Ultimate True Lord

The casual conversation ended.

In the outer courtyard, everyone began lifting stone weights again, each finding a corner to practice. Only after warming up and getting their bodies in shape did they begin sparring with their fellow disciples.

After more than four months of training, Jiang Ming has also become one of the strong men who can fight with others.

He and a disciple of similar height began to fight. They experimented with palm techniques during the fight to deal with various situations. Of course, they only went so far as to strike, neither of them actually using their full strength.

Bang bang bang, just as the outer disciples were fighting fiercely.

A figure walked out from the inner courtyard. It was Fang Heng, who had previously followed Jiang Ming but had now entered the inner courtyard and become Old Man Liu's key protégé. He looked like he was going out to buy the medicinal herbs needed for the medicinal soup.

Fang Heng spotted Jiang Ming and Lin Lei at a glance and immediately strode over, his tone excited and filled with the uncontrollable boasting of a young man.

"Brother Jiang, Lei Zi! I've been so tired from practicing these past few days that I forgot to come see you guys. Hehe, my stance training has gotten really good lately, but my arm strength is still weak, and I'm still a long way from lifting the stone weight."

"However, Elder Liu said that I can practice palm techniques and footwork simultaneously, doing both at the same time."

"They also told me to try to start training and honing my hands within fifty days."

Upon hearing this, Lin Lei's lips moved, but his expression dimmed: "Impressive. You might be able to break this year's fastest record."

It has only been a little over ten days since Fang Heng began his training, and he has already reached a high standard in stance training and started practicing palm techniques and footwork.

It took him and Jiang Ming over a month to even begin to look decent. The difference in their comprehension and talent is just too great; they're not even on the same level.

As Fang Heng was talking non-stop, two more inner court disciples came out quickly from not far away, urging him enthusiastically, "Junior Brother Fang, what are you dawdling for? Let's go buy medicine together!"

"Wait a moment, I need to speak with a friend for a few minutes," Fang Heng replied, turning around.

However, one of the inner court disciples, named Wang Yan, immediately raised an eyebrow and spoke with undisguised contempt for Lin Lei and Jiang Ming.

"Why bother associating with these people who can't even get close to becoming formal disciples? They have limited talent and are just there to make up the numbers."

"Conversing with them is a waste of your time. You're someone Professor Liu is paying close attention to, don't lower yourself to their level."

Fang Heng's excitement faded slightly. He didn't immediately refute her, but paused awkwardly for a moment.

He knew in his heart that although Wang Yan's words were harsh, they were not entirely without reason. He was now an inner court disciple, and had been personally looked after by Elder Liu. His future path was completely different from that of the outer court disciples.

Remembering how Jiang Ming and Lin Lei had looked after him in the past, he finally managed to force a somewhat reluctant expression and said softly, "I was just saying a few words to some old friends."

His tone had lost its previous warmth and instead became somewhat distant.

Wang Yan chuckled lightly: "Old friends? Once you truly break through to the White Sand level, you'll realize that these friends will only hold you back."

Lin Lei clenched his fists, his face grim. Jiang Ming, standing beside him, remained calm, his gaze fixed intently on Fang Heng, without uttering a word.

Fang Heng avoided their gazes, coughed lightly, and hurriedly said, "Jiang Ming, Lin Lei, the matter of the medicinal herbs cannot be delayed, I must go now."

After speaking, he didn't look at Jiang Ming and Lin Lei again, then turned around and followed Wang Yan and the other man with decisive steps, without the slightest hesitation.

Watching his resolute departing figure, Lin Lei felt a bitter smile and sighed softly, "Things are definitely different once you enter the inner courtyard..."

Jiang Ming withdrew his gaze, his heart not stirred by much emotion, but rather by a calm understanding.

He could see clearly that from the moment Fang Heng stepped into the inner courtyard, the paths of the group had gradually diverged.

A moment later, Jiang Ming continued practicing his fist techniques, trying his best to master the nine palm techniques of the Red Sand Palm, making his attacks more powerful, as if he had not been affected by what had just happened.

Meanwhile, Lin Lei seemed somewhat dejected. He was clearly distracted, and his hands, which were pounding the wooden stake, became weak and powerless.

……

……

Time passed quickly, and two months went by in a flash. Wangyue City remained in turmoil.

The coughing blood epidemic that had spread in the south of the city was thought to have been suppressed as the weather turned cold. Unexpectedly, it has resurfaced in the past month and has even swept into the west of the city, wreaking havoc everywhere.

In the outer city, gangs run rampant, and bloody brawls are a daily occurrence as they fight for territory. Meanwhile, the disappearances of girls in the city are compounding the problem, becoming increasingly frequent.

Shops are now closed, rice shops and firewood markets are shut down, creating a desolate scene. Various taxes levied by the government are suffocating the merchants.

This trend even affected Jiang Ming. Meat prices in the city began to rise steadily, and the price of refined rice also climbed higher. He even had to start considering reducing his food allowance for a while.

These days, Jiang Ming has been practicing his stances and boxing every day, and the Taotie patterns on the Primal Furnace have covered nearly 70% of it. A few days ago, he finally mastered the boxing techniques and footwork and began to learn the methods of palm forging.

Jiang Ming's speed is about average in the outer academy, neither too fast nor too slow. Of course, it can't compare to that of the inner academy.

For example, Fang Heng, who had only recently joined the Hongsha Martial Arts School, was indeed exceptionally gifted.

Although he started learning boxing four months later than Jiang Ming, he mastered the palm techniques and footwork half a month earlier than Jiang Ming and has already begun training his palms.

In mid-January, the weather was cold.

In the outer courtyard of the martial arts school, under the high wall near the street, several half-person-high cast iron basins were neatly arranged. The basins were filled with dark red and scorching fine sand, which was the medicinal red sand specially used for practicing Red Sand Palm.

The sand grains appeared to have been repeatedly soaked and roasted in a special medicinal juice, with a deep red color like blood, uniform grain size, and a faint medicinal fragrance and dryness.

Beside the iron basin were a pot of red medicinal soup that had been boiled, a secret ointment to be applied to the skin after practice, and a charcoal brazier used to heat the sand.

Standing before the iron basin, Jiang Ming took a deep breath, then without hesitation plunged his hands into the warm, fine sand, quickly digging and patting them. He repeatedly rubbed the skin on his palms with the sand until his hands turned slightly red.

He endured it for a while longer, but then felt the pain intensify, so he quickly stepped aside. He took a small amount of the light green, specially made ointment, rubbed his hands together, and applied it to various parts of his skin.

Instantly, the burning sensation subsided, replaced by a cool and soothing feeling.

Jiang Ming turned his head and glanced at the other disciples.

Some senior practitioners have honed their hand skills for a long time, using specific breathing techniques for practicing Red Sand Palm. Their palms are like shovels, constantly stirring and turning the palms. They can maintain this for a considerable period of time, until their skin turns completely red.

People lined up one by one, taking turns to have their palms polished.

Suddenly, a large, stout figure emerged from the inner courtyard. Old Man Liu, with his hands behind his back, glanced at the outer courtyard and spoke in a booming voice.

"Disciples who have completed ten months of training here may graduate and leave today. If anyone wishes to stay, they may continue to pay tuition."

He paused slightly, then added in a deep voice, "But I've already said this: if you still haven't reached the White Sand level after ten months, your chances of breaking through further are extremely slim."

"In my opinion, it would be better to graduate as soon as possible and find a more stable way to make a living. It's up to you to decide..."

Immediately, several familiar senior brothers from the outer courtyard, carrying their belongings, said their goodbyes and silently left through the main gate. Among them was a senior brother who had often practiced martial arts moves with Jiang Ming.

For a moment, the people in the outer courtyard fell silent, the courtyard quiet, a stark contrast to the lively scene that had unfolded earlier.

"Sigh, you guys continue."

Old Man Liu waved his hand, said nothing more, and returned to the inner courtyard.

In the corner, Jiang Ming watched his senior brothers' departing figures, a sense of urgency rising within him. Half a year had passed since he began his apprenticeship in martial arts. Only now was he starting to hone his skills in hand techniques.

"Only four months left..."

"If you break through, you can become a formal disciple and never have to worry about food and drink. If you fail, you can only leave quietly and find another way to make a living."