[Turtle and Snake Grand Posture · Not at Entry Level (0/5)]
He had worked himself to the bone all day yesterday, yet the progress for his Turtle and Snake Grand Posture was still "0".
This meant he wasn't one of those exceptionally talented people who could reach the Entry Level of the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture in just three to five days. By his own estimate, it would probably take him around ten days.
'The conversion rate between Martial Arts Longevity Points and lifespan is one point per day. To improve Comprehension or Root Bone, it costs ten points for a single attribute point. But for improving Skills, one point increases the skill's progress by "1." The ratio for improving a Cultivation Technique's progress should be about the same.'
With a thought, Xu Yang allocated one point to the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture.
In that instant, a flood of insights washed over him, and the training progress for the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture changed.
[Turtle and Snake Grand Posture · Not at Entry Level (1/5)]
'Just as I thought. One point increases the progress by one.'
A smile touched the corners of Xu Yang's lips. If he wanted to, he could reach the Entry Level for the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture right now.
But he had no intention of doing so.
Even someone with excellent talent would need three to five days to reach the Entry Level. If word got out that he had done it in a single day, it would clash with his principle of not showing off. The disadvantages would far outweigh the benefits; there was no need to achieve Entry Level all at once.
'Root Bone, add points!'
Instead of improving his Turtle and Snake Grand Posture, he added the points to his Root Bone. Fifty points instantly raised his Root Bone to twenty-seven.
The strongest impression Lu Ren's Upper Grade B Root Bone had left on him was how incredibly tough it made him. His stamina was high, his recovery was fast, his digestion was strong, and his Pile Skill cultivation was more effective.
That was why he decided to spend all his points on raising his Root Bone, aiming to get it to Upper C-class or even Grade B Lower before considering anything else.
Comprehension was important, of course, but for him, Root Bone was the current priority.
Xu Yang didn't feel much as his Root Bone increased. There was just a brief wave of heat, and he felt a bit more energetic. The change wasn't drastic.
'It should still be considered a Lower C-class Root Bone!'
Based on his calculations, an Upper C-class Root Bone should be somewhere between thirty and forty.
[Root Bone: 27]
[Martial Arts Longevity Points: 1]
He glanced at the panel before closing it and assuming a stance in his room.
Sinking his qi to his Dantian, he hollowed his chest and straightened his back. He was like a great python rearing up, his chest and abdomen expanding and contracting in a steady rhythm.
This time, he lasted for over a minute longer than he had the day before.
By the time Xu Qing woke up at dawn, the leftovers he had eaten were completely digested, and his stomach let out a loud GRUMBLE.
'Looks like I'll have to start keeping some meat at home.'
Though he was confident he would become a Martial Artist, he hadn't forgotten Zhou Yang's words from yesterday. He couldn't afford to be stingy.
After saying goodbye to Xu Qing, Xu Yang stepped out into the morning sun.
'Looks like my feeling from the day before yesterday was right!'
As he walked out of Bai Shi Workshop, he soon spotted He the Third hurrying toward the mine.
Usually, He the Third and Zhang Daniu would call for him, and the three of them would head to the mine together.
Now that Zhang Daniu had quit, He the Third should have come to get him, but he hadn't.
"He the Third!"
Xu Yang quickened his pace and caught up to He the Third in a few strides.
"Oh... Ah Yang. I woke up late and figured you'd already left, so I didn't call for you." An unnatural expression flickered across He the Third's face.
Xu Yang shook his head. "It's fine, I didn't come looking for you either. I actually wanted to ask you to tell my third uncle that I won't be working at the mine anymore."
There was no formal resignation process at the mine; if you wanted to quit, you just stopped showing up.
However, one of the stewards at the mine was an uncle from his clan who had always taken good care of him, even helping him conceal the truth about his earnings. He had to give this uncle a heads-up to keep him from worrying.
"Alright!"
He the Third froze for a moment before it sank in. "You're not working at the mine anymore? How are you going to support yourself?"
"My uncle has connections in the city and helped me find a job. Thanks for your help."
With that, Xu Yang quickly walked away.
He the Third stood there, stunned, his mouth hanging open. Both Xu Yang and Zhang Daniu had gone to work in the city, leaving him as the only one still toiling away at the mine. For a moment, he regretted having distanced himself from Xu Yang.
...
By the time Xu Yang reached Weiyuan Hall, few people had arrived. He ate in the dining hall, then returned to the Outer Courtyard's Martial Arts Arena to practice the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture for a while. Only then did the senior disciples begin to trickle in.
Lu Ren and Zhang Yong, who had arrived a little after him, also came over to practice beside him after they finished their meal.
"The new disciples are certainly diligent, practicing so early in the morning."
"They've only just started, so of course they're full of energy. I was the same way back then—going to bed late, waking up before dawn. After a few days, when they realize hard work doesn't get them very far, they'll stop."
"If hard work was all it took, no one would be burning money."
The senior disciples passing by would almost always make a remark or two about Xu Yang and the other newcomers.
Xu Yang remained unmoved, focused only on his training. Those with weaker resolve, however, found their expressions growing increasingly grim.
Besides him, only Lu Ren seemed unaffected by the comments.
"Still working so hard. It seems my words yesterday were a complete waste of breath."
The Zhou Brothers stepped into Weiyuan Hall, and their expressions darkened upon seeing Xu Yang and the others already training.
"These mud-legs still have that fire in their bellies about using martial arts to change their fate. Once that fire goes out, they'll come to us. It won't take more than a few days."
Zhou Yang's indifferent gaze swept over Xu Yang before he walked briskly away.
Two hours later, Sun Tao emerged from the Inner Courtyard dressed in a white training uniform and began to instruct the ten newcomers on the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture.
He guided them in turns, stopping after each person had gone through it three times.
"This is the last time I will instruct you on the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture. I will not offer any more guidance to anyone until they have reached the Entry Level.
The master has guided you once, and I have guided you twice. If you still haven't memorized the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture after all that, then I advise you not to waste any more time here."
At these words, a disciple named Liu Guangfa's face instantly turned ashen. He was one of the five with an Upper D-class Root Bone, and he was reacting this way precisely because he still hadn't memorized the posture.
'How cruel!'
Xu Yang shook his head inwardly. Liu Guangfa was effectively eliminated, the first one to be washed out.
"Once you reach the Entry Level with the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture, you may come to the Inner Courtyard to learn the Fist Technique from the master. After you've learned the basics from him, you can come to me if you have any further questions."
With that, Sun Tao turned and strode away.
He had seen this sort of thing far too many times to feel anything at all.
Time passed in a flash, and three days later, several of the disciples had undergone dramatic changes. Their entire demeanor had been transformed, and their bodies were much sturdier than when they had first arrived.
"Haha! My Turtle and Snake Grand Posture has reached Entry Level! Force rising from the ground... so this is what it feels like to have force rise from the ground."
Lu Ren's voice shattered the tranquility of the Martial Arts Arena. Many turned to look at him, only to see his skin glowing crimson. His flesh seemed to undulate strangely as solid bands of muscle rippled into view.
He was the first of the ten newcomers to reach the Entry Level of the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture.
"Worthy of an Upper Grade B Root Bone. All told, it took him less than five days to reach the Entry Level."
"With an Upper Grade B Root Bone, Lu Ren's Comprehension must be impressive as well. He might even be able to grasp the profundities of Force in the future and succeed in Qi Gathering and Marrow Cleansing."
"It might be worth trying to befriend him!"
...
The senior disciples murmured in amazement. Weiyuan Hall might not see a single person capable of reaching the Entry Level in less than five days in an entire year.