A few days passed, and even though Bai Ziyue quietly trained every day without flaunting himself, his experience of advancing directly from a miscellaneous disciple to an inner sect apprentice, combined with his astonishing talent of achieving minor success in Zen Meditation Posture in just forty days, naturally attracted the attention of all the apprentices.
These days, there was no shortage of people trying to make friends with him on purpose.
However, as time went on, no steward approached him to take him as a disciple, and some unfavorable rumors gradually started to spread.
Bai Ziyue was clear-headed and naturally understood these rumors.
He had once wondered if it was the logistics steward Zhang Bo who was causing trouble.
But he quickly dismissed this idea.
In the eyes of these apprentices, the logistics steward Zhang Bo might be considered a significant figure, but to say that he could influence the powerful figures among the five stewards at the peak of inner cultivation was absolutely impossible.
"Regardless of how the outside world is, I just need to follow the steps and train. The outside disturbances are not worth paying attention to. No matter how bad it gets, it can't be worse than being a miscellaneous disciple before?"
Bai Ziyue, with a calm and steady mind, felt a bit restless at the beginning but quickly suppressed it.
Now, he had already trained One-character Punch to great success, which meant he had initially gained some combat power.
Next, as long as he could train the Eighteen Linked Blades to the entry level, his combat power would immediately surge.
By then, concerning the upcoming actions, he would not be without a fighting chance.
Yes, after several days of contemplation, he finally decided to take a risk to seize that external forging technique, the Fifth Rank Golden Body.
Half a year was still too long for him, and with an evil cultivator of ghost arts eyeing him outside, he truly did not feel entirely secure.
Only by enhancing his strength as much as possible could he have the assurance of surviving in this crisis-ridden world.
Therefore, he couldn't afford to miss some opportunities.
"According to the information I gathered, tomorrow morning is when the Wuwei Escort Agency sets off. Liu the Sixth should be departing with this escort trip.
So, I need to train the Eighteen Linked Blades to entry level before tonight to add some techniques."
Returning to his residence, Bai Ziyue simply did not go back to the martial arts training field but took out the rusty slaughter saber and began training in a small yard in front of his room.
The Eighteen Linked Blades required one blade to follow the other, with the power flowing through and constantly changing in complex and varied ways.
But since Bai Ziyue had trained the One-character Punch to great success, he was well-versed in the integration and transformation of power, understanding it thoroughly. At this moment, performing this sword technique, he felt an ease and comfort.
Once, twice, three times...
Bai Ziyue seemed tireless and kept on training.
An hour, two hours, three hours...
The sky gradually darkened, and many apprentices returned to their residences. Seeing him training martial arts in the yard, they couldn't help but feel a bit of disdain amid their admiration.
After all, he advanced from being a miscellaneous disciple, so no matter how hard he worked, so what?
After the five-year apprenticeship period, wouldn't he be the same as the others, becoming a regular inner sect disciple?
This identity was not low and would surely be envied by many outside.
But with his talent, even more outstanding than Senior Brother Zhao Gangyi, such treatment was far too little for him.
"What a pity, even if he tries hard, without a steward willing to take him as a disciple, it's useless."
Someone sighed, shook their head, and returned to their room.
Bai Ziyue turned a deaf ear, and even if he heard, he wouldn't care.
Finally, at a certain moment.
Bai Ziyue's slaughter saber swung, and the continuous blade light seemed to cut through the air, emitting a sound of never-ending saber cries, with the swirling air blowing away fallen leaves from the ground.
"Slash!"
Suddenly, the slaughter saber swung, and after the Eighteen Linked Blades, the final blade slashed down.
Thud!
A stone protruding half-exposed was cut into two by his blade, leaving a palm-sized smooth section.
"Eighteen Linked Blades, entry level."
Bai Ziyue felt extremely pleased in his heart.
The Eighteen Linked Blades, which normally would require one or two weeks to reach entry level, was now mastered in just a few hours.
This alone showcased the subtlety of the One-character Punch's integration technique.
Name: Bai Ziyue
Strength: 1.99 (No increase)
Speed: 1.85 (No increase)
Physique: 2.03 (No increase)
Spirit: 1.80 (No increase)
Martial Arts: Zen Meditation Posture Perfection (No increase)
Eighteen Linked Blades Entry Level (Can be improved)
One-character Punch Great Success (No increase)
Immortal Technique: Purple Qi Divine Observation Technique (Not initiated, no increase)
Soul Energy: 337
"The Eighteen Linked Blades is indeed at entry level and can be improved.
But I don't have enough soul energy. At most, I can only enhance the Eighteen Linked Blades to minor success."
Looking at the attribute panel, Bai Ziyue sighed slightly.
Since becoming an inner sect apprentice, he hadn't found any new methods to gain soul energy, so it hadn't increased.
"Spending three hundred soul energy points can elevate the Eighteen Linked Blades to minor success!"
"Enhance!"
Taking a deep breath, Bai Ziyue chose to enhance.
In an instant, a vast amount of memories of training the Eighteen Linked Blades flooded his mind, and at the same time, his arms, body, and muscles seemed to solidify, as if the long-term training effects of the Eighteen Linked Blades showed.
"Eighteen Linked Blades minor success, One-character Punch great success, with these two martial arts, I finally have some combat power.
Perhaps compared to strong individuals at the level of Uncle Ming in inner cultivation, I am still far inferior, but I should be able to contend with a typical external forging martial artist now.
At least, I am confident that I can defeat the bandit from Ghost Head Stronghold I encountered before."
In fact, Bai Ziyue's physical condition was not bad; the Zen Meditation Posture perfection was enough to compensate for the physical differences between him and the bandit from Ghost Head Stronghold. The only restriction he had back then was his lack of martial arts and combat techniques.
Now that he possessed two martial arts at a significant level, his confidence naturally surged.
Looking at the sky and feeling the protest from his stomach, Bai Ziyue hurried to the dining hall.
Returning to his residence, Bai Ziyue forced himself to lie down on the bed and close his eyes.
Thinking about the action the next day, excitement, tension, and various emotions continuously entwined, making him take much longer than usual to fall asleep.
The following morning, Bai Ziyue woke up automatically.
Getting up, dressing, and washing up.
He acted as if there was nothing different from usual.
However, when Bai Ziyue stepped out of his room again, his clothes had changed.
He no longer wore the special attire of an inner sect apprentice of the Sunburst Gang but donned simple hemp clothes of his own.
Perhaps due to his recent growth, the clothes seemed a bit short.
A slaughter saber was tucked at his waist, wrapped in black cloth, looking quite inconspicuous.
Leisurely, Bai Ziyue exited through the back door of the Sunburst Gang Branch.