Minor Achievement... Minor Achievement...Barely... Minor Achievement...
Li Shuxing looked at the ceiling for a good while before turning back to his Junior Disciple, a gentle expression on his face.
"After practicing for so long, you've only just reached Minor Achievement, which is indeed just average. But your Master believes that as long as you continue to be diligent and hardworking, taking one step at a time, one day you will achieve great success."
Hearing this, Fang Yu, who was standing nearby, looked over with a bewildered expression.
What did she just hear?
Reaching Minor Achievement in less than a day, and that's only considered average?
Then what about her, who took a month and a half to reach Minor Achievement?
And what about Senior Brother, who took over half a month to reach Minor Achievement?
Did Master's conscience truly not ache when he said that?
"Master, rest assured, Disciple can do even better. If I hadn't accidentally fallen asleep last night, I might already be close to Major Achievement..."
Huo Yuanhong said.
Li Shuxing: "..."
Fang Yu: "..."
"It's fine. Work and rest should be balanced; there's no need to push yourself so hard."
Li Shuxing's hands, clasped behind his back, clenched and relaxed, clenched and relaxed. It took him a great deal of effort to finally calm down, and he spoke in a measured tone.
At this moment, he finally truly understood the feeling his Master had experienced when teaching him back then—that feeling of being overwhelmed with surprise, so surprised he didn't want to speak, only to hit someone.
The waves of the Yangtze River push forward the waves in front!
"Back then, your Master was only twenty years old, just two months older than you, yet he had already achieved Manifest Force and could challenge martial arts schools alone. You still need to work harder."
Li Shuxing commented with a calm expression.
But what he didn't say was that he had started building his foundation from a young age, and when he officially began practicing martial arts at sixteen, it still took him over half a month to reach Manifest Force Minor Achievement. By the time he entered Manifest Force at nineteen, he had already diligently practiced for over three years!
Unlike Huo Yuanhong, who had been fumbling around aimlessly before. Strictly speaking, he only got on the right track and started serious practice yesterday afternoon!
"To be able to challenge a martial arts school alone at twenty, Master is truly amazing!"
Huo Yuanhong exclaimed.
He was only two months away from twenty, and his chances of reaching Manifest Force within two months were only about eighty to ninety percent.
Li Shuxing smiled and said, "Not at all, just barely. There's a small competition in three days, a friendly sparring match between our hall and other martial arts schools for those under twenty. You can experience it then, don't feel pressured..."
"Other martial arts schools? Will people from Wen Jian Martial Arts School also come?"
"Naturally. Your former Senior Brother will also be there, but he's over twenty. The one competing should be his most valued younger brother, who is also the ace of Wen Jian Martial Arts School."
Li Shuxing naturally knew what his Junior Disciple was thinking.
"Master, rest assured, Disciple will definitely take first place."
Huo Yuanhong said.
Whether it was to defeat Junzi Jian's younger brother or for the chilian paste, the first-place prize mentioned by the steward, he had to take first place!
In others' eyes, he was still a long way from reaching Manifest Force Peak and needing chilian paste, but he knew that in three or four days at most, he would need chilian paste to replenish his Origin Qi expenditure!
"It's fine, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just experience the atmosphere."
Li Shuxing chuckled softly.
While he was impressed by Huo Yuanhong's talent, a competition concerning the martial hall's reputation naturally couldn't rely on a newcomer to fight.
When he said "experience it," he truly just wanted Huo Yuanhong to get a feel for the atmosphere of actual combat, even if he was eliminated in the first round.
There were many Disciples in the hall under twenty who had reached Manifest Force Major Achievement, and even several at Manifest Force Peak. It wasn't necessary to have a Manifest Force Minor Achievement newcomer uphold the hall's prestige.
"Alright, more talk is useless. I still have some time this morning, so I'll teach you for an hour."
For the next period, Huo Yuanhong focused on practicing with the spear.
Li Shuxing watched from the side. At first, he would occasionally offer guidance, but gradually, he noticed that it seemed as long as he provided the specific practice method, Huo Yuanhong could correct his own mistakes even without constant guidance.
So, he simply poured all the details and tricks from Minor Achievement to Peak into Huo Yuanhong, and after he had memorized them all, Li Shuxing left with Fang Yu...
"Master, for the small competition against Wen Jian Martial Arts School in three days, are you really planning to let Junior Brother participate?"
"Yes."
"But... although he has reached Manifest Force Minor Achievement and is just under twenty, almost all the participants in such competitions are at Manifest Force Major Achievement. He won't get any ranking if he participates... Moreover, if Junior Brother makes an appearance in such a public setting, the Martial Arts Association might not be able to turn a blind eye anymore..."
Fang Yu's expression was somewhat complex.
The Martial Arts Association had already issued a ban, prohibiting martial arts schools from recruiting commoners.
But due to Li Shuxing's skill, as long as Huo Yuanhong didn't show his face publicly and wasn't caught, the Martial Arts Association would most likely turn a blind eye for now.
Even if they were to act, it would have to be after the Tianjin Tournament.
Therefore, what Li Shuxing and the Fang Family initially discussed was to secretly accept him as a Disciple, not directly entering Huo Yuanhong's identity into the true Disciple roster, but creating a separate one, leaving no paper trail.
But now... if Huo Yuanhong truly went on stage and participated in such a martial arts school competition, it would mean that Divine Spear Martial Hall publicly acknowledged Huo Yuanhong's identity, openly defying the Martial Arts Association!
The cost... was too great!
"If A Hong's talent was only similar to your Senior Brother's, then your Master naturally wouldn't let him show his face. Private training would be enough."
Li Shuxing said calmly, "But judging by his mastery of the paper-piercing technique, his talent is in no way inferior to your Master's back then. Such a good seedling should not be delayed."
Practicing martial arts, just practicing isn't enough; one must fight!
The progress gained from a single actual combat session is worth countless days and nights of arduous practice!
All those Great Masters renowned in Tianjin, without exception, began competing on stage from a young age, constantly surpassing their limits in battles to reach their high positions.
Without experiencing actual combat, even a peerless Genius with the potential to surpass Manifest Force could very likely stop at Manifest Force.
Even the time it takes to enter Manifest Force would be much longer.
"Master, are you really planning to train Junior Brother as a true Disciple of the martial hall?"
Fang Yu's face was solemn.
Li Shuxing's current decision was taking things in another direction, touching upon the fundamental interests of the martial hall. The Fang Family would most likely not agree.
And as the martial hall's largest co-investor and financier, if the Fang Family disagreed, it meant that the troubles and losses incurred would have to be borne by Li Shuxing himself.
"Junior Brother is indeed exceptionally talented, but for him to truly grow and reach a point where he can influence the situation, it will be at least ten years from now. Master, you... probably can't protect him for that long."
Fang Yu was silent for a moment before speaking.
She said this sincerely.
Li Shuxing was strong, unrivaled in Tianjin, but to resist the sweeping tide of the era, even if he was above Manifest Force, how long could he hold out?
Half a year? Or a year?
In such a short time, even if Junior Brother was exceptionally talented, at most he would only reach Covert Force.
If the Fang Family behind her was willing to go all out, relying on their immense influence in both political and business circles, they could indeed buy some more time.
However, the ban on commoners practicing martial arts was now a major trend, and Junior Brother didn't have much time left to grow. Investing in him would likely be a futile effort, and those clan elders would certainly not agree.
Moreover, the Fang Family's top-tier resources had long been concentrated on their best investment target, who had already successfully grown to Manifest Force Peak and was now attempting to break through beyond Manifest Force.
If all went well, stepping beyond Manifest Force might happen within these two years.
At such a critical juncture, the Fang Family naturally couldn't divert resources to cultivate a Junior Brother who was just starting out.
Even the secondary resources had already been reserved by several Geniuses who were almost invincible at the Manifest Force and Covert Force levels. One of them was the ace for the small competition in three days, and he was relied upon to overpower the competition and safeguard the interests of the martial hall and the Fang Family.
"How about... we wait a bit longer? With Junior Brother's Manifest Force Minor Achievement strength, he'll most likely be eliminated in the first round if he goes on stage, and it will seriously affect our hall's performance. It might be better to wait a while longer..."
Fang Yu advised.
"It's best to get on stage early."
Li Shuxing was unmoved. He said calmly, "The earlier one experiences actual combat, the greater the impact on their future. Even if he's eliminated in the first round, he'll gain a lot. As for the points lost because of A Hong, I will get them back for him. At worst, I'll add a Master's sparring match."
Master's sparring match!
Fang Yu's expression changed. This was no laughing matter.
Master Li Shuxing was indeed powerful, one of the "one supreme and two heroes," but he was, after all, old. He only looked relatively young because he took good care of himself.
At this age, every time he made a move, it was a consumption of Origin Qi, accelerating the decline of his physical condition, and in severe cases, it could even affect his lifespan.
"Master, absolutely not, you...!"
Fang Yu immediately wanted to persuade him, but looking at Li Shuxing's expression, she ultimately swallowed her words.
She knew her Master's temperament; once he made up his mind, ten horses couldn't pull him back.
She could only force a bitter smile and try to find old medicinal herbs to replenish his Origin Qi.
She sighed inwardly: "Master has truly lost a lot by taking this Disciple. He's already old and still has to personally step into the arena..."
...In the training room, Huo Yuanhong was still focused on practicing with the spear, preparing to defeat Junzi Jian's younger brother in the small competition three days later.
Meanwhile, Father Huo, accompanied by the chubby steward, had arrived at the registration and enrollment office.
The martial hall had only one such office. Whether for true Disciple enrollment or laborer registration, everyone had to come here.
And the person in charge of enrollment was always the same old man with half-closed eyes.