Xu Kui strode over with his hands clasped behind his back.
His aura erupted, pressing down like Mount Tai bearing upon one's head!
Wang Xuan felt as though a force of a thousand jun weighed upon him, and for an instant, he nearly wanted to kneel!
He clenched his teeth as the blood and qi within him resonated, forcibly enduring that crushing pressure!
As for Lu Yang, his expression was exceedingly unsightly.
Under Xu Kui's blood-and-qi pressure, his face immediately flushed red, and he seemed unable to hold on.
"Greetings, Hundred Commander!"
Wang Xuan immediately cupped his fists and lowered his head.
Lu Yang did not dare delay in the slightest and likewise cupped his fists.
Xu Kui stood before the two with his hands behind his back. Even in the dead of night, his eyes still gleamed with surging radiance, carrying an intense power of intimidation!
"You two have some nerve. Instead of sleeping in the middle of the night, you came to the training ground to fight. Who gave you the gall to do that!"
Xu Kui shouted coldly.
His voice was like a great bell and a mighty chime, echoing through the night sky.
Hearing this, Wang Xuan lowered his head another fraction and replied, "Hundred Commander, your reprimand is justified. Wang Xuan is willing to accept punishment!"
He did not try to argue.
At a time like this, arguing would only make the punishment harsher.
But Lu Yang refused to accept it. "Hundred Commander, this bastard clearly struck first. I was only defending myself. Why are you—"
"Hmm?!"
Before he could finish, Xu Kui let out a heavy snort!
Lu Yang staggered. Unable to withstand Xu Kui's pressure, he dropped to one knee with a bang!
His face was flushed crimson, as though even his breathing had frozen. He hunched over, looking utterly miserable!
Xu Kui said coldly, "This Hundred Commander asked who told you to fight, not why you fought!"
"I know you both have Centurions behind you, protecting you. But this is the new recruit camp. Here, I make the rules!"
"Do not think that having someone to shield you means you can run wild!"
"Since this is your first offense, get the hell back to your barracks immediately. If you dare do it again next time..."
"Hmph! Even if the Centurions plead for you, you will get the hell out of the new recruit camp. Understood!"
Wang Xuan immediately cupped his fists.
"Thank you, sir. Wang Xuan takes his leave!"
He turned and left at once.
Lu Yang's face was red as he knelt on one knee. Watching Wang Xuan leave without receiving any punishment, ten thousand grievances churned in his heart!
But he also knew that Xu Kui was said to be one of the Commander of Ten Thousand's men, iron-faced and impartial!
It was only because of an injury that Xu Kui had come to serve as chief instructor at the new recruit camp!
Though Tang Wande stood behind him as his backer, if Xu Kui refused to give face, Tang Wande could not say much either.
Lu Yang forcibly suppressed the fury in his heart and cupped his fists toward Xu Kui. "Lu Yang knows his mistake. Thank you, Hundred Commander, for your leniency."
Hearing this, Xu Kui gave a quiet, cold snort and left with his hands behind his back.
The pressure weighing upon Lu Yang instantly vanished. He slowly rose to his feet, his expression somewhat twisted!
Staring in the direction Wang Xuan had left, killing intent surged in Lu Yang's eyes.
"Wang Xuan!!!"
"This grudge is now set in stone!"
"Do not think that Yang Tianfeng's protection means you can act arrogantly. When the special assessment comes, I will make you understand the consequences of daring to lay hands on me!"
Grinding his teeth, Lu Yang returned to the barracks unwillingly.
After Wang Xuan returned to the barracks, he lay straight down on his bed to rest.
"I offended Lu Yang today. I'll have to be more careful from now on!"
"That guy has a Centurion backing him. He might set traps for me in the dark!"
Wang Xuan muttered.
People like Lu Yang were the typical sons of aristocratic clans and great houses—proud and haughty.
Relying on a bit of background, they looked down on everyone else.
Otherwise, he would not have flown into a rage out of humiliation and threatened Wang Xuan after being rejected.
But Wang Xuan did not regret attacking Lu Yang.
That bastard had used Lu Yao to threaten him. How could he possibly let Lu Yang manipulate him as he pleased!
But just then, Wang Xuan suddenly felt a chill creep over him.
It was exactly the same as the feeling of being watched during the day!
"Hmm, who is spying on me?"
Wang Xuan immediately became alert.
He promptly activated the Tracking Art, its effect making everything clear as fire.
But!
He swept his gaze across the entire barracks, yet failed to find that gaze spying on him in the shadows.
"Was it an illusion..."
Wang Xuan's heart could not help sinking.
When he had practiced knife techniques and fist techniques during the day, he had constantly felt an invisible chill, as though a venomous snake were watching him from the shadows.
When he encountered Lu Yang at the training ground earlier, Wang Xuan had thought Lu Yang was the one watching him during the day. But now, it seemed there was someone else!
"I'll take another look tomorrow."
"I want to see just who is spying on me!"
Though Wang Xuan remained on guard, he did not alert the snake. Instead, he lay down and fell asleep.
They were in the military camp now. Even if the other party harbored ill intent toward him, they could not openly make a move against him.
The next day.
Wang Xuan woke early and began practicing the Breathing Technique.
The Frontier Army Basic Breathing Method recorded methods for opening a total of thirty-six Acupoints. Once they were opened, they could form a Lesser Celestial Circuit within the body.
The body's blood and qi primarily traveled through the meridians.
Once the Acupoints were opened, they could draw in a special energy between heaven and earth known as primordial qi. This energy could wash through the body via the Acupoints.
It allowed the body's blood and qi to continually grow stronger!
It could also strengthen the sinews, bones, flesh, blood, and internal organs, bringing immense benefits to the human body!
It was said that upon reaching the Entangling Serpent Realm, a special force called "primal force" would emerge within one's blood and qi. That was the true goal of a martial artist's cultivation!
It was not merely about endlessly strengthening one's blood and qi.
Wang Xuan found a spacious spot on the training ground and began cultivating according to the Basic Breathing Technique Wu Shan had given him.
With Wu Shan's cultivation insights, Wang Xuan immediately located the first Acupoint.
He began adjusting his breathing, making his blood and qi circulate with each breath.
Wang Xuan's inhalations and exhalations became extraordinarily rhythmic, his chest swelling high like a bellows.
As he exhaled, another muffled sound rang out from within his body.
As the Basic Breathing Technique circulated, the blood and qi within him began to surge and roar through his meridians.
Faintly, the roaring sound of surging waves could be heard from within his body!
On the training ground.
Many people were still practicing the Basic Knife Technique or fist techniques, and none noticed Wang Xuan.
But.
As time passed, the sound of blood-and-qi resonance within Wang Xuan grew louder and louder, reverberating like low thunder and reaching everyone's ears.
"Where is that sound coming from? Is it thundering in broad daylight?"
Hearing it, someone could not help frowning as he looked toward the sky.
But the sky was clear for ten thousand li. Where could thunder possibly come from?
"No, that sound is coming from over there!"
Very quickly, someone noticed that the thunderous roar was coming from Wang Xuan's body.
Shock appeared on everyone's faces.
Blood and qi resonated, its sound like thunder!
This was a sign that one had entered the threshold of the Basic Breathing Technique!
Meanwhile.
Lu Yang was practicing the Basic Fist Technique.
Born into an aristocratic clan and great house, the military camp's Basic Fist Technique was no challenge for him. Yet after cultivating for a day, he had only reached the minor accomplishment stage.
Hearing the thunderous sound, Lu Yang unconsciously turned his head.
When he saw that Wang Xuan was cultivating the Breathing Technique and causing such a commotion, his expression became as ugly as it could be!
"That damned bastard has started cultivating the Breathing Technique so quickly, and he has already found the way in so fast!"
Lu Yang's face twisted somewhat.
He had been born into an aristocratic clan and great house, with all manner of precious medicines to assist him. He had already successfully opened his first Acupoint yesterday!
Yet Wang Xuan, a lowly commoner, had found the way in so quickly without relying on any external aid. It made him extremely displeased!
As Lu Yang noticed Wang Xuan.
Fan Hong and Sun Qingfeng also noticed him.
Their eyes likewise revealed grave expressions!
"As expected of someone Centurion Yang values!"
"He has touched upon the doorway of the Breathing Technique without relying on external aid!"
"This guy is a formidable opponent!"
The same thought rose in both their hearts.
While everyone marveled at Wang Xuan's progress, not far from him, a sallow and emaciated man in coarse clothes was diligently practicing fist techniques.
But upon closer inspection, his movements were exceptionally stiff.
Like a marionette on strings, every gesture was mechanical, unlike a living person.
Though he was practicing fist techniques, his triangular eyes remained fixed on Wang Xuan, cold light glimmering within his black pupils.
Wang Xuan knew nothing of everyone's attention. At this moment, immersed in cultivating the Breathing Technique, he was doing everything he could to mobilize the blood and qi within him and strike at the first Acupoint.
In the short span of one incense stick, he attempted it more than ten times. Each impact weakened the barrier around the first Acupoint by another fraction.
As time passed, the sound of blood-and-qi resonance in Wang Xuan's body grew increasingly powerful, as did the force he gathered.
Finally.
An hour later.
Wang Xuan's face was somewhat flushed. Gathering all the strength in his body, he launched his final assault upon the first Acupoint!
Bang!
A barely audible muffled sound rang out.
The barrier around Wang Xuan's first Acupoint was pierced through, and the ethereal primordial qi between heaven and earth began pouring into his body without end.
An unprecedented sensation surged into his heart, as though a mysterious force were nourishing his flesh and blood, leaving his entire body feeling joyful and invigorated!
"The first Acupoint is opened!"
Wang Xuan abruptly opened his eyes, delight in them.
At the same time.
The Crimson Panel's voice rang out.
Frontier Army Basic Breathing Method breakthrough Entry progress: 25/1000
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