In the main hall, Zhao Rui said to Li Cunxin.

"Is... is this really appropriate?"

"It’s fine. This Martial Arts was originally incomplete. I’m the one who finished it, so I can do what I want with it."

"Oh! Alright. This is great for the Martial Arts Hall, so of course I’ll support it!"

Li Cunxin chuckled.

’Even though Zhao Rui is a Grandmaster, an incomplete text that someone who just entered the Grandmaster Realm could finish probably isn’t a High-tier Martial Arts.’ So he didn’t think much of it.

After making the arrangements, Zhao Rui didn’t stay long. He chatted for a bit before driving home.

By the time he arrived home, his parents were already back from work and preparing dinner in the kitchen.

Zhao Rui didn’t say much about matters of the Martial Dao. It wouldn’t solve anything, and would only make his parents worry.

He just mentioned a few things about school, focusing on the good news and leaving out the bad, before dropping the subject.

The night passed uneventfully.

The next morning, around nine, Zhao Rui arrived at the Jimin Medicine Hall on time. By the time he got there, all his senior brothers and sisters, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, had gathered.

The oldest senior brother was already forty, while the youngest junior sister was only in the ninth grade.

Li Cunxin’s disciples certainly covered a wide age range.

Upon seeing Zhao Rui arrive, all his senior brothers and sisters stood up. They were on their feet, but they didn’t know what to say.

After all, Zhao Rui was no longer the student-like junior brother they once knew.

He was a true Grandmaster Realm expert, even more powerful than their own master.

The adults among them were naturally hesitant, but the little junior sister and his junior niece weren’t. The two little ones ran straight for Zhao Rui.

"Senior Brother!"

"Uncle Master, you’re so incredible!"

Zhao Rui chuckled and ruffled both of their heads. He then walked over and greeted everyone one by one.

Seeing that Zhao Rui’s attitude hadn’t changed, they all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

"I’m sure Master has already told you. Today, I’m going to teach everyone a new set of Martial Arts. It’s an Inner Sect Technique from the Daoist School, known for being balanced and stable with a profound foundation. The deeper your Cultivation, the greater its power."

Zhao Rui didn’t waste any time. After a brief nod to his master, he took the seat of honor, faced the crowd, and spoke clearly.

Everyone present was an initiated disciple of the Jimin Martial Arts Hall; none of the fee-paying Outer Sect apprentices were there.

"This Cultivation Technique is called the Guiyuan Skill. It is a High-level Technique from the Qingcheng Sword Sect that focuses on the Purification of Essence and Marrow..."

After a brief introduction to the Martial Arts’ origins, Zhao Rui began teaching the Guiyuan Skill.

Li Cunxin couldn’t remain seated after hearing just the first dozen or so sentences.

Forgetting his pride as their master, he sat down cross-legged and began listening attentively alongside his disciples.

This was because the Martial Arts was truly profound and extensive—a rare Inner Sect Technique of the Daoist School.

Furthermore, it would be of immense benefit to the advancement of his own Martial Arts.

The lesson continued like this for two full days.

Zhao Rui was especially meticulous when teaching his senior brothers and sisters. Not only had he grown up with them and felt a bond, but he also knew their natural talent was only average.

If he wasn’t meticulous, they wouldn’t be able to understand at all.

Even so, after two days of instruction, the eldest senior brother and the fourth senior sister still had a hazy, incomplete understanding.

’Everyone has their own path to understanding.’ Zhao Rui couldn’t keep teaching them by hand. If they didn’t get it, they could just ask the others later.

With this Martial Arts, his senior brothers and sisters were sure to undergo a fundamental transformation. Even when the Spiritual Qi eventually returned in full, they could use this technique to break through the limitations of their current Martial Arts.

They would reach a Realm they had never dared to imagine before.

The following afternoon, not long after he finished teaching, Zhao Rui returned home.

He planned to stop by to say his goodbyes the next day before heading back to Jeju.

But before he could even eat dinner...

...his eldest senior brother called. He said their master had an epiphany and was going into seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to the Grandmaster Realm.

Zhao Rui’s heart leaped with joy at the news. ’This is great!’

’After I repaired his Meridians and unblocked his Inner Qi, combined with the insights from practicing the Guiyuan Skill... it makes sense that it might trigger his breakthrough.’

After all, Li Cunxin was a veteran True Transformation Realm expert with decades of experience.

However, a breakthrough isn’t something that happens overnight. It requires not just a deep foundation, but also a bit of luck.

Zhao Rui certainly wasn’t going to do anything to rush the process.

But his return trip would have to be delayed a few days.

He had to wait until his master came out of seclusion. What if things went south and he suffered from Qi deviation or something worse?

Zhao Rui had to be prepared for that possibility.

So, the next day, Zhao Rui moved into the Jimin Medicine Hall.

He had sometimes stayed at the Martial Arts Hall when he got home late, so there was already a bed for him.

Two more days passed.

On the third day of his stay, a powerful fluctuation of True Qi suddenly emanated from the Martial Arts Hall’s seclusion room.

The wave of energy was swift and abrupt.

Zhao Rui, who was standing guard outside the door, immediately stood up straight.

’This is it. Success or failure.’

After a long moment, the True Qi fluctuation within the room rapidly vanished, followed by the sound of a long exhale as someone regulated their breathing.

’He did it!’ Zhao Rui was overjoyed.

’Just like the saying goes: Twenty years of silent vigil by the furnace, and in a single dawn’s roar, a Grandmaster is born!’

A moment later, Li Cunxin pushed the door open and walked out, looking radiant.

"Haha! It’s all thanks to you, my disciple! Your master has officially advanced to the Grandmaster Realm today!"

Li Cunxin announced with a booming laugh.

"Congratulations, Master!"

Li Cunxin was about to say more when his expression suddenly froze. He scrutinized Zhao Rui for a long moment.

With a look of confusion and a hint of disbelief, he asked, "How is it that I can’t see through your cultivation?"

"Ahem, Master, that’s not important!"

Zhao Rui laughed it off. ’Master just came out of seclusion, I can’t go and crush his confidence now.’

Fortunately, the rest of his martial brothers and sisters heard the commotion and rushed over at that moment.

When they heard their master had reached the Grandmaster Realm, they all surged forward with congratulations.

Li Cunxin laughed heartily, temporarily pushing his earlier confusion to the back of his mind.

With everyone gathered, the atmosphere naturally became festive again.

That afternoon, Zhao Rui announced his departure. He had already stayed for several days.

Now that his master had broken through to become a Grandmaster, he could leave with peace of mind.

Not only was he relieved, but this also opened up more options for him in the future.

"Come back and visit when you have time! And don’t worry about buying that door plaque anymore. With my new title as a Grandmaster, I’m going to have one made of solid gold!"

Li Cunxin declared, full of vigor. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Master, be a little more low-key. Gold-plated is good enough."

Zhao Rui chuckled, then turned, got in his car, and left the Jimin Medicine Hall.

As his car disappeared around the corner, Li Cunxin, who was about to head back inside, suddenly recalled the question that had popped into his head right after he emerged from seclusion.

He slapped his thigh in frustration. "I forgot to ask!"

"Forgot to ask what?"

Zhao Rui’s third senior brother asked curiously.

"It’s nothing!"

Li Cunxin’s face twitched. He was too embarrassed to voice his suspicion.

’Better to just swallow it and enjoy the bliss of becoming a Grandmaster for a little longer.’

...

After leaving the Jimin Medicine Hall, Zhao Rui went home and rested for a day. But before he could set off for Jeju...

...he received a call from Wang Zhanshan.

The enlistment order for those in the Grandmaster Realm had been issued.

However, due to the special status of Grandmaster Realm Martial Artists, the directive was less of an order and more of a mutually beneficial arrangement.

The Court offered resources and privileges in exchange for a Grandmaster’s support.

Across all of Dongqi University, there were only a handful of Grandmaster Level Martial Artists. Apart from the instructors, he was the only student at that level.

The instructors had teaching responsibilities, so he was the one who had to go.

The Court didn’t dare coerce an ordinary Grandmaster, let alone someone like Wang Zhanshan trying to order Zhao Rui, who was a Grandmaster among Grandmasters.

Instead, he approached it as a negotiation.

Zhao Rui didn’t refuse. After all, serving his time was his duty.

He also wanted to go to the frontier and see what these Gui Xu people were all about.

And see if he could earn some Advancement Points while he was at it.

Wang Zhanshan hadn’t expected Zhao Rui to agree so readily.

He had even been prepared to take Zhao Rui’s place if he refused.

"You think I lack that much awareness? I know how to prioritize!"

Zhao Rui said with a laugh.

"That’s good to hear. But rest assured, for those in the Grandmaster Realm, the role is more of a deterrent. They won’t actually have you fighting to the death on the front lines."

Wang Zhanshan reassured him.

"Yes, I understand."

Zhao Rui nodded.