Gou Zai Wudao Shi Lian Shen

In the afternoon, the boys were still practicing the Panlong stance at the training ground.

The afternoon sun was much harsher than the morning sun, and the sunlight on the blue brick ground created a sultry atmosphere.

The boys had just finished lunch, a time when they should have been most prone to drowsiness, but with Senior Brother Chen Chong watching over them, none of them dared to slack off. Each of them could only grit their teeth, assume the stances, shoulders low, backs rounded, waists and hips bent, and toughen their muscles and bones under the scorching sun.

Not long after, footsteps came from the direction of the inner courtyard.

Shi Hao is back.

He was still wearing that coarse cloth shirt, but his whole demeanor was completely different from before.

In the morning, although he was praised by Chen Chong and noticed by the museum owner, he still retained some of the timidity of a mountain village boy meeting an important person for the first time.

Now, as he walked out of the inner courtyard, his back was straighter and his steps were more steady.

Although he tried to appear calm, his slightly raised chin and the barely suppressed gleam in his eyes revealed the smugness churning within him.

Several teenagers from Shiqiao Village were the first to gather around.

"Brother Hao!"

"What did the curator tell you?"

"Did I teach you some powerful boxing techniques?"

"Will you be able to go directly into the inner courtyard from now on?"

The group chattered amongst themselves, their tone filled with excitement and flattery.

Originally, they were just from the same village as Shi Hao, but now, standing next to him, they felt as if they had become a higher class.

Shi Hao glanced at them, and finally couldn't suppress a smile.

"The master said that once I become a martial artist, he will accept me as his true disciple!"

The true teachings?

Many teenagers haven't even mastered the Panlong Zhuang Gong (a type of martial art), so they naturally don't understand the true significance of the term "true transmission."

But they didn't understand, Chen Chong did.

Lu Chen had overheard the casual conversations among the martial arts school members over the past few days and had begun to understand some of it.

Disciples of Canglong Martial Arts School are divided into registered students, outer students, and inner students.

The inner disciples are considered to be the ones truly trained by the martial arts school. They can learn more advanced boxing techniques and receive more resources.

But true disciples are different.

The true teachings, the true teachings, are not ordinary skills, but the most treasured secrets of the martial arts school.

The true disciples of each martial arts school are regarded as his heirs by the school master.

Their identities, status, and resources are all incomparable.

Chen Chong is now an inner court disciple.

He had been practicing martial arts at the Canglong Martial Arts School for many years, and only reached his current status at the age of twenty-five. He was responsible for teaching these mountain village boys on a daily basis, and in their eyes, he was already a highly respected senior brother.

However, if Shi Hao truly becomes the master's disciple, his seniority will immediately surpass Chen Chong's.

When Shi Hao broke through to the Blood Transformation Realm and became a formal martial artist, Chen Chong, upon seeing him, was even required to bow and address him as "Senior Brother" according to custom.

Shi Hao is only fifteen years old this year.

He was ten years younger than Chen Chong.

This is the difference that talent brings.

For a moment, many teenagers in the training ground cast envious glances at Shi Hao.

Standing in the crowd, feeling the gazes upon him, Shi Hao felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He was originally just the son of a hunter in Shiqiao Village.

In the village, although he was strong and good at fighting, he was at most praised with the phrase, "This kid will definitely be better than his father in the future."

But now he has soared to great heights and has the opportunity to become a high-ranking martial arts master.

This feeling gave Shi Hao an indescribable sense of elation.

It seemed that in just half a day, he had become someone else entirely with these village boys.

Chen Chong stepped forward with a smile on his face.

Congratulations, Junior Brother Shi.

His tone became much more polite, and he no longer addressed me by my first name as he had in the morning.

"If you can gain your master's favor, you will surely rise to great heights in the future."

"I believe that within three months, Junior Brother Shi will definitely break through his cultivation level and become a martial artist!"

When Shi Hao heard Chen Chong affectionately call him "Junior Brother Shi," a hint of pleasure flashed in his eyes.

If it had been three days ago, when his senior brother Chen Chong spoke to him, he would most likely have immediately stood up straight and answered honestly.

But at this moment, he simply nodded slightly, without the slightest restraint, and even with a hint of arrogance.

"Three months?"

Shi Hao frowned slightly.

He seemed to feel that this time was a bit long, and it was as if he was mentally assessing whether he could be faster.

After a moment, he looked at Chen Chong and asked, "Senior Brother Chen, may I ask you about the mysteries of breaking through realms?"

The surrounding boys also pricked up their ears.

Although they haven't even mastered the most basic stance training, the words "become a martial artist" hold immense appeal for everyone.

Chen Chong took in all the changes in Shi Hao's expression.

He narrowed his eyes, the smile on his face faded slightly, but he didn't lash out.

Shi Hao is currently favored by the museum owner and is at the height of his fame.

Chen Chong naturally wouldn't embarrass him in public.

He paused for a moment before slowly saying, "The foundation of a martial artist lies in their vital energy and blood."

"Qi and blood are the source of a martial artist's power."

Chen Chong stood with his hands behind his back on the training ground, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"These past few days you've been practicing the Panlong Stance Exercise, and you're all exhausted as if all your strength has been drained. But have you ever thought about why just one set of stance exercises could make you so tired?"

None of the boys answered.

Chen Chong continued:

"The first realm of martial arts is called the Blood-Moving Realm."

Upon hearing the words "Blood Transfer Realm," everyone's eyes lit up.

Chen Chong stretched out one hand and slowly clenched his fist.

"Moving blood doesn't mean you have to move the visible blood on your bodies."

"True martial arts energy is hidden within the muscles and bones, between the five internal organs, and deep within a person's very being."

Chen Chong looked at Shi Hao, then at the other teenagers.

"Practicing martial arts is about strengthening your muscles and bones, digging deep into your roots, and gradually extracting, refining, and cultivating the vital energy within your bones."

"Once you have mastered the stance training and refined your Qi and blood from your bones, and can then move them freely throughout your body, that will be the threshold to enter the Blood Moving Realm."

Lu Chen listened very attentively.

In the past few days, when he practiced the Panlong Zhuang Gong, he did occasionally feel a surge of heat deep within his body.

But that feeling was very faint and fleeting.

He had previously thought it was just from training too hard and his flesh and blood getting hot.

Now, after hearing Chen Chong's explanation, I vaguely understand that it might be a sign that the blood and qi were being stirred.

Chen Chong continued, "The Blood Transformation Realm is further divided into the initial stage, minor completion, major completion, and peak."

"A martial artist at the initial stage has only a thread of life force."

"At this time, the qi and blood have just been generated, like a thin thread hidden between the muscles and bones."

"But as soon as he makes a move, his blood and qi surge, and his fists and feet carry a force of three to five hundred pounds. If he hits a person, it will cause broken bones or even death on the spot."

The boys felt a chill run down their spines.

Chen Chong added, "After that, with each advancement to the next level, your qi and blood will increase several times over."

"With the support of Qi and blood, when a martial artist throws a punch, Qi and blood flow through the arm; when taking a step, Qi and blood flow through the leg. Their strength, speed, and endurance far surpass those of ordinary people."

"In the future, I might even be qualified to compete for the title of Martial Arts Scholar and glimpse an even higher realm!"

Martial Arts Scholar!

Upon hearing these three words, many of the young people in the training ground took a slightly heavier breath.

They were selected from the mountain villages by the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School, and many of them didn't even understand the realm of martial arts.

But I had heard of the name "Wu Xiucai" before.

That's a martial arts title that can be registered in the county.

Once you become a martial arts scholar, you will not only be exempt from many corvée labor and taxes, but you will also be registered by the government and respected by others.

For a boy from a mountain village, that identity was almost enough to change the fate of his family.

Chen Chong looked at the fervor in everyone's eyes, but his voice suddenly turned cold.

"However, don't think it's too easy."

"The Blood Transformation Realm is said to be only the first realm of martial arts, but among ten martial artists, perhaps only one can truly step into it."

Shi Hao's eyes lit up after hearing this.

"Three months of blood transfusions... Scholar Wu!"

He read it aloud once, then looked up at Chen Chong.

"Senior Brother Chen, do you think I have a chance to become a martial arts scholar?"

Chen Chong glanced at Shi Hao.

The boy's face radiated undisguised confidence, even a hint of arrogance.

Chen Chong did not refute, but simply smiled.

"It's a good thing that Junior Brother Shi has such ambition."

"However, our Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School hasn't produced a martial arts scholar for several years. If Junior Brother Shi can truly achieve this, it will be the greatest fortune for our Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School!"