"Sunburst Gang Branch, there are a total of five directors, namely External Affairs Director Yin Zhixing, Internal Affairs Director Liu Yanhong, Water Affairs Director Guo Liang, Mining Affairs Director Qin Yu, and lastly, Enforcement Director Tan Chaofan, who is my master.
Although the five directors are all martial artists at the peak level of Inner Cultivation, in terms of strength and foundation, the strongest is naturally my master. With his Seven-Star Whip, within ten meters, he can hit wherever he points, a peerless might, and is even reputed as the top Inner Cultivation martial artist in Qinghe Town, capable of withstanding martial artists who have cultivated Inner Qi.
Next is Mining Affairs Director Qin Yu, whose swordsmanship is extraordinary, having once slain three Inner Cultivation powerhouses with three sword strikes.
If one of these two directors takes you as an apprentice, you should choose according to your own preferences.
However, the other three directors are not known for their strength outside, making them not the best choices."
Qin Shaoping spoke with calm confidence, displaying a look of someone who commands respect.
Bai Ziyue nodded silently, his face showing some contemplation.
He naturally believed Qin Shaoping's words. The strength of Enforcement Director Tan Chaofan was undoubtedly the strongest among all directors. The strength of Mining Affairs Director Qin Yu should also not be weak.
However, to say that the stronger ones are the most suitable choices for a master, he had a different opinion.
When the strengths of several directors are not weak, the difference between those good at teaching disciples and those not is enormous.
Of course, for Bai Ziyue, these are not the key.
He only cared about the cultivation technique and martial arts.
...
Unconsciously, the sky had brightened, and the number of apprentices in the martial arts training ground gradually increased.
Having spent the morning training, Bai Ziyue was already starving, so he didn't stay any longer and went straight to the cafeteria.
Due to his status and benefits, his breakfast became much richer: a large bowl of rice porridge, three meat buns, two fried dough sticks, a bowl of meat soup, and a small dish of pickles... at least the most plentiful breakfast he had eaten in the past two months.
After filling his stomach with all of this, Bai Ziyue finally felt full and walked out of the cafeteria.
Within the Sunburst Gang Branch, the apprentices' activity range was confined to the backyard.
In the morning, they mostly stayed in the martial arts training ground practicing Zen Meditation Posture. For apprentices, the only thing they could train was the Zen Meditation Posture. At most, a few apprentices could practice a martial art after reaching Small Success in Zen Meditation Posture.
In the afternoon, instead, the gang arranged for a tutor to teach literacy, though not those scholarly sayings, just simple character recognition.
Of course, whether or not to learn was up to themselves, the gang did not demand it.
In the morning, Bai Ziyue practiced martial arts; in the afternoon, he specifically attended a class and found that only a dozen apprentices showed up, including Senior Brother Qin Shaoping, whom he met early in the morning. After nodding to each other as a greeting, he chose an empty table to sit.
Soon, the tutor arrived, a lean middle-aged man with a small moustache, appearing somewhat stern.
He was indifferent to the fact that out of over a hundred apprentices, only a dozen came to class, and naturally began teaching.
Shortly after, Bai Ziyue lost interest.
Because the characters taught were ones he already fully mastered, coupled with the tutor's dull and boring teaching style, he never came back after that.
For three consecutive days, Bai Ziyue spent most of his time practicing One-character Punch.
At this moment, he was already proficient in the variations of power operation and in controlling his power.
Under the One-character Punch, followed by Twist Body Punch.
In just three seconds, fist force traveled from his legs, passed through his waist, along his body, directly into his arms.
One punch was thrown.
Bang!
Power surged, leaving a faint fist mark on a wooden post.
This punch had already initially shown its might.
And Bai Ziyue instinctively glanced at the attribute panel.
Name: Bai Ziyue
Strength: 1.95 (cannot be increased)
Speed: 1.85 (cannot be increased)
Physique: 2.01 (cannot be increased)
Spirit: 1.80 (cannot be increased)
Martial Arts: Zen Meditation Perfection (cannot be increased)
Eighteen Linked Blades (uninitiated, cannot be increased)
One-character Punch Entry Level (can be increased)
Immortal Technique: Purple Qi Divine Observation Technique (uninitiated, cannot be increased)
Soul Energy: 1237
"Finally, I've reached the entry level."
Bai Ziyue's breathing became somewhat rapid.
After three days of painstaking practice, almost without a moment's pause, he finally trained the One-character Punch to the entry level.
He also noticed minor improvements in his strength due to these days of hard practice, getting closer to the '2' point mark.
"Consume 300 points of Soul Energy to upgrade One-character Punch to Small Success!"
Bai Ziyue frowned; upgrading One-character Punch to Small Success costs a hundred more points of Soul Energy than Zen Meditation Posture.
Clearly, as the martial arts and cultivation techniques strengthen, the soul energy required for upgrades to Small Success, Great Success, and Perfection also increases significantly.
"Upgrade!"
Even so, he still chose to upgrade without hesitation!
"Buzz!"
Bai Ziyue's spirit became slightly disoriented, then he felt his body heating up, as if he had undergone countless hours of hard practice in that moment, reaching a staggering level of understanding and insight into the One-character Punch.
After a while, Bai Ziyue finally regained his composure and realized that he had reached Small Success in One-character Punch.
"Consume 600 points of Soul Energy to upgrade One-character Punch to Great Success!"
Bai Ziyue hesitated for a moment but decided to continue upgrading.
He understood the importance of power control, which would greatly help him in the future cultivation of other martial arts.
After another bout of mental haze, upon regaining clarity, his control over his internal power, though not completely mastered, was as if he could direct his limbs with pinpoint accuracy.
Without any moves, Bai Ziyue just stood still.
Bang!
With a crisp sound, a hard stone under his foot cracked open with multiple fissures.
Embarrassingly for Bai Ziyue—his shoe sole tore.
The cold wind blowing made his feet feel chilly.
"With One-character Punch at Great Success, my power control truly reached a peak.
If I train Eighteen Linked Blades now, it won't be long before I reach the entry level."
As Bai Ziyue walked toward his room, he thought to himself.
With his current level of power control, martial arts like Eighteen Linked Blades only required familiarization, making the cultivation process much simpler than before.
Entry Level wouldn't be difficult.
Soon, a hint of gloominess appeared on his face.
Three whole days passed without any director coming to take him as a disciple—something that troubled him slightly even though he wasn't as concerned about it as other apprentices.
He couldn't help having some negative speculations.