Bright Force!

Pine Wind Martial Hall.

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

"Let's count the time—it took him only half a month to break through to Bright Force... And how long has it been since then? Yet he can already easily defeat veteran Bright Force martial artists!"

"Now that is a true genius. Look at how Master treats him—he practically wants to raise him as his own son, stuffing him with food supplements and medicinal tonics as if they cost nothing!"

Li Chuan walked through the crowd, listening to their discussion, and could not help feeling somewhat moved.

"In a whole month, I haven't even managed to fully accumulate my Blood Vitality, yet Qin Feng is already nearly unmatched even among Bright Force martial artists... Is this the might of a High-Grade Bone Constitution?"

Sometimes, whether one wished to admit it or not, talent was extraordinarily important in every profession.

A High-Grade Bone Constitution absorbed Blood Vitality far faster than a Low-Grade Bone Constitution.

So long as they had sufficient resources to cultivate themselves, they could accumulate enough Blood Vitality for Gate-Knocking in a short time.

And their success rate in Gate-Knocking was incomparably higher than that of those with Low-Grade Bone Constitutions.

With one gain and one loss, the gap only widened further.

"Junior Brother Li." Luo Zheng nodded to Li Chuan from afar, counting it as a greeting.

This period of arduous cultivation had greatly improved his attitude toward Li Chuan.

In the past, it would have been good enough if he did not scold Li Chuan a few times whenever they met. Now, however, he was taking the initiative to greet him.

Li Chuan smiled and returned the greeting with clasped fists.

When he reached the familiar wooden post, Hu Yuan was still diligently practicing martial arts.

What had happened more than twenty days ago seemed like fate playing a joke on him.

In an instant, he had fallen from heaven into hell.

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

Then he refocused on the wooden post and buried himself in hard practice.

But his comprehension was clearly not high.

After practicing for nearly a month, he still had not made much progress.

Li Chuan also began practicing martial arts without pause.

First, he pressed his palms together, stood on one leg, and placed his buttocks against his heel as he practiced the Mountain-Holding Stance.

After resting briefly, his fingers sometimes formed stabbing claws, sinister and vicious.

At other times, both arms tensed as he swept them heavily across.

When it was time to eat, he went to buy meat.

With two taels and five qian of silver at his disposal, he could finally eat meat without restraint.

A jin of pork cost thirty or forty copper coins. He could eat as much as he wanted every day.

After eating and drinking his fill, Li Chuan continued practicing martial arts.

Watching the numbers jump before his eyes, Li Chuan pondered inwardly:

"With enough Blood Vitality, my proficiency has risen much faster than expected. I thought it would take over twenty days to break through, but it seems I can shorten that time somewhat."

Li Chuan truly felt the benefits of having money!

"If I can enter the Inner Courtyard, I'll be able to eat Beast Meat every day, and sometimes even drink medicinal cuisine. I can hardly imagine how much faster my proficiency will advance then!"

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

Autumn passed and winter came as time quietly slipped away.

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

Li Family Shop became peaceful as well.

With no immediate worries hanging over him, Li Chuan's life gradually became a routine between two points.

Every morning, he rose at the crow of the rooster and headed straight for the Martial Arts Arena.

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

At night, beneath stars and moon, he practiced until late before returning to sleep.

The situation within the Martial Hall also changed from time to time.

Many old disciples left dejectedly after failing to achieve Gate-Knocking within six months.

Many fresh, spirited faces also entered Pine Wind Martial Hall, carrying hope in their hearts.

Only disciples who succeeded in Gate-Knocking and broke through to Bright Force could sleep without worry.

As time passed, Li Chuan's assessment date drew near as well.

Seeing that he was diligent and hardworking yet still unable to achieve Gate-Knocking,

everyone's opinion of him changed once again.

Before, they had thought he was a prodigal returning to the right path.

Now, they regarded him as a model of "one who did not work hard in youth."

Luo Zheng, on the other hand, greatly admired Li Chuan's perseverance.

What began as taking the initiative to greet him gradually turned into occasionally coming over to offer him guidance.

Every bout of guidance raised Li Chuan's proficiency by a fair amount.

Half a month later.

Li Chuan looked at the panel before him and drew a deep breath:

"Success or failure will be decided in this one stroke."

[Technique: Mountain-Holding Stance (Initiation)]

[Proficiency: 495/500]

[Technique: Through-Arm Fist (Initiation)]

[Proficiency: 400/500]

There were only a little over ten days left until the assessment.

His Blood Vitality had nearly accumulated to its peak; he lacked only one attempt at Gate-Knocking.

He could not afford to fail at Gate-Knocking.

If he failed this time, once his Blood Vitality dispersed, it would take at least another 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 Hall.

Li Chuan felt somewhat uneasy.

He was not certain whether the panel worked as he imagined—that as long as his proficiency was sufficient, Gate-Knocking would succeed.

But now, he had no extra chances to test it.

There was only one road before him: keep moving forward.

Li Chuan drew a deep breath and stopped thinking further.

He went to the Martial Arts Arena and practiced his stance atop the special apparatus there.

Not long after.

[Practiced Mountain-Holding Stance, Proficiency +1]

[Practiced Mountain-Holding Stance, Proficiency +1]

...

[Technique: Mountain-Holding Stance (Initiation)]

[Proficiency: 499/500]

Winter was approaching, and the air was cold.

Yet steaming white vapor suddenly rose around Li Chuan.

In an instant, it drew many people's attention.

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

Over this period, they had seen such scenes many times.

It was the same when many old disciples underwent Gate-Knocking.

Would he leave dejectedly like an ordinary person, or would he win that one-in-ten chance of success and remain in the Martial Hall? That depended on what came next!

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

The high platform of the Inner Courtyard overlooked the entire Outer Courtyard.

Leaning against the railing, Eldest Senior Brother Tang Xiang asked Qin Feng with a smile.

Qin Feng came back to himself and smiled.

"Someone I know is preparing for Gate-Knocking."

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

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

Jiang Ting curled her lips.

"Anyone unwilling to spend money on me is beneath my notice."

Qin Feng explained:

"He has been in the hall for more than five months. This should be his first Gate-Knocking attempt—and also his last."

Tang Xiang still wore a gentle smile, though a hint of coldness lay beneath it.

"Junior Brother Qin, you possess a High-Grade Bone Constitution. You and people like them are no longer on the same level.

"Even the most talented and perceptive among them can hardly hope to see your back.

"It is best to make fewer acquaintances among such worthless people.

"Families like the Wang Family of the Inner City, and that water merchant who was once rich enough to rival a region—those are the people you should associate with more.

"They can give you silver, resources, and women.

"Those are useful people."

Tang Xiang changed his posture and said casually:

"Take your Second Senior Brother Luo Zheng, for example. I often say he neglects his proper work. Rather than focusing on his own martial path, he enjoys making friends with useless people. He constantly spends his precious time guiding these Apprentices. In the end, aside from a word of thanks, what has he gained?

"He entered the Inner Courtyard around the same time as I did. We were originally neck and neck, but afterward I built ties with all sorts of forces and received much support. Yet he always liked dealing with these mediocre people. Now, I can defeat him with ease."

Jiang Ting covered her mouth and laughed as well.

"Junior Brother Qin, Senior Brother Tang is right. People I can lure over with a twitch of my finger are not worth associating with."

Qin Feng seemed thoughtful as he silently watched the many faces of life in the Outer Courtyard.

Li Chuan did not know that a simple attempt at Gate-Knocking had already earned him ten death sentences.

He merely focused on doing his own thing.

As the final light screen appeared before his eyes.

[Practiced Mountain-Holding Stance, Proficiency +1]

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

He suddenly felt the abundant Blood Vitality within him transform into surging waves of immense power, crashing through his body.

His meridians swelled with pain, while his muscles tore apart and reassembled without end.

Pain mingled with numbness, pushing his physique to a new height.

At the same time, the world before his eyes became clearer.

Li Chuan could see that a junior brother in the distance had unusually thick, long black hairs growing on his neck.

As the wind blew fallen leaves about, the hurried, continuous breathing of those around him sounded as though it were right beside his ears.

The rich blood within him surged and circulated, bringing even greater strength.

It was strength unlike anything he had ever possessed.

At that moment, Li Chuan knew clearly that he had succeeded in Gate-Knocking.

Everything had happened as naturally as water flowing into a channel.

From this day onward, he was a proper Bright Force martial artist.

Most of his Martial Hall tuition would be waived. He no longer needed to perform hard labor, clean latrines, or constantly fear being expelled for failing to meet the requirements.

Even his status had changed from "Apprentice" to "Registered Disciple."

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

Back when he was an Apprentice, no one would have taken such words seriously.

Apprentice, Apprentice—there were only exchanges of benefit, not the slightest bond between master and disciple.

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

The spectators let out cries of surprise.

There were many disciples attempting Gate-Knocking in the Outer Courtyard, but most failed. Few succeeded.

The way many people looked at him had already changed.

Some quick-witted people even hurried over early to strike up conversations.

Li Chuan responded to each of them with a smile.

"Junior Brother Li, congratulations, congratulations!" Luo Zheng called from afar, a heartfelt smile on his face.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother Luo." Li Chuan replied with clasped fists.

Luo Zheng patted his shoulder and burst into laughter.

"It was all your own ability. I didn't help you much. Now that you're a Bright Force disciple, I'll take you through a few moves when there's a chance!"

Li Chuan thanked him again, wearing an overwhelmed and flattered expression.

After dealing with everyone, he raised his head almost as if guided by some unseen force.

His gaze met Qin Feng's.

Qin Feng's expression was indifferent as he turned and left.

"Junior Brother Qin, why are you leaving? Aren't you going to watch a while longer?" Tang Xiang called after him.

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

It seemed to be his response to Tang Xiang's earlier instruction.

Tang Xiang clapped his hands and laughed heartily, repeatedly crying that it was splendid before turning to leave.

Jiang Ting hurried after them.

"Wait for me!"

To them, Bright Force was no more than weeds by the roadside.

Not worth mentioning.