Gou Zai Wudao Shicheng Dao

As the noise in the inner courtyard gradually subsided, Lin Youting followed behind Ning Tianyang with a smile on his lips.

The three important figures who had just been arguing heatedly—the luggage manager of Tongbao Merchants, the head镖师 of Weiyuan Escort Agency Zhao, and the manager of Sifang Chamber of Commerce Sun—were now standing around with warm smiles.

Lin You was filled with excitement.

Twenty-five taels of silver! Fifteen catties of demon flesh! Three Blood Qi Pills!

The price offered by Weiyuan Escort Agency was still echoing in his ears.

With these resources, the path of external tempering and refining will be smooth sailing.

Is the Stone Skin Realm within?

Even reaching the coveted Copper Skin End is just around the corner!

Why practice martial arts?

Isn't it all about getting ahead and bringing glory to the family?

Lin You felt that the bright future was already within reach.

He subconsciously turned slightly to the side, his gaze sweeping across the inner courtyard.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fang Xia.

The expected frustration, disappointment, and resentment were nowhere to be seen.

Fang Xia appeared calm, but her gaze was deep and intense.

It was as if the desolation of being ignored during the selection process had never happened.

Shock!

Lin You's pupils suddenly contracted, as if something had struck his heart hard.

He considers himself to be of superior character among his peers, otherwise he would not be where he is today.

Fang Xia's composure struck him with an indescribable force.

"Fang Xia... is her willpower really this strong?" Alarm bells rang in Lin You's mind.

Although he had a high opinion of himself, he was not a short-sighted fool.

Various images of Fang Xia flashed through my mind.

When we first learned the Three Yang Stance together, I achieved a minor success in half a month, and my Qi and blood began to regenerate on their own. How glorious that was!

But what about Fang Xia?

Despite his poor physical condition, he persevered and managed to break through the skin barrier in twenty-three days!

That tenacity immediately caught his attention.

Although he had grasped a trace of the essence of the Qingyang Palm, Fang Xia was still superior to him!

If it weren't for that inferior constitution that held me back...

This thought, like a needle, pierced the joy rising in Lin You's heart.

Faced with the overwhelming facts, he had no choice but to admit it.

In terms of comprehension, I am inferior to Fang Xia.

Upon realizing this, Lin You felt a surge of inexplicable irritation.

"What gives him the right? What makes him so 'firm'?"

With mediocre talent and a bleak future, what makes him so calm?

Lin You gritted his teeth inwardly, a strange sense of frustration churning in his chest.

It wasn't until he stepped over the back hall steps that Lin You suddenly came to his senses.

He felt the eager gazes of the three shopkeepers beside him.

The gaze that represented abundant resources and a bright future instantly dispelled the restlessness in his heart.

Taking a deep breath, Lin You strode confidently forward.

Resources! That's the key!

Fang Xia, no matter how good your comprehension or how strong your will, may be.

Without sufficient resources, how far can one go on the path of martial arts?

They will eventually be left far behind me!

Thinking of this, Lin You's mood finally eased.

........

With the crowd dispersed, the training ground appeared even more spacious.

As the sun gradually set, Fang Xia shook his head; his heart was not entirely unmoved.

However, that turmoil was firmly contained by a steadfast 'will'.

"Junior Brother Fang."

Just as Fang Xia was about to turn and leave, a steady voice sounded from behind her.

Fang Xia turned around and saw Zhou Cheng walking over with a warm expression.

He smiled, a hint of concern in his eyes.

Zhou Cheng strode forward, patted him on the shoulder, and gently comforted him, "Junior Brother Fang, don't be discouraged. It's just one selection; it doesn't mean anything."

I can see clearly that your comprehension and temperament are among the best in the entire inner courtyard!

Their lack of investment in you is due to their lack of foresight; it doesn't mean you can't break free from your inherent limitations in the future.

Fang Xia felt a warmth in her heart and nodded: "Thank you for your understanding, Senior Brother Zhou. I understand. One's physical constitution is limited by one's innate abilities, but one's path is one's own to walk."

"It's good that you think that way."

A hint of approval flashed in Zhou Cheng's eyes, then he lowered his voice and said seriously, "I've come to you because I have something to tell you."

There were too many people around, so I couldn't say much.

Do you know about You Qian?

Fang Xia's eyes flashed with a hint of inquiry: "Oh? I wonder what you mean, Senior Brother?"

I know Senior Brother You, of course; he is the eldest son of the You family.

I heard his family mainly deals in medicinal herbs and grains, and there are three internal martial arts practitioners in the clan.

"That's right." Zhou Cheng nodded. "Junior Brother You was also there just now. Although he didn't participate, he was observing the whole time."

He's very interested in you...

Seeing your potential, I've decided to invest and take a gamble!

"A bet on investment?"

Fang Xia's heart stirred slightly, but her face remained calm: "Oh? My aptitude is mediocre, I wonder how I could possibly catch Senior Brother You's eye?"

You Qian's sudden investment bet made him instinctively wary.

In this world, there is no such thing as goodwill without a reason.

Seeing Fang Xia hesitate, Zhou Cheng's eyes flashed, and he said, "He saw something that others didn't see."

That day, when you first entered the inner courtyard, you practiced the Qingyang Palm and grasped its essence in half a day.

In today's selection, your Qingyang Palm technique was even more fluid and smooth, surpassing Lin You's!

These junior disciples all saw it. They recognized your character and comprehension, and believed that you were extraordinary.

Think about this carefully. If you're willing, it might solve some of your resource problems.

Fang Xia's heart skipped a beat for a moment.

Financial aid? This is undoubtedly a timely help!

Financial difficulties at home, resource burdens, the shadow of the Black Tiger Gang... all of these weighed heavily on his mind.

A thought raced through Fang Xia's mind, and he quickly calmed down, asking, "Why is Senior Brother You betting on Junior Brother? What can this disciple do for the You family?"

Zhou Cheng smiled knowingly: "You really are a meticulous person."

What Junior Brother You values ​​in you is your calm demeanor and... your astonishing comprehension!

He's betting on your future, betting that you can break free from the shackles of your inherent limitations.

As for the return? The You family is not doing charity.

What they are funding are future 'relationships' and 'favors'.

If you achieve something in the future, the You family will naturally benefit.

If it doesn't work out, it's just a relatively small investment for them.

Zhou Cheng paused for a moment, then said frankly, "You should know firsthand how important resources are in martial arts cultivation."

The path to the ninth level of martial arts is increasingly difficult.

Just this body-tempering ointment alone costs three taels of silver per bottle!

Even if an ordinary disciple successfully obtains a temporary post, he will only receive three taels of silver a month, barely enough to buy a bottle.

However, if one wishes to improve their martial arts skills, practicing once a day, with the medicinal power tempering the skin, muscles, and bones, consumes energy like water!

Fang Xia's heart skipped a beat.

He recalled how poor his family was and how much effort he had put in to raise enough money for his tuition.

In the future, my family won't be able to provide much assistance on my path to martial arts.

Furthermore, Fang Xia didn't want her family to support her.

The ointment, costing three taels of silver per bottle, was indeed a heavy burden for him.

The three portions the owner provides each month are probably barely enough to make ends meet; rapid progress is unlikely!

"Not to mention the Blood Qi Pill!" Zhou Cheng's voice carried a hint of longing: "That's a treasure that the Body Tempering Cultivation Clan craves, containing pure blood and qi, which can save so much time and effort!"

One of these is worth far more than ten bottles of ordinary body tempering cream!

Without substantial resources, going far on the path of martial arts is as difficult as ascending to heaven!

Seeing Fang Xia remain silent, Zhou Cheng continued, "The martial arts examination is held every three years, so there are still fifteen months left."

Now that you've reached the initial stage of the "Bullish Skin" realm, if you have sufficient resources, you might be able to enter the Bone Gate before the Martial Arts Examination and qualify to compete for the title of Martial Arts Scholar.

The martial arts examination is a chance for a fish to leap over the dragon gate; only by passing the final hurdle can one have a sliver of hope!

"The martial arts examination?" A hint of longing flashed in Fang Xia's eyes, and her heart warmed.

Ning Tianyang once said this in the inner courtyard.

The military examination was a prestigious path for selecting talent, jointly established by the imperial court and martial arts sects.

If he could pass the martial arts examination with flying colors, not only would the Black Tiger Gang be unable to control him, but he could also rise to the top in one step.

That's an immense fortune!

Seeing Fang Xia's expression, Zhou Cheng paused and patiently explained, "Among the inner sect, there are disciples from powerful and wealthy families such as Han Qing, Luo Zhao, and Xiao Pingshan."

They came to Sanyang Hall to learn martial arts, but another purpose was to find "geniuses."

"Junior Sister Han Qing comes from the Han family, one of the three major families in the inner city. She has already chosen Lin You, but the deal has not yet been finalized."

After all, Junior Brother Lin is Master Ning's personal disciple, which is different from our situation.

"Junior Brother Xiao Pingshan is a member of the Xiao family in the inner city, and he also supports several junior brothers in the inner sect."

Even I have always relied on the You family's support to ensure that my cultivation has never been interrupted by resources.

In this world, talent is certainly important, but resources are the key!

Fang Xia remained silent. Zhou Cheng's words revealed another cruel and realistic side of martial arts.

Resources can elevate geniuses to the highest levels, or bury unpolished gems in the dust.

Fang Xia's heart gradually began to lean towards him.

He does need resources and wants to improve his strength.

Without resources, breaking free from the shackles of one's inherent limitations is all just empty talk.

But Fang Xia was also very cautious, after all, there is no such thing as a free lunch.

Accepting the funding means standing with the You family.

"Senior Brother Zhou." Fang Xia raised her head, regaining her composure.

"The You family... what are the specifics?"

Please provide details regarding background information and public opinion.

Junior brother understands gratitude and righteousness, and also knows that there are no free lunches in this world; he must keep this in mind.

A hint of admiration flashed in Zhou Cheng's eyes. Fang Xia was far more composed than her peers and had not been blinded by the "sponsorship".

"The You family has deep roots and is one of the top families in Heishan County."

There are at least three martial artists in the family who have reached the Inner Refinement Realm, so their influence is considerable.

They are known as an upright and honest family, and are generous in their charity.

As for clandestine activities, as long as one doesn't "act against the tide," which family in Heishan County doesn't have some tricks up their sleeve?

"You Qian is a man with a keen eye; he's eyeing your 'long-term potential.'"

Betting on investments carries significant risks, given your poor aptitude, but he's willing to take the gamble.

If successful, it will solve your immediate problem and give you the means to break free from your inherent limitations!

Fang Xia memorized every single word.

The pros and cons were quickly weighed in my mind.

Risk, which could draw you into an unknown vortex.

Profit is a much-needed resource.

The Black Tiger Gang lurks like a venomous snake in the shadows; he needs force!

As dusk settled, the sky darkened.

Fang Xia took a deep breath, and solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhou Cheng: "What you said, senior brother, is heartfelt and I will remember it."

My junior brother is willing to accept this sponsorship. I wonder what the specific details are, Senior Brother You?

After carefully considering the pros and cons, Fang Xia acted decisively without any hesitation.