Chapter 7

On December 12th, the strength test for the younger generation of the Luo family was held as usual.

"Luo Yun, strength 5,300 catties, True Qi Realm, just entered Qi Sensing."

The guests around him let out a series of exclamations. Luo Yun walked back to the crowd with a proud smile.

At 15 years old, reaching the True Qi Realm is a very good talent, with a great chance of forming a Dao Fetus in the future and stepping onto the path of immortality, becoming a cultivator who can fly and hide in the earth.

"Luo Yu, strength 14,355 catties, True Qi Realm, minor success in external True Qi."

When the testing official's proud voice rang out, the entire martial arts arena suddenly became lively. Luo Yu held his head high, his wild gaze sweeping the crowd, and finally landed on a girl in a black dress, his eyes filled with smugness as he walked back to the crowd.

Compared to last year's 6,000 catties, Luo Yu's strength this year had increased by more than 8,000 catties.

Since Luo Zhen fell from the pedestal and Jingting had not fully grown up, Luo Yu's strength was now the first among the underage descendants of the Luo family.

At 14, he entered the True Qi Realm, and at 15, he reached the minor success stage of external True Qi. Everyone was certain that Luo Yu had a 99% chance of transcending the mortal realm and stepping onto the path of immortality in the future.

"Jiang Ruoqing, strength 2,546 catties, minor success in Blood Change."

Jiang Ruoqing was also a focus of the guests. At 13, her strength almost guaranteed that she would enter the True Qi Realm next year, on par with Luo Yu.

At 13, Jiang Ruoqing's body had started to develop, adding a seductive charm to her beauty, making many of the Luo family's younger generation stare in a daze.

She slightly raised her head, a confident smile on her face. Her gaze swept the crowd, pausing briefly on Luo Zhen, then moved on, her expression unchanged.

Luo Zhen's strength had been stuck at 3,000 catties for more than two years. Although her strength was still below 3,000 catties, once she entered the True Qi Realm next year, her strength would surge, far exceeding 3,000 catties.

In her view, from now on, she and Luo Zhen were people from two completely different worlds.

"Jingting, strength 7,742 catties, True Qi Realm, minor success in Qi Sensing."

If Luo Yu's performance caused a stir, making the entire martial arts arena lively, then Jingting's performance made the entire arena boil.

Since Jingting displayed her extraordinary talent at 11, she had been unstoppable.

For the past two years, she had maintained a strength increase of 1,000 catties per year in the Body Tempering Realm. This year, at 13, she had already entered the True Qi Realm, with her strength surging to over 7,000 catties.

If Luo Yu was the first in strength among the underage descendants of the Luo family, then Jingting was the first in potential, or in other words, the first genius.

Jingting, wearing a black dress, was tall and slender, looking like a 15-year-old girl. Her skin was smooth and white, and her long legs had an irresistible charm, making it hard for all the younger generation to look away.

"Big Sister Jingting...!"

"Little Sister Jingting...!"

"Cousin Jingting...!"

"Little Cousin Jingting...!"

...

Now, Jingting was almost like Luo Zhen three years ago, with almost all the younger generation vying to greet her.

Jingting maintained a faint smile, nodding lightly, walking to Luo Zhen's side, hugging his arm, and calling out a name that made everyone envious: "Brother Luo Zhen!"

Although Jingting smiled and nodded in response to the greetings, there was a clear hint of coldness in her smile, as if she was just going through the motions.

Three years ago, she was like an ugly duckling, ignored and ridiculed by everyone. Only Luo Zhen had protected and cared for her.

Now, these people treated her like they treated Luo Zhen three years ago, often mocking him.

These people did not deserve her genuine treatment.

The only person who deserved her genuine treatment was her Brother Luo Zhen.

Not far away, Luo Yu watched Jingting hugging Luo Zhen's arm, a deep jealousy and anger flashing in his eyes, and he let out a light snort.

Luo Yun stood beside Luo Yu, whispering something in his ear. Luo Yu nodded, a smile appearing on his lips.

"Luo Qing, strength 2,700 catties, major success in Blood Change."

"Luo Fei, strength 5,813 catties, just entered Qi Sensing."

...

This time, three more descendants had their strength surge and entered the True Qi Realm: Luo Yun, Jingting, and Luo Fei.

Moreover, as long as there were no strange phenomena like Luo Zhen, Jiang Ruoqing and Luo Qing were almost certain to break through to the True Qi Realm next year.

The other descendants, although their strength increases were not significant, were still steadily progressing.

A family's strength not only depends on the number of strong elders but also on the potential of the younger generation. A family without a future, no matter how prosperous, would find it hard to maintain its strength for long.

Although Luo Zhen had fallen from the pedestal, the performance of the other descendants was very impressive, solidifying the Luo family's leading position in Pingyang County.

Since last year, Luo Zhen had been scheduled to appear last, and this year was no exception.

Although his strength was 3,000 catties, which was better than most of the other descendants except for those who had entered the True Qi Realm, in terms of potential, Luo Zhen was clearly at the bottom.

Luo Zhen's appearance did not cause much of a stir, and some people had already started to leave. Both the Luo family and the guests had almost given up on Luo Zhen.

Luo Zhen approached the strength testing stone without hesitation and threw a punch.

Some guests were chatting with each other, and some were thinking about other things, so few were paying attention to Luo Zhen.

However, the testing official standing beside the strength testing stone was slightly surprised.

He clearly felt that Luo Zhen's punch was stronger than the previous two times.

The testing official was at the peak of the True Qi Realm, with a strength of tens of thousands of catties. Although he could not determine the exact strength of Luo Zhen's punch, he could still compare the strength.

The facts proved that the testing official was not wrong. Luo Zhen's strength was indeed stronger than the previous two times.

Ripples spread across the stone, and a number quickly appeared: 4,263.

The testing official was stunned, his eyes widening as if he had seen something incredible.

He blinked a few times, but the number did not change. The testing official was speechless, doubting his eyes for the second time.

After a moment, the testing official announced: "Luo Zhen, strength 4,263 catties, Body Tempering... exceeding the Body Tempering limit."

He paused, unsure of how to describe Luo Zhen's current strength. If he had entered the True Qi Realm, his strength would be at least 5,000 catties. If he was at the Body Tempering limit, his strength would be 3,000 catties.

4,263 catties was hard to describe, so he used "exceeding the Body Tempering limit."

The testing official's announcement made the entire martial arts arena silent for three seconds.

After three seconds, the scene erupted.

"4,263 catties? How is that possible?"

"Martial arts has only two realms: Body Tempering and True Qi. Either you reach the Body Tempering limit of 3,000 catties or the True Qi Realm with a strength of over 5,000 catties. How can it be between the two?"

"In my life, I have never seen or heard of anyone with a strength between 3,000 and 5,000 catties...!"

...

A strength between 3,000 and 5,000 catties was almost impossible, and none of the many Sea of Qi cultivators or True Qi Realm martial artists in Pingyang County had heard of it.

After a moment of shock, someone shouted, "It seems he has been constantly training, breaking through the limit of his physical body, which is why his strength has increased. If he can break through the limit of his physical body but cannot enter the True Qi Realm, doesn't that mean it's as hard as climbing to the sky for him to enter the True Qi Realm?"

"Indeed, he probably won't be able to break through to the True Qi Realm in his lifetime. Even if his physical body breaks through the limit, it is extremely difficult to increase pure physical strength, unlike the True Qi Realm, where strength surges."

"True, although there are spirit medicines to increase physical strength, the effects diminish with repeated use. His strength will never compare to that of a True Qi Realm martial artist."

"Before, I still had a little hope for him, thinking he could overcome this hurdle and soar to new heights after entering the True Qi Realm. Now, it seems he definitely won't have that chance."

"What a pity, with his superior constitution and insight, such a monstrous talent, he can't even enter the True Qi Realm. What a waste...!"

...

One by one, voices of disappointment were heard.

If before, some still had a little hope for Luo Zhen, now they were completely discouraged.

Even if his physical body broke through the limit, how could it compare to a True Qi Realm martial artist?

Increasing physical strength by 1,000 catties a year is very difficult, while a True Qi Realm martial artist can increase their strength by 10,000 catties a year without much difficulty.

Among the Luo family's younger generation, Luo Yu's smile was smug.

Although Luo Zhen had been depressed for three consecutive years, Luo Yu had already mocked Luo Zhen in his heart, but he still had a little worry, fearing that Luo Zhen might one day turn things around.

With Luo Zhen's monstrous talent, once he entered the True Qi Realm, surpassing Luo Yu would not be difficult.

But now, Luo Yu's worry was completely gone.

No matter how monstrous Luo Zhen's talent, he could not catch up to Luo Yu, who was already in the True Qi Realm, by simply training his physical body. The gap between them would only grow wider.

At the main seat of the Luo family, many important figures' expressions darkened. The last bit of hope they had for Luo Zhen was now shattered.

Only Luo Ning remained calm, unperturbed.

Luo Zhen was already used to others' reactions. He did not care whether they had hope for him, walking back to his original position with a composed demeanor.

"Father said that forming a Dao Fetus by purely training the physical body is much stronger than forming a Dao Fetus by cultivating True Qi. Even at the initial stage of the Dao Fetus Realm, one is stronger than many minor success Dao Fetus cultivators and can contend with major success Dao Fetus cultivators."

"Father has left Pingyang County and ventured out into the world, with a much broader perspective than these well, frogs in a well. How could they know the power of purely training the physical body...!"

A cold smile flashed across Luo Zhen's mind. Although training the physical body is difficult, the future rewards would be greater.