C9 To Activate the Wealth

"Then I'll exert just fifty percent of my effort."

"Don't let me down, now..."

After pondering for a moment, Lin Zitong gave it some thought. The training partner's perspective seemed quite reasonable. She swirled around, her skirt flaring as she made her way to the center of the platform. This involuntary twitch at the corner of Meng Yang's mouth betrayed his effort to suppress the intense pain in his abdomen as he stepped up onto the platform.

Before Meng Yang could snap out of his bewilderment, Lin Zitong's attack was already upon him. In a frantic effort, Meng Yang mustered all his strength and delivered a fierce slap forward.

"Bam!"

Their palms met, and the massive force transmitted from the impact sent Meng Yang stumbling back four steps. Lin Zitong, however, remained unmoved, a smile of satisfaction gracing her youthful face for the first time.

"Not bad at all. I'm quite pleased. Keep it up!"

Encouraged by Lin Zitong's melodious voice, a gleam appeared in Meng Yang's eyes, and he unleashed the Soul Stealing Palm once more. Lin Zitong, silent and smiling sweetly, countered with another palm strike.

The square echoed with the dull thuds of their palms colliding and Meng Yang's grunts as he took the hits. Over time, the proficiency of both the Soul Stealing Palm and the flesh puppet technique increased. Although Lin Zitong hadn't used her full strength, the proficiency of the flesh puppet technique had improved significantly.

The pace was on par with Ma Qingshan and his companions' relentless assault. Three hours of training flew by, and a cry of surprise escaped Lin Zitong's lips. Meng Yang, aching all over, collapsed to the ground, a sense of relief washing over him.

Later, Lin Zitong inquired what reward he desired, and without hesitation, Meng Yang requested the Scripture of the Triune Soul. This was a foundational heart sutra reserved for the Lin family's core disciples. It was also the only path Nan Chenhai had suggested for Meng Yang to change his current circumstances.

It was not unheard of for the Lin family to promote a training partner to core disciple status; in fact, it was quite common. Despite the Lin family's apparent indifference towards training partners, they recognized and nurtured talent and strength when they saw it, revealing their centuries-old secret to maintaining a foothold in Entheas: they valued and cultivated talent.

However, such situations only occurred with ordinary training partners.

As for someone like Nan Chenhai, who bore a tattoo of characters on his forehead, there was never a chance of escape.

Moreover, Nan Chenhai had claimed he was not just any criminal, but a heavy death-row inmate.

To alleviate their burden, the local prison authorities had long since struck deals with some of the noble families.

Why not take the opportunity to avoid carrying out executions themselves and also receive a substantial sponsorship?

The magnanimous Lin Zitong did not keep Meng Yang waiting long before she instructed her servants to deliver the heart sutra.

Meanwhile, the group of training partner disciples still awaiting selection were filled with regret and envy.

They wished they were the ones sitting on the ground, defeated.

Only a handful of individuals watched Meng Yang with intense focus, as though they were trying to etch his image into their memory.

They knew that not many high-level training partners could withstand three hours against Lin Zitong without succumbing.

"It seems the Lin family will soon have another member rise from training partner to core disciple."

This was the thought that naturally arose in their minds as they watched Meng Yang.

...

Returning to his room, Meng Yang held the blue leather-bound book in his hands and laughed with excitement.

This was the key that could enable an ordinary person to undergo Blood to Spirit Transmutation and advance to the De-boned realm, setting them on the path of the mighty.

It was also the emblem of his impending status as a core disciple of the Lin family.

Once he mastered it, his identity would be transformed. Meng Yang couldn't contain his excitement.

"Nan Chenhai, check this out!"

Upon entering the room, Meng Yang was eager to boast to Nan Chenhai, but to his disappointment, only the unconscious dark-skinned youth was present; Nan Chenhai had disappeared. Given the time, it was also his day to practice.

With a heart bursting with elation, Meng Yang wasted no time and sat down cross-legged to begin his cultivation practice as outlined in the book.

He had previously tested himself and realized that no matter what he shouted or did, immediate understanding of the Scripture of the Triune Soul eluded him.

This realization made it clear to Meng Yang that his future cultivation of martial arts and other methods would have to be methodical and progressive.

As dawn's dim light returned to the earth on the second day, birdsong filtered through the window.

Meng Yang, looking utterly exhausted, finally opened his bloodshot eyes.

Simultaneously, new information emerged before his eyes.

"Successfully learned the Scripture of the Triune Soul.

After a week of cultivation, proficiency increased by 1."

Staring at the information in his pupils, Meng Yang's mouth twitched, and he nearly coughed up blood.

The proficiency of the Scripture of the Triune Soul had only increased by 1 overnight?

How long would it take to cultivate the Scripture of the Triune Soul to Great Completion?

Could it be that this body's talent was even poorer than he had imagined?

Closing the book of the Scripture of the Triune Soul, Meng Yang continued in utter despair, "This cultivation method is excruciatingly slow. Just one point of proficiency per day. Will I only make a breakthrough when I'm old?"

"This isn't cultivation; it's a total rip-off!"

"Bone Tempering, Mortal Shedding, Convergence of Five Energies, Three Flowers Gathered Atop, and then reaching the Innate realm. And there are six more realms beyond that."

"First level of First Strike, Second level of Imperial Grace, Third level of Martial Confluence, Fourth level of Fleshmeld, Fifth level of Celestial Embryo, Sixth level of True Martial, each divided into nine stages."

"According to the Scripture of the Triune Soul, it seems I'm nothing more than a mere mortal not even ranked in the hierarchy of cultivation..."

As he spoke, the despair on Meng Yang's face deepened.

He hadn't even reached the midpoint of cultivating the Scripture of the Triune Soul, and he felt like he was nearing his grave. The thought made his skin crawl.

His heart struggled to pump blood, and waves of dizziness washed over him.

Suppressing the impulse to vomit blood, he reluctantly decided to take a break.

"You're quite something, aren't you? The Scripture of the Triune Soul, huh? Which kind-hearted Lin family disciple did you encounter?"

After lunch, Nan Chenhai, sporting a few minor injuries, came back from the training ground.

He didn't interrupt Meng Yang, who was deep in cultivation.

Upon Meng Yang's awakening, Nan Chenhai couldn't contain his curiosity and eagerly inquired.

The head of the Lin family, their youngest daughter, Lin Zitong...

Meng Yang couldn't help but smile proudly. Seeing the look of surprise and disbelief on Nan Chenhai's face, he recounted the day's training session in detail.

"No wonder," mused Old Nan, "I thought it was odd to receive the Lin family disciple's heart sutra without any notable achievements. It's quite surprising, but that little girl is certainly easy to sway."

At these words, Meng Yang's smile quickly faded into displeasure.

"What are you implying? I, Meng Yang, earned it through my own abilities. How can you suggest I was duped?"

Nan Chenhai shook his head, his smile tinged with irony, as the two enjoyed a playful argument.

The night passed, and the following morning, Ma Qingshan and his crew came to give Meng Yang another beating.

This time, there were five of them, and after half an hour of enduring their blows, Meng Yang had gained less than 3000 proficiency points.

After lunch, with a reminder from Nan Chenhai, Meng Yang excitedly made his way to the Steward Courtyard.

It was the end of the month, the day the Lin family distributed soul stones.

As a condemned man, Nan Chenhai wasn't entitled to such benefits, which made Meng Yang reflect with a tinge of melancholy.

He thought about how Nan Chenhai couldn't muster a single word just three days ago, yet now they had become friends who could talk about anything. Nan Chenhai even offered advice on Meng Yang's cultivation, which made Meng Yang realize that the world wasn't as indifferent as he once thought.

The butler with the familiar yellow teeth and goatee was there as always.

Upon reaching the Steward Courtyard, Meng Yang took the sparkling soul stone from the goateed butler. Before he could express his gratitude, his right pupil suddenly contracted.

Then, an icy voice echoed in his mind.

Ding! Successful absorption of the soul stone, wealth value activated.

As the host has triggered the wealth value, all personal information is now displayed.

"Holy shit..." Meng Yang was momentarily dumbfounded, then quickly overwhelmed with joy.

Wealth: 100.

Level: Mortal.

Physical Body: None.

Heart Sutra: Scripture of the Triune Soul (Entry Level).

Martial Arts: Soul Stealing Palm, Water Serpent Style, Flesh Puppet.

Other panels and functions remain unupgraded, as the host has yet to trigger the necessary points.

As the information pulsed before him, so too did his heart, which he couldn't control amidst the tumultuous waves of emotion.

Moreover, after the details of the Soul Stealing Palm and the flesh puppet techniques appeared, his right pupil displayed a peculiar "[+]" sign.

Soul Stealing Palm: Proficiency 7656/10000 [+] Beginner.

Flesh Puppet: Proficiency 5185/10000 [+] Beginner.

Water Serpent Style: Proficiency 7344/10000 [+] Beginner.

"Level up?"