The Deadline Has Arrived

In the blink of an eye, the two-month deadline had arrived. The courtyard had already received word that Steward Li would soon come to take away those whose fist techniques had yet to reach the introductory level.

That day, after breakfast, Wei Luo went to the training grounds as usual to practice his stance and boxing.

[Within ten li of Pingjiang Town, a risk-free Treasure Fish deduction is available]

[Time required: 2 days]

[None]

The improvements brought by Treasure Fish were tremendous. Naturally, Wei Luo wished he could eat one every day. That very night, he began another deduction, but aside from wasting two days, he gained nothing.

Wei Luo wasn't too disappointed. Catching a Treasure Fish had been a matter of luck, like drawing a prize.

If he were willing to take unknown risks, he could probably deduce something. But if he ran into an even stranger thing, he might have the life to catch the fish but not the life to eat it.

By midmorning, the training grounds had lost the bustle of the past few days.

Of the thirty-two youths, aside from those whose fist techniques had reached the introductory level, only a few stubborn ones were still practicing.

As for the rest, they had long accepted their fate. They would rather curl up in their rooms and sleep than come practice boxing again.

In other words, the pressure had been too much. They had simply given up.

After Wei Luo's fist technique reached the introductory level, he no longer had to constantly worry about becoming a slave.

With his mind relaxed, even his progress in boxing became much faster.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

His fists struck the wooden post with a series of dull thuds. After finishing a set of boxing, Wei Luo calmly activated [Great Thousand Revelation] to begin a deduction.

[Folding Waves Fist Progress Deduction]

[Time required: one breath]

[Current progress: 23%]

Ever since he broke through the first Qi-Blood Threshold that night, the progress of his Folding Waves Fist had begun moving again.

By analyzing the Folding Waves Fist bit by bit, his boxing was steadily improving.

Meanwhile, several people were chatting and laughing in a pavilion nearby.

Leaning against the railing, Luo Sanhu watched the figures practicing on the training grounds and laughed.

"At a time like this, these few fools are still practicing boxing. Even if you gave them another month, they wouldn't amount to anything."

Li Yue glanced over there, then her gaze settled on Wei Luo as she sneered.

"Heh, isn't that Wei Luo? He used to be so smug. We asked him to teach us boxing, but not only did he refuse, he even told us to get lost. And now? Isn't he still about to end up a slave?"

A smug look appeared on Li Yue's face. Although she hadn't been among the first batch to pass the assessment, with Shen Wu's help, her fist technique had already reached the introductory level.

As for what she had paid for it, those who understood, understood.

As she spoke, Li Yue snuggled closer into Shen Wu's arms.

She had already made up her mind. As long as she kept Shen Wu tied down, she would enjoy endless blessings in the future.

After all, Shen Wu possessed superior bones. He might one day grow into someone like Master Qin, standing on equal footing with the entire Sun Family.

Shen Wu merely raised his eyes to glance at Wei Luo and said casually, "No need to mind him. He's just putting on a show. Before long, we'll be people from two different worlds."

Just as he said that, a group of people entered from outside the courtyard.

Shen Wu turned to look, then immediately smiled.

"Looks like they're leaving today."

The newcomer was none other than Steward Li. His purpose in coming was to take away those whose fist techniques had not reached the introductory level and send them to work unpaid in the Sun Family's various businesses.

Master Qin, who hadn't shown himself for several days, also appeared.

Very quickly, the training grounds erupted into wails and cries.

"No! Three years is too long! Can't it be shortened..."

"My elderly mother still needs care at home! Steward Li, please show mercy and spare me!"

"I don't want to be a slave... I'll borrow money. I'll borrow money and repay the Sun Family..."

Just dragging the people from the shared sleeping quarters in the courtyard to the training grounds took quite some time.

After all, once they became slaves, their entire lives would be held in the Sun Family's hands. The road ahead was pitch-black.

Quite a few even dropped to their knees with a thump, clutched Master Qin's legs, and began pleading.

"Master Qin, please give me another ten days! I'll definitely get my fist technique through the door!"

Watching them cry until tears and snot covered their faces, Wei Luo felt somewhat moved.

If he didn't have [Great Thousand Revelation], which could deduce both martial arts and information, he would probably have become a slave of the Sun Family too.

But after witnessing the splendor of martial arts, who would willingly become a slave?

Yet Master Qin wasn't moved in the slightest. Instead, he cursed these people as useless trash, then knocked several of them down with a few punches and kicks.

After teeth scattered across the ground, everyone could only stand there with dark expressions, waiting for their fate.

Once the scene quieted down, Master Qin put away the peanuts in his hand and spoke.

"Those whose fist techniques have reached the introductory level, step over here. The rest will await Steward Li's disposition."

Before his words had even faded, Shen Wu and several others raised their heads and stepped out of the crowd, savoring the jealous gazes of the others.

Wei Luo had just started to move when someone placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Wei Luo, it seems that among the five of us from the first batch to pass the assessment, you're the only one who failed to get your fist technique through the door. Don't lose heart. It's only three years as a slave. It'll pass quickly enough."

After saying that, the person let out a sigh and strode away.

Wei Luo was somewhat surprised, because the one who said it was Bighead.

Previously, Bighead's fist technique hadn't even touched the threshold. He had still been far from reaching the introductory level. How had he gotten through the door now?

At that moment, a gust of wind drifted by, and Wei Luo suddenly caught a trace of an unpleasant fishy stench.

That smell seemed somewhat similar to the strange thing he had encountered that night!

Wei Luo immediately sniffed himself, but there was no smell on him.

"Wei Luo, what are you standing around for? Come on."

Liu Changle called out to him, then walked confidently toward Master Qin.

Thanks to Wei Luo's reminder, Liu Changle hadn't gone with the flow and begun learning boxing too early.

Instead, he had proceeded steadily and surely, getting his fist technique through the door several days ago. He was also the only one who knew Wei Luo's fist technique had already reached the introductory level.

When Wei Luo stepped out of the crowd and stood before Master Qin, the latter wore a look of surprise.

Master Qin knew exactly who in the courtyard could get their fist techniques through the door. Wei Luo absolutely wasn't among them.

"Master Qin, my fist technique has also reached the introductory level."

When Wei Luo said this, Shen Wu and the others were also taken aback.

Everyone had been practicing boxing in the same courtyard. Just a few days ago, Wei Luo hadn't made the slightest progress. How had he gotten through the door after only a few days?

Master Qin didn't believe Wei Luo. Frowning, he said, "Do you know what will happen if you lie to me?"

Wei Luo simply replied respectfully, "Master Qin, feel free to test me."

"Good!"

As he spoke, Master Qin threw a punch.

Wei Luo immediately used River Blockade, a move from the Folding Waves Fist, turning his fist into a palm to parry the strike.

Thud!

Fist and palm collided with a dull impact. Wei Luo only felt an immense force crash into him, impossible to resist.

He staggered back more than ten steps before managing to steady himself.

Seeing Wei Luo take that punch, Master Qin understood at once. Wei Luo had clearly broken through the first Qi-Blood Threshold.

Though somewhat surprised, he didn't take it too seriously and merely said casually, "Your lower stance is solid. You can stay."

Everyone naturally understood what Master Qin's words meant.

As Wei Luo joined the group, the people in the courtyard wore all kinds of expressions.

"My bones are clearly no worse than his. Why!"

The resentment in the eyes of those about to become slaves was almost overflowing.

Shen Wu and the others also looked embarrassed. Just moments ago, they had declared that Wei Luo would be leaving in disgrace. Now, it seemed their own words were slapping them in the face.

Wei Luo deliberately walked over to stand beside Bighead and smiled.

"Bighead, looks like we can still study martial arts together."

Bighead's face immediately turned awkward. Wei Luo had been inferior to him before, and after breaking through the first Qi-Blood Threshold, he had wanted to show off a little.

Who would have thought Wei Luo had also broken through at some unknown time? He could only give two dry laughs to hide his embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Wei Luo's nose twitched, and he confirmed something in his heart.

That fishy stench he had smelled earlier was coming from Bighead.

It seemed Bighead had recently encountered some sort of "fortuitous opportunity" as well...

A moment later, after everyone had been settled, Steward Li came before Wei Luo and the others.

"From today onward, you are sailors of the Sun Family. Train well in martial arts, and the Sun Family won't treat you poorly..."

After a round of encouragement, Steward Li swept his gaze across the crowd before it finally landed on Wei Luo.

When he saw Wei Luo take one of Master Qin's punches earlier, his eyeballs had nearly popped out.

When he came today, he had been thinking of arranging Wei Luo to serve at his side, so he wouldn't have to do those backbreaking jobs.

In the end, things turned out completely differently from what he had expected.

Wei Luo had changed so much that Steward Li couldn't help recalling how he had said two days ago that he wanted to catch Treasure Fish.

Could his luck really be that good? Had he caught another Treasure Fish?

At that thought, Steward Li's expression turned strange again.

Treasure Fish were rare. Even the Sun Family had to deploy a Treasure Ship to catch them.

Wei Luo was just a little fisherman. How could his luck be so absurdly good?