No Progress, No Survival

A gentle breeze stirred, leaves fluttered through the air, the summer heat was fading, and cool autumn was arriving.

At Greenwood Martial Hall, every disciple had gathered in the training grounds.

For today was the day Li Qingliang assessed everyone's martial cultivation.

A minor assessment every three months, a major assessment every year.

Though opening a martial hall was for making a living, disciples of uneven quality still had to be weeded out.

Otherwise, he would earn a reputation for amassing wealth without properly teaching martial arts.

"Let's begin, then."

Chairs and tables had been specially arranged beside the training grounds. Li Qingliang sat in one of the chairs, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as he spoke calmly.

The senior disciple, Yan Qing, was the first to step forward. Dressed in a black training uniform, he was tall and well-featured, carrying himself like a refined young gentleman.

Yet that seemingly slender frame erupted with tremendous strength. Every move was steady and composed, fully displaying his mid-stage Blood Exchange Realm cultivation.

The onlookers immediately burst into praise.

"As expected of Senior Brother!"

"Of course. In Greenwood Martial Hall, Senior Brother is unquestionably number one."

So this was the Blood Exchange Realm? It really was powerful.

Zhou Muyun watched as Yan Qing casually smashed a stone weighing over a hundred pounds into pieces with a single punch, and he could not help but marvel.

The mid stage was already so powerful. Then just how strong was Li Qingliang, an expert at the peak of the realm?

Li Qingliang watched Yan Qing's performance and nodded with a smile, clearly very satisfied with his eldest disciple.

Next, Second Senior Sister Leng Ni, Third Senior Brother Li Buhui, Fourth Senior Brother Liu Yan, and Fifth Senior Brother Mo Qi stepped onto the field one after another.

However, they were only martial artists at the peak of the Viscera Refinement Realm, far inferior to Yan Qing.

Still, their strength could not be underestimated. When they unleashed their full power, their displays remained astonishing.

Li Qingliang merely raised his eyelids, clearly finding their performances rather ordinary.

After that came disciples of the Tempered Bone Realm, such as Zhou Muyun.

The first to appear was Bai Yu, the youth who had exceptionally been accepted as a personal disciple.

He too wore a training uniform. His looks were merely average, and he stood around six feet tall. Only his eyes shone with exceptional brightness.

Zhou Muyun still remembered that when Bai Yu had first arrived at the martial hall, he had been a timid and submissive youth. Now, however, he was brimming with confidence.

Though his moves were not as practiced and steady as Yan Qing's, he was already not far behind the second tier.

Moreover, the aura emanating from him revealed that he had already reached the mid-stage Tempered Bone Realm.

The crowd beside the field sighed in amazement again. Even Li Qingliang's eyes flashed with surprise, as he had clearly not expected Bai Yu's martial progress to be so rapid.

"Th-this... didn't he break through to the Tempered Bone Realm less than half a month ago? He's already at the mid stage?"

"Hiss... that talent is truly terrifying. His cultivation is incredibly stable—it is definitely not as simple as having just entered the mid stage."

"Really makes one envious!"

Li Buhui and Liu Yan revealed smiles as well. Their lineages' investment had not been wasted. The stronger Bai Yu became, the happier they were.

Although they were disciples of the four great lineages, there were many peers within their clans, all competing with one another.

Recruiting such a genius was enough to make their elders view them in a different light.

After Bai Yu came the remaining Tempered Bone Realm disciples.

But they were all merely average, with some even falling short of expectations.

Though Li Qingliang's expression remained calm, he was clearly dissatisfied inside.

Finally, it was Zhou Muyun's turn.

His early-stage Tempered Bone Realm strength was fully displayed. As usual, Zhou Muyun focused his mind and gathered his energy as he performed Flurry Fist.

Wind Rises, Floss Dances; Touching Clothes Without Wetting Them; Ten Thousand Flosses Veil the Sky; Spring Breeze Through the Gaps—the four forms of Flurry Fist were equally familiar to Zhou Muyun.

His upper body swayed with the wind like willow floss, while his lower body stood as steady as a boulder. Every move was no weaker than Bai Yu's.

"He has been here for only a month and a half, yet he has mastered Flurry Fist to such a degree. Junior Brother Zhou has truly put in the effort."

"He may not qualify as a genius, but he is still rather good. Anyone interested in investing in him?"

Several personal disciples watched Zhou Muyun in the field and whispered among themselves.

Liu Yan and Li Buhui shook their heads. Investing in Bai Yu was enough for them. In their view, the gains from hard training would ultimately never compare to talent.

Leng Ni, however, showed some interest. She thought to herself:

Everyone in the martial hall knows how hard this junior brother works. A person with such a resolute will is worth forming a good connection with.

Mo Qi and Yan Qing were not disciples of any lineage, so they naturally had no need to consider investment.

Even Li Qingliang's eyes flashed with a glimmer of light, and he could not help questioning his decision again.

Should I accept this boy as a personal disciple now as well?

But after reconsidering, he abandoned the idea. He could not break his principles again and again, and Zhou Muyun's talent was not worth it.

After the assessment, Li Qingliang advised two disciples who had made no progress over the past year to leave.

As their dejected figures departed, some mocked them while others sighed.

On the path of martial arts, if one did not advance, one would be eliminated.

Zhou Muyun withdrew his gaze and was about to resume training when a fragrant breeze drifted past him.

Turning to the side, he saw Leng Ni standing behind him.

Her graceful figure, black training uniform, and slightly heroic features made Leng Ni look exceptionally valiant.

There were few women in the martial hall to begin with, and many disciples secretly admired her. Yet because of the Leng Household and her own strength, no one dared pursue her.

"Junior Brother Zhou, you are truly diligent. Would you be willing to accept sponsorship from my Leng Household?" Leng Ni asked evenly.

One of the four great lineages, the Leng Household? Senior Sister Leng is recruiting me now—did my performance just now make her think more highly of me?

Following the principle that he should never refuse what was offered, Zhou Muyun replied with delight, "Senior Sister Leng, this junior brother would be honored."

"Oh? You will not ask about the conditions?"

Zhou Muyun's swift agreement caught Leng Ni by surprise.

But on second thought, if the Leng Household was willing to extend an olive branch, surely no one would refuse it.

Except that genius. Whenever she thought about Bai Yu actually rejecting her offer, she became angry.

"The Leng Household is one of the four great houses of the inner city. I trust you will not disappoint me," Zhou Muyun explained.

"I had originally planned to give you fifteen taels of silver and twenty jin of nourishing meat each month." Leng Ni paused, then changed the subject.

"But if you agree to defeat Bai Yu during the annual examination, I will give you fifty taels of silver and forty jin of nourishing meat. Does Junior Brother Zhou have the confidence?"

Defeat Bai Yu? Senior Brother Mo said last time that the Li and Liu lineages were funding him. It seemed Bai Yu had rejected the Leng Household.

So Senior Sister Leng was angry and wanted me to help vent her frustration?

Upon hearing this, Zhou Muyun's mind raced, and he quickly reached a conclusion.

Whatever. I'll get the benefits first. I have my fate at my side, and there are still nine months left. By then, who wins and who loses remains to be seen!

As for the amount, naturally, the more the better.

Zhou Muyun pretended to consider it for a moment, then spoke as though he had made up his mind. "Senior Sister, I will certainly give it my all!"

Leng Ni studied Zhou Muyun once more, then revealed a mysterious smile. "Then I shall wait for Junior Brother to give me a pleasant surprise."

After chatting with Zhou Muyun for a few more moments, she turned and left.

"With Senior Sister Leng's support, my progress will certainly improve again!"

Withdrawing his gaze, Zhou Muyun resumed his training according to his usual rhythm.

No matter what external support he had, his own efforts were what mattered most. Besides, the threat of the Blood Demon Sect had yet to be resolved, so he needed to increase his strength as quickly as possible.

[Heaven rewards diligence; every effort bears fruit. Diligence points are settled daily.]

[Willow Stake, Minor Mastery (170/1200)]

[Flurry Fist, Beginner (145/600)]

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