Breakthrough to Mastery

Several days later, at the Li Family's Small Martial Arena.

A line of twelve people trained in the blazing sun, practicing the [Primordial Stance Technique].

Every one of them was drenched in sweat, yet not a single one cried hardship or complained of exhaustion.

Even Li Peng gritted his teeth and held on, because they all knew this opportunity to practice martial arts had not come easily.

By now, even Zhang Shitou, who had fallen the furthest behind among the twelve, had learned all nine movements of the [Primordial Stance Technique].

Zhang Shitou was the one Instructor Jia had punished, leaving him one day behind the others.

Instructor Jia did not come again today.

According to him, his duty was only to teach everyone the [Primordial Stance Technique].

As for whether they could ultimately become Martial Artists, that depended on their own talent and effort.

"I'm exhausted. Let's rest for a while."

Suddenly, someone called out and ran off on his own to the water vat at the side to scoop up some water.

Affected by him, the breath everyone had been holding loosened, and they all stopped training. Some drank water, while others rested.

"Chen Xun, want some water?"

Sun An asked.

"Yes."

Chen Xun moistened his parched lips and went with Sun An to drink from the water vat.

As he drank, Chen Xun checked his current panel.

[Primordial Stance Technique (Beginner 95/100)].

He only needed 5 more experience points to reach the Mastery realm.

"My strength has improved quite a bit too."

Chen Xun clenched his hand, feeling a surge of power rise within him.

When he had first begun practicing martial arts, Chen Xun had tested his strength. He could barely lift a fifty-pound stone lock.

Now, he could lift a sixty-pound stone lock.

In just a few days, his strength had increased by ten pounds, filling Chen Xun with confidence.

And this was before he had condensed Blood Qi. If he used Blood Qi to temper his body, his strength could increase even further.

"But where exactly is Blood Qi?"

The [Primordial Stance Technique] was nearly at Mastery, yet he still had not sensed the existence of Blood Qi within his body.

"Could it be that I really need to reach Minor Accomplishment first?"

Chen Xun could not help frowning slightly.

Once his Stake Stance reached Mastery, the white-quality stone lock equipped in his Inventory would suffer a sharp drop in effectiveness. Only [Trait: Primordial Unity Stance Training Bonus] would remain effective.

The effect of [Trait: Primordial Unity Stance · Mastery] would disappear.

Because his Stake Stance itself had already reached Mastery.

"It's time to get that piece of equipment."

Chen Xun thought to himself.

Just as he was considering these matters, a burst of laughter interrupted his thoughts.

Looking up, he saw a group gathered around Li Peng and Liu Feng, chatting together.

The one laughing the loudest was Li Peng.

Over the past few days, Li Peng and Liu Feng had grown increasingly close.

Every few days, Li Peng treated Liu Feng to meals, coaxing this country boy until he was practically ready to swear brotherhood with Li Peng.

Although Liu Feng looked rather naïve, his talent truly lived up to his Lower Yi Grade aptitude.

His Stake Stance progress was faster than everyone else's, apart from Chen Xun's.

It was precisely because people saw Liu Feng's potential that they were willing to gather around him.

Of course, Li Peng's identity as the son of a Li Family steward also made some people willing to curry favor with him.

"By the way, Brother Feng, when do you think your Primordial Unity Stance will break through to Mastery?"

The moment Li Peng spoke, everyone turned to look at Liu Feng.

At his words, a trace of pride could not help appearing on Liu Feng's face.

"Within these next couple of days. No more than three days."

"Wow, Brother Feng, you really are a genius with Lower Yi Grade aptitude. You can actually break through to the Mastery realm so quickly."

Li Peng praised him, half sincerely and half falsely.

Liu Feng greatly enjoyed the flattery, his face blooming with smiles.

The others also chimed in, their faces carrying envy and a hint of jealousy.

"By the way, Chen Xun, how is your progress?"

Li Peng looked at Chen Xun, who was preparing to resume training, and asked with apparent curiosity.

Chen Xun glanced at Li Peng and answered flatly, "Soon."

After saying that, he ignored Li Peng and continued training.

"Hmph, putting on airs."

Li Peng snorted coldly in displeasure.

If you fail to become a Martial Artist, just see how I deal with you.

Li Peng thought angrily.

He had already asked around. In order to grease the palms of the Third Steward, his father had spent a full twenty taels of silver.

His father was a Li Family steward, yet only earned five taels of silver a month.

Soon, the entire morning had passed. As Chen Xun completed who knew which repetition of the [Primordial Stance Technique]—

Suddenly, a sensation like an electric shock swept through his whole body.

Chen Xun felt as though the strength throughout his body had been gathered into one. When he threw a punch, it seemed more powerful than before.

"This is... Unified Force."

A flash of delight crossed Chen Xun's eyes.

Unified Force could unite the strength of the entire body, allowing the same amount of force to deal greater damage.

"Looks like my Stake Stance has reached Mastery."

Chen Xun opened his panel to check, and sure enough, his Stake Stance had reached Mastery.

[Primordial Stance Technique (Mastery 1/200)].

The mark of Stake Stance Mastery was Unified Force.

After achieving Unified Force, when one's strength became unified as one, it formed the foundation for condensing Blood Qi.

Those with good physical aptitude could condense Blood Qi without needing their Stake Stance to reach Minor Accomplishment.

Those with average aptitude, however, needed to achieve Minor Accomplishment in their Stake Stance first.

Of course, resources could also be used to speed up the condensation of Blood Qi.

But Chen Xun's pockets were empty, and he still owed an external debt. Where could he get money to buy resources?

Chen Xun continued training.

After ten repetitions, his Mastery-level Stake Stance had not gained even 1 point of progress.

"That's a bit slow."

Feeling that rate of progress, Chen Xun could not help furrowing his brow.

Before he could continue training, the sound of a bell rang out. It was time to eat.

"Food's ready, food's ready! I'm starving to death!"

Someone immediately shouted and ran toward the dining hall.

The others were not willing to fall behind either, and all chased after him. Chen Xun was no exception.

A morning of training had long since left his stomach flat with hunger.

When he arrived at the Martial Artist dining hall, Chen Xun got his food and began wolfing it down.

Only when his stomach was stretched painfully full, and he could not eat another grain of rice, did Chen Xun stop.

"I'm so full."

It could not be helped. Martial training consumed too much energy. If he did not eat more, he might reach Minor Accomplishment in his Stake Stance without being able to condense Blood Qi.

"Reincarnated hungry ghost."

Seeing the way Chen Xun ate, Li Peng mocked him.

"Enough, Li Peng. Chen Xun didn't provoke you. Why do you keep picking on him?"

Before Chen Xun could say anything, Sun An beside him could no longer stand it.

"What's wrong with saying a couple of words about him? He hasn't even spoken, so why are you barking here like a dog?"

Seeing someone defend Chen Xun, Li Peng immediately snapped back.

Sun An's cheeks reddened with anger. He slapped the table and was about to rise, but a steady hand pressed down on his shoulder.

It was Chen Xun.

He set down his bowl and chopsticks, stared fixedly at Li Peng, and said in a low voice, "Who are you barking at like a dog? How I eat is none of your business. Who do you think you are?"

Without waiting for Li Peng to retort, Chen Xun continued, "Instead of staring at how other people eat and picking every fault you can find, why not put more thought into your Stake Stance? Your father spent money paving the road for you. Don't end up unable to walk it yourself and waste that money for nothing."

The moment his words fell, the surroundings went still for an instant.

Several servants nearby who had been shoveling down food secretly glanced over—everyone knew Li Peng's slot had not been obtained honorably, but no one dared expose it to his face.

Li Peng's face turned red, then white. What he hated most was others bringing up how his father had spent money greasing palms, especially since that money had ultimately gone down the drain. Now that Chen Xun had exposed it in public, his cheeks burned with pain.

He slapped the table and was about to explode, but Chen Xun had already pulled Sun An away.

When arguing, no matter what others said, first finish saying what you wanted to say, then turn around and leave, giving the other side nowhere to vent their rage.

That was exactly what Chen Xun did.

By the time Li Peng chased outside, the two were nowhere to be seen.

"Damn it, you two mud-legged peasants. This afternoon, I'll make you look good."

Li Peng said viciously.

Ye Feng, standing nearby, could not help adding, "Fine. I'll help you then. Those two have gone too far."

Having already taken Li Peng as a brother, Ye Feng naturally stood on Li Peng's side.

"Thanks, Brother Feng."

"We're brothers. Why be polite?"

Yet as Ye Feng said this, he did not see the trace of mockery and smugness flash through Li Peng's eyes.

Ye Feng regarded Li Peng as a brother, but Li Peng might not necessarily regard Ye Feng as one.

Elsewhere, Chen Xun and Sun An ran to a shady spot. They looked at each other and could not help bursting into laughter.

"Chen Xun, that scolding was so satisfying."

Sun An praised him.

"I bet Li Peng is so angry right now that he can't even eat."

Thinking of that scene, Sun An laughed even more happily.

Chen Xun, however, was not particularly happy. This matter was only the beginning; it was far from over.

Given his personality, he ordinarily would not have ignited the conflict between both sides.

He still needed time to grow.

But Sun An had spoken up for him. He could not play peacemaker and smooth everything over.

That would be helping Li Peng hurt Sun An, and Chen Xun could not do that.

Afterward, Chen Xun once again used going to the latrine as an excuse to separate from Sun An.

In truth, he was going to retrieve a green item he had had his eye on for a long time.