Chapter 541: Testing Moves (Please Subscribe)

Practicing martial arts, eating, and sleeping every day...

Before one knew it, a month of time had passed in a flash.

On the large communal bed, Aaron sat cross-legged, his gaze sweeping over the Attribute Panel:

【Name: Fang Yu (Aaron)】

【Talent: Immortality】

【Age: 19】

【Realm: Moves】

Although his comprehension and memory were superb, his talent for practicing martial arts seemed truly average.

Liang Wu gritted his teeth and went up: "Senior Sister, please show mercy."

Slap!

Liang Wu knelt directly on the ground and began to wail loudly.

【Skills: Fishing (Proficient), Sea Gathering Residual Art (Entry)】

'So this is "Bright Strength"? Adding an extra layer of force on top of one's original physical strength?'

Aaron climbed to his feet, shook his arms, and a look of pain appeared on his face.

Aaron didn't think about snatching their Medicinal Sandbags to use for himself or anything; this was clearly the source of wealth for the Qingshan Martial Arts Hall.

Li Qinglan's eyes lit up: "Come hit me! Use your strongest move! Don't be afraid of hurting me! After Entering Strength, it is completely different from before!"

"Brother Fang, there is work from the Inner Courtyard."

Although he was complaining incessantly in his heart, Aaron still honestly followed Huang Dacheng and the others in calling out, "Hello, Senior Sister."

When he first saw the other party, Aaron was somewhat disappointed.

By the time the two-month period was up, he would likely be unable to sense Qi and Blood, let alone refine it to Enter Strength.

He could not afford to buy medicinal meals that greatly supplemented Qi and Blood, but gritting his teeth to buy a one-tael silver sandbag was still feasible.

Hmm...

'Generally speaking, out of ten ordinary people, one or two can probably grasp Qi and Blood within two months... So, I am still considered to have average aptitude?'

'Of course... it is more likely that although I look like I have a deep grudge, I don't have the life of a protagonist...'

Aaron had a vague premonition.

On the way, Aaron heard Liang Wu say that the disciple who had Entered Strength was named "Li Qinglan"; although she had joined the Inner Courtyard, Master Xue Qingshan had not returned, so she had not yet formally apprenticed.

"Next!"

Among them, the most unexpected was Song Sanjin.

Aaron nodded: "Let's go!"

This little blacksmith had already begun to sense Qi and Blood from time to time; although it was still very vague, Great Senior Brother Ding Shan believed he had hope of grasping Qi and Blood within two months, which led to him being favored as well.

This Master Xue seemed to go on long journeys often, and it was common for him not to return for several months.

'The action of force is mutual; I intentionally used a few parts less force in my punch, which is exactly the "Proud Dragon Repents"—even if I encounter a stronger force and am rebounded, it won't be too serious...'

At this moment, the door opened, and Huang Dacheng and Liang Wu walked in.

The three of them went all the way to the Inner Courtyard training ground and met that Senior Sister Li Qinglan.

In daily life, such people were like phoenixes in the clouds, coming and going high above, almost ignoring Outer Courtyard disciples like them, just like someone wearing good shoes seeing mud—they wouldn't even deign to step on it!

'Ding Shan is right about one thing: a Martial Master is a Fist Master! If you want to know what "Strength" is, you'll know after one punch!'

If he touched it, he would be crossing the bottom line, and the consequences would be much more troublesome than just having a fight.

He executed the moves of the Flowing Sand Palm, his palms crossed, and struck toward Li Qinglan.

Ever since Song Sanjin began sensing Qi and Blood, their little group of three had officially gone their separate ways; nowadays, he was actually closer to Fang Yu.

If it weren't for Aaron speaking up, he would have been bullied to death before.

Aaron secretly restrained a lot of his strength and threw a stepping straight punch.

"Offense taken!"

Liang Wu laughed.

Huang Dacheng said excitedly: "A Senior Sister has just broken through to Entering Strength, and Bright Strength is gradually emerging... She can't quite control her own force and needs human dummies to practice her martial arts, so she is currently recruiting people... One night gives one Medicinal Sandbag, that's one tael of silver!"

'This set of martial arts is actually equivalent to a decent unarmed combat technique from my previous life... The other moves are fine, but the most critical part is the "Quicksand Intent," as well as that method of grasping Qi and Blood and refining it into Bright Strength!'

Li Qinglan's figure flickered, and she arrived behind Liang Wu, executing a sweeping kick.

'It's a pity... the Wuguan only lets you learn for two months, after which you have to pay tuition... I have no money...'

Aaron commented in his heart and asked: "Seeing you all with such happy faces, what is the matter?"

Li Qinglan looked to be in her twenties, with thick hands and large feet, rough skin, and facial features that possessed a masculine heroic spirit; she couldn't be called ugly, but she definitely couldn't be called pretty either.

Thinking of how Great Senior Brother Ding Shan went from initial appreciation to gradual disappointment, Aaron couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Originally, Aaron thought that since the other party looked like he had a deep grudge, perhaps he was wearing a protagonist template?

But watching Ma Zhu practice extra every day, even more diligently than himself, yet still unable to sense Qi and Blood, he immediately felt that even if he were a protagonist, he probably belonged to the "mortal path"...

【Martial Arts: Flowing Sand Palm (Entry)】

Bang!

As his fist smashed into the palm, Aaron suddenly felt a massive force surge over; Li Qinglan's physical strength was much smaller than his, but within this palm, there was actually a tyrannical power that caused his entire body to fly backward and land on the ground.

"Sorry..."

Bang!

As this palm struck down, the surface of the wooden stake shattered directly, revealing a clear palm print.

However, Martial Disciples who hadn't Entered Strength still couldn't beat Aaron, so on the surface, they were still somewhat respectful.

Aaron closed his eyes and began to recall every detail of the Flowing Sand Palm.

"Living in this world... one must be able to endure loneliness and learn to accept one's own mediocrity; one cannot always be at odds with oneself."

Aaron, on the contrary, became interested.

"Oh? Deal!"

"This body of mine is truly no martial arts genius... It took a whole month before the Attribute Panel finally recorded the Flowing Sand Palm..."

This made the already subtle dormitory relationships become even more complicated.

"Since that is the case, then I can go and take a look."

"Hmm, since you have come here, you have obviously already agreed."

Aaron looked at Li Qinglan, his gaze quite eager: "Senior Sister, let me go first!"

'Ten taels of silver, that is what I bought with it!'

Huang Dacheng, Liang Wu, Song Sanjin, and the others in the large communal dormitory, although also at the bottom of the contempt chain, at least had family support.

Liang Wu's calves began to tremble.

That is to be a lone wolf.

Li Qinglan was striking a wooden post; as she turned her head to speak, she seemed to have misjudged her strength and could not withdraw her hand in time.

Li Qinglan beckoned with her finger.

Li Qinglan's expression was calm as she extended one palm to block.

"And... this Attribute Panel is indeed adjusted according to my own cognition."

'But this is normal... According to the ancient concepts of the Lin Kingdom, if one is truly beautiful and dresses oneself up to look pretty to marry a good husband, that is better than anything! Why suffer to practice martial arts? Getting one's skin tanned and hands and feet calloused?'

After all, he had very little interaction with the Inner Courtyard Disciples; well, most of them were true scions of noble families who had lived in luxury since childhood and could consume highly nourishing medicinal substances, which was the only way they could reach Entering Strength at such a young age.

As for Ma Zhu?

'Those who are truly determined to pursue the Taoism of martial arts and are also stunningly beautiful... I cannot say they don't exist, but they are absolutely rare!'

The Wuguan also had a distinction between the Inner Courtyard and the Outer Courtyard; Aaron and these ordinary Apprentices naturally lived in the Outer Courtyard, while the Disciples who had reached Entering Strength lived in the Inner Courtyard.

"Without one tael of silver, the medicinal ingredients in the Medicinal Sandbag are the Wuguan's exclusive Secret recipe, and the cost certainly isn't worth one tael of silver." Aaron shook his head and said: "Besides... a Martial Disciple reaching Entering Strength is a transformation where one's entire body's strength increases greatly; if they accidentally slip and injure us, the medical expenses alone would be more than one tael."

"Brother Fang, please rest assured about this; Senior Sister has already promised that if anyone is injured, they will go to Huichun Hall to see a doctor, and all medical expenses will be covered!"

In reality, practicing martial arts is quite expensive.

She revealed a smile that looked kind but made Huang Dacheng and the other Disciples' hair stand on end: "I just broke through and cannot control my strength well, but rest assured, I will first practice until I am proficient on the wooden post before using you all as human posts; I guarantee I won't seriously injure you, and all medical expenses will be covered!"

Aaron sighed and stood up.

According to what they said, using the Medicinal Sandbag to practice martial arts indeed had the effect of achieving twice the result with half the effort.

"Apologies, Junior Brother, this time Senior Sister wants to test her footwork..."

Li Qinglan said this while pointing at Huang Dacheng.

(End of this chapter)