Breaking Through into Inner Force

More than ten days later.

In a corner of the training ground, Zhou Ye sat beside Wu Jun, comforting his companion. "A-Jun, don't push yourself so hard. Your complexion is off—you'll damage your foundation. A-Sheng entered Inner Force in ten days because his talent is astonishing. We have to admit that you and I are ordinary people. There's no need to compare ourselves with that kind of genius."

That was indeed true. After several days of effort, Huang Sheng had successfully broken through in one attempt and had now become an Inner Force martial artist.

But that result had provoked Wu Jun. He had fallen into a feverish state, practicing nonstop from morning to night, even squeezing himself dry to the point of exhaustion.

Zhou Ye truly could not bear to watch any longer, so he offered a few words of heartfelt advice.

"I know. Actually... I'm happy for A-Sheng too." Wu Jun gave a bitter laugh. "But my family already knows that A-Sheng entered Inner Force. My parents haven't said much, but all those relatives have been urging them—if I can't enter Inner Force within a month, then they shouldn't keep wasting money. Sigh...!"

"Do your parents and relatives know about me? I sensed qi in five days. Do you see me acting proud?"

Wu Jun could not help bursting into laughter, though his eyes reddened despite himself.

There was no helping it. The pressure from his family was simply too great, far beyond what young men like Wu Jun could withstand. Zhou Ye could only crack a few jokes to ease some of his mental burden.

Just then, Huang Sheng strode over aggressively. "I'm telling you, A-Jun, you bastard, you're stubborn as a dead mule. Didn't I say it long ago? No matter what happens in the future, we'll be lifelong good brothers! Even if I become a Bright Force or Dark Force expert, I'll still take good care of you and A-Ye."

Zhou Ye said with a smile, "A-Jun, did you hear that? Lifelong good brothers! What if we become even stronger than A-Sheng someday? Then we can take care of him too. I'd just love to see A-Sheng's face twist with jealousy."

Amid uproarious laughter, Huang Sheng cursed at him with a grin. The three companions laughed and roughhoused in a heap.

In the end, Zhou Ye raised both hands in surrender. "You two little brothers, I spoke out of turn. Can you let me make it up to you?"

"Bullshit! You're the little brother—Little Brother A-Ye. A-Jun and I are your eldest and second brothers."

"Fine, fine! The eatery across the street—oil-fried pork! A huge heaping plate!"

"At least you know what's good for you. We'll spare you this time."

"Heh heh."

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhou Ye simply gave the two of them some extra nourishment...

No matter what the future held, at least at that moment, the three companions were still very happy.

Perhaps much of his psychological pressure had been relieved, or perhaps that plate of oil-fried pork had done the trick. By the twenty-fifth day, Wu Jun finally broke through successfully in one attempt. He too became an Inner Force martial artist.

Not to mention Wu Jun bursting into tears at the time, drawing quite a few good-natured laughs.

As for the other trainees, Xu Feng broke through into Inner Force in twenty days. Another senior sister did so in twenty-four. One junior brother who had joined the martial arts school later broke through in just eighteen days.

But apart from them, the other trainees from roughly the same batch successively reached the completion of qi sense and began their first attempts at breaking through.

Yet unexpectedly, perhaps all their good luck had run out. In the end, they all failed. Even Cheng Jianghe failed his breakthrough on the twenty-third day...

Looking at those disappointed, desolate faces, Zhou Ye could not help sighing inwardly. I never expected breaking through to be so difficult. Good thing I have a cheat! Otherwise, I definitely couldn't have entered Inner Force.

Then again, sometimes surprises caught people completely off guard.

By the forty-second day, Zhou Ye's Small Wind-Thunder Stance had reached:

Small Wind-Thunder Stance (Inner Force): Not Initiated (8/10)

But what he never expected was that Basic Movement would reach completion ahead of schedule—

Basic Movement (Unranked): Complete (1000/1000)

Completion reward: Agility +2, Free Attribute Points +1

His Agility had now reached +10. He had finally achieved his small goal in that regard, and he felt as though he had become a superhuman, his nimbleness reaching an inhuman level.

Furthermore, after integrating Basic Movement into Cloud-Leaping Ladder—

Cloud-Leaping Ladder (Third Rate): Proficient (3/100)

It had skipped past the Initiated level in one leap, soaring straight to Proficient!

In addition, he now had an astonishing nine Free Attribute Points. But Zhou Ye had not yet decided how to use them, nor was he in the mood to think about it. He would wait until after entering Inner Force...

Eight days later.

When Zhou Ye woke up, he felt exceptionally refreshed. Perhaps it was because he could enter Inner Force today, leaving him in such a pleasant mood.

After breakfast, Zhou Ye considered it for a moment before deciding not to go to the martial arts school today. Instead, he would break through in one go at home. Perhaps he was simply too impatient—he was unwilling to waste even the time needed to travel to the martial arts school.

More than two hours later, Zhou Ye maintained his stance and let out a long breath. At last, he opened his eyes in delight—

Small Wind-Thunder Stance (Inner Force): Initiated (0/50)

Initiation reward: Free Attribute Points +1

At the same time, he felt the qi and blood within his dantian become full and perfectly rounded, with strands of qi and blood beginning to nourish his entire body in return...

[Zhou Ye (Inner Force): 15/63]

Bone Structure: -3

Comprehension: +4

[Basic Data]

Vitality: (100/100)

Strength: +4

Agility: +10

Constitution: +1

Essence: +5

Charm: 0

[Techniques]

Basic Poison Technique (Mortal): Complete (1000/1000) (+)

Small Wind-Thunder Stance (Inner Force): Initiated (0/50)

[Martial Skills]

Ten Military Saber Forms (Third Rate): Initiated (31/50)

Savage Bull Body Tempering Method (Third Rate): Initiated (0/50)

Cloud-Leaping Ladder (Third Rate): Proficient (3/100)

Basic Archery (Unranked): Advanced (217/500)

Basic Thrusting (Unranked): Proficient (5/100)

Basic Throwing (Unranked): Complete (1000/1000)

Basic Shield Strike (Unranked): Proficient (69/100)

Basic Hammering (Unranked): Proficient (2/100)

Basic Fist Technique (Unranked): Proficient (0/100)

Basic Throwing (Unranked): Proficient (2/100)

Free Attribute Points: 10

Interestingly, after breaking through into Inner Force, the panel had refreshed itself. The greatest change was that he had gone from an ordinary person to an Inner Force martial artist. It even displayed that his expected lifespan was sixty-three years.

And among his basic martial skills, a third skill had now reached max level. However, the max-level reward had decreased by another point, leaving only three points.

No matter what, he was now an Inner Force expert. Hahahaha...!

He threw back his head and laughed, hands on his hips, chin raised! Who else was there? Hurry up and call me Martial Master!

But before he could laugh for long, unbearable hunger gripped his stomach. He hurried into the kitchen, caring nothing for culinary skill, tossed a huge pile of ingredients into a pot, and made a chaotic stew. Then he wolfed it all down in one go.

After eating and drinking his fill, Zhou Ye lazily flopped onto the bed. He had no intention of busying himself with anything else today. He would give himself a proper day off.

It had been nearly a year since he transmigrated to this godforsaken place. This old man has finally gained the tiniest bit of security!