Wang Xuan let out a sigh.
These times were growing more chaotic by the day. Even the military camp had rotted to such a state. No wonder the Pity Life Sect dared to infiltrate every prefecture and county so brazenly.
"Forget it. These aren't matters I should be worrying about. I'd better pass the new recruit assessment first!"
Wang Xuan stopped dwelling on it. He glanced around the training ground, intending to find a place to practice the Frontier Army Basic Thirty-Six Form Fist.
His Mountain Severing Saber Art had already reached perfection. Whether it was basic fist techniques or saber techniques, neither posed any difficulty for him.
Among the other recruits on the training ground, those from fairly well-off families had long prepared money and gone to seek instruction in fist and saber techniques from the Banner Officers.
As for those without money, they could only stare helplessly.
"Wang Xuan."
Just as Wang Xuan was about to begin practicing his fist techniques, a voice suddenly called out to him.
It belonged to a Chief Standard Bearer named Wu Shan.
"Chief Standard Bearer Wu, may I ask what you need?"
Wang Xuan clasped his fists.
He had met Wu Shan the previous night. Wu Shan was one of Yang Tianfeng's men.
With a smile on his face and not the slightest air of superiority, Wu Shan said, "I have something to give you. Come with me."
With that, Wu Shan headed toward the tents behind him.
Wang Xuan frowned upon hearing this, but he still followed Wu Shan into the tent.
Quite a few people on the training ground noticed this scene.
Seeing Wu Shan greet a new recruit with such a smiling face, many wore strange expressions.
"That fellow can actually make Wu Shan greet him with a smile. Chief Standard Bearer Liu, do you know where he came from?"
In the distance.
A somewhat gloomy-looking young man frowned and could not help asking a Chief Standard Bearer standing before him.
This young man was named Lu Yang, one of the three Iron Skin Realm martial artists Wang Xuan had just noticed!
Standing before him, Liu Ming explained, "That fellow is called Wang Xuan. He's someone Centurion Yang thinks highly of!"
"I heard that last night, he killed more than a dozen Demon-Humans from the Pity Life Sect. I don't know whether it's true or not!"
"Centurion Yang thinks very highly of him!"
The moment those words reached his ears, Lu Yang's expression changed drastically!
He had killed more than a dozen Demon-Humans from the Pity Life Sect!
Even the most ordinary followers possessed strength comparable to the Iron Skin Realm after Demonization!
That fellow had actually killed more than a dozen Demon-Humans. Could he be an Iron Skin Realm martial artist at perfection, or even in the Dragon Serpent Realm?
At that thought, Lu Yang's expression turned ugly.
Seeing this, Chief Standard Bearer Liu immediately explained, "Don't overthink it. It's all just rumor, nothing to take seriously."
"Still, since he was sent here by Centurion Yang, he must have something extraordinary about him!"
"This year's Soaring Dragon Assembly has only one spot on our side. If you want to go, that fellow may well become your formidable rival."
Lu Yang nodded slightly at those words.
He came from a prominent clan in the county town and had begun learning martial arts at sixteen. He had not joined the army to serve the country, but to pass the special-class assessment and obtain the qualifications to contend for the Soaring Dragon Assembly.
"I understand. I'll keep an eye on him."
While Lu Yang took notice of Wang Xuan, the other two Iron Skin Realm men also learned of Wang Xuan's circumstances.
Wang Xuan followed Wu Shan into the tent and saw him directly pick up three booklets from the table before handing them over.
"These are...?"
Wang Xuan accepted the booklets. When he saw the words written on them, his expression changed.
The three booklets were the Basic Breathing Technique, a fist technique, and a saber technique.
Unlike the ones he had just received, these three booklets contained detailed training methods and explanations for the Breathing Technique, fist technique, and saber technique alike.
Wu Shan smiled. "Don't be puzzled."
"This is what you deserve."
"Centurion Xu demonstrated too quickly just now. I know you definitely didn't see it clearly, but with these, you won't need to worry."
"I wrote all the explanations in them myself. Train according to them, and you'll definitely pass the assessment smoothly within seven days."
Wang Xuan's expression turned strange at those words.
Well, well!
So Wu Shan had called him in here to give him a private lesson!
He wanted to build goodwill with him in advance!
Still, Wu Shan could hardly be blamed for that.
The previous night, Wu Shan had seen the corpses of Pity Life Sect Demon-Humans strewn across the forest. He admired Wang Xuan to the extreme.
Combined with Yang Tianfeng's high regard for Wang Xuan, let alone becoming a Chief Standard Bearer in the future, even becoming a Centurion was not out of the question!
Using a little insight into basic fist and saber techniques to befriend Wang Xuan early was absolutely a profitable bargain.
Wang Xuan did not refuse and put away the three booklets.
He clasped his fists and said, "So that's how it is. Then many thanks, Chief Standard Bearer Wu."
Wu Shan laughed heartily. "What are you saying!"
"Brother Wang is someone the Centurion thinks highly of. Soaring straight to the clouds and rising step by step is only a matter of time for you!"
"These are only trifling things, not worth mentioning!"
For a moment, Wang Xuan did not know how to respond.
Wu Shan did not notice Wang Xuan's expression and continued.
"Right, Brother Wang."
"There's something I need to remind you of. You must keep a close eye on Lu Yang, Fan Hong, and Sun Qingfeng."
"Lu Yang, Fan Hong, Sun Qingfeng!"
"Who are they?"
Wang Xuan frowned.
But he immediately recalled the three men in the recruit camp whom he had noticed earlier, all of whom had reached the Iron Skin Realm.
Wu Shan explained, "The three of them are Iron Skin Realm martial artists. They came here specifically to compete for qualifications for the Soaring Dragon Assembly."
"The Soaring Dragon Assembly? What is that?"
The more Wang Xuan heard, the more confused he became.
The new recruit assessment was about individual success or failure, with no competitive relationship involved.
Logically speaking, there should not have been any conflict of interest between him and the Lu Yang and others Wu Shan mentioned!
And what exactly were these qualifications for the Soaring Dragon Assembly?
Seeing Wang Xuan's puzzled face, Wu Shan widened his eyes. "You actually don't know!"
"Didn't the Centurion tell you?"
Wang Xuan shook his head.
Wu Shan looked somewhat confused.
Logically, since Wang Xuan was someone Yang Tianfeng valued, he should have told him about the Soaring Dragon Assembly!
But!
Wang Xuan actually knew nothing about it!
"All right. Since the Centurion didn't tell you, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to explain it either."
"You only need to know that the qualifications for the Soaring Dragon Assembly are extremely important!"
"If you get the chance, you must obtain those qualifications!"
Wu Shan did not explain further.
Since the Centurion had not told Wang Xuan about the Soaring Dragon Assembly, perhaps he had some other intention. If Wu Shan explained it in advance, he might ruin things.
Though Wang Xuan was puzzled that Wu Shan would not explain, he did not continue asking.
"Thank you, Chief Standard Bearer Wu!"
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave!"
Wu Shan nodded. "Go on!"
"If there's anything you don't understand, come find me anytime!"
Wang Xuan tucked the three booklets away and turned to leave the tent.
Back on the training ground, Wang Xuan noticed that everyone looked at him with curiosity, but he ignored their gazes.
As he passed one side of the training ground, he glanced at the three men Wu Shan had mentioned. Each had found a Chief Standard Bearer and was practicing fist techniques.
Wang Xuan only glanced at them and did not linger on the three. He found a corner and began practicing the Frontier Army Basic Thirty-Six Form Fist.
The Frontier Army Basic Thirty-Six Form Fist combined combat techniques, basic fist techniques, basic grappling techniques, and more.
Though it appeared simple, when the thirty-six forms were combined, they possessed remarkably fierce killing power!
Wang Xuan began training according to the fist technique explanations Wu Shan had given him. With his foundation in the Mountain Severing Saber Art, cultivating the Frontier Army Basic Thirty-Six Form Fist was no difficult matter for him.
In less than half the time it took an incense stick to burn, Wang Xuan had already initiated the fist technique!
But at that moment, Wang Xuan suddenly stopped and frowned deeply as he looked around.
"Hm? What's going on!"
"Why does it feel like someone is watching me!"
Wang Xuan frowned slightly.
He had clearly felt someone watching him just now.
But the instant he stopped, that sensation of being watched vanished.
Wang Xuan looked around but found nothing unusual.
"Could what happened yesterday have left me too tense?"
"Was it just an illusion?"
Wang Xuan shook his head, stopped thinking about it, and continued cultivating.
After an entire day, Wang Xuan successfully cultivated both the basic fist technique and saber technique to the major accomplishment stage.
Late at night.
Everyone had returned to their barracks to sleep, but Wang Xuan did not rest. Instead, he borrowed a pudao from Wu Shan in advance and came to the training ground.
"Yesterday, I evolved the Mountain Severing Saber Art into the Ten Sun Blazing Saber, but I never had the time to practice it!"
"Now, I finally have time to see what's different about this seventh-rank martial art!"
Wang Xuan's heart stirred restlessly.
A smile bloomed across his face like wind sweeping over open ground!
A seventh-rank martial art!
This was a powerful martial art that only those in the Dragon Serpent Realm, or even the Entangling Serpent Realm, could perform!
He was only in the Iron Skin Realm now, but if he could cultivate it successfully ahead of time, then even against an enemy in the Dragon Serpent Realm, he might have the strength to fight!
"Let's begin cultivating!"
Wang Xuan took a deep breath and began cultivating the Ten Sun Blazing Saber.
The Ten Sun Blazing Saber was a seventh-rank martial art, and its difficulty surpassed that of the Mountain Severing Saber Art by far more than a little!
Wang Xuan took a deep breath. Double Efficiency activated, and he began practicing the Ten Sun Blazing Saber in a meticulous, methodical manner.
His blood and qi surged throughout his body in accordance with the Ten Sun Blazing Saber. Faintly, scorching energy began to churn within him, raising waves of searing heat across the training ground.
Half an hour later.
Wang Xuan slashed through the air with the pudao in his hand.
The pudao actually shot forth a blade aura of blazing flame, which cleaved viciously through the air.
Boom—
A dull explosion rang out.
The scent of scorching filled the air.
Ten Sun Blazing Saber Initiated Initiation Progress: 1/6400 Crimson Panel
A notification from the Crimson Panel sounded, and delight appeared on Wang Xuan's face!
"It worked!"
"As expected of a seventh-rank martial art. That strike just now could probably grievously wound an Iron Skin Realm martial artist!"
Wang Xuan muttered under his breath.
Even though his Ten Sun Blazing Saber had only just been initiated, that strike alone could absolutely grievously wound an ordinary Iron Skin Realm martial artist!
The scorching power contained within that blade aura possessed the terrifying might to burn everything to ash!
"It's still early. Keep practicing!"
Excitement shone in Wang Xuan's eyes as he raised the pudao, preparing to continue practicing.
But then.
His brow suddenly furrowed, and he turned to look into the distance.
"Who's there?"
"Get out here!"
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