Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

"Kong Yu has only been training for a month and a half, right? He’s already succeeded in Qi Gathering!"

As news of Kong Yu’s success in Qi Gathering spread, many faces showed the same unrestrained shock. Achieving Qi Gathering in a month and a half was a terrifyingly fast speed.

Most of them had spent more than two and a half months to successfully achieve Qi Gathering, and some had even taken three months.

"Such talent is simply terrifying!"

"Gale Hall really found a treasure."

"In our Weiyuan Hall, who can stand against Kong Yu?"

...

After the shock came worry. Weiyuan Hall and Gale Hall did not get along, and incidents of challenging each other’s halls occurred from time to time.

Once Kong Yu had a bit more time to grow, he could probably sweep through Weiyuan Hall.

"A Lower A-class Root Bone, and it still took him a month and a half to succeed at Qi Gathering? This Kong Yu is nothing special."

Lu Ren had a calm and confident expression as he said, "As Ji Yun’s disciple, he probably has unlimited access to resources. Even with all that, it still took him a month and a half. There’s no need for everyone to act like we’re facing a great enemy."

It had taken him only two months to achieve Qi Gathering. If he had enough resources, he was confident he could have done it within a month and a half as well.

"Junior Brother Lu has a point!"

"A month and a half isn’t an unbeatable record."

"If it took him a month and a half just for Qi Gathering, there’s no way he’ll achieve Marrow Cleansing by the time of the Martial Arts Ascension Dragon."

"He may have a good Root Bone, but his Comprehension must be somewhat lacking."

...

Lu Ren’s words immediately earned the agreement of Gu Fang, Jiang Ping, and the others, who all breathed a sigh of relief.

"Brother Lu Ren, Kong Yu didn’t take a month and a half for Qi Gathering. The information I got is that he did it ten days ago. The people from Gale Hall just deliberately hid the news," the disciple said in a low voice.

In an instant, it was as if someone had seized all the gossiping disciples by the throat, and the words died in their mouths. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Lu Ren’s calm and confident expression quickly transformed into one of shock.

’He achieved Qi Gathering ten days ago!’

This speed was so fast that even he was finally horrified.

"Is this true?"

Lin Cheng had appeared at some point, his sharp gaze fixed on the disciple who had delivered the news.

Seeing that it was Lin Cheng who had spoken, the man hurriedly bowed and said, "Master, this is the information I managed to gather. I can’t be one hundred percent certain if it’s true."

Even so, everyone understood that for someone with a Lower A-class Root Bone, achieving Qi Gathering in just over a month was not a difficult matter. It was very likely true.

"One person with a Lower A-class Root Bone isn’t going to turn the world upside down. All of you, get back to your training and take it seriously." Lin Cheng turned and left.

Seeing his reaction, the disciples felt much more at ease. If the sky were to fall, their master would be there to hold it up.

"Lower A-class Root Bone..." Xu Yang’s expression was calm.

’As long as I lie low and do things right, by the time of the Martial Arts Ascension Dragon, my Root Bone and Comprehension should also reach that level.’

"Brother Xu, you’re not worried?"

Qiu Wenjie, who was beside him, saw that Xu Yang’s expression had remained as still as an ancient well from start to finish and couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.

"What’s there to worry about?"

Xu Yang smiled. "The Martial Arts Hall is my family’s. Am I worried about the hall being swept? Or am I worried that Kong Yu will come to challenge me?"

The moment he said this, many people around him showed expressions of relief.

It was true that this wasn’t their place to worry. If the Martial Arts Hall was swept, it would have little effect on disciples like them. They didn’t even have the standing to worry about the hall’s future.

Even if Kong Yu were to come to Weiyuan Hall to issue a challenge, his targets would be the geniuses like Lu Ren, Sun Tao, Jiang Ping, and Zhao Zhifei. The rest of them didn’t even have the right for Kong Yu to remember their names.

They should just stick to their own business.

...

"Damn my luck!"

Bao Gang walked out of the gambling den, cursing under his breath. His expression was somewhat bleak.

He had lost all the money he had on him and had even borrowed two taels of silver from the den.

At first, he just wanted to win some money for his cultivation, but he ended up getting in deeper and deeper. Recently, every penny he got went into the gambling den, and now he was penniless.

’Good thing today is payday,’ Bao Gang thought.

He would pay back the gambling den, then pay his apprenticeship fee... and not a single coin would be left.

The thought of this vexed him. This month, forget about Cultivation Resources, he wouldn’t even have any spending money.

’I’ll try to borrow some from them later.’

Braving the wind and snow, Bao Gang rushed to the Liu Mansion.

Outside the accounting office, Xu Yang, Wu Yongfeng, Wang Yun, and others were already waiting.

’Who should I borrow from?’

Bao Gang’s gaze swept over each of them, pondering who would be the easiest to borrow money from. In the end, his eyes locked onto Xu Yang and Wu Yongfeng.

He had already borrowed from everyone else and hadn’t paid them back yet. These were the only two he hadn’t asked.

"How much did you get?"

Wang Yun was the first to enter the accounting office. When he came back, everyone else eagerly asked.

Although the Liu Mansion’s monthly stipend for them was only five taels, it was often more than that. If they were escorting their master and mistress out and dealt with some petty thieves, there would be a reward. There was also "overtime pay" for things like "overtime."

"Five taels and five mace. I didn’t accomplish anything meritorious last month."

Wang Yun smiled and looked at Xu Yang. "You got rid of thieves for the master twice last month, and you guarded the mistress for seven days while she stayed at her parents’ home. I bet you’ll get at least seven taels."

Xu Yang didn’t know how much he would get either. He had reported his cultivation breakthrough yesterday, but he didn’t know which cultivation level the accounting office would use to calculate his monthly pay.

"Tributor Xu, please come in."

Soon, Xu Yang’s name was called from the accounting office. He pushed the door open and went inside, only to see several pieces of shiny white silver on the table.

’It’s twelve taels!’

With just a glance, he knew how much it was. The accounting office had indeed calculated his previous month’s stipend based on his Qi Gathering Minor Achievement cultivation.

"Tributor Xu, please sign and leave your thumbprint here."

After quickly writing his name, Xu Yang walked out of the accounting office. When Wu Yongfeng and the others came up to ask, he only said he got seven taels, not planning to reveal that he had already reached Qi Gathering Minor Achievement.

There was no need to be in the spotlight for this. If the Liu Family’s enemies found out, it would not be a good thing.

Of course, the Liu Family wouldn’t go around publicizing this matter either.

"Brother Xu, could you lend me two taels of silver? I’ll pay you back next month at the latest," Bao Gang said, squeezing his way over.

’Xu Yang got seven taels, and I’m only asking for two. He should do me this favor.’

Xu Yang glanced at him and said, "Sorry, I don’t have enough silver for myself. I still have to go to the Martial Arts Hall later to pay my tuition."

It wasn’t just that he and Bao Gang weren’t very close; even if they were, he wouldn’t lend him the money. Besides, he knew that Bao Gang had borrowed money from many people and still hadn’t paid any of it back.

Besides, borrowing money right after getting paid meant the hole he was in was probably quite deep.

With the cautionary tales of the others right in front of him, he’d have to be an idiot to lend him money.

After speaking, he didn’t give Bao Gang a chance to pester him further and strode toward the Sacrificial Hall.

Wu Yongfeng, Wang Yun, and the others, afraid that Bao Gang would try to borrow from them, also quickly followed suit and left.

"Damn it, how dare he refuse me!"

Bao Gang watched Xu Yang’s departing figure, his expression turning ugly.

He had thought that since Xu Yang was usually easygoing, he would definitely lend him the money. Then, he could use the momentum to borrow some from Wu Yongfeng and go back to the gambling den to win his money back.

Now that Xu Yang had refused, he was afraid Wu Yongfeng wouldn’t lend him any money either.

Throughout the morning, the atmosphere in the Sacrificial Hall was a little strange. Everyone was worried Bao Gang would ask to borrow money, so they all trained like their lives depended on it, giving him no opportunity to speak up.

After lunch, they all vanished in a flash.

"You bastards, looking down on people."

Bao Gang cursed viciously. He soon arrived at the gambling den, first paying back the two taels he had borrowed. He had intended to take the remaining money to the Tiger Roar Boxing Hall to pay his apprenticeship fee, but his hands started itching, and he couldn’t resist playing a few rounds.

In less than an hour, not only had he lost all three-plus taels of silver on him, but he had also borrowed another two taels.

When Bao Gang came out of the gambling den, his face was deathly pale.