Chapter 16: No women in the heart, training in fist arts naturally brings divinity!

The next day.

The morning light had yet to pierce through the clouds; there was only a touch of fish-belly white at the horizon.

Jiang Ye had already risen quietly inside the gatehouse.

He felt the flow of Qi and blood within his body in silence, his brows twitching slightly, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.

"After one night, the medicinal power of this Blood-Replenishing Pill... actually still has a trace of lingering warmth, slowly nourishing the tendons and bones..."

Although the hot current that erupted when the pill entered his stomach had subsided, deep within his bone marrow and between his internal organs, there remained a wisp of extremely pure and gentle warmth.

"While the medicinal power is not yet exhausted, it is the perfect time to loosen the tendons and bones."

Jiang Ye pushed open the narrow door and stepped into the biting morning wind.

Right on the open ground in front of the gate, shrouded in thin mist, he slowly set up the stance for the Five Birds Fist.

About half an hour later.

The daylight brightened completely, dispelling the last trace of the morning mist.

Jiang Ye slowly withdrew his stance, his arms hanging naturally at his sides. His entire body's aura was rounded and full; far from having the sweat of intense exercise, his skin instead revealed a layer of moist luster—a sign that his Qi and blood were full and the medicinal power had been fully absorbed.

Wu Gong Mastered: Five Birds Fist 【Minor Accomplishment, 213/500】

Glancing at the system panel, Jiang Ye nodded slightly. At this rate, he would be able to knock on the door of the Hidden Force realm in just a few more days.

He looked up at the sky; it was time to go be his gatekeeping old man.

"Old Man Jiang, morning!"

A voice full of vigor and obvious excitement broke the morning silence.

Just as Jiang Ye had expected, the first person to arrive at the martial arts academy treading through the dew was indeed Shi Lei.

The bruises on the youth's face were still obvious, especially on his cheekbones and the corners of his mouth, where the purple-red color had not yet fully faded.

But his eyes had regained their luster; the deathly silence and confusion of yesterday were gone, replaced by a tempered perseverance and a tenacity to squeeze out every bit of time and sweat.

His gait was much steadier than yesterday's, and although he was injured, his spine was held straight.

Clearly, after that kneeling last night, he had carved Jiang Ye's words into his bones and found his own path again.

Jiang Ye lifted his dim eyelids, his gaze lingering for a moment on that young face reignited with fighting spirit, then he nodded slightly, emitting a flat, waveless syllable from his throat:

"Mm."

That counted as a response.

Shi Lei did not mind the old man's coldness; he grinned, which tugged at the wound on his mouth, making him hiss in pain, yet his smile did not diminish.

He cupped his fists at Jiang Ye again, then turned and stepped into the courtyard, unable to wait a moment longer.

Jiang Ye withdrew his gaze and sat back down on the small stool that had been polished bright, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his eyelids half-closed.

As more and more disciples arrived at the academy, the sound of discussion, suppressed yet filled with excitement and fear, spread through the morning light like ripples stirred by stones thrown into a pond.

"Have you heard? Something big happened last night! Xu Tao of the Wild Wolf Gang, that hall master from the Zhangxing Street gambling den, was slaughtered!"

"What?! Xu Tao? That Xu Tao, who is at the Great Accomplishment of the Bright Force realm and notorious for his cruelty? Is it true?"

"Absolutely true! My cousin works at the magistrate's office; he saw it with his own eyes when he passed by this morning. The back courtyard of the gambling den is sealed off! I heard he died... in such a miserable way!"

"Hiss—who is so bold? That's a hall master of the Wild Wolf Gang!"

"More than just bold! My cousin said the room was barely in disarray; it was as if Xu Tao... as if he was finished off in one move! His head was even..."

The speaker lowered his voice further, filled with unbelievable horror.

"One move?! Xu Tao is a solid Great Accomplishment of the Bright Force! To be able to take him out in one move... what level must that be?"

"At least a Hidden Force expert! And a ruthless one at that!"

"Good riddance! That Xu Tao bullied the market and forced women into prostitution; he did countless wicked things. He deserved this retribution!"

Someone whispered in approval, filled with satisfaction.

"I guess it was probably a black hand from another gang, fighting over territory!"

"I heard the leader of the Wild Wolf Gang has already declared that they will find the killer at any cost, blood for blood..."

"Looks like the streets are going to be chaotic for the next few days. We must be careful when we go home."

Various discussions—fearful, curious, secretly happy, or worried—interwove like a dense spiderweb in the morning air of the academy.

Jiang Ye did not lift his eyelids, remaining in his drowsy state, though he sneered in his heart.

Just as he had thought, when a gang leader like Xu Tao, who licked blood from the edge of a blade and had enemies everywhere, died, ninety-nine percent of people would immediately think of vendettas, black-on-black crime, or gang warfare.

Who would ever imagine that the person who took out Xu Tao in one move was this gatekeeping old man right before their eyes?

These outer courtyard disciples, entering one after another, all flashed a look of shock upon seeing Shi Lei, who was already diligently practicing his fist arts.

"Hu Hu Shidi Shi Lei? He... he actually arrived so early today? And is practicing so hard?"

"He was so publicly humiliated by Lin Xiaohe yesterday... I thought he would be crushed..."

"It seems we underestimated him. We only thought his foundation was mediocre and he only knew how to use brute force, but I didn't expect his temperament to be so resilient..."

In the whispered discussions, there was less of the contempt that might have existed in the past, and more genuine surprise and faint admiration.

To be able to climb back up so quickly after such a blow and pour all his emotions into a near-masochistic hard practice—this willpower was indeed worthy of their respect.

"Hmph, with mediocre foundation, no matter how hard he tries, it's just futile struggle. What kind of results can he practice?"

Lin Xiaohe, having just stepped into the outer courtyard, naturally saw Shi Lei as well.

Her gaze lingered for a moment on that scarred yet exceptionally focused back. Her willow brows furrowed slightly, then she curled her lips, a trace of annoyance and disdain flashing through her eyes, as if she had seen some unpleasant old object she couldn't shake off.

However, when her eyes shifted and caught sight of the gate direction, the impatience on her face melted away like ice and snow.

She saw Hu Tian, his face glowing and his steps light, following closely behind Zhang Zhang Shixiong Xu from the inner courtyard, walking over while chatting and laughing.

Hu Tian had changed into a new set of fine cloth clothes today and wore a sachet at his waist; his demeanor already carried a bit of "style" different from the past.

Lin Xiaohe's eyes lit up, and a bright, coquettish smile quickly piled onto her face; the disdain for Shi Lei from just a moment ago seemed to have never existed.

Like a happy skylark that had finally waited for its target, she stepped lightly to meet them, her voice sweet and crisp:

"Hu Hu Shidi! Zhang Zhang Shixiong! Morning! You look really good today!"

Zhang Xu ignored Lin Xiaohe's greeting, only tilting his head to say something else to Hu Tian beside him, which made Hu Tian nod repeatedly.

Afterward, he did not stop, but with his habitual arrogance and composure, he walked straight through the outer courtyard toward the inner courtyard, leaving Lin Xiaohe's enthusiastic greeting and smile completely out in the cold.

The smile on Lin Xiaohe's face stiffened slightly, but for only a moment, before it returned to normal, as if she didn't care at all.

She quickly shifted all her attention to Hu Tian, who had remained behind.

"Zhang Zhang Shixiong, don't worry! I will definitely work twice as hard to get the Mountain-Crushing Fist to the entry level as soon as possible! Then I will be able to practice with you."

Hu Tian first raised his voice to promise toward Zhang Xu's departing back, his tone respectful yet tinged with sycophancy.

After Zhang Xu's figure disappeared from sight, he turned his head to look at Lin Xiaohe, his face already changed to a relaxed and slightly smug, playful expression.

"Zhang Zhang Shixiong Sister Xiaohe, you're here early too."

His tone was casual, his gaze lingering on Lin Xiaohe's face for a moment, carrying the familiarity of someone who had just been accepted into an upper circle, facing a lower-level admirer with a sense of superiority.

Lin Xiaohe seemed completely unaware of the subtle change in his attitude; she smiled brightly and took the conversation in stride:

"It's just so I could see you earlier, Hu Hu Shidi, and practice together!"

"Did you have any fun when Zhang Zhang Shixiong took you out yesterday? Tell me quickly..."

The two huddled together, whispering and laughing.

Hu Tian spoke vividly, occasionally gesturing, while Lin Xiaohe would chime in with timely exclamations or coquettish laughter, her gaze lingering on Hu Tian with adoration, as if he were the most dazzling existence in the martial arts academy this morning.

Meanwhile, Shi Lei, practicing his fist arts alone in the corner, was oblivious to all of this.

His mind was entirely on his fists now.

Time passed quickly, and three days went by in a flash.

In the morning, Jiang Ye slowly withdrew his fists.

Wu Gong Mastered: Five Birds Fist 【Minor Accomplishment, 467/500】

"It seems I can knock on the door of the Hidden Force realm tonight."

Jiang Ye's eyes narrowed, a flash of deeply hidden excitement flickering through them.

With the nourishment of the Blood-Replenishing Pill, he had tempered his Qi and blood enough over these three days; he only needed his fist arts to reach Great Accomplishment tonight to knock on the door of the Hidden Force realm.

"I'll rest well during the day and keep my spirits up."

Jiang Ye returned to his post as the gatekeeping old man, conserving his energy.

However, the trees wanted to be still, but the wind would not cease.

Around noon, a crisp exclamation from a woman suddenly came from the direction of the outer courtyard, breaking the usual dullness of the academy.

"Hu Hu Shidi Tian's fist arts have reached the entry level!"

This voice belonged to Lin Xiaohe, carrying undisguised surprise and a deliberately raised volume, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

Immediately following were the exclamations of the outer courtyard disciples, filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred.

"What?! Hu Hu Shidi Tian? How many days has he been here? Counting it all up... less than seven days, right?!"

"My god! Seven days to reach the entry level of the Mountain-Crushing Fist?! Is... is this what a superior foundation is?!"

"People are different from people, and goods are different from goods! I've been practicing for almost a month and haven't even touched the threshold..."

"Sigh, don't compare. Comparing yourself to such a genius is just asking for unhappiness."

The wave of sound even faintly reached the vicinity of the gate.

Even Jiang Ye, who had been closing his eyes to rest, twitched his brows imperceptibly, a trace of surprise flashing by.

"This Hu kid's speed at reaching the entry level of fist arts is even faster than Yiyi's was back then."

Jiang Ye remembered that Liu Yiyi, who also possessed a superior foundation, had taken seven or eight days to reach the entry level of her fist arts.

It seemed this Hu Tian indeed had some potential.

Of course, this talent, which was shocking in the eyes of ordinary people, was merely the light of a firefly compared to Jiang Ye's peerless comprehension, which allowed him to reach the entry level of fist arts in one second.

The outer courtyard martial arts arena was already exploding.

"Hu Hu Shidi Tian is truly a genius among geniuses!"

Lin Xiaohe surrounded Hu Tian, who was full of joy and self-satisfaction, like stars surrounding the moon.

The excitement on her face, as if she shared the honor, was about to overflow.

It was as if she were the one who had reached the entry level of the fist arts.

While she spoke flattering words loudly, her peripheral vision was covertly, with a hint of provocation and scrutiny, glancing at the figure not far away who remained silent and immersed in his fist stances—Shi Lei.

However, to her disappointment, Shi Lei seemed completely unaware, still polishing the Mountain-Crushing Fist stances with heavy, condensed power, move by move. Sweat slid down his temples, his eyes focused like iron, and he had no reaction to Hu Tian's breakthrough or the surrounding clamor, as if he were in another world.

A trace of unfulfilled anger and disappointment flashed in Lin Xiaohe's eyes, and she snorted coldly, her voice not loud, but just enough for those nearby to hear:

"Hmph, probably knowing the gap between himself and Hu Hu Shidi Tian is like clouds and mud, he has completely accepted his fate, only caring about burying his head in that pathetic bit of sweat."

Soon, the news of Hu Tian's fist arts reaching the entry level reached the inner courtyard, and Liu Qingshi was also alarmed and came to the outer courtyard.

Looking at Hu Tian, who was flushed and unable to hide his excitement, a trace of appreciation flashed in Liu Qingshi's eyes, and he nodded slightly:

"Not bad, reaching the entry level within seven days, your talent is even better than I imagined. Among the new disciples of the martial arts academy in the last ten years, your talent can be considered top-tier!"

His tone paused, and his expression turned serious:

"Hu Tian, from today on, you are my official disciple, Liu Qingshi's, and you may enter the inner courtyard to study. If you have any difficulties in your future practice, you can ask me at any time."

As he spoke, he took a small blue porcelain bottle from his bosom and handed it over. "After reaching the entry level of fist arts, tempering Qi and blood and knocking on the door of the Bright Force realm is the top priority. This bottle of Blood-Replenishing Pills is a reward for you to help you stabilize your foundation and break through early."

"Thank you, Master!"

Hu Tian took the pill with an excited expression.

He had seen Zhang Xu take Blood-Replenishing Pills and knew that this pill was expensive, costing twenty taels of silver per bottle.

This was not just a pill; it was a symbol of status and importance!

Under the gaze of eyes filled with envy or complexity, Hu Tian straightened his back and, following Liu Qingshi, strode into the inner courtyard, which symbolized a higher level.

The outer courtyard disciples looked at Hu Tian's back, each with a complex expression.

Although they had known this day would come, they hadn't expected it to come so quickly.

Lin Xiaohe's heart was also mixed with joy and worry.

The joy was that the "potential stock" she had set her eyes on had indeed skyrocketed, and she could be considered to have a backer in the inner courtyard in the future.

The worry was that Hu Tian's progress was so rapid that his horizons would inevitably rise; if she didn't grasp him tighter, she feared...

However, just as the ripples caused by Hu Tian had not yet completely subsided, and everyone's thoughts were mixed—

About an hour later.

"Hu Hu Shidi Shi Lei's fist arts have also reached the entry level!"

An exclamation from an outer courtyard disciple rang out.

This news was like the second stone thrown into the lake, but the ripples it stirred were completely different from the former.

There were no exclamations or boiling of the whole field; there was more of a silence that was expected yet carried complex emotions.

After all, Shi Lei had been practicing fist arts for nearly two months, and he was only a step away from the threshold; his near-masochistic diligence every day was something everyone had witnessed.

His entry was more like a long-distance runner finally crossing the finish line; although worthy of admiration, it lacked the shock of a genius suddenly emerging.

"Hmph, it took nearly two months to reach the entry level; compared to a genius like Hu Hu Shidi Tian, it's simply a difference between clouds and mud."

Lin Xiaohe looked at Shi Lei's resilient back, her brows tightly furrowed.

The cold snort carried obvious disdain, but if one listened closely, beneath that disdain, there seemed to be a trace of subtle jealousy and unease that she herself was unwilling to admit.

No matter how slow Shi Lei was, he had finally crossed this hurdle.

Once he knocked on the door of the Bright Force realm, he would be considered to have truly stepped into the ranks of martial artists, and he would be... different from ordinary people.

The inner courtyard disciples naturally also heard the exclamation from the outer courtyard.

"What a good day today? Our academy is going to flourish; two outer courtyard disciples reached the entry level of fist arts in one day!"

"Heh, although they reached the entry level on the same day, these two cannot be compared. That Hu Tian is a genius, while Shi Lei... I heard his foundation is only mediocre, and he struggled for nearly two months."

"I do have some impression of this Shi Lei; he is indeed desperate in his practice, but unfortunately, limited by his foundation, I fear knocking on the door of the Bright Force realm is his peak."

"Being able to enter the Bright Force realm can be considered to have a foothold in this world; it's better than the top but worse than the bottom."

The inner courtyard disciples discussed it with interest.

"That's a coincidence."

Liu Qingshi, who was guiding Hu Tian to adapt to the inner courtyard's practice rhythm, stood up upon hearing the sound, a trace of a smile on his face.

He was just about to go to the outer courtyard when he saw Shi Lei had already walked in himself.

There was no great joy on Shi Lei's face after the breakthrough, only his usual resilience and calmness; because of the days of hard practice and scars, he even appeared more steady than his peers.

He walked to Liu Qingshi and bowed respectfully:

"Liu Shi, disciple Shi Lei, the Mountain-Crushing Fist has reached the entry level."

"Mm, not bad, I have been paying attention to you before."

Liu Qingshi looked at him, his gaze carrying scrutiny and a trace of imperceptible appreciation.

He nodded and said in a deep voice:

"Although you only have a mediocre foundation, this temperament and perseverance far exceed ordinary people. On the path of martial arts, foundation is important, but willpower can mend the heavens. If you continue to practice diligently in the future, you may not necessarily fail to achieve something."

As he spoke, he also took a blue porcelain bottle from his bosom and handed it to Shi Lei. "Since you have reached the entry level, you are my official disciple. This bottle of Blood-Replenishing Pills is for you; I hope you stabilize your foundation, nourish your Qi and blood early, and knock on the door of the Bright Force realm!"

"Thank you, Liu Shi!"

Shi Lei took it with both hands, his voice steady, but his gratitude came from the bottom of his heart.

He knew the preciousness of this bottle of pills and understood the encouragement and expectations contained in the academy master's action.

On the side, Hu Tian, who had been full of self-satisfaction, saw Liu Qingshi treating Shi Lei, who had a "mediocre foundation," equally and bestowing the same precious pills, and a trace of resentment flashed through the bottom of his eyes, thinking to himself:

"This Shi Lei only has a mediocre foundation; even if his fist arts reach the entry level, that's all there is to it. How is he worthy of enjoying such pills?"

"Hu Hu Shidi Shi Lei, please give me more advice in the future; if there is anything you don't understand, you can come and ask me."

Zhao Gang, a good-natured person who had always had a good reputation in the inner courtyard, walked over with a simple and kind smile on his face.

"We are in the inner courtyard together from now on, let's look out for each other. If there is anything you don't understand, just ask me."

Compared to Hu Tian, whose talent was dazzling but who carried a hidden arrogance, he was more willing to deal with a junior brother like Shi Lei, who was steady, willing to work hard, and had a simple temperament.

Shi Lei hurriedly bowed and thanked him again.

Afternoon.

Another piece of news that shook the martial arts academy.

Zhang Xu knocked on the door of the Hidden Force realm and failed.