Genius

Li Chuan steadied his mind.

There was a chance!

The efficacy of this Primordial Jade Record was truly powerful; even though he possessed inferior root bones, the proficiency gained was not a single bit less.

As long as he practiced diligently, there would be rewards.

At that moment, Li Chuan felt the heavy burden on his shoulders lighten.

He had known of the Primordial Jade Record's miraculous nature before, but he had never truly verified it.

Deep down, he had been somewhat anxious and uneasy.

Now that the clear-cut improvement was laid out before his eyes, the effect was entirely different.

It was just like in his past life; no matter how big a pie the boss promised, you couldn't take it seriously until the money was actually in your hands...

With one worry settled, Li Chuan suddenly felt an inexhaustible supply of strength throughout his body.

What could be more exhilarating than seeing his own progress with his own eyes?

If I had such a divine object in my past life, I could have cleared every single math question bank...

Li Chuan tightened his focus, stopped his mind from wandering, and buckled down to practice his stance.

At times he stood, at times he crouched, and at times he leaped.

It was truly exhausting, but the progress was solid and tangible.

Just like that, Li Chuan became completely immersed in the Mountain-Holding Stance, utterly unaware of the passage of time.

Many people cast strange looks toward Li Chuan.

Quite a few knew that he was Jiang Ting's top-tier "sycophant."

He usually put all his heart into chasing women, and it was rare to see him practicing in the martial arts arena during the day.

Let alone at night, when one could only rely on the moonlight for illumination.

Some shook their heads, whispering jokes among themselves:

"I heard he fell into the water not long ago and Jiang Ting turned a blind eye; I suppose he's acting like he's been injected with adrenaline because his heart was broken."

"I wonder how many days he can keep this up... or perhaps just a few hours?"

Other disciples withdrew their gazes, indifferent, focusing instead on honing their own skills.

However, the chatter soon faded away.

Everyone had only felt a sense of novelty, as if watching a play about a prodigal son returning to the fold.

But once that excitement passed, they lost all interest.

By the riverbank, two figures stood and gazed into the distance.

Hu Yuan, dressed in fine robes, said with a pointed tone:

"Oh? Isn't that your friend, Li Chuan?"

Jiang Ting walked on his right, lifted her pretty face, and hurriedly explained:

"We are merely acquaintances, not friends. We don't even speak a few words on a daily basis."

Hu Yuan laughed:

"No matter. When I first joined the hall, I lived in the same dormitory as him, and back then I heard him singing your praises."

Fearing that Hu Yuan might be displeased, Jiang Ting quickly changed the subject:

"I don't know what got into him today, practicing his stance late at night. He does look quite diligent."

"It's just... as someone with inferior root bones, his potential is limited. No matter how hard he works, he can't compare to Junior Brother Hu."

Jiang Ting offered a subtle compliment.

A proud smile curled the corners of Hu Yuan's mouth:

"If hard work were useful, what would be the point of geniuses?"

Jiang Ting clicked her tongue in secret, startled by the sheer audacity of Hu Yuan's words:

"Junior Brother Hu, you've only just entered the school and haven't met the Master yet. Once he returns, he will surely cultivate and oversee you personally. After all, you are the martial arts hall's only superior root bone; your future is boundless!"

Jiang Ting chatted and laughed with Hu Yuan, soon pulling her gaze away from Li Chuan.

To her, Li Chuan was merely one of many pursuers.

And the most ordinary one at that.

Therefore, even after hearing that he had declined her invitation tonight, Jiang Ting felt no emotional fluctuation.

A mediocre person, nothing more.

Martial arts arena.

All the disciples had departed, and the vast grounds appeared somewhat empty and desolate.

The autumn wind wailed as it blew in from the riverside.

"Hiss!"

Li Chuan rubbed his sore thighs, waking as if from a dream.

"What time is it? Not having a phone is so inconvenient!"

Li Chuan muttered to himself.

"Clack, clack, clack!"

"The third watch of the night, all is peaceful!"

Outside the courtyard wall, the watchman's voice drew near, growing increasingly clear.

At first, Li Chuan was somewhat confused.

He only knew the watchman to shout, "The weather is dry, beware of fire."

What was this about the third watch of the night?

Searching his memories, he discovered that the work of a watchman was not as he had imagined.

The watchman's clapper sounds and slogans followed a fixed set of rules.

For instance, the hour of the dog was called the "first watch," with a rhythm of one fast beat followed by one slow beat.

The slogan was the most well-known, "The weather is dry, beware of fire."

Now, the watchman struck the clapper three times slowly, signifying the "third watch," which was the hour of the rat.

In the timekeeping of his previous life, that would be between 11:00 PM and 1:00 AM.

"So it's already late into the night?!"

Li Chuan was somewhat surprised.

He had not expected it to be so late.

Dragging his exhausted body, Li Chuan walked back to the communal dormitory provided by the Pine Wind Martial Hall.

Though it was called a communal dormitory, since he had paid the tuition, the accommodations were not too bad.

There were only three beds in total.

Li Chuan couldn't help but recall that in his past life, some schools had forty or fifty beds crammed into a single room...

"Those people were truly ruthless; they couldn't even compare to this other world!"

With a snap, Li Chuan lit the oil lamp.

"Senior Brother Li, you're back so late?"

Qin Feng opened one eye, looking somewhat dazed.

When he saw that Li Chuan's black training uniform was completely soaked and clinging to his body, Qin Feng sat up with a start.

"Senior Brother Li, did you fall into the water again?!"

Li Chuan: "...I lost track of time while practicing the stance."

Qin Feng was astonished.

Although he had only been at the martial hall for three days, he had long heard of Li Chuan's reputation.

His most important daily task was thinking of ways to curry favor with Jiang Ting.

Practicing martial arts?

He had been here for four months and hadn't even learned the Pine Wind Martial Hall's signature Through-Arm Fist!

However, he didn't voice his thoughts, instead putting on a flattering smile:

"Senior Brother Li, you must be tired from training. Let me help you make your bed!"

Li Chuan glanced at him:

"No need, Junior Brother Qin, I can do it myself."

Qin Feng gave an awkward smile and continued:

"Then let me wash your socks!"

Li Chuan shook his head with a smile:

"Junior Brother Qin, don't trouble yourself. I can handle it."

Qin Feng had joined the hall two days ago; like him, he had inferior aptitude and a common background.

He was clever, though, knowing he was a newcomer and always trying to take on chores.

"By the way, why hasn't Junior Brother Hu returned? Did something happen?" Li Chuan asked casually. "But he has superior aptitude and is the martial hall's prized treasure, so nothing could have happened to him."

"Hu Yuan... he entered the inner courtyard."

"What?" Li Chuan looked surprised.

The Pine Wind Martial Hall was divided into an inner courtyard and an outer courtyard.

The outer courtyard was where ordinary apprentices and disciples stayed.

The inner courtyard, however, was open only to disciples who had mastered "Dark Energy."

The food and accommodations were a cut above, completely incomparable to the outer courtyard.

Yet Hu Yuan had only just joined two days ago, and he had already entered the inner courtyard?

"Master sent word that he intends to take Hu Yuan as an inner-chamber disciple, granting him the same treatment as the senior brothers who have mastered Dark Energy..."

Disciples of Pine Wind Martial Hall were divided into three levels.

Those who had not yet passed the threshold were called apprentices, while those at the level of Bright Energy were called registered disciples, permitted to use the martial hall's name abroad.

One level higher, those with Dark Energy were called inner-chamber disciples; as the name implied, they were allowed into the master's private quarters, signifying a close relationship between the two.

Envy flickered in Qin Feng's eyes:

"That is Master Liang's closing disciple we're talking about. Raising a student to provide for one's old age—he will surely receive the best cultivation."

"I used to hear people say how rare superior bone structure was and didn't feel much, but now that I've entered the martial hall, I realize that compared to someone with inferior bone structure like me... it's a world of difference!"

"Besides, I heard that Jiang Ting and Hu Yuan have been very close lately, often going out together..." Qin Feng carefully observed Li Chuan's expression, hoping to see some frustration or envy.

But there was nothing.

Li Chuan's expression remained calm, his focus entirely on his own task.

This time, Qin Feng truly felt that Senior Brother Li was different.