Betting on a Winner

"I understand now. Elder Zhou once said that the great martial arts lineages and powerful factions had their children begin training from an early age.

"Besides teaching them the Wuji Stance Method, they supplemented it with internal training methods and Breathing Methods.

"That was why there were often young martial artists who broke through to Hua Force at fourteen or fifteen, or even eleven or twelve.

"Exceptional aptitude, inexhaustible resources, and mountains of rare treasures played their part, but internal training methods like Breathing Methods were indispensable.

"Now that I've broken through to Hua Force in one leap, the Breathing Method that helped push me there has naturally risen with the tide.

"No wonder ordinary people can scarcely obtain such internal training methods. They truly are wondrous!"

"Now that I've reached Hua Force, I can finally breathe a little easier.

"Across all of Yellow Snake County, Hua Force martial artists are few and far between. I can at least protect my own life now!"

Duan Xuan smiled and shook his head. Breaking through to Hua Force had not made him arrogant.

The pill that could heal his mother Zhou Fang's leg had slipped beyond reach again. The Scale Python Martial Academy remained closed, and no news came from within.

Despite probing several times, Duan Xuan had found no chance to draw out its master, Jiang Zhongkun, and slip inside to seize the pill.

He had no idea whether his cousin Duan Xu had recovered from his injuries and rebuilt his martial foundation, either.

If he wanted such precious healing pills or herbs, Duan Xuan could only wait for the Hunting Grand Gathering held by the merchant guilds.

Nor did he know whether Jiang Zhongkun and the others had begun their retaliation against the Broken Mountain Martial Arts Hall.

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