Stubborn as a Mule

The sun gradually rose.

Sunlight bathed the land, dispelling the lingering chill.

The Zhao Family Martial Arts Academy gradually became more crowded, quite lively.

Wang Sheng and this batch of new disciples numbered over forty in total.

Previously, the academy would consider twenty new disciples a lot. At most, only one or two would successfully pass the entrance requirements each batch. Sometimes, not even a single one qualified.

However, the more difficult the times, the more people sought to seize an opportunity for wealth and a bright future.

"They're all just common folk, ignorant of their own limitations. Do they really think practicing martial arts is that easy!"

Fang Mingguang, a young man who had just achieved minor success in martial arts, reaching the Bright Energy stage, knew that none of this batch had any significant background. He sneered as he watched them sweat profusely practicing on the wooden dummies, then turned and entered the inner courtyard.

The academy was divided into outer and inner courtyards. The outer courtyard had large grounds, suitable for combat, martial displays, and expansive training. The inner courtyard was slightly smaller and quieter, conducive to self-reflection and enlightenment.

"Junior Brother Fang, you've gone too far. Among this large group of newcomers, there truly is a promising talent."

Li Hu, a man who had entered the Bright Energy stage over a year ago, crossed his arms and shook his head slightly.

"You mean Lin Shu, right? He looks a bit slow-witted, but his comprehension is indeed good. In just a few days, he's already grasped the essence of the Great Tablet Shattering Hand. If nothing unexpected happens, he'll be our junior brother soon."

Wei Yu finished her practice, steam rising from her head, her rosy cheeks even more radiant. Her beautiful eyes flowed as she looked at Lin Shu, who appeared somewhat dazed.

Many new disciples couldn't help but secretly glance at Wei Yu, with her long legs, slender waist, and handsome, heroic beauty.

The path of martial arts required mastering a supreme martial art before one could become a formal disciple of the academy.

Minor success in a supreme art, generating internal energy capable of splitting rocks and trees, is known as Bright Energy.

Great success in a supreme art, where the internal energy undergoes a transformation, capable of penetrating skin and bone, with the effect of striking through obstacles, is known as Dark Energy.

Perfection in a supreme art, where the Dark Energy changes again, not only becoming more potent but also gaining additional effects like adhesion, extension, and enhancement, is known as Transforming Energy.

Generally, once a person becomes a Bright Energy martial artist, they can easily find a very decent job, with enough to eat and drink to support their family.

As for Dark Energy masters, they are firmly in the middle class, figures that any prominent family would treat with great respect.

Transforming Energy allows one to establish their own school. Master Zhao of the Zhao Family Martial Arts Academy is a master of the Great Tablet Shattering Hand, at the Transforming Energy level, known as Iron Hand Zhao.

"Mm. Besides Lin Shu, the others have some potential in their bone structure, but either their comprehension is lacking, their family background is poor, or their physical training isn't good enough to generate energy. To be admitted, they'll have to work desperately hard."

Li Hu commented.

"Speaking of hard work! That Junior Brother Wang Sheng truly deserves that word. He's the first to arrive at the academy every day and the last to leave. Unfortunately, not only is his bone structure poor, his comprehension is average, and his family background is also impoverished. All three are subpar. I truly can't imagine he has any hope of practicing martial arts!"

Wei Yu looked at Wang Sheng.

In the past, she, Wei Yu, was known throughout the academy as the most diligent and hardworking. But after Wang Sheng joined the academy, he had replaced her.

Although Wei Yu didn't care about the title, she couldn't help but feel curious and focused some of her attention on Wang Sheng.

"Oh, his name is Wang Sheng!"

Li Hu glanced at Wang Sheng, then withdrew his gaze, looking back at Lin Shu.

If Wei Yu hadn't mentioned it, Li Hu would only know that the academy had produced a disciple even more diligent than her, a disciple with poor bone structure, comprehension, and family background. Therefore, Li Hu couldn't even be bothered to remember the disciple's name.

Wang Sheng was truly too unremarkable among the more than forty people.

The impression he gave everyone was that besides diligence, there was nothing else worth remembering about him.

In fact, most people knew that if anyone in the academy had the least hope of entering the martial path, it would definitely be Wang Sheng.

Some people, even though they knew they themselves likely had no hope, felt a little better when they thought that Wang Sheng, despite his efforts, also had no hope of being admitted.

Time passed day by day.

One day, As dusk approached.

"Wang Sheng, stop practicing. The sun is almost set. It's time to go!"

The academy disciples gradually left, and someone called out.

"Oh, don't disturb his practice. Maybe one day he'll become our senior brother."

Sun Ping, who sometimes slacked off and couldn't match Wang Sheng's diligence, said sarcastically.

"Wang Sheng, effort is good. But too much is as bad as too little!"

Lin Shu, having just finished his special guidance from Master Zhao, was preparing to leave the academy. He said calmly, his tone condescending, as if an inner courtyard senior brother was critiquing a junior brother.

This was the first sentence Lin Shu had spoken to Wang Sheng since entering the academy.

It was only because Master Zhao, during his guidance just now, had mentioned that if Lin Shu were as diligent as Wang Sheng, he could enter the martial path sooner.

Under the deliberate care of many senior brothers and the flattery of numerous junior brothers, Lin Shu's disposition had gradually changed, and he had developed arrogance.

Now that Master Zhao said he was inferior to Wang Sheng in diligence, even though it was the truth, Lin Shu still looked down on Wang Sheng.

"Mm! I know!"

Wang Sheng's entire body was drenched in sweat, but his eyes shone with determination. He continued practicing the Great Tablet Shattering Hand on his own, listening to their words with one ear and out the other.

His martial arts practice consumed a lot, but his nutritional intake was very little.

The silver coins Madam Han had given him were long gone. His subsequent meals were mostly coarse grains, with no meat or fat in sight. Sometimes, he didn't even get enough to eat, which forced Wang Sheng to rest after every short period of martial arts practice.

This further led to Wang Sheng only being able to achieve his daily goal of two progress points very late into the night.

"Senior Brother Lin, someone like Wang Sheng is clearly stubborn as a mule. You don't need to bother with him."

Sun Ping quickly tried to curry favor with Lin Shu, hoping to leave a good impression on the genius.

However, Before Lin Shu started practicing martial arts, he was dull and listless, possessing a certain resilience, and was often called stubborn as a mule.

"What, is being stubborn as a mule a bad thing!"

Lin Shu shot Sun Ping a cold glance and turned to leave.

Sun Ping froze.

He had tried to flatter his way into favor but ended up stepping on a rake.

Sun Ping quickly looked around. Seeing that the martial arts academy was mostly empty, he felt he hadn't lost too much face.

However, Wang Sheng had definitely heard him.

Sun Ping already disliked Wang Sheng, and now that Wang Sheng had witnessed his embarrassing moment, he hated Wang Sheng even more.

In truth, deep down, he simply looked down on people like Wang Sheng who worked hard but couldn't achieve anything.

"Wang Sheng, you really think you can get in? Dream on!"

Sun Ping muttered a parting shot under his breath, a way to vent his anger, before leaving.

Wang Sheng ignored him. Only after a moment, when he finally saw his progress increase by one before his eyes, did he slowly cease his movements.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence: Learning will yield results.]

[Stone Stance Technique: Not yet initiated (51/100)]

[Great Tablet Shattering Hand: Not yet initiated (54/100)]

"Two progress points a day, and in twenty-three more days, I'll successfully be initiated. There are still thirty days left before the two-month deadline, so I'll definitely make it in time!"

At this point, Wang Sheng had already forgotten Sun Ping's provocative words.

Having practiced martial arts all day, he was both hungry and tired. All he wanted was to go home, find something to fill his stomach, and then lie in bed and sleep soundly.

The moon hung to the left, with scattered starlight.

Mud Loach Street.

Wang Sheng returned home. As soon as he entered the kitchen, he saw his mother, Madam Han, dozing on a small stool.

"Mom, what are you doing?"

Wang Sheng asked softly.

"Oh, Sheng'er is back!"

Madam Han startled awake. Seeing Wang Sheng return, she quickly got up and took something out from her embrace.

"Quick, it's still a little warm, eat it while it's hot!"

The sky had been dim earlier, so Wang Sheng hadn't clearly seen that his mother was holding something.

Now, looking closer, he saw it was half a roasted chicken wrapped in oiled paper.

However, there seemed to be footprints on it.

But at that moment, Wang Sheng couldn't care about that anymore. Already ravenous, his cheeks twitched with excitement, his eyes lit up. He said, "Thank you, Mom," took it, and began to devour it.

"Hey, slow down, eat slowly!"

Madam Han watched Wang Sheng eat with gusto, her eyes full of smiles.