Amid the apprentices' exclamations and flattery behind him, Hong Yuan returned to the rear courtyard. Having fulfilled a childhood dream, he felt cheerful and thoroughly refreshed.
For some reason, though, a faint phantom ache lingered at the back of his head, making him sigh softly.
After several days of tireless training, Hong Yuan's root bone had strengthened by another strand.
Every increase in root bone brought comprehensive growth to his physique, rather than improvement confined to any one part. It could even promote an increase in comprehension to some extent.
After all, essence, energy, and spirit complemented one another. When energy brimmed, the spirit naturally flourished.
Hong Yuan's strength had increased considerably again. Stirring the bucket of water and tossing a stone ball weighing over fifty jin more than ten feet into the air had merely been a small test of a butcher's cleaver. He had not used his full strength.
However, Hong Yuan could also clearly feel that the rate at which his root bone improved was gradually slowing.
He had gained two strands in the Jade Wutong Immortal Realm, then another after just one day of training upon arriving at the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall. This fourth strand, however, had taken several days.
Presumably, improving his root bone and even his comprehension would only become harder from here. Relying on training alone was far too inefficient. Who knew how much time it would take?
Hong Yuan had no time to waste. Within his lifetime, he had to reach the pinnacle of martial prowess and wield power unsurpassed beneath the heavens. Only then could he unlock [Taisui Blessed Land].
If I want to speed things up, I certainly can't stop training, but I'll still need some technology and ruthless methods!
Hong Yuan considered this privately.
Technology: miraculous pills and medicines!
Ruthless methods: tempering his fleshly vessel and character through life-and-death combat!
Just as he was thinking this, a line of tiny, mosquito-sized text appeared before his eyes.
(Persistent training has strengthened your will... Stirring the water vat fulfilled a childhood dream, bringing joy to your heart and a slight growth in character. Comprehension +1 strand.) [Root bone: 4/100] [Comprehension: 5/100]
Suddenly, a warm current trickled slowly into Hong Yuan's mind, rushing straight to the crown of his head. All distracting thoughts vanished, leaving his mind empty and crystal clear.
Hong Yuan seized the opportunity. With a shift of his thoughts, he immediately entered a meditative state.
He could practice the meditation method whenever he wished. There was no need to choose a location or maintain any particular posture.
Ordinary people, however, were plagued by distracting thoughts. To enter meditative stillness, they had to seek a comfortable, quiet environment and use the special postures of guiding exercises to lead themselves into it. They might even have to bathe and burn incense before they had the slightest chance of clearing their minds.
Merely entering stillness was already so difficult. Using meditation afterward to sense invisible, intangible vital energy, and even give it direction and form, was harder still—as difficult as ascending to heaven.
But Hong Yuan had possessed first-rate talent from the outset. With another five strands of comprehension now added, he far surpassed ordinary people. At a thought, he swiftly entered stillness and returned to emptiness.
Vital energy... Where is my vital energy?
Hong Yuan's consciousness opened its "eyes" within the void. In an instant, he saw strands of energy swimming through "his" organs, limbs, and bones, winding like snakes and fine as silk.
He saw them, far more clearly than ever before.
Hong Yuan remained tranquil, neither thrilled nor excited by the sight. His mind was a pool of clear spring water, without a ripple.
He imagined his consciousness as an invisible hand and slowly reached out. The snakelike, silken currents first trembled, seemingly about to disperse and fade, but were ultimately held fast by that invisible hand.
The next instant, he seized them.
Like someone who had found an amusing toy, Hong Yuan used the invisible hand formed from his consciousness to guide his vital energy toward his fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, waist, organs, and legs. It obeyed as naturally as fingers obeyed an arm, flowing wherever he wished.
Mastery of vital energy—achieved!
"Exhale... Inhale..." Hong Yuan slowly breathed out and in, then used the breathing method to lead his vital energy. He soon settled into the proper state.
Each inhalation and exhalation of the Tiger Roar Breathing Method was like an issued command, directing the circulation of his vital energy.
The breathing method was the central commander, and his vital energy the soldiers.
Using the breathing method to command vital energy was like marching an army into battle.
Successfully gathering scattered vital energy into a single current, directing its strength toward one purpose, and transforming it into "true force" would mean winning the battle.
Failure, naturally, would leave a defeated army of broken soldiers, turning back upon him!
Should I press on while my momentum holds and try entering the force stage directly?
Hong Yuan considered it, feeling fairly confident of his chances.
"Senior Brother, Senior Brother Hong..."
Just then, a shout came from the front courtyard. A young man with a bulbous nose stood at the entrance to the passageway, peering inside.
His thoughts interrupted, Hong Yuan was not annoyed. This was no mysterious enlightenment whose fleeting opportunity, once lost, would be all but impossible to find again.
Now that he had mastered his vital energy, attempting to enter the force stage was merely a matter of whether he wanted to.
Yang Lie had also reached this point, but after more than ten years of training, he had only barely managed to control his vital energy. Thus, he dared not take the next step lightly, fearing that failure would scatter his vital energy and injure him instead.
Hong Yuan had no such concerns. Although he had only just mastered his vital energy, his control was already far more accomplished than Yang Lie's after over ten years of cultivation.
"What is it, Junior Brother Li?"
Hong Yuan walked out through the passageway into the front courtyard and looked at the bulbous-nosed young man who had spoken. The man's name automatically flashed through his mind: Li Hai!
Li Hai approached with a grin. "Senior Brother Hong, you've been at the martial arts hall for quite a few days now, doing your utmost to teach us junior brothers. We can't let that go unacknowledged, so a few of us discussed it and decided to host a dinner at the Fortune Pavilion tonight. Please do us the honor of joining us."
"You paid to come to the martial arts hall. Teaching you is only right, so there's no need for that. All right, go back to training!" Hong Yuan waved a hand.
Seeing this, Li Hai hastily lowered his voice and winked suggestively. "Senior Brother, there's more fun to be had after we've eaten our fill. They say a new girl named Xiao Shuang has arrived at the Warm Fragrance Pavilion. Her beauty and talents are no worse than those of the top courtesan in the Prefectural City. With your abilities, if you went, you'd surely gain entry to her inner chamber and return with the beauty in your arms."
"Oh? Is she really that outstanding?" The Warm Fragrance Pavilion was the largest brothel in Yangquan County. Hearing this, Hong Yuan seemed interested.
"You definitely won't be disappointed if you go, Senior Brother," Li Hai hastily said. "I guarantee it. To tell you the truth, I sneaked over there a month ago. Just catching sight of Miss Xiao Shuang from a distance nearly melted my heart."
"So you're quite fond of Miss Xiao Shuang, Junior Brother?" Hong Yuan looked Li Hai up and down, somewhat surprised.
Li Hai blushed and stammered, "Well... well, everyone appreciates beauty."
"Junior Brother, you really have made me see you in a new light." Hong Yuan drew a breath.
"Well... Senior Brother, I don't quite understand what you mean."
Hong Yuan looked at Li Hai with a smile. "You like Xiao Shuang, yet you want me to go. What would you think if I really did end up with the beauty in my arms?"
"Well, Miss Xiao Shuang is only a brothel girl, after all. You needn't worry so much, Senior Brother," Li Hai said.
"You truly are broad-minded, Junior Brother. Very well. When I have some free time in the future, I'll seek out Miss Xiao Shuang for some fun. During our night of passion, I'll be sure to invite you to sing outside the door to liven things up. That way, you can feel a little involved too, and we'll honor our brotherly bond."
Hong Yuan patted Li Hai's shoulder, then changed tack. "But not these next few days. Go back."
Li Hai's expression first stiffened. Then, hearing Hong Yuan refuse, he was about to try persuading him again, but Hong Yuan had already turned and returned to the rear courtyard.
Li Hai could only stamp his foot and return to the training ground. His gaze shifted, catching sight of Meng Yue practicing against a jujube-wood post in a corner.
He hurried over to Meng Yue. Before he could speak, Meng Yue, still striking the post with fists and feet, asked in a lowered voice, "How did it go? Did Senior Brother Hong agree?"
There was a hint of urgency in his words, but Li Hai failed to notice it.
Meng Yue naturally would not personally lure Hong Yuan out of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall, lest he expose himself afterward even if he successfully ambushed and killed him.
But over nearly two years of training at the martial arts hall, he had gathered a few followers. Li Hai was one of them, though he knew nothing of Meng Yue's actual identity.
Li Hai shook his head miserably. "Senior Brother refused."
Meng Yue's expression darkened. Since his face was usually cold and stern anyway, the change did not stand out. Instead, Li Hai asked, "Neither the Fortune Pavilion nor the Warm Fragrance Pavilion is cheap. Why spend so much, Senior Brother Meng?"
"What do you know?" Meng Yue snapped, frightening Li Hai into shrinking back.
Meng Yue quickly checked his anger and forced down his temper. "We train here at the martial arts hall, and Senior Brother Hong is Master's personal disciple. Naturally, he'll inherit the hall in the future too. Only by getting into his good graces can we learn better martial arts..."
Regardless of whether Li Hai believed him, Meng Yue waved him away. A heavy stone weighed on his heart. After practicing for another half hour or so, he left early and departed the martial arts hall.
He would have to find another way to lure Hong Yuan out.
Before you continue