High-Grade Bone Constitution!

Luo Zheng flashed a toothy grin.

Everything was understood without a word.

When men expressed gratitude, they rarely made as much noise as women beating gongs and drums.

Instead, they remembered it in their hearts and silently repaid it when the chance came.

"Hahaha!" Liang Hangzhou's laughter rang out from the Inner Courtyard. "You broke through to Dark Force after only four months in the hall, Qin Feng. Are you willing to become my Final Disciple?!"

"Final Disciple?! Qin Feng broke through?" In the Outer Courtyard, countless disciples stopped what they were doing, and an uproar broke out.

Who would have thought that the inconspicuous Qin Feng would break through two barriers in just four short months and step straight into Dark Force?

"This is Master Liang's Final Disciple..."

Only then did everyone notice the earth-shaking news in the latter half of Liang Hangzhou's words.

A Final Disciple meant the disciple the Master valued most.

He could be treated as a biological son, perhaps even closer than one.

This was someone who would support his master in old age, take the punches for him, and inherit the Martial Hall!

The master would surely pour every resource into him, using a lifetime of accumulated wealth to pave him a road to the heavens!

Li Chuan could clearly sense that Luo Zheng's breathing had become far more rapid.

With his Dark Force strength, if Luo Zheng wanted to conceal his aura, Li Chuan would have had no way of sensing him.

Everyone in the Martial Hall knew that senior brother Tang Xiang and second senior brother Luo Zheng were competing for the position of Final Disciple.

No one had expected Qin Feng to charge out halfway through.

A trace of loneliness entered Luo Zheng's eyes.

"Junior Brother Li, keep training. I'm going to offer my congratulations."

Before long, another richly dressed middle-aged man entered.

"The Wang Family head of the Inner City, Wang Wenchi? What is he doing here?" Someone recognized him.

Wang Wenchi laughed heartily.

"Master Liang, congratulations on gaining a Final Disciple. Wang has come to offer his congratulations!"

Liang Hangzhou emerged from the Inner Courtyard with Qin Feng, smiling as he returned the greeting.

"Master Liang, I dare not accept such praise. Family Head Wang's Transforming Force cultivation has likely improved quite a bit again. This old man fears he is no longer your match!"

Li Chuan's pupils contracted slightly. This was another Transforming Force expert.

The Four Great Families of the Inner City: Wang, Liu, Huang, and Zhou.

Since the Wang Family head had reached Transforming Force, the other family heads were likely no different.

"Family Head Wang!" Qin Feng stepped out from behind Liang Hangzhou, his complexion rosy and his eyes bright as stars.

Together with the aura of Dark Force, he looked exceptionally heroic.

"Little Feng, now that you've broken through to Dark Force, ten taels a month is far too little for you. From now on, you'll receive thirty taels each month. You need not do anything else; just focus on martial arts. Strive to earn the title of Martial Scholar and break through to Transforming Force soon!"

Qin Feng was both startled and flattered.

"Thank you, Family Head Wang!"

Wang Wenchi shook his head with a smile.

"Why call me Family Head Wang? That sounds so distant. Just call me Uncle Wang."

"Oh, right. My daughter is sixteen this year, of marriageable age. What do you think, Little Feng?"

"Nuanyu, come out and let him see you."

A beautiful young woman shyly stepped out from behind Wang Wenchi, not daring to raise her head to look at Qin Feng.

Wang Nuanyu had a graceful figure and breathtaking beauty.

With such a beauty before him, Qin Feng's throat went dry, and he stammered.

"Uncle Wang, I have long held feelings for Nuanyu."

Wang Wenchi smiled.

"Then all the better. What does Master Liang think? If our two families become joined by marriage, would that not be wonderful?"

Liang Hangzhou stroked his grizzled beard.

"Of course it would be wonderful!"

"Brother Wang, how did you get ahead of me?!"

Outside, a squat, potbellied man hurried in, anxiously clapping his hands as he shouted.

Wang Wenchi wore an apologetic expression.

"Brother Hong, the dock business is too profitable. I made you wait a moment, then got there first."

Hong Qian shook his head and sighed.

"Fine, fine. Worthy Nephew Qin, accept these fifty taels as Uncle's congratulatory gift!"

The people in the Outer Courtyard cried out in surprise.

Fifty taels!

How many people had to struggle for most of their lives to earn fifty taels?

Yet Qin Feng only had to stand there, and someone delivered money right to his door.

Li Chuan could not help but sigh inwardly. Bone constitution truly was too important.

Qin Feng, with his High-Grade Bone Constitution, had easily received a monthly stipend of ten taels upon breaking through Bright Force.

Now, after knocking at the gate a second time, he had directly received fifty taels as a meeting gift.

Li Chuan himself had fought desperately and only earned six taels of silver.

Even when buying meat, he had to choose and deliberate again and again.

Some people were born in Rome.

After that, wave after wave of people arrived.

Even the least generous brought a bear's paw, merely to forge a good connection.

Li Chuan did not keep staring at Qin Feng with envy like everyone else.

With the Primordial Jade Record in his possession, he was confident he was no worse than anyone.

Steady steps carried one far.

He returned to the Martial Arts Arena and practiced the Mountain-Holding Stance again and again.

He trained until deep into the night before Li Chuan dragged his exhausted body back to the Common Dormitory.

The moment he pushed open the door, he sensed something was wrong.

The atmosphere in the room was far too desolate.

Hu Yuan sat silently in a corner, packing his Traveling Pack with a ruined expression on his face.

When he saw Li Chuan return, Hu Yuan spoke calmly.

"Senior Brother Li, I failed my Gate-Knocking."

Li Chuan knew very well that for apprentices with Low-Grade Bone Constitutions like them, failing Gate-Knocking meant they would never have another chance.

The Martial Hall gave them only six months. It was impossible for them to accumulate enough qi and blood for a second Gate-Knocking attempt.

And besides... Hu Yuan's family could not afford such an expense.

Li Chuan did not know what to say, so he could only comfort him.

"Junior Brother Hu, failing at martial arts is not the end of the world. At worst, you return to an ordinary life."

Hu Yuan raised his head to look at him. Despair lay hidden in his calm voice.

"My sister used her dowry to pay my tuition, then borrowed loan-shark money to buy me meat, hoping I could repay it after succeeding at Gate-Knocking..."

Li Chuan's heart jolted.

He had not expected Hu Yuan to borrow loan-shark money to practice martial arts.

Loan-shark money was deadly!

Lend nine, repay thirteen—it was utterly impossible to pay off!

Borrow one tael, and it could often snowball into five, or even ten!

Yet Li Chuan could understand why Hu Yuan's sister had made that choice.

At Hu Yuan's former rate of accumulating qi and blood, he likely would not have gathered enough even by the time he left the Martial Hall.

He could only eat a little minced meat once every two or three days, yet he trained so fiercely. How could his body endure it?

Hu Yuan finished packing his Traveling Pack.

There was not much to pack—only a straw mat, a tattered quilt, and a few changes of clothes.

He had returned all the gifts he received when he entered the Inner Courtyard.

It had been like a dream, briefly carrying him to a place that did not belong to him.

Once the dream ended, he returned to cruel reality.

Hu Yuan tightened his Traveling Pack and smiled.

"Senior Brother Li, I'm going up the mountain to become a woodcutter. Those four months of training weren't useless. At least I can chop firewood much faster than other people."

He raised the bag of flatbreads in his hand.

"I brought these and haven't eaten them yet. I originally planned to eat five at once to celebrate after succeeding at Gate-Knocking. Who knew..."

"Senior Brother Li, I know you like the flatbreads my sister makes. I'll leave this bag for you."

Before leaving, Hu Yuan carefully looked Li Chuan over several times, as though he wanted to carve him into his heart.

"Senior Brother Li, you're a good man. I hope you make it."

"I'm leaving."

Outside, heavy snow drifted through the air.

The Inner Courtyard remained brilliantly lit, visitors arriving in an endless stream. Congratulations and clinking cups echoed for a long time.

With his head lowered, Hu Yuan walked alone into the pitch-black night.