The next day!
Lin Yan had planned to return to Qingtian Town, but Zhang Liang came looking for him at his home and persuaded him to stay.
"Junior Brother Lin, don’t be in such a hurry to leave. Junior Brother Zhao is attempting his breakthrough to the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing today. If he succeeds, our Martial Arts Hall will definitely have a celebration. You’d only have to come back from Qingtian Town anyway, so you might as well stay one more day."
"Junior Brother Zhao is attempting his breakthrough today?"
Lin Yan wasn’t surprised that Zhao Linyuan was attempting the breakthrough to the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing. He just hadn’t expected it to be today.
"Master is personally acting as his Dharma Protector. Several of our Martial Arts Hall’s senior brothers who have reached the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing have all returned just to witness Junior Brother Zhao’s breakthrough."
Hearing Zhang Liang’s words, Lin Yan came to a conclusion. The chances of Junior Brother Zhao successfully breaking through to the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing must be very high; otherwise, they wouldn’t be making such a big deal out of it.
Of course, until the very last moment, there was still uncertainty.
’Unless Junior Brother Zhao, like me, possesses a heaven-defying treasure like the Martial Arts Tree.’
When Lin Yan and Zhang Liang arrived at the Martial Arts Hall, many of the senior brothers at the Second-Time Skin Smoothing stage were already waiting outside the courtyard. Senior Brother Hao, who was at the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing, was chatting with two other men.
"Junior Brother Lin, you’re here. Let me introduce you. This is Senior Brother Chen, who came all the way from Wunu County. And this is Senior Brother Zuo, who usually stays in Qiankou County."
"Greetings, Senior Brother Chen. Greetings, Senior Brother Zuo."
Lin Yan looked at the two senior brothers’ appearances; they looked to be in their early thirties. Like Senior Brother Hao, they were among the first disciples Master had accepted.
"I just heard from Junior Brother Hao that our Martial Arts Hall has produced several geniuses in this batch of disciples. Hmm, Junior Brother Lin, you have quite an extraordinary air about you."
Chen Shan spoke with a gentle smile. It was a rare occasion for him to visit the Martial Arts Hall. He had just been talking with Junior Brother Hao, specifically asking about the current batch of disciples, which is when he heard about Lin Yan’s situation.
Lin Yan responded with a few humble words. Hao Jingnian pulled Lin Yan aside.
"Junior Brother Lin, about your request to find your uncle’s whereabouts, I’ve found some leads. The Inspection Bureau’s records show that your uncle was initially sent to Fushan County to perform labor service. But after two years of service there, he was sent to Qing State Prefecture. There’s no information after that."
Hao Jingnian was only the Vice Director of the Guangping County Inspection Bureau. Being able to trace Lin Yan’s uncle from Fushan County to Qing State Prefecture showed that he had already done his best.
"Senior Brother Hao, logically speaking, after serving two years of labor service in Fushan County, my uncle should have returned home. Why would he be sent to Qing State Prefecture?"
Lin Yan frowned. Commoners typically served two years of labor service. Moreover, sending a citizen of Deng State Prefecture to Qing State Prefecture was highly irregular.
"I had someone ask about this matter. Back then, Qing State Prefecture suffered a flood. The canal levees were destroyed and needed to be rebuilt, but they didn’t have enough local laborers. So, they requisitioned laborers from other states, offering ten taels of silver per head. The Fushan County Inspection Bureau sent a batch of people over."
Hearing Senior Brother Hao’s explanation, Lin Yan understood. ’Someone in the Fushan County Inspection Bureau sold my uncle and the other laborers for that money.’
"Thank you, Senior Brother Hao. At least this way, there’s still hope that my uncle is alive."
Lin Yan expressed his gratitude. If his uncle had remained within Deng State’s borders and disappeared for seven years, it was highly likely he was dead. But since he was sent to Qing State, the distance between the two states was so great that it was entirely possible a commoner couldn’t make their way back.
"As long as you’re aware of the situation, that’s what matters. Fushan County went through an internal conflict, and the Inspection Bureau replaced everyone from the Director to the Vice Director. Many of the record books have gone missing."
Hao Jingnian patted Lin Yan’s shoulder, just as a voice came from the courtyard.
"Everyone, come in. Don’t wait outside."
Hearing their master’s voice, the crowd filed in. The moment they stepped into the rear courtyard, everyone’s gaze involuntarily fell upon the figure in the center of the training grounds.
Zhao Linyuan stood there quietly.
The morning sun scattered into the courtyard, casting a faint golden edge upon his body.
The biggest change in him was his skin.
Single-Time Skin Smoothing coarsens the skin, Second-Time Skin Smoothing forges the flesh, and Third-Time Skin Smoothing cleanses the sinews. After Qi Blood enters the sinews, the meridians expand, allowing Qi Blood to circulate more smoothly. The entire person then exhibits a kind of "translucence" from the inside out.
At this moment, Zhao Linyuan’s skin was a little darker than before, possessing a texture as warm and smooth as jade.
"Junior Brother Zhao was already handsome to begin with. Now that he’s completed the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing, I’m afraid that when the high-born ladies of the city see him, their mouths will drop open, and their legs won’t stay closed." Zhang Liang clicked his tongue, his eyes filled with envy.
The corner of Lin Yan’s mouth twitched. ’The many senior brothers at the Martial Arts Hall had all seemed so upright at first. Now that he knew them better, he realized they were all closet perverts at heart.’
Zhao Linyuan took a deep breath. Looking at the many senior brothers who had come in, he gave a deep bow to Yang Qingfeng. "Thank you for being my Dharma Protector, Master."
Yang Qingfeng stood on the steps, his face filled with gratification. He nodded with a smile, then his gaze swept over the others present, lingering on Lin Yan and Zhuang Zheng for a good while. "Linyuan’s breakthrough today is a result of his solid foundation. The rest of you must also be diligent in your Cultivation. Do not let your practice fall into neglect."
"On the path of Martial Arts, the greatest taboo is inconsistency. Working hard one day and slacking off the next—even if you have talent, it will be like the morning dew meeting the sun, vanishing in an instant. This is the very reason why many Martial Artists get stuck at the Skin Smoothing stage."
Upon hearing this, all the disciples responded in unison.
"You martial brothers should get together and celebrate."
Yang Qingfeng looked at the many disciples in the courtyard. With Linyuan’s successful breakthrough, these disciples would surely want to celebrate. If he stayed, they would inevitably feel constrained.

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