The morning was just dawning, with the first hint of light appearing on the horizon.

More than thirty villagers gathered at the head of Xiaojia Village, practicing a set of martial arts called "Fierce Tiger Fist." The howling fist wind stirred the air, creating quite a formidable presence.

In the team, a young man with a clear face and linen clothes stood out.

This year, she looks to be about fifteen years old at most, but her boxing is like mercury, fluid and unceasing. Her skill surpasses everyone else by a significant margin.

Even the notoriously strict junior instructor Xiao Dashan broke into a rare smile.

"As expected of Ye Ge, watching him perform the Tiger Fist, he's no less impressive than Uncle Shan."

"That's natural, Ye Ge is at the eighth level of Refining Realm. Among the younger generation in the village, only Xiao Teng can compare with Ye Ge."

"Xiao Teng is also an eighth-rank practitioner of the Refining Realm. Which one do you think is stronger, him or Ye Ge?" a young man suddenly said.

As soon as this was said, it immediately sparked the interest of others.

Martial arts cultivation begins with the Refining Realm, focusing on tempering one's spirit. It is divided into nine levels, and most of the younger generation in the village are only at around the sixth level.

"Tch, Xiao Teng's abilities today are only because his father is the leader of the hunting team and has access to cultivation resources. While Ye Ge cultivates alone, how could he compare to Ye Ge?" someone retorted.

"That's not how you put it. Xiao Teng is after all a cultivator at the eighth level of refining, he might not necessarily be weaker than Brother Ye." A man named Nian Youyou said.

……

“Who is stronger, Xiao Ye or Xiao Teng?” Listening to the discussions of the crowd, Xiao Ye wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled faintly.

He had heard this countless times.

He and Xiao Teng were called the two most outstanding young people in the village, and inevitably they were compared to each other.

If it were in the past, Xiao Teng would have indeed qualified to be his opponent. However, what people didn't know was that last night, he had already broken through to the ninth level of the Refining Realm.

Only Xiao Dashi knows about this message, as Xiao Ye hasn't come yet to announce it.

"Hmph, all of you want to punish me, don't you?"

Xiao Da Shan was a sturdy man. His eyes were like lightning, and when he glanced over the group of youths who were arguing heatedly, they immediately shivered and obediently continued their training.

As a junior instructor, Xiao Dashan was notoriously strict in the village, and they naturally dared not defy him.

At this moment, a tall young man stood in the queue, glaring resentfully at Xiao Ye.

He was Xiao Teng, the best among the younger generation in the village. Before his breakthrough, he was on par with Xiao Ye in terms of cultivation, both having reached the eighth level of refinement.

“My abilities are no worse than yours. Why do people always think I'm inferior to you?” Xiao Teng glared at Xiao Ye, his heart filled with resentment.

If one were to ask who Xiao Teng hated most in Xiaojia Village, it would undoubtedly be Xiao Ye.

Xiao Teng's father was the captain of the hunting team in Xiaojia Village. He always got the most rewards and often exchanged them for various medicinal herbs, diligently cultivating Xiao Teng.

However, Xiao Ye's family background was the worst in the entire village. They even struggled to afford food.

Under such circumstances, Xiao Ye was able to stand shoulder to shoulder with him. Many villagers whispered behind his back that Xiao Ye was the first genius of Xiaojia Village. How could Xiao Teng not resent this?

"Hmph, just wait until my father buys the materials for alchemy and lets me break through to the Ninth Refinement Layer. Then, I'll defeat you in front of everyone in the village and let them all know that I am the first genius of Xiaojia Village!"

……

In the team, Xiao Ye was practicing the Fierce Tiger Fist, his thoughts churning.

"Although my skill is the best among the younger generation in Xiaojia Village, it's useless. I can't enter the inner sanctum to obtain elixirs and medicinal herbs to cure my father's ailment!"

Xiao Ye thought of his impoverished family background and clenched his fist secretly.

His father, Xiao, was involved in an accident that shattered all his meridians. He went from being a powerful martial artist to a sickly invalid who could only be cured by a miraculous elixir.

However, the Black Dragon Kingdom's Qingzhen village where Xiao Jia Village is located is a desolate place. Where would there be any elixir or panacea?

By chance, he learned about the renowned martial arts sanctuary called Chongmen from an ancient village text.

重 Gate, is one of the strongest sects in the Black Dragon Nation. Its disciples number over ten thousand, and many renowned experts have emerged from it. Legend has it that the sect possesses elixir and miraculous medicines that can repair a martial artist's meridians.

And every three years, the Heavy Gate would select a new batch of disciples to replenish the ranks with fresh blood.

The 重门 is a holy land of martial arts, and every time disciples are selected, people from all over the Black Dragon Kingdom will go there.

The Black Dragon Country has millions of square miles of territory, and countless descendants of prestigious families. It's not difficult for them to reach the ninth level of refining by using medicinal herbs to assist their cultivation from a young age!

Xiao Ye's heart was filled with strength. He knew very well that the descendants of famous families were far superior to him. With the strength of the Ninth Layer of Refinement, it would be incredibly difficult to pass the heavy door's examination...

While the younger generation of the village fixated on the title of first-born, Xiao Ye had already set his sights on the entire Black Dragon Kingdom.

“I have to be cautious. Unless I can break through to the Acquired Realm!” Xiao Ye whispered, “But breaking through to the Acquired Realm is incredibly difficult!”

When one is tempered to a certain level, true qi will be generated, which is the stage of the Acquired Realm.

The After Heaven Realm and the Refining Realm are two completely different realms. Even a beginner in the After Heaven Realm can kill a large group of Refining Realm warriors with ease, there is no comparison between the two.

But to break through to the later stage is very difficult!

In Xiaoshicun, there are hundreds of households, all generations practicing martial arts. However, there are only a few warriors who have reached the later stage of the Acquired Realm, and they didn't achieve it until after the age of thirty.

Just because there are some advanced martial artists in the village, can Xiao Jia Village become one of the prosperous villages in Qing Town.

As the youngest members of the village, Xiao Ye and Xiao Teng are speculated by villagers that it will take them at least until they are twenty years old to break through to the Houtian realm.

“If… if my strange illness could strike again, maybe I could break through to the postnatal realm.” Xiao Ye suddenly grinned.

He has a secret that no one else knows.

When he was nine years old, he came down with a strange illness. Every time it struck, he was in excruciating pain. However, each time the illness flared up, his cultivation speed would increase dramatically. This allowed him to afford various medicinal herbs despite his impoverished circumstances.

Last night, the strange illness attacked for the third time, allowing him to break through to the ninth level of Refining in one go.

Of course, Xiao Ye wouldn't dare to make this public, or he would definitely be looked at as a freak.

Soon, with the sound of punches whooshing through the air, a morning passed.

"That's all for today, disband!" Xiao Dashan said loudly.

Hearing this, the young people of Xiaojia Village burst into cheers and scattered like birds.

"Xiao Ye!"

Xiao Dashen walked towards Xiao Ye, a smile on his face.

Among the younger generation of the Xiao family, only Xiao Ye had been treated with such consideration.

"Come on, work hard and break through to the Houtian realm soon! Fight for the village!"

Upon learning that Xiao Ye had broken through to the Ninth Layer of Refining, his anticipation for Xiao Ye grew immensely. He was very eager to know if Xiao Ye could break through to the Acquired Realm before he turned twenty.

"It's a shame the village chief is still in seclusion, or I would have told him and let him enjoy himself too." Xiao Dashan sighed, then waved his hand and left.

Xiao Ye returned home, ate dinner in a hurry, and then practiced the Tiger Claw Fist in his own courtyard.

The final year of the heavy gate examination is all that remains, he must seize the time to cultivate.

In the world, combat techniques are divided into nine ranks. This set of Tiger Fist is just the most basic combat technique, not even reaching the first rank. However, it has extraordinary effects in tempering one's courage and is the main fist method practiced by the younger generation of the Xiao family village.

"Ahem!"

From the house, walked out a middle-aged man with a sickly pale face. It was Xiao Ye's father, Xiao.

With the resemblance to his father, Xiao Ye's worry deepened on his face.

Knowing Xiao Ye's concern, Xiao waved his hand and said with some anticipation: "My injury doesn't matter, but you, are you confident about the Heavy Door Selection a year later?"

As a father, he naturally expects his children to succeed.

Hearing this, Xiao Ye broke into a brilliant smile: "Father, rest assured, I have complete confidence."

Facing his father's expectations, Xiao Ye told a lie.

However, with Xiao's insight, he immediately saw through Xiao Ye's lack of confidence, but he didn't point it out. He walked into the house with a lonely and melancholic air.

"Father, don't worry. I will definitely enter the heavy gate and find a miraculous medicine for you to restore your strength!" Looking at his father's back, Xiao Ye slowly clenched his fist.

His father was previously ranked in the Hòutiān Jìng, the strongest person besides the village chief. However, because his meridians were shattered, he couldn't even display the strength of a cultivator.

Although Xiao didn't often say it out loud, the loneliness that occasionally slipped from his expression was something Xiao Ye always remembered.

"Bang!"

At this moment, the courtyard door was pushed open and a man rushed in, panting, "Ye Ge, Liu Yiyi is back from the heavy gate, she's at the village head's house now!"

Boom!

As soon as Xiao Ye heard the three words "Liu Yiy," his mind was flooded, and a torrent of emotions long suppressed within him surged to the surface.

Liu Yiy was an adopted infant raised by the Xiaojia village along with Xiao Ye. They grew up together as childhood sweethearts. Villagers often joked about the two, saying that when they came of age, they should be married.

Although it was half-joking, Xiao Ye's parents had long regarded Liu Yiy as their future daughter-in-law.

But two years ago, the elder who had been traveling outside was seen by the gatekeeper and directly brought back to the sect to cultivate, and has never returned.

It can be said that Xiao Ye's entry into the heavy door was partly due to Liu Yiy.

Childhood sweethearts, indeed a deep bond.

Xiao Ye Yuan thought that he had to enter the heavy door in order to see Liu Yiyi, but unexpectedly, the other party returned.

The one who left him two years ago has finally come back!

Xiao Ye's heart was filled with excitement, and he rushed to the village head's house.