Chen Hao's situation was far from unique within the Thunderbolt Martial Hall, yet what made him different was the stubborn determination with which he continued striving for a better life.
He was an orphan who had grown up in the poorer districts of Dongtai Prefecture City. From a young age, he had worked wherever he could, spending most of his days at a butcher's shop and earning only a few wen whenever there was work available. It wasn't much, but by carefully saving every coin, he had managed to accumulate enough money to survive.
Then a group of local thugs began demanding protection fees from the butcher.
At first, the shop owner tried to refuse.
The thugs simply smashed several pieces of equipment and beat one of the workers.
Chen Hao had understood immediately.
In this world, ordinary people without strength had almost no right to speak.
He had no family.
No powerful relatives.
No natural talent that would make a sect or noble family notice him.
The only thing he possessed was a desire to change his fate.
Therefore, when the opportunity to enter the Thunderbolt Martial Hall appeared, he had taken out almost all his savings and paid the registration fee.
Unfortunately, his progress afterward had been far from smooth.
The cultivation method taught to the outer disciples of the Thunderbolt Martial Hall revolved around the Lightning Bolt Stance, a fierce external martial art that imitated the explosive movement of lightning. It emphasized sudden bursts of Qi-Blood, rapid circulation, and explosive physical strength.
Chen Hao had practiced it desperately.
For almost three months, he had trained every single day.
He had even reached the peak of Minor Accomplishment.
Yet he remained stuck at the final threshold.
One step.
Only one step separated him from Skin Refining.
The problem was that his three-month probation period was almost over.
He had only seven days remaining.
If he couldn't break through before then, he would fail the martial hall's initial assessment and lose his qualification to become an outer disciple.
For Chen Hao, that would mean losing everything.
He couldn't afford it.
Not after spending almost his entire life's savings.
Not after finally seeing a path toward changing his fate.
Inside his small training room, Chen Hao sat cross-legged.
His breathing was heavy.
A small paper packet rested in his palm.
It contained his final portion of Qi-Blood Powder.
He stared at it for several breaths before finally gritting his teeth.
"This is my last chance."
He opened the packet and swallowed the powder.
A bitter taste immediately spread across his tongue.
Several breaths later, warmth began flowing through his stomach before gradually spreading throughout his body.
Chen Hao's eyes closed.
He immediately began circulating his Qi-Blood according to the Lightning Bolt Stance.
Normally, he would have pushed forward aggressively.
That was how he had trained for the past three months.
Faster.
Harder.
More violently.
Yet just as his Qi-Blood began surging through his body, he remembered something Lou Feng had told him several days earlier.
"Don't mistake aggression for recklessness."
Chen Hao's breathing slowed.
The instructor had explained that the Lightning Bolt Stance was indeed explosive, but an explosion without control would only injure the person creating it.
"Stillness in aggression."
Those words had remained in his mind.
Chen Hao slowly adjusted his breathing.
Instead of forcing his Qi-Blood forward, he guided it.
Instead of allowing it to surge uncontrollably, he maintained a steady rhythm.
The Lightning Bolt Stance gradually changed.
The fierce movement remained.
The explosive nature remained.
But beneath that aggression was an increasing sense of control.
His knees began trembling.
Sweat appeared across his forehead.
His muscles tightened as Qi-Blood continuously circulated through his body.
The skin surrounding his arms gradually became flushed.
Chen Hao gritted his teeth.
He could feel something changing.
The Qi-Blood was no longer merely circulating through his flesh.
It was beginning to penetrate deeper.
His skin tingled.
Then burned.
His heartbeat became louder.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
It sounded almost like thunder within his chest.
Chen Hao's breathing became increasingly difficult.
"Almost..."
He clenched his fists.
"Just a little more."
His Qi-Blood surged once again.
This time, however, he didn't force it.
He guided it.
The moment the circulating Qi-Blood reached the threshold, a subtle transformation occurred.
Boom!
A faint burst of energy erupted from his body.
Crimson Qi-Blood seeped through his pores and settled across the surface of his skin.
Chen Hao's entire body trembled.
Then...
Everything became quiet.
The sensation of exhaustion slowly disappeared.
His skin felt completely different.
Stronger.
Denser.
More resilient.
He opened his eyes.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I did it."
He had reached Major Accomplishment in the Lightning Bolt Stance.
More importantly...
He had broken through into Skin Refining.
For the first time in his life, Chen Hao felt that the heavens had finally opened a path before him.
He slowly stood.
His body felt lighter despite being considerably stronger.
He clenched his fist.
The muscles beneath his skin tightened naturally.
This wasn't simply an increase in strength.
His entire foundation had undergone a transformation.
He was now officially qualified to become an outer disciple.
However, there was still another hurdle.
The martial hall's outer disciples were required to undergo a Root Bone assessment.
Chen Hao's expression gradually became nervous.
He had heard about the assessment from the other disciples.
Those with excellent Root Bones would receive greater attention from the martial hall and gain access to better resources.
Those with average Root Bones would still be able to cultivate, though their progress would be slower.
As for those with poor Root Bones...
Their future would be considerably more difficult.
Chen Hao looked down at his hands.
"Average would be enough."
He didn't dare hope for anything greater.
For someone like him, simply remaining inside the martial hall was already an enormous opportunity.
As long as he could continue cultivating...
His life would gradually change.
He wasn't asking for anything more.
The following morning, the training courtyard was already filled with disciples.
Lou Feng stood quietly near the front of the courtyard, observing the younger martial artists as they practiced.
His expression remained calm.
His current identity was that of an External Martial Arts instructor, and over the past several weeks he had already become familiar with many of the disciples.
Among them, Chen Hao was particularly noticeable.
Not because of his talent.
Rather...
Because he refused to give up.
Lou Feng had seen countless young martial artists during his time in the martial hall.
Some possessed excellent talent but lacked determination.
Others possessed determination but lacked talent.
Chen Hao belonged to the latter.
Yet sometimes, determination itself could become a kind of talent.
Footsteps sounded from the entrance.
Lou Feng turned his head.
Chen Hao walked into the courtyard.
His clothes were the same as before, but his posture was noticeably different.
His steps were steadier.
His eyes were brighter.
Even the circulation of Qi-Blood beneath his skin had become considerably smoother.
Lou Feng's eyes narrowed slightly.
He immediately understood.
This kid had succeeded.
Chen Hao noticed Lou Feng and hurried over.
"Instructor Lou."
Lou Feng nodded.
"You broke through?"
Chen Hao's face immediately lit up.
"Yes!"
"I finally entered Skin Refining."
Several nearby disciples turned toward him.
Some congratulated him.
Others looked surprised.
After all, Chen Hao had been one of the slowest progressing disciples during the past three months.
Lou Feng, however, didn't praise him immediately.
Instead, he looked carefully at Chen Hao's stance before speaking.
"Not bad."
"But don't become arrogant because of one breakthrough."
Chen Hao immediately straightened.
"This disciple understands."
Lou Feng nodded.
"Skin Refining is only the beginning."
"If you want to become stronger, you still have a long road ahead."
Chen Hao's eyes became determined.
"I'll keep training."
Lou Feng looked at him for several breaths before finally smiling faintly.
"Good."
"Then prove it."
Chen Hao nodded firmly.
He walked toward the training area and began practicing the Lightning Bolt Stance once more.
This time...
His movements were much steadier.
The aggression remained.
But beneath it was control.
Lou Feng quietly watched him.
Something about this young man's progress made him feel that Chen Hao might actually go farther than anyone expected.
Perhaps...
A person's future wasn't always determined entirely by talent.
Sometimes...
It was determined by how many times they were willing to stand back up.