Zhu Huaishan sat under a large pagoda tree in the rear courtyard. On the stone table before him were a teapot, teacups, and a few pastries.

Watching the few disciples cultivating their qi not far away, he gently shook his head.

He had founded the Liuhe Sect over ten years ago and had nurtured six disciples to the Qi Realm.

This was considered quite an accomplishment among the many sects and martial arts schools in Qinghe County.

Unfortunately, not a single disciple had managed to enter the Third Layer of the Qi Realm, let alone reach the Blood Realm and inherit his mantle.

His three disciples at the Second Layer of the Qi Realm were: his first disciple, Gao Yuan; his third disciple, Yuan Cheng; and his fifth disciple, Chu Liu.

Gao Yuan had a steady personality and could endure hardship, making him Zhu Huaishan’s favorite.

But martial arts wasn’t just about enduring hardship. The further one progressed, the more it depended on talent.

A person’s physical peak is at twenty-five. This peak period lasts for three to five years at most. If one couldn’t break through to the Blood Realm by then, there was basically no hope left.

Gao Yuan was already twenty-seven.

In contrast, Chu Liu was younger and more talented, but his frivolous and eccentric disposition didn’t seem like that of someone destined for greatness.

As for Yuan Cheng, with Zhu Huaishan’s experienced eye, he could tell that the Second Layer of the Qi Realm was his limit.

Zhu Huaishan sighed softly, his thoughts drifting to Zhao Lin.

This new disciple was only sixteen years old. It had taken him just over four months to complete the Skin Tempering stage, and he possessed Innate Divine Power. It seemed he was exceptionally talented.

But Zhu Huaishan wasn’t quite sure.

He had seen too many young talents who made meteoric progress at the beginning of their martial arts journey, only to stagnate for long periods later on.

Back when he was at his own master’s sect, many of his senior and junior brothers had progressed faster than him in the early stages. However, they had all fallen before the Qi Realm and the Blood Realm, ultimately faring worse than a late-bloomer like himself who had built a solid foundation.

A prodigy in youth may not be great in adulthood. To borrow a local saying: getting fat early doesn’t count; it’s getting fat later that breaks the bed.

Then there was the matter of Zhao Lin getting involved with bandits, which was rather troublesome.

In terms of martial strength, Zhu Huaishan wasn’t afraid of the bandits, but many things couldn’t be solved by force alone.

Bandits were different from local gangs; they acted without any bottom line.

While gangs also engaged in illegal activities, they never dared to cross the established public rules. They also understood the principle of not harming an enemy’s family, as they too lived under the county’s jurisdiction.

But bandits were different. They were ruthless, ran rampant without restraint, and were evil to the bone.

Although he had no children of his own, he had friends and relatives. If he brought disaster upon them, what good would it do to kill all the bandits afterward?

Zhao Lin was just beginning to show his promise. Giving him a helping hand was one thing, but getting directly involved and staking his life and fortune was a commitment Zhu Huaishan wasn’t ready to make.

’Whether he can overcome this hurdle will depend on his own fortune.’

Zhu Huaishan picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip.

"Sect Leader, Sect Leader! Zhao Lin has broken through to the Bone Training Stage!"

An apprentice ran into the rear courtyard, shouting frantically.

"Stop being so flustered..."

Zhu Huaishan was about to scold him when he suddenly processed the words. "What did you say?"

"Zhao Lin broke through to the Bone Training Stage, just now," the apprentice repeated.

Zhu Huaishan drew in a sharp breath, shot to his feet with a WHOOSH, and strode toward the front courtyard, moving even faster than the apprentice.

After a few steps, he quickly stopped again.

’Calm down, calm down.’

Zhu Huaishan suppressed his excitement, admonishing himself.

’A master rushing over frantically to congratulate his disciple is undignified.’

Then another thought struck him: ’Wait, if I remember correctly, Zhao Lin just successfully completed the Skin Tempering stage two months ago. Isn’t this too fast?!’

’With such a huge crisis at home, how could he have the mind to focus on a breakthrough?’

"Are you sure he broke through to the Bone Training Stage? You didn’t see wrong?"

The apprentice paused for a moment, stunned, then replied, "I’m sure. His fists stirred the air, and his joints cracked. It was exactly the same as when the senior brothers broke through to the Bone Training Stage before."

Zhu Huaishan’s heart pounded.

He had seen fast cultivators, but never this fast.

The Bone Training Stage was harder than the Skin Tempering stage, yet Zhao Lin had used even less time!

’Breaking through two stages in a row—if this isn’t talent, what is?’

He had previously worried that Zhao Lin’s performance might be a flash in the pan, but that thought was now completely gone.

Tendons bind the bones, and bones support the tendons. For anyone under twenty, as long as they succeed in the Bone Training Stage, breaking through to the Tendon Training stage is only a matter of time.

’At this rate, Zhao Lin will be able to reach the Tendon Training stage within the year, achieving the Third Layer of the Power Realm!’

"Um, what was your name again?"

Zhu Huaishan couldn’t recall the apprentice’s name for a moment.

"This disciple is Xia Yun," the apprentice quickly replied.

"Xia Yun, you’ve done well. Go and tell Zhao Lin to come see me in a little while."

Zhu Huaishan walked back to the stone table and sat down, speaking with a calm and composed air.

"Oh, and tell him there’s no hurry."

Zhu Huaishan deliberately added...

"Congratulations on breaking through to the Bone Training Stage, Junior Brother Zhao."

"Yeah, it took me three years to reach the Bone Training Stage, and the Master even praised me for it. Compared to Senior Brother Zhao, it’s nothing to mention."

"Forgive my ignorance, but I’ve never heard of anyone progressing so miraculously fast."

"It’s not your ignorance, it’s that Senior Brother Zhao is just exceptionally gifted..."

When Zhao Lin broke through to the Bone Training Stage, the apprentices all came forward to congratulate him. Some even started calling him Senior Brother.

Whatever they truly thought, their flattering words grew more and more eloquent.

"You all flatter me."

Zhao Lin accepted their congratulations with a smile, cupping his fist in salute to each of them.

The Second Layer of the Power Realm: bronze skin and iron bones.

Although this saying was an exaggeration, his attack power and durability were indeed far greater than that of an ordinary person.

Zhao Lin felt his strength had risen to another level. He had definitely gained another one or two hundred jin of force, finally living up to the name of having a thousand-jin strength.

’Isn’t this a bit too fast?’

Zhao Lin considered whether he should lie low for a bit. After all, this training speed was somewhat inhuman, but he quickly dismissed the idea.

This wasn’t a world of immortal cultivation, with legendary immortal pills, Spirit Grass, or miraculous Cultivation Techniques that could rapidly advance one’s realm.

Martial arts relied on nothing more than talent and hard work, plus the sect’s nurturing. Even if someone thought his breakthrough was unnaturally fast, they could only attribute it to talent.

’I’m facing a threat from armed bandits. Only by increasing my strength as quickly as possible can I ensure my own safety.’

’If I keep trying to lie low, I might really end up as a dead dog.’

’In any case, the Spirit Beast Scroll exists in my mind. No one else can possibly discover it.’

"The Sect Leader wants you to go to the rear courtyard to see him," Xia Yun said, walking over to pass on the message.

"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother Xia."

Zhao Lin expressed his thanks and strode toward the rear courtyard.

Having just broken through, it was only right and proper for him to meet with his master. However, he would have to carefully consider his explanation.

"Disciple Zhao Lin pays his respects to Master."

Arriving in the rear courtyard, Zhao Lin bowed from a distance and spoke.

"Mm."

Zhu Huaishan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the back of Zhao Lin’s hand, confirming that he had indeed broken through to the Bone Training Stage.

After reaching the Bone Training Stage, the most obvious characteristic was that the ten knuckles on the back of the hand turned a pale, bluish-white, making it very easy to identify.

"You’ve done very well. This master is very pleased with your rapid progress in bone training."

"It is all thanks to Master’s excellent guidance," Zhao Lin said in a deep voice.

Zhu Huaishan pointed to the stone stool in front of him, gesturing for him to sit. He then said, "Next time, when you’re about to train your tendons, be a little more discreet. Let me know in advance."

"We’ll find a private place for your breakthrough. Don’t make it known to everyone."

Zhao Lin was slightly taken aback. He was still thinking about how to explain his abnormal breakthrough, but he hadn’t expected Zhu Huaishan to not even ask, instead telling him to keep a low profile.

’I didn’t plan on lying low, but Master beat me to it.’