“Mm.” Eric Bennett was still uneasy. He picked up the boxing manual, returned to the first floor, and planned to consult the old monk in charge of scripture lending.

The old monk’s eyebrows were withered yellow, his skin deeply wrinkled, looking as if he might collapse at any moment. At this time, his eyes were half-closed as he dozed off.

“Grandmaster Uncle, is this boxing manual in the right place?” Eric Bennett asked cautiously.

According to William, the old monk guarding the pavilion was called “John,” of the same generation as the abbot George, three generations senior to Eric Bennett—Shaolin’s generational order is “心空无玄真，清净智慧深.”

John opened his eyelids, his cloudy eyes sweeping over Eric Bennett slowly as he said, “Arhat Boxing is widely spread, nothing special about it.”

In other words, I can learn it! Eric Bennett thought with wild joy. Although it was a very ordinary boxing style, it was still better than having nothing at all!

Happily, he took the manual back to the second floor and solemnly bowed to Daniel: “Senior brother, please give me your guidance.”

After that, all the way until after noon, Eric Bennett and Ethan stayed in the Sutra Pavilion practicing martial arts, both feeling as if their strength was beginning to gather into a single force.

Because he needed to return to practice, Daniel hurriedly took his leave, while Eric Bennett and Ethan strolled contentedly along the cliff.

As they walked, Eric Bennett noticed that Ethan’s gaze was off, always staring at the bottomless abyss outside.

“Little junior brother, what are you looking at?” Eric Bennett asked, puzzled.

Ethan frowned and said, “Senior brother, if you jump down, would you get some peerless secret manual or a divine weapon? No, I don’t see any immortals dancing with swords…”

Eric Bennett’s expression instantly froze on his face. Oh no, I’ve led the kid astray.

No, I have to set him straight! Eric Bennett thought for a moment, and seeing how gullible Ethan was, half out of “saving” him and half out of mischief, he said, “Little junior brother, let’s tell a different story tonight.”

“What story?” Ethan asked excitedly.

Eric Bennett chuckled, “The story of Xia Yuhe by Daming Lake.”

“Hmm, is she a peerless master?” Ethan asked, both curious and happy.

“……” Eric Bennett was momentarily speechless.

……

The bright moon high in the sky was covered by dark clouds, the cold wind cut to the bone, making the paper windows creak. The laborer monks each had an extra quilt, but David and Henry were still curled up from the cold.

Eric Bennett was completely unaware of this, sitting cross-legged, calming his mind and entering meditation. He felt his true qi rising, gathering into golden nectar, transforming into sweet dew, and filling the corresponding acupoints.

As soon as this breath of true qi filled in, Eric Bennett immediately felt all 365 major acupoints in his body swell, true qi surging out, the main meridians feeling as if they’d been washed by a flood, each one swelling open—just as the saying goes, “When qi fills the meridians, they open naturally.”

Ordinary people need some time for this step, but Eric Bennett’s body had already completed the “hundred days foundation,” so now the qi overflowed naturally, the meridians unimpeded, all initially opened.

Eric Bennett slowly opened his eyes, feeling refreshed all over, as if he had endless strength, realizing he had taken the first step on the path of martial cultivation.

He forcibly resisted the urge to get up and practice a set of Arhat Boxing, exhaled a long breath, and didn’t feel much joy at the breakthrough. First, the “hundred days foundation” was relatively simple, not difficult at all, just a matter of course. Second, after several more months, his Arhat Boxing was already quite decent, but he still saw no hope of leaving the laborer’s yard.

And if he couldn’t leave the laborer’s yard, he would never be able to access more advanced martial arts, the divine skills that could break through the boundary between man and heaven!

“Sigh…” All of Eric Bennett’s anxiety and frustration turned into a long sigh.

……

“Matthew, the lecture hall is closed for the next two days. You’re in charge of cleaning Chanxin Courtyard. Do not disturb the honored guests.” Early that morning, after breakfast, Eric Bennett was called over by William.

“Honored guests? Uncle William, may I ask which sect’s experts they are?” Eric Bennett wanted to find out, so as not to offend the guests.

William smiled, “The Zhenwu Sect, Xuantian Sect, Sword-Washing Pavilion, Huanhua Sword Sect, Qingchen Sect, and the Great River Gang—these major sects of the Jin Dynasty have been invited by our Shaolin to send their experts and young disciples to discuss martial arts together. In fact, it’s just an opportunity for the most talented young disciples of each sect to spar and broaden their horizons.”

Eric Bennett drew in a sharp breath. These were all the great martial sects of the world that William had talked about! For example, Zhenwu Sect and Xuantian Sect were two of the three Daoist sects; Sword-Washing Pavilion and Huanhua Sword Sect were among the six sword sects; Qingchen Sect and the Great River Gang were among the six great powers of the world.

“Talented young disciples?” Eric Bennett asked subconsciously. After all, he was also a young disciple of Shaolin’s “Zhen” generation, and couldn’t help but compare himself.

William patted his round belly and laughed heartily, “Why are you asking? Do you think you could spar with them? You’re just a laborer monk who’s only just completed the hundred days foundation. Compared to them, you’re a toad in the mud and they’re phoenixes in the sky. Not to mention sparring, you’re not even qualified to stand with them!”

His biting sarcasm made Eric Bennett feel deeply embarrassed, his blood surging, his face flushing red. Although he was mentally in his twenties and had plenty of social experience, he was still young and proud, and couldn’t help but feel competitive. Being so looked down upon, and thinking of the gap between himself and those favored by heaven, he naturally found it hard to control his emotions.