There are many martial arts schools in Shangyi County, but the only one truly qualified for the Martial Examination is the Martial Arts Academy, which is affiliated with the county government.
Due to a failed martial arts experience at a martial arts school in the previous life, Li Ji'an did not choose a martial arts school in his last life. Instead, he spared no expense to enter the Martial Arts Academy.
This Martial Arts Academy is government-run, and its instructors, and even the gatekeepers, are considered to have official positions.
Aside from apprentices sent in by various martial arts schools after passing their assessments, the academy itself has high requirements for recruiting apprentices.
Bone-Nature, Heart-Nature, and age are all assessed comprehensively.
In his previous life, Li Ji'an put in a lot of effort and faced much criticism to get in here.
"Are you the Daoist priest from Purple Cloud Temple?" This time, as soon as they got out of the carriage, the attendant guarding the Martial Arts Academy gate came forward to greet them.
The middle-aged Daoist priest smiled and responded briefly, then watched Li Ji'an lead Qingyun into the Martial Arts Academy.
"Two Junior Brother Daoists, please follow me to the Academy Management Office first to register, test your Bone-Nature, assess your Heart-Nature, and then go to the training grounds to choose a suitable instructor..." The attendant did not treat the two half-grown boys lightly, which was enough to show that the arrangements within the temple were very well handled, and it also indicated the status of Purple Cloud Temple in the county town.
Walking the path he had walked for ten years in his previous life, Li Ji'an's thoughts were not on the attendant, but on searching for familiar figures.
It wasn't until they left the front yard that he finally couldn't help but ask, "Was there an old gatekeeper here before?"
The attendant's steps paused slightly, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "Is the Junior Brother Daoist referring to... Old Huang from before? If so, he passed away three years ago."
"Oh." Li Ji'an nodded, said nothing more, and showed no emotional fluctuations.
If it was three years ago, Old Huang should have been over sixty years old.
In this era, that was considered a long life, a joyous funeral.
Moreover, ever since his Master passed away in his previous life, he had become very indifferent to life and death.
He had to be indifferent.
With "Returning to Youth" in place, as long as he was careful enough, wasn't killed, and didn't die accidentally, he could theoretically live as long as heaven and earth, enduring for countless generations.
Time, like a blade, would kill everyone, except him.
Fifteen years ago, to enter the Martial Arts Academy, he initially had many battles of wits and courage with Old Huang, and even fantasized that the gatekeeper, Grandfather Huang, might be a reclusive Master.
Because of this, he sent Grandfather Huang a lot of wine and meat.
Until he finally confirmed that he was just an ordinary old man.
However, over time, a deep friendship was still established.
They passed through the corridor and arrived at the familiar Academy Management Office.
He also saw the familiar bone-reading master and the Heart-Nature assessment Master.
Bone-reading still had some theoretical basis. It was based on the final martial arts achievements over the years, looking back at the Bone-Nature before practicing martial arts, and deducing from the results. It was a kind of comprehensive experience.
People with certain types of Bone-Nature would have faster martial arts body tempering speeds and higher upper limits, so that type of Bone-Nature was considered good.
Conversely, it was considered useless.
Of course, this kind of experience, relying entirely on results for deduction, would inevitably have some special cases. It was very possible that there could be a Genius Bone-Nature that had never appeared before, but was treated as ordinary or even inferior Bone-Nature.
As for the Heart-Nature assessment... In Master Zhao's words: "The Heart-Nature for martial arts depends on how determined he is to achieve success in martial arts, and how much he is willing to pay for it?"
The more one was willing to pay, the firmer their will, and the less likely they were to give up halfway.
To put it plainly, it was about how much silver was given.
In his previous life, Li Ji'an moved the Martial Arts Academy with his extremely firm will.
"Are you an aspiring Immortal Seed or just practicing martial arts for physical strength?" The bone-reading master habitually asked as soon as he saw someone enter.
There are two paths in the Martial Arts Academy. One is for aspiring Immortal Seeds, which has high entry requirements and high fees, because the Martial Arts Academy provides a series of resources from instructors to medicine and food to assessments.
It requires at least a medium-grade Bone-Nature, superior Heart-Nature, and an age not exceeding fifteen!
The other is just for practicing martial arts for physical strength, which was the path Li Ji'an took in his previous life.
"Sir, these two are from Purple Cloud Temple..." The attendant promptly interjected to remind him.
"Oh? Then they are aspiring Immortal Seeds, come on, this old man will read your bones." The bone-reading master understood and motioned for Li Ji'an and Qingyun to step forward.
"Ow ~ It hurts, it hurts, gently, gently." The chubby Qingyun became the bone-reading master's target first. As soon as the Master laid hands on him, a pig-like scream erupted.
Li Ji'an had expected this and moved a step aside in advance, opening his mouth slightly at the right time to counteract the sound wave attack.
The bone-reading master was accustomed to this. Not only was he not displeased by the shouting, but a slight joy appeared on his face.
"Not bad, plump but strong, not at all weak, thick bones and long tendons, indeed a good Immortal Seed for martial arts." From the limbs to the Dragon bone, he felt each one, and the bone-reading master nodded repeatedly.
"It seems your Purple Cloud Temple's muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening formula is indeed extraordinary."
"Superior Bone-Nature!"
"Superior Bone-Nature?" Li Ji'an raised an eyebrow slightly, not expecting this little fellow Qingyun's Bone-Nature to be so good.
In his previous life, during his ten years at the Martial Arts Academy, he had only seen a handful of people rated as Superior Bone-Nature by this bone-reading master, and all of them successfully passed the county town's Martial Examination and smoothly entered the Prefecture City Immortal Seeking Academy.
As for himself, when he had his bones read at thirty, he was evaluated as having Inferior Bone-Nature.
"That's right, although Bone-Nature is affected by nourishment and development during childhood, and the influence is not small.
However, the fundamental reason lies in Innate inheritance and fetal shaping.
Senior Brother's family background was good since childhood, and when he had Qingyun, it could even be considered wealthy. During pregnancy, there must have been a lot of strong supplements, so his Innate foundation was good.
Although he didn't cleanse his tendons and strengthen his bones before the age of eight, he never lacked oil and salt, and developed very well.
Plus, he started cleansing his tendons and strengthening his bones with me from the age of eight, so it should be this way!" After coming back to his senses, Li Ji'an smiled knowingly and gave Qingyun an approving look.
"Oh, Grandfather, please help me out, just tell my Master that I have Inferior Bone-Nature and am not suitable for martial arts, okay? I beg you." Qingyun, however, was completely indifferent to this Superior Bone-Nature that everyone else envied and yearned for, even avoiding it like a plague.
"..." The bone-reading master instantly puffed out his beard and glared. In all his life, this was the first time he had seen such a situation.
"Qingyun! Don't be mischievous." Li Ji'an sternly reprimanded him at the opportune moment.
"Junior Brother, I..." Qingyun immediately lowered his head, his face full of remorse.
He had to admit, this was his last hope, and it had finally been shattered.
"Master, please feel mine." Li Ji'an changed the subject and stepped forward proactively.
The bone-reading master eyed Qingyun askance while laying his hands on Li Ji'an.
In his heart, he was quite bewildered by Qingyun's actions, feeling a sense of disappointment.
"Hmm~" Suddenly, just as he was lamenting in his heart about Qingyun's excellent Bone-Nature but lack of desire to practice martial arts, the sensation from his hand made him abruptly withdraw his gaze from Qingyun. Without even having time to hide his regretful expression, he looked directly at Li Ji'an.
Li Ji'an gritted his teeth, enduring the sharp pain coming from his bone joints.
Seeing the bone-reading master's regretful expression, his heart also tightened.
Could it be that his Bone-Nature was still not good?
"If this body was truly Innate deficient from the womb, and even Acquired cleansing of tendons and strengthening of bones couldn't make up for it, then it would increase the difficulty. I would have to find a way to plan for those legendary Divine Pills and Immortal Treasures that can alter Innate Bone-Nature!"
After all, "Returning to Youth" is at the age of eight. He has complete autonomy over things after eight years old, but things before eight years old cannot be changed.
He was somewhat disheartened by this result, but he wasn't completely discouraged. After all, with "Returning to Youth" and Divine Pills and Immortal Treasures that can alter Bone-Nature, if one lifetime isn't enough, then two. If all else fails, ten lifetimes, a hundred lifetimes should be enough.
It's just that each additional "Returning to Youth" means an additional period of childhood shadows and risks. He must be even more cautious and prepare a comprehensive plan for the next "Returning to Youth."
However, at this moment,
"Could it be... the appearance of a Dragon and Tiger?" The bone-reading master exclaimed in disbelief.