Daily +3! (Please Read On)

That night, Chen Yuan slept soundly once more.

When he opened his eyes and stretched, he felt strength coursing through his entire body, his vigor overflowing.

He then looked at yesterday's Dao of Survival evaluation, and his eyes instantly lit up:

[How could insults directed at me matter? Face them with an ordinary heart and do not compete for strength or victory. Perhaps one can act through the hands of others, never placing oneself in the spotlight, reducing risks to the lowest possible level—this accords with the true meaning of the Dao of Survival. Dao of Survival Points +6]

Thinking of the time he had severed ties with the Chen Family, Chen Yuan calculated that if something happened that day and his actions met the standards of the Dao of Survival, he could earn additional Dao of Survival Points.

If nothing happened, then it would simply be a normal settlement.

It was easy enough to understand. Only by staying hidden and safe amid the whirlpool of treacherous, ever-shifting events could one be considered truly capable.

He looked at the panel again:

[Comprehension: 10]

[Bone Structure: 29]

[Cultivation: None]

[Techniques]

[Rock-Solid Stance Technique (Not Initiated): 1/10]

[Dao of Survival Points: 6]

[Evaluation: You do not show off your abilities, do not make enemies of others, and understand the principle of hiding your light and biding your time. You have already glimpsed the path of the Dao of Survival. Daily Dao of Survival Points +3]

Chen Yuan's eyes lit up again. His daily Dao of Survival Points had become +3!

This made him even happier than the settlement's +6. After all, it was an improvement to the foundation, and grains of sand could build a tower.

It was likely because he had stepped onto the path of martial arts.

The environment was more complicated now, and he came into contact with more people and events. The demands placed on his survival skills had increased, so the base settlement points naturally rose as well.

At this rate, it would not take more than two days to raise his foundation to Grade C-Lower.

Moreover, Chen Yuan had figured out another function of the panel: Dao of Survival Points could be used to increase a technique's progress, allowing him to master it directly at high speed.

Experimentally, he added one Dao of Survival Point to the Rock-Solid Stance Technique. His understanding of the stance movements immediately became a little clearer.

Chen Yuan's heart stirred at once. At this rate, he could initiate the Rock-Solid Stance Technique within two days, which would surely earn the Gu Family's regard.

But drawing that much attention would likely run contrary to the Dao of Survival. A tree that stood out in the forest was sure to be battered by the wind.

And in the long run, improving his comprehension and bone structure would bring greater returns.

After carefully weighing the pros and cons, Chen Yuan abandoned the idea of rapid mastery and decided to train steadily and earnestly.

History had also proven that those who sought quick success often bloomed only briefly, and were easily transformed into surrenderists. Only those who worked hard and fought a protracted war could laugh to the end.

After arriving at the Martial Hall, he continued learning the remaining stance techniques from Master Huo.

With the foundation from the first day, all of them learned much faster now. It was no longer necessary to correct every movement one by one.

"Sink your qi into the dantian, draw in your waist, lift your hips..."

As Huo Lin instructed them, he also gained a fairly thorough grasp of the aptitudes of these five youths sponsored by the Gu Family.

At present, Chen Yuan and Xue Anping were training the best.

Chen Yuan had better bone structure, a stronger foundation, and trained more often.

Xue Anping, meanwhile, had higher comprehension. He learned quickly and had fewer areas that needed correction.

As for the other three, they were all much the same.

Overall, none of them stood out enough to make him look upon them especially highly, but none were mud that could not be plastered onto a wall either.

If they trained hard for a year or half a year, all of them would have a chance to break through the gate.

"Practice on your own and consolidate what you have learned. Do not slack off. I will teach the remaining stance techniques this afternoon." With that, he paced toward the Inner Court.

Thinking of the Grade B Bone Structure youth Huang Yan had mentioned yesterday, he felt somewhat regretful.

Only talent like that was qualified to inherit his mantle, yet the Gu Family did not trust him.

Alas.

Chen Yuan trained with no distractions, striving to initiate the stance technique within five days.

A sense of urgency also rose in Xue Anping's heart.

His goal was to surpass Chen Yuan and claim that damned tael of silver.

From his observations, he believed his comprehension was higher than Chen Yuan's. As long as he worked harder than Chen Yuan, he would definitely win.

Sweat poured down like rain, quickly soaking through his training clothes and spreading vast dark patches across his chest and back.

Sun Chengjie was naturally familiar with people. Ignoring the hostile looks cast his way by the Zhou Brothers, he went to chat with the other disciples in the yard whenever he grew tired.

Liu Jin, however, was somewhat troubled. His mind had wandered for a while just now, and he had failed to properly learn several stance forms.

Remembering Master Huo's words from yesterday, he swallowed his pride and walked toward the senior brothers resting beneath the awning, intending to ask for guidance.

Chen Yuan had just completed more than half a set of stance techniques and was about to drink some water and rest when he saw Liu Jin return with an ugly expression.

He casually asked:

"What is it? Are those senior brothers bad-tempered?"

Liu Jin nodded and said irritably, "There are a few stance forms I don't really understand. I wanted to ask for some guidance, but Senior Brother Song was very impatient. He said I could ask, but he charged ten copper coins each time."

Chen Yuan took a gulp of water and was not surprised.

Whose time was not valuable? Charging money was perfectly normal. If it were him, he would not be willing to waste time teaching others either.

He could only say, "Wait until Senior Brother Tao is free, then ask him."

That senior brother had a gentle temperament. Whenever he had spare time, he answered every question and even set aside time to guide them.

Perhaps Master Huo had instructed him to do so.

However, Senior Brother Tao was not in the yard today. He had apparently gone to deal with matters concerning an appointed post.

Liu Jin nodded helplessly.

That afternoon, Master Huo taught all the remaining stance techniques in one go, then explained what came next:

"Practicing martial arts is a process of tempering the tendons and bones and nourishing the qi and blood. Specifically, when you can finish one full set of the Rock-Solid Stance Technique and feel the blood qi in your chest, you will have entered the gate. After that comes constant hard training, dietary supplements, and medicinal supplements to strengthen that breath of blood qi in your chest. When it grows strong enough to make your chest feel stuffy and your body burn hot, you may attempt to strike at the first gate—the Skin Realm."

After sweeping his gaze over them, he continued:

"Only after passing the Skin Realm can one be considered to have entered martial arts. With your aptitudes, it would already be quite good if you could break through the Skin Realm within half a year."

Upon hearing this, the group fell somewhat silent.

Even if they broke through the Skin Realm in half a year, they would still have to undergo the Gu Family's six assessments.

If they did not display sufficient potential, the risk of elimination would be great.

Master Huo changed the subject. "Besides the four gates of skin, bone, muscle, and marrow, which temper the physical body, martial arts also has three technical barriers: Clear Force, Dark Force, and Transformation Force. Therefore, you cannot neglect combat techniques either. They directly determine your fighting strength. First, hurry and initiate the Rock-Solid Stance Technique. Once you have done so, I will teach you combat techniques."

Chen Yuan committed every word to memory.

The four physical-body gates of skin, bone, muscle, and marrow, as well as the three technical gates of Clear Force, Dark Force, and Transformation Force—this was the current division of the martial path.

The road ahead was long and heavy!

His foremost goal was to initiate the Rock-Solid Stance Technique.

Chen Yuan walked to an open space nearby and silently began practicing.

The Rock-Solid Stance Technique had twenty-eight forms, and he practiced them again and again.

[Rock-Solid Stance Technique (Not Initiated): 3/10]

Until the sun set in the west and the crisp ringing of the Dining Hall bell sounded, he still failed to break through to 4.

Chen Yuan dragged his exhausted body toward the Dining Hall. This time, besides beef and meat soup, he also ordered an extra bowl of Body Strengthening Soup.

After paying for it, he had four qian of silver left.

After wolfing down all the beef, he took a gulp of Body Strengthening Soup. At first, he felt nothing, but after taking a few more bites of rice, he sensed a warm current spreading from his stomach throughout his body.

His limbs and bones were nourished, and his body grew faintly warm.

As expected of Body Strengthening Soup that cost one qian of silver per bowl.

Seeing this, Xue Anping gritted his teeth and spent money on a bowl as well.

He could not let the Body Strengthening Soup create a gap between them!

Sun Chengjie and the other two clicked their tongues softly, but remained unmoved.

They felt there was no need to spend extra money at this stage.

As for those two, they were most likely competing for the Gu Family's reward.

Though no one said anything, their actions had already made the matter clear to everyone.