Autumn was drawing to a close. Rain pattered beneath the eaves, dripping onto the bluestone slabs and washing the dust from the weeds between them until they gleamed a tender green.
After receiving a timely rain, they strained to grow.
Chen Yuan paused and glanced over, then turned away and headed toward Huo Academy with his umbrella.
He was in a fine mood, and even the annoying rain seemed festive.
Naturally, he couldn't think of a poem about drifting blossoms being light as dreams or endless drizzle being fine as sorrow. He only wanted to hurry to the Dining Hall and eat a few piping-hot eggs.
For breakfast, eggs and chicken with rice provided plenty of energy.
After getting his food, Chen Yuan carried his tray and sat across from Tao Ping.
"Good morning, Senior Brother Tao." He greeted him naturally.
Tao Ping looked up and smiled faintly.
"Congratulations, Junior Brother Chen. I heard that at yesterday's Gu Family assessment, you beat two Grade C-Grade Lower Bone Structure opponents and took first place. If Senior Brother Huang hadn't told me himself, I'd have thought you had Grade C-Upper Bone Structure."
Still, he wasn't surprised. When he'd visited Chen Yuan last time, he'd already realized that his Six Harmonies Mind Boxing was no ordinary thing.
Chen Yuan used a smile to hide his awkwardness. If they tested his bones now, he'd be exposed.
Changing the subject, he asked, "Senior Brother Tao, my subsidy has increased to seven taels of silver. What does that mean in practice?"
Tao Ping explained with a smile:
"Mainly, it means more food supplements. Two bowls of beef and meat soup are enough for you now, while medicinal supplements have a greater effect.
"On top of what you were already getting, your Body Strengthening Soup allowance has increased to thirty bowls. You can drink one a day without worrying about running out.
"You'll also have one tael of silver left. You can exchange it for a Blood-Qi Pill, which costs three mace of silver each, or a Skin Strengthening Pill, which costs one tael each."
Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Senior Brother, I know the Blood-Qi Pill nourishes one's blood and qi. Does the Skin Strengthening Pill help temper the skin?"
Tao Ping nodded.
"At your rate of progress, you should be knocking on the Skin Realm's door within the next month or two. Before breaking through, you could exchange your allowance for three Blood-Qi Pills and push your blood and qi to their peak, laying a solid foundation.
"You could also get a Skin Strengthening Pill to temper your skin and make the breakthrough easier.
"Of course, the best thing would be to exchange for both. Junior Brother Xu took both when he broke through."
"Thank you for telling me, Senior Brother." Chen Yuan cupped his hands slightly.
Then he inwardly smiled wryly. Everyone knew it was best to exchange for both, but he wasn't Xu Heng. Without Master Huo's generous support, he had to pay out of his own pocket.
Chen Yuan pondered. He had to break through the Skin Realm as soon as possible and claim the Gu Family's three-tael reward, easing his tight finances.
Now that the assessment was over, the trouble with the Chen Family had been resolved, and he had enough resources. Nothing could distract him from his cultivation now.
He'd press on in one breath and become a true beginner martial artist!
Water flowed on, carrying fallen blossoms with it.
In the blink of an eye, more than ten days passed.
At Huo Academy, as the harshness of the times drove people to come and go, Chen Yuan could still often be seen in a corner, practicing his boxing without fail.
[Six Harmonies Mind Boxing (Beginner): 499/500]
In the blink of an eye, he had reached the threshold of breaking through to Clear Force.
Chen Yuan lowered his qi to his dantian, expanded his chest and straightened his back, lowered his shoulders and elbows, and assumed the Three-Body Stance. He began with Eagle Catch, the wind from his movements whistling sharply.
He closed his eyes and worked through the Five Elements Boxing. His movements flowed with astonishing ease, each transition perfectly smooth.
His heart was focused on subtle observations, as he tried to step into the ranks of Clear Force.
As Chen Yuan performed the final Horizontal Fist, the bones in his arm suddenly cracked.
The force he used was unchanged, but the power that burst forth was fiercer and more direct.
A faint look of delight appeared on his face. His force had taken outward form, bright and unmistakable. As the saying went, a thousand gold pieces couldn't buy the sound of that crack. He had entered the ranks of Clear Force!
Without changing expression, Chen Yuan continued practicing, experiencing the many uses of Clear Force.
When he exerted force again, it came with an unmistakable rush of wind. His clothes snapped and fluttered; his punches fell like steel files, hooked like fishing rods, rising like wind and falling like rain!
His boxing power had more than doubled compared to before.
Now, he could leave Chen Kai gravely injured and near death with a single punch.
He checked the panel:
[Insight: 10] [Bone Structure: 53] [Cultivation: Clear Force] [Techniques] [Rock-Solid Stance Technique (Minor Achievement): 32/1000] [Six Harmonies Mind Boxing (Minor Achievement): 1/1000] [Dao of Survival Points: 1] [Evaluation: You keep a low profile, do no harm to others, and understand the principle of biding your time. You have glimpsed the path of the Dao of Survival. Daily Dao of Survival Points +3]
His bone structure had reached 53, which should be at Grade C-Upper.
From now on, he could add points to his insight. Otherwise, his mere 10 points would hold back his cultivation.
The Rock-Solid Stance Technique had always improved faster than the Six Harmonies Mind Boxing. A few days ago, it had reached minor achievement first.
Still, Chen Yuan hadn't expected to comprehend Clear Force before breaking through the Skin Realm.
He carefully sensed the blood and qi in his chest. It was already as thick as his thumb, and the signs that he could break through—the stuffy, feverish feeling in his chest—had appeared several days ago.
But to be safe, he decided to build things up for a few more days. He would exchange for one Blood-Qi Pill and one Skin Strengthening Pill to make absolutely sure.
Now that he had also comprehended Clear Force and gained even greater mastery over his body, Chen Yuan couldn't think of any reason he would fail.
He had already made up his mind. He would get a good night's sleep, then take the pills tomorrow and break through the Skin Realm in one go!
As for the news that he had comprehended Clear Force, Chen Yuan decided to keep it secret for now. He would reveal it at a suitable time after breaking through the Skin Realm.
Meanwhile, today was also a day of great joy for the Gu Family.
Yu Yan, who had Grade B-Grade Lower Bone Structure and was the pride of the Gu Family, had accepted their proposal that he marry into the family. Today, they would discuss his engagement to the Gu Family's third young lady, Gu Wantong.
Gu Changfeng, head of the Gu Family, personally met Yu Yan in the family's main hall to show how much he valued his future son-in-law.
Gu Ye and Huang Yan were also there.
They were responsible for training Yu Yan, so naturally they knew more about him.
"This junior, Yu Yan, pays his respects to Uncle Gu." Yu Yan cupped his hands in greeting, not even calling him Family Head Gu.
Gu Changfeng nodded slightly. Though his future son-in-law was unremarkable in appearance, he had a steady air that suited him.
Gu Changfeng smiled. "My nephew is truly a fine young man, and your martial talent is exceptional. I heard you've already comprehended Clear Force?"
He had only sent someone to propose that Yu Yan marry into the family after learning that he had comprehended Clear Force and become a beginner martial artist. He hadn't expected Yu Yan to agree so decisively after meeting Gu Wantong just once.
Yu Yan replied modestly, "It was all thanks to the Gu Family's cultivation. This junior was able to comprehend Clear Force yesterday because of you. I'll never forget your great kindness."
Gu Changfeng nodded in satisfaction. "My nephew needn't belittle yourself. Your achievements are inseparable from your own hard work. From now on, we'll be family, so there's no need to be so polite."
After a pause, he added:
"Have you run into any problems lately? Do you have enough money? You can speak freely."
He valued Yu Yan immensely.
To become a beginner martial artist in just over two months meant he would most likely break through the Three Realms and comprehend Dark Force in the future.
In Qingyuan County, breaking through the Three Realms and comprehending the Two Forces were the marks of a true powerhouse.
The Gu Family wasn't one of Qingyuan County's Four Great Families. With a powerhouse like that in their ranks, they could keep themselves safe as long as they didn't do anything foolish.
If they were lucky enough for Yu Yan to reach Transformation Force, the Gu Family might climb even higher.
And what he valued most was that, when it came to marriage, Yu Yan hadn't chosen to take a wife. He had chosen to marry into the family.
He was willing to show his sincerity to such a gifted man, who was willing to marry into the family.
A glint flashed in Yu Yan's eyes. He bowed and said:
"Thank you, Uncle Gu. I haven't run into any problems, but naturally, the more money the better.
"Still, I know it isn't easy for you to earn money, Uncle. A family this large has expenses in every direction.
"This junior thinks some unnecessary expenses could be cut and redirected to me, so that every tael of silver can be put to good use."
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