「Instructor Hall.」
"The Ox Demon's Strong Power Skill has a total of five forms: Ox Demon's Horn, Ox Demon's Hoof Stomp, Ox Demon Tail Swing, Ox Demon Transporting Skin, and Ox Demon Stretching."
"You've already mastered the first three forms. The latter two correspond to the External Refining stages of Copper Skin and Steel Rebar."
"After your Wild Ox Force cultivation reaches the Great Success stage, you can begin External Refining to temper your skin. Forging an impenetrable Copper Skin will mean you have achieved success in your cultivation."
"During this process, do not cultivate any other type of Power. You don't want to compromise the purity of your Wild Ox Force, as that would affect your External Cultivation."
"Once you succeed in externally refining Steel Rebar, you will be promoted to an Elite Disciple of the sect..."
Instructor Hall Steward Lin Shiyu explained the External Refining Method within the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist to Yang Chan in detail, adding some important cultivation knowledge as he went.
Normally, the Instructor Hall wouldn't impart the techniques directly. Instead, one would have to wait about half a month for all the disciples who had comprehended Wild Ox Force during that period to gather, at which point the last two forms of the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist would be taught to everyone at once.
Yang Chan knew this from his time at the Medicine Hall's assessment area. He had only come to register and get the specific date for the instruction.
He was surprised that Steward Lin was kind enough to teach him the last two Fist Technique forms on the spot.
Despite his surprise, Yang Chan kept his eyes fixed on the Steward, silently memorizing the changes in the movements as Steward Lin demonstrated the technique.
The two forms, Ox Demon Transporting Skin and Ox Demon Stretching, weren't complex, but they contained numerous variations.
Ox Demon Transporting Skin had 144 variations, while Ox Demon Stretching had 180. The key was that each variation tempered the skin and flesh and stretched the muscles and bones in a different location.
After demonstrating them once, Lin Shiyu took out a brand-new book. The title "Ox Demon's Mighty Fist" was written on it, clearly prepared for Official Disciples.
"What I just demonstrated were Ox Demon Transporting Skin and Ox Demon Stretching. Once your Wild Ox Force cultivation reaches Great Success, you can begin practicing these two Fist Technique forms."
"For now, you can practice the movements by following the Fist Technique I just showed you, but don't circulate your Power. Your Power is still nascent. If you exhaust it, nurturing it back will consume a great deal of time and Qi and Blood. The loss isn't worth the gain."
Having finished demonstrating the Fist Technique, Lin Shiyu handed the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist manual to Yang Chan and spoke.
"Thank you, Steward Lin. This disciple will practice the movements now. I'll have to ask for your guidance and correction."
Yang Chan replied after listening.
Although it was Yang Chan's first time practicing the newly added Ox Demon Transporting Skin and Ox Demon Stretching forms of the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist, his progress wasn't slow, thanks to his experience with the first three forms. The main challenge was mastering the variations.
Under Steward Lin's repeated guidance, Yang Chan finally managed to perform a complete set of Ox Demon Transporting Skin and Ox Demon Stretching. For the rest, as Lin Shiyu said, he could just practice according to the book.
The reason for the personal instruction was to help him achieve the Beginner stage quickly and leave a deeper impression.
"It's nothing. You are a disciple who comprehended Power before the deadline for expelling Servant Disciples, so you deserve this reward."
"Your Medicine Hall's Hall Master Gu even made a bet with several other Hall Masters over which hall's Servant Disciple would be the first to comprehend Wild Ox Force within this one-month period."
"The first person to comprehend Wild Ox Force gets to receive an additional Cultivation Technique from the Instructor Hall."
After briefly explaining the reason, Lin Shiyu couldn't help but sigh at Yang Chan's luck.
'This guy's luck is really one good thing after another.'
"Don't get too excited just yet. This Cultivation Technique is a Health Cultivation Technique, not a Slaying Technique. You've just become an Official Disciple, so it's best for you to focus on cultivating Wild Ox Force. Practicing other Slaying Techniques won't benefit you."
"If you succeed in cultivating a Health Cultivation Technique, it can extend your life. However, it takes a very long time—perhaps more than ten years to see any effect. So, you can try practicing it in your spare time, but don't spend too much time on it."
Seeing the look of pleasant surprise on Yang Chan's face, Lin Shiyu threw a bucket of cold water on his enthusiasm.
Disciples in the Instructor Hall almost never chose a Health Cultivation Technique. Only those without ambition, who wished for a long life in their later years, would practice one.
Ambitious disciples who obtained a Health Cultivation Technique would rarely spend time on it. After all, practicing it consumed a great deal of time for very little increase in strength. They would be better off practicing a few more sets of the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist.
"This disciple understands. Thank you for your teachings, Steward Lin."
Yang Chan nodded, but as he lowered his head, a flash of delight crossed his eyes. He hadn't expected to get a Health Cultivation Technique from the Instructor Hall.
'He was different from others. After cultivating a Health Cultivation Technique, he could clearly see all sorts of improvements.'
'He understood the benefits of practicing a Health Cultivation Technique better than anyone.'
"This Turtle Breath Body Cultivation Skill is quite balanced and gentle. The cultivation method is relatively simple. As long as you follow the instructions, you won't run into any problems."
Lin Shiyu took a book from a nearby shelf. At the very top was written "Turtle Breath Body Cultivation Skill."
"If you can't read, you can go to the Mongolian Academy within the Medicine Hall to learn. That's one of the benefits of being an Official Disciple of the Cyan Yuan Sect."
When Lin Shiyu saw a strange look in Yang Chan's eyes after he opened the Turtle Breath Body Cultivation Skill manual, he assumed the boy couldn't read and decided to speak up.
The Turtle Breath Body Cultivation Skill was different from the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist; it was mostly text, with many detailed descriptions.
"Thank you for the reminder, Steward Lin. This disciple studied before coming up the mountain."
The reasons Yang Chan had been able to become a Servant Disciple in the Cyan Yuan Sect's Medicine Hall were threefold: first, he was originally meant to be a Medicinal Material Collection Apprentice and knew a bit about the Medicine Hall's affairs; second, he was literate, which naturally put him ahead of some others; and third, he had presented a Centennial Ginseng.
The Cyan Yuan Sect's recruitment of Servant Disciples was also a multi-layered selection process, so they were naturally a cut above ordinary people.
"Good. You don't need to come back to the Instructor Hall anymore. Go to the Internal Affairs Hall to collect your living supplies."
Hearing this, Lin Shiyu waved his hand dismissively.
After watching Yang Chan leave, a look of annoyance appeared on Lin Shiyu's face.
'He hadn't realized Yang Chan was the one who comprehended Wild Ox Force with the help of Medicine Hall Master Gu An. It was normal for the various halls to compete for Official Disciples, but there were some people who were off-limits—those personally nurtured by a hall.'
'Since Yang Chan had received the Qi Nourishing Soup from Hall Master Gu An, he was considered to be someone the Medicine Hall Master was personally cultivating. Naturally, one couldn't compete for such a person.'
'Besides, it took Yang Chan two and a half years to comprehend Power. His Talent must be average, so there was no need to fight over him anyway.'
'Most importantly, this Hall Master Gu An was an extremely petty person. If he found out about this, he would very likely make things difficult for him. After all, Gu An was also an Elder of the Cyan Yuan Sect, so his status was anything but ordinary.'
'Thank goodness Yang Chan didn't agree, or it would have been big trouble. Still, even though the boy's Talent is average, his interpersonal skills and luck are quite good. By teaching him the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist privately this time, I've both made a gesture for Hall Master Gu An to see and earned a favor from Yang Chan.'
Lin Shiyu thought to himself.