Wang Shuo led Wang Yue back into the room and pointed to a chair beside the table. His tone was much gentler than before. "Sit. There are some things I should make clear to you."
Wang Yue sat down as instructed and watched Wang Shuo take a yellowed ancient book from the shelf. Curiosity filled his heart. Anything Wang Shuo treated with such solemnity had to concern an important matter of the martial cultivation realms.
Wang Shuo opened the ancient book, his fingertips lightly gliding across its pages as he slowly began, "It is said that when our Great Chang Dynasty was founded, its founding emperor, later known as the Martial Ancestor, had condensed an utterly extraordinary number of strands of Blood Qi while in the Blood Condensation Realm. He laid an unparalleled foundation for his martial path, then relied on that foundation to break through realm after realm, ultimately founding the dynasty together with his friends from the sects."
He raised his eyes to Wang Yue, a measure of solemnity in his gaze. "And our Wang Clan has such an example as well. The current clan head, Wang Hezheng, condensed sixteen strands of Blood Qi in the Blood Condensation Realm back then, far surpassing his peers within the clan. It was precisely because of this talent that he was able to smoothly secure the position of clan head."
"Later, when he broke through to the Energy Refining Realm, he overturned the clan's original power structure in one stroke. Then, with the help of a disciple from Dragon Transformation Sect, the overlord sect of Spirit Seeking Prefecture, he forcibly raised our Wang Clan's status from Black Fort to the county seat, gaining control of the mines and fertile fields we possess today."
Wang Shuo closed the ancient book, his gaze falling upon Wang Yue as expectation colored his voice. "I can tell that nine strands of Blood Qi are far from your limit. You possess such talent. I only hope you will not let it go to waste. Strive to condense even more Blood Qi in the Blood Condensation Realm and lay the most solid foundation for your future martial path."
"As for the force-condensing diagram of the Harmonious Flow Fist, you may come find me whenever you wish to comprehend it. The clan's secret collection is open to you."
Hearing this, Wang Yue froze slightly, stormy waves surging in his heart. He had always believed that condensing nine strands of Blood Qi marked perfection in the Blood Condensation Realm. Yet someone could condense even more—sixteen strands, no less!
Upon thinking it over carefully, it made sense. Some people were born with robust physiques and Blood Qi capacities far beyond ordinary people. Naturally, they could condense more Blood Qi.
Not to mention those monstrous prodigies who appeared only once in an age. The amount of Blood Qi they condensed in the Blood Condensation Realm would likely overturn everyone's understanding.
"So nine strands of Blood Qi are merely the minimum requirement for successfully breaking through to the Energy Refining Realm?" Wang Yue asked instinctively, a bead of cold sweat appearing at his temple.
He had previously thought that once he condensed nine strands of Blood Qi, he could rely on his exceptional gifts and outstanding talent to attempt a breakthrough into the Energy Refining Realm. After all, he already possessed a perfected force-condensing method. Though he had never seen a force-condensing diagram, he believed himself confident of success.
Now, it seemed fortunate that he had taken the initiative to visit Wang Shuo today. Otherwise, his narrow horizons might have caused him to squander his talent and leave regrets behind in the Blood Condensation Realm.
"It is good that you understand." Wang Shuo nodded, a trace of approval flashing through his eyes. "On the martial path, one wrong step leads to wrong steps all the way. The firmer your foundation, the farther you can go."
Suddenly, Wang Shuo's tone became somewhat nervous. He looked at Wang Yue, his fingers curling slightly. "Wang Yue, would you... would you be willing to take me as your master?"
Seeing that Wang Yue did not immediately answer, he hurriedly added, "If you feel it is inappropriate to take me as your master, then taking He Zhi as your master would also do. I will personally speak to him. With your talent, he would certainly be willing to accept you as his disciple."
Wang Yue was stunned. He had not expected Wang Shuo to suddenly propose taking him as a disciple. Wang Shuo was not only an elder of extremely high seniority within the clan, but also a top expert in the Harmonious Flow Fist, and he had treated Wang Yue exceedingly well.
Without hesitation, he rose and deeply cupped his hands toward Wang Shuo. "It is this disciple's honor to take Master Wang as my master! It is only that I came in haste today and brought no gifts for the apprenticeship. Tomorrow, this disciple will personally arrange a banquet for my master, so as to fulfill the rites of becoming your disciple."
"Ha ha ha ha!" Wang Shuo could not help bursting into loud laughter. The tension vanished from his face as he waved a hand. "What apprenticeship banquet? There is no need for so many cumbersome formalities! I accept you as my disciple because I value your talent and character, not for the sake of such empty rituals."
Just as Wang Yue was about to kneel and perform the formal ceremony of apprenticeship, Wang Shuo stepped forward swiftly and gently supported his arm, his tone carrying a touch of emotion. "I accept your intentions. There is no need for excessive ceremony. A martial artist should bow to heaven, bow to earth, and bow to all living beings in his life. There is no need to bow to an old man with one foot already in the grave like me."
He patted Wang Yue on the shoulder, his eyes full of expectation. "Perhaps before long, your master's strength will no longer measure up to yours. When that time comes, I may even need you to offer some guidance to this old man!"
Warmth rose in Wang Yue's heart. Looking at Wang Shuo's hearty smile, he said solemnly, "A master for a day, a father for life! No matter what this disciple achieves in the future, you will always be this disciple's teacher."
Wang Shuo smiled and nodded.
Patting Wang Yue's hand, he changed the subject, and his tone became solemn once more. "Since you acknowledge me as your master, there are matters concerning the sects that I should explain to you in advance, lest you miss an opportunity later."
He walked to the window and gazed at the night beyond the Martial Academy. Slowly, he said, "Recently, all the major and minor forces in the dozen or so county seats surrounding Spirit Seeking Prefecture have been recruiting disciples on a large scale. Even disciples from poor families who were once not even allowed through their doors are now being fought over. Do you know why?"
Wang Yue shook his head, his heart full of confusion. Though he had heard news of sects recruiting disciples, he had not known it would stir up such a great commotion.
"Because next spring, Dragon Transformation Sect will throw open its mountain gates and recruit disciples far and wide!" Wang Shuo's voice carried a nearly imperceptible reverence. "Anyone under twenty with upper-grade bones, or special talent, will have a chance to join Dragon Transformation Sect."
"Dragon Transformation Sect?" Wang Yue repeated the name, his heartbeat suddenly quickening. When Wang Hu had previously mentioned sects recruiting disciples, Wang Yue had already been full of curiosity toward this world's powerful forces. Now that he heard the name of an actual sect, longing could not help rising in his heart.
"Do not underestimate Dragon Transformation Sect." Wang Shuo turned around, his expression stern. "It is the overlord of all Spirit Seeking Prefecture. Its power is so immense that even the imperial court dares not provoke it excessively. Within Dragon Transformation Sect's domain, including the county seat where we are located, aside from a handful of officials such as the county magistrate dispatched by the court, the local gentry, clan heads, and stewards of industries are all people secretly arranged by Dragon Transformation Sect or forces that have submitted to it."
He paused before continuing, "Our Wang Clan was able to gain a foothold in the county seat and control mines and fertile fields. On the surface, it was because the clan head broke through to the Energy Refining Realm. In truth, it was also because the clan head had once received the favor of a Dragon Transformation Sect disciple in his early years, giving us a slight connection to the sect. Otherwise, we would have long since been swallowed by other forces."
Wang Yue listened with eyes wide, stormy waves churning in his heart. He had not imagined that a sect's influence could reach such a terrifying extent, even affecting the appointment and removal of local officials. It was simply shocking beyond belief!
What concerned him even more was that he suddenly thought of the Blood Dragon Secret Method in the middle volume of the Eighteen Forging Golden Body Technique he cultivated. This secret method far surpassed the Wang Clan's Harmonious Flow Fist in rank. An ordinary sect could never possibly possess such a legacy.
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Could it be... that this Blood Dragon Secret Method came from Dragon Transformation Sect? A bold guess surfaced in Wang Yue's mind. If that was truly the case, then he had to make a trip to Dragon Transformation Sect—not only to pursue higher martial cultivation, but also to uncover the origin of the Blood Dragon Secret Method.
As if seeing through his thoughts, Wang Shuo added, "The exact date for recruitment has been set for the first day of January next year. At that time, an examination site will be established in the prefectural city of Spirit Seeking Prefecture. Regardless of one's birth or status, everyone will have an opportunity."
"Ten months..." Wang Yue clenched his fists, his expression solemn. There were indeed only ten months from now until next January. It seemed like a long time, but for him, who needed to condense more Blood Qi and break through to the Energy Refining Realm, not a single day could be wasted.
"I understand, Master!" Wang Yue answered solemnly. He had already begun planning his cultivation for the coming ten months: first condense more Blood Qi as quickly as possible, then use the Harmonious Flow force-condensing diagram to break through to the Energy Refining Realm. Only then could he gain an advantage in Dragon Transformation Sect's disciple recruitment examination.
When he emerged from Wang Shuo's room, the sky had already gone completely dark. The moon was bright and the stars sparse, cold moonlight spilling over the bluestone paths of the Martial Academy in a faint silver sheen.
As Wang Yue walked along the path toward his room, a series of steady footsteps suddenly sounded behind him. He turned instinctively and saw Wang Daoling standing beneath the shade of a tree not far away, tall and straight, calmly watching him.
Running into Wang Daoling at this hour truly caught Wang Yue by surprise. He cupped his hands in greeting. "Greetings, Senior Brother Wang."
Wang Daoling did not exchange much pleasantry and merely said flatly, "Come with me."
Wang Yue was somewhat baffled, but he still followed. As the clan head's nephew and one of the Martial Academy's foremost disciples, Wang Daoling would not act without reason.
The two walked side by side, and Wang Daoling was the first to break the silence. "Today, the Martial Academy disciples privately organized a match, a sparring exchange among fellow disciples. Since coming to the Martial Academy, you have spent many days in your room and have not exchanged fist techniques much with disciples of your generation, but I have seen the changes in your physique."
He glanced sideways at Wang Yue, his voice carrying expectation. "I hope you will take part in the match shortly."
Wang Yue fell silent for a moment, his brows slightly furrowing. His current strength had long surpassed that of ordinary Martial Academy disciples. If he went all out, he feared he would dampen the others' enthusiasm. Thus, he asked, "Must I participate?"
Wang Daoling continued walking ahead without slowing, answering with a question. "Why not participate?"
With that simple sentence, Wang Yue said nothing further.
The two no longer spoke. They passed through the quiet residential area and soon arrived at the Martial Academy's training ground.
Unlike the daytime's focus and concentration.
At this moment, the training ground was bustling: more than a dozen torches had been planted around the grounds, their flames dancing and illuminating the entire training field as brightly as day.
A great number of Martial Academy disciples had gathered together, chatting in groups of two and three. Their topics all revolved around the upcoming match.
Some stewards responsible for miscellaneous affairs at the Martial Academy were also drawn over by the lively atmosphere and stood at the edges to watch.
Wang Yue's gaze swept swiftly through the crowd, and he unexpectedly spotted Wang Hu. He stood in a corner, watching the center of the field with anticipation in his eyes.
Not far away, Wang Shanhai was also among the crowd, his expression calm as though he were pondering something.
None of them realized that in the four-story building beside the Martial Academy, the windows stood open. Wang Hezheng sat at a tea table by the window, drinking tea with an unfamiliar man dressed in black.
The man in black appeared to be around thirty. He had handsome features and sharp eyes, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop. Suddenly, he smiled at Wang Hezheng. "Your Wang Clan Martial Academy is quite lively every day."
Wang Hezheng lifted his teacup, gently blew away the floating tea leaves, and smiled faintly. "They are merely young fellows with restless Blood Qi, unable to sit still and wanting to spar."
The man in black raised a brow, changing the subject as he lowered his voice. "By the way, regarding the Zhao Kingdom spies I mentioned to you before, has there been any progress?"
Wang Hezheng's gaze darkened, but he did not answer directly. He merely raised his cup in gesture. "Have some tea first. We can discuss this matter later."
At the training ground below, the many disciples stopped their conversations when they saw Wang Daoling approaching with Wang Yue. They called out in unison, "Greetings, Eldest Senior Brother!"
Wang Daoling nodded slightly, walked to Wang Yue's side, and asked in a low voice, "Do you want to go up and start things off by taking first place?"
Standing beneath the torchlight, Wang Yue felt the curious, disdainful, and expectant gazes of the surrounding disciples. The hesitation in his heart gradually faded. He possessed a solid foundation and had cultivated the Harmonious Flow Fist to great accomplishment. His strength was already no longer what it had once been. That confidence was enough for him to face any challenge calmly.
Was mastering martial arts not for the sake of greater strength and higher realms? And was displaying one's prowess before others, earning recognition for one's strength from peers, not also part of the pursuit of martial arts?
With that thought, a flame rose within Wang Yue, and his hot blood gradually began to boil.
He no longer hesitated. Taking three steps as two, he strode straight to the center of the training ground, turned around to face every disciple's gaze, and spoke loudly with the bold spirit unique to youth: "I am Wang Yue, newly arrived at the Martial Academy. I am willing to exchange a few moves with my senior brothers. Which senior brother wishes to be the first to fight?"
As his words fell, the training ground instantly fell silent. Every gaze focused on the youth in the center of the field. This new disciple, tall and slender with an extraordinary bearing, had actually taken the initiative to issue a challenge as soon as he arrived. It was truly beyond everyone's expectations!
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