I was told I'd be a late bloomer, but I was born with the potential to achieve great things!

Outside Ningshan City, in the Great Li Dynasty, lies the Seven Mysteries Gate.

"Martial arts cultivation consists of nine levels: blood refining, skin polishing, bone forging, internal organ strengthening, elixir formation, meridian opening, qi condensation, divine will, and innate essence."

On the training ground, Guo Tao, dressed in a black outfit, looked at the more than one hundred newly recruited disciples below the stage and spoke loudly.

"The beginning of martial arts lies in strengthening one's Qi and blood. Only with strong Qi and blood can one begin to grasp the basics of internal strength, and only then can one forge muscles and bones from the outside in..."

As they were talking, Zhou An, who was sitting below the stage, saw Coach Guo suddenly throw a punch.

"Bang!"

With a single punch, the air exploded, sending the wooden stake blocking his way flying more than ten meters away.

The wooden stake was as tall as a person and weighed over 100 kilograms. If it were to hit someone...

OK.

Zhou An felt that he would most likely be punched to death, without even having a chance to stage an accident.

"This is Ming Jin. Only when you have mastered blood cultivation can you unleash your power throughout your body in one breath. Once you reach this level, even seven or eight strong men cannot get close to you."

Coach Guo Tao said loudly.

"drink!"

Suddenly, Guo Tao threw another punch, slamming it into the wooden stake on his right.

"Bang!"

Zhou An saw that the wooden stake remained motionless, but on the side facing them, countless fragments exploded from the inside out, like fireworks in full bloom.

"Once you reach a certain level of mastery, your strength will shift from the visible to the hidden, and from the external to the internal. Only when you reach this stage can you be considered to have entered the inner sanctum and become someone of importance."

Guo Tao withdrew his fist and stood up, speaking in a deep voice.

"Then, Instructor Guo, when will we be able to cultivate into sword immortals?"

Just as Zhou An was muttering something to himself, a young man in fine clothes spoke up first.

"......"

Guo Tao looked in the direction of the sound, his mind filled with black lines and question marks.

I'm facing people like you who don't even know the basics, and I'm demonstrating martial arts, explaining concepts, and you actually ask me when I can become a sword immortal?

"Good question. No matter how lofty and prestigious martial arts may sound, how can it compare to immortals flying around in the sky?"

Although Zhou An concealed himself as if he were invisible, he couldn't help but give the finely dressed young man a mental thumbs-up as he looked at him.

Being young is great; you can be straightforward and carefree.

Since awakening his innate wisdom six months ago, the story Zhou An has heard most often is about 62 sword immortals flying over Ningshan City together 38 years ago.

One of the immortals, known as Ouyang Ming from the Tianhe Sword Sect, even opened the Heavenly Gate with a single sword strike because he disliked the torrential rain that day.

That sword strike not only shattered the storm that swept through the city, but also shattered the hearts of the city's people who sought immortality and enlightenment.

Otherwise, why would Zhou An have traveled all the way to the Seven Mysteries Sect?

Although he was an orphan who grew up eating food from many families in the village, everyone knew that the Seven Mysteries Sect was defeated by the Black Tiger Gang two months ago.

This move to open the mountain gates wide seems more like recruiting cannon fodder.

If Zhou An hadn't been short of money and wanted to repay the village's kindness, plus the fact that the Seven Mysteries Sect provided food, lodging, and free tuition, he would have gone to the martial arts school in the city long ago.

"Instructor Guo, I've heard that reaching the pinnacle of martial arts cultivation can lead to immortality. Is that true?"

At this moment, a kind-hearted young man in the crowd spoke up again to Guo Tao, who had a gloomy face on the stage, and asked him a question.

"quiet!"

Hearing the chattering questions from the group of teenagers below the stage, Guo Tao shouted loudly.

The world is going to the dogs, it really is going to the dogs.

His Seven Mysteries Sect was, after all, a respectable sect in Ningshan City, but now...

Thinking of the Black Tiger Gang's relentless pressure, Guo Tao thought to himself, "That's enough," before taking a deep breath to barely calm his anger.

"Can."

Facing the eager gazes of the group of teenagers below the stage, Guo Tao stepped forward and spoke loudly.

"38 years ago, when 62 sword immortals swept across the sky above Ningshan City, Ouyang Ming, a sword immortal from the Tianhe Sword Sect, left behind a sentence."

If someone can reach the ninth level of martial arts and cultivate to the ultimate innate realm before the age of 60, they can travel eastward from here to the Tianhe Sword Sect, which is 80,000 miles away, to become an apprentice and learn martial arts.

Therefore, if you wish to seek immortality, you must first achieve mastery of martial arts... If you venture forth rashly, you will only face certain death.

"Thank you for the reminder, Instructor Guo. If we were to learn martial arts at the Seven Mysteries Sect, how long would it take to reach the ninth level of the Innate Realm?"

At this moment, a handsome young man from the crowd below the stage cupped his hands and asked.

Compared to the previously chattering boy, this person was clearly more polite, so Guo Tao did not get angry this time, but spoke patiently.

"The blood-refining method of my Seven Mysteries Sect is called Tongbi Long Fist. This fist includes three aspects: breathing exercises, stance training, and power striking techniques."

Within Ningshan City, there are no more than three blood-refining methods that can surpass the Seven Mysteries Sect's Tongbei Long Fist.

Guo Tao said with a confident expression.

"With an ordinary physique, it takes three months of practice to sense the flow of qi and blood, and a year of practice is enough to master the fist techniques, enter the gate of strength, and become a blood-training martial artist."

At this point, Guo Tao gave a mocking smile to the group of teenagers below the stage.

"I don't have high requirements for you. If you can sense the Qi and blood within three months, you can become formal disciples of my Seven Mysteries Sect."

Otherwise, go back to where you came from!

"What if we're one in a million geniuses!"

Seeing Guo Tao's mocking smile, one of the teenagers said defiantly.

"If you were a genius, I, Guo, would certainly serve you tea and water. But for now... you all better listen attentively."

Guo Tao flicked his hand and snorted coldly.

"Next, I will explain to you how to breathe and exhale, how to practice standing and walking meditation, and the 38 movements and techniques of Tongbei Changquan."

Geniuses, listen up!

If you don't understand it the first time, and then ask me for guidance later, please don't be stubborn.

Upon hearing this, all the teenagers looked at the boy who might be a genius, their eyes filled with ambiguity, suppressing their laughter and remaining silent.

The boy being stared at blushed crimson, but no matter how angry he was, he dared not speak again. He simply stared intently at Guo Tao on the stage.

"First, it's about breathing. Pay attention to your mouth, nose, abdomen, and chest... First, take three short breaths, then take a long breath and exhale gently to warm up."

On the stage, Guo Tao looked at the group of teenagers below who were subconsciously starting to imitate him. A sly smile appeared on his lips before he straightened his expression and solemnly spoke.

"Very good, warm-up complete, let's begin the formal lesson!"

The teenagers: "......."

Faced with this sudden and bizarre move, even Zhou An, who had lived two lives, felt for a moment that his mind was full of question marks.

Fortunately, the subsequent lessons were indeed quite serious.

Zhou An dared not be negligent and immediately focused his attention on watching.

Whether it was to learn martial arts to seek immortality or to avoid being humiliated and kicked out of the Seven Mysteries Sect in three months, he could not afford to be careless or negligent in the slightest.

In the blink of an eye, the time it takes to drink a cup of tea has passed.

"Damn, I think I've almost forgotten everything... His Tongbei Changquan (a type of martial arts technique) is too slow, did you guys remember that?"

When Guo Tao finished punching and stood up, a chubby-faced boy next to Zhou An grabbed his hair and asked the people around him anxiously.

"How can anyone remember what you're doing if you're typing so slowly?"

One of the boys hummed in agreement.

"If you hit it too fast, you'll remember it even less."

Zhou An would never dare to say such a thing.

It wasn't because he memorized it after just one look, nor because he was surrounded by a group of anxious and annoyed teenagers, but because he failed.

Just as Guo Tao finished the last move of Tongbei Changquan on the podium, a golden destiny suddenly appeared in Zhou An's mind.

[Destiny: Late Bloomer]

[Effect: Perseverance will surely lead to success!]

[Tongbei Changquan (Beginner 0/100): Practice 10 times daily, mastery in one month]

.......