At noon, Zhuang Xun controlled Bai Yujing to return to the dormitory, leaving Yan Pingsheng sitting outside in a shady spot.
He had just heard from An Dafu that Zhang Tie had been humiliated this morning and hadn't dared to talk back. Now, he was throwing a tantrum inside the dormitory, taking his anger out on everyone else. Both An Dafu and Li Zigeng had been scolded for no reason. Thus, Zhuang Xun had no intention of letting Yan Pingsheng return to the dorm, sparing him from becoming a target of Zhang Tie's anger.
Outside the dormitory, all kinds of gift boxes, pastries, sachet bags, and envelopes were piled up. Many people secretly came by to leave gifts every day.
However, Zhuang Xun did not touch any of them.
He was worried someone might use the opportunity to poison him.
Zhuang Xun entered the room, took off his outer coat, and lay on the bed, staring blankly for a moment. Then, out of habit, he opened the Character Creation Panel.
——Character Creation Panel——
[Character One: Yan Pingsheng (Expandable)]
————
[Character Two: Bai Yujing]
[Age: 15]
[Realm: Eleven stone of strength]
[Skeletal Structure: 100 (Supreme Skeletal Structure)]
[Comprehension: 100 (Supreme Comprehension)]
[Charm: 100 (Celestial Grace)]
————
[Character Three (To be created)]
【Current Points: 2.5】
“Huh? Bai Yujing's realm changed. I only ate my fill, yet my strength actually increased by another stone.”
Zhuang Xun looked at the Character Creation Panel, marveling at the sight.
Without practicing actual martial arts, even if ordinary people cultivated the most profound body-tempering techniques, they could only ever hone their strength to nine or ten stone.
This was due to the physical limits of the human body.
Yet with Bai Yujing's body, which now possessed eleven stone of strength, Zhuang Xun still could not feel where the limit lay. He even felt there was still massive room for improvement.
At this rate of progress, he estimated that Bai Yujing would reach thirteen stone of strength by the end of the month.
As for Yan Pingsheng, based on his current rate of progress, he might be able to lift a five-stone stone lock by the end of the month.
But that was not guaranteed; it depended on whether he would hit a bottleneck later on.
Relying on the precious meat Bai Yujing received as part of his privileges last week, Zhuang Xun had converted another panel point.
A character's initial attributes were all fifty. Once he accumulated one hundred points, he would be able to create a clone with maxed-out Skeletal Structure and Comprehension.
“There's no rush to create another clone. Relying solely on the martial academy's weekly serving of precious meat, it will take over six hundred and ninety days—nearly two years—to gather one hundred points.”
“Besides, I can't even control three clones at the same time right now. The most important thing at the moment is for Bai Yujing to become a martial artist.”
“Mr. Zhang, who teaches martial arts knowledge, once said that practicing martial arts strengthens both the body and the mind. Thus, most martial artists have keen eyes and sharp eyes, with highly acute senses. Some powerful martial artists can even sense danger beforehand...”
“Once I become a martial artist, I might be able to split my mind three ways, or even four or five.”
However, to become a martial artist, he also had to consider acquiring martial arts.
As for where to get martial arts, Zhuang Xun already had some leads.
Leaving aside the Principal who was rumored to want to take him as a disciple, many influential families in Zechuan City had secretly contacted him during this period.
They claimed that as long as Bai Yujing was willing to marry a daughter of their family, they would teach him their martial arts without reservation, and he would enjoy the same treatment as their direct descendants.
However, Zhuang Xun found even dating to be a hassle, so how could he possibly consider marriage?
Not only would it easily expose the secret of his clones, but it would also be an extra burden.
Rejected.
As for the Wanxing Martial Academy's side...
Since yesterday, when Zhuang Xun used Bai Yujing to practice the Wanxing Body-Tempering Technique, he had noticed an old man constantly stealing glances at him, occasionally stroking his beard and smiling.
If he hadn't seen a portrait beforehand and recognized him as the Principal, Zhuang Xun would have thought some creepy guy was checking him out.
Constantly peeping and smiling like that.
“Does this mean the Principal is extremely satisfied with me and is about to take me as his disciple?”
...
The next day, before dawn.
Zhuang Xun controlled Bai Yujing to go to a bamboo forest to practice the Wanxing Body-Tempering Technique, while Yan Pingsheng was left to sleep in the dormitory.
After all, Yan Pingsheng was different from Bai Yujing; he did not possess such powerful physical recovery capabilities. Cutting back on sleep to cultivate would only do him more harm than good.
Inside the bamboo forest, besides Zhuang Xun, there were also quite a few female disciples hiding behind the bamboo stalks, stealing glances at him.
The five senses of Bai Yujing's body were incredibly powerful—so powerful that even with his eyes closed, he could construct a picture of his surroundings in his mind through hearing, smell, and touch.
These young girls thought they were hiding well, but they had long been noticed by Zhuang Xun. He simply chose to ignore them.
Ever since someone had accidentally stumbled upon him practicing in this bamboo forest a few days ago, people had been coming here to secretly watch him every single day.
Sigh, such are the troubles of a handsome guy. (Melancholic face)
Zhuang Xun was not affected by them. He poured his heart and soul into every move and stance of the Wanxing Body-Tempering Technique, cultivating diligently.
Suddenly, his nose twitched, and he looked toward a shadow hidden behind the bamboo a hundred meters away.
He was here!
The old-man scent of the Principal was exceptionally distinct amidst the fragrant body scents of the young girls. The moment he arrived, Zhuang Xun recognized him.
He did not intend to continue this boring observation game with the Principal, so he walked straight over.
The shadow behind the bamboo flickered and suddenly vanished.
Zhuang Xun raised an eyebrow. Relying on his powerful hearing and sense of smell, he locked onto the direction and gave chase.
He came to a stop in a clearing a few miles away.
Swoosh—!
The bamboo leaves rustled in the wind, and light filtered through them, casting scattered dappled shadows on the ground.
All around stood bamboo stalks as tall as city walls.
An old man dressed as a recluse emerged from somewhere. Though his hair and beard were completely white, his cheeks were ruddy, showing he took excellent care of his health.
He looked at Bai Yujing and said with a smile, “Young friend, why are you following this old man? Is there something you need?”
“I noticed that the Principal has been observing me for the past two days. Unsure of the reason, I followed you to seek an audience.”
The Principal was secretly surprised.
He had thought he had only exposed himself due to a momentary slip just now. He never expected that the youth had known he was being watched all along, and had even deduced his identity.
“Oh? How did you discover me?”
Zhuang Xun replied, “I have possessed senses far sharper than ordinary people since childhood.”
Hearing this, a look of pleasant surprise flashed in the Principal's eyes. He smiled and said, “I have long heard of an Outer Court disciple with outstanding talent and extraordinary looks. Seeing you these past few days, you far surpass the rumors.”
His eyes shone brightly. “Are you willing to demonstrate the Wanxing Body-Tempering Technique for this old man?”
“It is my honor,” Zhuang Xun said, easing into the starting stance of the Wanxing Body-Tempering Technique.
His movements flowed like water, entirely natural and seamless.
The Principal watched, nodding repeatedly as he stroked his beard, the smile in his eyes deepening. “Excellent, truly excellent. Your Wanxing Body-Tempering Technique has already reached great perfection. Even this old man has nothing left to guide you on. Your Comprehension is indeed peerless.”
He reached into his robes and pulled out a book, presenting it to Bai Yujing.
On the cover of the book, five large characters were written: Formless Phaseless Sublime Method.
“The difficulty of this martial art is extremely high. Not a single person in the Wanxing Martial Academy has managed to master it, and even this old man has struggled to fully comprehend it. Are you willing to give it a try?”
Martial arts! Martial arts!
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Zhuang Xun calmly accepted the book. “Yujing is willing to give it a try.”
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