Blood-Qi Powder

Chen Feng saw at a glance that Lin Hu and Liu Mingze wanted to toy with Duan Xuan.

Just as he was about to glare and rebuke them, Jin Qianwan, Zheng Qiao, and the others beat him to it. "Well, well, Old Chen.

"So you've been hiding a disciple even more impressive than Grade A bones.

"Could he be Grade A upper-class?

"Or perhaps that legendary top-tier spiritual root—the Overlord Root?"

Behind the crowd, Zhang Chen paced in circles anxiously. He wanted badly to help his junior brother out of the bind, but he could think of no good way to do so.

For a moment, Chen Feng was speechless. Every disciple around them was waiting to see Duan Xuan make a fool of himself.

Lin Hu and Liu Mingze had even covered their mouths, ready to burst out laughing at any moment.

After all, once this boy had been pushed into the spotlight, he represented the pride of both the Broken Mountain Martial Arts Hall and Chen Feng.

If he performed well, that was one thing. But if he performed poorly, the Broken Mountain Martial Arts Hall would lose standing in the eyes of these major powers.

Yet Duan Xuan merely clasped his hands toward them and smiled faintly. "I think these two junior brothers are making fun of me.

"At most, I can practice the Broken Mountain Stake Method five times a day before I have to go home and cook for my mother.

"I think disciples with good bones are all working hard. As for those of us with poor bones—

"Even if we have to spend all twelve watches without sleep, chasing after them day and night, that is only as it should be.

"There is nothing worthy of praise in that."

Lin Hu and Liu Mingze snorted with laughter, and the disciples present erupted into loud laughter as well.

Zhang Chen covered his face, furious beyond measure. He truly wanted to find a chance to teach those two little brats a lesson.

But on the faces of those silent bigshots around him, Chen Feng saw a different expression.

They were... savoring his words?

Chen Feng slapped his forehead, suddenly recalling something. The fact that these people had been chosen by their clans and entrusted with the important task of selecting reliable appointees for them already showed that they were not wastrel heirs who idled away in a greenhouse without striving to improve.

Having climbed step by step to where they were, the effort and hardship they had endured were no less than those of any martial artist.

Again and again, they had to solidify their knowledge and deepen their grasp of their trades.

They had to advance with every step carefully laid, guarding against others' schemes and preventing rivals from exploiting loopholes to seize the benefits that belonged to them.

And after so many years, after enjoying wealth and splendor for so long, they saw the shadows of their former selves in this utterly sincere, short, thin, impoverished boy.

He worked very hard, yet spoke lightly of all the effort he had put in.

He was deeply sincere. He admitted his shortcomings, yet he was not discouraged. Instead, he faced those flaws head-on with hard work.

Jin Qianwan stood with his hands behind his back and nodded. "Worthy indeed of being Chen Feng's disciple, and worthy of being someone admired by two disciples with Grade A bones.

"Though his bones may not be first-rate, this sincerity and perseverance are qualities every martial artist should possess.

"Only then can one, like true gold and genuine silver, endure into eternity!"

Zheng Qiao laughed heartily. "Brother Jin speaks true. Though the martial path places importance on bones and talent,

"Hard work is often more important than either.

"If this young friend Duan can break through to Hidden Force one day, my Dragon Gate Escort Agency will throw its doors wide open for you!"

Duan Xuan neither rejoiced nor thought they were making empty promises. He merely clasped his hands calmly.

Then he disappeared back into the crowd, like a drop of water so ordinary it could not be more ordinary, merging into the sea and becoming impossible to distinguish again.

"Enough. You two should hurry off and find somewhere to practice. The second move of your Broken Mountain Fist was barely acceptable.

"It cannot be called outstanding. Practice properly, and stop babbling about this and that all day," Chen Feng ordered Lin Hu and Liu Mingze with a stern face. "Come.

"Send up two more disciples at the Bright Force stage..."

That brat actually blundered his way into breaking the trap we set for him. Hmph, that mud-legged peasant has quite a sharp tongue. He'll be gone in another month anyway—at least then I'll finally feel better.

For Lin Hu and Liu Mingze, the hurdle of trash becoming their senior brother was one they could never get past.

Every time they saw Duan Xuan's figure on the training grounds, they only thought:

Why did this kind of waste deserve to be their senior brother?

And why should such a clown stand before their eyes and soil their sight?

Their disgust deepened by the day, reaching the point of physical revulsion.

After that, several disciples who had long stabilized their Bright Force realm came up one after another. Their fist techniques were passable at best.

But none received much attention from any of the factions. The ones still shining brightest were Lin Hu and Liu Mingze.

After all, no faction wished to pick a quarrel with those who might one day pass the martial scholar examination or even become martial provincial graduates.

They all gathered around Chen Feng and began haggling.

"Junior Brother, once these appointed posts appear, it means someone else is about to leave.

"Some cannot break through to Bright Force, some cannot break through to Hidden Force, and some break through but fail to stabilize their realm and fall back down.

"In short, the academy is small, but it has seen every kind of person," Zhang Chen said as he rubbed his shoulder. "So—

"You and Zhao Hui need to hurry toward Bright Force.

"If you fail to reach Bright Force within a month, you'll have to find another path.

"Learn martial arts techniques for a few months, then become guards for some small household, or work as thugs for some minor force.

"In any case, it will be enough to keep food in your mouths."

Duan Xuan pondered for a moment. Guarding homes and courtyards?

Working as a thug—how was that any different from a dog tied to a rope?

He would be ordered about at others' beck and call, without the slightest freedom.

And once he lost his value, once stronger newcomers arrived, he would be thrown out the door like an old dog in its twilight years.

"Junior Brother Duan, there's no need to doubt yourself.

"Your qi and blood may be weak, but this senior brother thinks highly of you.

"With your tenacity, even if martial arts do not suit you, you will surely make something of yourself in another field.

"Come, come. Let me explain the difference between the three thresholds of Bright Force, Hidden Force, and Transforming Force!"

At the mention of martial arts, Duan Xuan's spirits immediately rose. He focused intently on practicing the Broken Mountain Stake Method and Broken Mountain Fist while pricking up his ears to listen to Senior Brother Zhang Chen's explanation.

"These Bright Force and Hidden Force realms are, in truth, just as their names suggest. The former transforms qi and blood into force throughout the body—that is, what we call physical strength.

"It then attaches that strength to the body's surface and releases it outward through techniques. It is a realm that can be seen and touched.

"As for Hidden Force? It is the same—a bright force and a hidden force. Once your cultivation has matured,

"When qi and blood seep into the five viscera, six bowels, and eight extraordinary meridians, and begin to show signs of permeating sinews and bones, that is Hidden Force.

"You draw back the force on the body's surface instead of letting it float outside. You suppress the qi and blood,

"Compressing all the force from the Bright Force stage into the depths of the body. When releasing it, you mainly use inner strength.

"At the instant you clash with an enemy, you can even send your strength into the opponent's body.

"It achieves the marvelous effect of destroying them from within.

"As for Transforming Force, hehe, this senior brother doesn't know either.

"Anyway, only Master is a Transforming Force expert in the martial arts hall at present, and he has cultivated both the Broken Mountain Fist and Broken Mountain Stake Method to great mastery."

Duan Xuan nodded. He had more or less understood how the three thresholds were divided.

But what he wondered was whether an even stronger realm existed beyond Transforming Force.

If the martial path came to an abrupt end at Transforming Force, then its upper limit was far too low.

By evening, the important figures from Golden Jade Hall, the Dragon-Tiger Escort Agency, the Zhou Clan Forge Hall, and the other factions all departed in satisfaction.

The disciples in the martial arts hall stopped putting on an act as well.

If not for today's affair, they would never have desperately tried to show themselves off, pretending to be hardworking.

Letting off some steam, they went to the dining hall in twos and threes for dinner.

Duan Xuan unhurriedly finished his final set of fist techniques. Moonlight had climbed high overhead,

Lighting the dark road a little more. He packed up his things and prepared to head home.

[The way of man rewards diligence; the way of heaven makes up for shortcomings]

[Traps: Great Mastery (20/300)]

[Hunting: Minor Mastery (15/100)]

[Broken Mountain Stake Method: Beginner (180/300)]

[Broken Mountain Fist: Beginner (30/300)]

After glancing at the panel, Duan Xuan calculated inwardly. At present, I can practice the Broken Mountain Stake Method at most three to five times a day.

Even if I manage all five rounds, I still will not save up one hundred and twenty points in three weeks.

And that is only because I have kept hunting and used Two-Scar's money to buy meat, speeding up the growth of my qi and blood.

Otherwise, the Broken Mountain Stake Method's progress would only be lower...

Duan Xuan was actually rather worried. According to the usual course, once the Broken Mountain Stake Method reached three hundred points, he would be able to break through to Bright Force.

But of the two-month deadline Master Chen Feng had given him, fewer than three weeks remained.

"Junior Brother Duan?" Duan Xuan had just finished packing up. Before he could turn around, a sweet call came from behind him.

He turned his head and saw two slender figures. One stood with her arms folded, heroic spirit filling her brows; the other held her hands behind her back, charming, adorable, and lively.

"Senior Sisters Jingshu and Jingyun, do you need something?"

"Your answer today was truly quite good. Those important figures from the inner city

"Talked quite a bit tonight about you, Junior Brothers Lin Hu and Liu Mingze!"

Chen Jingyun gave a little sound and opened her fair hand, revealing an oil-paper packet. "Father asked me to give this to you."

Duan Xuan did not take it. He did not understand what this meant, nor did he know what it was.

Chen Jingshu spoke coldly. "This is Blood-Qi Powder, which can raise your qi and blood.

"Normally, it is a resource the martial arts hall only provides after one enters Bright Force.

"But your performance pleased Father greatly, and we both thought it was quite good as well. So we are making an exception and giving it to you."

Seeing that Duan Xuan was still somewhat bewildered, Chen Jingyun simply stuffed it into his hand.

Then she turned with a smile and waved playfully. "Junior Brother.

"Keep it up. Be careful on the road, and we'll be seeing each other often from now on!"

Chen Jingshu also turned away. With a casual toss, she threw over another packet of Blood-Qi Powder. "I hope you can break through to Bright Force and not let your own efforts go to waste!"

"Thank you, Senior Sisters. Thank you, Master!" Duan Xuan tightly gripped the two packets of Blood-Qi Powder.

With the boost from these, he would be able to break through to Bright Force right at the two-month mark!