Such Talent would rank high even within the current White Tiger Boxing Hall.
He could perhaps reach Marrow Transformation within ten years.
Skin Grinding, Bone Forging, Marrow Transformation.
These three stages, each one is more difficult than the last.
It's not just a competition of Talent, but also one of resources.
During the Training Strength stage, one used Little White Tiger Soup in conjunction with Pile Skill cultivation. This was the medicinal tea Fang Yue had been drinking.
A single bowl cost two taels of silver. If not for Fang Hu's constant supply, it would have been impossible for Fang Yue to achieve Whole Force in just over ten days.
Without the aid of medicine, it's impossible for someone to perform the Pile Skill day after day to build strength.
Each training session, which unlocked the body's potential, naturally took a huge toll on it.
After all, strength can't be generated from nothing.
To increase strength, one must consume a vast amount of energy.
Therefore, failing to supplement with the proper medicinal soups would inevitably slow one's cultivation speed.
As for the Skin Grinding stage, it required a different Secret Medicine, which was applied to the skin during training.
This Secret Medicine was even more expensive, and the formula was held by his master.
He wouldn't be able to mix it himself and could only purchase it from the White Tiger Boxing Hall.
A single jar of the Secret Medicine cost fifty taels of silver.
With daily application, one jar would only last for fifteen days. That meant one hundred taels of silver a month.
As for the Bone Forging and Marrow Transformation stages...
...there were, of course, other Secret Medicines that were even more expensive.
Without substantial family wealth, one's cultivation speed would inevitably be slowed.
Of course, in reality, if one managed to pass the Martial Examination...
...then the imperial court would provide a free monthly supply of Secret Medicine. This was one of the main reasons why every Cultivator on the Martial Dao wanted to pass the Martial Examination.
"Since you've already mastered Whole Force, you can start training in the White Tiger Fist tomorrow."
"Yes, Master," Fang Yue replied respectfully.
~~~~~~
「The next day.」
Fang Hu told Fang Ergou and Zhang Shu to go for a walk outside, then led Fang Yue into the house.
"You've already achieved Whole Force, and your Pile Skill is quite refined. From now on, you just need to keep honing it, and your strength should continue to increase."
"However, that will be a gradual process. For now, your strength is sufficient and your physique has met the requirements. It's time to train in the White Tiger Fist."
Fang Hu glanced at Fang Yue, feeling a stir of emotion.
'This disciple I've taken on has even greater potential than I imagined.'
'He's much stronger than my son. And on the journey back, when faced with that giant tiger, he gave his chance to escape to Zhang Shu. With a character like that, he definitely won't treat my son poorly in the future.'
'So, taking him on as a disciple was no loss.'
'After all, with my son's Talent, there's no way he'll complete Bone Forging before he's twenty-five.'
'That means he won't be able to take the Martial Examination.'
"While my White Tiger Fist might not be considered the most profound art in Xiahe County Town, are you aware that in terms of the number of disciples, we rank in the top three?"
"Do you know why? It's because of the saying, 'The poor pursue literature, the rich pursue the martial arts.' And training a Fist Technique is far cheaper than training with swords or sabers!"
Fang Hu said slowly.
The cost of cultivating the Martial Dao was immense.
The Little White Tiger Soup needed just for Pile Skill training had already cost Fang Yue several tens of silver taels, based on his consumption.
For an ordinary farming family, this amount of silver taels was enough to cause financial ruin.
And that was only because Fang Yue's Talent was good enough that he took such a short time.
For someone with less Talent, the cost in silver coins would likely multiply.
This was why, even though those with low-to-average Talent could theoretically cultivate, almost no master would accept such a disciple.
"A Fist Technique, while slightly inferior to a sword or saber in a real fight, saves a lot of money during training. It's most suitable for those who lack a wealthy background."
"Alright, I'll now teach you the training method for the Skin Grinding stage of the White Tiger Fist. Watch carefully."
With that, Fang Hu immediately began his demonstration.
Although he didn't seem to exert much force, the White Tiger Fist was a true form of Martial Arts, and Fang Hu was a master of the Martial Dao who had begun Marrow Transformation.
Each motion of his hands and feet carried two to three thousand pounds of force. The air tore with a CRACKLE under the wind from his fists, and Fang Hu himself seemed to transform into a real tiger.
Fierce and explosive.
After a quarter of an hour, Fang Hu had demonstrated the full routine three times before he stopped.
"Now, you practice along with me."
Fang Hu said lightly.
Fang Yue then began to practice, following Fang Hu's movements. After another three repetitions...
...Fang Hu had Fang Yue practice on his own while he watched from the side, making corrections.
Only when Fang Yue's movements were perfect, and there were no more omissions in his recitation of the cultivation mnemonic or his application of force, did Fang Hu finally let him stop.
"Alright, that's all for today."
"You don't need to come by for the next little while. I need to go hunt in the mountains."
"You should continue your Pile Skill every day, and then practice the Fist Technique. As for Skin Grinding, wait until your strength is fully proficient with the Fist Technique before you begin."
Based on his observations over this period, Fang Hu was very confident in Fang Yue's self-discipline.
There was no need to watch over him constantly.
Besides, the recent procurement trip to Xiahe County Town had completely used up his accumulated stock of furs, beast bones, and herbs.
Now with Fang Yue and Zhang Shu to provide for, he needed to prepare a lot more medicinal materials.
It was only natural that he had to go hunting in the mountains to replenish his stock.
"Yes, Master."
Fang Yue nodded and respectfully thanked Fang Hu.
He owed his ability to cultivate the Martial Dao to his master, who had given so much. The amount of grain and meat consumed during this period alone was substantial.
If converted into silver coins, it would be equivalent to a common farmer's entire yearly ration for one person.
With Fang Hu having invested so much in him, he naturally held his master in high esteem.
"No need for such formalities. You can go home for today."
Fang Hu waved his hand, dismissing Fang Yue.
~~~~~~
「Back at home.」
Fang Yue went into his room. His older brother, Fang Cheng, wasn't back yet.
He closed the door and focused his mind on the space before him.
Immediately, text materialized before his eyes.
[Cultivation Technique: White Tiger Fist (Skin Grinding) (Rudimentary)]
[Talent: 123 (One in a Hundred)]
[Note: Can consume ten Talent Points to form the 'Basic Boxing Mastery' Talent.]
Fang Yue stared at the words before him, his mind racing.
Today, after he had gained a preliminary grasp of the White Tiger Fist...
...these lines of text had appeared before his eyes. But he had been at Fang Hu's house and couldn't examine them closely.
Now that he was back home, he didn't have to worry.
'This Golden Finger really is something else. To think it could change like this!'
'I originally thought my Golden Finger could only increase my base Talent, but I never expected I could use Talent Points to form a new Talent.'
'So, the Talents the Golden Finger forms are based on the Cultivation Technique I'm practicing?'
'If training a Fist Technique can form a boxing mastery Talent, does that mean training in other Martial Arts can form other Talents as well?'
'It's just... the cost in Talent Points is making me hesitate.'
But soon enough, Fang Yue made his decision.
'I'll just give it a try. It's only ten Talent Points, after all.'