...

In the morning, sunlight scattered down, bringing a touch of heat.

Spring has passed, and midsummer has arrived.

The summer in Wuling City is not as hot as in Songyi City, with a trace of coolness.

Lin Zheyu strolled along Nanming Street, with all kinds of vendors and peddlers bustling about.

The various loud hawking shouts added a bustling and lively, yet slightly noisy, atmosphere to this prosperous city.

This is one of the most bustling streets in Wuling City.

Lin Zheyu rented a small courtyard near Nanming Street for fifteen hundred silver and settled in.

After gathering information for over a month, he gained a deeper understanding of the situation in Wuling City.

Back then, Xi Shixin had introduced the customs of the Central Plains in a summary, giving him only a rough understanding of the overall situation there.

To get an in-depth understanding of the major forces near a specific city in a certain region, one needs to seek out local people for information.

"This way, sir, please."

When arriving at Chongwu Tower, a servant waiting outside warmly greeted Lin Zheyu upon seeing him.

Chongwu Tower is a well-known restaurant in Wuling City.

Rumor has it that the owner behind Chongwu Tower is a master-level person.

The restaurant often holds martial arts exchanges and competitions, attracting a large number of martial artists to gather.

Since arriving in Wuling City over a month ago, Lin Zheyu has almost daily ordered a bottle of wine, some dishes, and gathered information at Chongwu Tower.

In this place where martial artists gather, one can obtain much useful information related to the Martial Dao.

"Mr. Lin, you're here too. Have a seat over here."

As soon as he walked into Chongwu Tower, a man not far away greeted him with a smile.

At this moment, his appearance had returned to normal, without using the Turtle Breath Skill for disguise.

Lin Zheyu's face carried a full beard, covering his slightly youthful appearance, making him look much more mature.

This year marks the third year since he arrived in this world.

This body is already eighteen years old.

At this age, it's a time of growth, and with martial training, Lin Zheyu's height has reached one meter eighty-seven.

In nearly three years, he grew from a skinny scholar upon his arrival into a brawny man of great strength.

After cultivating with the Hundred Refinements Treasure Canon, Lin Zheyu's physique became much sturdier. If Jia Yanrong and others saw him again, they probably wouldn't recognize him.

"Mr. Wang, haven't seen you for days. How have you been? Have you joined any forces yet?"

Lin Zheyu sat across from the man and asked with a smile.

The man's name was Wang Jing, from Northern West Mountain City.

He looked about forty, but claimed to be only thirty, just looking older.

And Lin Zheyu, actually eighteen years old, declared himself to be twenty-seven, just because his face appeared young.

"Alas, if only things were so simple."

"I don't dare to think of the War God Sect; after all, they're ranked among the top ten sects in the entire Guanghua Domain."

"Their criteria for selecting disciples are extremely strict. For those of us coming from elsewhere and already aged, there's simply no chance."

"But the other sects, they're just blind to talent."

"Three days ago, I participated in Guiyang Sect's entrance examination, passed it, but could only become an Outer Disciple."

"Damn it, the old guy at the examination said I was too old, and I had exhausted my potential."

"Damn it, I'm just looking older in a hurry!"

"I'm only thirty, even in the Central Plains, I'd still be considered a little genius. Truly they're just blind!"

"Moreover, one's age is easily verifiable. I'm not some nobody; I've got roots in the north."

Wang Jing cursed, venting his discontent.

He had attended several sect entrance examinations but had not been able to enter the inner sect, only becoming an Outer Disciple.

Being an Outer Disciple is worthless; there's no qualification to inherit the sect's powerful cultivation techniques.

To learn techniques and acquire resources, one needs contribution points and silver for purchases.

Lin Zheyu silently drank tea as he looked at the man's hastily aged features, thinking that saying he looks forty is indeed a compliment.

"Mr. Lin, you're lucky, having such a youthful face."

"Shave off the beard, and no one would doubt you're twenty."

Wang Jing looked at Lin Zheyu with envy.

If he had such a youthful face, he probably would have already joined a favored sect.

"Can't the sects determine a martial artist's age?"

Lin Zheyu asked.

He was a latecomer and didn't know much about many aspects.

In stories he'd heard and novels he'd read, the protagonist's age could be determined with a single touch, quite mystically.

"Do you think it's like the tales told by storytellers?"

"Ordinary people who haven't practiced martial arts can precisely judge age by bone-touching and face-reading."

"But once you start practicing martial arts, your body's bones, appearance, will change due to Martial Dao tempering, varying with different cultivation techniques and Martial Arts Realm advancements."

"For us martial artists in the Qi Blood Realm, it's very hard to determine age through bone-touching and face-reading."

Wang Jing shook his head and explained.

It was for this reason that he felt so frustrated.

Damn it, I'm clearly only thirty, just aged in a hurry, but they're saying I'm over forty.

"I see."

Lin Zheyu said with sudden understanding.

He had indeed added a few extra years for himself, worrying he might be discovered during the entrance examination.

With this knowledge, he felt much more at ease.

During the entrance examination, the inspection was extremely rigorous.

If someone used cultivation techniques to alter appearance, a detailed examination could reveal it.

Lin Zheyu couldn't use a different appearance to join those sects, so he could only use his original appearance.

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