"Senior Brother Qin, good morning."
Bai Ziyue greeted with a smile.
"Hello."
Qin Shaoping nodded slightly, having long forgotten who Bai Ziyue was. He responded perfunctorily and stood in the familiar corner, starting his Zen Meditation Posture.
Seeing this, Bai Ziyue was not surprised. It was normal for the other party to not remember him after not meeting for nearly two months.
Glancing at Qin Shaoping's Pile Skill, Bai Ziyue raised his eyebrows in slight astonishment.
During his standing posture, the frequency of his body's rise and fall was much smaller than two months ago, and the movements were relatively minor. As someone who had long perfected his Zen Meditation Posture, Bai Ziyue naturally understood that these were symptoms of reaching the later stages of Small Success in Pile Skill, beginning to converge power.
Once the power was gathered, standing still in the posture would indicate achieving Great Success in Zen Meditation Posture, with power surging like rats in motion, marking the start of External Forging Technique training.
"It's said that Senior Brother Qin entered the Sunburst Gang just six months ago. Also using five days for entry, he reached Small Success in Zen Meditation Posture in fifty-something days, and was immediately noticed by the Law Enforcement Hall's supervisor, who took him as a disciple.
Judging by the current situation, it won't take more than a few months before his Zen Meditation Posture reaches Great Success.
He will achieve Great Success in Zen Meditation Posture within a year, a speed faster even than Zhao Gangyi."
Bai Ziyue made a judgment.
Zhao Gangyi is currently the most talented in the Qinghe Town Sunburst Gang Branch, already starting on External Forging Technique at age fifteen. But he too took a year to achieve Great Success in Zen Meditation Posture.
As Bai Ziyue saw it, Qin Shaoping would achieve the same in three to four months.
Combining the previous training time, he would spend just ten months in total.
"That's normal, although talent is essential, diligence is also critical.
Senior Brother Qin's commitment to training is evident to all, naturally allowing him to reach Great Success in Zen Meditation Posture faster."
Bai Ziyue always knew talent wasn't absolute, that effort in later stages was equally significant.
How many breathtaking geniuses have become mediocre due to lack of effort?
Gathering strength over time, it's not impossible to join the ranks of the strong.
Especially considering Qin Shaoping's talent isn't weak.
"Since Senior Brother Qin can reach Great Success in Zen Meditation Posture in ten months, then with my 'displayed' superior talent, maybe it would be appropriate to break through in nine months or even eight."
Based on this calculation, a further six months is needed..."
Bai Ziyue mumbled, feeling it was somewhat slow.
Even though outsiders might find achieving Great Success in Zen Meditation Posture in eight months shocking and enviable, he had already perfected it with Soul Energy and was unwilling to wait another six months.
"I once learned of an External Forging Technique, intending to seize the opportunity to obtain it.
With the Ghost-Nurturing Evil Cultivator watching from outside, it would be exceedingly dangerous to act rashly."
Resuming his One-character Punch practice, Bai Ziyue pondered silently.
While working as a miscellaneous disciple at the Ming Pearl Restaurant, he overheard a discussion in an upper-floor private room.
The group didn't take precautions against him as a child, allowing him to hear everything.
From their discussion, Bai Ziyue learned that among the water bandits occupying Qinghe Town's Qingshui Bay, a bandit nicknamed Liu the Sixth had defected and stolen a technique called External Forging Technique Fifth Rank Golden Body from the bandit leader Water Immortal, and was now hiding in Qinghe Town.
Perhaps fearing assassination, it's said that Liu the Sixth secretly contacted the Wuwei Escort Agency, seeking protection for his escape...
Even knowing this, Bai Ziyue considered obtaining the External Forging Technique Fifth Rank Golden Body highly improbable.
However, he was still tempted.
"Wait a little longer, there's still a few days."
Suppressing his thoughts, Bai Ziyue decided to renounce his distractions and focus on training.
Winter had arrived, the cold winds blowing made it rare to see the sun all day. Today was such a day, the gloomy weather rendering the early light dim.
At this moment, Qin Shaoping stopped his practice, hesitantly approaching, "You must be the miscellaneous disciple Bai Ziyue who reached Small Success in Zen Meditation Posture in forty days?"
Clearly, Bai Ziyue's achievement had gradually spread.
"Indeed," Bai Ziyue nodded, relaxing the power in his fist, "Senior Brother Qin, we've met before, thank you for your guidance back then."
"I recall now, you're the first in ages to rise earlier than me.
I don't know why someone with your talent became a miscellaneous disciple, but I believe soon someone will come to take you as a disciple.
We might become fellow disciples."
Qin Shaoping smiled in realization.
"Take me as a disciple? Fellow disciples?"
Bai Ziyue's heart raced as he feigned confusion.
He'd heard that exceptional Inner Sect Apprentices were taken as disciples by the various branch supervisors.
These supervisors were at least peak level Inner Cultivation warriors, the only ones eligible to accept disciples.
Upon becoming an Inner Sect Apprentice, he had anticipated this. Hearing it confirmed by Senior Brother Qin, he couldn't help but feel excited.
"Martial Artist training values talent immensely.
The Gang differentiates miscellaneous disciples, Outer Disciples, and Inner Sect Apprentices to select outstanding martial artists.
Taking forty days to achieve Small Success in Zen Meditation Posture proves your talent, especially balancing miscellaneous task constraints with minimal training time.
I suspect not only the supervisors will be keen to accept you, but even the Left Guardian, Right Guardian, and Sect Leader of our branch might not resist."
Qin Shaoping solemnly explained.
"The Guardians and Sect Leader are Inner Qi experts, busy with numerous affairs, likely too occupied."
Bai Ziyue's eyes flashed as he shook his head.
"True, the Left Guardian already took Zhao Gangyi as a disciple. The Sect Leader and Right Guardian haven't shown intentions to accept disciples in recent years."
Qin Shaoping nodded, then added, "However, even if a supervisor accepts disciples, you should choose carefully.
Supervisors vary greatly."
"How so?"
Bai Ziyue quickly asked.