A martial skill's proficiency was divided into Entry, Minor Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment, and Perfection.
Thirty Years of Cultivation had raised the Thunderous Saber Art to the Perfection Realm.
It seemed that improving martial arts was somewhat easier than improving internal cultivation techniques.
When he looked at his personal panel again, the martial arts section had already updated.
Host: Su Fei
Talent: God-tier Insight Technique
Realm: True Qi Realm fifth level
Martial Arts: Nine Yang Divine Art—Second Layer, Thunderous Saber Art—Perfection, Basic Fist Art—Entry
Current Cultivation: None
"Good saber art!"
The Thunderous Saber Art was renowned for its fierce and tyrannical force, striking at opponents as directly as rushing thunder.
It happened to complement the supremely yang inner power of the Nine Yang Divine Art. Combined, the two did not merely double their power.
He walked into the courtyard, circulated his inner power, and slashed out with his saber.
A bolt of Thunderous Saber light tore through the air, splitting a tree directly in half. It crashed to the ground amid flying dust and smoke.
If that struck a person's flesh and blood, would it not be like slicing through cabbage with a knife?
"If I paired it with a good saber, the art's power could rise by another thirty percent."
"With a saber martial skill in hand, my strength has improved by far more than several times compared with before."
Even if he encountered a True Qi Realm late-stage expert, Su Fei felt no fear whatsoever.
He sensed the surging true qi within him and the clear saber techniques in his mind.
His heart brimmed with delight.
Today, he had not only dealt with the trouble that was Chen Hu, but also obtained the position of Squad Leader and a Perfection Realm Thunderous Saber Art.
As for offending a Hundred-Household Commander, Su Fei no longer worried about it in the slightest.
With the help of the Divine Martial Dao Mission System, reaching the Xiantian Realm would come soon enough.
Early the next morning, Su Fei rose feeling refreshed and invigorated.
The true qi within his body seemed to have become even more active.
He washed up, changed into a clean set of casual clothes, and headed toward the Imperial Guard Thousand Households Office.
The moment he arrived at the entrance, the strongman on duty greeted him warmly.
"Morning, Squad Leader Su!"
Su Fei nodded slightly. This treatment was utterly different from yesterday's. Clearly, news of what had happened at the training ground had already spread throughout the Thousand Households Office.
Though he was not yet officially a Squad Leader, he soon would be.
After entering the Thousand Households Office, Su Fei headed to the armory.
The minor official responsible for issuing equipment had been waiting for quite some time. Upon seeing Su Fei arrive, he quickly stood up with a smile.
"Squad Leader Su, you're here. Knowing you would come today, we prepared your Flying Fish Robe and Spring Embroidered Saber long ago."
As he spoke, the minor official took out a brand-new Flying Fish Robe and a sheathed Spring Embroidered Saber.
The shoulders and sleeves of the Flying Fish Robe were embroidered with flying fish patterns. The scales on the garment looked lifelike, and a jade belt was fastened around its waist.
The Spring Embroidered Saber was around three chi long, yet it did not feel heavy in his hand.
Su Fei drew the Spring Embroidered Saber. With a ringing cry of steel, cold light flashed in every direction.
"Good saber!"
Su Fei praised it, fastening the Spring Embroidered Saber at his waist and putting on the Flying Fish Robe. It made him look tall and solemn, displaying the full majesty of the Imperial Guard.
The minor official's eyes lit up as he praised him.
"Squad Leader Su, you were already handsome to begin with. Now that you're wearing this Flying Fish Robe, you truly look spirited."
An Imperial Guard Squad Leader was a seventh-rank military officer, with a monthly salary of ten taels.
Though it was the lowest rank among military officers, it was still an official post, vastly superior to those unranked Strongmen.
After leaving the armory, Su Fei went to the Strongmen barracks.
On the open ground outside the barracks, ten Strongmen dressed in fitted black uniforms stood in formation. Seeing Su Fei approach, they immediately saluted in unison.
"Greetings, Squad Leader Su."
These ten Strongmen were Su Fei's direct subordinates, each one broad and sturdy.
Their gazes toward Su Fei carried respect.
Yesterday, Su Fei's feat of lifting a thousand-jin stone lock at the training ground and crippling Chen Hu had already spread far and wide.
In their eyes, this eighteen-year-old Squad Leader was a genuine martial dao prodigy.
Moreover, he acted decisively and ruthlessly. He had crippled even a Hundred-Household Commander's nephew without hesitation.
There had not been the slightest hesitation.
He was clearly a true ruthless man.
Following an officer like this would surely lead to great prospects. Serving as a strongman under Su Fei was far better than serving under any other Squad Leader.
Su Fei's gaze swept over the group. Even the weakest among these ten Strongmen was at the sixth level of the Body Tempering Realm.
They were all in their twenties or thirties and could be considered relatively promising Strongmen.
Su Fei nodded slightly. This foundation was quite good.
It seemed joining Hundred-Household Commander Li's command had been the right choice. The Strongmen he had assigned to Su Fei were all elites.
"No need for such ceremony."
Su Fei spoke in a deep voice.
"From today onward, you are the Strongmen under my command. You all understand the Imperial Guard's rules. I have only two requirements. First, carry out your duties properly and do not slack off. Second, do not collude with outside enemies. As long as you meet these two requirements, I, Su Fei, guarantee that I will not treat you poorly."
The lead strongman stepped forward and cupped his fists.
"This subordinate is Wang Meng. On behalf of the brothers, I guarantee to Squad Leader Su that we shall strictly uphold the rules and obey your commands!"
Wang Meng was broad and powerfully built. His father was a blacksmith, and he was at the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm, the highest realm among them.
He also appeared exceptionally steady and reliable.
Su Fei nodded.
"Very good. Wang Meng, you will temporarily serve as captain of the Strongmen, responsible for their daily training."
"This subordinate obeys."
A flicker of joy flashed through Wang Meng's eyes. I've been promoted already? He hurriedly accepted.
The other Strongmen also looked excited. Su Fei's strength and boldness had convinced them. Serving under a superior like him clearly promised a brighter future than following other Squad Leaders.
Just then, a messenger strongman hurried over.
"Squad Leader Su, Hundred-Household Commander Li requests your presence in his study."
"Understood."
Su Fei said to Wang Meng and the others.
"Train on your own for now. I'll be back shortly."
Su Fei straightened his clothes and followed the messenger strongman.
When he arrived at Hundred-Household Commander Li's office and pushed open the door, Hundred-Household Commander Li was seated behind his desk reviewing case files. Seeing him enter, he set down his vermilion brush and pointed to the chair opposite him.
"Sit."
"Thank you, sir."
Su Fei cupped his fists in salute before taking a seat.
Hundred-Household Commander Li lifted his teacup, took a sip, and slowly spoke.
"Su Fei, your performance at the training ground yesterday was very good. You displayed both your strength and your authority. Though the Imperial Guard is a place that values rules, it values methods even more. Since you can hold the field, it will be easier for you to establish yourself in this Qingzhou Thousand Households Office in the future."
"It was not in vain that I promoted you exceptionally to Squad Leader."
Su Fei wore a humble expression.
"It is all thanks to your care, sir."
Hundred-Household Commander Li set down his teacup, his tone amiable.
"Not entirely due to my care."
"You handled the matter of crippling Chen Hu yesterday with excellent restraint. You spared his life while severing his martial path. You avenged his ambush without giving Chen Zhenyu an excuse to seize upon. Such a mind surpasses that of martial artists your age by far."
Su Fei's heart stirred. So Hundred-Household Commander Li had long seen through his intentions.
Hundred-Household Commander Li changed the subject.
"However, strength and intelligence alone are not enough. When serving in the Imperial Guard, merit and achievements are equally important."
"You may now have a position, but you have yet to establish any merit."
"I have found you an assignment. Consider it your first mission after taking office."
He picked up a case file from the desk and pushed it before Su Fei.
"Over the past month, children have been disappearing one after another in the western part of Qingzhou Prefecture City. To this day, seven children remain missing. After receiving the reports, the Qingzhou Prefecture Yamen investigated for half a month without finding any leads, so they submitted the case to the Thousand Households Office."
Su Fei opened the case file. It recorded the missing children's names, ages, and places of disappearance. The youngest was only five, while the oldest was no more than ten. Their disappearances had all occurred around dusk, near the acrobat market in the city's western district.
"The Qingzhou Prefecture Yamen investigated for several days, but found no clues."
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