Li Sancheng envied those wealthy families' children, but Han Zheng didn't really feel anything.
Although it is said that the poor excel in scholarly pursuits and the rich in martial arts, with their innate advantages, Han Zheng was not to be outdone.
He had a trick up his sleeve!
With the Taotie Furnace, at a critical moment, sacrificing some emotions like love or affection, at worst he would just become an emotionless killer.
Early in the morning, Han Zheng picked up a bucket of cold water and poured it over himself.
This time, at the beginning of autumn, the weather was slightly chilly, but Han Zheng felt no discomfort.
The water flowed down his muscles, which although not exaggerated, were sinewy, bulging, and meandering, making his figure appear even more rugged.
Li Jingzhong had taught many disciples weapon skills and let them practice familiarization for half a month.
No need to teach sword skills or blade techniques, half a month's time was enough just for basic weapons training.
During this half month, Han Zheng had broken through to a hundred acupoints, and his meridians had been opened to four.
Opening acupoints in the Postnatal realm is a grind, not requiring high technique.
It might be somewhat challenging to open the first ten acupoints, but when you open a hundred, you can get the hang of it.
The reason it is called the stage of Postnatal Vein Opening, not the Postnatal Acupoint Solidifying, is because the real challenge of the Postnatal realm is in opening the meridians.
However, this wasn't much of a difficulty for Han Zheng.
He had sacrificed his sense of pain to the Taotie Furnace, so the severe pain when opening meridians couldn't affect Han Zheng at all.
As long as he was careful, and without external interference, the success rate of opening veins was almost 99.99%.
Han Zheng estimated that his current state should be roughly equivalent to the disciples of the great households who had the aid of Medicine Baths and ate meat daily.
Changing into his clothes, he went to the Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy, where he met Li Sancheng with a worried face.
"What's wrong? Did your dad beat you again?"
Li Sancheng shook his head, sighing, "There's a rumor that there's going to be another assessment, and this time it's a real combat examination where we fight each other."
"Are they going to eliminate participants this time?"
"This time there's no elimination, but it's still unpleasant to be beaten by someone."
Han Zheng: "..."
This Li Sancheng guy had absolutely no confidence in himself.
The fight hadn't even started, and he was already worrying about getting beaten.
"If you can't beat them, can't you just admit defeat? This isn't a fight to the death, would the master just watch you get beaten to death?"
"That's right! How did I not think of that?"
Li Sancheng broke free from his mental block and suddenly wore a joyful expression.
While they talked, Li Jingzhong had already come out from the main hall of the martial arts school, and the disciples who had been chattering obediently straightened up and stood at attention.
"Starting today, we will conduct real combat assessments, divided into five groups, each group to select one ultimate winner.
I will train these five people carefully, and among them, the most excellent one will have the opportunity to inherit the White Ape Extended Arm Fist!"
With these words, the eyes of the many disciples present lit up.
Li Jingzhong's fame in Black Stone County came from his mastery of the White Ape Extended Arm Fist, and these disciples joined the martial arts academy with the intention of learning this skill.
The Iron Elephant Skill was just a mediocre primary Internal Strength Technique, and although Vajra Fist originated from the major sect, Vajra Bodhi Temple, it was only a Postnatal martial art for lay disciples and was quite common in the Martial World.
Only the White Ape Extended Arm Fist was a true Innate Martial Skill, respected in the Martial World as well.
Li Jingzhong had been running a martial arts school in Black Stone County for seventeen years, but less than ten disciples were qualified to learn the White Ape Extended Arm Fist.
Because some disciples, although the best in their cohort, did not qualify to be taught the White Ape Extended Arm Fist.
Thus, Li Jingzhong would rather keep it hidden than teach the White Ape Extended Arm Fist to a loser.
"Silence!"
Li Jingzhong boomed, "You all know the rules of Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy, not everyone is qualified to learn the White Ape Extended Arm Fist.
But surely some of you are thinking, everyone has paid Silver, why should only one person learn the White Ape Extended Arm Fist?
Don't feel it's unfair because the path of Martial Arts is inherently unfair!
How is it possible to be fair when dealing with talent, perseverance, background, opportunities, and so forth?
The White Ape Extended Arm Fist is an Innate Martial Skill, and only when one reaches the Innate Realm can one bring out its full potential.
That's why I will only teach the White Ape Extended Arm Fist if I am certain there are those among you who have the potential to reach the Innate Realm in the future.
Otherwise, even if you become the top of this batch in the academy, if I don't see the potential for you to advance to the Innate, I won't teach you the White Ape Extended Arm Fist.
So don't slack off, there's no room for laxity on the path of Martial Arts!"
"Yes!"
The many disciples below answered in unison, not feeling any unfairness from Li Jingzhong.
The reputation of Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy in Black Stone County had always been excellent.
Indeed, every disciple who was taught the White Ape Extended Arm Fist had reached the Innate Realm.
Some had left Black Stone County and had become important figures in the State Mansion.
"Alright, let's start dividing into groups for the real combat assessment."
Li Jingzhong brought out a list and started grouping the disciples.
Having taught these disciples for so long, he had a rough idea of everyone's strength.
Therefore, these five groups were allocated extremely evenly, trying not to put disciples with strong prowess in the same group.
Han Zheng's first-round opponent was a disciple who looked a bit older than him, seeming slightly nervous.
He was just an ordinary disciple, while Han Zheng, although not ostentatious, had been praised personally by Li Jingzhong on many occasions.
"Let this brother take the first move, just touch to stop."
Han Zheng didn't make the first move but let the other initiate.
The disciple hesitated for a moment, then without being polite, circulated his qi and blood, charged the Vajra Fist and lunged at Han Zheng with a thunderous blow.
The opponent had only opened one meridian so far, and the gap in power between him and Han Zheng was more than one level.
Han Zheng didn't even use Vajra Fist to confront him head-on, merely covering the opponent's fist with a single palm, completely dissolving the force of his downward strike.
Then with a fierce step forward and a slight exertion of his shoulder, the disciple was sent flying outwards.
"Thank you, Brother Han, for showing restraint."
The disciple got up somewhat awkwardly and cupped his hands toward Han Zheng.
He could feel that Han Zheng hadn't exerted his full strength.
Otherwise, at the least he would have suffered broken tendons and bones, at worst internal injuries.
Li Jingzhong nodded in satisfaction at this scene.
Han Zheng's performance was utterly outstanding.
His cultivation far exceeded that of his opponent, so he let the other make the first move, giving the opponent a chance to show their skills. The sparring among sect members without killing intent was enough to prove his openness and magnanimity.
The opponent used Vajra Fist, but he could dismiss the force at will when the other attacked, showing that Han Zheng's mastery of Vajra Fist was already very mature and his talent was remarkable.
In the following two rounds, Han Zheng's opponents were no match for him.
The gap in strength was too great, and Han Zheng nearly didn't exert any effort before his opponents were defeated.
However, the few disciples defeated by Han Zheng were also thoroughly convinced.
No wonder the head of the hall praised Han Zheng like that.
This previously inconspicuous disciple actually possessed such terrifying strength and could even compare to those disciples from grand families.
Moreover, Han Zheng took good care of their face.
Clearly, he could defeat them as easily as crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood, but he still allowed them a chance to strike a move.
And in the end, he only defeated them; they were disheveled when they landed but were not injured.
Looking at the other groups, the fights were extremely fierce, with some already injured, making Li Jingzhong frown.
However, as long as no lives were lost in such contests, Li Jingzhong would not intervene.
The results for Han Zheng's group were out early, and now he was watching the fights in several other groups.
Three individuals displayed remarkably amazing strength.
One was a handsome young man with swordsmanship that was elegant, dexterous, and spirited, as if he had a certain martial arts foundation before joining the academy.
One was the disciple who had chosen the Iron Whip as a weapon, and from the force of his strikes, it appeared he had broken through around four meridians.
His movements were swift and precise, and although not as effortlessly as Han Zheng, he resolved his matches within three moves.
Another was a young nobleman dressed in brocade, at a glance, clearly from a wealthy family.
This person appeared even younger than Han Zheng, with a handsome face but ruthless moves, subduing the enemy in one strike without mercy.
His last opponent had been directly smashed and broke an arm by him, which would take at least two to three months off of martial practice, greatly delaying his cultivation progress.
And Li Sancheng got a bit unlucky, as his next opponent was this person.
Actually, Li Sancheng's foundation was quite good.
Born strong with abundant qi and blood, though he looked chubby, his strength was not small, which is why he could make it to the final round.
Li Sancheng had not thought to stand out in his group, so he only planned to exchange a few moves and then withdraw upon defeat.
The brocaded noble unleashed a heavy blow, and Li Sancheng crossed his hands in front to block, getting directly blown away and landing on the ground.
Feeling this overpowering strength that could completely crush him, Li Sancheng's face suddenly changed.
Just as he wanted to surrender, the brocaded noble had already stepped down from mid-air toward him.
Li Jingzhong frowned.
The other had done nothing wrong since it was him who had taught everyone that in martial combat, to seek advancement in every thought and not to hesitate when striking.
But the current sparring among sect members was considered overly harsh.
If this foot had hit its mark, Li Sancheng, no matter how tough his skin and flesh were, probably would have broken several ribs.
Just as Li Jingzhong thought to intercept, Han Zheng had already darted out and fiercely pulled Li Sancheng back a step.
The brocaded young man's foot landed on a floor tile with a crisp sound, even causing the tile to show a trace of a crack.
"I concede! I concede!"
Li Sancheng shouted with lingering fear, looking gratefully at Han Zheng.
The brocaded nobleman glanced at Han Zheng, said nothing, but his gaze was cold and sinister.
Li Jingzhong said solemnly, "The assessment is over. The winners of these five groups are Lin Qing, Han Zheng, Chen Zhao, Guo Yuanming, and Song Tianqing.
Each of you has opened more than four meridians and according to the rank of the Postnatal Realm, you can actually be considered to be in the middle stage already.
So I will arrange the lesson schedule according to your realms from here on, and you need not practice with the others.
But don't become complacent. If disciples surpass you before graduation, they too can challenge you.
Now disperse. Those who are injured, come with me to the back hall, and I'll apply the medicine and bandage you up."