Chapter 5: Not Too Late

Li Jian's previously crestfallen mood was suddenly lifted.

"The Dragon-Tiger Aspect?"

In his previous life, he had spent ten years at the Martial Academy and had gained a thorough understanding of all matters related to the martial path in this world.

Here, martial cultivation placed particular emphasis on innate constitution, a principle affirmed by generations over the past century. Beyond the basic divisions of superior, medium, and inferior constitutions, there existed even rarer ones that had produced immortals-in-training—these unique constitutions bore distinct traits and were given special titles.

The "Dragon-Tiger Aspect" mentioned by the bone-touching master was renowned as the most promising constitution within the martial world of the Celestial Dynasty. For over a century, nearly eighty percent of those born with this aspect either became candidates for immortality or, at the very least, reached the pinnacle of martial arts in this realm.

"Is this the result of starting tendon purification and bone strengthening from the age of eight?" Li Jian suppressed the excitement in his heart and pondered carefully.

"Judging by this, my body’s natural talent must not be lacking. Coupled with beginning high-quality tendon and bone training at eight years old and persevering since, only then could such results have been achieved."

The old bone-touching master's face turned red with excitement. He set aside all distractions, closed his eyes tightly, and began to examine inch by inch, afraid to miss any detail.

"Ah! How could this be? What a waste of such potential!"

Suddenly, the master cried out in alarm and snapped his eyes open.

"Mm?" Li Jian’s breath caught in his throat.

Could this elderly man stop startling people like this? Would it kill him to wait until he was certain before speaking?

"Senior, may I ask—"

"You there, as a child, did you suffer hunger and cold, lacking in oil and salt?" The bone-touching master stared at Li Jian with apparent distress, his hands reluctant to move away from him.

Li Jian nodded silently.

This had always been a point of inner conflict for him.

"Rejuvenation" could only take him back to age eight; before that, he had lived those years prior to awakening his past-life wisdom. He could alter everything after eight, but not the years before.

Before eight, though his parents loved him dearly, they were rustic villagers. Putting food on the table required all their effort; how could they even dream of abundant oil, salt, calcium, or protein?

"What a pity, truly a pity. Had you begun supplementing your diet in childhood, you most likely would have grown into the Dragon-Tiger Aspect. Now, however, your foundation is lacking, and the prime window for tendon and marrow cleansing has passed. Even if you were to obtain miraculous pills for this process, it would be too late." The bone-touching master heaved a heavy sigh, seemingly more heartbroken than Li Jian himself.

Li Jian did not rush to react, but waited quietly, wondering if there was more to be said.

"However... Though it falls short of the Dragon-Tiger, you still possess the Wild Sparrow Aspect. If you do not pursue the immortal path, you can certainly strive to become a master of vital energy, establish a martial family, and command respect in your region," the bone-touching master concluded. He now gazed at Li Jian with a hint of flattery and even obsequiousness.

Li Jian raised his brows slightly—he was already very satisfied with this outcome.

As for those so-called miraculous pills for tendon and marrow cleansing... too late, is it?

For him, not necessarily so!

Soon after, the two young men, both rated as having outstanding character, were personally escorted by the bone-touching master to the training grounds.

The first step after entering the academy was to choose an instructor.

This was a two-way selection.

Apprentices hoped to be taught by experienced instructors in martial arts.

Instructors, in turn, relied on their apprentices for their own performance evaluations.

In his previous life, when he came here at age thirty, he would have ended up as an unassigned apprentice if not for the newly arrived Instructor Wu being willing to take him in.

"Ah, new arrivals! Master Wan, what’s their constitution? How’s their character?"

As soon as the three entered the training ground, several instructors looked over.

Even Ma Yuan, the academy’s gold-ranked instructor, who had been leisurely drinking under a pavilion, took notice when he saw Old Wan personally escorting new students.

He needed only to send one more apprentice to the Immortal-Seeking Academy in the provincial city to be promoted to chief instructor and receive a ninth-rank official position, becoming a true government official.

However, among the three cities and eighteen counties, Shangyi was but a minor place; finding a prodigy able to rank in the top thirty in the exams before the age of fifteen was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

"Hahaha! I’ve brought you all some good seedlings! As for whom they choose, it all depends on your performance," Old Wan said with a loud, proud laugh.

"Eh? Even Old Wan is praising them?" The eight instructors grew curious, and seven of them hurried over.

Ma Yuan, the gold-ranked instructor, was so startled that he quickly ordered his attending apprentices to clear away the wine and food lest it affect his image in front of the newcomers. He straightened himself and strode forward with care.

"This one—superior constitution, excellent character," Old Wan said in a low voice, not keeping them in suspense.

"Ho! Anyone praised by Master Wan must have a superior constitution!" The seven instructors eyed Qingyun like wolves eyeing a rabbit.

"Young master, I’m a senior instructor here. I’ve taught at the academy for twenty years and have sent two students to the Immortal-Seeking Academy in the provincial city. Should you become my disciple, I will devote all my knowledge to sending you there as well," one experienced instructor immediately began his self-recommendation.

"My experience is also substantial. Moreover, I have reached the Tempered Bone stage of the third realm of body training. I can not only guide you in the basics for the martial exam but also lay a solid foundation for bone tempering from the very start, ensuring your long-term progress along the martial path."

Aside from the first, the other five instructors hesitated a moment longer.

This was not due to slow reaction, but because it had been two years since the academy had seen an apprentice with this rare double-excellent potential.

Ordinarily, new apprentices would have already pulled strings to secure a mentor in advance, so it had been a long time since instructors had to compete openly for disciples.

"Silence! What decorum is this? As instructors, we are to impart knowledge and resolve doubts, not clamor like a marketplace and cheapen our own worth!" Suddenly, after the six had finished touting themselves, Ma Yuan could contain himself no longer and reprimanded them in a deep voice.

As the one most likely to be promoted to chief instructor, the others, though resentful, dared not offend him openly.

Ma Yuan swept a commanding gaze over the six, nodded in satisfaction, then smiled profoundly at Qingyun. "Young friend, fear not. I am Ma Yuan, the only gold-ranked instructor at Shangyi County Martial Academy. In twenty-eight years, I have personally sent nine students to the Immortal-Seeking Academy in the provincial city. Study under me, and I guarantee there will be no mishaps in your martial exam two years from now. Furthermore, I offer special care and extra resources to the truly gifted."

Shameless.

The six instructors, who had just been cowed by Ma Yuan’s rebuke, stared at him in even greater disdain.

Qingyun looked at Ma Yuan with a blank expression, treating him no differently than the others, then turned to look at Li Jian.

A subtle, inexplicable smile appeared on Li Jian’s face.

In his previous life, he had spent considerable effort and wealth trying to find a good teacher, even investing much in Ma Yuan.

Yet, once Ma Yuan had eaten his fill at Li Jian’s expense, he turned his back on him. In similar circumstances, he had mocked and belittled Li Jian, all while elevating himself.

Had Li Jian not been tempered by experience and developed a steadfast mind, he might have been left utterly humiliated and broken.

That solemn demeanor, those righteous words, always proclaiming "it’s for your own good"... especially those stinging remarks, which, though seemingly from the perspective of the academy and Li Jian himself, still lingered vividly in memory.

But fifteen years had passed. Li Jian no longer cared to hold grudges; having lived longer and seen more, he knew all too well there were many such people in the world.