Minor Accomplishment in Qi Gathering

[Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist · Minor Accomplishment (100/500)]

Once he grasped the Explosive Bear Force, the progress of his Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist surged significantly. He remembered it had been at eighty-something before, but now it had reached one hundred.

"Brother Xu, congratulations!"

Qiu Wenjie, Zhang Hong, and the others stepped forward to offer their well-wishes.

Explosive Bear Force was a milestone for the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist; being able to comprehend it was certainly something worth celebrating.

Even among those who had just entered the Qi Gathering stage, someone who had mastered the Explosive Bear Force could easily crush those who had not.

"Junior Brother Xu, congratulations."

Sun Tao also stepped forward to congratulate him, though he wore a look of lamentation.

Xu Yang's comprehension was no worse than Lu Ren's, but it was a pity he was somewhat arrogant and unwilling to marry into the Liu Family. Otherwise, he might have had a chance to earn the title of Martial Scholar at the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent a year from now.

If he could attain the rank of Martial Scholar, this comprehension—which did not lose to Lu Ren's—might finally have a chance to be put to real use.

"Bang!"

Just at that moment, a muffled thud echoed from afar.

Everyone's expression shifted, for the sound had come from the courtyard where Lin Cheng resided.

Sun Tao could not spare a moment to speak with Xu Yang and immediately hurried over.

"What happened? Why would Master be so angry?" Everyone looked at each other in confusion.

After a while, Sun Tao returned with a livid expression.

Before the many disciples could ask, he took the initiative to speak: "News just arrived. Gale Wind Hall has produced a disciple with Grade A-minus aptitude, and the hall master, Ji Yun, has personally taken him as a disciple."

Once these words were spoken, none of the Qi Gathering disciples could remain calm.

Lu Ren's Grade B-plus aptitude was something Wei Yuan Hall might not even see once a year, and this Grade A-minus aptitude was something that might not appear in the entire Qingyuan County for several years.

Most importantly, Gale Wind Hall and Wei Yuan Hall were at odds, targeting each other for years. Even when it came to serving as retainers for wealthy families, disciples from the two halls would never work for the same household.

A Grade A-minus disciple appearing in Gale Wind Hall was certainly not good news for Wei Yuan Hall.

However, from another perspective, this event was actually a good thing for the disciples of Wei Yuan Hall.

From that day on, everyone noticed that Lin Cheng spent more time teaching his disciples, sometimes even stepping in personally to spar with them—though, naturally, this was primarily for disciples like Lu Ren, Gu Fang, and Jiang Ping.

Those like Xu Yang, who lacked much potential, were mostly left to listen from the sidelines.

Xu Yang did not mind. He practiced the Diamond Skill, and as his True Qi gradually converted into Diamond True Qi, he dared not spar with Lin Cheng, fearing his secret would be discovered.

Time passed in tranquility, and in the blink of an eye, a month and a half had gone by.

Xu Yang went to the Liu Mansion to stand by in the mornings and came to Wei Yuan Hall in the afternoons to cultivate. He rotated between the Turtle-Snake Great Stance, the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist, and the Diamond Skill, never neglecting any of them.

On this day, as Xu Yang was meditating, he suddenly felt a surge of heat in his abdomen and a vibration in his Dantian. Immediately after, his True Qi boiled like water, surging out from his Dantian and roaring through his meridians.

Qi Gathering Minor Accomplishment! Xu Yang could not help but feel a surge of joy.

With this level of cultivation, he could already be considered a minor expert in Qingyuan County.

Unknowingly, he had been practicing martial arts for nearly half a year, and it had been nearly four months since he broke through to the Qi Gathering stage.

Reaching the minor accomplishment of Qi Gathering in four months was nothing compared to those like Lu Ren who had the backing of powerful forces, but among the common laborers, this speed was absolutely astonishing.

Many people spent two or three years in the Qi Gathering stage without even reaching minor accomplishment.

My True Qi is not ordinary; it is the Diamond True Qi, which is far more domineering than standard True Qi. An average practitioner at the minor accomplishment of Qi Gathering is no match for me.

[Comprehension: 45]
[Aptitude: 48]
[Cultivation: Qi Gathering Minor Accomplishment]
[Techniques: Turtle-Snake Great Stance · Minor Accomplishment (60/300), Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist · Minor Accomplishment (170/500), Diamond Skill · Entry (45/1000)]
[Skills: Mining lv.3 (283/400)]
[Remaining Lifespan: 61]
[Martial Dao Longevity Points: 9]

Xu Yang looked at the panel; with the minor accomplishment of Qi Gathering, his lifespan had increased by one year.

His various stats were also rising steadily, with both comprehension and aptitude nearing fifty.

The only thing that gave him a headache was the Diamond Skill. His comprehension and aptitude were constantly improving, yet the progress speed of the Diamond Skill remained almost unchanged. It was truly a grind; its progress had little to do with comprehension or aptitude.

Xu Yang stepped out of his room and threw a punch into the void.

A streak of white True Qi shot out, dissipating three feet away.

Qi Gathering Minor Accomplishment allows True Qi to leave the body to kill. Most people who have just reached this stage can only project their True Qi two feet, but I can reach three.

Everything is due to the Diamond True Qi being more refined and domineering. This counts as a small trump card.

Let's test its lethality!

He walked quickly to a large tree, stopped three feet away, and threw a punch.

True Qi surged forth, and with a loud bang, the trunk exploded, leaving a fist-sized crater.

If this hit an ordinary person, they would be blown apart instantly. Diamond True Qi is truly overbearing.

Of course, the benefits of Diamond True Qi did not end there. His body's hardness was now equally terrifying; his muscles felt cast from refined iron, appearing lean and powerful, with a density no weaker than Jade Butterfly's.

He speculated that Jade Butterfly had not been practicing Diamond Skill for long. If he had been at it for two or three years, the several experts at the Great Completion of Qi Gathering in the Gu Family might have been killed by him instead.

"Xiao Qing, I'm leaving!"

After bidding Xu Qing farewell, Xu Yang braved the cold wind and hurried toward the Liu Mansion.

Unknowingly, the depths of winter had arrived, and the New Year was only a month away.

The world was a vast expanse of white, with snow already covering his insteps.

Upon arriving at the Liu Mansion, he sought out Zhang Bo immediately to demonstrate his cultivation at the Minor Completion of Qi Gathering.

"I didn't expect you to have some talent, reaching Minor Completion so quickly. It's a pity that the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent is only nine months away; it is almost impossible to reach Great Completion of Qi Gathering in that time."

Zhang Bo could not help but sigh.

Xu Yang had started martial arts training quite late, beginning only around the age of eighteen, and he had already passed that milestone.

Since the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent was held every two years, if Xu Yang missed this one, he would never have another chance, as there was an age limit of twenty years old.

If Xu Yang had started training at sixteen, he would have certainly been able to participate in the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent and earn the title of Martial Scholar.

The title of Martial Scholar was no mere vanity; it represented an opportunity to step out of Qingyuan and advance further on the path of martial arts.

"It's fine, Brother Zhang, just help me report it," Xu Yang said with a smile.

He had come to Zhang Bo first to report his breakthrough naturally because the stipend for the Minor Completion of Qi Gathering was no longer five taels of silver per month, but ten.

Zhang Bo nodded, "Very well!"

The morning passed quickly, and Xu Yang and Wu Yongfeng returned to Wei Yuan Hall.

Despite the heavy snow, the disciples of Wei Yuan Hall did not slack off, all diligently practicing their stances.

The two entered the Inner Courtyard, where several new faces had appeared, bringing the total to nearly twenty people.

Finding a corner, the two began their stance training, white waves of air puffing out with the rise and fall of their chests.

"Latest news! Kong Yu of the Gale Wind Hall has successfully gathered his Qi!" someone suddenly shouted.

All the Inner Courtyard disciples, even those sparring, stopped their movements, drawn by the announcement.

This Kong Yu was none other than the genius with Grade A-minus aptitude who had been taken in as a disciple by the master of the Gale Wind Hall.

They looked up to see an Inner Courtyard disciple striding in from outside, his expression one of utter shock.