The Difference

Luo Zheng sat atop the high platform, leisurely sipping tea as his gaze swept back and forth among the disciples.

Seeing their furrowed brows and miserable expressions as they racked their brains without finding an answer, a hint of amusement appeared on his face.

This is only the beginning. Through-Arm Fist is nowhere near as simple as you think. There will be plenty more suffering ahead. Luo Zheng secretly chuckled.

Of course, his attention was mainly focused on Hu Yuan.

After watching for a few moments, Luo Zheng's brow gradually furrowed.

This Junior Brother Hu... his movements were far too wooden, without the slightest spark of spirit.

By rights, someone with good bone constitution should not have poor comprehension.

Yet Hu Yuan's performance was truly unsatisfactory, even worse than that of many disciples with Low-Grade Bone Constitutions.

Luo Zheng shifted his gaze to the others.

"Hmm?!"

Among the crowd of poorly performing disciples, Li Chuan stood out like a crane among chickens, executing the Through-Arm Fist with considerable form.

At times, his five fingers formed into spikes; at others, he raised his elbow and struck heavily.

This stance... he had clearly achieved Initiation!

Luo Zheng was astonished. As far as he knew, Li Chuan had not attended any of the master's three martial arts lessons.

Did that mean he had achieved Initiation the moment he encountered the Through-Arm Fist?

"No... he has spent four months in the hall, so he must have encountered it to some extent. Perhaps he already had a foundation."

"Still, this is quite good. Such comprehension from someone with a Low-Grade Bone Constitution."

Luo Zheng nodded inwardly.

"What a pity. He woke up too late. Someone with a Low-Grade Bone Constitution has little hope of reaching Gate-Knocking within two months."

Luo Zheng took a sip of tea and sighed.

Many people failed to work diligently in their youth, only to regret having wasted so many years once they truly needed strength.

But time would not flow backward, nor was there any medicine for regret to buy in this world.

Once missed, it was missed.

Another half hour passed.

The many disciples below still had not found the knack.

Just as he had said, practicing martial arts was no simple matter.

"Oh?" Luo Zheng looked toward an inconspicuous figure. The Throat-Piercing Heart-Lock he performed actually had some semblance of proper form.

He had achieved Initiation as well.

Luo Zheng had some impression of this person.

Qin Feng, Low-Grade Bone Constitution.

He had achieved Initiation in just over half an hour. His comprehension was even better than Luo Zheng's had been back then.

Luo Zheng's brows rose slightly.

What was going on with this batch of newcomers? There were actually two people with low bone constitutions but good comprehension.

Li Chuan had already been automatically grouped among the "newcomers" in his mind.

But Hu Yuan... was still as stiff as ever, still far from achieving Initiation.

From beginning to end, Li Chuan never raised his head or paid attention to anyone else's progress. He remained focused on himself, diligently practicing the Through-Arm Fist.

Martial strength was his fundamental reliance for surviving in this world.

He gave every punch and every palm strike his utmost effort.

The panel visible only to him stood before his eyes, its faintly glowing numbers constantly jumping, giving him endless motivation.

He did not know how much time had passed before Luo Zheng's voice roused him.

"It is nearly noon. Go eat, everyone. The path of martial arts cannot be rushed for quick results. The Through-Arm Fist is no wild roadside technique; it is difficult to get started with. Take it slowly."

As soon as those words were spoken, many disciples collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion, trembling as they took out the food they had prepared.

Most commoner disciples ate coarse buns, struggling to swallow them with pickled vegetables.

Children from wealthy families, meanwhile, took out oil-paper packages and rubbed their hands as they opened them.

Some contained roast chicken, others braised meat—too many varieties to list—and they ate until their mouths shone with grease.

"Junior Brother Hu, come to the Inner Courtyard with me. The meal is ready." Luo Zheng smiled as he called to Hu Yuan.

Hu Yuan's face carried a trace of embarrassment as he quietly agreed.

He had not expected that, despite possessing a High-Grade Bone Constitution, he would fail to achieve Initiation in the Through-Arm Fist after an entire morning.

The Inner Courtyard and Outer Courtyard were separated by a single gate wall, yet it was like dividing two entirely different worlds.

Li Chuan saw through the crack in the door.

A large table made from pearwood stood inside, laden with more than a dozen dishes.

Braised pork knuckle, soft-shelled turtle soup, steamed bear paw, roasted squab...

Creatures that flew in the sky, walked on the ground, and swam in the sea.

Around the table sat young masters in brocade and fine robes, along with poised young ladies of noble bearing.

They chatted and laughed freely, gesturing as if commanding the winds and clouds.

A familiar face caught Li Chuan's eye: Jiang Ting was among them.

Li Chuan shook his head. At last, he understood why, no matter how hard the original owner had fawned over her, she had never looked his way.

She mingled with children of great families, and she was also a Dark Force martial artist. Why would she ever look favorably upon an Apprentice like him, one who had not even entered the path?

"Giving" only seemed meaningful when built upon a foundation of status and position.

A weak person's concern was nothing but laughable.

Li Chuan took two cold, hard flatbreads from his pocket and chewed them with difficulty.

When he truly could not swallow them, he dipped them in water, soaking them soft and mushy before eating them.

The scent of meat around him continuously assailed his taste buds.

After practicing martial arts, the body naturally needed a great deal of qi and blood replenishment.

These two flatbreads were only enough to "fill his stomach"; "eating his fill" was impossible.

Li Chuan gave a bitter smile.

He wanted meat too, but his circumstances did not allow it!

He only earned one tael of silver each month.

Pork cost forty copper coins per jin. How could he afford to eat it every day?

Usually, he could eat meat one day out of every two. On the other day, he ate some vegetable leaves with flatbread or steamed buns.

Even so, he was already better off than many disciples in the Martial Hall.

Quite a few had even borrowed usurious loans to practice martial arts, hoping to gamble on that sliver of a chance to turn their lives around.

In Anning County, lending out at nine and collecting thirteen was already considered benevolent and righteous.

If they succeeded in cultivation, all would be well. But if they failed to reach Gate-Knocking... their families would likely be ruined and their people scattered.

Such people often could not afford meat, only getting a taste of something savory every few days.

Compared to them, he was considered fortunate.

"Pah!" Qin Feng moved up beside Li Chuan and spat. "That damned Hu Yuan! The moment he entered the Inner Courtyard, he stopped recognizing us."

"He entered the hall on the same day I did. Back then, he called me Brother Qin. Now I'm Junior Brother Qin!"

"One day... when I succeed in martial arts, I absolutely will not become like him!"

Qin Feng gulped down a mouthful of water, his expression agitated and unlike his usual calm self.

Clearly, Hu Yuan's actions just now had enraged him.

"That is simply the way of the world. There is nothing to blame." Li Chuan said calmly.

Qin Feng was greatly surprised.

"Senior Brother Li, he called you Junior Brother Li. Why do you not care at all?"

Li Chuan chewed the flatbread hard and did not answer.

"Senior Brother Li, I do not know why you practice martial arts, but I practice so that my mother can live a good life, so she will not have to do needlework at home every day and endure other people's cold looks!"

Li Chuan thought of his family.

His grandparents, who hoped he would become a dragon; his mother, who cherished him; his cousin, who had given up his own opportunity to practice martial arts in order to support him; and his sharp-tongued but soft-hearted aunt...

After finishing the flatbreads, Li Chuan got up again and practiced the Through-Arm Fist over and over.

Whenever he tired from punching, he stood in the Mountain-Holding Stance, alternating between the two.

[Practiced Through-Arm Fist, proficiency +1]

[Practiced Mountain-Holding Stance, proficiency +1]

[Primordial Jade Record]

[Effect: Record techniques. Study diligently and train hard, and success will surely come!]

[Host: Li Chuan]

[Technique: Mountain-Holding Stance (Initiation)]

[Proficiency: 130/500]

[Technique: Through-Arm Fist (Initiation)]

[Proficiency: 20/500]