Turmoil in the Martial Hall

In the afternoon, Quan Lam returned right on time.

He led Hao Nhien and Tieu Lan to the Quan Family Martial Hall.

The Martial Hall stood in a vast area behind the estate.

The floor was paved with profound jade stone, hard as iron.

Weapon racks filled the surroundings.

Swords.

Sabers.

Spears.

Gauntlets.

Staffs.

Crossbows.

A faint protective formation covered the area above, preventing the shockwaves from attacks from spreading outside.

Inside the Martial Hall, several dozen young Quan family disciples were training.

The dull thuds of fists and feet striking stone targets echoed through the hall.

Sword qi tore through the air with sharp whistles.

Shouts.

Footsteps.

Fluctuations of spiritual qi.

Everything blended into an atmosphere that was fierce, yet highly disciplined.

When Quan Lam led Hao Nhien inside, many gazes immediately turned toward them.

“That’s the one from Dong City?”

“I heard the Clan Head registered him for the Inner Secret Realm.”

“Fifth layer Qi Condensation?”

“Young Master Lam brought him back. He probably isn’t simple.”

Hao Nhien heard them but paid no attention.

Clan Head Quan Vo Cuc was already there. He stood beside several elders. When he saw Hao Nhien arrive, he gave a slight nod.

“Hao Nhien.”

Hao Nhien stepped forward and cupped his hands.

“Clan Head.”

Quan Vo Cuc looked toward the center of the hall.

“Would you like to test yourself against someone?”

“They are all younger members of the Quan family.”

“You are free to spar.”

“The Inner Secret Realm will open soon. I also want to see how well you have adapted to the Quan family’s fist arts.”

Hao Nhien understood.

This was not merely an invitation.

The Clan Head wanted to see his strength.

The elders also wanted to see what this person from Dong City possessed that made him worthy of a place on the list for the secret realm.

As for the younger disciples around them…

They obviously wanted to know as well.

Hao Nhien did not avoid it.

“Please arrange it, Clan Head.”

Before Quan Vo Cuc could speak, a young man around sixteen or seventeen stepped forward.

Tall.

Broad shouldered.

His gaze carried some of the arrogance of youth.

“This one is Quan Bao.”

“Fifth layer Qi Condensation.”

“I heard Brother Hao Nhien came from Dong City.”

“I would like to exchange a few moves.”

His tone was not overly polite.

But neither was it openly provocative.

Quan Lam frowned slightly.

Quan Vo Cuc did not stop him. He only looked at Hao Nhien.

Hao Nhien stepped into the training area.

He cupped his fists.

“Please instruct me.”

Quan Bao also cupped his fists.

Then he stomped hard against the ground.

His body immediately shot forward.

A very standard punch came out.

Straight toward Hao Nhien’s chest.

Hao Nhien did not hurry to dodge.

Only when the force of the punch drew close did he shift half a step and raise his arm to block.

Bang!

The fist struck his forearm.

Hao Nhien’s body only swayed slightly.

His feet remained exactly where they were.

Quan Bao’s expression immediately changed.

Hao Nhien did not give him much time.

He stepped forward half a pace.

Then punched.

A very simple punch.

Straight.

Clean.

No elaborate technique.

But the force was so concentrated that the air in front of him gave a dull pop.

Quan Bao hurriedly raised both arms to block.

Boom!

He retreated three steps in succession.

Both arms trembled.

Hao Nhien did not pursue.

He simply withdrew his fist.

Then cupped his hands.

“Thank you for the exchange.”

Quan Bao looked at his hands.

His expression was somewhat ugly.

But after a few breaths, he still cupped his hands in return.

“I lost.”

Then he stepped back.

Soft discussion immediately rose around them.

Quan Vo Cuc nodded slightly.

“Very good body cultivation.”

The atmosphere inside the Martial Hall began to change.

Another young man stepped forward.

His aura was clearly one level stronger than Quan Bao’s.

“This one is Quan Luc.”

“Sixth layer Qi Condensation.”

“Please instruct me.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“Please instruct me.”

This time, Quan Luc did not underestimate him.

The moment they engaged, he unleashed a chain of punches.

Fist shadows followed one another.

Not so fast that they could not be seen.

But extremely steady.

The force behind them was also clearly heavier than Quan Bao’s.

Hao Nhien did not rush to counterattack.

He took short steps back.

Turned his body.

Used his elbows, forearms, and shoulders to dissolve each strike.

Every movement was small.

But enough.

Quan Luc threw more than ten punches in succession.

Not one truly landed on a vital point.

The Martial Hall gradually fell quiet.

The gazes directed at Hao Nhien began to change.

He did not merely have a strong body.

Distance.

Rhythm.

The timing of his evasions.

Everything was extremely precise.

Suddenly, Hao Nhien stepped sideways.

A sweeping kick flashed out.

Quan Luc immediately jumped to avoid it.

But the instant both feet left the ground, Hao Nhien had already closed in.

His elbow stopped just before Quan Luc’s chest, then pushed forward another short distance.

Bang!

Quan Luc retreated five steps.

His chest rose and fell.

The arm he had raised in front of himself trembled slightly.

But his eyes lit up.

“Brother Hao Nhien, impressive!”

Hao Nhien cupped his hands.

“Brother Quan Luc overpraises me.”

The Martial Hall remained silent for several breaths.

Then applause sounded.

Not especially loud.

But enough to completely change the atmosphere.

The gazes that had initially carried doubt now held a measure of acknowledgment.

Quan Vo Cuc nodded.

“Your fist work is steady.”

“Your body cultivation is good.”

“Your judgment is also not bad.”

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“Hao Nhien, your foundation is indeed more solid than your realm suggests.”

From behind Quan Vo Cuc, a thin old man stepped forward.

Ash gray robes.

His aura was not oppressive in the slightest.

On the contrary, it was very gentle.

His eyes were narrow, but deep.

He looked more like someone accustomed to sitting beside bookshelves than someone who frequently appeared in the Martial Hall.

Quan Lam spoke quietly beside Hao Nhien.

“Elder Linh Van.”

“He is responsible for records and the cultivation of elite members within the clan.”

Linh Van cupped his hands toward Quan Vo Cuc.

Then looked at Hao Nhien.

“The Clan Head is not wrong.”

“But this old man is somewhat curious.”

Quan Vo Cuc looked at him.

“Please speak, Elder.”

Linh Van looked at Hao Nhien.

His gaze was more like someone examining a rare ancient text than a young man who had just won a match.

“The way you dissolved Quan Luc’s chain punches just now does not resemble the usual body cultivation methods of the Quan family.”

He paused.

“Where did you learn to use your elbows and shoulders to disperse force like that?”

The question sounded natural.

But for some reason, Hao Nhien still felt that this elder was observing the way he used his fists more carefully than the others.

He cupped his hands.

“This junior mostly figured it out on my own.”

“My father gave me a few pointers when I was young.”

“After that, I continued practicing by myself.”

Linh Van nodded.

He did not press further.

“I see.”

“To comprehend this much on your own is truly rare.”

He turned toward Quan Vo Cuc.

“Clan Head, this young man can be entered into the priority records.”

“In the secret realm, this old man would also like to see how far he can go.”

Quan Vo Cuc only nodded slightly.

“Very well.”

“I’ll trouble you, Elder.”

Hao Nhien lowered his head in acknowledgment.

Quan Lam smiled beside him.

“Brother Hao Nhien.”

“You still haven’t used your full strength, have you?”

Hao Nhien only smiled faintly.

He did not answer.

He knew he needed to reveal part of his strength.

But the most important parts still had to remain hidden.

His true speed.

The Spirit Sword.

Soul attacks.

Tieu Dao Sword Intent.

He had not used any of the most important things.

It was enough for the Quan family to value him.

There was no need to let everyone see too deeply.

In one corner of the Martial Hall, several elders were speaking quietly.

One stroked his beard.

“Among those at the same realm, I’m afraid very few could force him to use his full strength.”

Another elder nodded.

“But the fifth layer is still the fifth layer.”

“Against the eighth or ninth layer, it would be completely different.”

“Of course.”

The long bearded old man looked at Hao Nhien once more.

“I’m only curious…”

“How much is he still hiding?”

Hao Nhien could not hear everything clearly.

He only noticed that several elders occasionally looked in his direction.

He did not pay much attention.

Among the group of female disciples standing near the weapon racks, a young woman in a pale white dress also looked toward him several times.

When Hao Nhien happened to glance back, she immediately turned her face away.

The person beside her leaned over and whispered something.

Her ears instantly turned red.

Hao Nhien only looked for a moment before withdrawing his gaze.

He thought nothing of it.

The sparring continued for a while longer.

Hao Nhien did not step into the training area again.

Quan Vo Cuc did not force him.

By late afternoon, Quan Lam led him and Tieu Lan back toward their courtyard.

As soon as they approached the gate, Hao Nhien saw someone waiting outside.

It was the young woman in white from earlier.

She was holding a bottle of spirit fruit tea.

When she saw Hao Nhien and Tieu Lan return, she became slightly flustered.

But she still stepped forward.

“Ha…”

She had barely managed half a syllable when a loud voice rang out from the nearby road.

“Brother Hao Nhien!”

A large, bearded man strode quickly toward them.

Tall.

Broad shouldered.

His eyes were shining.

But even though he moved quickly, he still stopped several steps away from Hao Nhien.

“I am Quan Cuong.”

“Seventh layer Qi Condensation.”

“I heard you fought Quan Luc beautifully this afternoon.”

“Spar with me.”

The young woman in white was startled.

The bottle in her hands trembled slightly.

Hao Nhien looked at the man before him.

His aura was clearly stronger than Quan Luc’s.

But there was no hostility.

Only fighting intent, almost written across his face.

Hao Nhien shook his head.

“I’ve already fought twice today.”

“The Inner Secret Realm will open soon.”

“Another day.”

Quan Cuong immediately frowned.

“When is another day?”

“Once we enter the secret realm, who will have time to look for you?”

Hao Nhien had not yet replied.

Quan Cuong looked him up and down.

“Or are you afraid?”

Quan Lam laughed beside them.

“Quan Cuong, that kind of provocation is far too old.”

Quan Cuong glared at him.

“I’m talking to Hao Nhien.”

Then he looked at Hao Nhien again.

“Just a spar.”

“No weapons.”

“No striking vital points.”

“If you think it’s too much, we stop.”

Hao Nhien was silent for a moment.

Finally, he let out a light breath.

“Fine.”

“One match.”

Quan Cuong immediately laughed.

“That’s more like it!”

The two entered the courtyard.

Tieu Lan and the young woman in white stood to one side.

Quan Lam did not stop them.

He only folded his arms and watched.

Quan Cuong cupped his fists.

“Please instruct me.”

Hao Nhien returned the gesture.

“Please instruct me.”

The next instant, Quan Cuong’s aura changed.

His foot stomped down.

His body shot forward.

Far faster than Quan Luc.

A fist came straight at him.

The force of the punch was already pressing toward his face.

Hao Nhien turned sideways and avoided it.

Quan Cuong twisted his waist.

The second punch immediately followed.

Without pause.

Without hesitation.

He truly was the type who became smoother the longer he fought.

Hao Nhien did not meet him head on.

He retreated.

Dodged.

Blocked.

Only occasionally counterattacked.

But each time Hao Nhien returned a punch, Quan Cuong became even more excited.

“Good!”

“Again!”

Fists and feet collided.

Spiritual qi fluctuated throughout the courtyard.

At first, Quan Cuong was clearly holding back.

But after more than twenty exchanges, the rhythm gradually quickened.

Hao Nhien also began to feel pressure.

The seventh layer of Qi Condensation truly was different from the sixth.

It was not only that the true qi was stronger.

Speed.

Endurance.

The ability to link attacks.

Everything had risen to another level.

Even so, Hao Nhien still did not need to use any trump cards.

He could continue.

If he truly wanted to determine a winner, he even had several ways to do so.

But that would mean revealing more.

Unnecessary.

Just then, Quan Cuong pressed forward another step.

Hao Nhien turned aside.

The force of the punch swept across the edge of the stone table.

Crack!

One corner shattered.

Quan Cuong froze.

“Uh…”

But only a breath later, he charged again.

Hao Nhien retreated while blocking.

Boom!

A redirected punch struck the stone wall on the left.

A crack immediately appeared.

Tieu Lan stood outside the courtyard, looked at the stone table, then at the wall.

The corner of her mouth twitched slightly.

Hao Nhien saw it too.

If this continued, the courtyard they had only just moved into might truly need repairs.

He immediately retreated farther away.

Then raised a hand.

“Stop.”

Quan Cuong had just been about to charge again when he froze.

Hao Nhien breathed lightly.

“I concede this match.”

Quan Cuong’s eyes widened.

“Concede?”

“You haven’t even used your full strength.”

Hao Nhien replied calmly:

“I came to the Quan family to prepare for the Inner Secret Realm.”

“Not to decide victory or defeat here.”

“If I wanted to defeat you, I would need to use some additional methods.”

“There’s no need.”

Quan Cuong stared at him.

Then suddenly burst into laughter.

“Good!”

“At least you agreed to fight.”

“If we meet inside the secret realm next time, don’t run.”

Hao Nhien had not yet answered when a cool voice sounded from outside the courtyard.

“There will be a next time?”

Quan Cuong immediately stiffened.

Quan Vo Cuc was standing outside the gate.

Several stewards were behind him.

No one knew when he had arrived.

He looked into the courtyard.

One corner of the stone table was broken.

A section of the left wall was cracked.

Quite a bit of pond water had also been swept onto the bank by the earlier force of the punches.

Quan Vo Cuc remained silent for several breaths.

Then looked at Quan Cuong.

“Sparring?”

Quan Cuong immediately withdrew all his fighting intent.

“Clan Head…”

“I was only…”

Quan Vo Cuc pointed at the wall.

“Were you sparring with Hao Nhien or with the courtyard?”

Quan Lam turned his face away.

His shoulders trembled slightly.

Quan Cuong looked at the wall.

Then at the stone table.

Finally, he honestly lowered his head.

“I was wrong.”

Quan Vo Cuc nodded.

“It’s good that you know.”

“From today onward, you will move here.”

Quan Cuong’s head snapped up.

“What?”

“Your courtyard will be given to Hao Nhien and Tieu Lan.”

“You damaged this place.”

“You stay here and repair it.”

“Until it is fixed, don’t even think about going around looking for other people to spar with.”

Quan Cuong opened his mouth.

But after looking at Quan Vo Cuc’s expression, he finally lowered his head.

“Yes…”

Quan Lam walked over.

He lightly patted his shoulder.

“Congratulations.”

“You traded one sparring match for a quiet place to cultivate your temperament.”

Quan Cuong looked at him resentfully.

“You’re laughing.”

“No.”

Quan Lam answered very seriously.

But the corner of his mouth had already curved upward.

Tieu Lan finally covered her mouth and laughed.

Quan Vo Cuc turned toward Hao Nhien.

“Are you all right?”

Hao Nhien shook his head.

“I’m fine.”

“Brother Quan Cuong held back.”

Quan Vo Cuc looked at him for another breath.

His gaze remained on Hao Nhien longer than usual.

Only then did he nod.

“Good.”

“You and Tieu Lan can move temporarily into Quan Cuong’s courtyard.”

“It is larger.”

“The formations are better as well.”

Quan Cuong’s face became even more twisted when he heard that.

Tieu Lan moved a little closer to Hao Nhien.

Then whispered:

“Young Master.”

“Mm?”

“Is this what you call… getting an upgrade just by lying flat?”

Hao Nhien froze.

He turned to look at her.

Tieu Lan blinked.

She did not seem to find anything strange about what she had just said.

Hao Nhien remained silent for a breath.

That kind of phrase again.

From time to time, she would suddenly say things that sounded very strange.

Not like the way people in this world normally spoke.

His heart stirred slightly.

But he quickly suppressed the thought.

Not yet.

He coughed lightly.

“Talk less.”

Tieu Lan pursed her lips.

But the corners of her eyes were still curved.

Only then did Hao Nhien remember the young woman in white standing by the gate.

She was still holding the bottle of spirit fruit tea.

From beginning to end, she had barely managed to say a single word.

When she saw Hao Nhien looking at her, her face immediately turned red.

“I…”

She looked at the bottle in her hands.

Then held it out.

“I heard you had just arrived at the Quan family.”

“This tea… consider it a greeting.”

Hao Nhien was slightly surprised.

But he still accepted it.

“Thank you.”

The young woman immediately shook her head.

“It’s nothing.”

With that, she hurriedly turned and left.

Her friend, who had been waiting some distance away, immediately covered her mouth and laughed.

The two quickly disappeared beyond the corridor.

Hao Nhien looked at the bottle in his hand.

A little confused.

Beside him, Tieu Lan lowered her head again.

Her shoulders trembled.

Hao Nhien looked at her.

“What are you laughing at now?”

“Nothing.”

Hao Nhien did not ask again.

Just as he was preparing to leave, his gaze suddenly stopped.

At the edge of the crowd, Elder Linh Van had appeared at some unknown point.

Quan Cuong, who had just turned around, also looked in that direction.

Their gazes met.

Linh Van gave a slight nod.

Very slight.

Quan Cuong instinctively nodded back before turning away.

It was only a tiny movement.

But Hao Nhien saw it.

He showed nothing.

He only remembered it in silence.

That night, Hao Nhien and Tieu Lan moved into the new courtyard.

Just as Quan Vo Cuc had said, it was considerably larger than the previous one.

The courtyard was bigger.

The walls were thicker.

The cultivation room was more enclosed.

The small spirit gathering formation inside was clearly better than the one before.

Perhaps because Quan Cuong often practiced his fists here, even the courtyard floor had been paved with harder stone.

Tieu Lan smiled as she arranged their things.

“Young Master.”

“Mm?”

“Looks like we really didn’t lose out this time.”

Hao Nhien looked at her.

“You’re still talking about that?”

Tieu Lan immediately turned away.

But her quiet laughter still reached him.

The next day, Hao Nhien requested a meeting with Quan Vo Cuc.

He directly said that he wanted to enter seclusion for the time being and prepare for the Inner Secret Realm.

He did not want to continue participating in open sparring sessions during the remaining time.

Quan Vo Cuc only nodded after hearing him.

“It is good to know when to conserve your strength.”

“Before the secret realm opens, I will tell the others not to disturb you without reason.”

“If you need any resources, speak to the steward.”

Hao Nhien cupped his hands.

“Thank you, Clan Head.”

The following days passed very quietly.

During the day, Hao Nhien guided Tieu Lan in sword practice and helped her become familiar with the Mystic Shadow Crossbow.

In the first few days, her wrist still trembled slightly whenever she raised the crossbow.

But gradually, the movements of drawing it, loading it, aiming, and firing became steadier.

Her swordsmanship was the same.

Not fast.

Not beautiful.

But at least no longer as stiff as before.

Hao Nhien did not need her to become someone who enjoyed fighting.

He only wanted her to be able to protect herself for a few breaths when real danger came.

Nothing more.

At night, he cultivated the Body Soul Fist Art.

At the same time, he continued calling upon the Spirit Sword, practicing the coordination between intent and soul power.

From time to time, he also contemplated the trace of Tieu Dao Sword Intent that had merged with the Spirit Sword.

Compared with before, each time he called upon the Spirit Sword, it responded to his intent faster and more steadily.

But the consumption of soul power was still enormous.

Medicinal liquid.

The spirit gathering formation.

The spiritual qi within the courtyard.

All of it was good.

The sixth layer of Qi Condensation was also very close.

There were several times when Hao Nhien even felt that with just a little more pressure, that barrier would naturally break.

But that final little bit still had not arrived.

He did not rush.

A realm would break through when it was ready.

Forcing it too hard would only risk throwing his true qi into disorder.

The night before the Inner Secret Realm opened.

Hao Nhien sat cross legged in the cultivation room.

Within his meridians, the pale blue Spirit Sword floated silently.

Its light brightened and dimmed.

A very faint trace of sword intent around it occasionally stirred.

Hao Nhien closed his eyes.

His soul power slowly reached toward the Spirit Sword.

The moment his intent moved.

The Spirit Sword immediately responded.

Faster than before.

Steadier than before.

But after maintaining it for only a short time, Hao Nhien already felt a trace of fatigue in his soul.

He immediately withdrew his intent.

The Spirit Sword settled back into stability within his meridians.

Hao Nhien opened his eyes.

Then breathed out softly.

If he truly had to call upon the Spirit Sword repeatedly to attack inside the secret realm, the consumption would still become a serious problem.

He could not rely on it for every battle.

“Body.”

“Fist.”

“Soul.”

The three words were like three doors placed before him.

What exactly did the Quan family’s Inner Secret Realm have to do with those three words?

Was the missing portion of the Body Soul Fist Art truly hidden within it?

Was the Soul Nourishing Fruit the key to opening the third trial?

Hao Nhien was still thinking when a soft knock came from outside.

“Young Master.”

“May I come in?”

“Come in.”

The door opened.

Tieu Lan entered carrying a small wooden tray.

On it was a bowl of hot spirit rice porridge.

A plate of green vegetables stir fried with mushrooms.

And a cup of pale green medicinal tea.

She placed the tray down.

“You have to enter the secret realm tomorrow.”

“Young Master, eat something.”

“Don’t cultivate too late.”

Hao Nhien looked at her.

Tieu Lan had changed quite a bit over these past days.

Not in appearance.

But in bearing.

She was still gentle.

Still liked to smile.

Still looked after every meal for him.

But Hao Nhien had noticed that she practiced with the sword and crossbow much more diligently than before.

Perhaps because tomorrow, he would have to enter the secret realm alone.

So she wanted to do everything she could as well as possible.

Hao Nhien picked up the cup of medicinal tea.

He took a sip.

Slightly bitter.

Then followed by a very faint sweetness.

He was somewhat surprised.

“This tea is different from before.”

Tieu Lan immediately nodded.

Her eyes brightened slightly.

“I used the new medicine cauldron to try balancing the wood qi.”

“The medicinal effect is gentler.”

“But it lasts longer.”

“It probably won’t help with a breakthrough.”

“But drinking some before entering the secret realm should help keep the meridians more stable.”

Hao Nhien sensed it for a moment.

Then nodded.

“Very good.”

Tieu Lan immediately smiled.

Hao Nhien set down the cup.

“Tomorrow, after I enter the secret realm, you stay in the courtyard.”

“The Quan family has people guarding the estate.”

“But you still need to be careful.”

“Don’t keep the Mystic Shadow Crossbow in the basket.”

“Keep it somewhere you can draw it immediately.”

“Keep your sword beside the bed.”

“If a stranger comes, don’t open the door casually.”

Tieu Lan obediently nodded.

“I’ll remember.”

Hao Nhien looked at her for another moment.

His voice softened.

“Don’t worry too much.”

“The secret realm is a trial of the Quan family.”

“It isn’t a death ground.”

Tieu Lan lowered her head.

“I know.”

She was silent for a moment.

“But I’m still worried.”

Hao Nhien did not answer immediately.

In the end, he reached out and gently rubbed her head.

“I’ll come back out.”

Tieu Lan raised her head.

Her eyes were slightly red.

But she was still smiling.

“Mm.”

“I’ll wait for you, Young Master.”