The Thirteen Body Refinement’s External Training consisted of five realms: Skin and Flesh, Tendon and Bone, Organs, Blood Marrow, and Opening Essence. As of today, Zhu Ju had already mastered the first four.

As for Opening Essence...

This Realm did not require tempering the Physical Body. Instead, it referred to one’s entire Strength becoming one, integrated inside and out, and flowing without obstruction.

As long as the first four realms reached Perfection, one would naturally step into Opening Essence once their Strength could be commanded at will.

It required almost no active Cultivation.

Perhaps by simply relaxing, enjoying the scenery, appreciating tea and art, one could experience a moment of sudden enlightenment and take that final step, their Strength fusing and circulating perfectly.

Moreover, once one advanced to Opening Essence, they could nurture Inner Qi at an extremely fast rate, depending on the depth of their Physical Body’s foundation, and step into the Inner Qi Realm.

This was also known as the three realms of Inner Refining in the Thirteen Body Refinement.

Conversely,

if one insisted on arduous training, it would likely be counterproductive. Not only would their Strength fail to harmonize, but it would also become obstructed.

Sometimes, slow is fast, and fast is slow.

...

It was time for the younger generation of Leping County to gather again. This time was different from the usual; the location was the rear garden of the Zhu Mansion. It was also the first time Zhu Ju had invited others to his residence.

There was one new person in attendance.

"Yuann Tong," Sunx Youshan said, holding a lovely young maiden’s hand as they chased butterflies among the flowers.

"I can’t believe your family was actually willing to let you out!"

"They weren’t going to let me come originally," Zhou Yuantong said, lowering her gaze.

"But when they heard it was at the Zhu Mansion, they allowed it."

Although the Zhou and Sunx families had some recent disagreements, they hadn’t reached the point of tearing off all pretenses. The younger generation still interacted with each other.

This was especially true for childhood playmates.

Sunx Youshan smiled faintly.

"It seems Sixth Uncle Zhou is looking for a suitable husband for you. What do you think? Have you taken a fancy to anyone?"

Zhou Yuantong looked up toward the figure standing with his hands clasped behind his back in the stone pavilion not far away and sighed in resignation.

"I don’t want to get married so early."

"That’s not up to you, and you’re not that young anymore." Sunx Youshan smiled, her beautiful eyes twinkling.

"You’re not still thinking about going out to make a name for yourself, are you? You’re a girl. Sixth Uncle and Sixth Aunt would never agree."

"Why can’t a woman do it?" Zhou Yuantong frowned.

"I’m no worse than any man!"

"Yes, yes, I know," Sunx Youshan said, nodding. She knew her childhood friend’s personality well.

"Sixth Uncle and Sixth Aunt are just worried about you and want what’s best. Besides, what’s wrong with staying home to support your husband and raise children?"

"You just played around too much as a child and read too many useless, miscellaneous books. It’s time to settle down."

Zhou Yuantong shook her head gently and said no more.

"Come on!"

Sunx Youshan pulled her forward.

"You look down on the men of the county, but surely a young master from the Prefecture City can catch your eye. Brother Zhu is quite a fine talent."

’It’s undeniable. Zhu Ju is handsome and possesses a unique, noble air, but...’

Zhou Yuantong pursed her lips.

"He’s too weak!"

"That’s called being gentle and refined," Sunx Youshan said, rolling her eyes.

"You have such a competitive personality. If you found an equally assertive man, would there ever be a moment of peace at home?"

"But if you marry a good-tempered, wealthy man, your life will surely be different."

’Hmm?’

’That seems to make some sense.’

Zhou Yuantong fell into thought.

"Brother Zhu."

Arriving at the stone pavilion, Sunx Youshan smiled and said,

"Aren’t you going to go down there?"

In the Martial Arts Arena not far away, Leng Xing and the others were sparring. The two currently fighting were Hex Leshan and Wan Jing.

Both had now successfully achieved Entering the Realm. And because they had experienced the battle against the bandits, their movements carried considerable power. They weren’t just for show.

"Me?"

Zhu Ju retracted his gaze.

"I’ll pass."

’With my current Cultivation and strength, even an ordinary Inner Qi practitioner would be no match for me. Going down there would just be bullying them.’

In the eyes of others, however, this only confirmed the rumors that he was not skilled in Martial Arts.

Zhu Ju’s gaze paused on the two young women for a moment before he looked away. Sunx Youshan was once again dressed to the nines today. In contrast, Zhou Yuantong, whom he was meeting for the first time, was dressed in men’s clothing. Her long hair was casually tied back with a wooden hairpin, her sculpted features were slightly androgynous, and her bright eyes held a dashing, heroic air that left a deep impression.

"Brother Zhu," Zhou Yuantong spoke first.

"In your opinion, who will win between Hex Leshan and Wan Jing?"

"Wan Jing," Zhu Ju answered without hesitation.

"His chances are slightly better."

"Why?" Zhou Yuantong raised an eyebrow.

"Hex Leshan’s Saber Technique is sharp and fierce, and Wan Jing is already showing signs of fear. In my opinion, Hex Leshan should be the one to win."

"Miss Zhou has a good eye," Zhu Ju said, glancing at her with some surprise before nodding.

"If this were a life-and-death battle, Brother Hex would indeed have the upper hand. But this is a friendly spar, so many techniques can’t be used."

CLANG...

Just as he finished speaking, the situation in the arena changed. Wan Jing guided his Longsword, executing an exquisite Sword Skill, and the blade’s edge took the opportunity to lightly slice through the cloth on Hex Leshan’s abdomen.

"You let me win!"

Taking a step back, Wan Jing laughed heartily.

"Brother Hex, you have to admit it."

"Hmph!" Hex Leshan rolled his eyes.

"Dumb luck! Let’s go again if you have the guts."

"No, no," Wan Jing said, waving his hands repeatedly.

"It’s Brother Hua’s turn to go up."

"Wan Jing really did win. I’m impressed!" In the stone pavilion, Zhou Yuantong looked at Zhu Ju with some astonishment.

"How did you know?"

"Nothing special," Zhu Ju said, shaking his head.

"When you’ve seen enough, you gain some experience. It’s nothing remarkable."

"As expected of someone from the Prefecture City. Brother Zhu, you have a keen eye." Sunx Youshan clapped her hands lightly, her voice filled with admiration.

"Brother Zhu, you’re so worldly and experienced. In your opinion, compared to the young prodigies of the Prefecture City, where do Hex Leshan and the others fall short?"

"Heh..." Zhu Ju chuckled lightly.

"Is Miss Sunx trying to get me to offend people?"

"No," Sunx Youshan said, shaking her head repeatedly.

"I genuinely want to know."

Zhou Yuantong also looked over, her face full of curiosity.

"The gap between them is huge." Zhu Ju thought for a moment and decided not to hide the truth, speaking frankly.

"The outstanding members of the Prefecture City’s younger generation often have elders who are experts at Inner Qi Release, or even masters of Qi Circulation. The Methods they cultivate are extraordinary, they strengthen their bodies with daily medicinal baths, and they have experts help temper their Physical Bodies with Inner Qi. They can nurture their own Inner Qi by the time they’re about twenty..."

The expressions on Sunx Youshan’s and Zhou Yuantong’s faces changed slightly.

Inner Qi!

In the county, even the older generation was considered expert level for achieving that. Yet in the Prefecture City, it was just the starting point for the younger generation.

It wasn’t just Cultivation. The younger generation of the Prefecture City didn’t lack combat experience either. After all, prominent families had plenty of experts to serve as sparring partners.

And their worldliness was simply incomparable.

"Sigh."

Sunx Youshan sighed.

"There’s always someone better, a higher heaven beyond the sky."

"I really want to go see the Prefecture City," Zhou Yuantong said, her face full of yearning.

"The Prefecture City, the Capital City, all the countries... the world is so vast. If one is trapped in a corner, living a mediocre life, wouldn’t it be a waste of a hundred years?"

Hearing this, Sunx Youshan couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

"Oh, right!"

Zhou Yuantong’s eyes lit up as she asked,

"Brother Zhu, have you ever met Lady Lan, Lan Qianran of the Furong Sword? I heard that she’s not yet thirty and already has a chance of reaching the Innate realm?"

"I have not."

"What about Di Huan of the Yin Yang Saber?"

"No."

"Situ Qiuyun of the Wind and Cloud Hand?"

"..."

"Miss Zhou," Zhu Ju said, shaking his head speechlessly.

"Although I reside in the Prefecture City, I have accomplished nothing of note. The people you mention are all legendary figures of the Martial World. I have only heard of them and never had the fortune to meet them."

"Then..." Zhou Yuantong didn’t give up.

"Since Brother Zhu is from San Fen Hall, you must be very knowledgeable about its experts, right? Could you tell us some of their stories? For example, about Vice Hall Master Wan?"

"I know very little about Vice Hall Master Wan."

"Is that so..." Zhou Yuantong looked disappointed.

"Doesn’t Brother Zhu know any figures from the Martial World? Even Leping County has its share of extraordinary people and events. The Prefecture City is full of talented people; surely there must be some interesting people or stories?"

"For example?"

"Like Mr. Zhu, or Uncle Sunx."

Zhou Yuantong looked at the figures in the arena and said,

"Leng Xing’s second uncle is one, too. In his youth, he had no outstanding qualities and was often bullied. But then, in just a few short years, his studies bore fruit and he even attained Inner Qi. You could call his Talent exceptional."

"But because of what he experienced as a child, his personality is rather strange."

At this point, she trailed off, clearly not wanting to speak ill of others.

"Patriarch Leng?" Zhu Ju nodded and cast his gaze toward the Martial Arts Arena. Seeing that Leng Xing and the others wouldn’t be finished anytime soon, he thought for a moment before speaking slowly,

"I don’t know many famous figures from the Prefecture City, but I have heard people tell the story of a certain Divine Eagle Hero, Yangg Guo."

"If Miss Zhou would like to hear it, I can tell it."

"Yes, yes!" Zhou Yuantong’s eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly.

"This is a story that takes place in Jiaxing. I don’t know where Jiaxing is; perhaps it’s just a name someone made up," Zhu Ju said, his voice soft and leisurely.

"On that day, the sound of a song drifted across the surface of a misty lake..."