Superior Bone Constitution

Arriving at the martial hall's outer courtyard, Cheng Heng began another day of stance training, as though last night's events had never happened.

[Destiny: Heaven Rewards Diligence]

[Persevere without fail, and achievement will surely come.]

[Tiger-Subduing Stance Art Beginner (334/1000): ten sessions a day, minor mastery in three months, major mastery in one year]

With each round of stance training, his progress steadily increased. At this rate, Cheng Heng would successfully break through to Bright Force in another two months.

After finishing today's training, Cheng Heng planned to buy some meat as well. His pockets were a little fuller now, and he could not be stingy with things that helped his cultivation grow.

With meat to supplement him, he could temper his foundation until it was even more solid and robust!

Just then, waves of commotion rose from outside the martial hall, drawing Cheng Heng's attention.

He had not intended to concern himself with it, but when he resumed training, he saw his master Wu Zhong slowly emerge from the inner courtyard, followed by Fourth Senior Brother Zhao Wei, whose face was full of anxiety.

Seeing this, Cheng Heng finally stopped what he was doing and followed everyone to the martial hall entrance.

At the entrance, an old woman of about fifty knelt on the ground. Her clothes were ragged and her face haggard. Beside her was a black, skinny boy of around fifteen or sixteen, little more than skin and bones.

These were hard times. Such scenes often played out in the Outer City of Gaoyang County!

"My martial hall does not accept just anyone. Even if you two keep kneeling here, I will not soften my heart."

"If everyone acted like you, how could this martial hall continue operating!"

Wu Zhong walked to the entrance and rebuked them coldly.

Before the old woman could speak, the black, skinny boy raised his head, his eyes firm.

"This disciple's family is poor, and I truly cannot afford the tuition. That is why I resorted to this measure. So long as Master accepts me into the hall, I am willing to toil like an ox and work like a horse!"

Wu Zhong was stunned for a moment. His expression softened slightly as he slowly said,

"The martial hall has sufficient manpower and does not need servants. I can test your bone constitution. If your aptitude is outstanding, I can accept you into the hall. But if it is lacking, do not blame my martial hall for driving you away."

Hearing this, the youth was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed to thank Wu Zhong.

Wu Zhong then took a few strides to the boy and began testing his bone constitution.

The gaunt old woman beside them clasped her hands together and silently prayed to Heaven.

After examining him again and again, Wu Zhong's expression shifted from coldness to ease. At last, his face lit up, and he burst into hearty laughter!

"Good! Good! Good! A Superior Bone Constitution! In that case, I will accept you into the martial hall!"

The old woman beside him heaved a great sigh of relief. Unable to support herself any longer, she collapsed to the ground.

"A Superior Bone Constitution! This kid has luck as vast as the heavens!"

"In all of Gaoyang County, there are no more than ten youths with Superior Bone Constitutions. To encounter one today—Master must be over the moon!"

The crowd gradually dispersed. Wu Zhong took the youth into the inner courtyard, and only then did Cheng Heng return to his stance training.

That youth actually had a Superior Bone Constitution. And judging by his conduct, he was clearly mature beyond his years. This was the unmistakable template of a protagonist!

However, Cheng Heng quickly put the matter out of his mind. Though his aptitude was poor, he had [Heaven Rewards Diligence] in hand. Naturally, he did not envy others.

The days afterward returned to normal, and in the blink of an eye, more than a month passed!

The disciple with the Superior Bone Constitution was named Chen An. Only his elderly mother remained in his family.

Had his martial aptitude not been tested outside the martial hall that day, he would likely have died somewhere unknown, just like countless impoverished commoners in these chaotic times!

After Chen An was accepted into the martial hall, Wu Zhong valued him greatly. Every day, he personally instructed him in martial arts and personally supervised his training.

Whenever the martial hall had odd jobs, Chen An was assigned to clean up. Not only was he exempt from tuition, Wu Zhong often gave him some loose silver to help support his household.

Though Wu Zhong had not yet formally accepted Chen An as a disciple, anyone with eyes could see that once Chen An broke through to Bright Force, he would definitely become Wu Zhong's personal disciple!

As time passed, the many disciples in the outer courtyard could not help becoming envious and jealous.

"Chen An's treatment is truly enviable. He can even receive money from the martial hall every month to support his family."

"He has a Superior Bone Constitution. So long as nothing goes wrong, he will certainly become a Skill-Transforming Force martial artist in the future. How can you compare yourself to him!"

"Not only that. I often see Master secretly arranging medicinal baths for Chen An. Counting the days, he will probably break through to Bright Force within the next few days!"

Cheng Heng silently watched the many disciples around him complain, but his emotions did not stir.

To put it plainly, the many outer courtyard disciples were merely registered disciples. Only by breaking through to Bright Force could they qualify as formal disciples.

Who could help but envy the aptitude of a Superior Bone Constitution? Who did not wish to soar into the sky in a single bound, break free of the cage that was the Outer City, and enter the Inner City!

[Tiger-Subduing Stance Art Beginner (743/1000): ten sessions a day, minor mastery in three months, major mastery in one year]

[Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique Beginner (576/1000): ten sessions a day, minor mastery in three months, major mastery in one year]

Looking at the progress on his destiny, Cheng Heng's heart gradually calmed.

Over the past month or so, nourished by meat every day, his body had become increasingly upright and strong, while the progress of his stance art had grown faster and faster. In another dozen or so days, he should be able to break through to Bright Force.

The feeling of making steady progress every day filled him with incomparable fulfillment!

"Food's ready!"

Hearing the shout, Cheng Heng wiped the sweat from his forehead and prepared to line up for today's lunch.

"Junior Brothers, slow down. No need to rush."

A pleasant female voice rang out, drawing the attention of the many male disciples in the outer courtyard.

A pretty young woman in a long green dress was handing out lunch today.

This female disciple was named Zhao Yanran. She was the Tiger-Subduing Martial Hall's only female disciple, a Bright Force martial artist and Wu Zhong's fifth disciple.

Wu Zhong had five formal disciples in total. Eldest Disciple Zhou Qing and Second Disciple Wang Yin had trained for longer and were already Hidden Force martial artists. Since they held other posts, they rarely showed themselves at the martial hall.

In his daily life, Cheng Heng had the most contact with Fourth Senior Brother Zhao Wei. Having joined the hall for two months, this was still his first time encountering Fifth Senior Sister Zhao Yanran.

After lunch, Cheng Heng rested for a while before beginning another round of training.

Fourth Senior Brother Zhao Wei watched quietly from the side, occasionally offering guidance.

Just then, another wave of commotion rose from the courtyard.

Chen An stood in the center of the courtyard. As he went through set after set of stance movements, his qi and blood surged thickly between every move, and his sinews and bones rang in unison.

With his final movement, a crisp sound cracked through the air—Pa!

After joining the martial hall for one month, Chen An had successfully stepped into Bright Force.

The Bright Force level marked one's formal entry into the realm of martial arts, opening a gap between them and ordinary people!

At this point, he could practically swagger sideways through the Outer City.

Chen An withdrew his stance and slowly exhaled, neither arrogant nor impetuous.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Chen, on stepping into Bright Force. With your talent, reaching Hidden Force is only a matter of time!"

"Junior Brother Chen truly is a dragon and phoenix among men!"

Though the many disciples around him offered congratulations, not the slightest trace of smugness could be seen on Chen An's face. His demeanor remained humble.