Chapter 8: Triumph at the Martial Examination

Reality is always harsh.

Three months later, Li Ji’an finally mastered the basics of “Golden Strength Technique.” A thread of vital energy was born within him, and he began to temper his skin and flesh. Meanwhile, Qingyun had only just barely entered the fundamentals of the Seventy-two Posture Pillar Exercise, and there was no telling when he would achieve true mastery.

“Four months! It’s been four months! Have you… have you really applied yourself?” Ma Yuan’s attitude toward Qingyun grew less and less amiable.

Qingyun’s face was full of grievance. “I’m sorry, Instructor Ma. I’m just slow-witted. I’ve truly tried my best. Maybe… maybe I simply lack the talent. I really have no face to stay under your tutelage. Perhaps you should let my father come and take me home?”

Ma Yuan took several deep breaths, forcibly suppressing his inner irritation. “No need for that! Not yet! Shame can spur one to courage. I still believe in you. Apply yourself more. You have an excellent constitution. Once you start practicing ‘Golden Strength Technique,’ your advantages will manifest, and then your junior brother won’t even be able to catch up to you.”

Seeing he still hadn’t given up, Qingyun felt somewhat disappointed. He could only try to make Ma Yuan abandon hope altogether.

At the same time, Wu Cheng watched over Li Ji’an closely, reminding him not to become arrogant or complacent. A quick wit and good perception can speed up the Pillar Exercise and the initial mastery of “Golden Strength Technique,” but the difference in constitution would show later, in the quality and quantity of vital energy, as well as the pace at which the energy tempers the skin.

Thus, he urged him to remain humble and keep striving.

Li Ji’an outwardly agreed, but deep within, he couldn’t suppress his excitement.

The ten years of skin-tempering in his previous life had made him acutely aware of how much his natural talent and constitution now set him apart.

He had only just entered “Golden Strength Technique,” yet the vital energy he had refined within was already equivalent to what he had achieved in his previous life at the intermediate stage. Furthermore, he sensed that the efficiency of his energy in tempering his skin was thirty percent faster than before.

“At this rate, if my vital energy continues to grow, I may achieve flawless skin-tempering within a year!”

In that moment, he finally understood, with visceral clarity, the gulf between genius and mediocrity.

Half a year passed.

It had now been ten months since they entered the academy.

“What? Flawless skin-tempering?”

“How is that possible? That kid… what sort of constitution does he have? Surely he’s not an excellent constitution as well?”

“Ten months, flawless skin-tempering? Even with an excellent constitution, that seems unlikely.”

“Tsk… Old Wan kept saying Qingyun had an excellent constitution, but never mentioned Li Ji’an. Could it be… there were two prodigies at once, and maybe Li Ji’an is even superior?”

“That’s really Old Li’s son? I remember Old Li’s constitution was quite poor.”

...

The rumor spread from Wu Cheng’s students, and instantly set the entire martial academy ablaze.

Soon, curious parties discovered that Qingyun, who had begun receiving Ma Yuan’s private instruction half a year earlier, had yet to refine even a thread of vital energy.

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For a time, malicious rumors and gossip flooded the academy.

“Instructor Ma ruined a genius!”

“Instructor Wu is the true talent-scout!”

“Qingyun worked so hard, but… sigh.”

...

Ma Yuan, who had been stoically enduring, finally exploded after being provoked by the rumors.

“You truly are as stupid as a pig! No— even a pig would be better than you! To have such an excellent constitution, yet you’re not even as good as Old Li’s son, what a waste of Heaven’s gift! How can you bear to live? Get out! Get out of my residence!”

That day, Qingyun finally saw his wish fulfilled—his father, the Virtuous Master, arrived.

Others might be deceived by Qingyun, but his father knew him too well. With just a few questions, he looked sharply at Qingyun.

Just as he was about to display a fierce expression, ready to reprimand his son, Li Ji’an stepped forward at the right moment.

“Master, everyone has their own aspirations. If Senior Brother lacks the will for martial arts, forcing him will achieve nothing. Besides, he can inherit your position and one day preside over the Tranquil Heart Hall. Perhaps that’s a good thing—the incense will continue to burn, unbroken.”

As a second-generation member of the Daoist Temple, Qingyun was not truly lacking. He could live peacefully in the temple, enjoy life steadily, without striving for impossible heights or seeking to prove himself. He was already a worthy heir.

His contentment, combined with the foundation Liu Deshan had laid for him, meant that unless something unexpected happened, he would be happier than ninety-nine percent of people.

What is the meaning of life?

To live and die according to one’s true self, within one’s abilities.

Of course, for Li Ji’an, who had “regained his youth,” this didn’t fully apply; there were differences. After all, he could avoid “death” in the truest sense.

That became part of his instinct as well: to do everything possible to avoid “being killed.”

Secondly, he vowed never to let himself fall into the despair and hardship of his previous childhood.

Liu Deshan’s receptive nature was unchanged, not because he lacked opinions, but because he was too lazy to think deeply about many matters.

In the end, Qingyun got his wish, tearfully bidding farewell to Li Ji’an, and left with Liu Deshan.

Another year passed.

Li Ji’an turned fifteen and achieved mastery in muscle-forging!

With two months until the biannual martial examination.

In previous years, the threshold was always the entry-level for muscle-forging; achieving intermediate mastery meant one was almost certain to pass. As for those who reached mastery at the initial exam, there had only been three in the entire history of Shangyi County over the past century.

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The name of Li Ji’an as a prodigy spread through the whole of Shangyi County.

Those with a penchant for storytelling crafted countless biographies about him.

The most widely circulated tale was of his father, crippled yet resolute, striving for his son’s future, nurturing a genius. Even the details Li Ji’an hadn’t considered were woven convincingly into these stories.

This dispelled all the anxieties he had carried in his previous life about not being able to create a flawless narrative before “regaining his youth.”

“The ancients spoke truly—after passing through the gates, great scholars will debate on my behalf!”

Meanwhile, Instructor Ma’s reputation in the academy collapsed, while Instructor Wu’s soared, showered in praise.

Two months later, Li Ji’an achieved flawless mastery in muscle-forging, unsurprisingly winning first in the martial examination of Shangyi County, second in the three cities and eighteen counties of Chong’an Prefecture, and successfully gained admission to the Seeking Immortals Academy in Chong’an Prefecture.

Fireworks burned for three days in Shangyi County.

In this world’s martial examination, there was no combat or division by discipline; the sole criterion was the degree of physical tempering, correlated with bone age—the younger the candidate, the greater the achievement, the higher the ranking.

At fifteen, Li Ji’an achieved flawless mastery in muscle-forging, setting a new record for Shangyi County.

This inspired limitless hope in the county’s martial academy.

If Li Ji’an were selected by an immortal master as a candidate in the next round, the academy’s head and all instructors would be promoted three levels.

Even if he did not become an immortal candidate, he was almost certain to achieve the rank of Blood Energy Master.

Thus, before he departed for the Seeking Immortals Academy in the prefectural city, the academy rewarded him with a thousand taels of silver, the head personally gifted another thousand, and all the instructors contributed another thousand.

Before setting out for the prefectural city, Li Ji’an returned once more to the Purple Cloud Temple, bidding farewell to old friends and paying respects to his master.

The prefectural city was three hundred li from Shangyi County. With the convenience of transport, for ordinary people, such a journey was often a final farewell.

At fifteen in this life, Li Ji’an was full of vitality, the sun rising on his horizon. Looking at his senior brother, whose hair had begun to gray and whose vigor was waning, he felt a touch of sadness, knowing that with their difference in age, this might truly be a permanent parting.

The temple’s master, on behalf of the Purple Cloud Temple, gifted him a three-thousand-tael silver note, urging him to write often, and expressing hope that Li Ji’an would look after them in the future.

Leaving the Purple Cloud Temple once more, Li Ji’an felt much more at ease. The most perilous seven years of his “regained youth,” from eight to fifteen, had passed safely, and he had gained some confidence. Besides the six thousand taels of silver in his arms, his greatest assurance was his flawless mastery in muscle-forging.

With flawless skin-tempering, his skin was as tough as cowhide, impervious to common blades, his strength reached three hundred jin, and his speed and reflexes surpassed ordinary men. Even with simple brute punches, three or five robust men would be no match for him; he could barely fend for himself.

With flawless muscle-forging, his skin was thick, his flesh resilient, and his strength reached five hundred jin. Even against small groups of bandits, he could protect himself and had the basic ability to travel the martial world.

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