Three Yang Body Forging

"...That was what happened."

Following Wen Zehao's wishes, Chen Ming explained everything to Huo Qianqian, who stood across from him.

Dressed in a light-blue training outfit, Huo Qianqian listened without expression, her eyes fixed on the newly formed flower buds on the tea tree beside her.

Wen Zehao, standing nearby, was quite pleased with his performance and struck while the iron was hot. "Junior Sister, Chen Ming and I came here to learn martial arts in the same year. We're close. Don't listen to other people's slander..."

Huo Qianqian still showed no reaction.

Only Chunmei, the maid who knew her temperament well, realized that disaster was brewing. She desperately signaled Wen Zehao with her eyes, telling him not to continue.

Unfortunately, Wen Zehao had eyes only for Huo Qianqian and could not see anyone else.

Seeing that there was nothing more for him to do, Chen Ming took his leave first.

The moment he left, Huo Qianqian swept Wen Zehao with an icy gaze. "Wen Zehao, do you take me for a three-year-old child?"

Wen Zehao was stunned. "Where did that come from?"

"Humph."

Huo Qianqian turned and left.

Chunmei stamped her foot, shot him a look of exasperation at his failure to live up to expectations, and chased after her mistress.

"Junior Sister..."

Wen Zehao cried out anxiously, but he did not dare follow her into the courtyard. He could only wait helplessly at the entrance.

Dumbass.

Chen Ming had not gone far when he heard Wen Zehao's aggrieved cry, and that was how he judged him.

If Huo Manor were handed over to someone like that in the future, its prospects would be worrying.

He shook his head and returned to the training ground.

Then, he began sparring with the students.

You defeated an LV7 enemy again and gained 2 experience points.

You defeated an LV8 enemy again and gained 2 experience points.

Zhang Mingyu sat in the pavilion, leisurely drinking tea with his Fifth Junior Brother and occasionally glancing over there.

That was why he did not object to Chen Ming serving as a sparring partner for his students—it made things much easier for him.

"Chen Ming does have some talent in fist techniques."

He commented, "I haven't seen him for a few days, and his fist technique seems to have improved again."

After saying that, he glanced at Hong Mingquan. "What do you think? At his level, is he qualified to be an instructor?"

Hong Mingquan smiled. "Chen Ming can keep these little brats in line. Becoming an instructor would naturally be more than enough for him."

Zhang Mingyu took a sip of tea and asked probingly, "What if I suggest to Master that he take my place teaching these little ones? Would Master agree?"

"That is hard to say. Master probably would not allow an outsider to become an instructor."

"Alas."

Zhang Mingyu let out a soft sigh.

Compared to staying here as an instructor and teaching these students, he yearned far more to venture out into the world. Yet Master had always refused to let him leave.

Naturally, he did not dare defy his master's orders.

Chen Ming's arrival had allowed him to glimpse a sliver of hope.

Whether it worked or not, he had to give it a try.

Over the entire morning, seventeen people came to spar with Chen Ming, contributing a total of 34 experience points. It was a drastic drop compared to before.

The only good news was that the minimum experience reward had now become two points.

That was how he consoled himself.

In the afternoon, Chen Ming went to Deng Manor again to find Qi Jun and the others to spar with.

"Senior Brother Chen, you finally came."

Qi Jun and the others were all extremely enthusiastic. Ever since learning that their eldest brother was going to take the martial examination, their hearts had begun to stir. Their spirits were soaring as they waited for their eldest brother to enter the Six Doors so they could accomplish great things together.

For once, all eight of Deng Ziyang's lackeys were present.

When he left, Chen Ming had gained 16 experience points.

Altogether, he had gained 50 points.

Thus, Chen Ming spent his days working as a sparring partner to earn experience points, while at night he studied that manual at home. His days were quite fulfilling.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.

That morning, dawn had only just broken.

A group of boys around ten years old already stood in the courtyard, arranged in a line from tallest to shortest, holding their stances crookedly.

Chen Ming held a ruler in his hand and patiently corrected their postures one by one.

He said, "Same rules as always. The last three to hold on will be rewarded with maltose candy."

At the mention of maltose candy, quite a few of the little ones began swallowing drool. They made up their minds that they had to get some.

After a while, someone could no longer hold on. Like a chain reaction being set off, several others gave up one after another.

In the end, only four remained. Their legs had started trembling, but they still gritted their teeth and persisted.

After a while longer, one of them finally admitted defeat.

Three remained.

Chen Ming did not call a stop. What came next was a contest belonging to those three.

In the end, a little boy named Li Jian held on the longest. His clothes were made from the poorest material, yet his willpower was the strongest.

His home was in the alley next door. His father and elder brother were both carpenters.

After receiving the maltose candy, Li Jian did not unwrap it and eat it right away. Instead, he carefully tucked it into his clothes.

"Next, I'll see whether any of you have been slacking off."

After waiting for them to rest and recover some strength, Chen Ming had them stand properly, then stepped forward and gave them each a push.

With one push, each of them tumbled head over heels.

You defeated an LV0 enemy again and gained 2 experience points.

That was why Chen Ming had taken in these children.

He could easily gain experience points from them.

This system was extremely rigid. As long as he knocked someone else down, it counted as a "defeat." Each time, he was guaranteed at least two experience points.

Even if the other party was merely a ten-year-old boy.

These ten boys provided him with 20 experience points every day.

It was far easier than being a sparring partner at Huo Manor.

If he took in a hundred students someday, he would gain two hundred points a day.

Chen Ming felt that he was exploiting a bug.

At around eight o'clock, the boys left.

It had been agreed from the start that he would teach for one shichen in the morning.

Next came breakfast.

While eating breakfast, Chen Ming opened the panel.

Level: 10

Current Points: 960

Cultivation Arts: "Iron Horse Stance" (Fifth Level Perfected), "Three Yang Body Forging Art" (Beginner 2/100)

Martial Skills: "Three Powers Fist" (Mastery 27/500+), Bagua Saber Technique (Beginner 55/100+)

"So that Nameless Technique was called 'Three Yang Body Forging.'"

He was delighted.

After spending half a month studying it, he had finally comprehended this cultivation art last night.

Next, he could directly add points and raise its proficiency.

After finishing his meal, Chen Ming returned to his small courtyard and first added one hundred points.

Level: 10

Current Points: 860

Cultivation Arts: "Iron Horse Stance" (Fifth Level Perfected), "Three Yang Body Forging Art" (First Level 2/1000)

Martial Skills: "Three Powers Fist" (Mastery 27/500+), Bagua Saber Technique (Beginner 55/100+)

At once, he felt a scorching current flow through his entire body, causing some wondrous change in his physique. Yet the change was too subtle for him to tell what effect it would have.

"Strange. The first level only needs one thousand experience points?"

Seeing this, Chen Ming felt that it was somewhat unreasonable.

"Iron Horse Stance required a full two thousand points even at the fifth level. Why did it need less experience after being upgraded?"

"It seems this system still has many things worth studying."

Suddenly, someone outside shouted nervously, "Second Young Master, an officer from the Six Doors has come to the door."

Someone from the Six Doors?

Chen Ming's gaze sharpened. He answered and walked out.

In the main hall, a young constable in a black uniform sat there with an imposing, broad stance. Coupled with his official uniform and the saber at his waist, he naturally carried an air of authority.

Chen Rui sat beside him. It was clear that he was only pretending to be calm and was actually panicking badly. Only when he saw his younger brother arrive did he breathe a sigh of relief. He hurriedly said, "This is Lord Wang of the Six Doors. He says he has some matters to ask you about."

"You two talk."

After saying that, he left.

Chen Ming studied the constable. His black clothes indicated that he held the lowest rank in the Six Doors, Ninth Rank.

Even so, he was still an official.

Since ancient times, commoners did not contend with officials.

Chen Ming respectfully bowed. "May I ask what Lord Wang wishes to question me about? I will tell you everything I know."

Wang Mingyang was also studying him, not overlooking a single detail. The moment he spoke, he was aggressively forceful, shouting, "Did you kill Xiao Lin?"