Bright Force!

Pine Wind Martial Hall.

"I heard that Qin Feng defeated three Bright Force disciples from Gan Yun Martial Hall in a row on the ring, winning with effortless ease."

"If you count the time, he only took half a month to break through to Bright Force... and now, not long after that breakthrough, he can already easily defeat veteran Bright Force practitioners!"

"That is a true genius. Look at how the master treats him; he acts as if he wants to raise him like his own son, pouring nutritional supplements and medicinal tonics into his mouth as if they were free!"

Li Chuan walked through the area, listening to the crowd's discussion, and felt a sense of melancholy in his heart.

In just one month, I haven't even been able to fully accumulate my blood-qi, yet Qin Feng already has few rivals among those at the Bright Force level... Is this the power of superior bone structure?

Sometimes, whether you are willing to admit it or not, talent is extremely important in any profession.

The speed at which superior bone structure absorbs blood-qi far exceeds that of inferior bone structure.

As long as they have sufficient resources for cultivation, they can accumulate enough blood-qi to attempt the breakthrough in a short period of time.

Furthermore, their success rate for that breakthrough is far higher than those with inferior bone structure.

Back and forth, the gap only continues to widen.

"Junior Brother Li." Luo Zheng, in the distance, nodded toward Li Chuan, offering a greeting.

The hard work over this period had improved his attitude toward Li Chuan significantly.

In the past, it was considered good if he didn't lecture him a few times upon meeting, but now he was taking the initiative to greet him.

Li Chuan smiled and cupped his fists in response.

Walking over to the familiar wooden stake, Hu Yuan was still practicing martial arts diligently.

That incident from over twenty days ago seemed like a cruel joke played by fate.

He had fallen from heaven to hell in an instant.

"Hello, Senior Brother Li." Hu Yuan turned his head to greet him.

He then immediately refocused on the wooden stake, burying himself in his practice.

However, his comprehension was clearly not high.

After practicing for nearly a month, he hadn't shown much improvement.

Li Chuan also began his martial arts practice without a moment's delay.

He started by pressing his palms together, standing on one leg, and keeping his buttocks against his toes to practice the Mountain-Holding Stance.

After a short rest, he would sometimes form his fingers into strikes, vicious and ruthless.

At other times, he would tense his arms and deliver heavy, sweeping blows.

When mealtime arrived, he went to buy meat to eat.

Sitting on two taels and five mace of silver, he could now eat meat to his heart's content.

A pound of pork cost thirty to forty wen, and he could eat as much as he wanted every day.

After eating his fill, Li Chuan continued his martial arts practice.

Looking at the jumping numbers before his eyes, Li Chuan pondered:

With enough blood-qi, the increase in proficiency is much faster than I expected. I originally thought it would take twenty days or so to break through, but now it seems that time can be shortened a little.

Li Chuan truly felt the benefits of having money!

If I can enter the inner courtyard, I could eat beast meat every day and drink medicinal soups from time to time. I can't imagine how much faster my proficiency would progress then compared to now!

Li Chuan shook his head, reined in his wandering thoughts, and buried himself in his practice.

Autumn departed and winter arrived; time slipped away quietly.

Ever since Liu Hu died, the leader of the Black Bear Gang had not sent anyone else to force a purchase.

Li Family Shop had also become peaceful.

With no worries for the time being, Li Chuan's life gradually became a routine between two points.

Every morning, he rose with the rooster and headed straight to the training grounds.

When tired, he rested; when hungry, he ate meat.

At night, he worked under the stars, practicing until very late before returning to sleep.

The situation within the martial hall also changed from time to time.

Many old disciples left in dejection because they could not break through after six months.

There were also many vibrant new faces stepping into Pine Wind Martial Hall, carrying their hopes with them.

Only disciples who successfully broke through to Bright Force could rest easy.

As time passed, Li Chuan's assessment day was approaching.

Seeing him work so diligently yet still fail to break through, the crowd's opinion of him changed once again.

Previously, they thought he had turned over a new leaf.

Now, they viewed him as the textbook example of "idleness in youth leads to regret in old age."

Luo Zheng, however, greatly admired Li Chuan's perseverance.

He went from greeting him proactively to occasionally coming over to offer a few pointers.

Every bit of guidance caused Li Chuan's proficiency to jump by a significant margin.

Half a month later.

Li Chuan looked at the panel before him and took a deep breath.

Success or failure, it all rides on this.

[Skill: Mountain-Holding Stance (Entry)]
[Proficiency: 495/500]
[Skill: Through-Arm Fist (Entry)]
[Proficiency: 400/500]

There were only a dozen days left until the assessment.

His blood-qi had nearly reached its peak; he was only one breakthrough away.

He did not have the luxury of failing the breakthrough.

If he failed this time, the blood-qi would dissipate, and it would take at least two months to accumulate it again.

He did not have that much time.

If he failed this time, he would have to leave the martial arts hall.

Li Chuan felt a sense of trepidation in his heart.

He was not certain if the panel worked the way he thought it did—that reaching the required proficiency would guarantee a successful breakthrough.

But now, he had no other opportunities to verify it.

There was only one path before him, and that was to keep moving forward.

Li Chuan took a deep breath and stopped overthinking.

He walked to the training ground and stood in the stance on the specialized equipment.

Before long.

[Practiced Mountain-Holding Stance, Proficiency +1]
[Practiced Mountain-Holding Stance, Proficiency +1]
...
[Skill: Mountain-Holding Stance (Entry)]
[Proficiency: 499/500]

As winter approached, the temperature turned frigid.

Yet, suddenly, steaming white vapor emerged around Li Chuan.

In an instant, he drew the eyes of many.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and focused their gazes on Li Chuan.

During this period, they had seen this sight many times.

Many senior disciples were like this when they attempted their breakthroughs.

Whether he would leave in dejection like an ordinary person, or manage to be one of the one or two in ten who succeeded and remained in the martial arts hall, all depended on what happened next!

"Junior Brother Qin, what are you looking at?"

The high platform of the inner courtyard offered a view of the entire outer courtyard.

Senior Brother Tang Xiang leaned against the railing and asked Qin Feng with a smile.

Qin Feng snapped out of his thoughts and smiled.

"An acquaintance of mine is preparing for his breakthrough."

Tang Xiang followed his gaze and, upon discovering it was Li Chuan, looked teasingly at Jiang Ting.

"Isn't this Junior Sister Jiang's 'attendant'?"

Jiang Ting curled her lips.

"I have no interest in someone unwilling to spend money on me."

Qin Feng explained, "He has been in the hall for over five months. This should be his first breakthrough attempt, and also his last."

Tang Xiang continued to smile gently, though a hint of coldness crept into his expression.

"Junior Brother Qin, you already possess superior aptitude; you are no longer on the same level as these people."

Even the most gifted and perceptive among them could not hope to catch sight of your back.

People without value are best left unacquainted.

It is people like the Wang Family in the inner city, or that wealthy water merchant from before, whom you should be associating with.

They can provide you with silver, resources, and women.

Those are the useful people."

Tang Xiang shifted his posture and said casually:

"Take your Second Senior Brother, Luo Zheng, for example. I often tell him he neglects his proper work, failing to focus on his own martial path, and instead prefers to make useless friends. He often wastes his precious time guiding these apprentices; in the end, besides a word of gratitude, what does he gain?

He entered the hall around the same time as I did, and we were once neck and neck. Later, I cultivated ties with various powers and received much support, while he always preferred dealing with these mediocrities. Now, I can defeat him with ease."

Jiang Ting covered her mouth and chuckled:

"Junior Brother Qin, Senior Brother Tang is right. There is no need to associate with people I could lure with a mere flick of my finger."

Qin Feng looked thoughtful, silently observing the myriad lives in the outer courtyard.

Li Chuan was unaware that his simple attempt to break through had already earned him ten death sentences.

He was focused solely on his own affairs.

As the final light screen appeared before his eyes:

[Practiced Mountain-Holding Stance, proficiency +1]

[Mountain-Holding Stance has broken through to "Minor Accomplishment"]

He suddenly felt the abundant blood and energy within his body transform into surges of majestic power, crashing through his system.

His meridians ached with swelling, and his muscles tore and reformed repeatedly.

Pain, accompanied by a tingling sensation, pushed his physique to a new height.

At the same time, the world before him became clear.

Li Chuan could see that a junior brother in the distance had coarse, black hair growing on his neck, unlike the others.

The wind blew leaves, and the rapid, continuous breathing of those nearby sounded as if it were right beside his ears.

The thick blood within his body surged and flowed, bringing with it even greater strength.

It was an unprecedented power.

At this moment, Li Chuan knew clearly that he had succeeded in his breakthrough.

Everything had fallen into place as naturally as water flowing into a channel.

From now on, he was a legitimate Bright Force martial artist.

Most of the martial hall's tuition would be waived; he would no longer have to do manual labor, clean latrines, or worry about being kicked out for failing to meet requirements.

Even his status had changed from "apprentice" to "registered disciple."

To the outside world, he could even proudly declare that he was a disciple of the Pine Wind Martial Hall!

When he was an apprentice, no one would have taken such a claim seriously.

Apprenticeship was merely an exchange of interests, devoid of any true master-disciple bond.

Moreover, with the strength of a Bright Force martial artist, he could take up positions in major factions to earn money, no longer needing to rely on his family for support!

The onlookers let out exclamations of surprise.

In the outer courtyard, many disciples attempted the breakthrough, but most failed; few succeeded.

The way many people looked at him had already changed.

The more astute ones rushed forward to strike up a conversation.

Li Chuan smiled and responded to them one by one.

"Junior Brother Li, congratulations!" In the distance, Luo Zheng wore a sincere smile.

"Many thanks for your guidance, Senior Brother Luo." Li Chuan cupped his fists in return.

Luo Zheng patted his shoulder and laughed heartily:

"It was all your own ability; I didn't help you with anything. Now that you are a Bright Force disciple, I'll take you to practice a few moves when I have the chance!"

Li Chuan thanked him again, appearing flattered.

After finishing his pleasantries, he looked up on a whim.

His gaze met Qin Feng's.

Qin Feng's expression was cold as he turned and walked away.

"Junior Brother Qin, why are you leaving? Don't you want to watch a bit longer?" Tang Xiang called out to him.

"Watch what?" Qin Feng asked back without turning his head.

It seemed to be a response to Tang Xiang's earlier lecture.

Tang Xiang clapped his hands and laughed, shouting that it was marvelous, before turning to leave.

Jiang Ting hurried to follow:

"Wait for me!"

To them, Bright Force was nothing more than weeds by the roadside.

Not worth mentioning.