Outside the enclosure.

Liu Maolin’s fists clenched violently, and a stifled cry escaped his throat.

He watched Yang Jing’s back as he descended from the ring, and couldn’t help but draw in a sharp breath.

The ferocity of that final punch, combined with the agility of the Raging Wave Kicks, had been perfectly clear to him.

"He won... He really won!" Liu Maolin muttered to himself.

He had previously given Yang Jing the records for the Drill Ground Trials from past years. Those records showed the number of passing slots. For the last ten years, there had usually been five slots. A few times there were six, and only once had there been just four.

In other words, Yang Jing was now temporarily ranked sixth, which meant he was on the very threshold of making the list!

The realization made Liu Maolin’s heart suddenly race.

He remembered the time he had persuaded Yang Jing to participate in the Drill Ground Trial. Back then, he had clapped him on the shoulder and told him to give it a try, to treat it as training. He’d told him not to take it too seriously, but to simply gain experience and prepare for future trials.

’Back then, all I wanted was for my junior brother, who had just broken through to the Anjin stage, to see the world and learn that there’s always someone stronger. I thought that after being eliminated, he would go back and focus more on his training. Who would have ever thought... who would have ever thought he’d make it this far?’

In his very first Drill Ground Trial, he fought his way through hundreds of Martial Artists. He defeated numerous opponents one after another, including masters like Shen Lie and He Han. He even managed to retreat in one piece from his match against Qin Yu, and now he actually had a hope of making the list.

Liu Maolin gazed at the soldiers cleaning the ring, and his vision suddenly blurred.

He had been with Sun’s Martial Arts Hall for many years and had seen too many disciples suffer crushing defeats in the Drill Ground Trials, himself included. But he had never seen a newcomer like Yang Jing achieve such an incredible record in his very first trial!

"Senior Brother Yang is amazing!"

A Mingjin Disciple from Sun’s Martial Arts Hall, dressed in a short gray tunic, excitedly shook Liu Maolin’s arm. "That Mountain-Shattering Fist just now was so awesome! If I could throw a punch like that, I’d like to see anyone dare bully my family again!"

Another disciple with a round face leaned in, his face flush with excitement. "Sixth place! How many years has it been since someone from our Martial Arts Hall made it this far? Maybe this time he’ll really get his name on the Drill Ground Trial’s list!"

"I know, right? Senior Brother Yang only just reached the Anjin stage not long ago. If he can pass the Drill Ground Trial this time, his future is going to be limitless!"

"For now, it’s just a hope. If Senior Brother Yang can defeat Xu Guangwei, his chances of making the list will be much greater."

The excited, chattering praise from the Sun’s Martial Arts Hall disciples filled his ears. Liu Maolin smiled and nodded, sighing with emotion inwardly.

He recalled when Yang Jing had first joined the Martial Arts Hall. Because of his poor innate talent, many people had mocked and looked down on him.

Before he knew it, that young boy from back then had grown to this level.

He raised a hand and wiped his face, then looked toward where Yang Jing was resting. The figure sat there, eyes closed, regulating his breath. A halo of calm light seemed to envelop his entire body.

「...」

In the spectators’ stands on the west side of the drill ground.

A light purple gauze curtain, like a wisp of smoke or mist, gently shrouded the area, seeming to isolate it from the clamor of the outside world.

Inside the curtain, incense smoke curled lazily. Miss Jinlian was reclining on a cushioned Grandmaster’s Chair, toying with a translucent jade thumb ring. Her gaze, however, pierced through the crowds and landed squarely on Yang Jing below the ring.

The moment when Yang Jing had defeated He Han—so clean and decisive—the sheer power in his fists and the clever shifts in his techniques had made her long eyelashes tremble slightly.

"I seem to have underestimated him. He’s surprised me yet again."

Miss Jinlian murmured to herself, her fingertips caressing the jade thumb ring.

She recalled that when Yang Jing lost to Qin Yu, many people thought he was too weak. From the look of things now, the reason Yang Jing had been completely suppressed by Qin Yu was most likely because Qin Yu was simply too strong.

Yang Jing wasn’t weak at all. Now, even He Han had fallen to him, and he was on the verge of touching the edge of the Drill Ground Trial’s list.

Watching Yang Jing walk to a corner, take out a small porcelain vial, and swallow an Elixir, Miss Jinlian’s eyes flashed with calculation as she saw his brow furrow slightly while he circulated his energy to heal.

After a moment of deliberation, she gently raised her hand and summoned a nearby maid who was holding a teacup. Her voice was as clear and gentle as a stream. "Come here."

The maid hurried forward and bowed, awaiting her orders.

"I have two things for you to do," Miss Jinlian said lightly.

"Yes, My Lady." The maid listened respectfully.

"First," Miss Jinlian said slowly, "investigate that Martial Artist named Yang Jing. Start with his family, when he joined the Martial Arts Hall, his daily training, his sparring records, and how he performed in that Sun’s Martial Arts Hall of his. Also find out when he broke through to the Mingjin and Anjin stages. The more detailed, the better. Report back to me tonight after we return to the manor."

"Yes." The maid nodded respectfully in acknowledgment.

Miss Jinlian hummed in acknowledgment, then took out a small sandalwood box from a brocade case.

The box opened to reveal an elixir, shimmering and entirely jade-green, resting quietly inside. Its tranquil, medicinal fragrance instantly marked it as a treasure.

"This is a Hundred Herbs Spirit Pill. It can help a Martial Artist recover to their peak state in a matter of moments and is also beneficial for comprehending martial arts."

Inside the curtain, after Miss Jinlian finished speaking, she handed the sandalwood box to the maid. But just before her fingertips let go, she gently pulled it back.

She gazed at the distant figure of Yang Jing, who was meditating with his eyes closed, and her brow furrowed slightly.

’This Yang Jing... he seems steady, but deep down, I’m afraid he’s quite wary.’

’During his fight with He Han just now, he was cautious with every step. He’s not someone who trusts easily.’

"Take this Elixir to Yang Jing," she began, her voice soft and slow. "Just say... a spectator saw that he has some potential and wanted to show a small token of appreciation."