Three Techniques

The two bought some pills and daily necessities along the way. After stopping and starting, they arrived at the Prefect Residence.

The Prefect Residence was not as extravagant as the other buildings. It was understated and reserved.

"We're here to participate in the Hundred Counties Tournament," Jiang Ping An said to the guards.

He appeared perfectly calm, but his heart was churning, because he could tell that these two guards were Golden Core powerhouses.

Golden Core cultivators were actually guarding the gate here!

"Names," a guard asked indifferently.

"Jiang Ping An. Meng Jing," Jiang Ping An replied.

The guard took out a jade slip from his waist, infused it with spiritual energy, and said:

"Prefect, two people claiming to be Jiang Ping An and Meng Jing have arrived. Are they to be assigned to the Back Mountain?"

"No. Bring them in," Xia Qing's voice came from the jade slip.

Jiang Ping An stared curiously at the jade slip. Was this a Sound Transmission Jade Slip?

He had heard that Sound Transmission Jade Slips were extremely expensive, but they allowed people to contact friends and relatives across great distances. They were more convenient than one-use Sound Transmission Talismans.

"Yes, Prefect."

The guard lowered the jade slip and gave the two an astonished look.

These two could actually make the Prefect receive them personally. Were they some kind of peerless geniuses?

The guard did not dare neglect them and led them into the Prefect Residence.

The moment he entered the courtyard, Jiang Ping An felt an exceptionally dense concentration of spiritual energy.

Taking a breath here was even more effective than absorbing a spirit stone.

With the principle of not wasting anything in mind, Jiang Ping An secretly took deep breaths.

"You're not planning to give up spirit cultivation?" Meng Jing noticed Jiang Ping An's actions and asked softly.

Jiang Ping An shook his head.

If it had been before, he definitely would have planned to give up spirit cultivation to save resources and time.

But the appearance of the Earth Accumulation Art made him feel that he could continue cultivating and give it a try.

"Idiot, it's not like you're some peerless genius." Meng Jing rolled her eyes at him. He was wasting his time.

They passed through one covered corridor after another before finally arriving in front of a building.

"Prefect, they have arrived." The guard clasped his fists and bowed, his voice humble.

"You've worked hard. Go back."

Xia Qing's voice came from inside, carrying an air of authority.

"Yes, Prefect."

The guard left, and Xia Qing's voice continued from within. "You two, come in."

The two pushed open the door and entered.

Today, Xia Qing wore a plain white gown. She was elegant and dignified, the ornaments in her hair swaying gently. Like a Snow Lotus, she made others feel ashamed of their own inferiority.

She sat before a desk, reviewing memorials.

Upon seeing them, she set down the memorial and brush in her hands, raised her head, and smiled at Meng Jing. "Come here."

Meng Jing obediently walked to Xia Qing's side.

Xia Qing stroked Meng Jing's little head, her smile growing even warmer.

"You'll soon break through to Martial Master. It seems you inherited your mother's talent. Though it has yet to undergo Complete Awakening, you've already grown this quickly."

Meng Jing's body trembled. She looked at Xia Qing in astonishment and asked excitedly:

"Princess Sister, you know my mother? Where is she now?"

Her mother had left when she was five and had never appeared again. She had once asked her father where her mother had gone, but he would not tell her. Yet every time she asked, her father would be so sad that he cried, so she no longer dared to ask, afraid of making him suffer.

She had kept this matter buried in her heart all along. She desperately wanted an answer, but did not know whom to ask.

But from Princess Sister's words, it seemed that she knew her mother.

Xia Qing smiled and said gently, "Of course I know her. She's a remarkable person, but with your current strength, you're not qualified to seek her out yet."

"Once you secure a place in the top ten this time, I can try to help you contact her."

"Top ten?" Meng Jing's little face changed. There were only five months left. There was no way she could catch up to those geniuses.

Xia Qing saw her worries and said with a smile, "Don't worry. I've already found the materials to help you awaken. In a while, I'll help you awaken your true talent."

"After your talent awakens, you'll be a hundred times, a thousand times stronger than you are now. As long as you work hard, obtaining a tournament slot within five months won't be difficult."

"Thank you, Princess Sister!" Moved, Meng Jing threw herself into Xia Qing's arms and declared firmly, "I'll definitely work hard!"

For her mother and father, she would definitely work hard. She truly missed her mother.

"Mm."

Xia Qing's smile blossomed like a flower as she gently rubbed Meng Jing's little head.

Then she lifted her eyes, shifting her gaze to the youth before her.

Jiang Ping An could sense that although she was still smiling, there was no genuine warmth in it.

"Jiang Ping An, is the Overlord Body Art difficult?"

"Replying to the Princess, it is indeed difficult, but..."

"It's fine if you can't learn it. I have three other techniques here."

Xia Qing cut off Jiang Ping An. "These three techniques are the Immovable Golden Bell Shield, the Limitless Fist, and the Great Collapse Fist."

Jiang Ping An, who had still been about to say something, suddenly swallowed his words.

There were three more techniques to choose from? Then he definitely had to choose one.

The Jiang Ping An from before indeed would have found the Overlord Body Art extremely difficult to learn, but because of an accident, his cultivation speed for the Tyrant Body Art had increased.

That accident was the Earth Accumulation Art.

The Earth Accumulation Art transferred spiritual energy into his blood, and the spiritual energy allowed his blood to circulate smoothly.

Cultivating the Overlord Body Art was only a matter of time.

Jiang Ping An had intended to say that he could learn it, but seeing that there were more techniques to receive, he swallowed the matter.

As though pressed for time, Xia Qing began explaining the three martial techniques.

"The Immovable Golden Bell Shield is a defensive technique. Once mastered, it is impervious to water and fire, unbreakable by blades and swords. Unless it is a Mental Power attack, it cannot be harmed. Its defense is extremely powerful. I won't say it is invincible, but once mastered, few geniuses of the same realm can break it."

"The Limitless Fist is also a Body Cultivator technique. Unlike other Body Cultivator techniques, it is a more passive kind of Fist Technique. It focuses on neutralizing the opponent's strength and using their force against them, mainly to wear down the enemy. Its weakness is that it lacks proactive offensive power."

"The final technique is the Great Collapse Fist. This Fist Technique follows a tyrannical path. Each punch is stronger than the last, and once its power stacks to a certain extent, it can defeat opponents above one's realm. Its weakness is that once it is unleashed, there is no turning back, and cultivation is very arduous."

"All three techniques are top-tier. I can only give you the first layer, but that will be enough to use until the Golden Core realm."

"My personal suggestion is this: if you excel at offense, choose the Great Collapse Fist. If your defenses are weak, choose the Immovable Golden Bell Shield."

"As for which one you choose, the decision is yours."

Jiang Ping An slowly digested Xia Qing's explanation. To be honest, he wanted all three techniques.

They all sounded good.

But one could not chew more than one could swallow, and Xia Qing could not possibly give him all three techniques.

Jiang Ping An quickly considered his own weaknesses and fighting style.

A moment later, he gave his answer. "I choose the Limitless Fist."

Xia Qing: "..."

She had given Jiang Ping An two suggestions: one was the Golden Bell Shield, and the other was the Great Collapse Fist.

Yet this brat had not listened at all.

Did he have a rebellious streak?

Of course Jiang Ping An did not have a rebellious streak. He simply believed that this technique suited him extremely well.

He liked to instantly kill his opponents, but he also liked to wait for the right moment to strike.

Though the Limitless Fist lacked proactive offense, it was better suited for stalling during battle and seeking out an enemy's weaknesses.

The Golden Bell Shield had powerful defense, but insufficient offense.

The Great Collapse Fist was too headlong and reckless, abandoning defense entirely. It did not suit his contradictory style of being both cautious and extreme.

Therefore, the Limitless Fist, which could defend, attack, and hold back opponents, was what he preferred.

Xia Qing did not say much about Jiang Ping An ignoring her suggestion.

She casually tossed him a jade slip. "This is the Limitless Fist. Cultivate it well. I'll have someone take you to rest first."

She did not care at all what Jiang Ping An chose. In any case, with his strength, he had no chance of obtaining a tournament slot. The one she cared about was Meng Jing.