Difference

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

Watching their pained expressions as they racked their brains to no avail, a smile could not help appearing on his face.

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

Naturally, his attention was mainly fixed on Hu Yuan.

After watching for several moments, Luo Zheng frowned slightly.

This Junior Brother Hu... his movements were far too stiff, without a trace of spirit.

By rights, those with good Bone Constitutions should not have poor comprehension.

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

Luo Zheng turned his gaze to the others.

"Hmm?!"

Among the crowd of poor performers, Li Chuan, who was executing Through-Arm Fist with considerable form, stood out especially.

At times, he shaped his five fingers into spikes; at others, he raised his elbow for a heavy strike.

That posture... he had clearly achieved Initiation!

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

So he had reached Initiation just after encountering Through-Arm Fist?

No... he has been in the hall for four months, so he must have had some exposure to it. Perhaps he already had a foundation.

Still, this is quite good. To possess such comprehension with a Low-Grade Bone Constitution...

Luo Zheng nodded to himself.

What a pity. He woke up too late. For someone with a Low-Grade Bone Constitution to achieve Gate-Knocking within two months, the hope is slim.

Luo Zheng took a sip of tea and sighed.

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

But time would not flow backward, and there was no medicine for regret in this world.

What was missed was missed.

Another half hour passed.

The many disciples below still had not found the trick to it.

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

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

He had also achieved Initiation.

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 raised a brow slightly.

What was going on with this batch of newcomers? There were actually two with low Bone Constitutions but excellent comprehension.

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

Only Hu Yuan... he was still as stiff as ever, 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 Through-Arm Fist.

Martial strength was the fundamental support he relied on to survive in this chaotic world.

He put forth his greatest effort into every punch and every palm strike.

Before his eyes, the panel visible only to him displayed faintly glowing numbers that continued to jump, giving him endless motivation.

Who knew how much time had passed before Luo Zheng's voice roused him from his concentration.

"It is nearly noon. Everyone, go eat. On the path of martial arts, you cannot be hasty for quick gains. Through-Arm Fist is not some wild, unorthodox style; it is difficult to get the hang of. Take it slowly."

As soon as he said this, many disciples collapsed to the ground from exhaustion, trembling as they took out the food they had prepared.

Most commoner disciples had coarse steamed buns, swallowing them with pickled vegetables only with difficulty.

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

Some had roast chicken, some had braised meat, and all sorts of other dishes. Their mouths glistened with oil as they ate.

"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 wore a somewhat embarrassed expression as he quietly agreed.

He had not expected that, as someone with a High-Grade Bone Constitution, he would fail to achieve Initiation in Through-Arm Fist even after an entire morning.

The Inner Courtyard and Outer Courtyard were separated by a single gate wall, as though they were two different worlds.

Through the crack in the open gate, Li Chuan saw it.

A large pearwood table stood within, laden with more than a dozen dishes.

Braised pork knuckles, turtle soup, steamed bear paws, roasted squab...

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

Around the table sat finely dressed young masters and poised young ladies.

They chatted and laughed with gusto, gesturing grandly as they discussed the world.

Among them was a face Li Chuan recognized well: Jiang Ting.

Li Chuan shook his head. At last, he understood why, no matter how desperately the original owner had groveled, she had never looked twice at him.

The people she associated with were all scions of great families, and she herself was a Dark Force martial artist. How could she possibly fancy an Apprentice like him, who had not even entered the door?

The matter of "giving" only seemed meaningful when built upon status and position.

A weak person's concern was only laughable.

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

When he truly could not swallow them, he dipped them in some water, soaked them until soft and mushy, then ate 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 could only "fill his stomach." To "eat his fill" was impossible.

Li Chuan gave a bitter laugh.

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 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 "usury loans" to practice martial arts, hoping to gamble on that sliver of a chance to turn their lives around.

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

If they succeeded in cultivation, that would be fine. But if they failed to achieve Gate-Knocking... their families would likely be ruined and their people dead.

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

Compared to them, he could be considered fortunate.

"Pah!" Qin Feng moved over 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 as me. Back then, he called me Brother Qin, but now I've become Junior Brother Qin!"

"One day... when I achieve something in martial arts, I absolutely won't be like him!"

Qin Feng gulped down a huge mouthful of water, his expression agitated, no longer as composed as before.

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

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

Qin Feng was quite surprised.

"Senior Brother Li, why are you not bothered at all when he calls you Junior Brother Li?"

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 my mother can live a good life, so she does 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 their grandson would become a dragon; his mother, who doted on him; his cousin, who had given up his own chance to practice martial arts in order to support him; and his sharp-tongued, soft-hearted aunt...

After finishing the flatbreads, Li Chuan climbed to his feet again and practiced Through-Arm Fist over and over.

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

[Practiced Through-Arm Fist, Proficiency +1]

[Practiced Mountain-Holding Stance, Proficiency +1]

[Primordial Jade Record]

[Effect: Record skills. Study diligently and train hard, and success is certain!]

[Host: Li Chuan]

[Skill: Mountain-Holding Stance (Initiation)]

[Proficiency: 130/500]

[Skill: Through-Arm Fist (Initiation)]

[Proficiency: 20/500]