Elimination (Please Follow!)

Midsummer was fading, red blossoms withered and green leaves thinned; yellow flowers carpeted the ground as the glory of all things gradually came to rest.

After a month of training and dietary supplements, Chen Yuan's muscle definition had begun to show, stretching out his practice uniform.

His gaze had grown increasingly calm as well.

He casually began practicing Six Harmonies Mind Boxing. Stepping upon fallen leaves, he assumed the Three-Body Stance, the three points aligned in mutual correspondence. Starting with Eagle Catch, chest hollowed and elbows wrapped in, he followed with a forward-step Splitting Fist. Like an axe cleaving wood, his fist drew a vertical arc; rising, falling, drilling, and turning like waves crashing against the shore, force passed through the base of his palm and stirred gusts of wind.

Then came an awkward-step Crushing Fist, charging straight ahead with a forward step. His fist shot down the centerline like an arrow, the rear fist chasing the front; he twisted his waist and snapped his hips, his waist like a cart axle. Inch force erupted, and his fist came to an abrupt halt at the very end of its reach—neither too much nor too little.

Having completed the flowing sequence in one smooth sweep, Chen Yuan collected his stance and calmed his breath without changing expression.

Force rose from the ground, strength issued from the feet, was governed by the waist, and took form at the fingertips. He had long mastered the essentials of unleashing whole-body force.

As for what he was practicing now, it was using intent to guide qi, grasping the rhythm of his punches, and gaining familiarity with the techniques through actual sparring.

After one month of martial training, his progress could not be called insignificant.

He looked again at the panel:

[Comprehension: 10]

[Physique: 39]

[Cultivation: None]

[Techniques]

[Rock-Solid Stance Technique (Beginner): 156/500]

[Six Harmonies Mind Boxing (Beginner): 128/500]

[Dao of Survival Points: 2]

[Evaluation: You neither show off nor reveal yourself, do not make enemies of others, and understand the principle of hiding your light and nurturing your strength. You have already glimpsed the doorway to the Dao of Survival. Daily Dao of Survival Points +3]

In one month, his Physique had risen from 29 to 39. Chen Yuan believed that even among those of Grade C-Lower, his physique now ranked among the best.

Only his Comprehension remained as immovable as thunder, and that was currently his weakness.

Adding points to Comprehension had to be put on the agenda.

Both the Rock-Solid Stance Technique and Six Harmonies Mind Boxing were steadily improving, each having passed one-quarter of its progress.

Chen Yuan touched his chest. That strand of blood qi, once as thin as a hair, had sturdily grown to the thickness of a chopstick.

Once it reached the thickness of a finger, he could begin knocking at the gate.

According to Master Huo, as long as Six Harmonies Mind Boxing could be trained to the Minor Mastery realm, Clear Force would naturally break through.

At this rate, within three months, he could break through the Skin Realm and comprehend Clear Force at the same time!

And today was the day they returned to the Gu Family for their assessment. Huang Yan had sent someone early in the morning to notify them that the five of them were to head to the Gu Family before noon.

Sun Chengjie walked over, glanced toward Xu Heng's spot, and said with feeling, "People really are fickle. Junior Brother Xu used to be so polite even to me, but now he does not even acknowledge you, a friend who often spars with him. What exactly is he training?"

Chen Yuan wiped away his sweat, took another gulp of water, and shook his head. "Who can remain untouched by their surroundings? Keeping one's original heart is difficult to begin with. Besides, Junior Brother Xu is a young genius. No one in this courtyard can compare to him, so it is easy for arrogance to take root."

"I think Xu Heng becoming like this has a lot to do with Senior Brother Song and the others. Those from great families look at us as if they are a cut above us," Liu Jin said as he walked over as well.

It seemed he still remembered how Song Qiao had ruthlessly refused his request for guidance.

Chen Yuan neither agreed nor disagreed.

Certainly, others had influenced him, but at the end of the day, it had been Xu Heng's own choice.

"Let's go. It's time to head to the Gu Family," Xue Anping said as he came over to join them.

After the conflict that day, Xue Anping had realized that the gap between them was growing ever wider. Gradually, he came to terms with it and took the initiative to ease their relationship.

Naturally, Chen Yuan did not care about such trivial matters.

Thus, the five of them now vaguely regarded him as their leader.

On the way to the Gu Family, Liu Jin asked uneasily, "I wonder what this assessment will be. It should not be too difficult, right?"

"Probably not. It's only the first month," Sun Chengjie answered casually.

He Qing said in a muffled voice, "Let's hope so."

No one wanted to be eliminated in their very first month.

The five arrived at the Gu Family and were arranged to wait in a pavilion in the front courtyard.

Before long, Yu Yan and the other two arrived as well.

After a month apart, the two groups sized each other up and all felt that the others had changed greatly.

Before learning martial arts, they had all been poor country youths, inferior and timid.

A month of martial training could not only strengthen the body and alter one's appearance; more noticeably, it could make them straighten their backs and lift their heads, leaving their bearing utterly transformed.

Chen Yuan was also observing the three of them.

Yu Yan, who led the group, appeared remarkably steady. His blood qi was restrained, yet he was neither servile nor overbearing.

Gao Mingchang wore a smile as he calmly greeted them. "Everyone, it has been a long time."

The remaining girl, Cao Yan, had also shed her youthful immaturity. With her head raised and chest out, she appeared crisp and capable.

Chen Yuan estimated that compared with him, these two were probably evenly matched, perhaps even slightly superior.

Sun Chengjie stepped forward with a smile. "You three senior brothers and senior sister truly have an extraordinary bearing. Compared with you, we indeed have quite a gap."

After only a few exchanges, the steward Gu Ye arrived with Huang Yan.

Without wasting words, Gu Ye got straight to the point and said with a faint smile, "Over this past month, everyone's performance has been quite good overall. You have not disappointed me. Among you, Yu Yan performed best, entering the Stance Technique in less than three days. Next came Gao Mingchang, Cao Yan, and Chen Yuan, all of whom entered within five days. Not bad. In addition, Xue Anping entered in seven days; Sun Chengjie and He Qing in nine days; and Liu Jin in eleven days."

By the end, Liu Jin's expression had become somewhat unsightly.

He had made a few mistakes while learning, and his Comprehension was average as well, causing his progress to lag behind.

He had ended up at the very bottom.

Since the Gu Family was cultivating talent, they naturally kept track of their progress.

In the first month, the time it took to enter the Stance Technique was enough to roughly judge a person's overall potential.

Yu Yan entering in two and a half days had greatly surprised Gu Ye. It showed that his Comprehension was not bad either.

Chen Yuan, meanwhile, had been somewhat unexpected.

Though his physique had merely reached the threshold of Grade C-Lower, his entry time had been nearly the same as Gao Mingchang and Cao Yan's, despite the two of them having better resources.

That showed his Comprehension should be better and that he was worth cultivating.

As for Liu Jin...

Gu Ye's gaze turned slightly cold as he announced directly, "This month's assessment results are as follows: Yu Yan's subsidy will increase to eight taels per month. Chen Yuan's will rise to five taels per month, equal to Gao Mingchang and Cao Yan's. You three—the best performer next month will rise to six taels, while the worst will be reduced to four taels. Xue Anping, Sun Chengjie, and He Qing will remain at two taels."

Finally, his indifferent gaze locked directly onto Liu Jin as he said flatly, "Liu Jin, poor performance. Eliminated. You may go home."

The words struck Liu Jin's mind like a bolt from a clear sky. His entire body trembled abruptly. Then he raised his head, lips quivering as he pleaded, "Steward Gu, Lord Gu, please give me one more chance. I will absolutely give it my all and stake everything on it. Truly, please give me one more chance..."

He clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot.

Those icy words directly shattered his lingering hope. Eliminated in the very first month!

He had clearly already set foot upon the road toward martial arts and seen its wondrous scenery, only for the road to come to an abrupt end. It was too cruel.

Gu Ye's tone became even colder. "My Gu Family does not raise trash. If you cannot even enter the Stance Technique in ten days, you have no value whatsoever to cultivate. Keep making trouble, and you will be beaten out with clubs."

The Gu Family's money had not fallen from the sky. Redirecting the money spent on him to Yu Yan and Chen Yuan was just right.

The freckled youth Liu Jin instantly became ashen-hearted. His unfocused eyes dulled as he slumped onto the ground, allowing the guards to drag him out of the Gu Family.

The first youth to pass the physique test had actually become the first to be eliminated in this manner.

Seeing this, Sun Chengjie and He Qing both felt lingering fear.

It was too cruel.

They had entered in nine days, which meant they had been walking a tightrope, nearly falling into the abyss without even realizing it.

Nor did they doubt that once they lost their value for cultivation in the Gu Family's eyes, their fate would absolutely be the same as Liu Jin's.

Their moods suddenly grew heavy.

Gu Ye turned his gaze toward the remaining seven and said in a deep voice, "I hope you will all take this as a warning. Cultivate diligently and do not grow slack."

Though Chen Yuan felt a trace of sympathy for Liu Jin's fate, it was only a trace.

That was simply how the world was.

The Gu Family might have been heartless, but they had at least given him an opportunity. They had not even made him repay the two taels of silver, which was already considered conscientious.

Chen Yuan, on the other hand, was in quite a good mood. His subsidy had directly risen from two taels and five mace to five taels—a full doubling.

Blood qi cultivation would recede if it did not advance. Even merely maintaining it required consuming large amounts of blood-rich food, so the further one went, the more silver was needed.

These five taels of silver had resolved his pressing need.

As for competing with Gao Mingchang and Cao Yan, Chen Yuan did not feel much pressure either.

One month was enough to raise his Physique beyond theirs. At worst, he could save some Dao of Survival Points and add them to his techniques should any unforeseen change arise.

Not to mention first place—even surviving into second place would be effortless.