Chapter Five: The Fifth Candidate for Entry into the Patrol Office

Canglang Martial Hall.

Front Yard.

With Wang Jin's announcement, the crowd erupted into a clamor.

"The Patrol Office actually exists! I heard my father mention it before, but I never expected it to be real!"

"The Patrol Office has far too much power! It oversees all the people and patrols the realm. It can execute first and report later. Once you join, wouldn't you immediately become a High Person?"

"That's only natural! Once you join, you'll surely become a favored guest of Various Factions! And joining the Patrol Office grants you the supreme Secret Method to achieve Blood Refinement Grandmaster and Spirit Nourishing Grandmaster realms! You might even receive guidance from that Martial Saint! The temptation is enormous!"

"What use is a great temptation? By the end of this year, every state, commandery, prefecture, and county must establish one. Teacher even said that only those who reach Five Animal Frolics Fist Great Completion and Martial Dao Entry Rank within three months are qualified to join. Can you do it? Or can I?"

"That's right! Teacher told us about this opportunity, probably just to motivate us to practice martial arts diligently and give us some hope."

After the clamorous discussion, everyone immediately grew somewhat dejected.

Suddenly.

Someone spoke up. "I know someone who has hope!"

"Who?"

"Senior Brother Cheng Ran!"

As soon as those words were spoken, everyone turned to look at Cheng Ran.

At that moment, Cheng Ran wore a smile, seemingly enjoying the attention of the crowd.

That person continued, "Senior Brother Cheng Ran's Blood Qi has long since reached the Perfected Realm, and both the Crane and Tiger Postures have reached Minor Completion! There may well be hope of breaking through in his fist techniques within three months. As for Martial Dao Entry Rank, it will be even less difficult for Senior Brother Cheng!"

Hearing this, everyone looked at the smiling Cheng Ran in even greater astonishment.

Just then.

A man dressed in a loose white Training Suit stepped out. His thick black hair was simply tied back with a red band, and he looked imposing and dashing.

"I am Xiao Peng. Greetings, Teacher!" The man gave Wang Jin a slight bow.

"What is it?" Wang Jin asked.

Xiao Peng cupped his hands and said, "This disciple comprehended the spirit and form of Tiger Form Fist a week ago, bringing it to the Great Success Realm. My Blood Qi has also reached Great Accomplishment and is close to the Perfected Realm! Ape Form Fist has likewise reached Minor Achievement Realm."

As he spoke, Xiao Peng's eyes shone brightly, and the corners of his mouth curled upward.

At that moment, his Blood Qi was abundant, and his body suddenly burst with a faint Momentum, giving everyone around him a sense of pressure.

"Oh heavens! Senior Brother Xiao has actually reached this point without anyone noticing?" someone exclaimed.

"That's right! Senior Brother Xiao truly remained silent until it mattered, then astonished everyone! He reached Tiger Form Fist Great Success Realm a week ago, yet managed to endure in silence until today to reveal it!"

"Tiger Form Fist Great Success, Ape Form Fist Minor Achievement, and Blood Qi Great Accomplishment Penetrating Limbs. Doesn't that mean the remaining spot has already been secured by Senior Brother Xiao Peng?"

"Looking at it that way, yes. Senior Brother Cheng Ran does have a chance, but he's clearly a step behind. There's an uncrossable chasm between Great Success and Minor Achievement in fist techniques!"

"Exactly! Senior Brother Xiao Peng brought Tiger Form Fist to Great Success within four months of joining the Martial Arts Hall, and Ape Form Fist to Minor Achievement as well. Give him another three months, and Ape Form Fist will certainly reach Great Success Realm. As for Martial Dao Entry Rank, with the wealth of his father, Xiao Wanguan, piling him up to Entry Rank will be child's play!"

At this moment, everyone's gazes instantly shifted to Xiao Peng.

Xiao Peng enjoyed the attention, his face full of confidence and high spirits.

Wang Jin glanced at Cheng Ran, then shifted his gaze to Xiao Ran.

"Tiger Form Fist Great Success, Ape Form Fist Minor Achievement?"

Under Wang Jin's gaze, a fine sheen of sweat appeared on Xiao Peng's forehead. He lowered his head and said, "Yes!"

"Perform it for me!" Wang Jin said.

Hearing this, Xiao Peng immediately felt as if he had been pardoned.

At that moment.

Everyone's gazes also fell on Xiao Peng.

The next moment.

Xiao Peng raised his hands and immediately began demonstrating his fist techniques before the crowd.

Every move and stance was fierce and powerful, stirring the air with the roar of a tiger.

At the end, as he completed Tiger Form Fist and punched forward,

"Roar!"

A tiger's roar erupted from within his body.

At this moment, everyone widened their eyes.

"His Blood Qi is surging, and there's the sound of a tiger's roar! It really is Tiger Form Fist at the Great Success Realm!"

Xiao Peng withdrew his hands with a composed expression, seemingly deaf to everyone's astonishment.

He cupped his hands toward Wang Jin. "Teacher, this disciple has finished the demonstration."

"Demonstrate Ape Form Fist as well!" Wang Jin said.

"Yes!" Xiao Peng replied.

Immediately afterward, everyone watched Xiao Peng demonstrate Ape Form Fist once more.

Only after Xiao Peng withdrew his fists did Wang Jin finally give a slight nod.

"Not bad! Tiger Form Fist has indeed reached Great Success, and Ape Form Fist has considerable polish as well. It should have reached Minor Achievement long ago."

"Teacher truly has a discerning eye!" Xiao Peng cupped his hands and continued, "This disciple reached Minor Achievement in Ape Form Fist a month ago. I'm confident that within the next three months, Ape Form Fist will certainly break through to Great Success!"

Wang Jin nodded. "Having such confidence is a good thing!"

He then looked at Xiao Peng. "Since you've been initiated for four months and have brought Tiger Form Fist to Great Success, you've successfully passed my test! From today onward, you are my Direct Disciple!"

"Greetings, Master!" Xiao Peng knelt on one knee and performed a cupped-hands salute!

"Good!" Wang Jin nodded again. "From today onward, all your tuition fees are waived, and you'll receive three bowls of Medicinal Soup every day!"

"Thank you, Master!" Xiao Peng saluted again.

Wang Jin nodded slightly. His gaze swept across the crowd, pausing briefly on Jiang Ning.

What a pity. This kid's luck has run out!

Even if he has talent, it's too late!

He then addressed everyone. "Practice your fist techniques diligently. With three months, anyone still has a chance!"

Then he looked at Xiao Peng. "Come with me!"

"Yes, Master!" Xiao Peng saluted, then rose and followed Wang Jin away.

As everyone watched the two departing figures, envy inevitably appeared in their eyes.

Standing at the back of the crowd, Jiang Ning clenched his fists.

Within three months, I must achieve Martial Dao Entry Rank. Only then can I seize this heaven-sent opportunity and join the Patrol Office.

[Skills]: Five Animal Frolics Fist (Initiation 90/100)

Based on the experience I had worked out before.

It takes one hundred Experience Points to advance from Initiation in Five Animal Frolics Fist to Proficiency.

It takes two hundred Experience Points to advance from Proficiency to Minor Completion.

It takes five hundred Experience Points to advance from Minor Completion to Great Completion.

At present, the total deficit is seven hundred and ten Experience Points.

Even if I gained only one guaranteed Experience Point each time I practiced my fists, I would need to practice seven hundred and ten times.

Now that I have the Wild Ginseng gifted by Senior Brother Zhou Xing, this great tonic, I can practice my fists more than twenty times a day—morning, noon, and night.

Using twenty-five times as the calculation, that means that at this rate, I can grind Five Animal Frolics Fist to Great Completion in thirty days.

However, a single Wild Ginseng root won't last more than a few days. Even without this tonic, the maximum number of times I can practice my fists will only be halved.

But even at half that rate, I can grind this fist technique to Great Completion in two months at most.

That won't be difficult!

However, the most difficult thing for me is Martial Dao Entry Rank.

Jiang Ning immediately furrowed his brows slightly.

To achieve Martial Dao Entry Rank, one's Blood Qi must reach Penetrating the Whole Body.

He immediately mobilized the Blood Qi within his body and directed it into his right arm, his brows furrowing again.

"It's only penetrated about one-third! I'm still far too distant from the Perfected Realm!"

"However, according to the Fist Manual, at the Initiation stage of the Five Momentums of Five Animal Frolics Fist, practicing the fist technique once can condense at most one Strand of Blood Qi."

"But once the fist technique reaches Proficiency, practicing it once can condense two Strands of Blood Qi."

"Minor Completion means three Strands!"

"Great Completion means five Strands!"

"Three months. There's still time!"

"So for now, grinding Experience Points is the true path to supremacy."