I was told I'd be a late bloomer, but I was born with the potential to achieve great things!

"Alas, the path of martial arts is harder than ascending to heaven!"

As noon approached, Zhou An looked at the blazing sun in the sky, clutched his rumbling stomach, and sighed.

He finally understood why the martial artists in the city often said that martial arts was a gold mine, while immortality was a tower on clouds.

Even though he had only practiced Tongbei Changquan four times with all his might, his stomach was already growling with hunger.

Physically, the depletion was alarming.

It's like not eating for a whole day and night, and then helping Aunt Guo, Uncle Fang, and Aunt Li with their crops all day in the village.

Not only was I exhausted and hungry, but it also felt like there was a sharp brick scraping inside my stomach.

If he didn't eat something before continuing to practice, Zhou An felt that he might get dizzy and faint, and then be thrown out of the Seven Mysteries Sect.

If that time really comes, he'll probably be nailed to the pillory of shame by martial arts practitioners.

Thinking of that terrible situation, Zhou An quickly perked up and slapped himself repeatedly in the face.

"My friend, even if the Tongbei Changquan (a style of Chinese martial arts) is difficult to master, why do you have to slap yourself in the face?"

At this moment, a boy nearby saw Zhou An patting and rubbing the wound and couldn't help but ask him a question.

"Am I some kind of unparalleled genius, one in a million, that I should tell you?"

Zhou An licked his dry lips, forced himself to swallow, and then looked up at the other person, thinking to himself.

After practicing Tongbei Changquan four times in a row, Zhou An's proficiency in this boxing style has been raised to 45 points.

If he were to have a few more hearty meals, Zhou An felt he would probably immediately step into the next realm.

There's absolutely no need to practice ten times a day for a month as described in the astrological chart to even begin to understand it.

"What this brother said is right. Tongbei Changquan is actually not difficult. You just need to practice it a few more times and you will be able to do it. There is really no need to torture yourself like this."

A young man who thought he had memorized all 38 moves of Tongbei Changquan also spoke up to persuade him, his bright eyes filled with pride and smugness.

"Thank you both for your concern. I was just feeling a bit sleepy from the scorching sun, so I used this method to wake myself up."

Zhou An rubbed his stomach and said with a hint of complaint.

"Didn't we agree on free food and lodging before we came? It's almost noon, why isn't lunch served yet? We can't cultivate on an empty stomach."

"What this brother said is true. Tongbei Changquan is definitely not that difficult... If I weren't so tired and hungry, I would have learned it long ago."

At this moment, a boy who had practiced diligently but still made many mistakes, heard Zhou An's rumbling stomach, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said defiantly.

They were all seventeen or eighteen-year-old boys, so how could they consider themselves inferior to others?

"clang!"

Just then, a resounding bell rang out from afar.

"The time has come. That's enough for this morning's training. Now everyone, follow him to the cafeteria for lunch."

On the platform, Guo Tao pointed to the Seven Mysteries Sect disciples ringing the bell at the edge of the venue and began to speak.

"You have one hour. After one hour, you will continue your cultivation."

After saying that, Guo Tao turned and left the podium.

Upon seeing this, Zhou An's eyes lit up, and he quickly walked off the field.

At first, he remained cautious, not wanting to jump the gun and attract attention.

However, after seeing more and more people starting to walk and run at the same time, I quickly joined in.

This time, the Seven Mysteries Sect opened its gates wide to select disciples without charging any fees. If you arrive late, there might not even be any leftovers.

Zhou An didn't care about eating anything fancy; he just wanted to have a hearty meal and stop enduring the burning pain in his abdomen.

Soon, everyone followed the person who rang the bell to the Seven Mysteries Sect's dining hall.

In an instant, a rich aroma of food wafted over, making Zhou An's mouth water.

"They have meat! They even have braised pork here!"

Just then, Zhou An, who was in the middle of the line, suddenly heard a joyful shout from the front.

The Seven Mysteries Sect is really willing to spend so much?

Zhou An's eyes immediately turned red.

Most of those who joined the Seven Mysteries Sect this time were farm boys from within its sphere of influence.

Apart from holidays, even in good years, we only eat meat a few times a month at most.

In an instant, the entire cafeteria erupted in commotion as everyone tried to push and shove forward.

"clang!"

"Line up, everyone line up properly."

Just then, a bell rang out, accompanied by a tremendous roar, which was so loud that it made people dizzy.

"Our Seven Mysteries Sect will not let you go hungry. Everyone will have a bowl of braised pork, a bowl of vegetables, and rice to eat their fill."

If anyone tries to loot again, don't blame me for throwing you all out the door.

Upon hearing this, everyone quieted down.

A moment later, Zhou An, who had gotten his food, sat down at an empty table.

The bowl, no bigger than the palm of your hand, was filled to the brim with braised pork, without any hint of deception, making your mouth water just looking at it.

"Even if it really is recruiting cannon fodder, I'll accept it for now."

Zhou An took a deep breath, immediately picked up the large bowl of rice, and carefully picked up a piece of bright red braised pork and put it in his mouth.

It melts in your mouth, is rich but not greasy, and leaves a lingering fragrance... the taste is surprisingly good.

Zhou An's eyes lit up, and he no longer cared about attracting attention. He immediately buried himself in his rice.

In no time at all, a bowl of rice was gone.

carry on.

After eating a bowl of meat, a bowl of vegetables, and five large bowls of rice, Zhou An finally let out a satisfied burp, cradling his bulging belly and feeling an unprecedented sense of fulfillment.

"As expected, the better one's martial arts skills, the bigger one's appetite. I still have a lot more to work on... How can one possibly destroy mountains and seas and then blow up planets if one doesn't even have empty bowls piled up on the table?"

"Are you all full?"

After about fifteen minutes of rest, Guo Tao's voice suddenly came from outside the cafeteria.

The cafeteria, which had been buzzing with discussion, suddenly fell silent.

"Now that you've eaten, come with me. Everyone, gather at the training ground."

"gather?"

"Wasn't there supposed to be a one-hour break? Why do we have to assemble so soon?"

Zhou An glanced at the cafeteria behind him, intending to ask when it closed for lunch.

If he had enough time, Zhou An planned to practice Tongbei Changquan a few more times now so that he could master the art of boxing in one go, and then eat a few more bowls of rice.

That way, it won't be easy to go hungry when you continue practicing in the afternoon.

But since Guo Tao, the coach, had come, Zhou An had no choice but to obediently follow the crowd and leave the cafeteria.

Soon, everyone gathered in the training ground.

The difference is that there is now a person holding a yellow book next to Guo Tao.

"Next, everyone whose name I called out stepped forward and lifted the stone lock."

The weight of this stone lock will not only determine your ranking within the Seven Mysteries Sect, but also your future cultivation resources.

……