Even after his Tai Chi Health Cultivation reached Tier One, Yang Chan's Talent was only four points. Having been in the Cyan Yuan Sect for two and a half years without comprehending Power, it was clear his talent was quite poor.
In his two and a half years at the Cyan Yuan Sect, the fastest person he had witnessed comprehending Power did so in one year. That person became an Official Disciple, and it was said their Talent was only considered below average.
By comparing his own cultivation progress to that person's, Yang Chan calculated that their Talent value must have been around ten points.
The most remarkable figure among the Servant Disciples had comprehended Power in just half a year. Their Talent was Superior, estimated to be around twenty points.
Yang Chan was using cultivation time to make these estimates, so he could only arrive at a rough figure.
By this calculation, his original Talent of 3 was low-grade and quite poor. Now, having increased to 4, it was merely average for a low-grade talent.
With his Qi and Blood restored, Yang Chan began practicing the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist. He first executed the Ox Demon's Horn and then, drawing from memory, performed its thirty-six variations. With each execution, the Fist Technique shifted slightly, Tempering his physical body and helping him comprehend Power.
The Power comprehended from the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist was known as Wild Ox Force. It was possible to grasp this Power while Tempering the body, and this very Power was the key to becoming a true Martial Artist.
After completing the variations of the Ox Demon's Horn, Yang Chan moved on to the Ox Demon's Seventy-Two Stomping Techniques and the 108 Changes of the Ox Demon's Tail.
When he had performed them all, Yang Chan felt his body steaming with heat. More than half of his Qi and Blood was once again consumed, and his eyes fell upon the panel.
[Name: Yang Chan]
[Lifespan: 16/53]
[Talent: 4]
[Potential Points: 0]
[Mastered Professions: Pharmacist (Beginner 25%)]
[Comprehended Techniques: Tai Chi Health Cultivation Skill (Tier One Initial Glimpse 10%), Ox Demon's Mighty Fist (Beginner 41%)]
After one complete practice session, his proficiency in the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist had increased by one percent.
'So it can force a one-percent increase. It's probably related to my improved Talent.'
Yang Chan was very happy to see this change. Based on his predecessor's training time and the number of times he'd practiced the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist, if every session had increased his proficiency by one percent, he would have reached Perfection by now.
Wild Ox Force was very difficult to comprehend, as it depended on timing and luck. However, if one could cultivate the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist to Perfection, they were guaranteed to comprehend Wild Ox Force, and their body's Tempering would also be nearly flawless.
This would be a great help for the subsequent External Cultivation, saving him a significant amount of time.
Yang Chan had heard such rumors, but he didn't know the specifics, as it wasn't something a Servant Disciple would typically concern themselves with.
All Servant Disciples had only one goal: to comprehend Power and become an Official Disciple of the Cyan Yuan Sect.
After finishing his practice of the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist, Yang Chan began the "Spirit and Body Awakening God" portion of his Tai Chi Health Cultivation Skill to relax his joints and muscles. Afterward, he started Qi Collection and Grasping Qi before sitting cross-legged to cultivate the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Skill.
This was the standard process for practicing Tai Chi Health Cultivation, one of its specific Cultivation Techniques. As Yang Chan performed it, he felt a warm current flow through him, suffusing his body with warmth as his Qi and Blood slowly recovered.
After he completed a full set, the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Skill on his panel showed no increase. It hadn't forced a one-percent gain, which gave Yang Chan a clearer understanding of how the panel worked.
Now that the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Skill had reached Tier One, the requirements for advancement were higher than at the Beginner level. He estimated it would take several more practice sessions before he saw an increase.
Yang Chan only ended his cultivation for the day after the sky had turned completely dark.
He chose not to stay up all night cultivating. His past experiences had taught him the importance of letting his body rest. Besides, he had tasks in the Medicine Hall the next day.
If he was low on energy, he would be more prone to mistakes, and he had no desire to be kicked out of the Cyan Yuan Sect so soon after arriving in this world.
By the time Yang Chan fell asleep, his Ox Demon's Mighty Fist was at Beginner 43%. The Tai Chi Health Cultivation Skill hadn't improved, clearly requiring a few more sessions.
...
「The next day.」
At the crack of dawn, Yang Chan was already awake. After washing up, he headed directly to the Medicine Hall. As a Servant Disciple of the Cyan Yuan Sect, he had chores to do every day.
In the Medicine Hall, for instance, tasks included picking herbs, sun-drying herbs, washing herbs, sweeping the main hall, and sorting ingredients. There were many such chores, all assigned daily by a Steward.
When Yang Chan arrived at the Medicine Hall, many Servant Disciples had already gathered. They were just a small portion of the total number of Servant Disciples in the Cyan Yuan Sect, all of them assigned to the Medicine Hall.
After Steward Zhao finished assigning the chores, Yang Chan received his task for the day: sun-drying herbs.
The task was simple but grueling and time-consuming, as it required working under the blazing sun.
In the Cyan Yuan Sect, the jobs given to Servant Disciples were always the most arduous and time-consuming. Their food was just enough to keep them fed. While better than what was available outside the Sect, it was far worse than what the Official Disciples received.
The Official Disciples of the Cyan Yuan Sect ate hearty meals of fish and meat daily, received medicinal supplements to aid their Cultivation, and were even given a monthly stipend.
They could choose their own tasks, and their monthly workload was light.
Newly promoted Official Disciples, in particular, were exempt from all tasks for their first year. They could focus entirely on Cultivation, and their food, monthly stipend, and other benefits would not be reduced in the slightest.
This was the kind of life Yang Chan dreamed of, which naturally strengthened his desire to become an Official Disciple of the Cyan Yuan Sect.
'I must become an Official Disciple of the Cyan Yuan Sect before my three years are up. Then I'll continue to train hard, improve my strength, and gain the power to protect myself,' Yang Chan thought to himself.
At his current pace, becoming an Official Disciple before the three-year deadline shouldn't be a problem.
After receiving his task, Yang Chan followed the other Servant Disciples assigned to sun-drying herbs to the back courtyard of the Medicine Hall to retrieve the fresh ingredients.
Some fresh ingredients had weak Medicinal Power that needed to be condensed and concentrated by the intense sun. The sun's heat also served to bake away some of the latent toxins within the fresh herbs.
Before Yang Chan lay herbs such as Jade Lotus Leaf, Heart-piercing Lotus, and Gentiana. Most were harvested from the mountain's Medicinal Fields by Official Disciples leading teams of Servant Disciples. Some were gathered by Official Disciples from the base of the mountain, and the rest were delivered by powers under the Cyan Yuan Sect's protection.
These herbs would all be consumed by the disciples, Elders, and other members of the Cyan Yuan Sect to increase their strength.
The Cyan Yuan Sect was the most powerful Sect in Qing State. Its Sect Leader, Liu Xuan, was a famous Grandmaster Level expert in the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty and even had ties to the Imperial Family.
With its immense power and background, the Cyan Yuan Sect naturally became the strongest force in Qing State. Local powers and Noble Families could only seek its protection, sending Tributors each year.