However, Jiang Ping was currently penniless, with no money to exchange for the Stance Art.

"So, while rapid progress is a good thing, to continue growing stronger, I must quickly find a way to earn money."

He furrowed his brow, contemplating the matter of making money.

"I can sense my Blood Qi!"

At that moment, a voice filled with excitement rang out, interrupting Jiang Ping's thoughts.

He looked in the direction of the voice and saw it was his roommate, Luo Tiegen.

Like Sun Zheng, Luo Tiegen was sharing his breakthrough joy with those around him.

In fact, because Qian Dele and Sun Qi had fully demonstrated the importance of food supplements, most people chose to pay for double portions of meat after yesterday's test. By now, many had successfully entered the Entry Level of their techniques, and Luo Tiegen was among them.

Of course, while double portions of food supplements greatly benefited martial arts, it varied from person to person. Some people, despite eating double portions, still couldn't enter the Entry Level.

For example, Luo Daniu hadn't managed to enter the Entry Level, and at this moment, his expression was complex, with a hint of envy as he looked at Luo Tiegen.

"Congratulations, Brother Tiegen, for reaching the same progress as me," Sun Zheng, who had a good impression of Luo Tiegen, was the first to offer his congratulations.

Luo Tiegen responded proudly, basking in the joy for a while before calming down.

However, he didn't forget to shout to Jiang Ping at the end:

"Brother Jiang, I've broken through and caught up with you!"

Jiang Ping remained silent. Since he ranked fifth, this person had been calling him 'brother' repeatedly, but now that he had just entered the Entry Level, the address had changed.

Of course, he didn't care how others addressed him.

Then, Jiang Ping put his thoughts aside and focused on his own cultivation.

The Martial Training Ground returned to silence, with only the sound of heavy breathing rising and falling.

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread.com".

......

Time quickly moved to the evening.

After three training sessions each day, Jiang Ping was drenched in sweat, reaching the final session's 'sage time.'

He didn't grit his teeth to persist but instead greeted Liu Wensheng, who often talked to him, and chose to return to the dormitory to rest.

On the way, Jiang Ping panted heavily, pondering in his heart:

"The progress has slowed down."

The double portions of food supplements indeed accelerated Jiang Ping's cultivation speed, but each layer of the Nourishing Life Art was harder to practice than the last. Having just broken through, his speed naturally slowed compared to yesterday.

So today's cultivation progress wasn't as swift as before.

"The Nourishing Life Art truly lives up to its reputation. As stated in the Fate, 'achieving it in half a year' indicates the difficulty of the technique, and this is only the 5th Layer!"

"But then again."

This slowness was only relative to Jiang Ping's previous cultivation progress.

Overall, it would take less than two days for him to advance the technique further.

This is talent!

Before long, Jiang Ping returned to the dormitory, and shortly after, he walked out with a towel.

More than two quarters of an hour later.

Jiang Ping returned from the bathhouse with a flushed face, only to find three people had returned to the dormitory ahead of him.

They were Qian Dele, Sun Zheng, and Luo Tiegen.

These were the only people in the dormitory, besides Jiang Ping, who had entered the Entry Level of the Nourishing Life Art.

The three had somehow procured a low table, sitting around it on the floor, with several plates of meat dishes and several jugs of wine on the table.

"Brother Jiang," Luo Tiegen greeted him in his usual manner, seemingly holding no grudges.

Sun Zheng, however, gave a cold glance before smiling and chatting with Qian Dele about the recent sensational event. It turned out that Sun Qi had astonishingly broken through to the 2nd Layer of the Nourishing Life Art, shocking the entire Martial Training Ground.

Hearing this, Jiang Ping couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, feeling a bit surprised.

Could it be that Sun Qi was truly someone remarkable? Otherwise, how could he have just made progress, and that person also broke through, mastering the 2nd Layer?

"Indeed, heroes are as numerous as carp in the river; one must not underestimate anyone."

Jiang Ping thought to himself, also reminding himself not to hold himself in too high regard and to understand that there are always people better than oneself.

Opposite him, seeing Jiang Ping's expression, Sun Zheng spoke with even more enthusiasm.

However, Jiang Ping quickly collected himself, not asking about the gathering, and walked straight to his bed without looking sideways.

He was just about to climb into bed when he heard the noise outside the dormitory, growing closer.

When Jiang Ping glanced over, three or four people had already arrived at the door.

Coincidentally, the newcomers were none other than Sun Qi, whom Sun Zheng had mentioned, along with three others who had also entered the Entry Level of the Nourishing Life Art. Jiang Ping had some impression of them; their fist strength ranked in the top ten.

"Brother Sun Qi, a few brothers have arrived."

Seeing the newcomers, the three seated people quickly stood to greet them, especially Sun Zheng, who was particularly excited.

Sun Zheng eagerly ushered Sun Qi to the main seat, while the others took their places. After a round of formal introductions, they began to pour wine and eat meat.

Lying on his bed, Jiang Ping understood that this was a social gathering.

But it had nothing to do with him. After all, with Qian Dele and Sun Zheng present, how could they possibly invite him?

Jiang Ping closed his eyes, pondering the matter of the Stance Art.

However, when men gather for a meal, once the conversation gets passionate, it becomes as loud as a battle, as noisy as can be.

As a result, Jiang Ping's thoughts were interrupted several times, and he suspected that this social gathering was deliberately held in this dormitory by Qian Dele to annoy him, especially with Sun Zheng being the loudest.

Of course, as long as they weren't directly confronting him, Jiang Ping could endure it. After all, it was a gathering of young people, bound to be boisterous, and he was willing to be tolerant.

Below.

The conversation shifted several times, eventually turning to martial arts.

"By the way, congratulations to Brother Qi for advancing to the 2nd Layer of the Nourishing Life Art. You're the most formidable among us hundred people. Tiegen toasts you with a bowl of wine," Luo Tiegen said warmly, raising his bowl with a smile.

Sun Qi had a hint of pride on his face but modestly replied, "Not at all, it's just that I ate one more portion of food supplement than you all."

"Three portions of food supplement have such speed; it makes me want to spend money on another portion of beef," Qian Dele said.

At this point, Jiang Ping, lying above, realized why Sun Qi's breakthrough was so fast. It turned out he had started eating three portions of food supplement.

"If only I could..." Jiang Ping thought, then sighed inwardly. If those eight taels of silver were still there, he wouldn't be in such a predicament.

Of course, fate is unpredictable. If it weren't for those eight taels of silver, he wouldn't have left home in disappointment, nor would he have discovered his martial arts talent so quickly.

"It varies from person to person."

Sun Zheng's voice rang out, and he sneered, "Food supplements indeed benefit martial arts, but whether one can succeed depends on oneself. Just like Brother Tiegen's two fellow townsmen and a few others in the dormitory, they all ate double portions of food supplement, yet there's been no sign of progress. The path of martial arts still depends on talent; these people simply lack it."

"That's not entirely wrong," a voice came, but it wasn't from their group; it came from the doorway.

It turned out that the other roommates had returned, and the speaker was Luo Daniu. However, his expression was somewhat unnatural, and the other roommates had varied expressions, clearly having heard Sun Zheng's insulting words.

"Daniu, want to join us?" Luo Tiegen, seeing his fellow townsman's expression, quickly invited him, but Daniu shook his head and declined.

He knew well that these gatherings had requirements; they were all for those who had entered the Entry Level of the Nourishing Life Art. As someone who hadn't, how could he have the qualifications to join the table?

"By the way, speaking of Peony Alley..." Tiegen tried to change the subject, but his words were interrupted again as Sun Zheng spoke more enthusiastically, with seven out of ten sentences praising Sun Qi and the remaining three comparing him to the likes of Daniu, completely disregarding the occasion.

However, Daniu and the others didn't react much, silently taking their towels and leaving the dormitory.

In truth, Luo Daniu knew that these people looked down on them; otherwise, why wouldn't they stop Sun Zheng's blatant insults?