Out

[Turtle-Snake Great Stance: Not Yet Initiated (0/5)]

Despite working himself to the bone all yesterday, his progress in the Turtle-Snake Great Stance remained at "0."

This meant he was not a person of peerless talent; it would be impossible for him to initiate the stance in three or five days. According to his estimates, it would take around ten days.

"The ratio between Martial Dao Longevity points and longevity is one point to one day. When used to improve comprehension or bone structure, ten points are required to raise one attribute point. However, when used to improve skills, a single point increases the skill progress by '1.'

If used to improve cultivation technique progress, the ratio should be roughly the same."

With a thought, Xu Yang invested one point into the Turtle-Snake Great Stance.

In an instant, as a wave of insight washed over him, the cultivation progress of the Turtle-Snake Great Stance changed.

[Turtle-Snake Great Stance: Not Yet Initiated (1/5)]

"Just as I guessed, one point increases the progress by one."

A smile tugged at the corners of Xu Yang's mouth. If he wanted to, he could initiate the Turtle-Snake Great Stance right now.

But he didn't intend to do so.

Even those with excellent talent needed three to five days to initiate the stance. If he achieved it in a single day, it would go against his philosophy of keeping a low profile, and the drawbacks would outweigh the benefits. There was no need to rush to initiation.

"Bone structure, add points!"

Instead of upgrading the stance, he added the points to his bone structure. Fifty points instantly raised his bone structure to twenty-seven.

Lu Ren's Grade B Superior Bone Structure had left the greatest impression on him: high durability, great stamina, strong recovery, superior digestion, and excellent results from stance training.

Therefore, he used all his points to improve his bone structure, hoping to reach Grade C Superior or Grade B Inferior before considering anything else.

As for comprehension, it was naturally important, but for the time being, bone structure was his top priority.

He didn't feel much as his bone structure improved, only a brief warmth throughout his body and a slight boost in his mental state. The change was not drastic.

"It should still be Grade C Inferior bone structure!"

According to his calculations, Grade C Superior bone structure should fall between thirty and forty.

[Bone Structure: 27]

[Martial Dao Longevity Points: 1]

Glancing at the status panel, he closed it and assumed his stance in the room.

With his energy settled in his dantian, chest hollowed and back straight, he resembled a giant python rearing up, his chest and abdomen expanding and contracting with a steady rhythm.

This time, he lasted more than a minute longer than yesterday.

By the time Xu Qing woke up at dawn, the meager leftovers he had eaten were already fully digested, his stomach growling.

"Looks like I'll need to keep some meat at home from now on."

Although he was confident he would become a martial artist, he hadn't forgotten Zhou Yang's words from yesterday; he couldn't afford to be stingy with money.

Exchanging a few words with Xu Qing, Xu Yang headed out into the morning sun.

"It seems my intuition from the day before yesterday was right!"

After walking out of the White Stone Ward, he soon spotted He Laosan heading toward the mine.

Following their old habit, He Laosan and Zhang Daniu would usually call for him so the three of them could head to the mine together.

Now that Zhang Daniu had quit, logically, He Laosan should have come to call for him, yet he hadn't.

"Laosan!"

Xu Yang quickened his pace and caught up to He Laosan in a few strides.

"Oh... A-Yang, I woke up late and thought you had already left, so I didn't call for you." A flash of awkwardness crossed He Laosan's face.

Xu Yang shook his head: "It's fine. I didn't go to call you either. I wanted to ask you to tell my Third Uncle that I won't be working at the mine anymore."

There was no such thing as "resigning" at the mine; if you weren't going to work, you simply didn't show up.

However, one of the overseers at the mine was his uncle from the same clan, who had been very kind to him and had always helped him cover up his earnings. He had to inform his uncle to avoid causing him any worry.

"Alright!"

He Laosan was stunned, then realized what he meant: "You're not working at the mine? How will you eat?"

"My uncle has connections in the city and found me work. Sorry for the trouble."

After saying this, Xu Yang walked away quickly.

He Laosan stood there with his mouth agape, stunned. With both Xu Yang and Zhang Daniu heading to the city for work, he was the only one left scraping a living at the mine. He felt a sudden pang of regret for distancing himself from Xu Yang.

By the time Xu Yang arrived at Wei Yuan Hall, few people had arrived. He finished his meal at the canteen and returned to the Outer Courtyard's Martial Arts Arena to practice the Turtle-Snake Great Stance for a while before the older disciples began to appear one after another.

Lu Ren and Zhang Yong, who had arrived shortly after him, also walked over to practice after finishing their meals.

"New disciples are always so diligent, practicing this early."

"They've just started, so they naturally have drive. I was the same—sleeping at the third watch and rising at the fifth. In a few days, when they realize that all their effort yields little progress, they won't be like this anymore."

"If hard work were actually useful, no one would be burning through their money."

The veteran disciples passing by would almost always drop a comment or two about Xu Yang and the other newcomers.

Xu Yang remained unmoved, focused entirely on his cultivation, while those with weaker mental fortitude found their expressions growing increasingly grim.

Apart from him, Lu Ren was likely the only other person unaffected by these words.

"Truly diligent, aren't they? Yesterday's words were a complete waste of breath."

The Zhou Brothers stepped into Wei Yuan Hall and, seeing Xu Yang and the others already training, could not help but look sullen.

"These peasants still have that spark of changing their fate through martial arts in them. Once that breath leaks out, they'll come looking for us. It won't take more than a few days."

Zhou Yang swept a cold, indifferent gaze over Xu Yang before walking away with quick strides.

An hour later, Sun Tao walked over from the Inner Courtyard in a white training uniform and began to instruct the ten newcomers in the Turtle-Snake Great Stance.

He guided them in turns, stopping after he had gone through the routine three times for each person.

"This is the last time I will guide you on the Turtle-Snake Great Stance. Unless you have achieved entry-level proficiency, I will not instruct anyone further."

"The Master guided you once, and I have guided you twice. If you still haven't memorized the Turtle-Snake Great Stance after so many times, then I advise you not to waste your time here."

As soon as these words were spoken, a man named Liu Guangfa turned pale as death. He was one of the five people with Grade D Superior Bone Structure, and his reaction was precisely because he had yet to memorize the Turtle-Snake Great Stance.

How truly cruel!

Xu Yang shook his head to himself. Liu Guangfa was effectively out; he had become the first person to be eliminated.

"Once you have achieved entry-level proficiency in the Turtle-Snake Great Stance, you may come to the Inner Courtyard to learn boxing from the Master. The first set of boxing techniques is taught by the Master himself; if you have any questions after reaching entry-level, you may continue to come to me."

Having said this, Sun Tao turned and strode away.

He had seen this kind of thing far too often, and his heart had long since ceased to ripple.

Time flickered by, and three days had passed. Several people had undergone immense changes; their spirits had been turned upside down, and their bodies were significantly sturdier than when they had first arrived.

"Haha... I've reached entry-level in the Turtle-Snake Great Stance! Power rises from the ground—so this is what it means for power to rise from the ground."

Lu Ren's voice shattered the tranquility of the Martial Arts Arena. Many people looked toward him, seeing that his skin had turned crimson, his dermis rippling with a strange movement, and his solid muscles standing out in defined bands.

Among the ten, he was the first to reach entry-level in the Turtle-Snake Great Stance.

"As expected of Grade B Superior Bone Structure. In less than five days total, he has already reached entry-level in the Turtle-Snake Great Stance."

"With Grade B Superior Bone Structure and an aptitude that is likely just as impressive, Lu Ren might even grasp the mysteries of internal force and successfully achieve Qi Gathering and Marrow Cleansing in the future."

"It's time to try and befriend him!"

The veteran disciples gasped in amazement. To reach entry-level in the Turtle-Snake Great Stance in under five days—such a person might not even appear in Wei Yuan Hall once a year.