Gou Zai Wudao Shi Lian Shen

In the afternoon, Chen Chong led Lu Chen into the inner courtyard to pay respects to their master.

Compared to the hustle and bustle of the outer courtyard, the inner courtyard is noticeably quieter.

In the rest area outside the training ground, several senior students were chatting under the shade of a tree.

The most conspicuous among them was Shi Hao.

He was dressed in a clean and neat white training uniform, sitting on a stone bench with a calm expression.

Although he had only been in the inner courtyard for a month, he had already become close with the senior disciples.

"Little Stone, your boxing skills have already reached a minor level of proficiency some time ago, so you don't need to be so engrossed in practicing boxing anymore."

The speaker was a tall young man with a deep voice and large hands; he was none other than Song Tieshan, a fellow disciple of the martial arts school.

As Song Tieshan spoke, he casually picked up the teacup next to him and took a big gulp.

"The gap between minor success and major success is like a chasm; it cannot be achieved overnight and requires a long period of accumulation."

Liu Qingping chimed in with a smile, "Senior Brother is right. Little Stone, you've been in the inner courtyard for a month now, and your fist techniques are almost perfected. What you should do now is to nourish your qi and blood."

She tapped the table with her fingers, her tone carrying a hint of familiarity, like that of a senior sister.

"The initial stage of Blood Transformation is like just igniting a spark in martial arts. If you can cultivate your blood and qi to the point where it flows continuously like a stream as soon as possible, and step into the minor stage of Blood Transformation, then your strength will truly set you apart from your peers."

Shi Hao nodded slightly, but said, "I understand. It's just that my boxing skills have only just reached a minor level of mastery, and I feel there are still many variations that I haven't fully explored. It would be a pity to give up now."

Just then, footsteps approached, and Shi Hao seemed to sense something, looking up in the direction of them.

Lu Chen also happened to be looking at Shi Hao, and their eyes met across half of the training ground.

Shi Hao was taken aback at first, then recognized Lu Chen.

However, he didn't pay attention and looked at Chen Chong.

Chen Chong, however, clasped his hands in greeting to Shi Hao and the others from a distance: "Senior Brother Song, Senior Sister Liu, Senior Brother Shi..."

These three were all true disciples of the martial arts school, and their status was a notch higher than Chen Chong's.

Song Tieshan, Liu Qingping, and others also looked over.

"Junior Brother Chen, who is this?"

Song Tieshan asked.

His voice was deep and resonant, and his gaze fell on Lu Chen with a scrutinizing quality, but it didn't make anyone uncomfortable.

Chen Chong led Lu Chen to the group and introduced him, "This is Lu Chen, a disciple who has just broken through to become a martial artist. I've brought him to pay his respects to our master and all the senior brothers and sisters!"

Then, Chen Chong introduced them to Lu Chen one by one: "This is Senior Brother Song, Master's chief disciple. Everyone calls him Senior Brother."

"This is Senior Sister Liu, and this is Senior Brother Shi, whom you should know!"

Lu Chen clasped his hands in greeting: "Lu Chen greets Senior Brother Song, Senior Sister Liu, and Senior Brother Shi."

Shi Hao looked at Lu Chen with a hint of condescension: "Junior Brother Lu, I didn't expect you to break through to become a martial artist."

"If you have any questions about boxing techniques in the future, you can come and ask me for guidance."

Lu Chen glanced at Shi Hao, then calmly clasped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Senior Brother Shi. If there is anything I don't understand, I will ask my master and all the other senior brothers and sisters."

As the group exchanged pleasantries, footsteps sounded from the direction of the main hall in the inner courtyard.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.

Qin Wuhe, dressed in a dark blue martial arts robe, walked slowly down the corridor. He was over fifty years old, with graying temples, but his back was still straight, and his eyes were calm and bright, as if he could see through a person's bones and blood when they looked at them.

Song Tieshan and the others straightened their expressions and bowed.

"Master."

Lu Chen immediately clasped his hands in greeting and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Master."

Qin Wuhe's gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Lu Chen.

"You've broken through to a higher level?"

"Yes."

Lu Chen respectfully said, "Disciple Lu Chen has now successfully broken through to the Blood Transformation Realm and has also achieved minor mastery in his fist techniques. I have come here to express my gratitude to Master for teaching me martial arts!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Qin Wuhe's eyes.

"Oh?"

Breaking through the realm and transferring blood in just over two months is naturally quite good.

However, it was not particularly noticeable within the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School.

However, if one also masters the Azure Dragon Tongbei Fist to a certain level, the significance becomes different.

Fist techniques are more difficult to master than stance training, and require greater comprehension. Many veteran martial artists at the initial stage of Blood Refining may not have mastered even a minor fist technique.

Shi Hao, standing to the side, immediately changed his expression. "This kid's fist technique has reached a minor level of mastery? Impossible!"

He had a master who personally guided him, and it took him two months to achieve some success. How could this country bumpkin from the mountains compare to him?

Shi Hao couldn't help but speak, his tone tinged with doubt:

"Lu Chen, don't talk nonsense if you don't understand."

He looked at Lu Chen, his brows furrowed slightly, and although his tone was restrained, it couldn't hide his arrogance: "The Azure Dragon Tongbei Fist is not so easy to learn."

"Many outer disciples feel that they have mastered the moves when they practice, and think that they have reached the basics. In reality, they are just empty shells and are far from achieving true proficiency."

Upon hearing this, Qin Wuhe also looked at Lu Chen with a scrutinizing gaze.

Lu Chen was very decisive and demonstrated the Azure Dragon Tongbei Fist on the spot.

After Lu Chen finished his demonstration, Qin Wuhe couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Good!"

Qin Wuhe's eyes were filled with joy.

He never expected that in less than three months, two of the boys he recruited from the mountains would become martial artists.

Shi Hao mastered the basics in three days and broke through to the next level in a month; his talent was astonishing, needless to say.

Lu Chen broke through the Blood Transformation Realm in just over two months, and his fist technique also reached the minor completion stage. Although he is not as talented and dazzling as Shi Hao, he is still a good seedling worth cultivating.

"Haha, could it be that my Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School is about to rise again!"

"What goes around comes around!"

Qin Wuhe felt a surge of joy. He increasingly felt how wise his initial decision had been!

Shi Hao's face turned red, and his expression was extremely unpleasant.

"Lu Chen, your boxing skills have indeed reached the minor mastery level. This shows that you have good comprehension."

"From this day forward, you will be an inner disciple of my Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School, and you may enter the inner courtyard to cultivate."

"When you travel the world in the future, you may also use my name."

Qin Wuhe said with great pride.

As the head of the museum, Qin Wuhe's name still carries some weight in this area.

Whether Lu Chen goes to a security escort agency, a business, or seeks employment elsewhere, he will have credentials and face to rely on.

Afterwards, Qin Wuhe thought for a moment, took out a porcelain bottle from his pocket, and handed it to Lu Chen.

"Here, this is Blood Qi Powder. It's an excellent medicine for strengthening and nourishing blood and qi."

"You have just broken through to the next level, and your Qi and blood are still unstable as they begin to move. For the next seven days, you must not be greedy for quick results or rush things. Instead, practice standing meditation every day to stabilize your Qi and blood."

"If you rush to show off and damage your foundation, don't blame me for not warning you."

Lu Chen accepted the porcelain bottle and solemnly expressed his gratitude: "This disciple will never forget Master's teachings."

Qin Wuhe nodded, then looked at Chen Chong: "These next few days, you will show him the rules of the inner courtyard."

Chen Chong clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Disciple understands."

After explaining these things, Qin Wuhe turned and left.

At this moment, Song Tieshan, the senior disciple, stepped forward first to congratulate Lu Chen.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Lu, on joining the Inner Academy."

As he spoke, he took a black cloth bag from his waist and handed it to Lu Chen.

"Your arrival was sudden; your senior brother wasn't prepared."

"This contains the dried meat of the Crimson Blood Beast that I eat every day. It's very filling, and I can chew on a couple of pieces when I get tired from practicing my stance."

Lu Chen accepted it, feeling grateful: "Thank you, Senior Brother."

Liu Qingping also walked over with a smile, took out a small wooden box from her sleeve, and handed it to Lu Chen, "This is Jade Skin Ointment, it's more effective than liniment."

Lu Chen accepted it with both hands: "Thank you, Senior Sister Liu."

Liu Qingping blinked: "No need to be polite. If anyone bullies you, the newcomer, you can come to your senior sister."

Song Tieshan chuckled and said, "It's good enough that you're not bullying him."