The Martial Saint rose to power starting as a substitute bridegroom.

The next day.

Li Yuangang had just finished his shift at the patrol camp and was heading to the Qingniu Martial Arts Society to practice when he ran into Liang Bai, who had recovered from his injuries.

Liang Bai frowned, his face filled with worry, and he looked much more haggard than when they last met.

"Brother Liang."

"Yuan... Li Xun..."

"We're family, no need for formalities. Just call me Brother Yuan from now on," Li Yuan said.

"How can this be allowed?"

Li Yuan had no intention of getting bogged down in the details and went straight to the point: "Brother Liang, you haven't looked well lately. Have you encountered some difficulties?"

Liang Bai hesitated for a long time before finally saying, "Sigh, what difficulties could I possibly have... It's you who needs to hurry up and practice your skills; the martial arts exam is just around the corner."

"That's natural." Li Yuan smiled slightly.

After pondering for a moment, Liang Bai looked somewhat ashamed and said in a low voice, "Yuan-ge'er, this month's tribute will probably be a few days late in reaching you... but don't worry, there won't be any problems."

"It's alright, Brother Liang, you're too kind," Li Yuan said with a smile.

Seeing that Liang Bai was distracted and seemed unwilling to talk more, Li Yuan didn't press him further. He clasped his hands in farewell and turned to walk towards the Green Ox Martial Arts Society.

Everything was normal in the martial arts academy; some people were practicing standing meditation, while others were demonstrating their boxing techniques.

Naturally, there were also groups of three or five people gathering together to chat and discuss the martial arts exam.

For them, even if they were lucky enough to break through to the Ming Jin level, they would only be stepping stones for others in the examination hall. Therefore, they had long given up any hope for this year's martial arts examination.

"...But I wonder if any of our senior brothers in the Green Ox Martial Arts Club can pass the imperial examination."

"If there is one, it must be Junior Brother Lu! Yesterday, Master Lin praised his 'Dragon Form Fist' for having achieved some success. If he can further improve in the next few days, he will have a good chance of being in the top ten."

"It's infuriating to compare ourselves to others. We're hailed as geniuses outside, but here we're relegated to the bottom... Sigh, now we finally see what a true genius is."

"Look, Junior Brother Lu has come out of the inner hall. I wonder what wonderful techniques Master Lin imparted during his private instruction?"

"Why bother with those other people's business? It's been going on for a while now..."

……

Li Yuan silently walked to his seat, calmed his mind, and prepared to practice the "White Tiger Bone Forging Technique".

He was quite satisfied with the progress made last night.

Breaking through the hidden strength should only take a day or two.

Li Yuan calmed his mind and devoted himself to cultivation.

Unexpectedly, just as he finished performing a set of techniques, a commotion arose from the other side of the courtyard.

It turned out that Lu Qing and Qi Xiuyuan had started arguing while they were sparring.

"Junior Brother Lu, it was just a normal sparring match, why did you have to use such force?" Qi Xiuyuan said, his face pale and blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, clutching his chest.

Lu Qing's face darkened with anger, and he said coldly, "Fists and feet have no eyes; you can only blame yourself for being less skilled!"

"Stop arguing!" Chen Ting, her pretty face pale with anxiety, stepped forward and grabbed Lu Qing's arm, pleading, "Junior Brother Lu, please calm down. What exactly happened?"

Chen Ting had long harbored feelings for Lu Qing, and this wasn't something that had happened overnight. Therefore, everyone was already used to her slightly intimate behavior.

Lu Qing didn't even glance at her, coldly flung her hand away, and broke free.

Chen Ting's body trembled, and her face turned bright red.

She was just there to mediate the fight, why treat her like this?

She was, after all, a wealthy heiress, and was usually the center of attention in the courtyard. She had never suffered such humiliation before, and immediately felt ashamed and tears welled up in her eyes.

At this moment, a talkative young man approached Lu Qing and said, "This matter was originally Qi Shixiong's fault. You shouldn't have gossiped about Junior Brother Lu and Junior Sister Chen..."

Stop talking!

Everyone frowned.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ting was so embarrassed that she wished she could disappear into the ground.

"I...I didn't..." Qi Xiuyuan's eyes darted around, and although he spoke firmly, his tone was already weak.

Lu Qing gave a bitter smile: "No? If there really wasn't, why did Master Lin repeatedly tell me to focus my mind on practicing martial arts and not to be distracted by other things?"

Master Lin had indeed given him such instructions, but that was only because the martial arts exam was approaching and he was filled with earnest expectations.

This was purely because Lu Qing had heard too many rumors and couldn't help but overthink things, thus misunderstanding his master's meaning.

Qi Xiuyuan was taken aback, then forced a smile: "It was just a joke..."

There is still a chance to salvage this situation.

"I don't find this joke funny at all!" Lu Qing said coldly.

"Very well, I'll host a banquet at Juedelou today. You can decide the guest list and invite whoever you want. I'll toast you in public to apologize. Is that alright?" Qi Xiuyuan had made a huge concession in an attempt to salvage this seemingly precarious relationship.

"Who do you think you are, trying to curry favor with me now?!" Lu Qing was unmoved, leaving behind a cold remark before turning back to the inner hall.

Lu Qing has changed.

His experiences after being seriously injured have made him see through the coldness of human relationships, and he is no longer the simple farm boy he used to be.

click!

Qi Xiuyuan felt as if a thunderbolt had struck his heart.

He was humiliated and his dignity was thrown to the ground, and he was even stomped on.

This has never happened before.

The elegant and handsome young master of the Qi family, who wouldn't give him some face?

But at that very moment, a surge of anger welled up inside him.

His fist was clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into his flesh.

What a shame!

However, after a few breaths, his clenched fists loosened, and he let out a heavy sigh.

Now, Lu Qing is no longer the poor boy he once was. He is not only a young and promising master of internal strength, but also a true disciple of Master Lin, a rising star whom the Qian family has taken a liking to and cultivated with a lot of money... What is the Qi family compared to him?

Everyone criticized the talkative young man: "Why did you say those things?!"

The young man puffed out his chest, defiantly saying, "Everything I said is true! Do you all know why Junior Brother Lu was angry? He has long harbored admiration for Song Ziwei, the eldest daughter of the Song family. Didn't you all know that?"

Song Ziwei?

Everyone in town knows that the Song family has a beautiful young lady.

The Song family's wealth and status were subtly superior to the Qian family's.

But no one could have imagined that the talented Lu Zhenchuan would fall completely in love with Song Ziwei after just one meeting.

Everyone suddenly realized why they had seen Junior Brother Lu loitering near the Song family residence several times before, claiming to be out on business. So that was what it was all about.

However, speculation is speculation.

Now that it's been exposed in public, things are very different.

Chen Ting couldn't hold on any longer. Her eyes reddened, and she turned and fled out of the courtyard, wiping away tears as she ran, her sobs echoing all the way...

The small circle of the Green Ox Martial Arts Society thus came to a complete break.

The crowd dispersed silently, returning to their places to practice their martial arts or martial arts. After the commotion, everyone was distracted.

Li Yuan remained calm and focused on every movement, displaying skillful technique that was pleasing to the eye.

With the nourishing effects of the Blood Nourishing Pill, his cultivation progress increased visibly.

【White Tiger Bone Forging Technique (Mastery): 80/100】

"It seems the breakthrough in internal strength will happen today!"

Li Yuan's blood and qi surged and roared, like magma rolling and burning deep within his veins. Every breath seemed to spew fire, and white steam rose faintly from his bare arms.

In a short while, his clothes were soaked with sweat.

Before we knew it, the sun had set in the west, and dusk had enveloped the surrounding fields.

The disciples in the temple packed their belongings in twos and threes and gradually dispersed.

Lu Qing also boarded the carriage that the Qian family had been waiting for early in the morning, not knowing where he was going.

"Senior Brother Li has been working very hard these past two days. Even when it's completely dark, he's still practicing diligently."

"Ha, if hard training were useful, wouldn't the entire courtyard be filled with masters of internal strength?"

"Who knows? Maybe he's just putting on an act for Teacher Lin's benefit..."

The whispers and murmurs were soon swallowed up by the deepening night.

Only two people remained in the courtyard.

"Junior Brother Li," Luo Shan walked gracefully to Li Yuan's side and called softly.

She wore light makeup today, and a faint fragrance emanated from her body. Her gaze towards Li Yuan was slightly uneasy.

"Don't let their words disturb your peace of mind. Study hard, and you will surely succeed!"

As she spoke, she raised her small fist and gave him a thumbs-up.

"Don't worry, Senior Sister Luo, I understand."

The two exchanged a smile, then returned to their respective positions to focus on their cultivation.

Another half hour passed, and Luo Shan also got up. As she left, she glanced at Li Yuan from afar and saw him still intently practicing his martial arts, his figure focused. Not wanting to disturb him, she hurriedly departed.

Another half hour passed...

With a creak, the door to the inner room opened gently.

"Hey, Yuan-ge'er, why are you still practicing here?" A gentle and pleasant voice came from behind.

The person who came was Second Madam.

"The martial arts exam is approaching, and I have fallen behind in many areas recently. I would like to review my skills a couple more times," Li Yuan replied, bowing as he finished his practice.

In the past, he suffered from a lack of elixirs, and practicing too diligently would deplete his body. Now the situation is very different, and he naturally refuses to make any excuses for laziness anymore.

"A balance of tension and relaxation is the way of martial arts; it can't be rushed. If you keep practicing like this, I'm afraid you'll ruin your health..." Second Grandma said with concern.

"Thank you for your guidance, Second Madam."

Second Grandma sighed softly and said, "Go back and rest early."

"Yes, wait until this disciple finishes practicing this last round."

"Then I'll go first."

"it is good."

In the vast training ground, only Li Yuan remained.

The moonlight, like a ribbon, filtered through the branches of the old trees by the field, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Li Yuan's figure moved nimbly and darted about in this radiance, never stopping for a moment.

But it was seen to pounce on its prey like a tiger, fierce and violent, its claws tearing through the night wind;

Sometimes she stretches her body, leaps into the air, and her clothes flutter gracefully.

Unlike static stance training, the "White Tiger Bone Forging Technique" emphasizes "movement," using form to guide qi and momentum to stimulate blood, repeatedly tempering the whole body through continuous movements.

Gradually, the fire of blood and qi that had been accumulating in his chest was completely ignited and propelled by this continuous and exquisite movement, and began to surge and flow to his limbs and bones.

Each tiger pounce and each leap is like a gust of wind, fueling the flames to burn ever brighter.

This is precisely the sign that one has reached the pinnacle of Ming Jin (manifest strength) and is about to touch the threshold of An Jin (hidden strength).

Li Yuan's movements not only did not stop, but became even more rapid and violent.

He could clearly feel that the surging blood and energy were no longer satisfied with just washing over his skin and flesh, but were drilling and penetrating deeper into his muscles, bones, and even bone marrow.

Each movement brought not only the exhilarating feeling of exerting force, but also a sharp pain that emanated from within, as if the muscles and bones were being scorched by invisible flames.

The night was quiet, with only the sound of his clothes rustling in the wind and the occasional muffled groans that he couldn't suppress, escaping from between his clenched teeth, echoing faintly in the air.

"Ho—!"

His whole body suddenly stiffened, and the burning sensation intensified abruptly, as if molten iron was flowing and solidifying in his veins and bones.

Veins bulged on his forehead, and sweat poured out like molten clay, instantly soaking through his thin training clothes and clinging tightly to his skin.

The movements inevitably carried a hint of hesitation and trembling.

But his eyes shone brightly, as he desperately guarded the last vestige of clarity in his heart.

The obvious force is expressed outwardly, while the hidden force is contained within.

Seeking stillness within movement, guiding from the outside and stimulating from within, is the only way to complete the deepest level of tempering amidst the ceaseless flow of Qi and blood.

He forced his convulsing limbs to continue the deformed tiger leap with difficulty into a steady tiger pounce.

Although the movements were not as fluid and perfect as before, each move was never interrupted.

In this extreme dynamic persistence, pain washes over you like a tide, and every inch of your bones seems to be forged and reshaped.

After countless rehearsals, the peak of the pain finally began to slowly recede.

A strange, tingling, and exhilarating sensation, originating from the depths of one's bones, mixed with an indescribable, solid strength, quietly arises.

At the very moment of the "White Tiger Swings its Tail" movement, with the arms retracting inward and the energy circulating—

"Buzz!"

A faint, yet soul-stirring, deep resonance seemed to emanate from within him.

All the surging blood and qi, all the refined essence, are like rivers flowing into the sea, or spring snow melting away, instantly sinking into the depths of the bone marrow, and then naturally re-emerging, reaching the smallest part of the body.

The pores, which had been constricted by the intense pain, now opened and closed, breathing in and out the cool night air, expelling the last trace of burning heat and turbidity from the body.

【White Tiger Bone Forging Technique (Mastery): 100/100】

【White Tiger Bone Forging Technique (Completed)】

Li Yuan slowly withdrew the last bit of momentum from his "Tiger Leap" stance, standing alone under the cold moonlight. He slowly exhaled a long, lingering breath, which condensed into a clear white ribbon in the night, lingering for a long time.

He lowered his head, opened his palm, and his thoughts stirred slightly. The skin and flesh of his palm seemed normal, but beneath the bones and muscles, a power as condensed as mercury and as deep as an abyss had quietly gathered, hidden and unreleased, yet it made even him feel a slight unease.

"Hidden strength... Is this the feeling of power being contained within, moving in the heavens and hidden in the abyss?"

Li Yuan slowly clenched his fist, his eyes gleaming with a deep, ancient light. His blood and qi flowed smoothly throughout his body, without any obstruction. The fatigue from the intense training earlier vanished completely, leaving only a sense of control and a vast, dormant power within him.

[Realm Level: Level 1 of Dark Strength]

"Although my progress is not as rapid as Lu Qing's, it is still not bad."

He brought up the control panel again.

Name: Li Yuan

[Practice Exercises: White Tiger Bone Forging Technique (Completed); Five Animal Health Preservation Exercise (Completed)]

Martial Arts Skill: Tiger Form Fist (Perfect)

[Realm Level: Level 1 of Dark Strength]

"With the Dark Force realm, coupled with the perfected Tiger Form Fist and the physical enhancement from the minor completion of the Yuan Sha Gong, I'm afraid ordinary martial artists at the early stage of Dark Force are no match for me."

"Tomorrow, I will inform Master Lin about my breakthrough to the Dark Force stage and receive the corresponding cultivation techniques and martial arts skills... I might even get some private instruction or a chance to receive some preferential treatment in resources."

Li Yuan stepped out of the courtyard gate and saw a carriage parked opposite him in the distance, with a pregnant woman waiting quietly beside it.

"May I ask, are you Li Yuan, the martial arts instructor?"