“Senior Sister, has it increased?”

Bai Ruoyue stared at Han and finally uttered two words.

“Freak.”

“In just one night, your internal energy has grown so much. Junior Brother, you always manage to surprise people.”

Han humbly replied, “I was just practicing, and my internal energy naturally expanded.” Of course, he kept quiet about the spirit plant matter.

Such progress was purely thanks to his own effort!

Bai Ruoyue sighed, “Junior Brother, if you had started cultivating at twelve, you’d have surpassed me by now.”

“What’s your cultivation level now, Senior Sister?” Han asked curiously.

“Organ stage,” Bai Ruoyue explained.

“In martial arts, you first temper your body, then strengthen your muscles and veins, and finally enhance your organs.”

“I’m currently at the third stage of martial arts, while most other junior brothers are still in the muscle stage.”

“I’m eighteen this year and have been cultivating for six years. I’ve made some progress, and among my peers in Black Cloud Town, no one is stronger than me.”

Bai Ruoyue was clearly a little proud.

Han wasn’t surprised by his senior sister’s genius. It was obvious from her mastery of the secret martial arts techniques.

What did surprise him was that this “plump” senior sister was only eighteen?

This was what eighteen looked like?

The future was truly boundless…

“Junior Brother, if you keep working hard, your achievements won’t be small,” Bai Ruoyue said seriously.

“Then we’ll join forces to make the Taibai Martial Arts Academy the strongest in Black Cloud Town, and even spread our name far and wide!”

Bai Ruoyue’s eyes gleamed with determination.

“My dream is to make the Taibai Martial Arts Academy the most famous martial arts sanctuary in the Great Qi Dynasty!”

“Junior Brother, with your talent, you’ll definitely help me achieve that.”

Bai Ruoyue said this casually, but it wasn’t inappropriate—since Han became her disciple, he was already considered a part of this.

“Of course. The martial arts academy is like my family!” Han didn’t hesitate.

Though he hadn’t been at Taibai Martial Arts Academy for long, he liked the people here. They were kind and treated him well.

He fully supported the academy and had no intention of betraying his master or stealing any of the academy's techniques.

Spreading the name of Taibai Martial Arts Academy—it's our duty!

The first step to making it great? Education!

In the afternoon, Han sat cross-legged, feeling his stomach convulsing intensely, as though something special was happening inside him.

“Mooh!”

A faint sound resembling that of a bull demon echoed, and Han opened his eyes with a gleam of joy.

“The Sun Swallowing Technique, I’ve mastered the basics!”

This secret technique related to consumption, under Bai Tian’s guidance, had taken Han half an hour to get a grasp of.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The technique mainly involved the stomach and intestines, using special methods to stimulate them, enabling them to have stronger digestive and absorption abilities.

According to Bai Tian, practicing the Sun Swallowing Technique early would benefit Han’s future cultivation in the organ stage.

Han picked up the prepared beast meat and swallowed it in one bite. As the Sun Swallowing Technique activated, the meat was quickly digested and absorbed.

His digestive system was terrifyingly efficient!

No wonder they say that, once the technique is perfected, one could even survive on stones and dirt.

Right now, Han couldn’t do that—digesting stones was much more difficult than digesting meat.

Just then, Bai Tian and Zhang Yuantao arrived.

“Half an hour to master the Sun Swallowing Technique? Junior Brother, your talent is truly enviable,” Zhang Yuantao praised.

Being Bai Tian's disciple, Zhang Yuantao was undoubtedly talented as well, but there was still a clear gap between them.

Compared to his younger disciple, Zhang Yuantao felt utterly "dull and hopeless."

He was Bai Tian’s third disciple—steady and reliable, often handling most of the martial arts academy’s affairs.

Bai Ruoyue was the eldest disciple, He Feng was the fifth disciple, and there was also the fourth disciple, Su Chang’an.

The sixth disciple, Shen Yu, was also a woman, just like Bai Ruoyue.

Bai Tian’s second disciple, Shen Long, was not at the academy at the moment, rumored to be in Black Mountain.

Han, after joining, felt fortunate that his timing wasn’t too early or too late.

Otherwise, he might’ve ended up as the sixth or eighth disciple…

“Master, Third Senior Brother,” Han greeted.

“Your techniques, both the martial arts and the consumption techniques, are well on their way,” Bai Tian said warmly, “But as a martial artist, do you know what you’re still missing?”

Without hesitation, Han answered, “Combat techniques!”

The basics are training techniques, consumption techniques are supplementary, and combat techniques are the key to survival!

“Correct, it’s combat techniques,” Bai Tian affirmed. “Our Taibai Martial Arts Academy has three supreme skills: Sword, Fist, and Steps.”

“You can practice all three.”

“However, sword techniques are difficult to master, so you should focus on fist and step techniques, while supplementing your training with sword techniques.”

Han nodded, but his mind couldn’t help but wander to another "three supreme skills."

Heh, just thinking about it made him feel awkward.

Swordsmanship was hard to master because it was a lifelong endeavor.

But among these three supreme skills, Han was still most interested in swordsmanship.

“And remember, the foundation lies in the basic techniques. Do not slack off on the basics just because of the allure of the ultimate skills.”

After saying that, Bai Tian personally began teaching Han the three supreme martial arts, while Zhang Yuantao, who had come along to check on Han, left shortly after.

The Taibai martial arts were famous throughout the entire Black Cloud Town.

The three training methods available to the academy’s apprentices were part of the Taibai Fist Art. After tempering the body, there were techniques for strengthening the muscles, veins, and internal organs.

However, these techniques were not accessible to apprentices.

Another group within the martial arts academy was the advanced apprentices.

They still practiced the body-tempering techniques, but the academy would also teach them combat techniques, allowing them to progress in both practicing and fighting simultaneously.

Of course, the advanced apprentices didn’t learn the supreme skills of Taibai; instead, they were taught martial arts created or gathered by Bai Tian himself.

The teaching continued well into the evening.

“These three supreme skills are not something you can master overnight,” Bai Tian reminded him, “But you’re already close to the basics. With diligent practice, you will surely achieve great things.”

Bai Tian couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration. His young disciple was so easy to teach. Many things were easily understood and quickly grasped by Han.

Generally speaking, combat techniques were harder to master than basic techniques, yet this disciple was picking them up quickly.

Han couldn’t help but suspect that the mysterious life essence might have enhanced his comprehension, elevating his overall abilities.

“There’s one more thing. Since you have the potential for Taoist arts, the sword you received from Huang Shiren will be very useful to you.”

“What’s so special about that sword?” Han asked, puzzled.

Han hadn’t brought the sword home from Huang Shiren’s place. Bai Tian had told him to let him take a look first.

“That sword is forged from a rare material called Soul Silver,” Bai Tian explained. “It’s not a magical artifact, but it’s perfect for spiritual control.”

“Soul Silver?” Han was confused.

“Most weapons for martial artists are made from metals or ores, but these kinds of weapons are only suitable for martial artists. Cultivators find it hard to wield them with their spiritual power—it’s like a child trying to use a heavy iron hammer.”

“But some materials naturally possess soul properties. When forged into weapons, they allow cultivators’ spiritual power to easily merge with the weapon, controlling it as if it were an extension of their own body.”

Bai Tian patiently explained this rare knowledge, which few people in Black Cloud Town were aware of.

Han thought for a moment and said, “Seems like Huang Shiren’s background is quite mysterious. He must be wealthy.”

“This is Black Cloud Town. No matter who he is or where he comes from, he won’t be able to stir up much trouble here,” Bai Tian said dismissively.

After dinner at the martial arts academy, Han quickly headed home.

Without any hesitation, he entered the Secret Realm of the Immortal Tree.

He was ready to visualize the Great Thousand Immortal Tree!