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

"Good! Not bad!"

Lin Zhong's voice rang out in the courtyard, his tone somewhat excited.

His gaze toward Li Yuan seemed somewhat complicated.

With such ordinary physical attributes, the ability to break through to the Ming Jin level is likely due to a combination of luck and personal effort.

Keep up the good work!

Lin Chong patted him on the shoulder, said a few words of encouragement, and then turned and walked into the inner hall.

Li Yuan sighed and relaxed his shoulders slightly.

That's it?

Even if you don't give them special treatment, at least give them some symbolic material reward.

Even without a material reward, Master Lin, please give me the rest of the cultivation techniques!

There was nothing.

There were only a few words of encouragement.

Li Yuan felt a bitter taste in his mouth. Just as he looked away, he heard footsteps behind him.

Congratulations, Junior Brother Li!

"Junior Brother Li is amazing! I'll have to take care of you in the future!"

......

The disciples, unlike their indifference yesterday, stepped forward one after another to offer their congratulations.

Those disciples who were stuck at the threshold of Ming Jin had both envy and resentment in their eyes.

"Junior Brother Li, congratulations!"

A familiar voice came from outside the crowd.

Yang Cheng burst in with a loud laugh and slapped Li Yuan on the shoulder.

"Now that you have broken through to the Ming Jin level, you are qualified to register for the martial arts exam!" Yang Cheng's smile was sincere and full of heartfelt joy.

Li Yuan felt a warmth in his heart. "Thank you, Senior Brother Yang!"

Under the locust tree in another corner of the courtyard, Qi Xiuyuan and Chen Ting were resting against the back of their chairs.

"He actually succeeded." Chen Ting's gaze held a hint of disdain.

"I have to say, this guy's luck is unmatched." Qi Xiuyuan said, waving his folding fan in a nonchalant tone.

"But if your innate talent isn't up to par, you won't go far in the end." Chen Ting said thoughtfully, "You'll basically reach the limit for Ming Jin. You won't be so lucky next time you try to break through."

Looking back at the conclusion he reached yesterday, his words may well have been an attempt to salvage his reputation for having "sharp insight."

In a corner not far away, Lu Qing was still practicing his martial arts.

The wind howled as each punch was swift and decisive.

The commotion in the arena seemed irrelevant to him. He didn't even raise his head to look, as if breaking through to the Ming Jin realm was a trivial matter, not worth making a fuss about at all.

The real difficulties begin later.

The path to martial arts success depends on either talent or resources.

Those who possess neither will ultimately not go far.

Even with his talent, he still needed to eat a bowl of stewed beef every day just to barely keep up with the demands of martial arts training.

As for that peasant...

Just then, a commotion arose outside the courtyard gate.

A group of wealthy gentlemen dressed in silk robes walked in in twos and threes.

"Boss Du of Yongsheng Trading Company, Manager Yue of Wuweizhai..." Yang Cheng leaned close to Li Yuan's ear and lowered his voice, "Master Lin invited them here to seek investment for his disciple who recently broke through to the Ming Jin realm."

Li Yuan looked up and saw Lin Chong smiling as he went to greet him, exchanging pleasantries with clasped hands.

Several Ming Jin disciples straightened their backs, their eyes gleaming with eagerness.

"Does every Ming Jin disciple have a chance?" Li Yuan asked Yang Cheng in a low voice.

"On the surface, that's true." Yang Cheng paused, his tone tinged with helplessness, "But in reality, these wealthy businessmen only choose those with great potential."

Li Yuan nodded and said nothing more.

He planned to wait and see before making a decision.

Accompanying these wealthy gentlemen was an elderly man with white hair and beard.

He wore a gray cloth robe, walked with a steady gait, and had a calm gaze; he was clearly a person of considerable cultivation.

"That's Mr. Ouyang, who came specifically to test his physical attributes," Yang Cheng added.

The wealthy merchants took their seats under the eaves, teacups were laid out, and the conversation quickly became lively.

"The gangs have been causing a lot of trouble lately, with robberies and plundering. Without hiring some skilled fighters to keep things under control, business is tough!" A chubby shopkeeper wiped the sweat from his brow and sighed.

"That's right," another lean old man chimed in. "The Black Tiger Gang is fighting fiercely with a new gang called the Four Seas Society, and we're being affected too. Last month, the front door of my shop was smashed up."

......

Seeing that everyone was present, Lin Chong stood up and clapped his hands.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our newly promoted Ming Jin disciples of the Qingniu Martial Arts Society will demonstrate their skills one by one. As is customary, you may take a look and choose a disciple who catches your eye, and then discuss cooperation with them."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room: "Li Yong, you go first."

A burly young man walked to the center of the field.

Li Yong has been at the Ming Jin level for some time now, and he is the most senior among this group.

He took a deep breath, assumed a fighting stance, and unleashed a powerful set of Tiger-style boxing, his fists and feet creating a whooshing sound as they passed. His moves were fierce and powerful, and the entire demonstration was flawless.

Under the eaves, a glint appeared in the eyes of the wealthy merchants.

"Testing bone structure."

Li Yong walked up to Mr. Ouyang and bowed slightly.

Mr. Ouyang reached out, pinched his shoulder, and then ran his hand along his back for a few inches before shaking his head.

"Grade B in physical constitution".

The eyes that had just lit up under the eaves instantly dimmed.

No one spoke.

Lin Zhong's lips twitched slightly, but he quickly recovered.

He nodded: "Ji Chen, it's your turn."

Ji Chen stepped onto the stage with a calm expression. His boxing technique was more fluid than Li Yong's, and the transitions between his moves were seamless, clearly showing that he had put a lot of effort into his skills.

"Root bone, grade B, upper."

When Mr. Ouyang announced the results, his tone was more approving than before.

The wealthy businessmen started whispering among themselves again, but in the end, no one was willing to invest.

Li Yuan saw it clearly.

These wealthy businessmen weren't interested in any martial arts demonstration at all.

Whether your boxing skills are good or bad is just icing on the cake.

What truly determines everything is one's innate talent and aptitude.

He took two steps back and stood on the periphery of the crowd.

His own physical attributes were probably not much different from Li Yong's, or even inferior. If someone like Ji Chen couldn't even catch their eye, he didn't think he had any chance.

Lin Zhong's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

He took a deep breath, his voice becoming calmer:

"Lu Qing, come here!"

Lu Qing walked at a leisurely pace, his face expressionless, and went directly to Mr. Ouyang, giving a slight nod.

Mr. Ouyang reached out and put his hand on his shoulder.

Moment.

His hand recoiled as if it had been burned.

Then, he placed his hand on it and carefully touched it all over, his expression suddenly changing drastically.

"Root bone armor!"

The voice had changed tone, filled with barely suppressed shock.

The corridor fell silent for a moment.

The wealthy businessmen stopped whispering and all eyes turned to Lu Qing.

On the root bone.

Such talent is rare, appearing only once in a decade.

Lin Chong chuckled, stroking his beard, his tone tinged with barely concealed smugness: "This unworthy disciple is dull-witted; it took me a full three days to break through to the Ming Jin realm. I apologize for making a fool of myself."

Breakthrough to Ming Jin level in three days?

The wealthy businessmen's eyes lit up even more.

"Lu Qing, show everyone the new boxing technique you've learned," Lin Zhong said.

Lu Qing nodded, walked to the center of the arena, and assumed a fighting stance.

Tiger-style Fist.

The same set of punches that Li Yong and Ji Chen used earlier.

But the same boxing technique can be completely different in the hands of different people.

When Lu Qing's fist slammed out, the sound in the air was not the sound of wind, but a muffled explosion.

The force of his punches was like the roar of a tiger.

His figure was as agile as a python, each punch carried an overwhelming momentum, and each step made the ground tremble slightly.

After finishing a set of punches, he stood still, not out of breath, and his face was not red.

The courtyard was quiet for a moment.

Then someone gasped.

"This is... a minor level of Tiger Style Fist!"

A disciple exclaimed in astonishment, "Junior Brother Lu just broke through to the Ming Jin realm yesterday, and today..."

He hadn't finished speaking, but everyone understood.

In just one day, he mastered a Ming Jin boxing style to a minor level.

Lin Chong stood under the corridor, unable to suppress the smile on his face.

Skills depend on innate talent, while martial arts depend on comprehension.

Lu Qing's innate talent is top-tier, and his comprehension is also at an extraordinary level.

Such a disciple is the first of his kind in the history of the Green Ox Martial Arts Society.

It seems that the Green Ox Martial Arts Society is destined to rise to fame in the future.

Under the eaves, the wealthy merchants had long been restless.

A fat shopkeeper suddenly stood up, his face jiggling with fat: "I'll offer twenty taels of silver a month to invite Brother Lu Qing to be a retainer of my Zhao family!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a thin, long-faced old man next to him sneered, "Zhao Debiao, are you trying to fob me off like a beggar? My Li family is willing to double the price, forty taels!"

He stroked his beard, his face flushed, looking determined to win.

Zhao Debiao quickly smiled ingratiatingly, "Hehe, that was just a little teasing. My Zhao family will offer fifty taels!"

Fifty taels!

That's almost equivalent to a small shop's monthly income.

The courtyard erupted in chaos.

All the disciples' eyes were fixed on Lu Qing, filled with shock, envy, jealousy, and感慨...

Fifty taels of silver a month is basically the same price as a disciple of the Dark Force realm.

Li Yong and Ji Chen, left standing to the side, looked at each other, their faces ashen.

They stood on the edge of the crowd, wishing they could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Indeed, people cannot be compared.

Li Yuan leaned against the wall, fully aware of the situation.

Those wealthy businessmen were all incredibly shrewd.

Ming Jin disciples are a dime a dozen in any martial arts school.

They are only willing to invest in geniuses, not only to bolster their own businesses but also because they value future returns.

With Lu Qing's talent and the substantial financial support he receives, breaking through to the Dark Force realm is almost a certainty.

It's not impossible for him to even break through to the Transformation Realm and become a Grandmaster.

In that case, you'd make a fortune.

"Fifty taels, is there anything higher?!"

Lin Chong stood under the corridor, his face glowing, and shouted loudly with great energy.

The crowd fell silent for a moment.

Then, an old butler who hadn't spoken until now stood up from the corner.

He was dressed simply, but possessed a calm and composed demeanor. His voice was not loud, yet everyone present could hear him clearly.

"The Qian family is willing to pay one hundred taels."

The entire audience was in an uproar.

One hundred taels.

This price is almost unprecedented among Mingjin disciples' investments.

The other wealthy businessmen exchanged glances and sighed.

One hundred taels was certainly painful, but what really made them back down was the name "Qian family".

The prominent families in Linjiang City are not people that small-town merchants like them can afford to offend.

Lu Qing stood in the center of the arena, smiling and clasping his hands in a fist salute, looking around at the surroundings.

His gaze swept over the shocked faces, the envious eyes, and the resentful silences. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, but he quickly suppressed it again.

Expected.

Compared to the monthly offering of one hundred taels, he enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention even more.

Under the locust tree, Qi Xiuyuan and Chen Ting remained seated.

They have their own share of resources within the family and do not need outside investment at all.

"Junior Brother Lu, you've finally made it big," Qi Xiuyuan said with a sigh, gently waving his folding fan.

"Yes," Chen Ting replied casually, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over the corner of the yard.

Li Yuan was leaning against the wall, quietly watching the scene unfold.

She couldn't help but shake her head.

"Look at that one, doesn't he even have the courage to go on stage?"

Qi Xiuyuan followed her gaze and chuckled, "Maybe she's afraid of losing face."

He paused, then closed his folding fan: "After all, his natural talent is only so-so, so this can be considered a kind of self-awareness."

Chen Ting didn't say anything more.

In the room, Lu Qing was being led down the corridor by the crowd. Lin Chong patted him on the shoulder, grinning from ear to ear. The old butler from the Qian family was whispering something to him, his tone as respectful as if he were speaking to a future VIP.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves of the locust tree, dappling Li Yuan's body.

"Junior Brother Li, after reaching the Ming Jin level, the energy expenditure for martial arts increases exponentially. But since you are already a Ming Jin martial artist, you could find a temporary job outside," Yang Cheng said as he walked over.

"On temporary assignment?"

Yang Cheng nodded. "Forget about big shops like Yaowangtang and Shengyuefang; you'll have no chance unless you're at the Inner Strength level. Other smaller forces aren't too difficult; I'll keep an eye out for them for you in the next few days."

"I, your senior brother, am also on secondment at Shuncheng Trading Company."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, senior brother."

"Actually, the best way is to get funding, which will not interfere with your training and will cost much more than a temporary position."

Yang Cheng hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Junior Brother Li, if you're interested, you might as well get to know those fellow disciples who are well-off."

Li Yuan glanced at Qi Xiuyuan and Chen Ting, who were chatting and laughing in the corner, and said, "Forget it, let's just keep them on temporary assignments."

Lin Chong emerged at some point, looking slightly flustered.

"Li Yuan, you've been so busy that you've forgotten about the important matters."

He handed the two books to Li Yuan.

"This book is 'Tiger Form Fist,' a Ming Jin martial art. Although it is a basic martial art, its power should not be underestimated if you master it all."

"This book is 'White Tiger Bone Forging Technique,' a Ming Jin (manifest strength) technique. As its name suggests, once the technique is perfected, one can refine one's Qi and blood to a full state again. At that time, one can try to break through to the An Jin (hidden strength) barrier."

Li Yuan felt a warmth in his heart.

Lin Shi hadn't completely forgotten himself after all.

"Practice diligently, and feel free to ask me anything you don't understand."

This disciple was calm and composed, and Lin Chong, seeing this, couldn't help but like him.

If only the qualifications were better...

The afternoon sun was a bit too bright.

Li Yuan silently recited the incantation of the Tiger Form Fist and assumed a martial arts stance.

He stood with his feet apart, knees slightly bent, and arms slowly raised.

call--

The punch was thrown, but the movement was distorted.

His arms were stiff as wooden sticks, showing no sign of a tiger pouncing.

His body swayed unsteadily, his feet felt unsteady, and he looked like a drunken crab, wobbling comically across the training ground.

"As expected, he's not cut out for martial arts." Qi Xiuyuan said.

Chen Ting didn't even bother to give a review.

She recalled the powerful and impressive display of Lu Qing's boxing skills, and looking at the man in front of her who couldn't even grasp the basics, she couldn't help but sneer.

However, at that very moment, Li Yuan was taken aback.

Tiger Form Boxing (Beginner): 0/100 (Practice ten times daily, achieve minor proficiency in ten days)

Is this... the beginning?

Li Yuan's pupils contracted slightly, somewhat incredulous.

The next moment, his mind was suddenly filled with many insights and understandings about this martial art. How to generate power, how to breathe, how to mobilize the power of the waist and back when punching, how to stabilize the lower body when finishing the stance...

It was as if he had been practicing this technique for over a month.

Those details, tricks, and muscle memory patterns... are all imprinted in my mind, becoming instincts etched into my subconscious.

He subconsciously adjusted his posture slightly, changing the angle of his knees turning inward by three points and lowering his center of gravity by an inch, instantly transforming his entire demeanor.

The front panel reappears—

Name: Li Yuan

Age: 18

[Exercises: Five Animal Frolics (Completed); White Tiger Bone Forging Technique (Beginner)]

Martial Arts Technique: Tiger Form Fist (Beginner)

[Realm Level: Early Stage of Ming Jin]

Li Yuan was overjoyed.

That's it!

"Again!"

He moved suddenly.

This time, it's completely different.

The initial stance is like a tiger crouching on a mountain, steady and powerful; the pounce is like a hungry tiger seizing a sheep, swift and fierce; the closing stance is like a tiger returning to the forest, its remaining power lingering. Each move is fluid and continuous, the waist and stance in perfect harmony, and the whistling wind of the punches even carries a faint, deep tiger's roar!

Tiger Form Boxing (Beginner): 10/100 (Practice ten times daily, achieve minor proficiency in ten days)

Progress increased by 10 points!

Li Yuan stood with his fists clenched, his chest heaving as he felt an unprecedented surge of power within his body.

"Junior Brother Li, there's a letter for you from Lanshan Town."

A shout interrupted Li Yuan's thoughts.

Lan Jie'er has replied.