You promised yourself to be a caged bird, but you became the supreme young master?

We returned to the training ground, which we hadn't visited for some time.

Lu Heng looked around and felt a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing feelings, thoughts, and reflections).

Having just awakened his past life memories and arrived in this world, he was initially in this martial arts arena when he was about to undergo his awakening ceremony.

Looking back on the initial confusion and unease, and comparing it to now.

"There has been progress after all," Lu Heng murmured.

Time passed slowly, and the number of people in the training ground gradually increased, because a training ground could not accommodate more than a thousand people.

The four batches of members from the outer academy practiced martial arts every other day for four years.

According to Lu Jinnian, nearly two hundred students in Lu Heng's batch of outer academy students successfully established their foundations within a month.

Compared to the initial group of nearly five hundred people, almost three-fifths of the branch families ultimately failed to establish their foundation.

They had already disappeared silently from the training ground.

Of course, he didn't die.

Those who fail to establish their foundation in the branch family will be forced to breed with their families after reaching adulthood to make the most of their remaining value. Ultimately, for unknown reasons, they will not live past the age of 20.

In Lu Heng's view, it was no different from being dead.

"How come you have the nerve to wallow in self-pity?"

Lu Jinnian, who liked to arrive at the training ground at the last minute, patted him on the shoulder with a grin.

"It's nothing." Lu Heng didn't answer. What he had just been thinking about wasn't a topic that could be openly discussed in the martial arts arena.

"You don't seem like yourself..." Just as she was about to say that, Lu Jinnian realized why Lu Heng wasn't saying anything, so she simply shut up.

"I suddenly remembered something. I ran into Lu Fengqing yesterday. Wasn't he always following you? Why isn't he doing it anymore?"

Lu Heng casually started a conversation.

"Him... I don't want to talk about others behind their backs, but this guy is really not a good person."

I got to know him because his parents and my parents had a certain relationship.

However, since both my parents are at the late stage of the Body Refinement Realm, his parents might ask him to curry favor with me.

It wouldn't have mattered in itself, but I unexpectedly witnessed his undisguised contempt and disgust for ordinary people who had separated from their families.

They're just a branch family member, yet they act like idiots, thinking they're superior.

I can only say that we are simply not on the same wavelength.

So I told him to stop following me.

With a shrug, Lu Jinnian finally made his final judgment.

Lu Heng wasn't surprised at all after hearing Lu Jinnian's answer.

Because that's the kind of person Lu Jinnian is; otherwise, the two wouldn't have crossed paths in the first place.

………………

Soon, when almost all the outer court members, including Lu Heng, had arrived at the training ground.

As Lu Jinnian had mentioned beforehand, the combat instructor responsible for guiding this group of outer court family members had arrived at the training ground.

Surprisingly, yet not surprisingly...

The middle-aged man with blue eyes who appeared on the training ground was the one who had previously been in charge of the group of branch family youths that Lu Heng belonged to.

What's surprising is that it's him again; what's not surprising is...

Given the size of the outer courtyard, and the presence of several young members of the main family, it would be strange if the person in charge of guiding them were not a cultivator from the Qi Refining Secret Realm.

Of course, this is a significant improvement compared to my previous impatient attitude, which I felt was a waste of my time.

The middle-aged man with blue eyes wasn't exactly in a good mood; he still had a blank expression, yet he patiently waited, showing no sign of being in a hurry.

Waiting for what?

Lu Heng glanced around casually and found the answer.

Compared to these young members of the branch family who need to be cautious, how could the main family members who consider themselves the masters of the Lu family possibly have a concept of punctuality?

At least in that small outer courtyard, many rules were simply unnecessary for the young master of the main family to follow.

Of course, besides the main family, there were other people who didn't come.

Lu Qingyan, Lu Xuchuan, and Lu Linghua, three of the few who were classmates in the martial arts arena and had left an impression on Lu Heng as cultivation geniuses, also did not come to the martial arts arena at this time.

It's not hard to understand why Lu Qingyan hasn't arrived yet.

After all, Lu Jinnian had clearly stated that her status was even higher than that of ordinary family members.

And what about the other two?

Lu Xuchuan came from an ordinary background.

Although there are cultivators in Lu Linghua's family, Lu Jinnian has never mentioned them, so they are most likely not cultivators from the Qi Refining Secret Realm.

In this situation, even as a cultivation genius, one's status is almost impossible to compare with that of a member of the main family.

Before the doubts could linger for long, the answer was quietly revealed.

The main family members did not arrive at the training ground in scattered groups, but rather more than twenty people came together.

Even if there are only twenty or so people, there is a clear distinction between primary and secondary roles.

There were three people walking at the very front of the group, surrounded by the crowd.

Lu Heng didn't recognize the other two; they were probably from the main family.

The third person who evoked sympathy was Lu Qingyan.

It can only be said that as long as you have the ability, you can earn respect no matter where you are.

Even within the Lu family, which clearly distinguishes between primary and secondary members, this is the case.

Besides Lu Qingyan, Lu Heng also thought of two other cultivation geniuses from the same batch in the training grounds who were also in the main family's group.

However, not as a fellow traveler, but as a follower.

The two martial arts prodigies on the training ground were no longer as spirited as before; their meek and submissive demeanor clearly indicated that they had "submitted."

Seeing this scene, even though Lu Heng had already expected it, he still couldn't help but sigh.

It seems that he is still practically invisible in the Foreign Languages ​​Department.

But what happens after that?

Will he also choose to "surrender" like the other two cultivation geniuses?

Even if it's just a temporary hibernation...

For a moment, Lu Heng also felt somewhat irritable and agitated.

He had only one answer in his heart…

That means he's unwilling!

So, is he ready to face the storm?

………………

Upon seeing the arrival of these family members, the middle-aged man with blue eyes did not show much respect, merely nodding.

Just like before, even though he knew that Lu Qingyan was the second-ranking steward in the family, he had no intention of currying favor with her.

His cultivation level in the Qi Refining Secret Realm also gave him enough confidence.

Clearing his throat, the middle-aged man with blue eyes spoke up, "The rules of the martial arts competition are very simple, so I won't go into details."

It means you find your own sparring partners and practice your combat tactics.

Each person can ask me a question once during each martial arts demonstration.

If you wish to spar, please apply to me, and a cultivator in the late stage of the Body Refinement Secret Realm will be responsible for supervising.

Private fighting is strictly prohibited.

Okay, that's all I have to say. Meeting adjourned.

After speaking, the middle-aged man with blue eyes did not leave directly as before, but instead found a place to sit down outside the martial arts arena.