The Exemption Bead is Fully Condensed!

After firmly memorizing the circulation path of the Five Harms Technique, Chen Jing carefully tucked the manual under his bed.

The Exemption Bead was still a hair's breadth away from fully condensing, so Chen Jing decided to wait until it was complete before practicing the Five Harms Technique.

After all, he had yet to test the true capabilities of the Exemption Bead; if he were to rashly practice the Five Harms Technique and damage his internal organs, the loss would outweigh the gain.

Another half-month passed in this manner. Chen Jing rose early as usual and arrived at the martial arts hall ahead of time to begin his practice.

Over these past month and a half, Chen Jing had witnessed many newcomers arrive and many veterans depart.

Chen Jing had also transformed from a newcomer into a veteran himself.

The disciples who had arrived at the same time as Chen Jing were now all filled with anxiety.

Suddenly, a youth of about seventeen or eighteen years old bowed to Fei Feng with a sorrowful expression before turning and walking out of the martial arts hall.

"I didn't expect Brother Cai to leave as well!"

"I used to see Brother Cai practicing diligently every day, always the first to arrive and the last to leave. I never thought... in the end, even Brother Cai couldn't break through to the Blood Stream."

The surrounding fellow disciples gazed at Brother Cai's retreating figure, their expressions dim as if they were seeing their own futures.

Fei Feng had previously stated that if a martial practitioner could not break through to the Blood Stream within three months, they would essentially have no future in the martial path.

Most successful martial artists broke through between one and two months; the longer it took, the lower the probability of success.

In this month and a half, Chen Jing watched over twenty fellow disciples leave silently, several of whom he knew personally.

As for those who truly succeeded in stepping into the First Blood stage, there were only five or six—a very small number indeed.

At this moment, Fei Feng's gaze swept across the crowd and finally landed on Chen Jing, asking, "How long have you been here?"

Chen Jing replied respectfully, "Reporting to Master, it has been a month and a half."

Fei Feng looked at Chen Jing deeply and said, "A month and a half, is it? Your blood energy has been stagnant for nearly three days. To be honest, there isn't much hope left."

Fei Feng paused, then added, "If you want to leave now, I can still refund you one month of tuition."

Fei Feng had said these words to others in the hall more times than he could count.

It was just that Chen Jing had not expected them to be directed at him this time.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jing remained silent for a moment, then took a deep breath, cupped his hands, and said, "Master... this disciple still wishes to try a little longer."

Hearing Chen Jing's reply, Fei Feng waved his hand and said, "Suit yourself."

With that, he turned and left.

Fei Feng had heard this same response from Chen Jing countless times before from others, but every person who had answered that way had failed to break through the Blood Stream and eventually left in dejection.

"Junior Brother Chen, do you really intend to keep practicing?"

After Fei Feng left, a senior brother named Zhang walked over.

This Brother Zhang had arrived half a month earlier than Chen Jing, and since his own blood energy had also stalled, the two could be considered companions in misfortune.

"Yes."

Chen Jing nodded and replied.

Hearing Chen Jing's answer, Brother Zhang swallowed hard and said slowly, "Junior Brother Chen, why not just give up early? Since your blood energy has already stagnated, no matter how much you practice, there will be no result..."

"If you go back now, you can still get a month's tuition back. Besides, we could travel together..."

Chen Jing looked at Brother Zhang as he spoke.

Chen Jing had spoken with this Brother Zhang before; like himself, he came from a poor family.

But now, Brother Zhang's forehead was covered in sweat, and the panic in his eyes was barely concealed.

It was clear that Brother Zhang already had the intention to give up, but because he had no one to accompany him, he dared not leave alone and could only grit his teeth and hold on.

Seeing this, Chen Jing said softly, "Brother Zhang, everyone has different thoughts. My thought is that until the very end, no one can say for sure!"

Besides, Chen Jing possessed the Exemption Bead and the Five Harms Technique, so he naturally had to persist to the end.

Seeing Chen Jing reject his suggestion, Brother Zhang looked at him deeply, his face turning ashen, before he turned and resumed his practice.

After Brother Zhang left, Zhuang Tao walked over with a smile on his face.

"Junior Brother Chen, that was well said. Until the very end, no one knows what the situation will be!"

As he spoke, Zhuang Tao took a cloth bundle from his chest and placed it in Chen Jing's hand.

Looking at the object in his hand, Chen Jing asked with a puzzled expression, "What is this, Senior Brother?"

Zhuang Tao did not answer immediately, instead playing coy: "Junior Brother, do you know why noble families can consistently produce martial artists, while you commoners are only one in a thousand or one in ten thousand?"

Hearing Zhuang Tao's rhetorical question, Chen Jing knew his habit of acting as a teacher was acting up, waiting for him to ask. Thus, he asked quite honestly, "This junior brother does not know, please enlighten me, Senior Brother!"

Hearing Chen Jing's request, Zhuang Tao nodded with satisfaction and said, "The so-called martial path is thirty percent practice and seventy percent nourishment."

"The 'practice' is diligent training, and the 'nourishment' is eating meat and recuperation!"

As he spoke, Zhuang Tao pointed into the distance.

Those Zhuang Tao pointed to were all disciples from wealthy families.

"Great clans feast on exotic beast meat every meal, their blood energy surging, and they have heavenly treasures to nourish their bodies after training."

"Therefore, for those people, breaking through to the first blood stage is nothing at all!"

Listening to Zhuang Tao's explanation, Chen Jing nodded in agreement.

The saying that literature is for the poor and martial arts for the rich is exactly this.

If he didn't have the Exemption Bead, he naturally wouldn't have thought about practicing martial arts.

"Then, Senior Brother, this is..."

Chen Jing looked at the package in his hand and asked in a low voice.

Zhuang Tao smiled and explained: "This is exotic beast meat, taken from a creature called a Green-skinned Horned Pig."

"The blood energy contained in this pork is far greater than that of ordinary meat! Eating one piece is worth three full meals for you!"

"Today is my grandfather's eightieth birthday; there are many people and plenty of meat, so I'm treating you to a piece."

Hearing this, Chen Jing quickly said: "This... I cannot accept a reward without merit..."

Seeing this, Zhuang Tao waved his hand and said dismissively: "We are all friends, why bother with such nonsense!"

After speaking, Zhuang Tao turned and left: "Eat this as soon as possible; who knows what might happen if it's left out too long!"

Watching Zhuang Tao's retreating figure, Chen Jing took a deep breath, found a secluded corner, and carefully opened the cloth wrap.

Inside the cloth was a piece of air-dried green pork, strange in color, yet faintly radiating a strong aura of blood.

Looking at the strangely colored green pork in his hand, Chen Jing took a deep breath and then put it directly into his mouth to tear into it.

The moment it entered his mouth, Chen Jing felt the meat was tough and carried a wild, gamey stench, but as he chewed, he quickly felt a surge of heat circulating through his body.

As the pork was completely swallowed, Chen Jing felt his stomach, which had been somewhat hungry from martial arts training, instantly filled with a sense of satiety.

And just at this moment, the Exemption Bead in Chen Jing's mind hummed and lit up!

The trace of energy he had been lacking was instantly filled.

The next moment, the Exemption Bead burst into a dazzling red light, so bright it almost illuminated Chen Jing's entire mind.

At this moment, the Exemption Bead... had finally fully condensed!