The journey from North Ward to East Ward was not a short one.
Chen Bin couldn't help asking, "What's the difference between the Qi Gathering Realm, the Meridian Opening Realm, and a demon beast's Aperture Opening Realm?"
This was a rare chance to learn.
Wang Sheng pondered for a moment, then explained earnestly, "Actually, there isn't all that much difference.
When Qi and Blood enter Tanzhong, they transform into Internal Energy. That Internal Energy is what we call 'qi.'
Apart from stronger physiques and better coordination, the biggest difference between the Meridian Opening Realm and the Qi Gathering Realm is that the former has more qi in the body, and can circulate it throughout the body.
In the Qi Gathering Realm, every acupoint you open adds the equivalent of one more acupoint's worth of 'qi.'
Put simply, it only makes use of a short section of the Ren Meridian, along with its acupoints.
The Meridian Opening Realm, on the other hand, makes use of an entire meridian.
And opening one meridian gives you several times as much qi as in the Qi Gathering Realm. That amount keeps doubling as you advance.
It also circulates to every part of the body, making it much easier to control and use.
Some martial techniques also need to be paired with methods for circulating qi to unleash their full power, but those methods can't be learned in the Qi Gathering Realm.
Unless there's a special method. There's no shortage of geniuses, after all.
The most important difference is the ability to release qi outward."
At this, he glanced at Chen Bin and continued, "With a simple release of my own qi, I can kill an ordinary person ten zhang away.
To kill someone like you, I'd need to be within three zhang.
If I used a martial technique, I could reach even farther."
Chen Bin drew a deep breath. Just from this conversation, he'd gained a profound sense of the enormous gap in strength between himself and Wang Sheng.
Still curious, he pressed on. "Can someone in the Qi Gathering Realm not kill someone in the Meridian Opening Realm?"
"That's not it!" Wang Sheng patiently explained. "There are plenty of cases where someone in the Qi Gathering Realm kills someone in the Meridian Opening Realm.
Those fools who've only just entered the Meridian Opening Realm don't have much Internal Energy. They might not even be as strong as a prodigy in the Qi Gathering Realm.
And if someone in the Meridian Opening Realm has run out of 'qi,' someone in the Qi Gathering Realm who's still in good shape can kill him too.
But it's all very difficult.
After all, he's in the Meridian Opening Realm.
His physique is on a different level, too."
Over the course of their conversation, Chen Bin had gained a general understanding of how someone in the Qi Gathering Realm might take on someone in the Meridian Opening Realm. Most approaches involved lying in wait for the right moment.
He hadn't expected this General Banner to teach him everything without holding anything back.
Soon, the team arrived in East Ward.
When Chen Bin stopped, everyone else came to a halt as well.
Chen Bin looked toward a certain spot. Going by his memory, he pointed to a gloomy-looking courtyard in the distance. "It's there!"
Wang Sheng narrowed his eyes and examined it closely, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Still, trusting Chen Bin, he spoke in a grave voice. "Rest for a quarter of an hour, then close in!"
The team didn't answer aloud. They silently sat cross-legged and began regulating their breathing.
They waited quietly for the assault that would come in a quarter of an hour.
In the blink of an eye, the quarter-hour passed.
After regulating their breathing, the flush gradually faded from everyone's faces, and they breathed out their last mouthful of stale air.
They had finished recuperating, and their strength was fully restored.
Everyone began carefully checking their weapons.
Their sabers slid from their scabbards, cold light flashing as they rested across their knees. After taking out their crossbows and arrows, the men methodically dipped the arrows into vials of poison.
"Once we've surrounded the place, climb over the courtyard walls at once.
Then throw your torches at the buildings.
When the demons rush out, shoot every poisoned arrow you have."
Chen Bin gave his orders in a low, forceful voice.
The Captains and constables listened with stern expressions, ready for battle.
Seeing this, Chen Bin swept out his hand and shouted, "Move!"
He shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bow. The team rushed after him, surrounding the entire courtyard like a black tide.
"They're still inside. Attack!"
Chen Bin swept out his hand and leaped nimbly onto the gate pavilion, his sleeves fluttering. The stone tiles groaned beneath his feet as he crushed the green roof tiles.
Wang Sheng leaped up as well, lightly vaulting onto the gate pavilion and landing steadily beside Chen Bin.
His gaze swept over the entire courtyard like an eagle's, taking in everything within.
In an instant, countless torches appeared atop the walls. The Captains and constables who had climbed over shouted in unison and swung their arms with all their might.
The spinning torches cut through the ink-black night sky and flew toward the buildings in the courtyard.
The moment the flames tore through the darkness and lit up the courtyard, more than a dozen figures stood revealed beneath the eaves.
Their dark-green eyes flickered in the firelight like ghost flames.
They wore ordinary civilian clothes, but expensive jade pendants hung from their waists, glinting faintly in the light.
When they saw the Demon Suppression Division, a ruthless glint flashed in their eyes. Without hesitation, they removed the jade pendants from their waists.
In an instant, the restraints fell away, and demonic qi surged through the entire courtyard like a raging tide.
Chen Bin's gaze was as sharp as lightning. He immediately fixed on the figure in the center, a zhang tall and radiating a profound aura.
Beneath the moonlight, the Wolf Demon's fur stood on end, each strand gleaming with a metallic sheen. The other Wolf Demons looked rather small beside him.
Wolf Demons were limited by their physiques. To reach a height of one zhang in the Aperture Opening Realm was already the absolute limit of that realm.
The information about the Wolf Demon appeared in Chen Bin's eyes:
[Wolf Lord: Aperture Opening Realm Wolf Demon, Merit obtainable: 35]
His brows drew together, and he lamented inwardly, Such a small amount of Merit for such a troublesome opponent.
"So they were prepared for us after all." Chen Bin's face was cold as ice, his lips pressed tight. He ordered in a low voice, "Loose!"
At his command, bowstrings rang out through the night like thunderclaps.
Countless arrows shot through the air, their thin black shapes streaking toward their targets.
The Wolf Demon at the front threw back his head and let out a thunderous howl. Bloodthirsty demonic qi erupted from him, forming a solid-looking black barrier that knocked every arrow out of the air.
The demonic qi swept in every direction like a raging tide. Roof tiles flew from the buildings, while grass, stones, and gravel soared into the air wherever it passed.
The constables atop the walls were swept off their feet by the powerful gusts. They tumbled from the walls, crying out in terror.
Standing beside Wang Sheng, Chen Bin felt the man's blazing aura rise around him like an invisible wall, blocking the demonic qi and shielding him from its effects.
"Don't waste your arrows!" Wang Sheng swept out his hand. His powerful voice rang over the clamor of battle as he shouted his orders. "Captains and constables, hold the perimeter and cut down any demons that try to break through! Flag Officers, come with me to meet the enemy!"
"Yes!" The Captains and constables immediately withdrew.
In this fight, the slightest touch could cost them their lives.
Watching Wang Sheng's tall, straight figure, Chen Bin gained a true sense of the terrifying power of a Meridian Opening expert.
His immense True Qi surged like a great river. It really could crush a Martial Artist in the Qi Gathering Realm with ease.
"Demon Suppression Division!" The Wolf Demon glared at Wang Sheng, his scarlet eyes brimming with hatred as he snarled, "I am Wolf Ridge.
You're Wang Sheng, the Hundred Households officer of the Demon Suppression Division!"
From the aura coming off the other man, he had naturally guessed who he was.
"You certainly are a gracious host," Chen Bin said with a laugh, his voice especially clear in the night.
Wolf Ridge was displeased by the interruption, but kept his eyes fixed on Wang Sheng. "How did you find us?"
"Obviously, there's a traitor among you—and that traitor was one of our people from the start."
Chen Bin spoke scornfully, a cold smile curling his lips. "You've never heard of 'luring the tiger out of its den,' have you?"
"Damn it! The human race truly can't be trusted!"
Wolf Ridge flew into a rage and howled at the sky. The sound waves rippled through the air, as tangible as anything:
"Lu Hanwen.
This Human Sheep deserves to die a thousand deaths!"
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