Superior Bone Constitution

Arriving at the martial hall's Outer Courtyard, Cheng Heng began another day of Stance Training, as though nothing had happened the night before.

[Fate: Heaven Rewards Diligence]

[Persevere without fail, and success shall 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, its progress steadily increased. At this pace, Cheng Heng would smoothly break through to Bright Force in another two months.

After finishing today's training, Cheng Heng planned to buy some more meat. His purse was a little fuller now, and he could not be stingy with things that would help his cultivation grow.

With meat to supplement him, he could temper his foundation into something even more solid!

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

He had originally not intended to concern himself with it, but when he began training again, he saw his master, Wu Zhong, slowly emerge from the Inner Courtyard, followed by his anxious fourth senior brother, Zhao Wei.

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

At the entrance knelt an old woman of around fifty, her clothes ragged and her face haggard. Beside her was a dark, skinny boy of about fifteen or sixteen, little more than skin and bones. The two of them knelt before the martial hall.

Life was hard in these times. Such scenes often played out in the Outer City of Gaoyang County!

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

"If everyone behaved as you do, how could this martial hall continue operating!"

Wu Zhong walked to the entrance and rebuked them coldly.

Before the old woman could speak, the dark, skinny boy raised his head, his eyes resolute.

"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 serve as an ox or a horse!"

Wu Zhong froze for a moment after hearing this. His expression softened somewhat as he slowly said,

"The martial hall has enough hands and has no need for 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."

The youth was overjoyed upon hearing this and hurriedly bowed in thanks to Wu Zhong.

Wu Zhong then crossed the distance in a few strides and began examining the youth's bone constitution.

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

After feeling him over again and again, Wu Zhong's expression shifted from coldness to ease, then finally opened into a broad grin as he burst into laughter!

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

The old woman beside him heaved a huge sigh of relief, then could no longer support herself and collapsed to the ground.

"A Superior Bone Constitution! This kid has heaven-shaking luck!"

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

The crowd gradually dispersed. Wu Zhong led the youth into the Inner Courtyard, and only then did Cheng Heng return to his Stance Training.

That youth actually possessed a Superior Bone Constitution, and judging by his mannerisms, he was clearly someone young in years but old in wisdom. This was the bona fide template of a protagonist!

However, Cheng Heng soon cast the matter to the back of his mind. Though his aptitude was poor, he possessed [Heaven Rewards Diligence], so naturally he had no need to envy others.

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

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

Had his martial talent not been discovered before the martial hall that day, he would likely have already died somewhere unknown, like so many poor commoners in these chaotic times!

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

Whenever there were odd jobs around the martial hall, Chen An was assigned to clean up as well. Not only was he not charged tuition, Wu Zhong often gave him bits of silver to help support his family.

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

As time passed, the many disciples of the Outer Courtyard could not help growing envious and jealous.

"Chen An's treatment really makes one envious. He even receives 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 definitely become a Skill-Transforming Force martial artist in the future. How can you compare yourself to him?"

"That's not all. 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 disciples of the Outer Courtyard were merely registered disciples. Only after breaking through to Bright Force did one qualify to become an official disciple.

Who could refrain from envying the aptitude of a Superior Bone Constitution? Who did not wish to soar into the sky in a single leap, break free of the Outer City's cage, 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 displayed on his fate, Cheng Heng's heart gradually calmed.

Over the past month or so, daily nourishment from meat had made his body increasingly tall and straight, while his Stance Training progressed faster and faster. In another dozen or so days, he should be able to break through to Bright Force.

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

"Meal time!"

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

"Slow down, junior brothers. There's no need to rush."

A pleasant female voice rang out, drawing the gazes of the many male disciples in the Outer Courtyard.

A pretty young girl in a green dress was responsible for 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 official disciples in total. His eldest disciple, Zhou Qing, and second disciple, Wang Yin, had trained for much longer and had long since become Hidden Force martial artists. They usually held other posts, so they rarely appeared at the martial hall.

The person Cheng Heng interacted with most often was his fourth senior brother, Zhao Wei. Since entering the hall two months ago, this was the first time Cheng Heng had encountered his fifth senior sister, Zhao Yanran.

After lunch, Cheng Heng rested briefly before beginning round after round of training once more.

His fourth senior brother, Zhao Wei, watched quietly from the side and occasionally offered pointers.

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

Chen An stood in the middle of the courtyard. As he performed set after set of Stance Training movements, his qi and blood surged with strength, while his sinews and bones rang in unison with every stance and strike.

With his final movement, a crisp sound rang through the air. Crack!

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

The Bright Force realm marked one's formal entry into the martial path, opening a gap between oneself and ordinary people!

At that point, one could practically swagger sideways through the Outer City.

Chen An withdrew from his stance and let out a long breath, neither arrogant nor impatient.

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

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

Although the many disciples around him offered congratulations, not a trace of smugness appeared on Chen An's face. He remained as modest as ever!