Other experts?

"Junior Brother, you've got some skill. It's only been a little over a week, hasn't it? Your Broken Mountain Fist has improved this much already?"

Zhang Chen and Duan Xuan sparred beneath the early spring sun. Over these seven days,

he had explained in exhaustive detail the training techniques for the Broken Mountain Fist's first move, the Mountain-Breaking Form, and its three lesser forms: Break Ground, Split Stone, and Break Wall.

He had also taught Duan Xuan every last detail of the essence of training.

Duan Xuan could clearly sense that Zhang Chen treated him extremely well, holding almost nothing back.

Some parts even contained Zhang Chen's unique insights, allowing Duan Xuan's slight frame to better unleash the power of the Broken Mountain Fist.

"Senior Brother Zhang Chen flatters me. You've always suppressed your strength to below the Mirror realm when sparring with me, and you yield to me at every turn.

How could Junior Brother possibly be your match?" Duan Xuan said earnestly, cupping his fists.

Zhang Chen's broad palm pulled the much shorter Duan Xuan close. "You brat, after hanging around Senior Brother for a few days, you've even learned how to sweet-talk people.

Although your vitality and blood are still far from abundant, you're far too diligent.

If Senior Brother had been half as diligent as you back then, I might have reached Dark Force long ago.

But it's fine. Take it slowly. Your punches are getting more and more solid now—you're even better than Zhao Hui!"

At the mention of Zhao Hui, Duan Xuan could not help turning to glance at the corner, where the youth was fiercely exchanging punches with his elder sister, Zhao Bastard.

The two were about the same age.

Yet Zhao Bastard's eyes were often filled with confusion, bewilderment, curiosity, and fear toward his elder sister.

Several times, Duan Xuan had seen Zhao Hui immediately squat down with his hands clasped over his head the moment Zhao Bastard opened his mouth.

Clearly, Zhao Hui had once experienced something that had cast a lasting shadow over him. As for what it was, Duan Xuan did not know.

Duan Xuan only cared about the progress of his martial path.

Suddenly, the entrance became lively, and everyone turned their gazes toward it.

Chen Feng entered with three or four well-dressed, wealthy-looking people.

At Chen Feng's sides followed a pair of tall, rather beautiful young women.

"Don't stare, Junior Brother Duan. These two are Master's daughters. The one on the left, with brows like distant mountains and sharp eyes, is Junior Sister Chen Jingshu.

The one on the right, refined and gentle as a pool of autumn water, is Junior Sister Chen Jingyun.

Both of them are Ming Force experts.

They've recently been helping Master make connections, so they rarely come to the courtyard. That's why you haven't seen them much."

Zhang Chen said this with a chuckle, his face practically blooming into a flower with his smile.

Duan Xuan swept his gaze over them. To have such beautiful faces born in a county town was indeed rare.

But it was not enough to make all the disciples' eyes turn into red hearts.

Duan Xuan's attention was entirely focused on the people behind his master.

Every one of them looked like the wealthy gentry or shopkeepers he had seen on television.

Two sturdy men followed beside them, striding along with great presence.

Abundant vitality and blood radiated from their muscles. Every one of them was a Ming Force martial artist!

No, Duan Xuan sensed more carefully. How were these ordinary Ming Force martial artists? They should have reached the consummate level of Ming Force!

"Senior Brother, who are these people?"

After Zhang Chen finished grinning foolishly, he wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and answered, "Them? The one wearing gold and silver, draped in purple sable, is Jin Qianwan, the Third Hall Master of Golden Hall in the county's inner city.

Whether it's jewelry trading or freight transport in all of Yellow Snake County, none of it can be separated from him.

And the person beside him, wearing gold-threaded leather boots and armor-trimmed clothing, is the young master of the inner city's largest escort agency, the Dragon Gate Escort Agency.

Every year around this season, they personally come out and visit the various martial arts halls.

They look for suitable disciples to take up positions under them. Of course, it isn't only them. Anyone with even a bit of business,

or wealthy Lineages, as well as escort agencies, are all desperately short of people.

Recruiting martial artists to hold positions is the most ordinary thing in the world!

The main purpose is to build connections with people of great potential, people destined for great achievements in the future."

"A position... is that something like a contract of servitude?" This was Duan Xuan's first time hearing the term.

"Not really. Holding a position means hanging your name under a certain martial arts hall.

If they have any missions or matters to handle, they'll notify you in advance and have you help out.

Of course, all that has to be agreed upon beforehand.

But for top shops and Lineages in the inner city, disciples taking positions must at least start at Ming Force.

Relatively speaking, there's more freedom. If it's a smaller force,

our share of the profits will be correspondingly much lower, and our freedom will be much more limited!"

Duan Xuan gave an acknowledging sound. "Senior Brother, I may have to trouble you to keep an eye out for any positions suitable for Junior Brother.

You know my family circumstances aren't very good. If I can't break through to Ming Force within two months, I'll have to leave the martial arts hall.

So I want to save up more money to improve my family's situation, while also buying some medicine to replenish vitality and blood."

"Small matter. I handle a portion of the positions in our courtyard every year. Things have only just begun recently, and those coming now are all major forces.

Their jobs can sometimes be life-threatening, and they aren't that great. Wait another two or three days, and I'll find a suitable one for you."

Duan Xuan immediately cupped his fists, then continued practicing his punches.

Duan Xuan wanted peace and quiet, but there was no helping it. More and more people gathered in the training ground. Upon hearing the good news about available positions, the disciples all crowded over.

"Old Chen, I heard your Mountain-Breaking Stance actually recruited two disciples with Grade A Bone Structure this year.

Congratulations, congratulations!" The one speaking such smooth pleasantries was Jin Qianwan, the Third Hall Master of Golden Hall, dressed in wealth and splendor.

"Old Chen, you can't be so stingy. You have such fine seedlings, yet you haven't introduced them to me.

If they meet our requirements, once these positions are settled, I can lower some of Broken Mountain Martial Arts Hall's requirements and raise some of your profits." Zheng Qiao, the young master of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, said seriously.

Hearing two great figures from the inner city praise him so highly, Chen Feng forced back his smile and coughed. "Lin Hu, Liu Mingze.

Come over and show these two gentlemen your recent martial arts progress. You no longer need to conceal your Ming Force strength!"

"Oh? These two crossed the first threshold and broke through to Ming Force after only a month in the hall? As expected of Grade A Bone Structure!"

Chen Feng waved a hand. "What Grade A Bone Structure? It merely took them twenty days."

"Twenty days?" Jin Qianwan and Zheng Qiao were both stunned. "They entered Ming Force in less than a month.

These two disciples have boundless futures ahead of them.

The wheel of fortune turns; your Broken Mountain Martial Arts Hall will grow great and strong within a few years!"

As they spoke, Lin Hu and Liu Mingze both cupped their fists and took up stances in a relatively open area.

Lin Hu was powerfully built, like a man of iron.

Liu Mingze was lean and tall, but after training for over a month, his muscles had become pronounced. Combined with his long, slender arms,

a saying could not help surfacing in people's minds.

An inch longer, an inch stronger.

The two had already exchanged blows. Explosive cracks rang out, as though they were wielding hoes to carve through a mountain.

Moreover, as they fought, the vitality and blood in their bodies poured outward like mountain floods. In weather twenty degrees below zero, they stirred up waves of heat.

What shocked the surrounding disciples, as well as Duan Xuan, most was that the moves they used were not limited to the first form of the Broken Mountain Fist. They even used the second form.

Two major moves and six lesser forms came and went, making for an exceptionally splendid battle.

Because the two possessed Ming Force and had extraordinarily high martial talent, Chen Feng often gave them private instruction.

He had also told Jin Qianwan and the others beforehand how difficult the Broken Mountain Fist was to train, so everyone present raised their thumbs in admiration.

Soon, the two clasped their fists to conclude the match, then cupped their fists toward Jin Qianwan, Zheng Qiao, and Chen Feng.

"Splendid, splendid! Of all the martial arts halls I've seen throughout Yellow Snake County,

there are fewer than a handful that can surpass these two." Zheng Qiao could not stop praising them. "I'm willing to offer each of them four thousand wen a month, fifty jin of meat supplements, and one packet of Vitality Powder."

"That won't do. My Golden Jade Hall is willing to offer four thousand wen, fifty-five jin of meat, and two packets of Vitality Powder."

Chen Feng was exceedingly satisfied. The other forces that had come with them also argued endlessly to win over his two prized disciples.

Suddenly, the corner of Lin Hu's mouth twitched. He glanced at Duan Xuan, who was silently practicing his punches beside Zhang Chen.

Liu Mingze understood at once and cupped his fists. "Actually, we are nothing much, merely possessing a little Grade A Bone Structure.

The senior brother who entered the martial arts hall in the same batch as us is even more formidable.

Senior Brother Duan, come over for a moment..."

"Oh? There's another expert?"