First Clash with Lu Ren

"Xu Yang is breaking through to Qi Gathering."

Everyone watching Xu Yang, who was immersed in the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist, realized what was happening and was struck with immense shock.

Some took the opportunity to carefully observe Xu Yang's fist technique, while others attempted to get closer, only to be blocked by Qiu Wenjie.

Zhang Hong and Zhang Yong rushed over, joining Qiu Wenjie to surround and protect Xu Yang.

"There's only a ten percent success rate; it's impossible for him to succeed!"

Qian Jiaxing subconsciously clenched his fists.

He had once been close with Xu Yang, but had distanced himself after siding with Lu Ren, believing that Xu Yang would never successfully gather Qi.

"Thinking he can keep pace with Lu Ren is pure delusion."

Luo Dehu felt secret disdain; breaking through didn't mean anything—only successfully gathering Qi counted as a true success.

"Go find Brother Lu Ren, quickly!"

After a while, seeing that not only had Xu Yang not failed, but the aura around him was growing increasingly intense, he couldn't help but secretly order Qian Jiaxing to fetch Lu Ren.

As for interfering or sabotaging, he didn't have the guts; if he dared to play dirty, Lin Cheng would surely kill him.

"Understood!"

Qian Jiaxing hurried away.

Xu Yang didn't know how many times he had practiced the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist, but he only slowly withdrew his technique once the true Qi in his meridians stopped increasing.

[Cultivation: Qi Gathering Entry Level]
[Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist · Minor Accomplishment (2/500)]

"Success!"

The progress of the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist had increased by one point, and his cultivation status had changed from "No Cultivation" to "Qi Gathering Entry Level."

Even though he had known his breakthrough would proceed without any accidents, a flash of joy appeared on Xu Yang's face; with this, he had truly stepped into the halls of martial arts.

Two months of bitter cultivation had finally paid off today.

At this moment, he finally understood why Qi Gathering martial artists held such transcendent status; he could now kill his former self with a single strike.

"Congratulations to Senior Brother Xu on successfully gathering Qi."

Qiu Wenjie was the first to run over, looking even happier than Xu Yang; he hadn't expected his father's gamble to actually pay off.

Even if Xu Yang couldn't become a guest martial artist for the Qiu Family, this gesture of providing help in a time of need would remain.

Zhang Hong gave a thumbs up: "I knew you could do it."

As he spoke, his eyes were filled with envy.

The crowd began to surge forward to congratulate Xu Yang, including the brothers Zhou Yang and Zhou Yuan, with whom he had past grievances.

At this moment, they only wanted to lower their posture, as they could no longer afford to provoke Xu Yang.

Zhang Yong stood in the distance, not coming forward, but in his heart, he had already admitted that he was inferior to Xu Yang.

"Although it was only three days later, Senior Brother Xu Yang's talent is truly comparable to Senior Brother Lu Ren."

"Once might be an accident, twice might be luck, but even breaking through to gather Qi like this—it can no longer be called just luck."

The surrounding people recalled past events and began to discuss the talents of Xu Yang and Lu Ren, with many believing that Xu Yang's talent was no worse than Lu Ren's.

"It's not just the same; I'm afraid Senior Brother Xu Yang is even more of a genius. You have to realize how much the Huang Family invested in Lu Ren, and look at how little Xu Yang had."

Some even believed Xu Yang was more gifted than Lu Ren, as Xu Yang's cultivation resources had always been inferior to Lu Ren's—less than half, in fact.

"You lot don't know the half of it; Xu Yang spent more money at the Medicine Hall this month than Senior Brother Lu Ren did."

Luo Dehu's sarcastic voice rang out: "Xu Yang succeeding in gathering Qi is likely just a matter of luck. With a thirty percent success rate, perhaps good fortune just happened to fall on him."

"Someone like Senior Brother Lu Ren represents true strength; he said he would break through this month, and he did. The two are simply not on the same level."

"Don't forget, Xu Yang only has Grade C-low aptitude, while Senior Brother Lu Ren has Grade B-high aptitude."

Once these words were spoken, those who had just considered Xu Yang a genius felt it made sense.

Success or failure in breaking through had a certain element of luck; some people relied on luck to succeed, only to remain stuck at the entry level of Qi Gathering, unable to progress further in their cultivation.

Furthermore, these people all had some background and knew that while aptitude wasn't the most important factor before Qi Gathering, its importance would manifest clearly afterward.

Given the same portion of Blood-Qi Powder, someone with good aptitude could absorb eighty percent of the medicinal power, while someone with poor aptitude could only absorb fifty percent, or even less.

Luo Dehu was secretly satisfied with this result.

His task was to ensure that after Xu Yang's breakthrough, everyone understood that even if he had succeeded in gathering Qi, his potential was far inferior to Lu Ren's.

If the Huang Family were to believe the two were equal in talent, Lu Ren's status would be threatened.

Since he had already chosen a side, he naturally understood the importance of being thorough.

Suddenly, he felt the light in front of him dim.

Looking up, he discovered that Xu Yang had approached at some point.

"Xu Yang, you..." Luo Dehu's voice trembled.

After all, the person he had slandered was no longer an ordinary man, but a Qi Gathering martial artist.

Xu Yang didn't waste any words, striking out with a palm directly.

Lu Ren succeeding in Qi Gathering in two months was due to talent, but his own success in two months was just dumb luck? What did his own two months of hard work count for?

He could understand the previous snide remarks as jealousy and, not wanting to hold a grudge, had let them slide as human nature.

But to continue with such remarks now was clearly malicious, and in all likelihood, instigated by Lu Ren.

"Stop!"

A hand suddenly reached out from the side, attempting to intercept Xu Yang's strike for Luo Dehu.

It was Lu Ren, who had rushed over in a hurry.

But Xu Yang seemed to have anticipated this; the moment before they collided, he suddenly dropped his palm, bypassing the hand to land squarely on Luo Dehu.

"Bang!"

Accompanied by a miserable shriek, Luo Dehu flew backward three or four meters.

"You..."

Lu Ren was furious. No one had dared to disrespect him these past few days, and even after he had spoken up, Xu Yang still dared to strike.

His wrist traced an arc, and amidst the crisp cracking of bones and tendons, he chopped a palm toward Xu Yang.

This strike could be considered a sneak attack; after all, Xu Yang's palm had just sent Luo Dehu flying, and it seemed nearly impossible for him to block this blow.

A sharp gust of wind struck, ruffling Xu Yang's hair, but he seemed to have anticipated this as well. With a crackling sound erupting from his entire body and his true energy circulating, he slammed his other hand out.

The next moment, their palms collided.

"Boom!"

Energy exploded. Xu Yang felt as if he had struck a stubborn rock, his palm going numb.

He couldn't help but shudder as he felt his true energy recoil, forcing him to stumble backward.

Looking at Lu Ren, he had a similar reaction.

He felt that Xu Yang's palm strength was not much weaker than his own; he also felt his palm go numb, the recoil forcing him to retreat as well.

He just broke through, yet he has such palm strength. His true energy is no less vigorous than mine.

Lu Ren's heart jolted. He realized he had seemingly underestimated Xu Yang all along.

His martial foundation was just as solid, if not even more so.

When he had first broken through, he could never have unleashed such a powerful palm strike. If he hadn't broken through a few days earlier than Xu Yang, it would have been impossible to force him back.

He had no idea that Xu Yang's method of breakthrough was completely different from his own.

"What are you two doing?"

Just as both were about to raise their palms to test each other's depth again, Sun Tao walked over from the Inner Courtyard.

Xu Yang lowered his raised hand: "Keep your dog on a leash and stop him from barking."

Lu Ren said nothing, turning to help Qian Jiaxing lift Luo Dehu up before returning to the Inner Courtyard.