Chapter 57: Qi Cultivation Level 2
"The test is over! The candidate may leave the ring. Number 82, get ready!"
Seeing the two finally pull apart, the proctor called a stop without hesitation.
’If they kept fighting, he was afraid something bad would happen. Who on earth uses True Gang in a monthly test?!’
Huo Jun just waved his hand, signaling to Yang Shen that it was truly over, but his face showed he hadn’t had his fill of the fight.
He had achieved his goal. During his boring time at Nanliang High School, he had finally found the one thing that was interesting.
’I knew it!’ he thought. ’Someone who’s killed before is just built different!’
Yang Shen looked at Huo Jun, then at the proctor, only then confirming that the Madman wasn’t trying to pull a fast one.
After stepping over the boundary line, he looked at his fist, lost in thought...
That heat just now clearly couldn’t be explained by friction. But when he tried to summon it again, he couldn’t find the knack for it.
’Forget it. I’ll look into it tomorrow morning,’ he thought. ’Maybe I’ll get some answers under the Rising Sun.’
After Yang Shen left, the next candidate for testing area four walked onto the stage, his legs weak.
A male student said in a whiny voice, "Sir... please go easy on me. I’m really weak."
Huo Jun sneered. "So you’re weak, and that’s my problem? What, you think I have to go easy on you?"
His face was a mask of frustration; clearly, the last fight hadn’t been satisfying enough.
"The weak get beaten. I’m going to beat the shit out of you, then beat you into the shit, and finally, I’m going to beat you with your own shit!"
The student’s face went ashen.
’Nooooo!’
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The three-day-long monthly exam finally came to a close.
With a jam-packed schedule covering the three titans of liberal arts and the five trials of Martial Arts, even Yang Shen felt exhausted.
Especially the final practical combat assessment against Huo Jun... That had been truly dangerous.
When he got home, his aunt was busy in the kitchen. From the sound of sizzling oil, he knew there would be plenty of good food tonight.
Tao Ying turned and smiled warmly. "Shen, you’re back? The monthly exams must have been hard on you. Eat up and get your strength back tonight!"
Of the four little ones, Yang Mo and Yang Man were in the bedroom, fiddling with the "Window Sill Spirit Platform." Perhaps inspired by that touch of life, a vase of lilies now sat on the dining table. His aunt must have bought them; they exuded a cloyingly sweet fragrance.
Lei Lv was clearing the dining table, while Xiaolei Yi sat on the floor watching cartoons.
The sizzle of cooking, the drone of the TV—the sounds filled the air.
The aroma of food, the fragrance of flowers—the scents brought a sense of peace.
Six people lived in the small house. It was crowded, yet it filled the very concept of "home" to the brim, leaving no space for anything less.
His aunt came out carrying a platter of braised spare ribs and called out, "Everybody wash your hands! No meat for those who are late~"
The whole family sat down at the table. His aunt picked up her chopsticks and put five prime ribs in each of the children’s bowls, placing the less presentable ones into her own.
"The rest are for your big brother. He must be exhausted today, so he needs to eat more!"
That’s how it was with so many kids; if you didn’t portion things out, there was bound to be fighting and unhappiness later.
Tao Ying asked casually, "How were the monthly exams? Did everything go smoothly?"
’She’s being considerate of a struggling student’s feelings,’ he noted, ’asking if it went smoothly instead of asking about my scores.’
Yang Shen smiled. "Very smoothly. I think I probably improved a lot this time."
As he spoke, he glanced at the four little ones.
’Right now, only Lei Lv has shown any progress with his Cultivation. Once one more of them starts showing results, and my exam scores are out, I’ll lay my cards on the table with Aunt.’
’The grand debut of the Jianghuai Yang Family’s secret heirloom technique! (Not really.)’
Tao Ying smiled. "As long as it went smoothly, that’s what matters. Now that they’re over, don’t dwell on it."
Once everyone had eaten their fill, Tao Ying chuckled and pulled something from her pocket. "I have some good news, too!"
Yang Shen looked closer. It was a plastic badge on a blue lanyard. ’A work ID?’
Yang Mo asked, "Mom, what’s that?"
Tao Ying held it up, puffing out her chest with mock pride. "Your mother is now a permanent employee! I don’t have to work night shifts anymore! And the pay is a little better, too."
Yang Shen froze for a second, then immediately burst into applause. "That’s amazing, Auntie!"
Yang Mo and Yang Man’s faces lit up. "That’s great! Mom can sleep at home now! I want to sleep with Mom tonight!"
Then the two of them started arguing over which one of them would get to sleep with their mom.
Lei Lv said earnestly, "Congratulations, Mrs. Tao..."
Yang Shen kept clapping, not lowering his hands. He was genuinely happy for her.
’This really is great news,’ he thought, even though he had a faint feeling that it wouldn’t be long before he brought even greater changes to the Jianghuai Yang Family himself.
But whether it was Cultivation, Martial Arts... or his aunt’s little work ID, what they represented was the same...
...their family’s earnest, steady steps forward.
Laughter and cheerful chatter once again became the main theme within the small house.
After dinner, Yang Shen, for once, took on the task of washing the dishes, telling Lei Lv to go watch some TV. The kid was sensible, but there was no need to work him to the bone.
’Besides, he had no school tomorrow, so he had time.’
Back in his room, he tended to the increasingly vibrant Window Spirit Field, then helped Yang Mo and Yang Man move their bedding to the master bedroom. With that, his own room fell quiet.
Yang Shen thought for a moment, then decided he might as well sit cross-legged and begin circulating the Qi Cultivation Guiding Technique.
He planned to get his daily Cultivation out of the way now, leaving more time for Body Forging later that night.
The warmth he’d felt in his fist earlier had made him very curious. Moreover, after his battle with Huo Jun, he’d had many new insights.
’Say what you will,’ he thought, ’Huo Jun may be a Madman, but the chance to spar so freely with a True Gang Realm expert is incredibly precious!’
Huo Jun had suppressed his own Power and speed, which was basically the same as feeding him moves.
Probably only the young prodigies from major Martial Arts Clans got to enjoy this kind of treatment.
But thinking about the man’s personality, Yang Shen couldn’t help but feel that the last two months of P.E. were going to be a real drama.
’Every Madman deserves to be taken down!’
Yang Shen reined in his thoughts and gradually entered a meditative state. The "source"—or "Spiritual Qi"—in the air was slowly guided into his body, nourishing every inch of him.
Behind his tightly shut eyes, a faint Spiritual Light in his pupils remained concealed by his eyelids.
Yang Shen had never noticed this anomaly. It was also possible the transformation in his pupils hadn’t reached the point where it would reveal itself.
Today, however, something was different.
Yang Shen felt it... The flow of Spiritual Qi within his body was noticeably smoother!
It was as if his physical body had become more attuned to the presence of Spiritual Qi...
Like a gentle wind passing through a forest, like a clear stream flowing into the sea.
Effortless and gentle.
Yang Shen had a faint suspicion... it was related to the warmth in his fist from earlier today.
His Rising Sun Fist Intent had undergone a change, which in turn had altered his physical constitution.
’No, to be precise,’ he realized, ’my progress in Martial Arts has created a catalyst for my advancement in Cultivation!’
He hurriedly seized upon this feeling. A moment later, struck by inspiration, he reached under his bed and pulled out the Peiyuan Pills.
He had nine of the Elixir Pills left. They were meant for preparing for a breakthrough, and he felt the time had come!
Even if he was wrong, it didn’t matter. It wasn’t like the pill would go to waste.
As the Peiyuan Pill went down, a warm, abundant Spiritual Qi spread through his body, far surpassing what he normally accumulated in his daily practice.
And he was absorbing it extremely quickly!
Time ticked by, second by second.
The abundant Spiritual Qi in his body wasn’t completely absorbed by his flesh as usual. Instead, a tiny wisp was left behind, which began to wander throughout his system.
It seemed to be inspecting his body, checking if it was ready.
In some peripheral areas, this inspecting wisp of Spiritual Qi would be absorbed due to imperfections, but a new one would soon appear to take its place and continue its patrol.
He didn’t know how much time had passed when he suddenly felt a change. It was as if the pathways throughout his body had finally been completely cleared. His entire being felt refreshed and light!
Yang Shen subconsciously opened his eyes, and the world was completely different.
In his perception, there were now countless faint points of light all around him... like fireflies. They came in different colors and drifted about erratically...
Dazzling... serene... and utterly captivating...
It was as if the world had unveiled a true corner of itself, a dreamlike, gossamer veil that one could easily overlook if not paying attention...
’Qi Sensitivity...’ He could finally, truly perceive the existence of Spiritual Qi.
This also meant he had entered the second level of Qi Cultivation!
A huge breakthrough!
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