Steady Progress

After returning to his residence, Wang Jun couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. He remarked, "So many disciples have succeeded in opening their pulses, and their Solid Strike Sect is growing stronger. The path to greatness is just around the corner!"

Wang Jun's excitement was palpable. Why was he so thrilled? Well, it was simple. Strong disciples meant a strong martial arts school. A strong school meant they could pursue the main task without hindrance and finally remove the soul bomb's restrictions.

Without the mainline mission and the looming threat of the soul bomb, Wang Jun wouldn't have the same motivation to develop the Solid Strike faction. He might as well go out and practice on his own to avoid unnecessary complications.

"Tonight, I'll practice for one more night. The psionic energy needed to consolidate the pulse is almost there. I hope to break through the eleventh section of meridians," he declared.

Once again, he sat down and began his practice. Despite having 50 points of contribution value at his disposal, Wang Jun had no immediate plans to redeem any items. Part of it was due to a lack of specific needs, but more importantly, he had a hunch that if he could break through his meridians through his own efforts, it might lead to completing a hidden task and earning even more contribution points.

He practiced diligently through the night. By early morning, he emerged from his room with a somewhat disappointed expression. He sighed deeply, "Despite the high success rates among others, I still failed. Am I destined to leave the EU and return to Africa?"(1) 

Wang Jun quickly reassured himself, "No, it's alright. I have a deep understanding of the Yi Jin Jing. I just need to focus on gathering psionic energy for two or three more days, and I'm certain I'll succeed next time!"

As Wang Jun often smiled and tried to lift his own spirits, Li Qingyang entered the hall and brought exciting news, "Head, the disciples have broken through to the eleventh section of Meridian opening!"

"Is that so?" Wang Jun chuckled, acknowledging the success of his disciples. Inwardly, he couldn't help but think, "High spiritual roots, that's truly enviable!"

Li Qingyang also provided the statistics of yesterday's disciples attempting to open their meridians: a total of 20 people, with 12 succeeding and 8 failing. Perhaps it was because of Wang Jun's words of encouragement the previous day that it had a positive impact.

Wang Jun smiled and said, "Let's tell those disciples who failed in opening their meridians that a momentary setback doesn't mean they'll always fail. With hard work, they'll eventually succeed."

However, when he heard himself saying those words, it felt more like he was comforting himself.

After a few days passed, the disciples practicing the Yi Jin Jing had all made remarkable progress, breaking through a level from their original foundation and achieving a significant promotion.

"This is amazing!"

"I never imagined opening the meridians would be this easy!"

"The head must be a god to create such a technique!"

As the disciples who succeeded in opening their meridians were filled with excitement, they couldn't help but admire Wang Jun for his extraordinary teaching.

However, Wang Jun, despite his disciples' success, felt rather depressed because he had failed to open his second meridian again. He sat in his seat and sighed, "A 50% success rate, two consecutive failures... It seems that mastering the Yi Jin Jing has consumed all the luck in my life."

Although he had faced two consecutive failures, there was still a silver lining. Wang Jun often laughed, and his meridians, muscles, and internal organs had all undergone significant improvement. His once-weak body was noticeably stronger than before.

The male disciples had experienced similar benefits, strengthening their bodies through the practice. On the other hand, the female disciples had achieved a different kind of transformation, becoming more graceful and charming.

The Yi Jin Jing, a body-building martial art, had proven effective for both men and women. For men, it strengthened the body, while for women, it helped in shaping their physique.

"Head," Li Qingyang approached and said, "The artisans have already been contacted. When will the inner courtyard be rebuilt?"

"Just today," Wang Jun replied.

"Understood," Li Qingyang acknowledged.

As the inner courtyard underwent renovation, Wang Jun temporarily took up residence in the hall.

Then, there was a rhythmic sound of footsteps, and Lu Lu approached. Her white boots made a distinct tapping sound against the floor. Thanks to her practice of tending to tendons, her legs had become longer and shapely.

Lu Lu was truly a woman of exceptional beauty, possessing flawless features that could easily overshadow top supermodels and popular female stars if she were in Wang Jun's previous world.

Wang Jun often smiled, gently holding his chin while admiring her, and he recited, "Sinking fish and falling geese, closing the moon and shaming the flowers."(2) 

Lu Lu paused and noticed that he was looking at her. She furrowed her eyebrows slightly and asked, "Do you guys care so much about a woman's appearance?"

Wang Jun often smiled and replied honestly, "We do care."

As a man with straightforward preferences, he didn't bother concealing his appreciation for a woman's appearance, and he was definitely not being hypocritical.

Lu Lu fell silent. She hadn't expected the head to be so open about it.

"Qianqian," Wang Jun often laughed, "We're the same age. Are you interested in dating?"

Such a beautiful woman would undoubtedly make an excellent girlfriend. Wang Jun, like many others, hoped to leave behind the single life and share some romantic moments with readers.

"Date? What do you mean?" Lu Lu asked.

"It's about... well, getting romantically involved... No, no, in the dialect of the Starry Continent, it means taking our relationship to the next level," Wang Jun explained, trying to make his intentions clear.

"You mean falling in love?"

"Yeah, yeah, that's what I meant, falling in love, having a romantic relationship..."

Before Wang Jun could finish saying the word "love," a certain look appeared in Lu Lu's eyes.

Wang Jun often laughed, realizing the direction the conversation was heading, and he swallowed the word "love" back. He then asked more seriously, "So, what's on your mind?"

Lu Lu regained her composure and replied casually, "Head, haven't you made a breakthrough yet?"

It seemed like a pot calling the kettle black.

Wang Jun often laughed and clutched his chest in mock pain. He said, "Well, did you deliberately set me up with that question?"

Lu Lu responded, "You are the head, you are the leader of the Solid Strike Sect. If you can't advance, how can you lead disciples who have surpassed you in strength?"

Wang Jun reassured her, saying, "Don't worry. If this seat decides to make a breakthrough, it can happen at any moment."

He wasn't boasting. With the amount of contribution points he had, he could easily advance not only to martial arts but also through the 12th section of Meridian opening.

Lu Lu was used to his confident demeanor and continued, "If you can't, you might consider making way for me. I could lead the Solid Strike faction to dominate Azure Sun County in no time."

Wang Jun often stood up and approached her, stopping about a meter away. He looked at her with a smile and said, "Dominating Azure Sun County? That goal seems a bit small. This one is thinking of dominating the entire Starfall Continent."

Their proximity allowed the fragrance of Lu Lu's presence to fill the air, adding an enticing element to their conversation.

"Cut," Lu Lu responded coldly, but she deliberately turned her head away from him, looking elsewhere. She continued, "Do you think that developing martial arts is as simple as relying on a divine technique?"

Wang Jun asked, "What do you mean?"

"A strong martial arts school needs a solid cultivation system, knowledgeable elders to teach, and various resources related to martial arts, such as martial techniques and elixirs. Are these things in place?" Lu Lu inquired.

Wang Jun often smiled and replied seriously, "Not yet, but they will be."

"I hope so," Lu Lu said before deciding, "I'll take the disciples for practice."

After she left the hall, she took a deep breath and gradually calmed herself. She thought to herself, "The head's status is obviously not higher than mine, so why do I get nervous when he's around?"

She realized, "It seems that my understanding of Tai Xuanbing's principles is far from sufficient to attain true tranquility."

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(1) : The statement "Am I destined to leave the EU and return to Africa?" appears to be a figurative expression rather than a literal reference to geographic locations.

In this context, it suggests that the person is facing a series of challenges or setbacks, and they are wondering if they are fated or destined to experience difficulties or regress in some way, akin to returning to a less favorable or comfortable situation. It's a way of expressing frustration or uncertainty about the future, especially when things aren't going as planned.

(2) : "Sinking fish and falling geese, closing the moon and shaming the flowers" 

It is a poetic phrase often used to describe exceptionally beautiful or attractive individuals. It suggests that the person's beauty is so remarkable that it can overshadow even the most beautiful natural phenomena, such as fish swimming deep in the water, geese gracefully descending, the moon in the sky, and flowers in full bloom. It's a way of emphasizing someone's extraordinary beauty and charm.

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Starting today, I will post one chapter per day.