Training

The rustling sound of the wind was heard as Wang Chun opened his eyes. He had been deep in his cultivation, hoping to find that last bit of comprehension that had eluded him for the past 5 years. Even though he kept making progress, inching closer to a breakthrough, he just couldn't add that finishing touch. As a cultivator, he had developed the patience to cultivate without substantial rewards, but he was still irked at being disturbed in the middle of cultivation.

"Senior." He greeted the figure standing across the floor from him.

"You're still stuck, I see." Jiang Junjie's voice rang out.

Wang Chun's face fell, "Indeed, I can't break through to the fifth level of body forging yet. Slowly accumulating, as I have these past five years, will take too long. I will need another few decades at the very least, to do it that way. Anyways, I doubt you came to inquire about my cultivation."

"That's right. Haven't you wondered why I let you take in my grandson as a disciple instead of training him myself?"

Wang Chun grew more serious. This had been bugging him for a long time. He still remembered the encounter 3 years ago vividly. The village chief had accompanied him to see the stubborn old man and request him to allow Jiang Ting to begin training early.

At that time, Jiang Junjie had sent Jiang Ting off the mountain to play with the other kids in the village. When the headmaster and the village chief showed up, instead of inviting them in respectfully like most other villagers would have done, Jiang Junjie had used his aura alone to suppress both these level 4 elites to the point that they lay prostrate in front of him, unable to move a muscle.

Wang Chun, throughout his travels, had come across a few level 5 experts of the body forging realm. Having interacted with them, he knew one thing for sure. This old man was certainly not within the first five realms of body forging. Hell, he might not even be within the body forging realm!

On that day, Jiang Junjie shooed him and the village chief off the mountain, telling them that Jiang Ting would cultivate at the academy once he attained the age of fourteen, and that he would not actively take Jiang Ting away from the village. Ever since then, the village chief and Wang Chun had been eagerly waiting for Jiang Ting to begin training. After all, the son of such a powerful cultivator must also have been nurtured properly, right? His track record of beating up all the older kids in the village further strengthened this theory. Of course, the villagers were just blindly making connections by thinking that Jiang Ting was so highly valued for beating up some older kids. This was the real reason why he was so highly valued.

"I'm leaving Jang Ting under your care. If anything happens to him, the village of Fudi will disappear. Train him well, and I might just let you become a real cultivator one day." As he said this, Jiang Junjie shot a strand of qi from his index finger right through Wang Chun's brows, causing him to lose consciousness

When he came to, Wang Chun immediately sat cross-legged on the ground to cultivate.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ting began spending his days at the mountain, training his body in the Dragon Body technique, while also occasionally cultivating the Red Tiger Battle Art. After the first day, Zhao Song came to check on him, but Jiang Ting old him to come back later as he intended to enter secluded cultivation. Going back to his master's residence to report this, his master also shooed him away, saying he was in secluded cultivation. Since it was taboo to disturb a cultivator's secluded cultivation, he could only helplessly return home. The next day, news spread out that the headmaster as well as both his disciples had started secluded cultivation. The entire martial wing of the academy was in an uproar. After all, the competition was in about a month. Even the strongest student as well as the newest student were giving their absolute best at training, the rest had no excuse. Suddenly, the students of the martial wing of the academy entered an unprecedented period of quiet training.

* * *

Administrative head of the martial wing, Xia Mo, was sitting in the village chief's residence, having a cup of tea with the village chief. They had just been informed that the headmaster had entered secluded cultivation. Others might not know, but the core elders of the village knew what it signified. For the third time in over 5 years, he was attempting a breakthrough to the fifth grade of body forging realm. Whether Fudi village could maintain their position in the Qilin mountain range depended on Wang Chuan's success. Both men sat there quietly, sipping their tea as endless thoughts flashed across their minds.

* * *

Outside Yan Ping's house, her brother was still sitting in front of the house, cultivating. Yan Ping took a break from her own cultivation to gaze at her older brother. Looking at him, she got lost in her memories, taken back to the joyous days she had spent at the Yan clan manor. Her father, the clan chief, as well as her grandfather, the supreme elder, spoiled her rotten while she played around all day. Her brother had still been the amazing genius he still continued to be, although having his arms back then, he was able to dominate all his rivals. She sighed deeply, thinking about all the events that caused her to be in her current predicament.

At this point, a gust of wind erupted from Yan Yao's body. He suddenly glowed with a silvery-grey aura surrounding his body, while an azure green aura surrounded his sleeves. Soon, this phenomenon stopped and he opened his eyes. He removed his shirt in one swift motion, revealing a slightly muscular build, with arms only up to his elbows remaining. Compared to his previous state where his sleeves were completely empty.

Looking at his elbows, which had once disappeared, intense desire and hope burned in his eyes. He turned to Yan Ping before giving a relieved smile and saying," It really works. I broke through and grew half my arms back. Once I reach the next level, I can really do it."

Yan Ping couldn't help the tears streaming down her face as she watched her brother stand proud. There really was hope for him!