The Young Girl's Challenge

Jiang Ping An could see that the other party was somewhat taken aback.

"You saved me to deal with Flat Water County's soldiers. They drove my parents to their deaths. I want to kill them. Our goals are the same."

Meng Kuo suddenly understood. So that was why—no wonder Jiang Ping An had agreed so readily.

"What do you want? You should at least name some conditions."

To win people over, benefits had to be offered. If one wanted the horse to run, one had to feed it grass.

Jiang Ping An pondered for a moment. "Do you have a way to bring the dead back to life?"

Meng Kuo's eyes flickered twice. He guessed something, and his gaze softened. "I'm sorry. No one in this world can bring the dead back to life."

"What about becoming an immortal?" Jiang Ping An asked again.

"Becoming an immortal?"

How could becoming an immortal be easy? To this day, people searched for the Path to Immortality, but how many had ever succeeded?

Meng Kuo could not bear to crush this boy's hopes, but some things still had to be said.

"Becoming an immortal is far too difficult. You must pass Qi Refining, achieve Foundation Establishment, forge a Golden Core, give birth to a Nascent Soul, withstand the Heavenly Tribulation... It has been a very long time since anyone in this world became an immortal."

"No one has become an immortal for a long time? That means someone has become one before?" Light finally appeared in Jiang Ping An's eyes.

"Yes. The Founding Ruler of the Great Summer Kingdom ascended to the Immortal Realm. But that was countless ages ago. Now, one can hardly hear any news of anyone becoming immortal."

Everyone sought the Path to Immortality, yet for some reason, the immortal path seemed to have been severed. There had been no further news of anyone becoming immortal.

Hearing that immortals existed in this world, Jiang Ping An clenched his fists tightly.

As long as he became one of those legendary immortals, he would surely be able to revive his parents!

Meng Kuo wanted to say something, but when he saw the determination on the boy's face, he ultimately kept quiet.

The boy needed a dream. Once he grew a little older, he would understand how far beyond reach that dream was.

Bang!

The room's door was pushed open, and a young girl burst inside.

"Father! Grandpa Li said there's a genius better than me. I want to spar with him!"

Jiang Ping An looked at the girl.

She was about his age, fourteen or fifteen. She wore a red-and-white training outfit, with black bandages wrapped around her long, fair calves. A saber hung at her waist, and her neat Ponytail swayed lightly behind her. Her clean, fair little face carried both pride and heroic spirit.

It was the first time Jiang Ping An had seen such a beautiful girl.

She's really pretty. I wonder if Tiger Girl will be this pretty when she grows up.

Meng Jing drew the saber from her waist, pointed it at Jiang Ping An, and raised her little chin.

"You're the genius Grandpa Li mentioned? Come on, let's have a match."

"Little Jing, stop fooling around. Get out," Meng Kuo said unhappily.

"No. I just want to see who's more talented," Meng Jing said, pouting.

Meng Kuo's face suddenly darkened.

Meng Jing knew her father was angry. She stuck out her little tongue and hurriedly ran out.

Meng Kuo sighed helplessly, then turned to Jiang Ping An. Look at how steady this boy was, then look at his own daughter. Ah...

Meng Kuo patted the Storage Bag at his waist, and a pouch flew out from inside it.

"From now on, you are one of the Military Camp's people. There are three hundred Blood Qi Pills inside. They are the bounty reward for killing those three Middle Captains earlier."

"You're a Spirit Cultivator, right? If you don't want the Blood Qi Pills, you can ask Old Li to exchange them for Spirit Stones."

"For the next few days, focus on recovering. I'll have Old Li show you around here, and afterward, you'll officially enter the Military Camp."

"If nothing unexpected happens, there will be a war with Flat Water County this winter. This battle may well be the final battle."

Jiang Ping An clenched his fists. He wished he could fight them right now and avenge his parents.

"Do you have anything else to ask?" Meng Kuo asked.

Jiang Ping An shook his head. "Not for now. Thank you, General."

He was deeply grateful that Meng Kuo had given him three hundred Blood Qi Pills all at once. It was an enormous fortune.

He knew how precious Blood Qi Pills were. A Middle Captain only received three a month, yet Meng Kuo had given him three hundred at once.

He also knew those Blood Qi Pills did not have to be given to him, because he had not originally been from Continuous Mountain County.

Yet Meng Kuo had given them to him.

Only after there was a discerning horse judge could there be a thousand-mile steed.

He would remember this kindness.

Meng Kuo rose. "I still have many things to do, so I'll be going. Oh, right—what is your name?"

"Jiang Ping An," Jiang Ping An replied.

Meng Kuo silently committed the name to memory, then stepped out of the room and left.

As a general, he had a myriad affairs to attend to. Sitting here and waiting for an entire day already showed how much importance he placed on Jiang Ping An.

The moment Meng Kuo left, the room's door suddenly opened again, and the girl returned.

"My father actually gave you three hundred Blood Qi Pills. If I had that many, I could definitely become a Martial Master!"

"I, Meng Jing, refuse to accept this! Come and fight me!"

The girl lifted her chin, her little face filled with fighting spirit.

Jiang Ping An shook his head and calmly said, "I don't spar. Sparring might hurt you."

"Haha, hurt me? You big talker! In this entire Military Camp, no one can hurt me, Meng Jing!"

Meng Jing drew the saber from her waist. "Hurry up and spar with me. If you won't spar with me, then from now on, I'll... I won't talk to you!"

"..."

Seeing how relentlessly she persisted, Jiang Ping An knew that if he did not fight her once, he definitely would not be able to shake her off.

"How do we do this?"

"Come to the courtyard."

Meng Jing smiled happily and turned to walk into the courtyard.

Jiang Ping An followed her out.

The courtyard was large, with a Martial Arts Practice Field in the middle. Several soldiers were practicing saber techniques there.

Meng Jing skipped over to the weapon rack.

"To be fair, we'll both use weapons of the same grade. What weapon are you used to using?"

"Using weapons might hurt you," Jiang Ping An said.

"Stop being so arrogant! Hurry up and choose!" Meng Jing disliked this conceited boy immensely.

Jiang Ping An shrugged helplessly. Not wanting to waste time, he walked over and chose a saber.

The soldiers training nearby heard the commotion and all turned to look.

"Miss is sparring with a boy. Have you seen him before?"

"Old Li rescued him. I heard he seems quite formidable."

"No matter how formidable he is, he can't be stronger than Miss. Miss is the youngest Middle Captain, with extraordinary talent. She'll definitely win."

"Not necessarily."

A light, aged voice suddenly rang out.

The soldiers hurriedly turned and saluted. "Old Li!"

Li Yuntian nodded and lifted his Wine Gourd for a drink.

One soldier carefully asked, "Old Li, what did you mean by 'not necessarily'? Could this boy defeat Miss?"

Li Yuntian nodded, his aged eyes fixed on the boy.

Seeing the affirmative response, the few soldiers were greatly shaken.

"That can't be possible, can it? Miss Meng's talent is so peerless, and even you have praised her. Who is that boy, to be able to defeat Miss?"

Li Yuntian took a sip of wine and said leisurely, "Talent is talent. Combat is combat. The two cannot be confused."

The soldiers stared at Jiang Ping An in disbelief. Old Li's evaluation of this boy was actually so high.

They knew Miss's talent well. She had swept through all Martial Warriors of her age in Continuous Mountain County. Among those under twenty, no one could contend with her.

Now, a boy the same age as Miss had appeared, and Old Li actually said he might defeat her!

It was somewhat unbelievable.

Meng Jing pointed her saber at Jiang Ping An and said proudly:

"This Miss will let you make the first move. If this Miss strikes first, you won't have the slightest chance."