Taking a Master

After successfully securing seventy percent of the Medicine Hall's Blood Activating Powder allocation for Wanping Martial Academy, the cultivation resources of all the Martial Disciples improved significantly.

The free Blood Activating Powder they could collect each month increased from one portion to two, enough to support higher-intensity cultivation.

This tangible benefit made them respect Jiang Qinghe even more.

In martial arts, there was no seniority; the accomplished were teachers.

Although many Martial Disciples were far older than Jiang Qinghe, whenever they met him, they still warmly addressed him as Senior Brother.

None of this made him slack off or grow complacent. He remained the first to enter the training grounds and the last to leave.

Two days later, inside the dormitory, Jiang Qinghe stared at the panel.

[Realm: Body Tempering (Complete)]

[Techniques: Iron Shirt Skill (Complete), Wood Splitting Skill (Complete)]

[Martial Skills: Rock Crushing Palm (Minor Accomplishment—3/10), Levitation Technique (Beginner—0/20)]

[Potential Points: 20 (0–1 point obtainable daily)]

"Finally, I've saved enough."

A trace of anticipation flashed through his eyes as he murmured:

"Levitation Technique, upgrade!"

With a thought, his Potential Points instantly dropped to zero, returning to their starting point.

The words on the panel rippled like water, then renewed themselves:

[Martial Skill: Levitation Technique (Minor Accomplishment—0/50)]

This time, the martial arts fragments flooding into his mind were far more complex than when he had upgraded the Rock Crushing Palm.

Jiang Qinghe felt as though his brain were being torn apart. The pain lasted several breaths before finally subsiding.

At the same time, a strange warm current surged from his dantian and flowed into his legs.

Though he had already reached the completion of Body Tempering, Jiang Qinghe could feel the muscle fibers in his legs subtly reorganizing and improving further.

It was as if his whole body had shed an invisible burden, becoming as light as a swallow.

Unable to resist, he rose to his feet and gave a light leap, nearly smashing his forehead into the ceiling.

When he landed, the sensation of his toes touching the ground became exceptionally keen, as though he could clearly sense every slight rise and dip in the floor.

"Is this the wonder of a lightness technique? Its rank is clearly much higher than the Rock Crushing Palm, and it even seems to have permanently enhanced my body!"

Jiang Qinghe paced back and forth through the dormitory, every step light as if he were treading on clouds.

He tried changing direction rapidly. Even within such a cramped space, he remained nimble and at ease; his coordination and reaction speed had both improved markedly.

"Whether I'm pursuing powerful enemies or fleeing danger in the future, my chances will increase greatly!"

Jiang Qinghe let out a long breath, secretly feeling fortunate.

That bastard Liao Hu really stepped in dog shit. Who knows what ancient tomb or ruin he dug this technique out of? He probably hadn't even had time to warm it up after getting it, much less master the basics. Otherwise, he might actually have escaped that day.

He stood up, straightened his clothes, and pushed open the dormitory's wooden door. The sunlight outside was just right.

"Elder Ping said I should seek him out once I reached completion. Now that all my techniques have reached their current limits, it's time!"

This time, he came alone to the two-story pavilion deep within the Martial Academy and knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

Jiang Qinghe entered and saw Elder Ping, with his eight-shaped brows and white beard and hair, looking every bit like a little old man. Just as Last Time, he leisurely held his rosewood pipe, puffing out clouds of smoke.

Two people stood beside Elder Ping.

One was Fifth Senior Brother Zhao Guangyi, who looked at Jiang Qinghe with a gentle smile in his eyes.

The other was Xiao Hei, whom he had not seen for many days.

His face bore more traces of travel-weariness. At that moment, he Widened his eyes and sized Jiang Qinghe up from head to toe, his curiosity mixed with a trace of scrutiny.

Jiang Qinghe stepped forward steadily and stopped five paces from Elder Ping. He gave a deep bow and said respectfully:

"Elder Ping, I have reached the completion of Body Tempering. This disciple knows nothing of the methods for further cultivation and humbly begs you to clear away my confusion!"

Hearing This, Elder Ping's narrowed eyes slowly opened into slits.

He took a deep drag from his pipe before slowly exhaling.

Through the curling smoke, he looked at Jiang Qinghe with a rare hint of approval in his gaze.

"Two days ago, you taught that little brat Qin Wu a lesson. Well done!"

After a pause, Elder Ping's face showed a trace of disdain.

"That old fart Jin Sanqiu was always bragging that he was some martial arts prodigy Lin'an County had not seen in ten years, nearly praising him to the heavens. Yet now you exposed him before everyone for what he truly was—nothing but a pretty face with no substance. Hmph!"

He casually set his pipe on the edge of the table and slowly rose from his recliner.

Though small and thin, an invisible pressure bore down on Jiang Qinghe, making his heart tighten.

"Boy Jiang, tell me. What is your purpose in practicing martial arts?"

Hearing Elder Ping's voice ring like a great bell, Jiang Qinghe raised his head slightly, his expression bright.

"This disciple studies martial arts, first, to gain a foothold in this world where the weak are prey to the strong; to protect the lives of those I care about and keep them safe and secure for a lifetime!"

"Second, to exhaust the ultimate reaches of martial arts. This disciple is unwilling to spend his life as a frog at the bottom of a well. I want to see with my own eyes what kind of sight lies beyond the summit of martial arts."

His voice was not loud, yet it carried the sharpness unique to youth and an unwavering resolve beyond doubt.

Elder Ping's deep eyes fixed upon Jiang Qinghe's resolute face, as though his gaze could pierce through flesh and reach the depths of his soul.

After a long while, he nodded slightly, then shook his head and let out a leisurely sigh, his voice carrying a touch of desolation.

"This old man... once misjudged a person and entrusted his Heart Blood to the wrong one, teaching a disciple with a crooked heart. Whenever I think of it, I cannot help but regret it deeply."

As his words fell, a brief silence congealed in the air.

Jiang Qinghe lowered his gaze slightly. Hearing this, he could not help feeling somewhat uneasy.

Elder Ping slowly exhaled. When he spoke again, there was more decisiveness in his tone.

"Today, I am willing to give you an opportunity—and... give myself another opportunity as well."

Elder Ping's expression was solemn, his gaze blazing.

"Jiang Qinghe! Are you willing to become this old man's disciple?"

Jiang Qinghe's heart shook. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately dropped to his knees and answered solemnly:

"This disciple is willing!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

As the final "good" fell, the wrinkles on Elder Ping's face gradually eased, and a trace of radiance appeared on his formerly stern, taut features.

"From this day onward, you are the final disciple of me, Ping Jiuxiao!"

The way he looked at Jiang Qinghe grew increasingly satisfied, faintly carrying the esteem of one who had found a priceless treasure.

Jiang Qinghe's heart surged with emotion. He bowed and kowtowed. "Master above, please accept this bow from your disciple!"

"Congratulations, Master, on gaining such an excellent disciple!"

Zhao Guangyi laughed heartily from the side, stepping forward to pat Jiang Qinghe on the shoulder.

"Sixth Senior Brother, you're the youngest from now on. Your Senior Brother will look after you, haha!"

Xiao Hei stood to the side, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Qinghe. At first, an irrepressible shock appeared on his face.

"Brother Qing River—oh, no, Sixth Senior Brother!"

Then he circled Jiang Qinghe once, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"I went into the city on Elder Ping's behalf. It's only been a little over a month since I left and returned, yet you've already reached the completion of Body Tempering?"

As he spoke, he seemed to remember something and could not help teasing him.

"Sixth Senior Brother, could there be some thousand-year-old demon living inside you? Otherwise, how could your cultivation speed be this fast?"

Before he could finish, Zhao Guangyi's fan-sized palm smacked over as he laughed and scolded:

"You little brat, is that any way to talk about your Sixth Senior Brother?"

Watching the two of them frolic without the slightest air of superiority, Jiang Qinghe could not help feeling deeply moved.

He had faced many twists and turns along this road.

Though he had ultimately turned danger into safety every time, his heart had always drifted like duckweed on the water.

Now that he had entered Elder Ping's sect and become his final disciple, he could finally settle down completely, with greater confidence and support behind him.