This day!
Lin Chen practiced late into the night, then got up before dawn to train again.
[Clear Wind Palm not initiated +1]
[Clear Wind Palm not initiated +1]
He stopped only when daylight broke.
[Clear Wind Palm: Not Initiated (16/100)]
Among these, 10 points were gained from dark until dawn, and 6 points during the day.
This is the perception enhancement effect brought by the [All the Way Black] title.
"Mother, I'm going to the Martial Hall."
After breakfast, Lin Chen didn't continue with martial arts practice and informed his mother before heading to the town's Martial Hall.
The Martial Hall was so deserted that no figure could be seen, even the servants and odd-job workers had left, Lin Chen went straight to Instructor Yu's courtyard.
The courtyard door was open, and when Lin Chen entered, Yu Yongnian was packing his luggage. Seeing Lin Chen come in, he put down what he was holding, glanced up and down at Lin Chen, nodded and said, "Not bad, you've entered the Opening Acupoints Realm, your whole being's Qi Blood has started to be contained."
Now Lin Chen gave a vibrant impression, but no longer had the previously flushed appearance.
After Opening the Acupoints, Qi Blood becomes contained, no longer floating on the surface.
Looking at his instructor, Lin Chen noticed some differences from before. The instructor used to be overly composed, but today Lin Chen saw vitality in him.
A thirty-year-old man's mental and physical appearance changes significantly in only two situations: promotion and wealth or a second spring.
In this world, it's the advancement of martial arts realm or a second spring.
In such a short time, the instructor's realm should not have advanced, so it must be a second spring.
So, the instructor and Inspector Shu...
Fire of gossip ignited in Lin Chen's heart, and he curiously asked, "Instructor, are you going back now?"
"After the New Year, I will no longer teach at the Martial Hall, I have resigned from the instructor position at the Martial Affairs Office."
Yu Yongnian did not hide this news from Lin Chen, having decided only yesterday that he would not continue teaching.
The reason he came to teach at the Martial Hall initially was because he'd lost the heart to pursue further in the Martial Path and sought a quiet place to live out his life.
His parents had passed away five years ago, and though he had a younger sister, his parents had married her off early to fund his martial arts training.
Because of this, his sister was not close to him, and having visited his brother-in-law's home several times, their interactions were more courteous than sibling affection. Eventually, he simply stopped visiting and would send some silver taels through the courier annually.
The reason for giving up the instructor position at the Martial Hall is because of Senior Sister Shu.
When he took Lin Chen to the city this time, Senior Sister Shu got him drunk, and they became open with each other, breaking the ambiguity.
Over the years, he was not completely unaware of her feelings, but due to the disparity in their family backgrounds, he felt inadequate and pretended not to know.
Now that he had expressed his feelings to Senior Sister, he planned to re-embark on the Martial Path and strive to participate in the Martial Arts Examination in two years.
Upon hearing that his instructor would no longer work at the Martial Hall, Lin Chen's first reaction was that the instructor had come to terms with something.
The instructor has figured it out, how is hard rice a match for soft rice.
Following Inspector Shu, who would look at the paltry salary of being an instructor.
"Congratulations to the instructor," Lin Chen blinked and congratulated him.
Hearing Lin Chen's words, Yu Yongnian couldn't figure it out; what was there to be happy about?
"Tell me about your situation at the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall and Jingshui Martial Arts Hall."
Feeling that Lin Chen's gaze was somewhat odd, Yu Yongnian felt uncharacteristically awkward and abruptly changed the topic.
"I first went to Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall, received the Clear Wind Palm manual, and then went to Jingshui Martial Arts Hall..."
Lin Chen recounted his experiences at the martial halls in detail, including how it took him half a two-hour period to train his acupoints.
"Vice Hall Master Kong told you not to publicize?"
It was now Yu Yongnian's turn to feel a bit strange. He vaguely guessed the intentions of Vice Hall Master Kong.
After Lin Chen left that day, Senior Sister had spoken to him about the perceived unfair treatment Lin Chen might have faced from various martial arts halls. However, from the halls' perspective, their decision was not mistaken.
Because no one could prove that Lin Chen had cultivated Essence Qi with only twenty taels.
Merely relying on the records of the Martial Hall and the instructor's words would lead many students to exploit this loophole; only later did he realize this, as his initial anger blinded him to it.
"Since Vice Hall Master Kong asked you to keep quiet, you should not publicize it."
Vice Hall Master Kong had confirmed Lin Chen truly cultivated Essence Qi with only twenty taels based on the timing of Lin Chen's Opening of the Acupoints, and instructed him not to speak out, indicating he had other intentions.
No matter what thoughts Vice Hall Master Kong harbored, they were not detrimental to Lin Chen.
"I will follow the instructor's advice."
Lin Chen hadn't noticed the fleeting odd expression on Yu Yongnian's face, his feelings more stirred by the mention of Vice Hall Master Kong by the instructor.
That Instructor Kong was actually the Vice Hall Master, he had thought they were just an ordinary instructor.
Since both Vice Hall Master Kong and the instructor advised him against publicizing it, it meant that spreading this matter would definitely impact him.
Yu Yongnian nodded slightly, then went into the room and brought out a booklet.
"This records some of my cultivation insights while at the Opening Acupoints Realm. You can take it home to read."
"Thank you, Instructor."
Lin Chen accepted the booklet and did not hurry to open it; he was filled with gratitude towards the instructor.
He was just an ordinary student in the Martial Hall, but Instructor Yu treated him exceptionally well, beyond words.
If not for the persistent thought in his mind about "stabbing the adoptive father" from his past life, he truly wanted to say to the instructor: Once a teacher, always a father.
"Upon reaching the Opening Acupoints Realm and coming into contact with true Martial Arts Techniques, future competitions will no longer solely be about the hierarchy of realms. The monthly disciple matches at each of the Eight Great Martial Arts Halls focus primarily on actual combat."
"The only shortcut to opening the acupoints is to spend money. In this aspect, you are at a disadvantage, so in the early stages, you should focus more of your energy on the cultivation technique to compensate for the gap in realm with proficiency."
Lin Chen listened intently, knowing that Instructor Yu was laying out a path for his martial journey.
"In Martial Arts combat, while realm is indeed primary, the cultivation technique is also extremely important. Each of the Eight Great Martial Arts Halls has dozens of Martial Arts Techniques, but each hall is famous for only one technique. Do you know why?"
Lin Chen shook his head; in terms of martial arts knowledge, he was at the bottom.
"Martial Arts Techniques are divided into Grade-Entering and non-Grade-Entering. Non-Grade-Entering techniques can only allow you to exert all your inherent strength, while Grade-Entering techniques can unleash several times the power of your current realm. The signature martial arts of the Eight Great Martial Arts Halls are all Grade-Entering Techniques."
With these words spoken!
Yu Yongnian closed his right hand into a palm and gently slapped the stone table.
Crack!
The stone table shattered at the sound, sending gravel flying.
"This is the Clear Wind Palm. When cultivated to perfection, the Clear Wind Palm can achieve ten times the power of one's current self."
Seeing the shock in Lin Chen's eyes, Yu Yongnian smiled faintly, "If you can cultivate the Clear Wind Palm to the Small Success stage, you can achieve this in the early period of the Opening Acupoints Realm."
"Instructor, into how many stages are the Grade-Entering techniques divided?" Lin Chen asked solemnly.
"Proficiency, Mastery, Small Success, Great Success, and Perfection."
Lin Chen pondered for a moment; thus, he realized he was currently not even at the entry level, not even the first stage.
"Instructor, how do disciples know which stage they have reached in their cultivation?"
This was a question that had just emerged in Lin Chen's mind. He had a panel where he could determine his progress in cultivation proficiency. How did other martial artists without a panel know which stage they were at?
"With Grade-Entering techniques, different stages manifest differently. Take the Clear Wind Palm, for instance. At the Mastery stage, when the palm is thrust out, the palm wind whistles; at the Small Success stage, it can blow sand and leaves; at the Great Success stage, the palm wind rips like a storm, causing dread. As for the Perfection stage, it is about returning to the essence, appearing plain yet harboring boundless power."
Yu Yongnian was extremely familiar with the Clear Wind Palm: "The techniques of the other seven halls also have different manifestations at the mastery stage. I have noted these down in the booklet; you can look through them when you have time."
"After reaching the proficiency stage, it depends on your comprehension of the cultivation technique. Some students master it within half a year, while others need a year or more. Back in the Martial Hall, you mentioned the concept of a genius, and indeed, there is such a thing as genius in Martial Arts comprehension."
Yu Yongnian recalled Lin Chen boasting of being a genius back then and said with a smile, "If you can practice the Clear Wind Palm to mastery within half a year after achieving proficiency, then you can indeed be called a martial genius."
"The reason I didn't mention these things to you at first was partly to avoid you from aiming too high and thinking too much, and also because comprehension is a rather abstract concept."
"People choose techniques, and techniques choose people; some progress rapidly with the Clear Wind Palm, but blend into the crowd with the Mantis Fist. This largely relates to the temperament of the martial artist."
"Unless someone can advance quickly with any technique, but such a genius, I have not seen in Poyang County."
Although these words were somewhat harsh, Yu Yongnian had to point out this fact. Students from ordinary backgrounds should not harbor any unrealistic fantasies or false hopes.
"From initiation to proficiency in the Clear Wind Palm relies solely on diligent practice. With your financial limitation, you need to compensate with the cultivation technique. My requirement for you is that, before entering the Martial Arts Examination, the Clear Wind Palm must at least reach initiation."
Diligent practice, consistent practice.
This was the martial path Yu Yongnian planned for Lin Chen.
For those from low-class families, this is the only feasible path.
"I understand Instructor's intent, I will practice the Clear Wind Palm diligently every day."
Lin Chen nodded heavily, understanding the meaning of the instructor's words.
"Hmm, the Martial Hall will close after today, you should leave early too."
Having given all the necessary reminders, Yu Yongnian didn't delay further and reached out to take the bundle on the table. Lin Chen, seeing this, stepped forward and picked it up first, "Instructor, let me escort you to the stables."
Seeing Lin Chen's gesture, Yu Yongnian smiled faintly and did not refuse Lin Chen's eagerness.
...
...
At the stables.
Yu Yongnian procured a dark red horse, mounted it, and waved at Lin Chen, "Go back, if anything happens, you can find Inspector Shu at the Shu Mansion."
"I will remember it, instructor."
Hearing Lin Chen's words, Yu Yongnian smiled slightly, refrained from further persuasion, spurred his horse, and dashed away elegantly.
Only when Instructor Yu's figure was no longer in view did Lin Chen look back at the booklet in his hand and begin to read.
But upon flipping through it, he was stunned.
A silver ticket was clipped to the last page of the booklet.
A silver ticket with a denomination of twenty taels.
[Seeing your poverty but strong will, your diligent and relentless practice, you are truly the noble son of a low-class family, a rare treasure of the world.]
[You should use this money as a means to navigate the sea of martial arts, to find and seize the dragon pearl, achieving extraordinary success.]
Perhaps it was the dust stirred by the horse's hooves that entered his eyes, for some reason, Lin Chen felt his eyes were sore.