Deng Yong agreed without refusal, saying:

"Alright, please sit for a moment, I’ll take Brother Xiaoqi for a stroll in the backyard."

Old Deng could grow his private salt business until it was stable enough to come ashore, thanks to Elder Liang’s support in the past.

It’s important to know, Black Water River has never been peaceful.

Those water thieves hiding in the reed marsh, robbing boats, have been like weeds in the field, cut down again and again, never fully cleaned out.

If it wasn’t for the Fishery Guard patrolling and eliminating, neither the fisherman’s sampans nor the merchant ships on the river would have peaceful times.

This favor is immensely important!

If neglected, and the word reaches Old Deng’s ears, I might be disciplined and have my legs broken.

Seeing Deng Yong being polite, without a hint of impatience or disdain, Bai Qi on one hand marvels at Old Liang’s face-saving ability, and on the other grows more understanding of the martial arts rules.

This Brother Yong’s conduct is clearly indicative of the second disciple among Elder Liang’s three personal disciples.

They are responsible for offering financial respect, building connections, and maintaining the martial arts hall’s reputation.

"The front yard is the place for apprentices to practice skills, Standing Posture Skill, Nourishing Qi and Blood. After making progress and enduring enough, they can enter the backyard to begin Refined Power training.

As Elder Liang said, it will take the fastest three years to nourish, three years to train, totaling six years to complete apprenticeship."

Deng Yong walked ahead, leading the way and explaining the advancement path of the Broken Blade Sect.

That is, apprentices who can join by paying, disciples recognized by the martial arts hall, and those who get taught true skills by personal guidance.

A legitimately established martial arts hall has high requirements for disciples to graduate.

After all, those who commit bad deeds under the martial arts hall’s name harm the teacher’s reputation.

"If I took that Silver Sand Carp to exchange for money, even with the ink inscription reflecting training, today I might still be just a regular disciple."

Bai Qi pondered in his heart and soon followed Deng Yong into the backyard.

Compared to the spacious dirt-packed front yard, this place is larger.

There are several empty weapon racks and stone locks, stone balls, and stone grinders for honing strength nearby.

The number of people is not many, roughly about a dozen, far less bustling than the scene of dozens of young adults practicing fist moves in the front yard.

"Outside, twenty taels of silver for respectful tea, while inside expenses reach three to four hundred taels. If one’s talent is slightly better, it’s not spared much.

Amazing, running a martial arts hall is truly profitable! It’s practically a constant stream of wealth!"

Bai Qi once again looked at those vigorous and robust disciples of the Broken Blade Sect, suddenly feeling like they were heaps of walking snowflake silver.

"Brother Xiaoqi, what level are you currently at? I see your muscles are full, your breathing steady, you should have control over your Qi Blood."

Wherever Deng Yong passed, the sect’s disciples stopped their practice, respectfully calling him ’Second Senior Brother’.

"Currently refining power."

Bai Qi answered frankly.

He stands in the Riding Tiger Stance of the Golden Core Great Strength Skill every day, using the sea-sifting breathing technique to drive the blood flow within his body.

Coupled with herbal decoction to wash feet, soak, and rub the body.

The progress of refining power is not slow, about thirty to forty percent.

To know, from contact with fist moves to now, it’s only been half a month.

"Impressive! You’re stronger than many disciples in our Broken Blade Sect!"

Deng Yong praised with a smile and led Bai Qi to a row of upright targets.

About half a person high, thickly tanned cowhide, wrapped and entwined several times.

Upon close observation, they bear white marks left by fist strikes.

"Our Broken Blade Sect values ’moving like a drawn bow, striking like a thunderclap’, gather energy before punching... the essentials inside, you need to offer respectful tea before I can explain it clearly.

From what I see, you probably haven’t practiced the method, so follow me—aim for the center of the target like this!"

Deng Yong appeared ordinary, not like a practitioner.

But as soon as he spread his legs to form a horse stance, he exhibited a profound foundation in fist techniques.

His lower body seemed rooting, extremely stable, while his upper body slightly fluctuated, like waves rippling in the wind-blown water.

It gave a strange feeling of both relaxation and tension.

With his five fingers tightly clenched, the initiation was like pushing a mountain, but the punch was unbelievably fast, seemingly exploding in the air.

Bai Qi’s eyes blinked, witnessing the three-fingers-thick cowhide target tear open in the middle.

Such robust power, penetrating at least twenty layers deep.

"First Training Great Success! Muscles stretched like slingshot, a pull and release, the power went out!"

Watching Deng Yong’s explanation and demonstration, he vaguely grasps some enlightenment, the ink inscription in his mind flickered, seemingly wanting to coalesce into light, yet unable to continue.

"Is this the effect of literacy proficiency, what’s mentioned as ’seeking analogy, gradually achieving’? It also boosts martial arts?

It’s a pity my comprehension is lacking, unable to distill it clearly.

Feels like it’s behind a layer of window paper, can’t poke through, really frustrating!"

Bai Qi felt a bit discomfort, drawing some insight from Deng Yong’s punch but insufficiently clear. Trying to make an embarrassed appearance:

"Brother Yong, your punch was too fast, worthy of Sect Leader Mu’s top disciple. Just... I couldn’t see it clearly."

Deng Yong waved dismissively and laughed heartily:

"No worries, I just heard Elder Liang mention, Brother Xiaoqi, you’ve been exposed to fist techniques for too short, I’ll practice it again for you."

Bang!

Another explosive, dull-sounding strike in the air!

"Brother Yong, my aptitude is dull, and I didn’t see it clearly."

Bang!

"Brother Yong, your skills are truly profound. This time I saw a bit of the subtleties!"

Bang!

"Brother Yong..."

With repeated calls of "Brother" coming earnestly from the heart, Deng Yong’s smile grew wider as he found rare interest, throwing ten punches in succession, attracting many disciples on the martial stage.

"Second Senior Brother is truly formidable!"

"He’s captured the essence of Master’s teachings in his punches!"

"Feels like he’s already touched the threshold of the Second Training..."

Bai Qi was fully focused, staring intently at the moves Deng Yong demonstrated, gradually grasping each punch’s details.

The flexing muscles, the breathing through the nose and mouth, the issuance of power throughout the body... it seemed as though they were etched into his mind.

Suddenly, his head sank, as if struck by a hammer, his feet staggered slightly, but he quickly regained stability.

"Did I overuse my focus?..."

Bai Qi touched his nose, thankful there was no bleeding.

"How is it? Xiaoqi, do you know what to do now?"

Deng Yong, having expended quite a bit of energy, his forehead glistening with sweat, slowly retracted his stance and dispersed the surrounding Broken Blade Sect disciples.

"I think I might have understood something."

Bai Qi imitated, tightening the muscles in his thighs, and firmly planted into a horse stance.

Just with this move, appreciation appeared in Deng Yong’s eyes.

In martial arts, there is a saying, "First stand post for three years when entering," "To learn fighting techniques, first plant a horse stance."

Bai Qi’s stance was very stable, clearly grasping the essence of Standing Posture Skill, showing he has not skimped on hard work during usual practice.

"It wouldn’t be bad to have another junior disciple like this."

Just as Deng Yong was thinking, he suddenly heard the crisp sound of firecrackers popping continually.

The upright punching target swayed, and the tough cowhide wrapped around it shattered layer by layer.

[A moment of inspiration, learned half a style ’Beng Fist’]

Bai Qi’s eyelid twitched, as energy surged through his body, emitting heat.

He silently summoned the ink seal—

[Skill: Beng Fist (Not Upgradable)]

[Progress: 1/800]

[Effect: Fist’s eye facing up, fist center inward, short-range rapid release, like an arrow piercing through objects]

"Good! Xiaoqi, your refined power is quite impressive!"

Deng Yong acknowledged, stating that with a sudden burst of energy, the ability to pierce through ten layers of cowhide was remarkable.

Combining with the unique styles and training methods of the Broken Blade Sect, Bai Qi should reliably reach the First Training Great Success level without much issue.

Truly a direct disciple candidate!

"When Master returns, I’ll talk to him. Elder Liang, Xiaoqi indeed has some talent, his physique is well-nurtured, he’s good material for entering the Martial Dao!"

Returning to the main hall, Deng Yong did not hold back praise, showing respect to Elder Liang but also stating facts.

Just with that one punch, Bai Qi qualified as a direct disciple candidate.

"If Sect Leader Mu approves, I’ll send Ah Qi to the Broken Blade Sect. If not, then forget it.

In martial arts, skills are not passed lightly, fighting styles are not taught easily, old man Liang knows this.

I’ll then take Ah Qi to visit the other two, try our luck, and head off first."

Liang Laoshu nodded in agreement, extremely confident in Bai Qi’s talent and understanding, though regretting that he started learning martial arts too late, making it difficult to enter and seek apprenticeship under a personal mentor.

"Elder Liang, safe travels. I reckon the Divine Hand Sect and Celestial Eagle Martial Arts Hall are also attending the gathering."

Deng Yong saw him off at the door, smiling as he spoke:

"Once there’s news, I’ll promptly send someone to inform you.

Actually, the martial arts world is not without top experts who mature late.

Xiaoqi hasn’t been cultivated from a young age to forge strength.

Starting as a disciple, slowly refining and mastering training methods isn’t a bad path."

Liang Laoshu remained silent, merely acknowledging as he walked in the direction of the Divine Hand Sect.

Only after he had walked some distance did he speak to Bai Qi:

"In the Martial Dao, early over late, fast over slow.

The gap between you and Ah Yong isn’t large now, simply put he’s at First Training Great Success, while you’re yet to fully refine your power.

After another six years of training and apprenticeship, he will have reached the Second Training Bone-Breaking Barrier, transitioning to ’Mercury Blood’ nurturing ’Silver Marrow’, beginning to accumulate spirit, waiting for a chance to move into the skin training level, immediately creating a gap as vast as heaven and earth.

That’s the difference between a disciple and a direct apprentice.

Moreover, he can learn fighting and killing techniques, not fearing facing enemies in combat.

You may not."

Feeling Liang Old Mao’s sincerity, Bai Qi responded obediently:

"Everything follows Elder Liang’s arrangements."

Even if he couldn’t join the Broken Blade Sect, he still inadvertently picked up half a style of "Beng Fist."

Regardless, he wouldn’t lose out!