he was better at business?

In this world, strength was what mattered.

Though he himself lacked strength, he had sired a fine son.

A fifteen-year-old in the True Martial Realm was absolutely genius-level.

In contrast, that Jiang Chen was just putting on airs and had only just entered the Three Qi and Blood Gates; he was not even on the same level as his son.

"Jiang Chen? Competing with me? Competing for what?"

Jiang Junyue's words left Jiang Xuan very surprised.

Had Jiang Chen caused more trouble while he was in seclusion?

"A few days ago..."

Jiang Guiyuan spoke, recounting Jiang Sihai's bold claims.

"Jiang Chen wants to catch up to me?"

Hearing this, Jiang Xuan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

A piece of trash with ordinary aptitude dared to dream of competing with him?

It was simply overestimating his own capabilities.

However, the Three Qi and Blood Gates?

How could Jiang Chen's cultivation progress be so astonishing?

Was this still that same sycophant who spent his days trailing after women?

"Grandfather, are you certain Jiang Chen reached the Three Qi and Blood Gates without taking forbidden drugs?"

Jiang Xuan asked immediately.

"Your Seventh Grandfather checked him personally; there were no signs of forbidden drug use."

Jiang Guiyuan nodded.

"That shouldn't be."

Jiang Xuan was even more puzzled.

He knew that when Meng Wentao broke through to the True Martial Third Layer last time and invited the Inner Courtyard disciples to a banquet at the Thousand Fragrance Pavilion, Jiang Chen had only just begun practicing the Stone Moving Method.

If one counted from that time, hadn't Jiang Chen reached the Three Qi and Blood Gates in just two months?

Such talent was not inferior to his own aptitude!

"It is obvious that Jiang Chen has been hiding his true strength all along, and his goal in doing so was to snatch resources from the clan," Jiang Junyue said.

This explanation was unanimously accepted by the clan elders.

Otherwise, there was no way to explain how someone with ordinary aptitude could cultivate so quickly.

"If he spent over half a year to reach the Three Qi and Blood Gates, then that would be normal."

Jiang Xuan also realized this.

He hadn't expected Jiang Chen to be hiding so deeply.

All this time, even he had been deceived, truly believing that Jiang Chen was a piece of trash who lacked ambition.

"Grandfather, Father, I should head to the martial hall now."

Immediately, Jiang Chen reined in his thoughts and spoke.

The likes of Jiang Chen could not even catch his eye.

His targets were Meng Wentao and Zhou Yuqing.

As for Tang Mu, he chose to ignore him entirely.

Just as he never believed that Jiang Chen could ever catch up to him.

In front of a monster with superior aptitude, he could not even muster the heart to compete.

There was no helping it; the gap was too vast, to the point of despair.

"Good!"

Jiang Guiyuan and the others naturally did not stop him.

"You all go and make the arrangements..."

After sending men to escort Jiang Xuan to the martial hall, Jiang Guiyuan had the news spread out.

He had no intention of hiding it.

Right now, the Jiang Clan was in dire need of a stimulant, and Jiang Xuan, having become a personal disciple of the White Ape Martial Hall, was the most suitable one.

A fifteen-year-old in the True Martial Realm.

A personal disciple of the White Ape Martial Hall.

He would definitely pass the Martial Exam at the end of the year with high marks, and there was a very high probability of him entering the City Guard.

With such a genius born into the Jiang Clan, those covetous forces would have to weigh the consequences of provoking them.

As for whether anyone would be desperate enough to take action against Jiang Xuan?

He was not worried about that.

For so many years, no force had ever dared to lay a hand on a personal disciple of the White Ape Martial Hall.

Even those lunatics from the Azure Dragon Gang only dared to target ordinary disciples.

White Ape Martial Hall.

"Junior Brother Jiang."

"Junior Brother Jiang, we haven't seen you for quite some time."

Upon arriving at the martial hall, many Inner Courtyard disciples greeted him one after another.

Compared to Jiang Chen, who rarely interacted with others, Jiang Xuan was much more popular.

The reason for this, naturally, was their aptitude.

Jiang Xuan's talent had been recognized by Zhou Yuqing and Meng Wentao; he was a publicly acknowledged genius. As for Jiang Chen, well, it was better not to mention him.

"Eh? Junior Brother Jiang, you've broken through?!"

Suddenly, a personal disciple noticed and scrutinized Jiang Xuan.

"Broken through?"

"The True Martial Realm?!"

The other disciples heard this and were all moved, turning their gazes toward him.

"I got lucky and managed to break through."

Jiang Xuan smiled very modestly, yet he could not hide the pride in his expression.

"Congratulations!"

"Our Inner Courtyard is about to have another personal disciple!"

Feeling the fluctuations of true energy radiating from Jiang Xuan's body, the Inner Courtyard disciples wore different expressions; some offered congratulations, some were envious, and some were anxious...

As the saying goes, the joys and sorrows of humans are not shared.

"Master Zhou!"

After some pleasantries, Jiang Xuan went to pay his respects to Zhou Rongfeng.

"Oh, you've stepped into the True Martial Realm?"

Zhou Rongfeng saw through Jiang Xuan's cultivation at a glance.

"I just broke through this morning."

Jiang Xuan spoke truthfully.

In front of Zhou Rongfeng, he reined in his arrogance.

The difference between a genius and a powerhouse is like that between a child and an adult.

A genius who has not yet matured is merely a genius.

"Are you willing to take me as your master?"

Zhou Rongfeng revealed a smile.

He truly had not misjudged; Jiang Xuan was the seedling worth cultivating.

"Greetings, Master!"

Jiang Xuan immediately performed the apprenticeship ceremony and offered the apprenticeship tea.

When Tang Mu had apprenticed that day, he had been quite envious, and today it was finally his turn.

With this master-disciple relationship established, no one would dare covet his family in the future.

After all, standing behind Zhou Rongfeng was the Zhou Clan.

"This is the first three layers of the White Ape Mountain-Suppressing Technique."

Zhou Rongfeng accepted the apprenticeship tea, wrote Jiang Xuan's name in the Personal Disciple Register, and then produced a secret manual for Jiang Xuan.

The White Ape Breathing Method was only suitable for the Three Qi and Blood Gates.

Once one stepped into the True Martial Realm, one had to cultivate a true internal cultivation method.

This White Ape Mountain-Suppressing Technique was the very cultivation method of their Martial Arts Hall.

At True Martial First Layer, one cultivates the first three layers.

At True Martial Second Layer, one cultivates the middle three layers.

Only at True Martial Third Layer could one cultivate the complete version of the technique.

It could be said that strength and resources were completely linked.

To obtain higher resources, one had to display higher talent.

"Many thanks, Master!"

Jiang Xuan accepted it with joy.

This was not something that the Standing Post Technique or the Breathing Method could compare to.

Complete internal cultivation methods were almost entirely monopolized by major powers.

They could not be bought on the market at all.

Even if one occasionally leaked into the Ghost Market, it could not be practiced openly.

Stealing techniques was a great taboo; once discovered, having one's cultivation crippled was considered a light punishment.

"Cultivate well and strive to get a good ranking in the year-end Martial Exam."

"When the time comes, I will recommend you for the City Guard. Once you enter the City Guard, you will be qualified to compete for a spot in the Upper Sect."

Zhou Rongfeng patted Jiang Xuan on the shoulder and said.

"I will certainly not fail your expectations, Master!"

Hearing about the Upper Sect spot, Jiang Xuan was completely exhilarated.

Indeed, the Upper Sect taking over Anning Prefecture was a great opportunity for him.

If things went smoothly, he would be able to soar to great heights in the future.

Leaving the small courtyard, he hurried back without stopping to study the White Ape Mountain-Suppressing Technique.

It was not until noon, when hunger set in, that he put away the manual.

"As expected of an internal cultivation method at the True Martial level; the difficulty is far beyond what the Breathing Method can compare to."

Jiang Xuan's expression was somewhat weary.

After more than an hour of study, he had only barely memorized the cultivation steps of the White Ape Mountain-Suppressing Technique.

As for the core true meaning, he was completely at a loss.

It seemed that if he wanted to fully grasp this technique, he would have to put in some hard work.

Immediately, he went to the cafeteria and, after showing his True Martial Token, received the highest standard of food, which made many Inner Courtyard disciples envious.

"Hm?"

After finishing lunch, Jiang Xuan was about to leave the cafeteria when, unexpectedly, he ran into someone.

That person was none other than Jiang Chen.