Lin Ming finished drinking the Dragon Bone Broth, licked his lips and said: "This is the foundation of a great sect. These things, ordinary warriors wouldn't even think about eating them, let alone tasting them. This time when I went out to train, I met a senior who ate Qiong Flower Spirit Fruit every day and drank Clear Spring Morning Dew. She was truly someone who didn't eat or drink anything worldly, and wasn't tainted by the mundane world's impurities."

  Qin Xingxuan added another bowl of soup for Lin Ming and said, "If you eat these things every meal, won't you be consuming dozens of True Origin Stones in a day?"

  Lin Mingdao said, "That's right, do you know how much True Essence Stones our Tianyun Country produces every year? Ninety-nine percent of it is transported to the Seventh Mystic Valley. Apart from us, there are thirty-five other countries that transport all sorts of resources, including herbs, materials, and precious minerals, to this place non-stop. Those direct disciples of the Seventh Mystic Valley probably get over a thousand True Essence Stones in their hands every month. Even if they eat meals like this every day, it's nothing to them. Perhaps, they eat even better than this."

  "The gap is too big!" Qin Xuan sighed, they were already in the most superior class in Tianyun country, but when they came here, even eating a meal had to be carefully weighed, for fear of not being able to afford it.

  Thinking of the ordinary warriors in Tianyun Country who risked their lives to pick a few low-grade herbs, and thinking of those who were left with hidden injuries from practicing martial arts because they couldn't afford medicine, becoming disabled at the age of forty or fifty, Qin Xuan suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

  That's the gap, the gap that has been beaten into their bones since they were born as warriors!

  How many warriors of the country have spent their entire lives striving to break through the Condensing Pulse stage, but to no avail. Yet, these people from the Seven Mysteries Valley sect can break through the Condensing Pulse stage every day while eating and sleeping, and with a bit of cultivation, they become post-heavenly pinnacles. If both parents are valley elders who receive special training, and they take a few more Heavenly Entrance Pills, then they become pre-heavenly masters.

  Thinking of this, Qin Xuan raised her head and took a stealthy glance at Lin Ming. She suddenly thought that Lin Ming wasn't from an ordinary family background, was he? He had struggled all the way to get to where he was now. How much had he paid in price, what kind of opportunity did he have?

  Recalling Lin Ming's rare insight and his ethereal martial intent, Qin Xuan felt a little regretful. If Lin Ming had been born in a large sect, he might have achieved even better results than now.

  "What are you thinking about?" Lin Ming asked with a smile after finishing his second bowl of dragon bone soup, noticing that Qin Xuan was looking at him.

  "There's nothing, I just feel that this world is quite unfair. Ordinary warriors work hard their whole lives, but they can't even touch the toes of these sect disciples."

  "It's indeed unfair, it depends on whether you choose to endure or resist. I heard that the Emperor who broke through the void with his seven combined martial arts was actually from a commoner background. It's hard for commoner martial artists to rise up, but once they do, because of their tough training, they may go further than disciples from prestigious sects."

  Lin Ming's words were very calm, but Qin Xuan suddenly felt that Lin Ming was talking about himself.

  Qin Xingxuan fell silent for a moment, then turned her head to look out the window. A strange thought suddenly arose in her mind, "Can I catch up with his footsteps? Half a year's time. I'll be overtaken by him, and later...the gap will only get bigger and bigger..."

  Thinking of these things, Qin Xuan's heart felt an inexplicable emotion.

  At this time, several brightly dressed martial artists walked into the Nanhua Building together. The leader shouted: "Waiter! Bring a table of good dishes and two jars of Longgu wine!"

  "Good!" The shopkeeper took one look at the situation and knew that a wealthy customer had arrived, beaming with smiles as he welcomed them. This group of people ordering dishes was an atmosphere that Qin Xuan and Lin Ming couldn't compare to.

  Nan Hua Lou, as one of the top restaurants in Tian Xuan City, was also a place where young and talented individuals often frequented. Lin Ming saw that several people had placed precious artifacts on their tables, all of which were high-quality items, clearly indicating that they came from extraordinary backgrounds.

  "It's been three years, and I've finally waited for it. Last time's General Assembly Wu, I didn't have the chance to participate, this time I managed to fight for a spot, if I get a good ranking this time, Father won't have anything to say."

  The young warrior who spoke had a cultivation of half-step Cong Mai, and looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old. Breaking through the Cong Mai stage in another year or two wouldn't be a problem at all. Reaching the Cong Mai stage at the age of ten, this achievement was unmatched by anyone in Tianyun Country except for Lin Ming and Qin Xuanxuan.

  And judging from his tone, he's probably not only highly cultivated but also a top-notch fighter among his peers, otherwise he wouldn't have been qualified to participate in this Grand Sect assessment.

  "Haha, Brother Ouyang is indeed a man of great talent and ability. This time at the Clan's Martial Arts Gathering, he will at least enter the top hundred!"

  "Stop underestimating me, at least I've practiced for a hundred days, I'll give it a shot, and with 150 days, there's still hope."

  "Ou Yang brother is too modest, who doesn't know that Ou Yang brother's 'He Huan Shen Gong' has already reached the fourth level? Many of the condensed pulse period disciples are still struggling at the third level. If we really talk about combat power, Ou Yang brother is at least equivalent to a mid-condensed pulse period cultivator. Compared to those rural warriors from the thirty-six countries, even their peak condensed pulse warriors aren't a match for Ou Yang brother!"

  The young man with the surname Ouyang drank a cup of wine and smiled, saying: "Compared to the warriors of the thirty-six countries, it's an insult to me. They're not even as good as the people from the sixteen martial arts families. Those families have been passed down for thousands of years, and some of them still have some depth. The last martial arts conference produced a few talents."

  "You're talking about Zhang Yanzhao from the Zhang family, but he only made it into the top twenty. Although being in the top twenty is impressive, it's still far inferior to our Seven Mystical Valleys' direct disciples. Let alone Brother Ouyang, even if we were to go to the Thirty-six Countries and the Sixteen Martial Families, we could easily defeat ninety-nine percent of their geniuses."

  Hahaha...

  A burst of loud laughter came from the wine table, Qin Xuan's face looked extremely ugly, his hand unconsciously tightened around the jade bowl, and he frowned: "These people are too arrogant!"

  "Strength determines status, so it's normal for these Seven Mysteries Valley disciples to look down on the Thirty-six Countries and the Xi Wu family. However, they shouldn't be talking so loudly as if no one else matters." Lin Ming said, pointing with his hand. Qin Xuan followed his gaze and saw three young men and a girl from the neighboring table stand up, their faces gloomy, walking towards the table where the Seven Mysteries Valley disciples were seated.

  Ouyang Ziran also noticed the movements of the four people. The clothes on their chests were embroidered with a small golden dragon, obviously from the same family.

  He took a glance at their cultivation and saw that the young man in front had just entered the Condensation Period, while the other three were in the Tempering Marrow Period.

  It is said to be the condensing pulse stage, but in fact it is just after the meridians have been opened up, and the foundation has not yet been solidified.

  Seeing the cultivation of these people, Ouyang smiled. This kind of martial artist who has just entered the Condensing Pulse stage, their strength hasn't increased much, but their sense of superiority will immediately rise, thinking that no one in the Tempering Bone stage is a match for them.

  "Alright then, I'll dampen your spirits and let you know the difference between yourselves and the Young Master of the Sect!" With that thought, Ou Yang's smile grew even thicker.

  "You think you can sweep through my Liu Shi Wu family? Fine, I am Long Yun and I'm standing right here today. Come try to sweep me away!" The young man at the forefront with a cold gaze said, looking like he was around twenty years old, probably also here to participate in this Total Clan Gathering of Martial Arts.

  "Long Yun? A member of the Long family from Huashan, huh? Hmph, you think you're worthy of bearing that surname?" Ouyang toyed with the wine cup in his hand, not even bothering to stand up.

  "It's not up to you to decide whether it fits or not!" Hearing the other party insult her family, the girl behind Long Yun said sternly, with the precious sword already out of its scabbard!

  Ouyang burst out laughing, "Can't tell if you're a rose with thorns or not. I just recently broke through the fourth level of 'He Huan Shen Gong' and was thinking of finding some women with good looks and talent to dual cultivate with me. Your appearance and cultivation are barely passable, are you interested?"

  Ouyang said so, the several martial artists of Qixuan Valley who were sitting with him burst out laughing. The young woman from the Long family was almost grinding her teeth in anger. Not only did he flirt with her, but also humiliated her like this, how could she not be angry?

  "I'll kill you!"

  The girl drew her sword and was about to stab, but Long Yun blocked her way. "Jiū Mèi, you're no match for them, let me handle it."

  Longyun drew out a long spear from the Susumu seal, made a strange starting gesture, "Surnamed Ouyang, I'm here to experience your 'Harmony Godly Skill'! I'd like to see what qualifications you have to speak such arrogant words!"

  Seeing Long Yun's weapon, Lin Ming was taken aback, it was actually a gun user, truly rare.

  It is often said that a sword is like jade, a knife is like a tiger, and a spear is like a dragon. Many martial artists, after gaining fame, would take their surname from their weapon or kung fu style, establishing a martial arts family. For example, the founder of the Qixing Valley Qin Sect took Qin as his surname because of his expertise with the zither, while this Dragon Family used spears and thus took Long as their surname.

  The guests at the next table saw someone was going to fight, but instead of being frightened, they turned their heads one by one with great interest, drinking wine and eating nuts, looking like they were enjoying a good show.

  Even the young shop assistant didn't think it was anything out of the ordinary, he casually slung a towel over his shoulder and put down the wine jar in his hand, saying: "Gentlemen, whoever breaks something has to pay for it. Do you want to lose and pay or win and pay?"

  The young shopkeeper asked, Lin Ming couldn't help but laugh and cry. This was indeed a strange tavern, but thinking about it, it was normal too. After all, the people who came and went here were all proud warriors, so it was likely that fights often broke out.

  "It's natural to lose and pay." Ou Yang lazily stood up from his seat, a playful smile still hanging on his face. "Dragon surname, I'm warning you first, the things in Nan Hua Lou aren't cheap. It's common for one or two hundred true yuan stones to be deducted after a fight. Don't end up losing and being unable to pay! The behind-the-scenes boss of Nan Hua Lou isn't simple, if you're afraid, it's still possible to kneel down and admit your mistake now."

  Hearing the number of one or two hundred true yuan stones, Long Yun's face turned red and white. Today, coming to eat this meal had already made him lose a lot of money, if he had to pay one or two hundred true yuan stones, he really couldn't afford it. However, at this point, he had no way to retreat.

  "You think you've won for sure? Don't be ridiculous! Take this!"

  Long Yun let out a loud roar, took one step forward, and infused his spear with true energy. Long Yun and his spear became one, shooting towards Ouyang's chest like a black snake.