Being forced to grow like a pig? But I'm immune to the consequences!

Inside the instructor's office, the light was soft. Tavin was working on matters concerning the martial arts academy when he heard footsteps. He looked up and saw Wu Sheng. He spoke in a calm tone, "Wu Sheng, what brings you here? Something wrong?"

Wu Sheng walked in slowly, nodded slightly to Tawen, and said sincerely, "Teacher Tawen, I would like to ask for leave to go back to the outer city settlement to visit my sister."

Upon hearing this, Tawen nodded without hesitation and readily agreed: "No problem, I'll grant you a day off. Be sure to return tomorrow, don't let it interfere with your cultivation."

"Yes, thank you for your understanding, Instructor Tawen." Wu Sheng bowed and thanked him.

"Go on, go on." Tavin waved his hand, then lowered his head to focus on the documents in his hands, saying no more.

Wu Sheng responded, turned around, and quietly left the office.

……

After leaving the office area, Wu Sheng went straight to the advanced training ground.

As soon as he stepped into the training ground, Cheng Mingyuan, who was waiting on the side, quickly came up to him, carrying several bulging cloth bags in his hands. The cloth was thick and looked quite heavy.

"Everything is prepared for you. I specially went to the shop to carefully select it. The style and size are just right, so you can take it without worry." Cheng Mingyuan handed the bag to Wu Sheng, his tone casual and familiar.

Wu Sheng took the bag, his fingertips able to feel the soft fabric beneath, and said softly, "Thank you."

"However, I won't waste any more time on pleasantries. I'm in a hurry, so I'll head straight back." Wu Sheng didn't want to delay any longer; his breakthrough was of utmost urgency.

Cheng Mingyuan waved his hand casually: "Go ahead, be careful on the road, and come back soon."

Wu Sheng said no more, picked up the bag, turned and left the training ground, quickly walked out of the martial arts academy gate, then flagged down a car, opened the door and got in, saying in a deep voice, "To the ferry."

……

The vehicle drove smoothly, and Wu Sheng, sitting in the back seat, casually opened the cloth bag to check it.

The bag contained nothing valuable, mostly brand-new clothes and daily necessities, including elegant women's clothing, well-fitting men's clothing, a few packets of exquisite pastries, and commonly used ointments.

These things were not prepared for himself, but were specially purchased for his sister Wu Yu and Mo Han's family.

His return to the outer city gathering place was ostensibly to visit relatives, but there was another reason behind it.

In Wu Sheng's mind, his own status panel clearly appeared:

[Wu Sheng]

Vitality: 19/20 (9/24)

[Quasi-Martial Artist (Body Tempering Level 7): 1999/2000]

[Martial Arts (Advanced): 342/1000]

【? ? : (In gestation)】

His body tempering had reached its seventh level, and he had already reached its limit. He was just one step away from breaking through the shackles and becoming a true martial artist. However, he had a vague premonition that this breakthrough would cause a great disturbance, and he would need a period of quiet and undisturbed time. There were many people and eyes in the martial arts academy, and the slightest movement would attract unnecessary attention and trouble, and he might even be plotted against by someone with ulterior motives.

Therefore, he used the excuse of visiting his sister to return to the outer city settlement to break through.

In addition, since he was going back to his hometown, he naturally wanted to look presentable. He was not good at choosing clothes and other items, so he asked Cheng Mingyuan to help him with the purchase.

……

The vehicle quickly drove out of the inner city and arrived at the inner city entrance. Mr. Wu got out of the car, paid the bill, and walked towards the ferry.

The ferry crossing remained as desolate and deserted as when he left. Preview: Upcoming update, please stay tuned!

Few pedestrians passed by, and almost no one from the inner city was seen heading to the outer city. Only a few men from the outer city settlements, their dark arms bare, laboriously repaired the dilapidated cabins and decks of boats on the muddy, slippery riverbank. Their hair was disheveled and dry, their bodies thin and frail, their eyes dull and lifeless, revealing a numbness worn down by life. Among them were elderly people over sixty and young men about the same age as Wu Sheng.

When these people saw Wu Sheng dressed in the martial arts academy's standard uniform, their expressions instantly became respectful and reserved.

The older people looked on with awe and quickly lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze, for fear of offending this distinguished person from the inner city martial arts academy; while the teenagers of the same age looked on with envy and longing, their eyes fixed on his martial arts academy uniform, whispering among themselves.

"That outfit looks really impressive, what's its background?"

"It looks a bit like the Hyena Gang's clothes, but it's different; the material is much better."

"What do you know? That's the exclusive uniform for students of the Inner City Martial Academy; only top geniuses can wear it!"

"Martial Arts Academy? What kind of place is that? Is it even more powerful than the Hyena Gang?"

"Let me put it this way, maybe one in a hundred people can get into the Hyena Gang, but maybe one in a hundred Hyena Gang members can get into the Martial Academy! Once you get into the Martial Academy, you can stay in the inner city and completely escape the miserable life in the outer city!"

"My God, that's amazing... Is he going back to the outer city? Or was he also selected from our outer city?"

"I'm so envious. I wish I could have that opportunity too..."

"Alright, alright, stop staring and get to work. If we offend this important person, we'll all be in deep trouble!"

After exchanging a few words, the group quickly lowered their heads and continued working diligently, not daring to look any further.

Wu Sheng remained calm, paying no heed to the stares and whispers, and boarded the ferry bound for the outer city gathering place.

Forty days had passed in the blink of an eye, yet it felt like a year and a half. From a struggling youth in the outer city to a student at the inner city martial arts academy, everything around him had undergone a dramatic transformation.

As he gazed at the gradually clearer outline of the outer city in the distance, he saw the low shacks built of dilapidated iron sheets and rotten wood, piled together haphazardly, exuding an inescapable sense of decay and desolation. Wu Sheng felt as if he were in another world.

"Sister..." he murmured softly, a hint of warmth appearing in his eyes.

Several hours later, the ferry slowly docked.

Wu Sheng, carrying a bag, stepped off the boat and onto the ruins-like land of the outer city once again.

The road beneath his feet was muddy and the air was thick with the stench of rotting garbage and the smell of dust. Discarded items were piled up haphazardly, a stark contrast to the cleanliness and comfort of the inner city. Wu Sheng, who had lived in the inner city for a long time, felt somewhat out of place.

He composed himself, picked up the bag, and walked towards the settlement where his sister lived.

……

Meanwhile, in the ordinary training ground of the Inner City Martial Arts Academy.

Xu Fei was wandering around aimlessly, his eyes constantly searching through the crowd. After a long while, he still couldn't spot Wu Sheng, and his brows furrowed instantly, a sense of unease rising within him.

He had always been wary of Wu Sheng and secretly kept an eye on Wu Sheng's movements. Now that Wu Sheng was suddenly absent, he was very anxious and eager to know where Wu Sheng had gone.

He inquired everywhere, but Wu Sheng was a loner on the training ground, and only a few people, including Zhao Dele, were familiar with him. The other trainees had no idea about him.