Surviving in the chaos of battle, I'm grinding for proficiency.

Luo Zheng smiled, revealing his teeth.

it is more than words.

Men tend to express their gratitude in a less dramatic or boisterous manner than women.

Instead, they keep it in their hearts and repay it silently when the opportunity arises.

"Hahaha!" Liang Xingzhou's loud laughter echoed from the inner courtyard. "Qin Feng, you've broken through to the Inner Strength realm after only four months of study. Would you be willing to become my last disciple?"

"A closed-door disciple?! Qin Feng has broken through?" In the outer courtyard, many disciples stopped what they were doing, and there was an uproar.

Back then, who could have imagined that the unremarkable Qin Feng would break through two levels and enter the Dark Force realm in just four months!

"This is Master Liang's last disciple..."

Only then did everyone notice the bombshell news in Liang Xingzhou's second half of his sentence.

A closed-door disciple is a disciple most valued by the master.

He can be treated like a son, even more so than a biological son.

This is the kind of person who will be there to protect the elderly and take over the martial arts school!

They will certainly devote all their resources to his cultivation and pave a path to success for him with their life's work!

Li Chuan could clearly feel that Luo Zheng's breathing had become much more rapid.

With his hidden strength, if he wanted to conceal his aura, Li Chuan would have no way of sensing him.

Everyone in the martial arts school knows that the eldest disciple, Tang Xiang, and the second disciple, Luo Zheng, are vying for the position of the last disciple.

Unexpectedly, Qin Feng appeared out of nowhere.

Luo Zheng's eyes held a hint of melancholy:

"Junior Brother Li, you continue practicing. I need to go and congratulate you."

A moment later, another middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes walked in.

"Wang Wenzhi, the head of the Wang family in the inner city, what brings him here?" Someone recognized him.

Wang Wenzhi laughed loudly:

"Master Liang, congratulations on gaining a new disciple! I, Wang, have come to offer my congratulations!"

Liang Xingzhou led Qin Feng out of the inner courtyard, returning the greeting with a smile:

"Master Liang wouldn't dare accept such praise. Patriarch Wang's internal energy cultivation has probably improved quite a bit; I think I'm no match for him now!"

Li Chuan's pupils contracted slightly; this was yet another master of internal energy transformation.

The four major families in the inner city are Wang, Liu, Huang, and Zhou.

If the head of the Wang family is at the Transformation Realm, then the other family heads are probably in the same boat.

"Patriarch Wang!" Qin Feng stepped out from behind Liang Xingzhou, his face ruddy and his eyes like stars.

Combined with the aura of hidden strength, it appeared incredibly heroic.

"Xiao Feng, now that you've broken through to the Dark Force realm, ten taels of silver a month is too little for you. From now on, you'll receive thirty taels a month. You don't need to do anything; just focus on practicing martial arts and strive to pass the martial arts examination to become a Martial Arts Scholar, and break through to the Transformation Force realm as soon as possible!"

Qin Feng was somewhat flattered:

"Thank you, Patriarch Wang!"

Wang Wenzhi shook his head and smiled:

"Calling me Patriarch Wang sounds too formal. Just call me Uncle Wang."

"By the way, my daughter is sixteen, which is about the right age for marriage. I wonder what you think, Xiao Feng?"

"Nuanyu, come out and take a look."

A beautiful young woman walked shyly out from behind Wang Wenzhi, not daring to look up at Qin Feng.

Wang Nuanyu has a graceful figure and is extremely beautiful.

Upon seeing such a beautiful woman before him, Qin Feng felt his throat go dry and stammered:

"Uncle Wang, I have long harbored feelings for Nuanyu."

Wang Wenzhi laughed and said:

"That would be wonderful. I wonder what Master Liang thinks? Our two families would be even closer through marriage. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Liang Xingzhou stroked his graying beard:

"That's excellent!"

"Brother Wang, how come you beat me to it!"

Outside, a short, pot-bellied man walked in, clapping his hands and shouting anxiously.

Wang Wenzhi looked apologetic.

"Brother Hong, the dock business is so profitable, I'll let you stay a moment longer so I can get there first."

Hong Qian shook his head and sighed:

"Alright, alright, Nephew Qin, please accept these fifty taels as a congratulatory gift from your uncle!"

The people from the outer courtyard gasped in surprise.

Fifty taels!

How many people toil their whole lives to earn fifty taels?

Now, Qin Feng can simply stand still and people will deliver money to his door.

Li Chuan couldn't help but sigh, realizing how important innate talent was.

With his superior physical constitution, Qin Feng easily received a monthly salary of ten taels of silver after breaking through to the Ming Jin level.

Now, after a second visit, he received a gift of fifty taels of silver.

Even after working myself to the bone, I only managed to earn six taels of silver.

Even when buying meat, one has to choose carefully.

Some people are born in Rome.

Later, many more waves of people arrived.

Even the smallest offering is a bear paw, just to establish a good relationship.

Unlike the others, Li Chuan didn't keep looking at Qin Feng with envy.

With the Primordial Jade Scroll in his possession, he was confident that he was no less capable than anyone else.

Steady progress leads to long-term success.

He returned to the training ground and practiced the Baoshan Zhuang stance over and over again.

Li Chuan practiced until late at night before dragging his exhausted body back to the dormitory.

As soon as he opened the door, he sensed that something was wrong.

The atmosphere inside was too cold and desolate.

Hu Yuan remained silent in the corner, packing his bags in quiet contemplation, his face contorted with despair.

Upon seeing Li Chuan return, Hu Yuan calmly said:

"Senior Brother Li, I have failed to pass the test."

Li Chuan knew very well that for apprentices of inferior talent like them, failing to pass the test meant there would be no more chances.

The martial arts school only gave them six months, which was not enough time to accumulate enough energy for a second attempt at the challenge.

Moreover... even with Hu Yuan's family wealth, he couldn't afford such expenses.

Li Chuan didn't know what to say, so he could only offer words of comfort:

"Junior Brother Hu, failing in martial arts training won't cause any major problems; it will simply mean returning to a normal life."

Hu Yuan looked up at him, his calm voice laced with despair:

"My sister gave me her dowry to pay for my tuition, and then borrowed money at exorbitant interest rates to feed me meat, hoping that I could pay it back after I succeeded in my marriage..."

Li Chuan was startled.

Unexpectedly, Hu Yuan borrowed money at exorbitant interest rates to learn martial arts.

Usury is a deadly thing!

Nine out and thirteen back? Absolutely impossible!

Often, borrowing one or two taels can eventually snowball into five or even ten taels!

But Li Chuan could understand why Hu Yuan's sister would make that choice.

If Hu Yuan had accumulated his qi and blood at the same rate as before, he probably wouldn't have been able to accumulate enough qi and blood to reach the level required to break through the barrier before leaving the martial arts school.

He could only eat minced meat every two or three days, and he trained so hard, how could his body withstand it?

Hu Yuan packed his bags.

Actually, there wasn't much stuff—just a straw mat, a tattered quilt, and a few pieces of clothing.

He returned all the gifts he received when he entered the inner courtyard.

Like a dream, it briefly took him to a place that didn't belong to him.

After waking up from the dream, I returned to the cruel reality.

Hu Yuan tightened his baggage and said with a smile:

"Senior Brother Li, I'm going to become a woodcutter in the mountains from now on. The four months of training have paid off; at least I can chop wood much faster than others."

He held up the bag of sesame seed cakes in his hand:

"I brought these but haven't eaten them yet. I was planning to eat five to celebrate after successfully passing the test, but who knew..."

"Senior Brother Li, I know you like my sister's sesame seed cakes, so I'll leave this bag for you."

Before leaving, Hu Yuan looked at Li Chuan carefully a few times, as if trying to remember him:

"Senior Brother Li, you are a good person, I hope you succeed."

"I'm leaving."

Snow was falling heavily outside.

The inner courtyard remained brightly lit, with a steady stream of visitors, their cries of congratulations and the clinking of glasses echoing for a long time.

Hu Yuan lowered his head and walked alone into the dark night.