Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Expanding the Inner Hall

    Inside the main hall of Gu Family Manor.

    A child of about seven or eight years old stood there timidly, his eyes filled with awe as he looked at Gu Qingfeng.

    On the other side.

    Gu Qingfeng was also looking at the child before him.

    Different from his past emaciated appearance, a month''s worth of nutritious meals, along with practicing martial arts, had considerably improved the child''s vitality and health.

    "Vitality like a robust ox!"

    "Indeed, it''s a symbol of stepping into the Martial Arts path!"

    Gu Qingfeng nodded in satisfaction.

    Just by observing the child''s vitality, one could understand whether he had truly entered the ranks of martial artists.

    After all.

    Martial artists possess profound vitality.

    Even a beginner in the Refining Skin Realm would have a strength of vitality unmatched by ordinary people.

    "What is your name?"

    "Reporting... Reporting to the manor master, my... my name is Gouwa—"

    The child was so nervous that he was stammering.

    Gu Qingfeng asked, "Where is your ancestral home, and do you have any other family?"

    "My ancestral home... I''ve forgotten, and there''s only my parents in my family. However, they died of famine in earlier years, now I am all alone."

    This time, Gouwa''s answer was much more fluent.

    To this.

    Gu Qingfeng nodded slightly.

    "Since that is the case, from today onwards you will be known as Gu Quan, becoming a formal disciple of the Inner Hall. This is Gu Yang, the Inner Hall Master, and from now on, he will guide you in your cultivation."

    At this point, Gu Qingfeng gestured towards Gu Yang who stood beside him.

    Gouwa, now Gu Quan, was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed, bowing his thanks.

    "Thank you, manor master!"

    "Nice to meet you, Hall Master!"

    During his time joining Gu Family Manor, Gu Quan had heard of the existence of the Inner Hall, a level higher than the Outer Hall disciples, a place only for direct descendants of the Gu Family or those given the Gu surname.

    As for the Inner Hall, Gu Quan had no particular aspirations.

    In his mind, his real goal was to enter the Refining Skin Realm within a year, to become a true Outer Hall disciple, and to no longer live a life of starvation as before.

    What Gu Quan didn''t expect was, not only did he become an official disciple of Gu Family Manor, but he was also directly initiated into the Inner Hall and granted the Gu surname, how could his heart not be thrilled?

    ...

    Gu Quan withdrew.

    This martial art is sufficient to lay your foundation, enabling you to advance to Blood Refining.

    Nevertheless, this martial art can only be practiced by you alone. If it is transmitted without authorization and discovered by the manor, it will be an unforgivable capital offense!"

    "Your subordinate understands!"

    Gu Quan''s face turned pale as he hurriedly bowed his head.

    Gu Yang nodded, "Good, practice well. With your talent, you should have a place in the Inner Hall in the future. Do not disappoint the manor master''s expectations of you."

    "Yes!"

    Gu Quan nodded solemnly, his youthful hands receiving the manual of Gu Family Boxing.

    Then Gu Yang added a few more words of caution, telling Gu Quan that he could come to seek guidance on anything he didn''t understand, before turning and leaving.

    There were people in the Inner Hall.

    Gu Yang was also somewhat pleased.

    After all, this meant that his position as the Inner Hall Master was not just an empty title.

    And in the Inner Hall disciples'' residence, Gu Quan surveyed his surroundings. Different from the Outer Hall, where registered disciples shared a room with four or five others, each formal disciple of the Inner Hall had a private room that was clean, tidy, and noticeably more spacious.

    Such changes made Gu Quan all the more grateful.

    ---

    Over the following several months.

    Gu Qingfeng dedicated himself to quiet cultivation; regrettably, among the many registered disciples of the Outer Hall, there emerged no other top-notch talent like Gu Quan.

    Regarding this.

    He was resigned.

    After all, top-notch talents are scarce; having one emerge from a thousand people is already extremely astonishing. The likelihood of another appearing was near impossible.

    However.

    While there was no other top-notch talent who reached Martial Arts in one month, there were four who broke through the Martial Arts realm in three months, all with above-average talent.

    These individuals had backgrounds not too different from Gu Quan''s.

    Thus.

    Gu Qingfeng granted them the Gu surname and brought them all into the Inner Hall.

    For such a place as the Inner Hall, Gu Qingfeng had no intention of filling it just for the sake of numbers; at minimum, one needed the potential to break through to the Little Master of Refining Organ to be considered for entry.

    From the beginning.

    Gu Qingfeng had set his sights high for Gu Family Manor, benchmarking it against top forces. At present, the Gu Family Manor might seem frail, but this was merely because it was newly established, with some foundational differences compared to larger forces.

    Given several decades or even a hundred years for the Gu Family Manor to grow, it would likely not be inferior to anyone.

    Therefore.

    Gu Qingfeng naturally would not lower the Inner Hall''s standards.

    Later, those disciples who only managed to break through to the Refining Skin Realm after half a year or a year were all made official disciples of the Outer Hall by Gu Qingfeng. As for whether they could enter the Inner Hall, they would have to be carefully assessed later on before a final determination could be made.