Disappointment, Setting Sun

Time passed quickly, and the date of the Martial Exam drew ever closer.

The vast Pine Wind Martial Hall saw many new disciples join, while many old ones departed in dejection.

For those with low-grade aptitude like Li Chuan, most left once they had cultivated their Bright Force.

Few remained, and even fewer persisted.

After all, for someone with low-grade aptitude, the odds of successfully Gate-Knocking a second time were far too slim.

No one was willing to gamble a year or two of their time and dozens of taels of silver on that sliver of a possibility.

Come to think of it, aside from Yu Sinian, Li Chuan was surprisingly the most senior practitioner of Bright Force in the Outer Courtyard.

As the days went by, many people's perceptions of him began to shift.

Some thought he was obsessed and wasting his effort.

Others believed his persistence and hard work were worth emulating.

But on the whole, there were few who held high hopes for him, and many who did not.

One day, Yu Sinian sought out Li Chuan.

The expression on his face was somewhat excited:

"Junior Brother Li, my blood-qi has fully accumulated, and I am preparing to Gate-Knock!"

After saying this, he grew anxious:

"This is my second attempt to break through to Dark Force. Everyone says the second time holds the greatest hope.

My experience is more mature than the first time, and my spirit is at its peak.

If I fail this time, where will I go from here?"

Li Chuan patted him on the shoulder:

"Relax, Senior Brother Yu. I'm still waiting for you to enter the Inner Courtyard and pull me up with you."

Yu Sinian flashed a grin:

"I'll take your word for it. If I really succeed, I'll treat you to a meal!

Bear paw, bird's nest, shark fin—order whatever you want!"

Li Chuan smiled:

"Don't go back on your word then!"

After Yu Sinian left, Li Chuan cast his gaze toward his panel.

[Skill: Mountain-Holding Stance (Minor Achievement)]

[Proficiency: 1789/2000]

[Skill: Through-Arm Fist (Minor Achievement)]

[Proficiency: 1675/2000]

"The Mountain-Holding Stance is only a little over two hundred points of proficiency away. I can break through in another half-month!"

Li Chuan felt a surge of excitement and immediately began practicing his stance.

Evening.

After Li Chuan finished eating his venison in the Common Dormitory, he returned to the Martial Arts Arena.

But before he even stepped into the arena, he sensed that the atmosphere was strange.

Outer Courtyard disciples were gathered in twos and threes, whispering to one another.

Some faces showed signs of schadenfreude, but most wore complex expressions and sighed repeatedly.

Li Chuan's heart skipped a beat; he had a bad premonition.

He pushed through the bustling crowd and walked to the very front.

Yu Sinian was sitting blankly on a stone bench, staring vacantly at the setting sun in the distance.

Seeing Li Chuan, his expression turned bitter:

"Junior Brother Li, I failed. The blood-qi I spent over half a year accumulating has all gone to waste.

The Master has said many times that those with low-grade aptitude should recognize reality and leave the martial hall once they reach Bright Force.

Go out and find a way to make a living; don't walk the path of martial arts anymore."

Yu Sinian gave a self-deprecating laugh:

"At the time, I was unwilling to accept it, and I wasn't convinced. I thought, why should someone with low-grade aptitude be considered inferior?

I was determined to break through to Dark Force with my low-grade aptitude and slap the Master in the face.

Half a year ago, I failed my first attempt at Gate-Knocking, but I didn't feel defeated."

"I thought I was still young, that failure didn't matter, that there would be a second chance and I would surely succeed."

Yu Sinian pursed his lips, his expression suddenly turning defeated:

"But I failed. Even my second attempt, the one with the highest chance of success, failed. As my body ages, the possibility of successfully Gate-Knocking will only grow smaller and smaller.

My father is already old, and he emptied the family savings to support my martial arts training. Now, he wants me to go back, inherit the family business, take a wife, and live out my life.

What should I do?"

Yu Sinian looked pained, his hands gripping his hair tightly.

In the distance, Senior Brother Tang Xiang witnessed it all.

He sighed:

"Junior Brother Qin, look, the Martial Arts Maniac Yu Sinian has also failed his Gate-Knocking. This failure means he will have no more opportunities in the future.

As expected, it is just too difficult for those with inferior bone structure to break through to Dark Force.

Yet he was so diligent, so hardworking..."

Qin Feng acted as if he hadn't heard, continuing to practice his fist techniques.

"Junior Brother Qin?"

"Junior Brother Qin?"

Thinking he hadn't heard, Tang Xiang called out to him twice more.

Qin Feng did not stop his movements, his gaze indifferent:

"If hard work were useful, the entire courtyard would be at the Dark Force level."

This statement was intended to imply that his own "talent" was different from the average person.

Liang Hangzhou, standing at the entrance of the Inner Courtyard, also let out a soft sigh.

But he had long anticipated this result.

Countless hardworking disciples had met their downfall at this Dark Force hurdle.

Among them were many with average bone structure.

As someone with inferior bone structure, it would only be even harder for Yu Sinian.

People, in the end, must recognize reality.

Yu Sinian watched the setting sun sink bit by bit, watching for a long time.

He stood up and brushed off his backside:

"Junior Brother Li, through our time together, I've discovered that your comprehension is very high. I practiced the Through-Arm Fist for a year and a half, yet in the end, I didn't perform as well as you."

"You have more hope of successfully Gate-Knocking than I do. I hope you can make it."

"I'm off!"

Li Chuan couldn't help but ask:

"Will you come back?"

Yu Sinian paused for a moment:

"Maybe."

Yu Sinian left.

That Martial Arts Maniac, the most hardworking disciple of the Outer Courtyard, had just left like that.

His figure was swallowed by the boundless night, vanishing completely.

Li Chuan stood silently on the wooden stake, practicing the Mountain-Holding Stance.

The sky grew darker, and many disciples stood up, preparing to leave.

Watching Li Chuan, who was still training hard, some couldn't help but whisper:

"What's the use of working so hard? Even Yu Sinian failed his Gate-Knocking."

"That's right, martial arts requires a balance of work and rest; the evening is the time to relax."

"What do you know? This is called 'fake training.' It looks like hard work, but the results are poor."

The crowd spared no effort in criticizing Li Chuan's behavior.

As if by doing so, they could prove the correctness of their own actions.

And thereby gain a sense of superiority.

Li Chuan, however, was completely immersed in the world of martial arts.

His mind was filled with the circulation paths for the Mountain-Holding Stance and the Through-Arm Fist.

In a corner unseen by others, the numbers on the light screen flickered slowly.

After Yu Sinian left, he never returned.

It was as if the man had vanished into thin air; even Li Chuan, who had been well-acquainted with him, heard nothing at all.

Li Chuan was alone once again.

Aside from Luo Zheng occasionally stopping by to spar with him, no one else spoke to him.

Or rather, he had become nothing more than fodder for gossip over tea and meals.

Li Chuan grew silent, doing nothing but practicing martial arts.

Since he no longer had to deliver medicine to the Luo Family Pharmacy, his days became increasingly simple, almost monotonous.

When hungry, he returned to the dormitory to eat venison; when tired, he went back to sleep.

Once fed and rested, he returned to the Martial Hall.

Fortunately, his efforts were not in vain.

Half a month later.

Night.

The Martial Arts Arena held only a single figure.

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

[Skill: Mountain-Holding Stance (Minor Achievement)]

[Proficiency: 1999/2000]

[Skill: Through-Arm Fist (Minor Achievement)]

[Proficiency: 1875/2000]

"Tonight is the night I break through to the Dark Force!"