For the entire morning, Sun Yong barely took a break. It was a complete change from his usual lazy demeanor. He paced from the east side of the front courtyard to the west, and whenever a Mingjin Disciple’s technique showed a flaw, he would immediately step forward to correct it. He had several times more patience than before, but also an added degree of severity.

As Yang Jing practiced his fist techniques, he could feel the other disciples’ gazes sweeping over him from time to time.

It was inevitable. As his strength increased, he wouldn’t remain unknown forever. That was the case here at Sun’s Martial Arts Hall, and it would likely be the case in the future, too.

It made Yang Jing recall something Boss Cao had said in his previous life—

How can you know that today’s nobody won’t one day shake the world?

If that day comes, and they truly become famous, will you not bitterly regret what you did today?

’I’m getting sidetracked.’ Yang Jing took a deep breath, suppressing his jumbled thoughts.

Even he was feeling the pressure of the martial selection, leaving his mind somewhat unsettled.

But it was precisely at times like this that he needed to calm his mind. ’To have thunder in one’s chest but a face like a placid lake, to remain composed even if Mount Tai were to collapse right in front of you...’

It wasn’t just Yang Jing who felt the pressure; the entire Martial Arts Hall was shrouded in a tense, oppressive atmosphere.

The Mingjin Disciples were eager to use this opportunity to leave a deep impression on the high-ranking officials and nobles of Yuhe County. The Dark Energy disciples, on the other hand, hoped to make it onto the martial selection’s ranking list.

Everyone knew that if they could get their name on the ranking list, they would not only gain a semi-official status for themselves, but the Martial Arts Hall’s reputation would also soar. And how could their master possibly treat them poorly after that? Not to mention, the sheer number of olive branches extended by the various powers in Yuhe County would be enough to bury a man.

Just then, Sun Yong’s gaze landed on Yang Jing, pausing for a moment.

Seeing that Yang Jing’s fist techniques were steady and his circulation of Dark Energy was becoming increasingly fluid, he nodded in satisfaction. He walked over to Yang Jing and advised, "Your Mountain-Shattering Fist is already quite methodical, but you still need to work on your adaptability, especially in coordination with your Body Technique. In the martial selection, practical combat adaptability is paramount."

Yang Jing heard this and quickly nodded in acknowledgment.

Sun Yong grunted in acknowledgment. Overall, he was quite satisfied with this disciple of his. Although Yang Jing’s innate constitution was poor, the fact that he had succeeded in his breakthroughs on the first attempt every time showed he had talent in comprehension or other areas. It wasn’t out of the question that he could one day become a Huajin Powerhouse.

If it weren’t for Lin Yue, he would have focused his efforts on cultivating Yang Jing.

However, with a genius like Lin Yue—who possessed a superior constitution—in the Martial Arts Hall, it was inevitable that far less attention and resources would be spent on the other disciples.

Although he had run the Martial Arts Hall for many years and accumulated some savings, the resources needed to cultivate a Huajin Powerhouse were astronomical. It was impossible to divide them between two people.

Sun Yong strolled away from Yang Jing’s side and resumed his pacing around the courtyard.

The atmosphere in the front courtyard was stretched taut, like a fully drawn bowstring.

Everyone knew that their performance in the martial selection could very well determine their futures.

Sun Yong stood by the Moon Gate, watching his disciples sweat buckets. He couldn’t help but sigh with emotion. ’It’s the same scene every year around this time. I just wonder if Sun’s Martial Arts Hall can produce someone who makes the list this year.’

Having a disciple’s name on the martial selection’s ranking list would bring numerous benefits to the Martial Arts Hall.

Both he, Hall Master Sun Yong, and Sun’s Martial Arts Hall would see their reputations soar. Recruiting new disciples, attracting geniuses, and expanding their network would all go much more smoothly in the future.

...

When the sun reached its zenith, Yang Jing stopped his practice. Beads of sweat rolled down his jawline, splattering into small, damp marks on the ground.

He quickly tidied up, grabbed his old cloth bag, and hurried toward his courtyard in Tongyi Square.

As he walked, Yang Jing checked his status panel—

[Great Success of Mountain Shattering Fist (39/1000)]

[Minor Achievement of Shocking Wave Leg (53/500)]

Over the past few days, he had maintained his usual state of arduous training.

His main focus remained on cultivating *Mountain-Shattering Fist*, and he set aside some time each day to practice *Shocking Wave Leg*.

Both martial arts were now improving steadily.

Although Yang Jing had never fought a master at the Peak of Dark Energy, he mused that once his *Shocking Wave Leg* broke through to the Mingjin level, he likely possessed the strength to fight an ordinary master at the Peak of Dark Energy.

Back when his Shocking Wave Leg broke through to the Mingjin stage, Yang Jing had clearly felt a change in his Inner Strength. Combined with the advantages in Body Technique and speed that the technique provided, the impact on his overall strength had been quite significant.

After returning home and resting for an hour, he found the bear meat that had been warming on the stove was now perfectly cooked.

Yang Jing immediately paired it with coarse rice and wolfed down the two jin of meat. The familiar warm current rose in his stomach, perfectly warding off the afternoon lethargy.

After lunch, having regained his energy, Yang Jing immediately hurried to the Liu Family Medical Hall.

He had received a message from the Liu Family Medical Hall yesterday informing him of an herb escort mission this afternoon that required his presence.

This was his first mission since breaking through to the Dark Energy realm, and it had come much later than he expected.

As far as Yang Jing knew, the lands outside the city were now teeming with refugees and overrun with bandits. The business of many shops and Escort Agencies had taken a hit.

The fact that the Liu Family Medical Hall had only just now arranged a mission for him was a little later than he had anticipated.

Just as he arrived at the entrance of the Liu Family Medical Hall, Yang Jing bumped into Liu Maolin returning with a group of guards.

The guards all looked exhausted, their clothes covered in dust, clearly having just returned from a long journey.

When Liu Maolin saw Yang Jing, he hurried over to greet him. "Junior Brother, you’re here."

"Senior Brother, did you just get back?" Yang Jing asked.

Liu Maolin nodded.

The two of them walked into the Liu Family Medical Hall as they talked.

"I delivered a shipment to Nanxiang this morning," Liu Maolin said, wiping his face, his voice laced with fatigue. "It’s pure chaos outside the city these days. The number of bandits on the roads is up thirty percent from last month. Especially that gang at Ten-Mile Slope, the ’Flying Horse Thieves.’ They ride fast horses and are ruthless. A few days ago, they even robbed a caravan from Zhang’s Cloth Shop. I heard two Mingjin guards were injured."

He led Yang Jing inside, through the front hall with its medicine cabinets, and into the warehouse in the rear courtyard.

"The shipment of herbs to Jinsha County isn’t large this time, but they’re all critical ingredients. My father is worried and feels a Dark Energy master must escort it personally. I have another escort mission this afternoon and really can’t get away, so I’ll have to trouble you to make this trip, Junior Brother. My father will only rest easy if you’re the one in charge."

As he spoke, Liu Maolin looked a bit embarrassed. "I really didn’t want to disturb your training; I know you’re busy preparing for the martial selection... but we’re just critically short-staffed."

"Senior Brother, there’s no need to be so formal."

Yang Jing waved his hand dismissively, his gaze sweeping over the neatly stacked medicine chests in the warehouse. "After receiving so much support from the Liu Family, this is the least I can do. Besides," he added with a laugh, "I wouldn’t mind running into some bandits. It would be a chance to get some real combat practice, haha."

Liu Maolin breathed a sigh of relief. He clapped Yang Jing on the shoulder and smiled. "With you handling it, I have nothing to worry about. Still, it would be better if you didn’t run into any bandits."

As they were talking, Liu Maolin’s father, Elder Liu, the Hall Master, walked out from an inner room with a map in his hand.

After they exchanged greetings, Elder Liu, the Hall Master, pointed to a route on the map and said to Yang Jing, "Yang Jing, take note. While escorting the herbs, avoid the main road at Ten-Mile Slope. Instead, take the narrow, winding path along the side. We’ve used this path several times for transporting herbs to Jinhe County and the Prefecture City. It’s a bit of a detour, but the Flying Horse Thieves don’t lie in wait there."

Liu Maolin nodded in agreement. "The Flying Horse Thieves are currently the most powerful group of bandits outside Yuhe County Town. As long as you avoid them, any other bandits or mountain thieves shouldn’t be a problem for you, Junior Brother, especially with the support of the rest of the caravan."

After all, Liu Maolin still remembered how Xu Tai had died.

He had no sooner told Yang Jing that Xu Tai was injured than Xu Tai mysteriously burned to death in a fire that very night.

Although there was no direct evidence proving that Yang Jing had killed Xu Tai, Liu Maolin was already convinced of it in his heart.

This junior brother of his might seem quiet and reserved, but his methods were not to be underestimated.

...