Chapter 320: Chapter 216: Steadfastness Tempered, Pure Gold and Jade (Part 2)

"Entering the Daoist School is the only way for all the prominent families in the Red County Divine Land to achieve social ascent.

Like the He Family of the Thirteen Guilds in Yihai Prefecture, they proudly support two scholars from the eldest branch. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Unfortunately, now it has all turned into a fantasy and vanished completely."

Bai Qi sent off the easy-to-please little Daoist child, then accepted the gilded invitation from the tall young man, promising to attend the Master’s evening banquet punctually.

Finally, he looked at Uncle Yang, who was already gasping seven or eight times, and forced a bitter smile:

"I thought I could steal some leisure amid busyness and rest a bit in Yihai Prefecture, but now it seems I am fated to be busy by nature."

Seeing even Yuanyang Temple issuing an invitation, Uncle Yang dared not show any sign of displeasure at being neglected.

He walked at the front leading the way, taking the two brothers onto the carriage and personally acting as the groom to drive:

"Master Bai, you have many important matters, yet you still made time to offer incense at the He Family, which truly gave the young master enough face.

This favor not only will the young master remember, but our He Family will also keep it in mind."

Bai Qi and Bai Ming sat in the carriage, the iron-banded wheels rolling over the flagstone, parting the bustling crowd as they headed straight for the He Family.

"What’s the background of the fat sheep that big brother mentioned?"

Completely reduced to a mere backdrop, Xiaoliuzi returned lost in thought to the designated meeting spot.

"Did you figure out their details?"

The rogue leader, awaiting for a long time, quickly asked upon seeing the dazed Xiaoliuzi.

"That pair of brothers..."

Xiaoliuzi scratched his head vigorously:

"Several gangs approached them as soon as they got off the boat, seeming to be waiting purposely.

What He Family of the Thirteen Guilds in Yihai Prefecture, the sole officially recognized Martial Arts Hall on North Street, and Yuanyang Temple."

The rogue leader seemed struck by lightning, frozen in place, managing after a long while to squeeze out a sentence:

"Dear mother, this is not a fat sheep! Clearly a fierce dragon crossing the river! Nearly made a grave mistake!"

...

...

As everyone knows, every Martial Arts Hall in Yihai Prefecture is located on North City Street.

Ten years ago, the rule here was to establish oneself, fight in the arena, and then hang a plaque to accept disciples and teach martial arts.

So, the broad street that cuts through the four directions almost every day saw people setting up challenges, facing challenges, and overcoming challenges.

Bone fractures and tendon damages, broken hands and feet, became all too common.

This gave rise to a large number of physicians skilled in treating bruises and stopping bleeding.

At that time, North City was very bustling.

The common people had a habit of joining in the fun, relying on this street, about twenty-nine li long, to gather a vigorous and lively atmosphere.

Besides martial arts halls and clinics, food stalls, brothels, and gambling houses selling gold and silver... all seemed to blossom everywhere.

Regrettably, after the trouble caused by the star named Ning, much of the former bustling prosperity was gone.

"Did Daoist Chongxu of Yuanyang Temple invite him?"

Today, Chen Xing, who rarely sat in the Martial Arts Hall, looked up at the tall young man standing respectfully below.

"A little Daoist child holding a Magic Sword claimed to be from Yuanyang Temple, it shouldn’t be wrong."

The tall young man replied with fists cupped in salute.

"Gold and pure jade, buried in the sand, reveals brilliance when the wind blows.

My disciple was fortunate, finding such a treasure even in Black River County.

If it were in Yihai Prefecture, such an outstanding seedling would have already been fiercely contested.

Fortunately, he acted early."

Chen Xing smiled faintly, then asked again:

"Zirong, they say seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times. You’ve been stationed at the dock for some days, finally seeing the real person today, what do you think?"

The tall young man, called Zirong, lowered his head and, without concealing anything, said truthfully:

"Young in age, not yet of full age, yet with a sharp spirit between his brows, full of vigor, with strong and heavy bones, naturally good martial arts material.

His qi blood is deeply concealed, almost entirely hidden in the marrow. I couldn’t discern the level, only surmise he has achieved the Second Bone Training Barrier Great Success, but how many times he has changed blood, I couldn’t guess."

Chen Xing nodded with satisfaction:

"My disciple strives for perfection in each of the Four Great Trainings, achieving accomplishments.

I taught him this way back then, and now, he likely teaches his inheritors the same way."

The tall young man named Xu Zirong, a well-known rising star in Yihai Prefecture, shook his head and sighed upon hearing the instructor say this:

"Perfect achievements are not easy to obtain. Even with your meticulous guidance, instructor, I only achieved ’Golden Flesh and Jade Veins’ and could not complete ’Mercury Blood Silver Marrow,’ let alone attempt the Third-Stage Skin Cultivation of ’Water and Fire Immortal Robe,’ which is even more difficult."

As the only Martial Arts Hall on North City Street able to hang a signboard,

Chen Xing does not let his students call him master.

Instead, he is addressed as "Instructor."

Even someone like Xu Zirong, hopeful of entering the Four Great Trainings, has never been favored enough to offer a cup of apprenticeship tea.

Chen Xing said in a flat tone:

"Perfect achievement in the Four Great Trainings, aside from external items, top-level Cultivation Techniques, and Treasure Plant Medicine, also requires excellent aptitude.

The difference between a top talent and an ordinary person seems slight but is actually vast. Zirong, you are already the best seedling in the Martial Arts Hall, with the build of a bear, a body nurturing a piece of ’Human Bear Bone,’ and your fists and palms exert far more strength than peers by three parts.

Even so, you still cannot avoid the ’bottleneck barrier’."

Xu Zirong understood that the thin line between top talent and ordinary people lay there.

In each of the Four Great Trainings, striving for perfection and achieving accomplishments is not easy.

It isn’t simply about day-to-day, year-to-year diligent cultivation that allows one to break through.

When he was breaking through the Second Bone Training Barrier and the Third Skin Refining Barrier, he asked the instructor if he needed to spend more time painstakingly, and put in the effort?

Chen Xing always gave a negative answer because the reason for a bottleneck is that one’s understanding of martial arts and accumulation of qi blood have reached the upper limit, which cannot be surpassed in just a year or two.