Becoming a Saint Starting with the Chasing Wind Leg Technique

Before Song Jing even stepped into his house, he could see from afar that the house was brightly lit.

A warm yellow light shone through the kitchen window, where a dark-skinned man was busy at the stove, and wisps of smoke rose into the night sky, carrying the aroma of firewood and meat.

Upon seeing him, the elder brother sprang up from the low stool, his coarse cloth sleeves sweeping across the wine table, splashing a few drops of wine.

He strode over, grabbed Song Jing's shoulder, his Adam's apple bobbing for a moment before he finally managed to squeeze out, "Brother...you passed the martial arts school's assessment? You can really stay at the school?"

"Yes, brother." Seeing that his brother was alright, Song Jing nodded, his tone excited, "But this is only the first hurdle."

Song Yi's eyes were slightly red, and his voice was low: "Back then... I also went to the martial arts school for the assessment, but I couldn't even make it past the first level. Maybe I just didn't have the talent, the aptitude, or the makings."

He paused, then patted his younger brother's shoulder heavily with his rough hand: "You've already done a great job getting through the first hurdle! I wonder what your plans are for the future, little brother."

"Don't worry, brother. I already have a plan in mind. Breaking through to the Bull-skin Realm is a sure thing."

What are the chances of success?

"At least 80%." Song Jing's gaze was firm: "Senior Brother Zhou will return in five days. With his guidance, the tempering efficiency will surely increase greatly—breaking through on time is a sure thing."

Upon hearing this, Song Yi trembled, his voice shaking with excitement: "I knew it! That fortune teller wasn't wrong! 'Within three generations, there will surely be a son who brings prosperity to the family'—brother, you're truly promising!"

Song Jing's palm trembled slightly. His older brother's rough fingers poked his shoulder blade painfully, but the pain felt like a warm current, without any discomfort.

Before he could finish speaking, Song Yi suddenly opened his arms and pulled his younger brother tightly into his embrace. His calloused hands repeatedly patted his brother's back, his voice muffled by his clothes, choked with sobs: "Brother, this money... wasn't wasted! Father, did you see that?"

His nostrils were filled with the acrid smell of his elder brother's sweat, a mixture of herbs and odors, and Song Jing felt as if he had been transported back to that rainy night twenty years ago—

A group of thugs attacked the brothers. The eldest brother shielded him with his body, breaking a rib in the process. Blood mixed with rainwater flowed into the ditch.

It took several months of rest to fully recover before I was able to get out of bed.

He trembled as he loosened his embrace, raised his hand to wipe his eyes, his palm still wet with hot tears.

Song Yi's deeply lined face flickered in and out of the lamplight as he forced a smile and said, "I was so happy to hear you were coming, I even made your favorite braised pork..."

At this point, his voice suddenly tightened, and he explained while rubbing his hands: "But after your sister-in-law found out that I had given you the money I had saved, she was so angry that she smashed her sewing basket and said she was going to run away from home..."

I argued with her about it: "Why can you sponsor your brother, but I can't sponsor mine? Isn't my brother a brother too?"

She couldn't persuade me otherwise, so she finally agreed... she insisted on coming to see you...

Before she could finish speaking, a tear fell onto the wine table, spreading into a dark circular stain.

Song Jing's heart was burning.

This Voldemort sister-in-law is really harsh. It's one thing to treat me like this, but does she have no affection for her brother at all? She only has eyes for her genius brother.

Only when I make a breakthrough in the future can I change my brother's current situation, so that he won't become my sister-in-law's blood bag, and he can live for himself.

He knew how much cold looks and pressure his elder brother had endured for him, and he also knew how heavy this affection was.

The more successful you are, the greater the way you can repay your elder brother.

If the opportunity arises in the future, I will definitely help my elder brother fulfill his childhood dream of learning martial arts and completely change his current predicament.

The two brothers talked all night long, until dawn broke.

After his elder brother left, Song Jing did not rest for a moment and immediately devoted himself to practicing his martial arts.

The next morning, a familiar figure came into view at the martial arts training ground – Sun Li.

Born into a poor family, but with a slightly better financial situation than Song Jing, he was leaning against a pillar in the corridor, looking at Song Jing with a meaningful gaze.

"Junior Brother Song," he called out with a smile, "Senior Brother Zhang is hosting a banquet at Juxian Pavilion in the city tonight, inviting all of us fellow disciples for a small gathering. I wonder if you are free?"

Song Jing clasped his hands in a fist and bow, his tone humble yet respectful: "Thank you for your kind offer, but my strength is too weak, and I fear I might spoil Senior Brother Zhang's enjoyment. It would be best if I did not go."

Sun Li's smile faded slightly, and he lowered his voice: "Senior Brother Zhang is already close to the 'Bullhide Realm,' and has even been tested to have above-average talent, which has alarmed even the sect leader. His future is limitless... Junior Brother comes from a poor background, so you should know how rare this opportunity is. Think it over carefully."

"Junior brother understands." Song Jing's expression remained unchanged. "I just want to practice diligently for now and get through the three-month assessment first."

"Since Junior Brother insists on not giving Senior Brother Zhang face..." Sun Li shrugged, his tone turning cold, "I can't force you, Senior Brother."

Song Jing knew perfectly well that Zhang Wu was the pride of the family, and the Zhang family controlled Changchun Hall, holding half of the medicinal herb business in Xiushui Village, making them very powerful.

Many disciples, including Liu Jiankun, a seasoned veteran who had been stuck in the "Bull Skin" realm for many years, were willing to become his subordinates, hoping to break through their bottlenecks by taking advantage of his influence.

The rivalry between the two factions of the eldest and second eldest disciples has been ongoing for a long time, and with the head of the academy aging, a succession struggle is imminent.

Choosing sides at this point is tantamount to tying one's own hands and feet.

With no background and no ability, he could only find a glimmer of hope by burying himself in diligent study.

Sure enough, a hint of displeasure flashed in Sun Li's eyes as he left, and he cursed inwardly, "What an ungrateful wretch!"

However, they didn't openly break off relations—after all, no matter how poor Song Jing was, he was still a temporary disciple of the martial arts school, and it wouldn't be appropriate for him to break the school's rules in front of everyone and give others cause for gossip.

Song Jing knew that refusing would inevitably lead to alienation, or even isolation.

But so what?

Socializing is pointless and only wastes time. With the task at hand, how can I let time slip by?

Such a thing will happen again if it happens once; if you refuse before, you will have to refuse again eventually.

Since we're going to offend them anyway, we might as well do it sooner rather than later.

Later, Liu Shengqiang also came to win over Xu, but was rejected as well.

Liu Shengqiang didn't say anything, only that they should get together sometime in the future. He said that Senior Brother Xu was kind and generous, and Junior Brother didn't need to take it to heart. However, Junior Brother should be careful of Zhang Wu as soon as possible.

Inside the Juxian Pavilion, wine cups were clinked and toasts were exchanged.

Zhang Wu was surrounded by a crowd, showered with flattery:

"Senior Brother Zhang is exceptionally talented; he'll likely break through to a higher realm within the month!"

"Please continue to look after me in the future!"

"We are all willing to follow our senior brother's lead!"

Zhang Wu, full of vigor, raised his glass and smiled faintly, completely unconcerned about Song Jing's absence.

Some people scoffed, "That Song Jing dares to refuse the invitation; he really doesn't know his own limitations."

The other man sneered, "It doesn't matter, they're just ants. They'll be gone in three months. Without the martial arts school's protection, they'll be at anyone's mercy. Don't let this worm spoil our fun today."

Song Jing knew nothing about this and disdained to speculate.

He squatted shirtless in the sandpit in the yard, plunging his hands into the scalding hot iron sand and stirring it inch by inch.

The sand grains were like knives, scraping my palms until they were covered in bloody welts, with sweat and blood seeping into the sand.

He gritted his teeth and persevered, and gradually a hard, iron-gray skin appeared on his palms, his muscles were like cast iron, and his knuckles were as rough as stone.

[Character] Song Jing

[Realm Progress] Leather Forging - No Realm (3/100)

[Technique Progress] Introduction to the Wind Chasing Leg Technique (2/100)

Progress remains slow.

At this rate, it will be difficult to reach 100 points in three months. Once eliminated, there will be no place for martial arts schools in the world to take in someone who has been expelled. Wouldn't that just make them a laughingstock and invite ridicule and insults from their opponents?

I must consult with Senior Brother Zhou; perhaps he can improve my tempering techniques, accelerate my cultivation, and speed up my progress.

Upon inquiring, they were told that Senior Brother Zhou had gone out on official business and that there were refugees and bandits outside the city indiscriminately attacking and robbing merchants and even passersby.

He then volunteered to fight the bandits outside the city and was not expected to return for five days.