Breaking through

When Ye Fan returned to the martial arts school that afternoon, he inevitably received a scolding from Guo Wei.

Fortunately, Guo Wei could not tell from his appearance that Ye Fan had lost his primal Yang virginity. Otherwise, if he pursued the matter, he might follow the vine to the melon and trace it back to Zhang Lingfeng.

This was also what Zhang Lingfeng and Zhang Pingping feared most.

That was why they had only come up with this method after a round of planning.

It would let them obtain the resources in Ye Fan's hands without Guo Wei noticing, while also seizing the opportunity to surpass Ye Fan and bring him completely under their thumb.

Time flew.

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

At the Zheng Family Martial Arts School.

Zhang Fugui was about the same age as Ye Fan and had trained here for nearly two months. He left early and returned late every day, lived with Zhang Lingfeng, and had all the meat and Qi and Blood Soup he could consume.

With Wei He also guiding his training, Zhang Fugui's progress was fairly swift.

At that moment, he was practicing the Black Baleful Intent Fist in the outer courtyard. As he performed the fist technique, the Qi and blood inside him gradually broke through the shackles of his skin. As the final lock opened,

a force sprouted within his body.

Boom!

He had successfully broken through to Ming Jin.

Elder Zheng, who was observing his disciples' training, stirred and looked toward Zhang Fugui in some surprise. Seeing his force surge forth and his solid fist technique, which clearly showed hard work, with his strength coming as naturally as water flowing into a channel, he could not help looking pleased.

"Good."

Once Zhang Fugui finished his fist routine, Elder Zheng could not help praising him.

"Master Zheng, I think... I've broken through to Ming Jin."

Zhang Fugui spoke with sweat covering his head.

To help him break through to Ming Jin as soon as possible, Zhang Lingfeng had devised a series of training plans for him, making him squeeze in every possible moment to train without harming his body or vitality. He had also told Wei He to watch him constantly and guide him on how to grasp the basics quickly.

With these resources helping him, Zhang Fugui finally broke through to Ming Jin within two months.

"Upper-middle-grade bone aptitude. Not bad."

Elder Zheng felt Zhang Fugui's bones, somewhat surprised and also rather pleased.

Although upper-middle-grade bone aptitude fell far short of top-grade bone aptitude, Zhang Fugui's bones were still developing and had not yet fused. He was at the best age for practicing martial arts.

At the same time, the Qi and blood in his flesh were solid and stable, which showed that his family had a substantial foundation. He was unlike other apprentices who emptied all their savings just to gamble on whether they could break through to Ming Jin within a few months.

Even if they ultimately broke through to Ming Jin, their lack of resources afterward would make it difficult for them to break through to Dark Force in the future.

Zhang Fugui, by contrast, was not only young but also from a well-off family. With proper nurturing, he would have great prospects. Elder Zheng liked disciples like him best.

"Come inside with me."

Elder Zheng led Zhang Fugui into the inner courtyard.

Delighted, Zhang Fugui gave a slight nod to Wei He, who stood nearby. Only by entering the inner courtyard to train could he learn the essence of the Black Baleful Intent Fist and eventually inherit Elder Zheng's mantle.

That evening, Zhang Lingfeng specially ordered a tableful of food and wine from the Drunken Spring House to celebrate Zhang Fugui's breakthrough to Ming Jin.

"Fukang, Fugui has already broken through. How is your saber training coming along?"

Zhang Lingfeng asked during the meal.

"I'm still not quite there yet. I'll work hard. I'll go practice as soon as I finish eating."

Zhang Fukang was a year older than Zhang Fugui and considerably more sturdily built. His bone aptitude, as determined by touch, was also middle-grade. He trained at the Xu Clan Martial Arts School, practicing the same Flowing Cloud Saber Technique as Dong Wenhan.

"Saber techniques are far more destructive than fist techniques. Don't rush things. Just focus on your training."

Zhang Lingfeng encouraged him.

He knew that Zhang Fugui enjoyed uniquely favorable conditions with Wei He at his side. His age and bone aptitude were also somewhat better than Zhang Fukang's, so it was only natural that he had broken through to Ming Jin earlier.

He had brought this up to give Zhang Fukang a warning, so he would not grow complacent.

"Mm, don't worry, Brother."

Zhang Fukang nodded, inwardly swearing to break through to Ming Jin as soon as possible.

"How does Fugui's potential compare with the others at Elder Zheng's school?"

Zhang Pingping asked.

"It's been several years since anyone at the school broke through to Ming Jin within two months like Fugui. There have been people more outstanding than Fugui before, but because of issues with their foundations and resource support, even the fastest took around a year and a half to break through to Dark Force."

Wei He answered.

"In that case, Fugui will only truly earn Elder Zheng's appreciation if he breaks through to Dark Force in less than a year and a half."

Zhang Lingfeng analyzed.

"Mm."

Wei He nodded.

"Brother, I'll definitely break through to Dark Force within a year and a half."

Zhang Fugui was brimming with confidence.

"I want you to be like me and take only one year to go from Ming Jin to Dark Force. Can you do it?"

Zhang Lingfeng's tone grew heavier.

"Well... yes, yes."

Zhang Fugui felt somewhat suffocated, but under Zhang Lingfeng's gaze, he still nodded vigorously.

From the change in Guo Wei's attitude toward him, Zhang Lingfeng knew that only by completing the transition from Ming Jin to Dark Force within one year could someone be taken seriously.

Otherwise, he would not be the leading disciple at the school now.

Like the Iron Mountain Fist, the Black Baleful Intent Fist had something held back that would not readily be taught to outsiders. If Zhang Fugui wanted to inherit Elder Zheng's mantle, he had to be more outstanding than everyone else.

Fortunately, there was no one like Ye Fan at Elder Zheng's school, or there might have been more trouble.

The next day.

Zhang Lingfeng practiced the Iron Mountain Fist at the school.

[Twelve-Routine Iron Mountain Fist, Lower Part: (67/600)]

Over these two months, Zhang Lingfeng had accumulated increasingly abundant Qi and blood, and the fist technique's progress bar had also advanced steadily.

He planned to buy Qi and Blood Pills.

But he needed Guo Wei to introduce him to the manager of a major pharmacy, so he was waiting for a suitable opportunity.

"Ye Fan, come in."

That afternoon, Guo Wei called Ye Fan into his room.

"This Qi and Blood Pill is for you. You must make your master proud. Don't disappoint me, understand?"

Guo Wei encouraged him.

"Yes. Thank you, Master."

Ye Fan nodded.

Looking at the Qi and Blood Pill in his hand, he did not take it on the spot but first tucked it into his robe. Guo Wei did not urge him either. Once taken, a Qi and Blood Pill needed to be refined swiftly.

It would be best to get a good night's sleep tonight and take it after waking tomorrow morning.

Having received another Qi and Blood Pill,

Ye Fan felt somewhat hesitant.

The Qi and Blood Pill Guo Wei had given him was a high-grade product from a major pharmacy, worth at least seven or eight hundred taels of silver. He would have to save several months of his monthly stipend to buy one.

Ye Fan wanted to swallow it.

After all, Guo Wei had not told anyone else that he had given him a Qi and Blood Pill today.

But when he emerged from the room and saw Zhang Lingfeng practicing the Iron Mountain Fist nearby, looking at Zhang Lingfeng's back and the gazes of Liu Feng, Hei Hu, and Sun Yan, Ye Fan still did not dare swallow the Qi and Blood Pill.

With ample meat to nourish them and Zhang Lingfeng's guidance, Hei Hu and Sun Yan had also broken through to Ming Jin during these two months.

It had taken them half a year in total to break through to Ming Jin.

Had they not met Zhang Lingfeng, they could never have broken through successfully.

Training ended.

Zhang Lingfeng walked through an alley.

Wei He appeared behind him. At an intersection in the alley, a dark shadow flashed past, and Zhang Lingfeng reached out to catch it. The two parted at the fork.

Each returned to his sister's place.

Zhang Lingfeng opened the medicine box, tossed the lustrous Qi and Blood Pill straight into his mouth, chewed hard a few times, and forcibly swallowed it.

All that talk of melting in the mouth, a warm current appearing and flowing down to the Bubbling Spring points and up to the crown-none of it happened. There was only that nauseating sour, bitter taste.

[Twelve-Routine Iron Mountain Fist, Lower Part: (100/600)]

"Tomorrow, I can ask Master to take me to buy Qi and Blood Pills."

Zhang Lingfeng said with a smile.

(Thanks to 313131 for the tip of five hundred Qidian coins!)

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