The largest courtyard in the Martial Hall.
Lin Chen and a few others, including Lu Yongfeng, stood waiting for the arrival of the instructors.
Lin Chen was the only one present whose strength had not yet reached five hundred jin.
He was even more than a hundred jin weaker than the weakest, Yan Dexing.
In the past, with such a gap, Yan Dexing and the others wouldn't spare him a glance, but now the five of them were constantly looking at Lin Chen.
"Junior Brother Lin, how did you manage it?"
Zhao Jingchuan still hadn't recovered from the shock. Gaining fifty jin of strength in just a few days—is this defying the heavens?
"Just practicing punches," Lin Chen replied humbly.
"What do you eat every day?" Lu Yongfeng asked in a serious tone.
"Beef and Qi Nourishing Soup."
"That's it?"
"Yes, that's it."
With those light words, Lu Yongfeng and his friends fell into silence.
While Lu Yongfeng and the others were silent, outside the courtyard gate, Yu Yongnian and the three instructors were also conversing.
"Brother Yu, be honest with us, did you really not help Lin Chen?"
"No, I didn't."
Yu Yongnian smiled, knowing these two probably wouldn't believe him, but it's the truth.
"It's strange, though. Just with the canteen's beef and Qi Nourishing Soup, how did Lin Chen manage it?"
Instructor Liu held a booklet in his hand, which recorded every student's expenses at the canteen, including Lin Chen's, which were clear to see.
As instructors, besides the salary given by the Martial Affairs Office, they also received a share of their students' canteen expenses.
Yu Yongnian didn't care about these commissions. A loner, he had no other pursuits in the Martial Path, and the salary from the Martial Affairs Office was enough for him.
This was also why he advised students against pursuing quick success when they entered the Martial Arts Hall.
"It's a pity if only Lin Chen had improved his diet earlier, he could have aimed to cultivate Essence Qi within a year, but now it's a bit late."
Instructor Chen's face showed a sense of regret. Although Lin Chen's strength was increasing rapidly now, reaching five hundred jin was a hurdle, and after five hundred fifty jin, every ten jin was another hurdle, with not many days left until the year-end.
"Not necessarily, perhaps Lin Chen will surprise us," Yu Yongnian said with a smile.
"It's difficult. The time is too short. If we had another three months for Lin Chen, I wouldn't doubt it, but unfortunately, there are less than two months left now," Instructor Chen shook his head, still skeptical that Lin Chen could achieve it.
"Whether Lin Chen can achieve it or not is a matter for later; for now, the three of us need to give special training to Lu Yongfeng and the others."
Special training!
This was something the Martial Hall held every year for students who had the opportunity to cultivate Essence Qi within a year.
The Martial Hall only taught the Warm Sun Fist, but if a student was just one step away from cultivating Essence Qi, the instructors would lend a hand.
Yu Yongnian and the other two stepped into the courtyard, noticing Lu Yongfeng and his friends in silence, with a hint of surprise in their eyes.
"From now on, we three instructors will give you special training to help you break through your internal Qi Blood blockages. Lu Yongfeng, come over here."
Instructor Liu was the first to speak. Lu Yongfeng stepped forward, and Lin Chen and the others watch curiously.
"Demonstrate a set of Warm Sun Fist for me."
"Yes."
Lu Yongfeng started punching, his fists creating a gust, while Instructor Liu watched closely. After Lu Yongfeng finished, Instructor Liu suddenly grabbed his right hand with his right hand and pressed a finger under Lu Yongfeng's armpit.
In just three breaths, Lu Yongfeng's entire right arm turned purple-red.
"You have a blockage in your Qi Blood flow here, so practice the ninth move of the Warm Sun Fist continually."
"Thank you, Instructor."
Lu Yongfeng's face showed joy, and Zhao Jingchuan and the others grew excited too, while Lin Chen looked puzzled, wondering why the instructors hadn't pointed this out before and waited until now.
It couldn't be just to create a tense atmosphere.
Yu Yongnian glanced at Lin Chen and saw the confusion in his eyes. Knowing his disciple lacked some knowledge of the Martial Path, he spoke up: "Only when your Qi Blood reaches a certain level, and you're just one step away from cultivating Essence Qi, can we instructors detect where your Qi Blood is blocked."
Upon hearing the instructor's explanation, Lin Chen came to understand.
If the human meridians were compared to pipelines, each one would have a membrane block.
To cultivate Essence Qi, you need to break through these membranes. But because of insufficient Qi Blood vitality or other reasons, when breaking through these checkpoints, you might not completely break the membrane. There would still be remnants, causing the Qi Blood flow rate to be insufficient and preventing Essence Qi from condensing.
"From today, you will practice in this courtyard, and the canteen will deliver meals to you here. The Martial Affairs Office's reward of three taels of silver, I'll directly add to your canteen meals."
"Thank you, Instructor." Lin Chen showed gratitude.
Then, the three instructors pointed out to Zhao Jingchuan and the others where they needed to practice individually. Lu Yongfeng and the others wasted no time and quickly immersed themselves into it.
Punch after punch, kick after kick...
Repeating over and over, without the instructors calling for a halt, none of the five stopped.
The grind!
Lin Chen could feel it too, feeling the unwavering dedication of these five in their martial practice.
He also needed to change his fate and his family's fate.
Lu Yongfeng and the others were the same. Different family backgrounds led to different pursuits, but they all knew the importance of learning martial arts.
Lin Chen joined them too, aiming to catch up with Lu Yongfeng and the others by the end of the month, racing against time as well.
No one slacked off, instead choosing to train harder.
With plenty of beef and Qi Nourishing Soup every day, there was no worry of overtaxing the body.
...
...
Eight days later!
Lin Chen once again spoke, "Instructor, I wish to attempt lifting a five hundred jin stone block!"
Lu Yongfeng and the others paused their diligent punching at the same time.
Did they hear wrong?
Did Lin Chen say he wanted to lift the five hundred jin stone block, not four hundred seventy or four hundred eighty?
"Very well!"
Yu Yongnian's eyes slightly narrowed, and he turned to step out of the courtyard. Soon, he returned, carrying the five hundred jin stone block in one hand.
Lin Chen approached the stone block, and at that moment, Lu Yongfeng and the others completely stopped, wanting to see if Lin Chen could really lift the five hundred jin stone block.
Instructor Liu wasn't present, and Instructor Chen, out of curiosity, stood right in front of Lin Chen, closely observing him.
[2513/3000]
Lin Chen glanced at his Qi Blood panel one last time, bent down to grip the stone block's handle, and although it took some effort, he eventually lifted it.
Yu Yongnian beamed with satisfaction, and Instructor Chen's eyes sparkled.
Meanwhile, Lu Yongfeng and the others twitched at the corners of their mouths, exchanging glances, unsure what to say.
"It's nothing; he's just at five hundred jin, we've already reached five hundred ninety jin, he can't possibly surpass us."
Yan Dexing consoled the others.
"I admit Lin Chen surprised me, but he definitely can't catch up with us, I'm confident I'll cultivate Essence Qi before the end of this month," Lu Yongfeng said proudly, his words filled with arrogance.
Zhao Jingchuan and the others felt the same. Though there was no enmity, no one wanted to be outdone.
Original competition among the five now included warding off Lin Chen from catching up.
"Today, we have Lin Chen, a Martial Hall disciple from Kaohe Town, who increased his strength from four hundred jin last month by one hundred jin in fifteen days, verified by Yu Yongnian."
Yu Yongnian maintained a serious expression as he spoke these words, before showing a smile: "Lin Chen, with a hundred jin surge in strength in a month, according to the announcement by the Military Affairs Department, you will be rewarded with ten taels of silver, which the Martial Hall will issue to you tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Instructor Chen glanced at Yu Yongnian, an eye filled with the satisfaction of seeing through everything. Yu Yongnian had said he didn't give Lin Chen any special treatment, yet he had been helping Lin Chen all along.
Under normal circumstances, to receive silver coins, the Martial Hall reports to the Martial Affairs Office in the city, and the Military Affairs Department disburses the silver coins. At the fastest, it takes three to five days, at the slowest, ten days to half a month.
"Thank you, Instructor."
Lin Chen, unaware of the intricacies, thought the Martial Hall directly provided the funds to students.
Yu Yongnian didn't explain further, knowing of Lin Chen's family situation where he probably had little silver left, he advanced the funds to Lin Chen, knowing the Martial Affairs Office-issued money took time.
An ambitious young man should not be let down!
PS: Thanks to Xiaopangniang and Wuyuhongchen for the ten-thousand currency reward, love you all muah, asking for continued reading, don't keep the books during the new book period, rolling on the ground please