Master Yuan

"Hoo... hoo..."

Inside the secret chamber, Lin Yi gasped for air, his chest heaving rhythmically. He stripped off his outer robe, his undergarments already soaked through with sweat, as if he had just been fished out of water.

Exhaustion!

Utter, extreme exhaustion!

Lin Yi felt a dull ache throughout his entire body; he didn't even want to lift his arms.

He raised his eyes to glance at his fate, [Know Heavenly Fate].

[Fate: Know Heavenly Fate, Empathic Corpse Dissection]

[Cultivation Method: Long Rainbow Technique (Fourth Layer)]

[Proficiency: 1275/1500]

[Cultivation Method: Corpse Kui Rebirth Method (First Layer)]

[Proficiency: 918/1000]

[Qi Refining Path: Corpse Puppet Path, Martial Path]

[Realm: Corpse Puppet Path Ninth Grade, Martial Path Unranked]

[Martial Arts Skill: Reckless Blade (Great Success)]

[Proficiency: 462/500]

[Corpse Puppet Path Skills: Yin Coffin Crafting (Great Success), Puppet Control Art (Great Success), Corpse Obstruction Eye (Great Success)...]

The harvest was bountiful. He hadn't expected that fighting that martial artist all night would increase his martial arts proficiency so significantly.

After eating some dried meat and pills to replenish his blood and qi, Lin Yi recovered most of his strength and began to inspect the spoils from killing the martial artist.

It had been pitch black that night, so Lin Yi hadn't checked anything; he had simply rummaged through the corpse and taken everything he could carry.

Now, as he examined the items, Lin Yi couldn't help but gasp.

"As expected of a martial artist, truly wealthy..."

Lin Yi stared wide-eyed at his haul, unable to help but exclaim.

Three hundred-tael silver notes, totaling three hundred taels.

A dagger that looked quite valuable; it could be sold, though it was technically stolen goods.

Three bottles of unknown pills, which he would need to study before using.

Most notably, there was a movement-type martial arts manual titled Vast Step.

He had already read this technique from the man's body using [Empathic Corpse Dissection].

In addition to that, there was a fist technique called Mountain Opening Fist.

Lin Yi was delighted.

Originally, he had thought that once he became a martial artist, his top priority would be to acquire a movement technique.

After all, life came first; if he couldn't win, he at least needed to be able to escape.

He hadn't expected someone to hand him a pillow just as he was getting sleepy.

Long nights bring many dreams.

Lin Yi didn't overthink it; he practiced briefly using the experience gained from Empathic Corpse Dissection, and the martial arts data appeared on his panel.

[Martial Art: Vast Step (Entry)]

[Proficiency: 5/100]

Having finished all this, Lin Yi finally drifted off to sleep, feeling content.

Early the next morning, Lin Yi returned to the martial arts hall.

With the crisis at home resolved, Lin Yi wasn't in a hurry to return; instead, he practiced even harder at the hall.

He had killed a member of the Black Wind Gang.

The gang would likely be wary for a few days and wouldn't dare trouble the Lin Clan.

He would take this opportunity to break through the Martial Pass as soon as possible and become a true martial artist.

Once he became a disciple of the hall, he could act under the hall's name in the future.

Even if the Black Wind Gang wanted to target his family later, they would have to weigh the consequences.

Near noon.

"Brother Yi! The Hall Master is coming back!" Xiao Dong returned to the room, shouting excitedly at Lin Yi.

Lin Yi stopped his martial arts practice, a look of joy appearing on his face.

When the martial arts hall master returned, he would lecture the crowd on martial arts, which was a great opportunity to increase the proficiency of the Long Rainbow Technique.

Lin Yi tidied up briefly and then led Xiao Dong to the Martial Practice Platform.

At this moment, the Martial Practice Platform was already packed with people.

Whether they were usually lazy, diligent, or disciples and students who only kept their names on the hall's roster, everyone had rushed back.

A quick glance revealed about five or six hundred people.

Furthermore, the innermost area of the Martial Practice Platform was already densely crowded with people.

Lin Yi sighed slightly, "We arrived a bit late today..."

"Junior Brother Lin!"

Suddenly, Lin Yi looked toward the center of the crowd, where Liu Lie was waving to greet him.

As the third inner-chamber disciple of the hall master, Liu Lie held the highest status among those present.

Seeing this, the crowd turned their gazes toward Lin Yi in unison.

"Who is that? Why is Senior Brother Liu greeting him?"

"You don't know him? That's the madman who spends the entire day practicing on the Martial Practice Platform every single day."

"Senior Brother Liu seems to think highly of him."

"Pfft, isn't that just Senior Brother Liu's personality? He always values disciples from humble backgrounds who work exceptionally hard. Many people have built a connection with him based on that before..."

"So, this guy is just another opportunist..."

"I wouldn't know about that."

"..."

The crowd's discussions were chaotic.

Liu Lie ignored them, waving directly at Lin Yi, "Junior Brother Lin, come sit here."

After a moment's thought, Lin Yi did not refuse and went to Liu Lie's side.

At the same time, four or five young men, all of whom had reached the martial artist realm, were gathered around Liu Lie.

Liu Lie introduced them to Lin Yi one by one.

After both sides exchanged greetings, they curiously asked what grade of bone structure Lin Yi possessed.

When Lin Yi replied that it was Grade B, the eyes of the group clearly warmed up a little.

They began to chat with Lin Yi.

However, it was limited to just a few warm pleasantries.

They were not Liu Lie.

They had no strong desire to interact with someone like Lin Yi who had not yet reached the martial artist realm; they were only willing to exchange a few words to save face for Liu Lie.

Liu Lie realized this as well and smiled awkwardly, pulling Lin Yi aside to ask, "How is it? Which pass have you broken through to now?"

"The fourth pass. I broke through the Bone Pass not long ago..." Lin Yi said.

Liu Lie was shocked, "The fourth pass!"

"Your progress is faster than even those with Grade A bone structure!"

Liu Lie even began to doubt himself, "Could it be that they measured your bone structure incorrectly before?"

Lin Yi shook his head helplessly, "It is indeed Grade B. Perhaps my comprehension is just better than others."

Liu Lie nodded, as if convincing himself, "That must be the only reason."

Clop, clop, clop!

A burst of rapid hoofbeats rang out.

Liu Lie reacted instantly, whispering to Lin Yi, "Junior Brother, stay here for a moment."

With that, Liu Lie hurried out to the entrance, bowed, and knelt on one knee, "Welcome back, Master!"

In an instant, everyone in the martial arts hall also knelt on one knee in unison.

"Welcome back, Master Yuan!"

"Whoa!"

Neigh!

Following a long, piercing whinny from the horse, a tall steed with a mane as red as fire came to a sudden halt at the entrance.

On the horse's back sat a middle-aged man with a majestic, rainbow-like aura and a towering physique!

He was none other than the master of the Rainbow Martial Hall.

A top-tier martial arts powerhouse in the entire Jiaqing County.

A martial arts grandmaster who had reached the Seventh Grade—Yuan Fubai.

Lin Yi lowered his head, carefully observing the imposing figure atop the horse, his blood boiling in an instant.

Sooner or later!

Sooner or later, he would reach the other man's realm!

Clop, clop, clop.

Immediately following, the crisp sound of three more sets of hooves approached.

The three people behind were young, appearing to be no more than twenty years old.

Two men and one woman.

They were none other than Yuan Fubai's other three inner disciples, aside from Liu Lie.

"Everyone, rise!" Yuan Fubai said.

"Yes, Master Yuan!"

The crowd stood up in unison.

Yuan Fubai's gaze swept over the crowd like a torch, then he continued:

"Not bad, very good."

His gaze shifted to Liu Lie. "Lie'er, you have worked hard."

He then flicked a bottle of pills from his sleeve, which flew into Liu Lie's hand.

"You have been at the Xiantian stage for a long time; it is time to break through. I gift this Force Transformation Pill to you. Break through soon."

Liu Lie said with wild joy, "Thank you, Master!"

Force Transformation Pill?

Although Lin Yi did not know what that was.

But seeing Liu Lie's excited expression, he knew it was no cheap item.

Yuan Fubai swept his gaze over the crowd and announced loudly, "Rest for a moment; we shall discuss martial arts shortly!"