Chapter 3: Marvelous

Zhang Jian's gaze swept around; these mountain stronghold workers were indeed extraordinary, but his gaze mainly fell on three figures.

He previously couldn't tell the strength of these mountain stronghold workers, but now he could see some clues.

The similarly fierce-looking fist wind and leg strength now seemed to have a difference.

But this difference, Zhang Jian could only glimpse it like seeing flowers through mist.

This is an outsider looking at insiders.

"It must be the effect of that fire apricot; truly a celestial item!"

His gaze was quite peculiar, startling some of the mountain stronghold workers; but upon noticing Zhang Jian, they didn't mind, put their hearts at ease, and continued morning training.

Zhang Jian was not an outsider.

If it were anyone else, sneaking a look would not be allowed.

For these blood‑soaked toughs, rules are rules; they must be upheld with blood, cannot be bent, and only power and influence can make them yield.

Yet a figure silently appeared before Zhang Jian.

Clad in black with a lotus crown, his visage was grim and fierce, yet his eyes softened slightly when looking at Zhang Jian.

Zhang Jian happened to turn his head and gave a gentle smile.

His eyes held a hint of smile at that moment.

"Uncle Yi, I see these masters have extraordinary skill, full of tiger‑like vigor; I want to learn a thing or two—what do you think?"

Upon hearing Zhang Jian's words, the other mountain stronghold workers visibly paused their movements.

Zhang Yi glanced at the crowd, furrowed his brows, and said nothing.

Zhang Jian is the Zhang family's literary star; though young, he has already passed the provincial exam, and will surely take the orthodox route into officialdom. He worries that martial training would scatter Zhang Jian's energy, and if it affected the Ministry of Rites exam, it would be a loss not worth the gain.

Moreover, he has no right to intervene in this matter!

Zhang Jian instantly saw Zhang Yi's hesitation and proactively dispelled his concerns, saying:

"Uncle Yi, you know that in this provincial exam I barely crawled out of the examination hall; my body is too weak. Even if I were to become a local parent‑official in the future, it would still be extremely inconvenient. I don't expect my skill to match those who have long fought as military martial artists, but at least I need a healthy body, seeking longevity, right?"

Zhang Jian's expression was serious.

He had indeed considered martial training before, but he was limited by his energy, only able to choose the optimal solution; now after eating the fire apricot, he feels his energy full and can try martial training.

Zhang Yi nodded slightly and said, "Then which master's skill do you wish to learn?"

Zhang Jian replied, "I feel Uncle Yi also possesses some skill; why not take Uncle Yi as my teacher?"

This was an idea Zhang Jian had long harbored.

Zhang Yi was surprised, he oddly looked at Zhang Jian and said, "Brother Jian, why do you want to take me as your teacher?"

Zhang Jian hid nothing of his thought: "Because I see these masters seem to fear Uncle Yi!"

They are all blood‑licking toughs who live by the blade; if the two were roughly equal, there would be no reason for fear—only when the gap is enormous would these retainers show such expressions.

Moreover, in Zhang Jian's eyes he could somewhat "see through" the spirit of the other retainers, but Zhang Yi before him always gave him an intangible, unfathomable feeling.

A hint of a smile appeared on Zhang Yi's grim visage.

He looked Zhang Jian up and down, then shook his head and said.

"The threshold to enter my teachings is extremely high; ordinary people cannot easily access it—it requires a special affinity!"

"A special affinity?"

Zhang Jian was a bit stunned; he had never heard that martial training required any special affinity, but looking at Zhang Yi he didn't seem to be just brushing him off.

"Could it be talent?"

Curious, Zhang Jian asked, "Uncle Yi, could you explain?"

Zhang Yi stroked his whiskers and gave a light smile; his originally grim face softened a bit as he looked at Zhang Jian: "Brother Jian, the two paths a martial practitioner walks—have you learned of them?!"

Zhang Jian nodded: "I've heard of them—body forging and internal refinement."

"Uncle Yi, are you practicing the internal refinement method?"

Zhang Jian's gaze shifted, becoming solemn.

Although he walks the path of the civil examinations and will become an official in the future, he still has some understanding of martial affairs.

Moreover, he has inquired about them in detail.

When a transmigrator learns that martial arts exist in his environment, how could he suppress his restless urge?

But after weighing the pros and cons, he still chose to pursue studies and the civil examinations.

This has always been Zhang Jian's regret.

One's energy is ultimately limited; Zhang Jian knows well where a person's limits lie, so he can only choose the easiest path to success—as a small‑town scholar, taking the civil examination route is undoubtedly easier to succeed.

This also holds the greatest value for the entire clan.

As for martial training, in the short term it can only increase personal strength a little; it cannot bring the Zhang family more practical benefits, nor can it consolidate the position of the Zhang family's eldest son.

The Zhang family actually does have martial practitioners; the fact that the Zhang family can recruit so many skilled hands as retainers already says everything.

They are not lacking a single blood‑soaked tough.

Zhang Jian also knows that if he were to train martial arts, he might not necessarily achieve anything noteworthy.

Moreover, martial training is not so easy to stand out in.

Train in the winter's three nines, in the summer's three fu!

Moreover, it requires a renowned teacher and resources, both of which are scarce.

Zhang Jian had inquired early on that martial practitioners divide into body forging and internal refinement.

The former forges the skin, tempers the tendons and bones, refines the organs and washes the marrow.

The latter mainly cultivates internal qi.

He has inquired clearly about the pros and cons of both.

Body‑forging arts are easy to learn but hard to master; their benefits are obvious, the threshold is relatively low, and combat capability is relatively strong.

Those adept at external training and body strengthening can more easily develop combat power in a short time.

In internal qi cultivation, the early stage mainly nourishes the five viscera and six bowels, making it difficult to directly develop explosive power.

But when cultivation reaches a profound level, it likewise possesses unimaginable power.

But such existences are few.

Moreover, internal qi cultivation differs from external training; it demands higher qualifications and requires greater insight.

Actually, it is just logical thinking; many internal qi cultivation methods have too much terminology, deep pitfalls, and haphazard practice easily harms oneself before harming others, often leading to an early death.

Zhang Jian guessed in his heart that what Zhang Yi said might be the method of internal cultivation.

After all, only condensing internal qi requires talent.

Zhang Yi glanced at Zhang Jian with slight astonishment, his eyes flickering, and he nodded.

"Internal cultivation, you could say that!"

"However, the affinity I speak of is somewhat more special than ordinary internal cultivation practice; you must think it through, for practicing martial arts is like studying literature—this is also a completely new field of study, not merely tedious; if you feel it too taxing, you may give up at any time!"

Zhang Yi didn't think much of it; he merely thought Zhang Jian had a passing fancy and would think of practicing martial arts.

After all, Zhang Jian is already this old; practicing martial arts is also too late.

"Uncle Yi, I want to give it a try!"

A hint of light appeared in the depths of Zhang Jian's eyes, his eyes glimmering!

Even passing the provincial examination as a recommended candidate did not excite him as much as this moment, for passing the exam was only due to family needs, whereas strengthening oneself through martial arts is his deepest desire.

Moreover, knowing of the existence of immortals, Zhang Jian feels a deeper curiosity and yearning for cultivation that springs from his heart.

"If that's the case, then follow me!"

But when Zhang Jian entered Zhang Yi's study, he suddenly became a bit dazed.

In Zhang Yi's study, there were indeed countless charts densely packed, the charts covered with countless intricate meridian patterns, as if one had entered the domain of a great master of some field……

"I still have to do problems…"