Chapter 56: Breakthrough
When Chen Ming returned ho, the sky had already turned completely dark.
The whole family was seated at the table, waiting for him to eat together.
He sat in his seat and explained, “Traffic jam on the way, I ca back late. Sorry, sorry.”
“As long as you're okay,” said Chen Rui.
The mustache on his upper lip had grown denser, making him look even more mature.
Only then did everyone begin to eat.
Chen Ming first picked up a piece of at and placed it in Li Jinchuan's bowl, who was seated on his left, saying, “You’re still growing. Eat more at.”
Li Jinchuan thanked him, “Thank you, Senior Brother.”
He now seed to have beco a new mber of the Chen family.
Half a year ago, his guardian entrusted him to Chen Ming, saying they had sothing to attend to.
They had originally said they’d be gone for a month, but until now, there had been no news.
So, he had stayed until now.
The thoughts of young people run deep. Living under soone else’s roof, he felt inferior. If Chen Ming didn’t pick at for him, he wouldn’t even reach his chopsticks toward it and would only eat vegetables.
Chen Ming glanced at him and suddenly his gaze sharpened as he asked, “You’ve had a breakthrough?”
Li Jinchuan saw that he had been found out and nodded in acknowledgnt, “Mm.”
Chen Ming praised, “You’ve entered the Ninth Grade at sixteen. As expected, you’re exceptionally gifted.”
Li Jinchuan’s handso face flushed red from the praise, “Senior Brother flatters …”
Chen Rui and his wife hadn’t taken it seriously at first—Chen Ming had praised him more than once—but when they heard he had entered the Ninth Grade, they were startled.
Madam Wei said with so excitent, “Xiaochuan is already a Ninth Grade Martial Artist? That’s amazing!”
She knew better than anyone what becoming a Ninth Grade Martial Artist ant!
A little over a year ago, the Chen family had been on the brink of decline. It was only because Ah Ming broke through to the Ninth Grade that, within just a few months, the family made a miraculous recovery.
Li Jinchuan beca even more embarrassed. His ears turned red in an instant, and he stamred, “Compared to Senior… Senior Brother, I’m still far… far behind…”
At this mont, Chen Lide, who had just celebrated his seventh birthday, beca a bit jealous. He raised his hand and shouted, “Dad, Second Uncle, I want to learn martial arts too!”
Beside him, three-year-old Chen Lirong said in a childish voice, “Silly brother, Second Uncle just said last month that you're too young. You can’t start martial arts until you're ten.”
Her one sentence made Chen Ming laugh. He said, “Little Lirong has a great mory.”
The family burst into joyful laughter, full of warmth and harmony.
…
After dinner, Chen Rui called Chen Ming into the study, saying he had sothing to discuss.
Once seated in the study, Chen Ming noticed his expression was a bit serious and guessed it might be trouble with the pharmacy, so he didn’t rush to ask. Instead, he said, “Lide is already seven. It’s ti to hire a tutor to teach him reading and writing.”
Whether one pursued the scholarly path or martial arts, literacy was essential.
At seven, one would be attending primary school on Earth.
Chen Rui nodded, “Your sister-in-law ntioned it to a few days ago. I’ve already asked soone to look into it.”
He paused, then brought up the main issue, “Ah Ming, do you know about Zhengrentang?”
Chen Ming nodded, “Of course. The largest pharmacy in Qingfeng City, a century-old establishnt.”
“Yesterday, they sent soone through an interdiary, saying our Spring Harmony Hall is overreaching and breaking the rules,” said Chen Rui. “The root of the matter is that I intercepted a shipnt ant for another pharmacy. Ah Ming, will this cause you any trouble?”
Chen Ming smiled, “Don’t worry. Give it a few days, and this won’t even be considered trouble.”
In the Great Jin Dynasty, every trade had its own set of rules. Martial arts schools had guilds, and pharmacies did too.
These were barriers and constraints set up by vested interests to protect their businesses and prevent new competitors from entering the industry.
It was just like gangs dividing territories.
If a newcor extended their reach into soone else’s territory and stole business, the others would naturally react.
If it weren’t for Chen Ming’s presence as an Eighth Grade Martial Artist, it wouldn’t have been just a warning—they’d have smashed the store.
This was because the Chen family’s pharmacy business had expanded too quickly. To find new profit growth, they had to seize others’ business.
Seeing Chen Ming’s response, Chen Rui was relieved. Still, he decided to stop snatching others’ business in the future to avoid causing Ah Ming trouble.
With Ah Ming’s talent, his future achievents were limitless. To bring him trouble and hinder his cultivation for a bit of profit would be sheer foolishness.
Since ancient tis, dicine and martial arts had been inseparable.
The strength and connections of Zhengrentang were far beyond what the Chen family could currently match.
…
Two mornings later, the sky was just beginning to brighten with the first light of dawn.
In the backyard of the Chen family, more than forty young boys were already sweating as they trained.
As usual, Chen Ming personally checked each one’s stance to see if their foundation was stable before concluding the day's lesson.
Once everyone had left, he returned to his room and instructed Chunxiang and Xiaxiang to guard the courtyard entrance and not let anyone in.
He opened the system panel.
【Level: 29】
【Current Points: 88】
【Cultivation thods: “Iron Horse Stance” (Fifth Level, Perfected), “Three Suns Body Tempering” (Sixth Level, 29965/30000)】
【Martial Techniques: “Three Talents Fist” (Mastered), “Eight Trigrams Saber Technique” (Mastered), “Zhuang’s Flying Knife” (Mastered), “Swallow Returns Sword Technique” (Proficient 434/10000)】
Finally, he was about to reach Seventh Grade!
Chen Ming felt a ripple of excitent in his heart.
For the past half year, he had either been bullying children or sparring with people far inferior to him.
On top of that, he had to work hard to build relationships with other martial artists...
Now, it was finally ti to reap the rewards.
“Add points!”
He allocated all 88 points into “Three Suns Body Tempering”.
In an instant, he felt a loud boom within him.
A powerful force erupted from inside his body. His blood seed to boil, burning through his veins, muscles, and bones...
He didn’t know how much ti passed before it finally cald down.
Chen Ming carefully sensed the changes in his body.
It was as if a furnace had ignited inside him, continuously supplying imnse energy.
“This strength feels ten tis greater. So this is the Qi and Blood Realm of Seventh Grade?”
He clenched his fist, and an overwhelming sense of confidence surged within him—one that made him feel he could punch a hole through the sky.
Of course, that was rely an illusion.
…
For the next few days, Chen Ming didn’t go out.
Aside from teaching the children, he stayed in his courtyard, familiarizing himself with his newly enhanced strength.
In truth, he hadn’t yet decided how he would announce his breakthrough to Seventh Grade.
Reaching Seventh Grade from Eighth in just seven months—wouldn’t that sound too shockingly abnormal?
In martial cultivation, the higher the realm, the harder it was to break through, and the more ti it took.
Progressing even faster the higher he went made him seem particularly anomalous.
While he was still hesitating, a visitor arrived.
It was Gu Junrong. Before he even stepped into the courtyard, he was already shouting, “Junior Brother, I have good news for you—Third Senior Brother has broken through… he’s reached Seventh Grade…”
What?
Chen Ming was a bit surprised.
Zhang Mingyu had actually broken through to Seventh Grade?
What a coincidence!
A few days ago, he had said he was going out to take care of sothing. So it turned out he had gone to break through his realm.
Gu Junrong finally rushed inside, his face flushed red with excitent.
Every pore on his body seed to radiate exhilaration. “Third Senior Brother wants to see you. Let’s go!”
“That’s truly wonderful.”
Chen Ming revealed a genuinely joyful smile.
Reviews
All reviews (0)