13 (Xie Yuxingse Alliance Leader)

"Second Grade." At this moment, Zhang Rongfang once again felt just how suffocating it was to be a member of a lower race in Great Ling.

"But it's all right. At least there's hope, isn't there?" Dong Dafang looked somewhat helpless as well.

"At least it's better than being Laborers," he added at the end.

Laborers was the collective term for Great Ling's slaves.

Indeed, they were truly only a little better off than slaves.

After that, none of them felt like talking. They split up and began sparring.

Zhang Rongfang sparred with Dong Dafang, while Xu Mingyu and Li Fuhua trained together.

"Taking apart moves again today?" Dong Dafang asked after taking his stance opposite Zhang Rongfang.

"No. We'll practice moves for breaking and blocking weapons," Zhang Rongfang said. "Let's test each other first."

"Good!" Dong Dafang laughed. "Same old rules. No hitting the head or below the waist. Watch out—don't let me beat you to tears."

"As if I'm afraid of you." Zhang Rongfang smiled as well.

The two opened the distance and faced off.

This was not their first spar. They both knew each other's strength. They were evenly matched, though Dong Dafang had trained a little longer and could win six or seven times out of ten.

"Here I come!"

Dong Dafang used a Wasp Sting, his right fist swinging toward Zhang Rongfang's neck.

The latter raised his forearm and blocked it with the fleshiest part.

Smack.

Zhang Rongfang carefully compared the force in his heart. Compared to before, blocking this move today felt noticeably easier.

My strength has increased quite a bit.

The two clashed, hands and feet striking one another without pause. Their padded guards collided with repeated thuds.

Zhang Rongfang was somewhat cautious at first, but as the fight continued, he felt increasingly relaxed.

The other man's movements and strength both felt extremely slow to him.

It was as if a film had been switched to slow motion.

Several times, he felt he could easily make a move and end the spar, but considering that his changes had been too great and too sudden, he did not act.

Originally, he had intended to use Attribute Points to improve his strength, take the rank assessment in the shortest possible time, and obtain an official post.

But he had never expected that, as one of the Man People, he would need to reach at least Second Grade before gaining a rank. And even if his rank rose, he would still have to become an Attendant or Follower—such oppression against an entire people. No wonder he had heard there was an uprising outside.

Zhang Rongfang unconsciously drifted off for a moment.

Fortunately, he still remembered to conceal his progress and tried to perform at roughly the same level as before, showing only a slight improvement.

Dong Dafang had only just begun training too, so he could not see what was different about Zhang Rongfang's Yue Type Talisman.

Before long, they finished practicing. The group gathered together, wiped away their sweat, and drank water to replenish themselves.

Beyond the mountains in the distance, the morning sun slowly rose. Rosy light illuminated the clouds and mist, as though all of Qinghe Temple was shrouded in a golden-red glow.

"Dafang, how powerful do you think those ranked experts really are?" Zhang Rongfang had always wanted to know this.

Ever since the Spring Outing incident, whenever he practiced martial arts, he would unconsciously recall how Xiao Rong's forehead had beaded with sweat after that fight.

Experts who had Entered the Ranks generally no longer trained martial arts at places like this dojo. Instead, they found secluded places specifically for practice.

"I heard that after Entering the Ranks, once someone has undergone Tendon Forging and nourished their blood, their strength is much greater than ours. Their skin becomes tougher too, like it's covered in a layer of cowhide," Dong Dafang replied.

"If you truly have to fight, then unless you have a sharp weapon, when facing someone who has Entered the Ranks, as long as the gap in Moves isn't too great, you should run if you can. If you can't, then find sharp weapons and equipment before giving it a try."

Another voice suddenly came from beside them.

They turned toward the sound and saw a tall, brawny Daoist standing nearby at some point, speaking as though they were all old friends.

"Senior Brother Zhang Xintai?" Zhang Rongfang was startled.

This was unmistakably the senior brother from the previous gathering, the one who had already reached Second Grade.

Dong Dafang and the others quickly rose and cupped their fists in greeting. Zhang Xintai occasionally came by to talk with Zhang Rongfang, so they had seen him before.

"This afternoon, during patrol, I saw your name on the list and wanted to assign you to me. I didn't expect someone to snatch you up first," Zhang Xintai said helplessly.

"What are you saying, Senior Brother? I simply don't have that good fortune," Zhang Rongfang said in surprise.

"In truth, martial strength mainly depends on two things: the strength of the martial art itself, and your own realm and level of combat experience," Zhang Xintai said with a smile.

He lifted the hem of his Daoist Robe and assumed the opening stance of the Yue Type Talisman—Dot Clear Wind.

"Want to exchange a few moves?"

"I couldn't ask for more!" Zhang Rongfang was delighted. "Please instruct me, Senior Brother."

Without hesitation, he stepped forward and unleashed Mountain Banner.

This move chiefly attacked the chest. The movement was like fiercely dragging a brush across a vast painting, sweeping out a broad streak of ink.

"Not bad!" Zhang Xintai was slightly surprised. Zhang Rongfang's proficiency in this move was quite good.

"In actual combat, the strength of the martial art itself is the most important part. Many martial arts are riddled with flaws by nature. If you use such martial arts to fight, unless you are far faster than your opponent, you'll be beaten to death within a few exchanges."

As he spoke, he blocked Zhang Rongfang's attacks while naturally counterattacking with a rhythm of his own.

"The lower your realm of mastery over a martial art, the more flaws you have. The higher your realm, the fewer flaws you have. Greater combat experience can also reduce those flaws. That is why, when people of the same school compete, differences in realm often decide victory and defeat much faster."

Zhang Xintai lightly circled behind Zhang Rongfang and struck out with one palm, landing it against the latter's back.

"The opening you exposed in that move was too great. So you've already died once."

Zhang Rongfang immediately understood. After only three moves, he stepped back, cupped his fists, and took several breaths.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."

Paused.

"So from your perspective, Senior Brother, martial arts are the key to everything?"

The martial arts of this world had always seemed mysterious.

That had left him unsure what truly counted as a real expert.

"Correct." Zhang Xintai nodded, lowering his voice at the same time. "If I explain it in a complicated way, you'll only become more confused. So you only need to know this: the stronger the martial arts one has mastered, the more formidable the person."

"I understand." Zhang Rongfang heard the hidden meaning in those words.

From what he understood,

many martial arts themselves required a relatively high foundation to cultivate.

So taken purely from those words, Zhang Xintai was not wrong at all.

"In my Returning Spring Purifying Time Talisman Classic, the Yue Type Talisman is merely the foundation. The earlier a Talisman Art is ranked, the greater its power. If you have the opportunity in the future, you must try to learn the earlier Talisman Arts. Of course, that may require the status of a true inheritor."

Zhang Xintai explained a little more about martial arts, giving them a much deeper understanding of the Yue Type Talisman.

After morning practice ended, the four returned to their rooms to wash up.

This time, Zhang Rongfang did not continue following Xiao Qingying. Instead, he went to the Patrol Warden Office and received the number for his assigned squad from Patrol Inspector Brother.

The place he was going was Yellow Jade Village, a relatively large village in Huaxin County.

The squad was led by a senior brother named Na Mushi.

Na Mushi was Second Grade, the same as the leaders of the other squads.

This departure would require them to remain outside for ten days.

Four days would be spent traveling there and back, while six days would be spent patrolling the areas around the village.

A Martial Cultivation Disciple like Zhang Rongfang, who had only been training for a short while, had actually been pulled into a patrol squad. He dared not imagine what would happen if a Disciple like him encountered real Mountain Bandits.

Without equipment, even if they had trained in martial arts, how were they supposed to face weapons like blades? Were the enemies expected to wait for them to walk over and punch them?

So it was obvious: Disciples like them were either there to make up the numbers or serve as cannon fodder.

... Autumn rain drizzled on.

At the entrance of a small mountain village sunk in mud, a Withered Yellow path lay amid emerald mountains, forests, and fields.

The path stretched out from the mountains and connected to the village entrance, like a winding long snake.

The sky was overcast, and bursts of mixed bird calls occasionally echoed through the mountains.

A squad of Da Ling Soldiers, clad in Leather Armor with official sabers at their waists and bows and quivers on their backs, was walking toward the village along the muddy path.

Among them were four Daoists dressed in short blue Daoist Robes.

"The target area is nearby. Stay alert," the Soldier Captain leading them shouted.

This Captain stood nearly six feet three inches tall, with a broad and powerful build. On his back was a black spear with a wooden shaft over five feet long.

His name was Yang Xuanchao. He was a third-class Bei Person and Third Grade in terms of martial rank.

Among the four Daoists, a dark-skinned, square-faced man turned back to look at the other three.

"This is our destination. We'll remain here for the next six days and patrol for Mountain Bandits in the surrounding area.

"Of course, we aren't the main force, but we still need to stay vigilant at all times."

This man was Na Mushi, the leader of Zhang Rongfang's squad. As a Second Grade expert, he naturally was not a newcomer without combat experience.

That gave the other three a slight sense of security.

Standing among them, Zhang Rongfang had been sizing up and observing the surroundings all along, so that he would be prepared if trouble arose.

Xiao Qingying was at his side. There was also a Male Daoist named Chen Yuncai. That was the full composition of their squad.

One Second Grade leading three without rank.

With the Da Ling Soldiers coordinating alongside them, it appeared quite safe.

At that moment, on a hill not far from the village,

several Mountain Bandits wearing tattered clothes over foul-smelling Leather Armor hid in the brush, gazing toward them from afar.

Through the trees, they could see the situation near the village.

"The squad is too strong. The buyer's job won't be easy to handle," the Mountain Bandit leader said with a frown.

"The situation doesn't match what the buyer said. There are a little too many soldiers here," another Mountain Bandit answered in a low voice.

"No rush. I heard there'll be arrangements later to isolate someone. And if there truly isn't an opportunity, we'll withdraw. At worst, we'll take half the deposit—it's still profit!" the Mountain Bandit leader said unconcernedly.

In truth, both the Mountain Bandits and the soldiers knew that this sort of coordinated patrol was more for show to those above.

When these squads came out, the bandits behaved themselves and caused no trouble. Everyone tacitly cooperated.

When they did not come out, the bandits would continue choosing their targets and striking.

After watching for a while, the Mountain Bandits quietly withdrew without drawing attention.

Life stationed in Yellow Jade Village was exceedingly dull.

At first, Zhang Rongfang had thought this trip would be extremely dangerous. Only later did he discover that this group of soldiers possessed considerable martial strength.

Not in one-on-one combat, but with bows.

Within sixty meters, they were practically unfailing shots.

Four days passed in a row. They saw no Mountain Bandits, but they did bring down quite a bit of game from the mountains.

At first, Zhang Rongfang remained highly vigilant and cautious at all times. But later, he realized these soldiers had no intention whatsoever of going out to patrol the mountains.

Every day, the Soldier Captain drank and bragged with the village's wealthy households. Clearly, they knew one another.

The other soldiers spread out around the area. Those who hunted hunted, and those who found places to sleep slept.

Na Mushi, the Daoist from Qinghe Temple, had quite a bit more to do instead.

Every day, he led the three of them on patrols around the village.

But seeing how he kept bending down to gather medicinal herbs, Zhang Rongfang felt that this fellow had probably come out solely to collect herbs.

Bringing them along was merely to have people carry his things.

As the ten days swiftly drew to a close, it would soon be time to return.