Chapter 17: Aptitude Results, 3 in 1!

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Gu He was surprised. How did this guy, who could be said to have no cultivation talent, cultivate to become a martial artist? Not only that, he was a second refinement martial artist.

Qin Huai’s expression remained the same when he heard this. He had always known that his cultivation aptitude was not good, and this was what the warrior in the town had said.

Gu He picked up a small blood-colored stone from the table, then put a drop of blood on it. Qin Huai followed his instructions and bit his finger to squeeze out a drop of blood.

The next moment, the stone glowed with a red light for a second or two before it slowly faded away. Gu He raised his head and looked at Qin Huai with a cold expression. “You’re at the second refinement, right?”

“Yes.”

“His vitality isn’t strong either,” Gu He said coldly. This stone can detect vitality.

Qin Huai pondered deeply. The strength of one’s Qi and blood, other than one’s realm, was related to the Qi and blood nourishing treasures such as Qi and blood soup and Qi and blood pills.

He hadn’t had much money for the past year, and his salary had not increased, not to mention the prices of goods had soared. So it was no surprise that the amount of blood and Qi soup he drank was very little.

Naturally, his vitality was barely satisfactory. If you don’t have enough talent, you have to have money.

Gu He pushed the huge rock in front of Qin Huai and said, “Put another drop of blood.”

The blood dripped onto the rock, and its light flashed three times.

Qin Huai looked at Gu He. The latter’s face was as cold as ice.

“In this world, it’s not always better to have more cultivation techniques. The Qi and blood cultivated by each cultivation method are different. The more cultivation methods you practice, the stronger your Qi and blood will be, but it will also make your Qi and blood more mottled.

“Many cultivation techniques will make you strong for a while, but they will also cut off your path to breakthrough, making your martial Dao bottleneck like a tower, unbreakable. Not to mention, your talent is extremely poor!”

Qin Huai didn’t say anything. He didn’t expect that there would be such a thing about cultivation techniques. He had cultivated Qi-nurturing technique, breath control technique, and the thunderflash technique, which he had yet to master.

He had to admit it was indeed mottled. However, he relied on gaining experience to become stronger, and there was no so-called martial Dao bottleneck.

But, he couldn’t enter the dojo.

“Hehe, but it’s not like there’s no room for negotiation.” Gu He’s tone changed. “I like people like you who punish evil and promote good. You are a young man with youthful ambition.”

He continued, “You have a good reputation for slaying evil, so I’m willing to give you this opportunity. However, the decision to enter the dojo will be made by the examiners, and they don’t have a good temper…” Gu He’s words stopped abruptly.

Qin Huai understood the other party’s hint. He took out two silver notes and handed them to Gu He without a change of expression.

“You are indeed thoughtful. These two hundred taels will be really useful.” Gu He nodded in satisfaction. “As the saying goes, hard work can make up for one’s shortcomings. It’s the same on the path of martial arts. You’ve cultivated to the second refinement realm with your talent, so you’ve obviously suffered a lot.

“Go back and wait for my news. I won’t let the Thunderbolt Dojo lose a hard-working young man.” He then patted Qin Huai’s shoulder before turning to leave.

“Many thanks, Senior!”

…

Thunderbolt Dojo

Gu He and the other head examiner sat down at the wooden table with a few pieces of paper in their hands. There were two more people in front of him, wearing long robes and velvet clothes from the Thunderbolt Dojo.

They each picked up their rice paper. On them was information on Qin Huai and the others.

“Qin Huai’s whereabouts are unknown. Chu Chengping fled to Pingnan City three years ago. He entered the Liu family’s apothecary in the city because he could read. I remember that their previous shopkeeper was a disciple of the Changshan Dojo. In the end, he was tricked by a female medicine gatherer and left the dojo. The woman even ran away, making that fellow a laughingstock in the city.”

Fang Ruo recalled the past and continued reading. “And he cultivated to the second refinement realm in one year and two months. You’re a genius, Old Gu.”

Fang Ruo was pleasantly surprised. “I remember that this kid even exterminated some bandit gang. His reputation in the city is also not bad.”

“Old Fang, look down.” Gu He said slowly.

Fang Ruo continued reading and frowned. “Root bone, lower bones, Qi and blood strength, lower bones, Qi and blood mottled, the blood stone flashed three times… That’s impossible, right?”

Fang Ruo was suspicious. According to what was written on the paper, it was already a miracle for Qin Huai to be able to cultivate a technique to the beginner level, let alone to cultivate it twice in a year. Old Gu’s bone sensing was second to none in the Thunderbolt Dojo. He hadn’t missed it all these years.

“As for the blood stone results, I’m even more certain. It’s most likely compatible with the Liu family apothecary’s yang Qi art. His luck is better.” The old man who spoke closed his eyes to rest.

Fang Ruo knocked on his pipe. “Ahem, ahem, ahem. I think since he can cultivate to the second refinement, why don’t we give him a chance?”

“What’s there to try? Root bone is everything. Moreover, the blood stone has flashed three times, which means that he has already cultivated three skills. If you add thunderflash to the equation, he will be able to cultivate three skills.

“With Qi and blood that cultivates four cultivation techniques at the same time, in addition to such innate ability, I think I don’t need to say what the upper limit of that person’s martial arts is.” This time, the one who spoke was actually Gu He, who had taken Qin Huai’s money. He only believed in innate ability and talent.

The so-called “hard work can make up for one’s lack of talent” was just a modest saying of the strong. At the very least, he had never seen a martial artist who succeeded solely through hard work.

Therefore, he would definitely not let Qin Huai in. As for the 200 taels, if the fool was willing to give him money, what reason did he have to refuse?

Fang Ruo also nodded. “He can destroy his cultivation technique and re-cultivate it, but with his talent, without the previous opportunities, it’ll be difficult for him to cultivate it in this lifetime.

“However, this Qin Huai has just exterminated the Blackhawk Gang, so he has quite the prestige among the commoners.” Fang Ruo changed the topic.

He liked children who were more moderate and made it to the top through hard work. In addition, Qin Huai’s act of killing a gang had won his heart. Therefore, he subconsciously sided with Qin Huai.

Just as he finished speaking, a tall figure walked into the hall.

“If we reject him, then we can show the harshness and standard of our Thunderbolt Dojo. Moreover, our dojo is the head of the eight major martial arts centers. Why would we need to add flowers to a brocade?”

The person who spoke was the leader of the younger generation of the Thunderbolt Dojo, Reihom.

“Haha, what are you doing here, kid?” The cold old man looked at Reihom, and a smile appeared on his face.

“I’ll take a look along the way,” Reihom said calmly.

This made the old man’s enthusiastic handshake come to an abrupt end, and he awkwardly retracted his hand.

“I’ve seen this person before. He’s nothing special, and I’m sure he’s managed to get to where he is by seducing women from the Luo family. He’s got a good way to get to the top by seducing women, but it’s impossible for him to get into our dojo. The Thunderbolt Dojo only recognizes talent!” Reihom seemed to have made his final decision.

“Indeed.” Fang Ruo nodded.

The other person also nodded in agreement. They were all old instructors of the Thunderbolt Dojo, but in front of Reihom, they could only obey.

There was no other reason. Reihom was simply too powerful.

“I also agree with Reihom’s words! Only then can we show the fairness of our Thunderbolt Dojo. Also, I suggest we secretly leak this news out, hehe!”

Gu He laughed. He raised his brush and drew a big cross on the paper with Qin Huai’s name.

…

Black Iron Forging Technique (Beginner, 91/200)

Black Iron Forging Technique (Beginner, 147/200)

Black Iron Forging Technique (Beginner, 195/200)

Black Iron Forging Technique (Intermediate, 27/400)

Three days had passed. Qin Huai had been waiting in the Luo Manor.

However, even after his iron forging skill had reached the intermediate level, he still did not hear anything back from the Thunderbolt Dojo.