From the Iron Shirt Technique to physical sanctification

"Thank you for the reminder, senior brother!" the group said, clasping their hands in greeting.

The senior disciple from the outer academy who led them returned the greeting with clasped hands and introduced himself: "My name is Ma Qiang. I have been in the outer academy of Panshi for more than a year. From now on, we are fellow disciples. If there is anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me."

Ma Qiang wore a smile and a gentle expression. He spoke very well, but in reality, he didn't speak to Zhang Yu and the other disciples who were at the mid-stage of Inner Strength and clearly from poor families.

He had been talking with those few second-rate family disciples at the peak of the Dark Force realm. One poor disciple at the late stage of the Dark Force realm went to ask a question, but Ma Qiang glanced at him impatiently, gave a perfunctory reply, and then ignored him.

Zhang Yu saw this and a cold smile appeared on his lips as he followed the group at a distance.

Soon we arrived at the dormitory area.

The outer disciples are divided into four separate courtyards.

Zhang Yu was assigned to a small courtyard with Ye Xuan, Su Wan, and Li Feifei, and the four introduced themselves to each other.

Ye Xuan, dressed in a flowing brocade robe, had an extremely arrogant expression, clearly a disciple of a prestigious family. He introduced himself as "Ye Xuan, peak of Dark Force, from the Ye family of the capital." In reality, he was just a collateral descendant of the Ye family.

"Su Wan, late stage of Dark Force, from the Su family of Fucheng." A merchant family.

"My name is Li Feifei. I am at the mid-stage of Dark Force. Like Young Master Ye, I also come from the capital." Li Feifei comes from a third-rate small family in the capital.

"Zhang Yu is from Yi County," Zhang Yu said.

Upon hearing that Zhang Yu was a country bumpkin, both Ye Xuan and Li Feifei showed disdain.

Su Wan came from a merchant family and was taught from a young age not to offend anyone, so when she heard that Zhang Yu came from the countryside, she did not show any expression, nor did she show any goodwill towards Zhang Yu.

"Young Master Ye, the room on the left side of the east side has the best sunlight and is most suitable for your status," Li Feifei said to Ye Xuan, pointing to the largest room on the east side.

He then glanced at Zhang Yu and Su Wan and said, "You two don't have any objections, do you?"

Su Wan shook her head.

Zhang Yu didn't even look at Li Feifei, and turned around to walk into a room on the west side.

If you don't see eye to eye, even half a sentence is too much.

"A country bumpkin from a small town." Li Feifei's voice came from behind.

As Zhang Yu entered the room, he frowned and was about to teach the other party a lesson, but then he remembered that this was Yunyin Academy, where there were many experts at the True Qi Realm, and that his main purpose in coming here was to learn the method of opening the dantian.

"Let her live for a few more days for now," Zhang Yu thought to himself, suppressing his anger.

For the rest of the time, Li Feifei and Su Wan basically stayed by Ye Xuan's side, calling him "Young Master Ye" on the left and "Young Master Ye" on the right. Li Feifei, in particular, was very obsequious to Ye Xuan.

As for Zhang Yu, Li Feifei usually had an arrogant and disdainful expression when she saw him, but Su Wan would greet him and sometimes chat with him when they bumped into each other in the yard.

She was neither overly enthusiastic nor offensive, which suited her character as a merchant's daughter.

After a few days of getting acquainted, Zhang Yu also figured out the rules of Yunyin Academy. The outer court disciples were completely left to their own devices, and only those who entered the inner court had the opportunity to become disciples of a teacher and learn first-class techniques, or even Yellow-grade techniques.

There is only one way for students from the outer academy to advance to the inner academy: the Dragon Gate Examination held every six months. Those who pass become disciples of the inner academy, while those who fail remain in the outer academy. If they still cannot pass after three years, they will be expelled from the academy.

In this respect, it is quite fair; whether one is a commoner or a member of a noble family, one must pass the Dragon Gate Examination.

There are exactly two months until the next Dragon Gate assessment, and Zhang Yu is preparing to participate, where he will demonstrate a late-stage Dark Force realm.

It's quite reasonable for someone to break through to the late stage of Dark Force in just two months.

The Dragon Gate Assessment doesn't actually have any level restrictions; you just need to pass it, but it's very difficult. Although there are academy experts watching over you, so there's no danger to your life, injuries are commonplace. Therefore, outer court disciples usually cultivate to the peak of Dark Force before signing up to participate, in order to minimize the risk of injury.

When Zhang Yu returned from dinner that day, Ye Xuan, Li Feifei, and Su Wan were chatting at the stone table in the courtyard.

"Young Master Ye, I believe in your strength. I'm sure you'll pass the Dragon Gate assessment in two months. When you become an inner disciple, please take good care of me and Su Wan and give us some pointers on our cultivation." Li Feifei said in a coquettish voice, leaning almost half her body against Ye Xuan.

Ye Xuan enjoyed Li Feifei's adoration and flattery.

Both Li Feifei and Su Wan are very beautiful, and having them by his side every day greatly satisfies his vanity.

In the capital, as a collateral descendant of the Ye family, and not even the most gifted, he couldn't enjoy such treatment at all.

Li Feifei was trying to curry favor with Ye Xuan when Zhang Yu returned from outside. He didn't even look at the three of them and went straight back to his room.

Li Feifei was furious when she saw that Zhang Yu dared not even look at them or say a word.

"Country bumpkin, a lowly peasant from a small town. I don't know why Yunyin Academy would accept someone like this. Isn't it a waste of a spot? Someone like this has no chance of passing the Dragon Gate assessment." Li Feifei said sarcastically.

She wasn't afraid Zhang Yu would hear her; she was saying it specifically for him to hear.

In her mind, Zhang Yu should fawn over her just like she fawned over Ye Xuan.

Zhang Yu had already stepped halfway into the room when he heard Li Feifei's words. He turned around and glanced at her: "Two months from now, I'll slap your mouth until it's swollen."

After saying that, Zhang Yu went into the room and closed the door.

Li Feifei was furious: "What did that country bumpkin just say? He was going to slap me in the face, Young Master Ye..."

"Junior Sister Li, don't be angry. Once I enter the inner courtyard, I will naturally avenge you," Ye Xuan said, looking up.

The hierarchy within Yunyin Academy is very clear. If an inner court disciple beats up an outer court disciple, as long as no one is killed, basically no one will care.

Everyone assumed that inner court disciples could bully outer court disciples.

"Thank you, Young Master Ye," Li Feifei said, trying to sound sweet and charming.

Su Wan actually looked down on Li Feifei's affectation, but she was just a merchant's daughter who was lucky enough to enter Yunyin Academy. Before she came, her father had told her to get along well with the scions of the powerful families.

She lived in the same courtyard as Ye Xuan, and being so close to him, she naturally wanted to get along well with him, hoping that he would help her after becoming an inner disciple.

With the guidance and help of an inner court disciple, it is easier to pass the Dragon Gate assessment and become an inner court disciple.

Zhang Yu has already toured the entire academy during this period. As expected of the number one sect in the Great Chu Empire, Yunyin Academy is larger than the entire Yunyin City.

He encountered many teachers at the True Qi Realm, and once he even saw someone briefly flying in the sky.

A martial artist at the Gangqi Realm can use Gangqi to fly briefly in the air for several hundred meters.

Even a few hundred meters was enough to amaze Zhang Yu, making him even more eager to open his dantian and cultivate true qi.

After familiarizing himself with the academy, Zhang Yu would go to the library early in the morning and return late at night to read books and greatly improve his martial arts knowledge.

Disciples from the outer courtyard can enter the first floor of the library. The first floor does not contain martial arts manuals, but rather miscellaneous books and travelogues about martial arts.

These books might not be of much use to others, but for Zhang Yu, they contained the knowledge he desperately needed.

He was so eager to learn that he spent all his time on the first floor of the library, reading martial arts knowledge like a novel, especially the travelogues of the academy teachers, which he found very interesting and enjoyed immensely.

Two months passed in this way, and Zhang Yu felt that he finally had a comprehensive understanding of the martial arts history of the Western Wilderness Continent and a deeper understanding of this world.

This world is not just the Western Wilderness Continent, but also the Central Continent, the East Sea Islands, and the Snow Country in the North.

A travelogue states that the Central Continent is ten times the size of the Western Wilderness Continent, where martial arts are highly valued, and there are not only martial artists at the Upper Three Realms, but also those who have surpassed the Upper Three Realms.

Two months have passed in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Yu lay on his bed in his room, looking at the system panel.

Name: Zhang Yu

【Qingfeng Stance Exercise (Breaking the limit of 2800/10000 in one go)】

[Master-Apprentice Value: 1189 points]

After the Qingfeng Stake broke through its limit once, it gained another 2800 points of proficiency.

"Wen Hua and Li Yue didn't slack off," Zhang Yu muttered to himself, "but their master-disciple points are still too low."

I miss them so much!

"It'll be soon. I've already registered for the Dragon Gate assessment in three days. Once I become an inner disciple and learn first-class techniques, I'll find a way to leave Cloud Hidden Academy."

"I really miss the carefree life in Cangmang City. I wonder how Li Yue and Niu Mancang are doing?"

Just then, the sound of the courtyard gate opening came from outside, followed by the voices of Ye Xuan, Li Feifei, and Su Wan.

"Young Master Ye, have you registered for the Dragon Gate assessment in three days?"

"Um!"

"I believe you can pass, Young Master Ye. You have such good aptitude and you work so hard in your cultivation. You will definitely pass the Dragon Gate assessment on your first try. Don't forget your junior sister when the time comes!" Li Feifei said in a sweet voice.

"And me too, I hope Young Master Ye will give me his guidance then," Su Wan said.

"Hahaha... Don't worry, we've lived in the same courtyard for two months after all, so we have a bond as fellow students. Once I become an inner courtyard disciple, I will naturally take care of my two junior sisters." Ye Xuan laughed heartily, quite pleased with himself.

He had a very happy time during those two months; it was the happiest time of his eighteen years.

In the Ye family of the capital, he was a collateral descendant and received no attention or praise from anyone. He could only quietly cultivate in a corner.

He wasn't even eligible for a spot at Yunyin Academy.

He was lucky; the Cloud Hidden Academy expanded its enrollment this time, which is why he was able to become an outer disciple.

"I heard that country bumpkin also signed up for the Dragon Gate assessment in three days," Li Feifei said. "He just doesn't know his own limitations. I bet he'll get beaten half to a pulp and kicked out of the academy."

"It's really bad luck to have lived in the same yard as this country bumpkin for two months."

Li Feifei would take every opportunity to belittle and belittle Zhang Yu. In her mind, Zhang Yu came from a bad background and did not work hard in his cultivation, so he was destined not to pass the Dragon Gate assessment.

Because in the past two months, she had not seen Zhang Yu cultivate in the courtyard.

These people are from a completely different world.

Su Wan did not agree. She never agreed with Li Feifei's denigration of Zhang Yu, even if she thought the same thing in her heart, she would never say it out loud.

And whenever she ran into Zhang Yu, she would take the initiative to chat with him for a few minutes.

The main principle is to avoid offending or forming close relationships, which is in line with the way of dealing with people in merchant families.

Li Feifei's voice was very loud, and Zhang Yu could faintly hear it even in the room. He was already used to it and had already sentenced Li Feifei to death in his heart.

Three days later, Zhang Yu arrived at the Panshi Outer Courtyard Square early. Today was the day to participate in the Dragon Gate assessment.

When Zhang Yu arrived, the small square of the outer courtyard of the Rock Rock Academy was already filled with outer courtyard disciples, all discussing the upcoming Dragon Gate Assessment.

Five people signed up for this Dragon Gate assessment. Apart from Zhang Yu, who was at the late stage of Dark Force, the other four were at the peak of Dark Force.

Zhang Yu, Ye Xuan, Zhang Long, and Yang Xiaofang are four new disciples who entered the academy two months ago.

Only one senior disciple from Panshi Outer Academy registered.

"These new disciples don't know how terrifying the Dragon Gate assessment is; four of them actually signed up." The older disciples of the Rock Outer Court were discussing among themselves as they watched Zhang Yu and the others.

"When they are badly injured or have broken bones, they will realize how arrogant and reckless they were, but by then it will be too late."

"Since they dared to sign up, they must be confident."

"Look, there's another person at the late stage of Inner Strength! Tsk tsk, he's really fearless. Hasn't he inquired about the difficulty and cruelty of the Dragon Gate assessment?"

Ma Qiang was also standing in the crowd. He had some impression of Zhang Yu and saw that he was also in the registration line. He thought to himself, "It was definitely a wise choice not to waste my time on this kind of person."

Ma Qiang's aptitude wasn't very good. The last time he helped the steward with the admission procedures for Zhang Yu and others, he did it so that he could befriend a disciple with potential in advance. Then, once the disciple entered the inner courtyard, he could curry favor with him and get his help.

At that time, Zhang Yu walked to the back of the line, looking like he was ignoring everyone.

Ma Qiang had actually paid attention to Zhang Yu, after all, there are only two kinds of arrogant people: one is inferiority complex, and the other is genius.

At this moment, seeing that Zhang Yu had signed up for the Dragon Gate assessment at the late stage of Dark Force, he immediately labeled him as an inferiority-crazy lunatic.

Zhang Yu's participation sparked a discussion among the outer disciples of the Rock Academy, most of whom thought he had gone mad.

Zhang Yu paid no attention to these comments, thinking to himself, "A bunch of frogs in a well, I'll dazzle your eyes in a moment."

"Zhang Yu, Ye Xuan, Zhang Long, Yang Xiaofang, and Leng Chao, the five of you come with me," a deacon from the outer courtyard of the Rock Academy shouted, then led the five of them toward the Dragon Gate assessment grounds of the main academy.

The Dragon Gate assessment has a dedicated venue where outer disciples from the five major academies participate in the assessment.

Several hundred disciples from the outer courtyard of the Rock Rock Academy followed behind, heading to watch.

"Go for it, Senior Brother Ye!" Li Feifei waved to Ye Xuan from the crowd.

Her family was just a third-rate aristocratic family on the verge of collapse. Her father sent her to Yunyin Academy with only one purpose: to find a prodigy disciple from a powerful aristocratic family to rely on.

Li Feifei placed all her bets on Ye Xuan, even giving him all the cultivation resources her family had given her.

She took care of Ye Xuan's daily life every day, and offered all kinds of praise and emotional support. In short, she did everything she could.

Li Feifei stared at Ye Xuan in the group, then suddenly saw Zhang Yu and couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "Country bumpkin, daring to participate at the late stage of Dark Strength? He'll get beaten half to death."