A gentle breeze swept by, bringing with it a wave of warmth.

Wan Ze leaned on his knees, breathing heavily, his temples drenched in sweat.

For him, this kind of high-intensity exchange was a much more direct way to feel his martial arts improving than practicing alone.

He calmed himself and collected his thoughts.

"Not bad. From now on, you can stick with me."

Sun Fan’s voice suddenly cut in.

Before Wan Ze could refuse, Sun Fan added, "I won’t take up your work time. Just spend an hour a day training with me. How about a hundred per hour?"

An hourly wage... of a hundred?

Wan Ze was stunned.

That was even more than he earned as a part-time substitute assistant instructor!

Sun Fan thought he felt it was too little. She frowned slightly, a bit lost. "Has the market rate changed recently? I... I’m not really sure."

The same decisiveness she showed when fighting was now completely shattered by Wan Ze’s silence. The young woman hesitated, at a loss for what to do.

Fortunately, Wan Ze snapped out of it and was direct. "I’ll do it."

Sun Fan was taken aback for a moment but didn’t dwell on it. She quickly smiled. "Then let’s start today. I’ll come find you after this afternoon’s session ends."

"Alright."

Wan Ze nodded, watching Sun Fan go off on her own to start her muscle training. He shifted his gaze, only to meet Lei Ming’s half-smiling, half-serious eyes.

"Honestly, I can’t believe you’re a student from the D Class... The Iron Mountain Fist is truly being brought to its full glory in your hands."

Lei Ming couldn’t help but nod slightly. He truly approved of Wan Ze’s abilities, so he added a few more words.

"The Iron Mountain Fist is, at its core, a combat style... Its fundamental principle is to take down the enemy. That’s why its moves often target vital points, and the execution must be steady, accurate, and ruthless..."

Listening to Lei Ming share his experience, Wan Ze paid close attention. Before long, he started to carry out his duties as an assistant instructor.

Although it was a bit hectic, when it was time for everyone else’s Cultivation, Wan Ze could practice his fist techniques. Plus, his sparring sessions with Sun Fan could also count toward his training time. For him, this was a rare opportunity to both earn money and grow stronger.

「By noon.」

After recording the morning training results for all the A Class students, Wan Ze handed the logbook to Lei Ming. "Besides Fu Min, everyone’s data has been recorded. Is this okay?"

"Fu Min... Don’t worry about her." Lei Ming took the book and said casually, "Don’t leave just yet. Come to the martial hall’s cafeteria. My treat."

"The cafeteria?" Wan Ze was surprised.

He really didn’t know about it.

Lei Ming laughed. "This is the hall’s internal cafeteria. Even if newcomers know about it, they can’t get in. Come on, I’ll take you."

The Dragon Eagle Martial Arts Hall’s internal cafeteria wasn’t much different from a buffet, with a good mix of meat and vegetable dishes.

As if afraid Wan Ze would be too shy, Lei Ming brought over two more platters of meat dishes. "You’re still growing. Eat up."

"Thanks, Brother Lei," Wan Ze said gratefully.

Lei Ming gave a hearty laugh and sat down across from him with a flourish. "You’ve been practicing for a while now. How does it feel?"

Wan Ze said thoughtfully, "Only by enduring the harshest hardships can one rise above others."

"Well said!" Lei Ming exclaimed. "This path of the Martial Dao requires enduring hardship, and it’s a young man’s game. You’re at the perfect age. Let me tell you about the three stages of martial training..."

Wan Ze immediately assumed an expression of rapt attention.

Lei Ming gestured, "Let’s talk while we eat... The first stage of martial training is to refine the physical body. After going through the Blood Tempering Third Transformation and cultivating one’s Qi and blood to their peak, one enters the second stage: Refining Viscera..."

"This stage involves refining the Five Viscera and Six Bowels. It’s not as simple as the first stage and requires external stimulation... But you won’t have to worry about that until you become an Official Disciple."

"The third stage is called Refining Force. At this stage, you’re already considered a master. Your Power can erupt, injuring people from a distance..."

"And these three stages are collectively known as [Body Refining]!"

"Body Refining?" ’Sounds fitting,’ Wan Ze thought.

Lei Ming smiled. His eyes suddenly glinted as he asked, seemingly casually, "Have you felt a surge in your Qi and blood recently?"

"I have, actually. You can tell, Senior Brother?" Wan Ze said, surprised.

Ever since his Iron Mountain Fist Dao Cultivation surpassed 150 hours, he had felt a constant, restless Power surging through his body, and he didn’t know how to control it.

"Just a guess. But a surge in Qi and blood means you’re about to undergo Blood Tempering. You should try weightlifting during this time, push your muscles to their limit..." Lei Ming was smiling, but inwardly, he was reeling.

’How long has Wan Ze been training? He’s already developed Qi Sensing? Doesn’t that mean he’s about to have a Qi Blood Transformation?’

He had already found Master Qin’s uncharacteristic recommendation of a newcomer strange, and now he was even more convinced that experience truly counts for everything.

With this in mind, he was more than willing to do Wan Ze this favor, his attitude toward him growing even warmer, though he didn’t let it show.

"In a few days, I’ll pull you into the A Class proper. I’ll strive to make you an Official Disciple within half a year!"

...

"WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!"

The sound of fists cutting through the air rang out.

Wan Ze had skipped his noon break, choosing instead to practice his fist techniques alone in the courtyard. Seeing that he was only two hours away from completing the High Level task for Iron Mountain Fist, he naturally didn’t want to slack off.

"Hoo-hoo! Hoo-hoo!"

A deliberately hushed sound suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

Wan Ze guessed who it was. He finished his current set, grabbed a clean towel to quickly wipe his face, and went out.

Sure enough, he saw Zhou Xianchuan lurking outside the gate like a thief.

The moment he appeared, Fatty Zhou rushed forward, full of concern. "Ah Ze, are you okay?"

"I’m fine."

Wan Ze smiled and added, "Just get here?"

Zhou Xianchuan gave a dry cough. "You were looking for me?"

Wan Ze nodded. He’d been busy with the A Class training all morning and only had time to visit the D Class after lunch. He hadn’t found Zhou Xianchuan, but he did end up chatting with Master Qin for a while, which was how he learned of Master Qin’s true intentions.

"No, wait, how did you end up in the A Class?" Zhou Xianchuan quickly changed the subject.

"Master Qin said the pace of the D Class wasn’t right for me, so he had me come try out the A Class," Wan Ze said openly.

But Zhou Xianchuan was completely dumbfounded.

’It’s only been a month since you came to the Dragon Eagle Martial Arts Hall, dude. Are you trying to speedrun this?’

"Master Wan, please carry me!"

He rushed forward and dropped into a sliding kneel.

Wan Ze was completely exasperated. He caught him and held him up. "Get lost. It’s more like I should be the one clinging to you."

"Dinner tonight?"

"I have plans tonight."

"A date with a pretty girl?"

"Something like that."

"..." Zhou Xianchuan was speechless. He didn’t believe it for a second. Believing that old stick-in-the-mud could get a date was less likely than believing pigs could fly.

The two joked around for a while before Zhou Xianchuan reluctantly left.

Shortly after one in the afternoon, the A Class students began to arrive for their specialized Power training.

Lei Ming had specially prepared a half-man-high iron ball for Wan Ze as well.

"Let me show you how to train with this..."

Sun Fan glanced at the two of them, a strange expression on her face.

She had assumed that someone who could cultivate the Iron Mountain Fist to such a level would naturally know how to refine their Qi and blood. But looking at them now, it seemed the situation was beyond her comprehension.

But she was a decisive girl. If she couldn’t figure it out, she didn’t dwell on it. She just lowered her head and started her own training.

...

「In the blink of an eye, the sun began to set.」

"THUD!"

The wooden post shook violently, emitting a low, thunderous boom. Wan Ze slowly retracted his fist. "I still can’t do it like you, Senior Brother..."

"It’s already very good. How long have you even been cultivating..." Lei Ming’s mouth twitched slightly.

The Power of that single punch from Wan Ze was already on a completely different level from the ordinary new students.

’This kid is an absolute monster!’

"If you coordinate it with the Breathing Technique, I estimate you’ll have a chance to officially begin Qi and Blood Refining within three months. Then you’ll be able to take the assessment for Official Disciple status," Lei Ming said, trying to force his expression to relax.

’Looks like my earlier estimate of half a year was too conservative.’

’Three months...’

’Three months should be enough, right?’

But Wan Ze just tilted his head and said blankly, "Breathing Technique? Oh, right. But Master Qin... doesn’t seem to have taught me that yet."

"What?!"

Lei Ming was completely floored.

Three seconds later, a roar echoed throughout the courtyard.

"HOLY SHIT, THAT’S ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE!!!!"

.

.

[PS: Hey everyone, read and ’invest’ in the story soon! I’ll be signing a contract after the holiday, and you can all make a small profit then. All I ask is that you keep up with the latest Chapters!]