Stirling stood at the back, his gaze scanning the crowd ahead, thinking to himself. He sensed that life in the dojo wouldn't be easy, but he didn't expect such a crazy situation on his second day. It made him wonder if he was being favored by a jinx.

  Stirling frowned, pondering, but he had no clue. He could only let it go for now and observe for a few days.

  Soon, a quarter of an hour had passed before some of the crowd gave up, their legs trembling and their mouths wailing in pain.

  This scene puzzled Stirling. He had stood for over an hour last night and felt nothing. How could these guys, who had joined earlier than him, not hold on for so long? Despite his doubts, Stirling reacted right away. A look of pain flickered across his face, and then his legs trembled, as if he were about to fall.

  "Hold to the stance, hold on!" Figo said with a stony face, who was half-sitting in a hug.

  At Figo's words, everyone regained their footing, gritted their teeth, and persevered.

  And it was at this moment that Stirling discovered the reason for his endurance. Aether skill! It was that damn Aether skill!! Stirling realized that much of his Aether had gathered in his legs. While it was still circulating, it was being reduced slightly as it passed through his legs. Stirling suspected that this energy flow might ease the soreness in his legs. It is much like the effect of the Aether during the herbal bath last night.

  

  That was the only thought in Stirling's mind. If Stirling hadn't gambled all in gaining the Aether skill, he would likely be in pain right now. The Aether skill is valuable not only for building fitness but for much more to exploit.

  At last, thirty minutes later, Figo wrapped up his stance, marking the end of the morning training. Next came the medicinal bath. Only two apprentices were still chatting and laughing in the courtyard. In the second year, they reached the skin-resurfacing stage, known as . The others, with their legs swaying and faces pale, struggled to walk a few steps, appearing to limp.

  Stirling pretended his legs were numb. He sighed and walked, following some of his fellows to the medicinal bathroom.

  In the bathroom, a servant had already boiled hot water and added herbs. A strong medicinal smell filled the air.

  "One each, hurry!"

  At Figo's roar, everyone winced but gritted their teeth. They rolled over and dove into the medicine barrels like dumplings.

  Stirling, being the youngest, had only the oldest barrel left for his turn. He didn't mind, though. After all, nothing could compare to the one at home. And with his Aether power protecting him, any barrel made no difference.

  Reaching the last barrel, Stirling took off his clothes and copied his seniors. He dove in. At once, the familiar sense of burning from the night before raced along his nerves, flooding his mind.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  But Stirling had experience, so he activated his Aether all over his skin. Soon, Stirling felt a mix of heat and coolness. The comfort returned, making his brow relax. He smuggled into the barrel, his eyes rolling as if he were in orgasm, just missing a moan of pleasure. Compared to Stirling, the others were in extreme discomfort.

  Everyone but Figo and two others at the rhino skin stage sank in the medicinal bath. Their faces were tense, and their eyes were full of blood, showing they were in deep pain.

  At that moment, Stirling struggled to keep his expression steady. He wanted to avoid showing too much pleasure and consequently drawing attention to himself. The white steam from the medicinal bath hid Stirling's current state from everyone. Plus, everyone was preoccupied with their own concerns, so it wasn't a big deal.

  Figo stood outside the room. Two brothers in the rhino-skin realm followed him. All three stood with their hands behind their backs. They watched the others in the room, hoping no one would faint from the drug's powerful effects.

  After almost an hour, Figo finally waved his hand. The servants, who had been waiting, entered the room. They helped the apprentices out of the barrels, one by one. "The medicinal food is ready in the dining hall. If you're late, it will be gone!"

  A samurai behind Figo spoke to the group getting clothes. Then, he followed Figo out without turning back.

  "Oh my God, when will this end?" In the side room, someone cried out with a mournful face.

  "It's simple. Get past the tough part, and you won't have to struggle as much anymore," someone replied.

  "Hey, I've been training for a year, and there's been no progress. Do you think I have no talent?"

  "Nonsense! If you had talent, you would have become a disciple!"

  "Damn! I don't understand. Why are we all doing the same standing posture and the same medicinal bath, yet we get different results?!"

  "Hard work is nothing compared with talent."

  "Forget about it. Let's hurry! No food if we're late."

  As they gossiped, they had already dressed and were staggering as they headed towards the dining hall. From a distance, they looked like a bunch of lame ducks. Stirling walked at the back of the flock, feigning a limp. Then, he heard an unfamiliar voice from behind.

  "New here? Luis... Luis, what?"

  Stirling turned and saw it was the chubby guy who had come a day early. He was the man in blue who had signed up when Stirling had come to the martial arts dojo to inquire about the situation.

  "Luis Chilavert," Stirling said with a nod.

  "Junior brother Luis, haha, it's a pity you came a day later than me. Oh, hiss."

  The chubby little guy was clearly feeling the pain; his face trembling with sweat. But he followed at hand, saying, "I saw everything you did with Marshall when you came here today. Aren't you curious why Marshall is targeting you?"

  This surprised Stirling, and he looked back at the fat man, asking curiously, "Why?"

  "Because he wants to attack you first and then win you over!"

  Stirling's eyebrows raised, and a phrase flashed to mind:

  Pickup Artist! I've been PUA?!

  Stirling was speechless when he heard Joe Mosley continue. "Anyone registered as an apprentice here was a well-known figure in the Outer City. Marshall, with his quirky ways, is the son of the deputy head of the Gray Specter gang."

  The fat man chuckled. "Tark Sean, who's been following Marshall, is the eldest son of Sean's Lounge in the outer city. I heard Shelby has a sister working for the Karls in the inner city."

  "Senior Brother Figo is about to make a breakthrough in the Bone Forging Realm. He won't be staying at the dojo anymore, but will head to the inner city. So, things are going to get very complicated here."

  "The Gray Specter leader is about to retire because of illness. At this key moment, Marshall aims to find skilled people for his father at the dojo. And you, a new outsider with no background and no unique talent, are a proper target."

  Stirling raised his eyebrows at the chubby man's words and asked, "How do you know so much?"

  "Hey, there's nothing I don't know about the outer city. My family runs a herbal medicine shop, and every day at least a hundred customers come. What news haven't I heard?" The fat man chuckled.

  "Oh? Then why are you telling me all this?" Stirling asked, with a hint of realization in his eyes.

  "Well, of course I cannot stand him." The little fat man chuckled, a harmless smile on his face.