Qiu Zu: From an apprentice in a medicine shop to an immortal ancestor.

In fact, Qiu Zhen also harbored some expectations.

Being noticed by Apothecary An and accepted as a disciple was a significant event.

With Apothecary An's unfathomable martial strength and status in the Medicine King Valley, becoming his disciple could be considered a meteoric rise.

Top-tier martial arts, resources, connections...

Things that were once lacking would become much easier after becoming a disciple.

However, it was just wishful thinking after all.

After the bone examination, his aptitude and potential were laid bare.

He wasn't some "genius figure."

Apothecary An attributed his ability to cultivate to a certain level to "fate," but he himself didn't believe in fate.

His words clearly indicated that he had no intention of accepting him as a disciple.

However, Apothecary An gave him a second option, allowing him to practice martial arts under his tutelage.

"Apothecary An wants to accept me as a protégé?"

Qiu Zhen's mind raced, and he quickly analyzed Apothecary An's intentions.

Both protégé and disciple have the meaning of "student," but there are still significant differences between the two.

Martial arts masters and Confucian scholars teach many students, ranging from dozens to hundreds or even thousands, but only "inner disciples" have the opportunity to listen to teachings face-to-face, which is what is known as "personal disciples."

Students who have no chance to directly receive the master's teachings are "successively taught" by inner disciples or high-ranking figures in the sect.

Those who are "taught in succession" are "protégés."

In the martial world, most "martial arts schools" operate in this mode. Ordinary people join a martial arts school, but the person who actually teaches them martial arts is not the master, but the senior brothers and sisters.

In the imperial examination, those who pass the provincial or metropolitan exams also have protégés who pay respects to their mentor, which is known as "protégés and former officials."

"Protégés" nominally have a master-student relationship, but there is no substantial dependency relationship. Instead, the meaning of "relying on" and "referring to" is stronger.

Qiu Zhen had read many miscellaneous books in the An family's library, and his knowledge was much better than before.

The martial arts realm of "Innate Martial Master" corresponds to the initial stage of "Refining Essence to Qi" in immortal cultivation.

The elders of the Medicine King Valley, although also at the "Refining Essence to Qi" level, have a more profound martial arts realm and mostly have the potential to break through to the Grandmaster realm.

The strength and status of the two are vastly different.

Should he seek to become a disciple of an Innate Martial Master and inherit their mantle?

Or should he become a protégé of an "elder"?

Such a life choice, if placed on an ordinary village boy, would probably cause confusion and bewilderment.

Qiu Zhen only pondered for a moment.

He knew his own fate best, a cultivator who defies destiny.

Going to the Medicine King Valley to become a disciple of an Innate Martial Master was not as good as staying in the familiar Qingmu Town, seeking opportunities for immortal encounters, and accumulating strength.

Then, with a calm expression, he bowed to Apothecary An:

"If I join your tutelage, may I have access to your collection of books?"

Apothecary An was a little surprised to hear this.

He thought that the young man in front of him would ask important questions such as martial arts and who taught him, but he didn't expect him to be concerned about his books.

He knew about the collection of books in the medicine-making courtyard.

"Of course, except for certain secret books that record esoteric knowledge, you can borrow and browse the rest of the collection."

Qiu Zhen was overjoyed and immediately performed the disciple's salute:

"Disciple pays respects to the teacher."

Apothecary An nodded slightly, quite satisfied in his heart.

"Excellent."

After all, a protégé is not a "personal disciple."

If it were a proper personal disciple accepting a master, even if it wasn't elaborate, he would have to notify relatives, friends, fellow disciples, and hold a banquet, which would be very ceremonial.

There are not so many requirements for a protégé to accept a master.

However, Qiu Zhen still went to the street as soon as possible and bought the Six Rituals of Apprenticeship and sent them to the An residence.

"Your gifts have been accepted by the young master."

In the living room, An Kang looked at Qiu Zhen with a smile, his face full of admiration, and said with a smile:

"This is a gift from the young master."

As he spoke, a servant of the An family brought over a long wooden box.

A dark black metal longbow lay quietly in the wooden box.

"Qiu Zhen, you shot the ferocious wild boar in the forehead with three arrows and killed it, so you must be very good at archery. This is a heavy bow with a ten-stone iron core, which requires a thousand pounds of force to draw. See if you like it."

An Kang pointed to the precious bow in the wooden box with a smile.

"Thank you, sir!"

Qiu Zhen cupped his hands in the direction of the backyard, feeling very happy in his heart.

This precious bow was just what he wanted.

He had long planned to buy a heavy bow. The bows and arrows he bought before were fine for ordinary hunters, but they were too light for him and lacked power.

Especially now that he has become a martial artist, his strength has greatly increased, and the demand is even more urgent.

If he were to buy it himself, a ten-stone iron-core bow would cost at least dozens or hundreds of taels of silver.

This gift was quite valuable.

"Hmm~"

An Kang was very satisfied with Qiu Zhen's performance and said:

"You have cultivated to a certain level and have a thousand pounds of strength, so you can easily draw this ten-stone iron-core bow, but that is only temporary. You only have this strength when your blood is surging. After a few days, when your blood and energy dissipate, you will no longer have this strength."

Qiu Zhen also knew something about this.

The [Medicine King Five Animal Mimicry Art] he is currently learning is an introductory guidance method, a health-preserving exercise for "Refining Grain to Essence," not a true "martial art."

Martial arts techniques, in addition to stance work and moves, also have corresponding martial arts mental cultivation methods.

An Kang's opening like this must be to teach him real skills.

Qiu Zhen was not polite. He had joined Apothecary An's tutelage and became a protégé, so he was considered "one of his own." He immediately opened his mouth:

"Please give me some pointers, Chief Steward An."

"Easy to say, easy to say."

An Kang said as he walked, leading Qiu Zhen to a deserted side courtyard, entering the study, and said:

"The [Medicine King Five Animal Mimicry Art] has five levels, corresponding to the five passes of the acquired "tendons, skin, bones, flesh, and meridians." Therefore, the division of acquired martial artists is from the first to the fifth pass. If you can suppress the surging blood in your body, then you are a first-pass martial artist."

After saying that, An Kang took out five scrolls from the desk in the study and placed them on the table.

"These five scrolls are the [Divine Demon Five Animal Diagram]. Contemplating the postures of the Five Animal Fist can stabilize the blood in your body and nourish your flesh, helping you refine tiger bones, deer tendons, ape muscles, bear skin, and bird meridians. The [Five Animal Mimicry Art] without a mental cultivation method is an ordinary health-preserving exercise. With it, it is a top-level introductory martial art that many people in the martial world dream of."

Qiu Zhen's heart stirred:

"Chief Steward An, can I contemplate any of the fist posture diagrams?"

"That's right, any one will do, depending on the person's own situation."

An Kang nodded, but reminded him:

"However, it's best not to contemplate them at the same time. You have cultivated to the first level of the [Five Animal Mimicry Art] and are at the stage where your blood is surging. It will take two or three days at the earliest, and five or six days at the latest, to cultivate a fist posture diagram and pass the first pass of martial arts. If you are distracted and greedy, you will easily miss the opportunity."

"Once the phenomenon of surging blood dissipates, you will have to polish it again, and you will not be able to become a first-pass martial artist for a long time."

"This junior is grateful for your teachings."

Qiu Zhen didn't know much about this and humbly asked for advice:

"Chief Steward An, which one do you think I should choose for the first pass?"

"As the saying goes, one strength can overcome ten skills. When you first become a martial artist, it is most important to increase your strength. The three passes of tiger bones, deer tendons, and ape muscles can all increase your strength."

An Kang looked at the bow and arrows next to him and said:

"You are proficient in archery, so you should pursue pure strength. This [Vajra Demon Ape Diagram] is the most suitable. By learning this diagram, you can stabilize your blood and strengthen your muscles, and you can have a thousand pounds of strength from the start."

Qiu Zhen's eyes lit up.

That's it.