Chapter 5

The results were quite impressive. Compared to last year, Luo Yu had increased his strength by seven hundred and eight pounds.

If this trend continues, next year, Luo Yu’s cultivation might reach the True Qi Realm, with his strength surging to over five thousand pounds.

The head of the Luo family, the elderly man in gray robes, Luo Feng, nodded slightly, very satisfied with Luo Yu’s performance. His achievements when he was young were very close to Luo Yu’s, indicating that Luo Yu had the potential to become a Dao Fetus Realm cultivator like him in the future.

The tests continued. After more than twenty people, another key figure appeared, the forty-third, Jiang Ruqing.

Although she was just a member of the Jiang family, which was subordinate to the Luo family, Jiang Ruqing had shown remarkable talent in the past two years, not falling short of Luo Yu at all.

Jiang Ruqing walked up to the strength testing stone and quickly measured her strength, which was one thousand three hundred and sixty-six pounds.

Many people exclaimed in surprise. This was only Jiang Ruqing’s third test, but her strength was exactly the same as Luo Yun’s fourth test, and even higher than Luo Yu’s strength at the same time by nearly one hundred pounds.

The head of the Jiang family was also present as a guest. At this moment, many Dao Fetus Realm cultivators were sending him congratulatory messages, trying to build a good relationship. With such a talented descendant, the Jiang family’s status in Pingyang County would definitely rise, and they might even become a significant force.

Decades ago, the Luo family, the Su family, and the Wei family were on equal footing. However, since Luo Ning emerged, the Luo family’s strength surpassed the other two major families.

If Luo Ning hadn’t been injured by Nangong Hao, which damaged his foundation and halted his cultivation, the combined efforts of the Su and Wei families might still have been suppressed by the Luo family, reducing their status and excluding them from the dominant forces in Pingyang County.

After Jiang Ruqing’s test, everyone’s spirits were lifted.

The guests who came to observe were primarily there to see Luo Zhen’s growth. Everyone knew that after Jiang Ruqing, it would be Luo Zhen’s turn.

“Luo Zhen!” The test supervisor proudly called out this name, looking around at the crowd with a proud expression.

He was the first to know and witness the growth of the Luo family’s genius. Each time, he announced the data that made people scream and envy, and this time was no exception. As a member of the Luo family, everyone would feel extremely proud to have such a genius.

As the name was called, Luo Zhen stepped forward, and everyone’s attention shifted from Jiang Ruqing to him.

Luo Zhen took a deep breath. This was the first time in his life he felt pressure. After nine months, even the sleeping Jing Ting had woken up, but his physical limit had not been broken, and his strength remained at three thousand pounds.

If the guests knew his strength was only three thousand pounds, they would probably be disappointed.

Of course, for many people, disappointment would only be a fleeting moment, followed by surprise. But they didn’t know that yet.

The distance between Luo Zhen and the strength testing stone was only about thirty meters, but he felt it was very far.

It seemed to take a long time for Luo Zhen to reach the strength testing stone. After about three breaths, he took a deep breath and punched forward.

Everyone held their breath, opened their eyes wide, and focused their attention.

The test supervisor’s gaze followed Luo Zhen’s fist and landed on the strength testing stone.

A loud thud was heard, and ripples spread across the stone. Instantly, four digits appeared—3000.

“Hmm—?” The test supervisor’s smile instantly froze, his eyes showing disbelief as he rubbed his eyes.

During the first test, Luo Zhen’s strength reached over nine hundred pounds, and during the second test, it was over two thousand three hundred pounds. This time, even if Luo Zhen’s strength exceeded five thousand pounds, the test supervisor wouldn’t be too surprised, because with Luo Zhen’s potential, entering the True Qi Realm and breaking ten thousand pounds of strength in a year was very likely.

However, just three thousand pounds of strength shocked the test supervisor, making him almost disbelieve his eyes.

3000...

After rubbing his eyes, the test supervisor still saw the same number.

“Luo Zhen, strength... three... three thousand pounds, Blood Change limit.” The test supervisor announced Luo Zhen’s results, slightly stuttering.

“How is that possible?”

“Why only three thousand pounds?”

“Did he not enter the True Qi Realm?”

“Did he only increase his strength by six hundred pounds this year?”

...

The guests around him immediately burst into exclamations, like a pot of boiling water.

In the first year, he increased his strength by over nine hundred pounds, and in the second year, by over one thousand four hundred pounds.

But in the third year, he only increased his strength by six hundred pounds.

Although Luo Zhen’s performance was the best among the Luo family’s underage descendants, all the guests felt incredulous.

Could Luo Zhen’s bottleneck be the Body Tempering limit?

Some people guessed this, but it seemed too absurd.

At this moment, Luo Zhen stood in front of the strength testing stone, the sounds around him magnified countless times, eventually turning into a buzzing noise that drowned him.

The world before his eyes began to spin.

But in his heart, he was shouting: “I must break through my physical limit, I must break through my physical limit...!”

He clenched his fists, his nails almost piercing the flesh of his palms, and his eyes shot out sharp glances, sweeping around.

It was a confident gaze.

The discussions around him immediately stopped.

This person was the most talented in Pingyang County in terms of physique and insight. Even with setbacks, as long as he overcame this obstacle, his future achievements would still be limitless.

The skeptical expressions on the guests’ faces faded, and they stared at Luo Zhen, who returned to his original position.

However, the gazes of many people had changed compared to before.

Among the younger generation, Luo Yu, Luo Fei... these outstanding individuals, all showed a hint of joy in their eyes. If Luo Zhen couldn’t enter the True Qi Realm for a long time, they would have the hope of surpassing him.

“Number forty-five, Jing Ting!”

After Luo Zhen, it was Jing Ting. As the test supervisor’s voice rang out, laughter immediately followed.

For this short girl who had only thirty pounds of strength after two years of cultivation, every guest had a vivid memory.

If Luo Zhen’s talent had set a new record for the highest in Pingyang County, then this little girl had undoubtedly set a new record for the lowest.

Suddenly, the laughter stopped.

When Jing Ting stepped out of the crowd, everyone was stunned: Is this... still last year’s short girl?

Now, Jing Ting was tall and slender, even matching Luo Zhen in height.

Moreover, her skin was fair and smooth, and her small body had begun to show some subtle curves.

Words like "short girl" and "ugly duckling" could no longer describe her.

She was like a beautiful flower about to bloom, already showing the potential to become a stunning beauty. In time, she would surely be a woman of extraordinary beauty.

Even Jiang Ruqing, who was also a beauty in the making, was inferior to her.

In the past, Jiang Ruqing was the top beauty among the younger generation, but from now on, she would probably be second.

They say a girl changes greatly after eighteen years, but Jing Ting was only eleven, and the change in just one year was truly astonishing.

In the crowd, Jiang Ruqing felt a bit uncomfortable. The beauty of the current Jing Ting even made her envious.

She pouted slightly and thought to herself, “You may have become prettier, but your strength won’t increase. If you can’t cultivate, you’ll just be an ordinary person in the future, no matter how beautiful you are...!”

When Luo Zhen and Jing Ting met, Jing Ting grabbed Luo Zhen’s arm and said, “Brother Luo Zhen, don’t be discouraged. I believe in you. You can definitely overcome this obstacle. In the future, I still need your protection...!”

Luo Zhen felt a warmth in his heart, smiled slightly, and nodded.

Returning to his original position, Jiang Ruqing gave him a faint smile and turned away, much colder than before.

In the past, when Luo Zhen returned, Jiang Ruqing would always excitedly chat with him for a few moments.

Luo Zhen’s gaze fell on Jing Ting, who was standing in front of the strength testing stone. Whether Jiang Ruqing was热情 or cold, he didn’t care.

He knew that many people in the Luo family probably had less confidence in him than the guests who came to observe.

After all, now that Luo Zhen’s test results were out, many people in the Luo family already understood that he had been stuck at the Body Tempering limit for nine months. Not being able to enter the True Qi Realm for so long indicated that he had truly encountered a bottleneck.

Everyone’s attention was now on Jing Ting, whose appearance and demeanor had changed dramatically compared to last year, like an ugly duckling turning into a swan.

Therefore, everyone was very interested in her strength progress.

Jing Ting didn’t wait long. She punched forward with her small fist, hitting the strength testing stone.

Bang—

The punch hit the stone, producing a loud thud, and ripples spread across the smooth surface.

The test supervisor’s eyes lit up. Just by looking at the effect of the punch, she knew it was much better than last year.

Soon, numbers appeared on the stone. Before the test supervisor could clearly see the specific value, her pupils suddenly dilated.

Four digits appeared on the stone.

Four digits, representing over a thousand pounds of strength, while Jing Ting’s test result last year was only thirty pounds.

The numbers quickly became clear: 1111.

The test supervisor was stunned for three seconds before reacting, “Jing Ting, strength one thousand one hundred and eleven pounds, initial stage of Internal Organ Tempering.”

“What? One thousand one hundred and eleven pounds?”

“What was her strength last year? It was only thirty pounds, right?”

“What’s going on