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

Li Yuan was struggling with his decision when his second grandmother spoke again:

"The master specifically instructed that a side room be prepared for you. I just had it cleaned up, so you can move in now."

Li Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

When I opened the door, I saw my second grandmother standing outside, her gentle features bathed in moonlight.

Behind her stood a maid named Qiuyue, holding a roll of brand-new bedding.

Upon seeing Li Yuan, Qiu Yue bowed respectfully with her head lowered, a blush inexplicably rising to her cheeks.

Without saying a word, she grabbed the brand-new quilt roll and ran towards the side room as if she were escaping.

Li Yuan knew that now that he was Lin Zhong's disciple, his status and treatment were ultimately different.

Li Yuan didn't say anything polite about refusing, and followed behind the Second Madam to the side room in the courtyard.

"You should get some rest," the second grandmother said, turning to leave. "If you need anything in the future, you can come to me."

Under the moonlight, her graceful figure disappeared behind the courtyard gate.

Li Yuan entered the side room and looked around.

This room may not be luxurious, but it is spacious.

There's a large open space in the middle, perfect for practicing martial arts.

The room was fully furnished with a bed, cabinets, tables, and chairs, and even had writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones on the bookshelf, making it far better than the servants' quarters.

The bed was covered with thick mattresses, layer upon layer, so soft that you could sink into them when you sat on them.

When you lie down, it feels like you're sinking into cotton, so comfortable that you don't want to move.

He remembered Lin Shi's kindness.

He walked to the table, sat down, spread out the papers, and began to write a letter to Lan Jie'er.

In his letter, he told Lan Jie'er that he had been accepted as a disciple by Master Lin and that the Lin family treated him very well, and that she should not worry about him.

He didn't mention the gang fight he encountered on the way. But he did ask when his family planned to repair the roof so he could ask for leave to go back...

......

The next day, before dawn, Li Yuan handed the envelope to the town's postman.

Lan-jie should receive this letter in about a day or two.

Although it takes three days to walk between Blue Mountain Town and Green Ox Town, the postman has a fast horse, and if you take the main road, you can make a round trip in a day.

Lin Chong arrived as soon as I returned to the Lin family home.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Very good, thank you, Teacher Lin."

"Well, it's already quite an achievement that you've reached the third level of body training. But martial arts training is a gradual process that can't be rushed. Take it slow, and there's still hope for the future."

Li Yuan understood that Lin Zhong's intention was encouragement, but these words sounded...

"Yes, Master Lin."

Li Yuan didn't say much and followed Lin Chong into the martial arts club in the backyard.

Upon entering, the view suddenly opened up.

The backyard is a hidden gem, with a huge training ground in the center, paved with bluestone that is flat and solid.

The wooden dummy stands are neatly arranged on both sides, and more than a dozen disciples are practicing in front of them, with shouts rising and falling.

In the corner were piles of stone locks and weapon racks, with swords, spears, and halberds gleaming coldly in the morning light.

A dozen or so people, men and women, had already arrived in the courtyard and were practicing their skills.

Li Yuan glanced at them and realized that the cultivation techniques they practiced were familiar to him.

This is the "Five Animal Frolics for Health Preservation".

In this world, martial arts flourish, and fishermen, farmers, and peasants all practice this skill to strengthen their bodies in their spare time.

Almost all martial arts schools use this technique as a foundation, so there's nothing strange about it.

However, there were a few people in the crowd who practiced techniques that were obviously much more complex, with complicated movements and long, drawn-out breaths.

Those individuals were visibly far more skilled than the other disciples.

It seems that Lin Chong will only teach more advanced techniques when one's cultivation reaches a certain level.

Martial arts emphasizes gradual progress; to start practicing prematurely is tantamount to pulling up seedlings to help them grow.

"Everyone, please be quiet."

Lin Chong clapped his hands, and the courtyard immediately fell silent as everyone looked in his direction.

"This is your new junior brother, Li Yuan."

He gave a brief introduction and didn't say anything more.

It's understandable, really. A teacher in a school wouldn't point at a new student and say, "This is my cousin's child, please take good care of him."

Lin Chong turned to the crowd: "Who among you will take Li Yuan with you?"

With so many disciples, Lin Chong couldn't possibly take care of everyone. Therefore, newcomers in the academy would usually be mentored by their senior brothers for a period of time, who would help them answer questions, familiarize them with the environment, and provide guidance on basic techniques.

The disciples looked at Li Yuan, who was dressed in tattered clothes, but no one stepped forward.

What kind of profit could be made from such impoverished disciples?

"I'll do it!"

A man stepped forward; he had an honest face and a simple smile.

"Alright, Yang Cheng, you'll be in charge of Li Yuan," Lin Zhong said.

"Since we have a new employee today, I'll just say a few more words."

Lin Chong paused for a moment, then kept everyone in suspense.

"Martial arts? What is martial arts? Is it those fancy street performers' tricks?" He shook his head. "No. Those things are just for show, to fool laymen."

The disciples all stared intently at Lin Chong, clearly enjoying his words and seemingly drawing strength from them.

At these moments, Lin Chong would stroke his beard with a hint of smugness, saying, "True martial arts are the art of killing!"

"If you have a strong fist, others won't dare to bully you; if you have a firm footing, you can go far in this chaotic world."

He gave Li Yuan a special look. "Remember! True martial arts are those that can withstand the enemy's attacks and destroy them while preserving yourself in a life-or-death struggle!"

The voice just fell.

Lin Chong suddenly moved, leaving a trail of afterimages in his wake.

Everyone felt a blur before their eyes.

boom!

When they looked again, Lin Chong's fist was already imprinted on a large blue stone as tall as a person.

Gravel flew everywhere.

"Great!" The disciples were excited and applauded enthusiastically.

"You all need to practice hard! Kung Fu is something you learn through hard work; there are no shortcuts!" With that, Lin Chong put his hands behind his back and walked into the back room.

Li Yuan was startled; this was the first time he had ever seen a martial artist who could split a stone tablet with his bare hands.

"Junior Brother Li, come on, let me show you around first."

Yang Cheng was a warm-hearted man. He first helped Li Yuan pay for his meals, then gave him a set of training clothes, and then explained the rules of the courtyard to him in great detail.

"First, we must not kill each other!"

"Secondly, when challenging someone to a duel, engaging in martial arts competition, or exchanging sparring, you must mention your family and master. If others know this, they will give Master Lin face and will be more mindful of how much force they use."

"Third, when seeking revenge by kicking down the mountain gate or using underhanded tactics to steal someone's gourd, there's no need to report your lineage; just do whatever is convenient for you."

"...In short, we must not tarnish the reputation of our sect, and at the same time, we must protect ourselves."

Li Yuan also grew up in the countryside, and the two talked about the work in the countryside and the harvest in the fields, and gradually became familiar with each other.

As they were talking, two disciples carrying bedding came over and clasped their hands in greeting to Yang Cheng.

"Senior Brother Yang, we're leaving."

His tone was full of reluctance.

Yang Cheng's expression hardened, he opened his mouth, but finally only managed to utter two words: "Take care!"

The two nodded, turned, and left. Their figures receded into the morning light, finally disappearing outside the courtyard gate.

Looking at the two retreating figures, Li Yuan asked curiously, "Aren't these two senior brothers going to study anymore?"

Yang Cheng gazed at the horizon and remained silent for a while.

"They were all forced to leave after failing to break through the Mingjin barrier."

"Knocking on the gate?" Li Yuan heard this term for the first time. "Senior Brother Yang, what does 'knocking on the gate' mean?"

Yang Cheng withdrew his gaze and patiently explained:

"Martial arts training consists of two processes: one is to refine one's qi and blood, and the other is to open up one's energy channels and acupoints."

"Practicing the Five Animal Frolics can nourish one's own Qi and blood. When Qi and blood reach their peak, one can attempt to break through the barriers. Successfully breaking through the barriers will greatly enhance one's strength. For you, after perfecting the Five Animal Frolics, you can attempt to break through the Ming Jin barrier."

Li Yuan understood.

Body training, manifest strength, hidden strength, and neutralizing strength are the four martial arts realms in this world.

Below the level of Ming Jin, one is a martial artist.

Only those who have reached the level of Ming Jin or above can truly be called martial artists.

"Each challenge is like a rebirth, greatly enhancing one's strength," Yang Cheng said. "However, the risk of failure is also high, and it may even damage one's foundation. Moreover, the challenges become increasingly difficult as you progress."

Li Yuan nodded.

To put it simply, "knocking on the gate" means breaking through the bottleneck.

He has already perfected the Five Animal Frolics for Health Preservation, and should not be far from reaching the threshold of enlightenment.

"What are the chances of successfully breaking through this barrier of 'manifest strength'?"

Yang Cheng sighed: "Generally it's around 20% to 30%, but it's not absolute. The better one's innate talent and the more resources one has, the higher the success rate of breaking through the barrier."

Two or three out of ten.

Li Yuan felt a chill run down his spine.

The success rate is so low?

Yang Cheng gazed in the direction where the two disciples had disappeared, his voice lowering: "They cultivated here for over three months, finally accumulating enough qi and blood, only to collapse during the breakthrough. But their families are not well-off and cannot afford to support them to come again, so they have no choice but to leave."

Li Yuan fell silent.

Practicing martial arts is a form of energy expenditure.

Those disciples from wealthy families could eat meat every day, buy elixirs that could enhance their abilities, and could try again if they failed.

For those from average families, one failure is almost the end.

Li Yuan didn't know if Lin Chong would still let him continue to learn martial arts for free if he failed to pass the test.

Moreover, he wasn't sure if he would have the nerve to do it again.

People are born unequal.

There is no such thing as fairness in any world.

"But there are also geniuses."

Yang Cheng pointed to a corner where a young man was practicing martial arts. He was thin, but extremely focused on his training.

"Lu Qing is from the next town. I heard his family is quite poor, and he only arrived here three days ago. He's already preparing to attempt the Ming Jin stage."

Li Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

three days?

Are you preparing to break through to the Mingjin stage in just three days?

He couldn't help but take a second look.

The boy was dressed in tattered clothes, his coarse cloth clothes faded from washing and patched.

His face was stern, and his brows revealed a fortitude beyond his years.

At this moment, he was practicing the Five Animal Frolics with complete focus, and even with Li Yuan's discerning eye, he could not find any fault with each move.

It turns out, there really are unparalleled geniuses.

Seeing that someone was watching him, Lu Qing stopped his movements, waved to Li Yuan, and smiled sincerely and simply.

Yang Cheng then pointed to the area under the old locust tree.

Two disciples, a man and a woman, were resting in the shade of a tree. They were dressed in silk robes and were clearly not from commoner families.

The man was in his early twenties, handsome and good-looking.

He gently waved a folding fan in his hand, truly a handsome and elegant man.

"Qi Xiuyuan, the third young master of the Qi family," Yang Cheng said in a low voice, "all the oil mills in town belong to his family."

The woman had an ordinary appearance, but an excellent figure.

A tight-fitting silk training outfit perfectly accentuated her curvaceous figure.

Many male disciples in the courtyard kept glancing in her direction.

"Chen Ting, the eldest daughter of the Chen family," Yang Cheng said. "The Chen family controls all the cloth and silk shops in the town."

He paused, then said as if summarizing, "These two are far more wealthy than ordinary people. They also have extensive connections. Building good relationships with them will definitely be of great benefit in the future."

Li Yuan nodded without saying anything.

That's certainly how the world is.

Some large shops and wealthy families would select promising disciples with excellent aptitude to invest in and befriend.

When promising disciples achieve success and fame, these people will naturally reap many times the rewards.

Based on Li Yuan's experience in his previous life, such wealthy young men often gave people an uncomfortable feeling when they interacted with them.

He wasn't interested in those investments, but he also didn't want to ruin the relationship.

Just let things take their natural course.

Before we knew it, it was lunchtime.

There were two lines in the cafeteria.

A huge crowd stretched out, turning several corners in the queue.

At the front of the line, a large bucket was filled with steaming hot stewed cabbage and tofu, and next to it were baskets of steamed white flour buns.

The other group was very small, consisting of only a few scattered individuals.

But the dish served at the front of the line was stewed beef.

Beef is a highly nutritious food for martial arts practitioners.

However, in this world, the imperial court prohibited the unauthorized slaughter of cattle in order to protect them.

Beef is extremely scarce, and its price has skyrocketed, making it unaffordable for ordinary families.

"A bowl of stewed beef costs two taels of silver, not included in the meal fee; it must be paid separately."

Smelling the aroma of stewed beef, Li Yuan pursed his lips and joined the longest queue.

The twenty taels of silver I got from Li Canghai were mostly spent on planting seeds and watering, and after paying for food, there was hardly anything left.

After Yang Cheng finished speaking, he and Li Yuan joined the longer queue.

In the other team, there were several familiar faces.

Qi Xiuyuan stood at the front, his folding fan tucked into his waistband, chatting and laughing with the person next to him.

Chen Ting stood behind him and said in a coquettish tone, "It's always beef, I'm getting tired of it."

The sound was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for those around to hear.

Among the people queuing, some swallowed hard, some looked down at the cabbage and tofu in their bowls, and some pretended not to hear.

Li Yuan didn't even look up.

After getting his food, Yang Cheng told him to find a place to sit down.

The two had just sat down when they saw Lu Qing come out of the window carrying a bowl.

"Junior Brother Lu, over here!"

Just as Yang Cheng was about to wave, another voice rang out.

"Junior Brother Lu, I've ordered an extra bowl of beef. Come and sit down."

It is Qi Xiuyuan.

He stood by the table of the other team, holding a bowl, and waved to Lu Qing.

Two bowls of beef were placed in front of him, glistening with red oil, and the aroma could be smelled from afar.

Chen Ting sat next to him, smiling as she looked at Lu Qing.

Lu Qing was stunned for a moment.

He looked down at the cabbage and tofu in his bowl, then looked up at the beef on Qi Xiuyuan's table, and hesitated for a moment.

Then he walked over.

Yang Cheng's hand was still raised in mid-air, and the smile on his face froze for a moment.

But he quickly recovered, lowered his hand, and smiled at Li Yuan, saying, "It's normal. They both saw Junior Brother Lu's potential and wanted to befriend him; they also represent their families."

Li Yuan didn't say anything and lowered his head to eat his meal.

......

In the afternoon, a commotion suddenly broke out in the courtyard.

"Junior Brother Lu has successfully passed the test!"

"Junior Brother Lu has broken through!"

The news spread like wildfire, and everyone rushed over there.

Li Yuan looked up and saw Lu Qing surrounded by people, a humble smile on his face, responding to everyone's congratulations.

But the corners of his mouth couldn't be suppressed as they turned up slightly, and his eyes gleamed.

"Junior Brother Lu, are you free tonight?"

A person squeezed through the crowd; it was Qi Xiuyuan.

He unfolded his folding fan and smiled gently, "A new restaurant has opened in town. My senior brother is treating, let's go and have a look."

"That's right, Junior Brother Lu." Chen Ting followed behind him, her beautiful eyes sparkling, her gaze towards Lu Qing carrying an indescribable meaning. "Senior Brother Qi also invited several senior brothers from other martial arts academies, so everyone can exchange experiences and insights together."

Before Lu Qing could answer, the crowd suddenly fell silent.

Lin Chong emerged from the inner hall at some point.

He was radiant and walked with a brisk pace, as if he had suddenly become ten years younger. When he reached Lu Qing, he patted Lu Qing on the shoulder with a large hand.

"Okay, okay!"

Lu Qing quickly bowed: "Teacher Lin's guidance is excellent."

"Very good." Lin Chong smiled broadly and beckoned, "Lu Qing, come with me to the inner hall!"

The inner hall is where Master Lin rests; all disciples are not permitted to enter without permission. This was something Yang Cheng had said this morning.

At this moment, Lu Qing was invited to the inner hall by Master Lin.

The crowd fell silent for a moment.

Then, someone shouted, "Master Lin is giving Junior Brother Lu some private lessons!"

The courtyard immediately erupted in chaos.

There were all sorts of voices: envious, wistful, and resentful.

But everyone knows what it means to be invited into the inner hall by Master Lin.

"Junior Brother Lu broke through to the Ming Jin level in three days. You have that kind of talent, and Master Lin will invite you in as well."

Someone made a sarcastic remark, which drew a few snickers.

Many others stared at Lu Qing's retreating figure with complex expressions.

Yang Cheng stood on the outskirts of the crowd, his eyes lighting up: "Junior Brother Lu has succeeded!"

He recalled how it took him more than a month to succeed when he first tried to break through the barrier.

Yang Cheng felt a pang of sadness.

He turned his head, wanting to talk to someone.

Then I froze.

In another corner of the courtyard, Li Yuan was still practicing his martial arts.

The commotion of the crowd seemed irrelevant to him, and the news that Lu Qing had been invited into the inner hall did not stop him from talking.

He moved slowly and deliberately, his expression so focused that he seemed to be in a meditative state.

Sunlight fell on him, and his movements were fluid and graceful, with a strange rhythm.

Pleasant to the eye.

As Yang Cheng looked around, a thought suddenly popped into his mind:

Could it be that this courtyard is going to produce two geniuses?

However, this idea was quickly dismissed.

It's true that Junior Brother Li Yuan has reached the third level of Body Refinement, but whether he has sufficient Qi and Blood is still a question.

Even with sufficient Qi and blood, passing the gate is not a sure thing.

Moreover, he seemed to have heard that Junior Brother Li Yuan's physical constitution... was rather average.

Yang Cheng shook his head, stopped thinking about it, and returned to his position to practice.

Li Yuan was naturally unaware of Yang Cheng's thoughts.

He was focused on practicing the martial arts technique.

Under his control, the Qi and blood in his body flowed like his own fingers, cleansing his meridians again and again, gradually strengthening him.

In his mind, the pages of the [Heavenly Book of Derivation] floated silently:

【Five Animal Frolics for Health Preservation (Complete): 40/100 (Practice ten times a day, complete in ten days)】

......

Two hours passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, the sun began to set in the west.

Lin Chong led Lu Qing out of the inner hall.

He clapped his hands, signaling everyone to stop.

"I'm preparing to hold a small Ming Jin (vital energy) competition for Lu Qing." His voice wasn't loud, but everyone in the courtyard could hear him clearly. "At that time, representatives from other martial arts schools and academies will be invited to attend."

The crowd erupted again.

Mingjin's small gathering.

The implications of this are significant.

Generally speaking, a master will only hold a small gathering of Ming Jin (a type of internal energy cultivation) for a disciple who is expected to become a direct disciple.

This is both a public announcement and paving the way for his disciples.

Everyone understood Master Lin's intentions.

People are truly incomparable.

"We're all martial artists, so it's natural to want to spar and see who's better when we meet." Lin Chong paused for a moment. "This is also an opportunity for you all to improve, so cherish it and intensify your training."

Among the crowd, the eyes of several disciples had already lit up.

The Mingjin Small Gathering is open to only Mingjin disciples.

Exchanging skills and techniques can not only improve practical abilities, but also provide a good opportunity to make a name for oneself.

If one were to be noticed and invested in by a large shop or family, it would be an opportunity for rapid advancement.

Li Yuan returned to his corner and continued practicing his cultivation technique.

Before they knew it, two hours had passed.

Twilight Quadruple.

The disciples in the arena have begun to leave one by one.

Another half incense stick's time passed.

The place was quiet; most people had left.

"This new kid is really hardworking."

"I heard that if one's physical constitution is so ordinary, and one can successfully break through the barrier through hard training, then the world would already be full of Ming Jin martial artists."

Several disciples began to whisper among themselves.

Yang Cheng sighed and shook his head. He knew better than anyone that in the path of martial arts, hard work alone was far from enough.

On the other side, Lu Qing had just finished a set of punches when his gaze inadvertently fell on Li Yuan, who was practicing in the corner, and his expression was slightly complicated.

He had only just heard by chance that his junior brother Li had mediocre talent.

In his view, to learn martial arts, one must either have natural talent, resources, or both.

If there's nothing to it, why waste time on it?

"Junior Brother Lu, stop looking. What if someone has mastered the Ironwood Flower Technique?" Qi Xiuyuan said with disdain, beckoning to Lu Qing.

"I don't know what they're so determined to do, why are they making things so difficult for themselves?" Chen Ting looked in that direction, also somewhat puzzled.

The three of them went out, got into a carriage, and drove away.

Li Yuan did not hear these sounds.

He was completely absorbed in his own world of training.

One more time.

Li Yuan finished his practice and exhaled a long breath.

【Five Animal Frolics for Health Preservation (Complete): 80/100 (Practice ten times a day, complete in ten days)】

The breakthrough to mastery should not be far off.

......

The night is deep.

In the front yard, the moonlight, as silvery as silver, quietly spilled over this space.

After finishing another round of the Five Animal Frolics exercise, Li Yuan felt sore and achy all over. He stopped, dragged his tired body to a corner of the field, and sat on the steps, panting heavily.

Glug glug...

I'm so hungry!

"It's so late, aren't you going to rest?"

A soft voice rang out.

Li Yuan looked up and saw Second Grandmother walking out of the side room.

Under the moonlight, she stood out in her plain white dress, which was particularly striking in the dim light.

Li Yuan quickly stood up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said respectfully, "Second Madam. I have average physical constitution and am not very bright. I can only make up for it by studying hard and practicing diligently."

Grandma Er walked closer, looked at his sweat-soaked clothes, and frowned slightly.

"Martial arts training requires a balance of intensity and relaxation; you must not rush it." Her voice carried a hint of concern. "Take good care of your health."

Li Yuan clasped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for your concern, Second Madam. I'll practice one more time and then go back to rest."

Second Grandma paused for a moment, then gently waved her hand.

"Okay, remember to go back early."

She turned and left, the hem of her plain white skirt fluttering gently in the moonlight.

After taking a few steps, she sighed softly to herself.

This disciple is different from the previous ones.

He was humble and polite to others, and he practiced his skills with extraordinary dedication.

But in this Green Ox Martial Arts Club, she had seen far too many figures like him.

Which of those young people who gritted their teeth and trained hard didn't dream of making a name for themselves? But how many of them could actually overcome that threshold of Qi and blood and open the door to Ming Jin?

She had heard a lot about martial arts from what she had seen and heard about it.

In the path of martial arts, diligence alone is ultimately insufficient to bridge the gap in innate talent and physical attributes.

What's even harder to fill is the bottomless pit that supplies vital energy and blood.

The faint barking of dogs in the distance made the night seem even more silent.

Li Yuan looked up at the bright moon, its light like water, spilling onto the blue bricks in the courtyard.

He suddenly missed Lan Jie'er.

I wonder what Lan Jie'er will think when she receives the letter.

If you were at home, you'd probably have lots of tender and intimate words to say at this time.

Li Yuan's lips curved slightly.

I regained my strength.

He snapped out of his reverie, stopped thinking about it, turned back to the field, and assumed his stance again.

"Yuan-ge'er".

That gentle voice rang out again.

Li Yuan turned around.

Grandma Er was holding a blue and white porcelain bowl, which was steaming hot and filled with a rich aroma of meat.

"This is what was left over from your cafeteria during the day. I heated it up." She handed over the bowl. "Your martial arts training is very taxing, so you'll need this."

His tone was light and casual, as if he were talking about something insignificant.

Li Yuan looked down at the bowl, which was full of stewed beef. The pieces of beef were cut thickly, and there were a few pieces of scallions and ginger floating in the oily soup. The steam rose directly onto his face.

His brow furrowed slightly.

He knew that beef wasn't cheap.

Being able to stay here already puts me in a debt of gratitude.

If you owe too many favors, you become worthless.

"But..." He opened his mouth, wanting to refuse.

Second Grandma suddenly chuckled.

"What, you think it's not enough?"

That smile, with its curved eyebrows and eyes, made Li Yuan pause for a moment.

He quickly shook his head: "No, no."

"Then I'll accept it."

She shoved the bowl into his hands without giving him a chance to explain.

The warmth of the bowl seeped into my palm through the rough porcelain.

"After you finish eating, just put the bowl back in the kitchen."

She turned around, her white skirt swirling gently in the moonlight, and headed towards the side room.

After finishing a bowl of beef, Li Yuan put down his chopsticks and stood up.

My belly felt warm and cozy, like a tiny fire was burning inside.

Li Yuan took a deep breath and returned to the field.

Deer play, bear play, monkey play, crane play, tiger play.

Under the moonlight, his every move flowed smoothly and effortlessly.

The body's internal heat is awakened with every movement, transforming from a gentle flow into an active surge, seeping into muscles, bones, and blood.

The heat flowed and explored through the meridians, causing muscles to tremble and bones to crack wherever it passed.

Sweat started to drip down.

But unlike usual, this time the sweat was a mixture of warm and cool, as if something was being expelled from the body.

During the performance of the tiger scene, a strange change suddenly occurred in his body.

The heat from all parts of the body suddenly converged in the lower abdomen, swirling, condensing, and compressing in the dantian. Each swirling motion increased the power, and each condensation caused the temperature to rise further.

Li Yuan's skin began to turn red, his breathing became rapid, his jaw clenched, and his whole body trembled.

Suddenly, he formed claws with both hands and lunged forward!

boom!

It felt like there was a loud roar inside my body.

The torrent, concentrated to its extreme, surged upwards along the spine, past the back of the head, burst through the top of the head, and then crashed down along the front of the body.

Qi and blood break through barriers, meridians are opened, and the dantian undergoes a transformation.

Everything returned to calm.

Li Yuan slowly stopped his stance and stood up straight.

In the dantian, qi and blood gather like mercury, and a brand new power quietly resides, like a sleeping beast, waiting only for the thought to awaken it.

In his mind, the pages of the [Heavenly Book of Derivation] appeared:

【Five Animal Frolics for Health Preservation (Perfect): 100/100】

Li Yuan suddenly felt a bright light before his eyes.

Under the moonlight, every leaf of the old locust tree in the corner of the wall in the distance was clearly visible, even the veins of the leaves and the tiny dewdrops on the tips of the leaves were reflected in the eyes.

Further away, the patterns carved on the windowsills of the side rooms, and even the faint silhouettes of people behind the window paper.

Everything was so clear, as if all the details of the world were being revealed to him at this moment.

The silence around me subsided.

The faint barking of dogs outside the courtyard wall, the occasional cough from a distant house, the rustling of the wind through the treetops... all these sounds seemed to be blocked out, leaving only the steady and powerful beat of one's own heart in one's chest.

Boom, boom, boom.

One beat after another, like the beating of war drums.

The rushing sound of blood became clearer, no longer the silent sound of a stream.

He could clearly feel every contact between his feet and the brick surface, the texture and temperature of the blue bricks, and even the softness of the small clump of soil between the bricks.

At this moment, the heavy power in his dantian stirred.

It no longer lies dormant, but rises quietly, like spring water gently soaking through the body.

At the same time, the muscles and bones made cracking and popping sounds.

Crisp and melodious, like bamboo shoots breaking through the soil in spring.

The long-standing feeling of blockage deep within my body was completely swept away at this moment.

The clouds parted to reveal the sun.

suddenly see the light.

[Current Realm: First Level of Ming Jin]

"It's a success!"

Li Yuan slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.

A sense of joy welled up inside him.

Once you break through the Ming Jin (明劲) stage, you become a formal martial artist.

It's time to find an opportunity to explain the situation to Master Lin and ask for the next level of cultivation techniques.