22: Becoming an apprentice

While his thoughts churned, he had already arrived in front of the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall.

The moment he entered the Training Grounds, he sensed an atmosphere of intense confrontation.

The children of poor families and the children of rich families stood clearly divided, glaring at each other. A space was cleared in the center, where Zhang Yang and Liu Mingyu stood facing off.

“What's all the commotion about?”

Chen Linsheng walked over to the side of the poor family Disciples and quietly asked a familiar youth nearby.

When the youth saw him arrive, he seemed to find his backbone, and quickly lowered his voice to explain: “Brother Linsheng, Zhang Yang and Liu Mingyu are clashing! Zhang Yang said that we Disciples from poor families are no worse than them, and Liu Mingyu disagreed. So the two of them made a bet to see who could pass the assessment first and become an Official Disciple of the Martial Arts Hall!”

Just then, from the crowd of rich family Disciples, a lackey with a sharp chin and monkey cheeks suddenly spoke loudly in a strange, sarcastic tone:

“What's the point of just betting on who achieves a Breakthrough first? If we're going to bet, let's make it big! Zhang Yang, if you lose, how about you serve our Young Master Liu as a slave, fetching tea and pouring water? Hahaha!”

“How dare you!”

“This is going too far!”

These words immediately provoked outrage among the poor family Disciples, and several impulsive youths rolled up their sleeves, ready to step forward and argue.

Liu Mingyu frowned, turned back, and coldly glanced at the lackey, his gaze sharp as a knife.

The lackey shrank his neck in fright, quickly fell silent, and hid back behind the crowd.

“My subordinate is ignorant, Brother Zhang, please don't take offense.” Liu Mingyu turned to Zhang Yang, his face returning to that composed yet arrogant expression. “Since we are betting, there must naturally be a stake. If I lose, I will immediately present the deed to that Three-Courtyard Residence in the west of the city.”

He paused, looked at the sudden light in Zhang Yang's eyes, and continued:

“If I win, I won't require you to be a slave. You only need to take a post at any property under my Liu Family's name for three years after becoming an Official Disciple, with your salary paid as usual. How about that?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings instantly fell silent.

A Three-Courtyard Residence in the west of the city!

That was property worth several hundred taels of silver!

For Disciples from poor families, it was practically an unattainable dream.

And if he lost, he would only work for the Liu Family for three years, not selling himself, and still gaining a stable income.

Win, and gain a place to settle down; lose, and gain the Foundation for a livelihood.

Regardless of winning or losing, this was a momentous opportunity capable of changing the fate of Zhang Yang and his family!

Zhang Yang's breathing noticeably grew heavier, and his face flushed with excitement.

He suddenly cupped his fist, his voice slightly hoarse from tension: “Good! Brother Liu speaks quickly and clearly! I, Zhang Yang, accept this bet!”

“Refreshing!” Liu Mingyu smiled slightly.

The expressions of the surrounding people varied. Most of the rich family Disciples wore mocking looks, believing Liu Mingyu had victory secured.

The poor family Disciples, while envious, also carried a hint of worry, as Liu Mingyu's resource advantage was simply too great.

Chen Linsheng took in the entire farce, his heart unmoved.

Zhang Yang's choice was understandable, but didn't this bet fundamentally represent another form of resource suppression?

And Liu Mingyu was no ordinary person; regardless of the outcome, this Genius from a poor family would owe him a favor.

'Among the rich family Disciples, fools are still rare.'

He shook his head, stopped lingering, and walked through the crowd, heading straight toward the Martial Arts Hall's backyard, where Museum Master Zhao Zheng resided.

Arriving outside the quiet small courtyard, he straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and raised his hand to knock on the courtyard gate.

“Come in.”

The steady voice of Museum Master Zhao Zheng came from inside the door.

Chen Linsheng pushed the door open and entered.

Inside the small hall, Museum Master Zhao Zheng was seated in the main position sipping tea, while Senior Brother Shi Poyue and Third Martial Sister stood waiting on either side.

Besides them, seated below was a girl dressed in a goose-yellow fitted outfit. Her features somewhat resembled the Museum Master's, and her face was delicate yet carried a hint of heroism. She looked about sixteen or seventeen years old and was curiously sizing up Chen Linsheng as he entered.

Chen Linsheng's heart tightened. He recognized that this girl must be the Museum Master's daughter, the Fourth Martial Sister who rarely showed herself.

He stepped forward, bowed to Zhao Zheng in the main seat, and saluted: “Disciple Chen Linsheng pays respects to the Museum Master, Senior Brother, and Third Martial Sister.”

He paused, then turned to the girl in yellow, “Fourth Martial Sister.”

Zhao Zheng put down his teacup and looked at him calmly: “Chen Linsheng? What business do you have?”

Shi Poyue and Third Martial Sister also cast their gazes upon him, carrying a hint of scrutiny. The Fourth Martial Sister, moreover, blinked her large eyes and unabashedly sized him up.

Chen Linsheng straightened up, his gaze open, his voice clear and firm:

“Reporting to the Museum Master, Disciple has already Cultivated the Hunyuan Pile Posture Technique to the Minor Achievement Realm as of yesterday.”

As soon as these words came out, the hall instantly fell silent.

Zhao Zheng's hand holding the teacup paused slightly.

Shi Poyue and Third Martial Sister, standing on either side, almost simultaneously blurted out in surprise: “Impossible!”

As the words fell, the two immediately realized their gaffe.

A trace of astonishment flashed across Shi Poyue's bronze-colored face, and a clear ripple appeared on the Third Martial Sister's cold demeanor.

Both of them simultaneously focused their incredulous gazes on Chen Linsheng.

The Fourth Martial Sister in yellow suddenly jumped up from her chair with a 'tseng' sound, her small mouth slightly parted, and her beautiful eyes wide open, as if she had heard some incredible fantasy.

Zhao Zheng slowly placed the teacup on the table, making a soft 'da' sound.

He stood up, his tall physique bringing an invisible pressure.

His gaze was like lightning, fixed intensely on Chen Linsheng. His originally serious expression became extremely solemn.

“What did you say? Fifteen days... Minor Achievement?” His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. “Chen Linsheng, the Martial Dao does not tolerate the slightest falsehood. Do you know the consequences of deceiving your teacher?”

“Disciple would not dare speak carelessly.” Chen Linsheng's expression remained unchanged, his tone steady. “Please, Museum Master, verify it.”

Zhao Zheng gave him a deep look and said in a low voice: “Fine! Display the Hunyuan Pile Posture Technique right here!”

“Yes.”

Chen Linsheng acknowledged, took two steps back, and right in the center of the small hall, he lowered his waist and hips, slightly raised his arms, and adopted the starting posture of the Hunyuan Pile Posture Technique.

The next moment, the aura around his body abruptly changed!

His originally restrained and peaceful temperament instantly vanished, replaced by an imposing aura that was solid as a mountain yet hinted at a flowing rhythm, emanating from him.

His feet seemed rooted to the ground, and his figure was as steady as a rock, giving off a sense of unshakeability even on the smooth floor.

Even more striking, as his breathing grew long and deep, his exposed skin, especially on his arms and neck, faintly emitted an extremely light bronze luster. The sound of his vital energy and blood flowing was subtly audible, like a babbling brook—this was the clear sign of 'Vital Energy like a Stream,' actively refining the skin and membrane!

Not only that, but the standard of his stance and the smoothness of his vital energy and blood circulation were even more refined and natural than many older Disciples who had Cultivated for several months, subtly revealing an air of effortless mastery.

“Vital Energy like a Stream, steady as a rock... this, this really is the Minor Achievement Realm!”

Senior Brother Shi Poyue gasped, muttering under his breath, the shock in his eyes intensified beyond measure.

Third Martial Sister's cold eyes were now flashing brightly, fixed intently on the flowing vital energy and blood sheen around Chen Linsheng, as if to confirm this wasn't an illusion.

“Wow!”

Fourth Martial Sister couldn't help but let out a low gasp, covering her mouth with her hand, her gaze toward Chen Linsheng filled with astonishment.

The seriousness and scrutiny on Museum Master Zhao Zheng's face rapidly melted away like snow meeting the sun, replaced by an overwhelming, uncontrollable joy!

His eyes grew brighter and brighter, until finally, he couldn't resist lightly clapping his hands and shouting:

“Good! Good! Good!”

The three consecutive “Goods” expressed the depth of his excitement.

He quickly walked up to Chen Linsheng, carefully sensing the solid vital energy and blood fluctuations. The delight on his face intensified.

“Vital energy and blood are abundant, circulation is smooth, skin and membrane are initially condensed... This is undoubtedly the Minor Achievement of the Hunyuan Pile Posture Technique! Furthermore, the Foundation is solid, the essence is contained within, and the refinement is superb!”

Zhao Zheng's tone carried unconcealed excitement. He looked at Chen Linsheng, his eyes blazing, “Fifteen days... only fifteen days!”

At this moment, Zhao Zheng's thoughts were churning.

He originated from the great power of the Hebei Circuit, the Army Breaker Manor. Although he was only an Outer Sect Disciple, he deeply understood the Sect's stringent standards for recruiting Disciples.

The minimum threshold for an Army Breaker Manor Outer Sect Disciple was to Cultivate the Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique to Minor Achievement within twenty days!

Back then, he himself had barely managed to achieve it on the twentieth day, which allowed him to be selected.

When he opened the Martial Arts Hall here, he set the standard that achieving Minor Achievement within two months qualified one as an Official Disciple, and achieving Minor Achievement within one month qualified one as a priority Personal Disciple, having already greatly relaxed the standards considering the local resources and talent were far inferior to the Sect's.

Yet, he never expected that in this small Qinghe County, a Prodigy would emerge who Cultivated the Hunyuan Pile Posture Technique to Minor Achievement in just fifteen days!

This child's talent far surpassed his own back then!

He even had the qualifications to challenge the assessment standards for an Army Breaker Manor Inner Sect Disciple!

“Heaven protects me, Zhao Zheng, to gain such a piece of fine jade!”

Zhao Zheng was ecstatic. The way he looked at Chen Linsheng was entirely as if he were looking at a rare treasure.