Signing an Agreement

"Five Qi Towards Origin Method."

Looking at the small box Zhao Yuan had produced, even Fang Lingjue's eyes grew heated.

A Viscera Refining Secret Method!

The Five Elements Sect...

They were truly willing to part with it.

Gang refining was divided into two parts.

External Training and internal training, also known as External Gang and Internal Gang.

Of the two, External Gang was easier to cultivate.

As long as one's physique was strong enough, one's speed fast enough, and one's power fierce enough, one could shatter the sound barrier with a punch, trigger a sonic boom, form white waves of air, and release gang qi beyond the body.

The Five Elements Unity Wang Daoyi had used when killing Cao Zuoqiu had, in a sense, already come close to External Gang.

As long as his physique grew stronger and his speed faster, he would be able to truly unleash Gang Jin.

With a few connections, he could obtain a Senior Title and become one of the most elite Martial Arts Grandmasters in a city.

But Internal Gang...

It involved refining the viscera and replacing the blood. All five viscera and six bowels had to exert force at once, driving the full-body circulation to form a unique frequency, from within to without, then from without to within.

Since the five viscera and six bowels were all strengthened, even completing marrow cleansing and blood replacement, the human body reached its absolute peak at that moment.

The force unleashed by their strikes was so ferocious that even if their opponent wore a steel helmet and iron armor, it would be utterly meaningless.

They would simply slap them flat.

Thus, Internal Gang was also privately called Grandmaster.

No matter how Grandmasters who had refined their viscera and replaced their blood continued to train, their strength, speed, and vitality would no longer increase.

Even Martial Saints who cultivated the spirit beyond that only trained the "spirit," rather than tempering the physique.

And cultivating the "spirit" emphasized comprehension. Whenever one comprehended the power of the mind and spirit, one would qualify to be assessed as a Martial Saint, truly standing atop the Martial World.

For an Internal Gang Grandmaster, this process might take an instant, or it might remain an insurmountable gulf for an entire lifetime.

Thus, no matter how illustrious their records or formidable their martial arts, many people could never be assessed as Martial Saints.

Unless they could stand out from the adult division of the National Tournament with absolute strength and seize the championship.

For a moment, Fang Lingjue's gaze fell upon Li Pin.

For the sake of his future, Fang Lingjue no longer minded if Li Pin switched allegiance to the Five Elements Sect.

Li Pin did not take the box. Instead, he looked at Zhao Yuan. "What do I need to do?"

"We hope Martial Master Li can join our Five Elements Sect. In the future, martial halls large and small throughout Canglong City will look to Martial Master Li as their standard-bearer, and the Five Elements Sect will certainly nurture Martial Master Li as its banner-bearer."

Zhao Yuan spoke solemnly.

Li Pin was somewhat surprised.

But upon careful thought, it was only natural.

Cao Tianyou was old.

At sixty-six, he could at most live another ten or twenty years.

And during those ten or twenty years, he could no longer fight others. Otherwise, his lifespan would be greatly shortened.

As early as four years ago, he had already taken Zhao Yuan and a group of elites to develop in Jiangzhou City. They had already established a certain foundation there. Now that Cao Zuoqiu, the Dan Jin martial master responsible for holding down Canglong City, had died, only Qi Dongyuan remained. He could not support such a large operation alone. Under such circumstances, it was necessary to absorb fresh blood and have someone help the Five Elements Sect guard its foundation in Canglong City.

Given the Five Elements Sect's connections and channels, they had likely investigated him thoroughly over the past half month.

He was talented, had a clean background, and only had ties to Changfeng Martial Hall, a newly established martial arts force...

Moreover, he had obtained the Five Elements Body Refining Technique from Wang Daoyi as spoils of war. To prevent this technique from spreading, they also hoped to bring him into the Five Elements Sect's system.

Taking all that together, he truly was the best candidate for the Five Elements Sect to hold down Canglong City.

Unfortunately...

"Since Sect Master Cao had Martial Master Zhao deliver the Five Qi Towards Origin Method, he must think highly of my future potential to refine qi into gang. And I, too, have confidence in my own talent. My future will not be confined to Canglong City."

Li Pin looked at Zhao Yuan. "Therefore, I can only appreciate Sect Master Cao's kind intentions."

Zhao Yuan and Qi Dongyuan exchanged glances.

Li Pin's answer had been within their expectations.

"Of course we believe Martial Master Li's talent will not be limited to Canglong alone. At the same time, we firmly believe that perhaps within three years, or at most six, Martial Master Li will soar into the sky in a single bound."

Zhao Yuan said with a smile, "Whenever Martial Master Li feels that the Five Elements Sect's temple is too small, you may head for broader heavens and earth. We wholeheartedly wish Martial Master Li a future bright as brocade. It is only that... before Martial Master Li plans to leave Canglong City and make a name throughout Jiangzhou, our promise will remain valid."

Li Pin glanced at him. "Aren't you afraid that I'll agree now, obtain the Five Qi Towards Origin Method, then immediately leave Canglong City?"

"We trust Martial Master Li's character."

Zhao Yuan answered without hesitation.

They did not truly trust Li Pin's character. They trusted themselves.

The current Li Pin...

The Five Elements Sect could keep him in check.

And as long as Li Pin joined the Five Elements Sect, they would naturally find ways to make him acknowledge it step by step, until he ultimately became a true part of the Five Elements Sect.

Of course, perhaps Li Pin's talent was extraordinary, and one day the entire Five Elements Sect would be unable to offer him any aid at all. He might still choose to leave the sect and venture into the world.

But by then, the Five Elements Sect should have weathered this difficult period, and Li Pin would at least possess the cultivation of a Gang Refining Grandmaster.

At that time, they could generously and open-mindedly send him off. With the friendship built over these years, should the Five Elements Sect truly encounter trouble in the future, Li Pin presumably would not stand by with folded arms.

The Five Elements Sect would effectively gain a Gang Refining Grandmaster as a backer.

No loss there.

After a slight moment of thought, Li Pin had guessed seven or eight parts of Zhao Yuan's plan.

He did not want to cheat the Five Elements Sect. There was no need.

"I understand what you mean. I have registered for the Jiangzhou Tournament. If I can make a name for myself in the Jiangzhou Tournament, then with that reputation, I will likely develop in Jiangzhou City in the future. So, I'm afraid your plan to borrow my strength to hold down Canglong City will not work."

Li Pin paused before continuing, "Besides... the Jiangzhou Tournament is only a stepping stone. When the time is right, I will also venture into the National Tournament."

Zhao Yuan and Qi Dongyuan exchanged another glance, then smiled together. "If Martial Master Li can truly earn a ranking in the National Tournament, everyone in the Five Elements Sect will celebrate for Martial Master Li."

"Forget it."

Li Pin waved his hand. "Hall Master Fang and I have already signed an agreement."

Zhao Yuan first gave Fang Lingjue an apologetic look, then said, "As far as I know, Martial Master Li's agreement with Changfeng Martial Hall is only for one year?"

He smiled faintly. "Since Martial Master Li is confident you can display your brilliance in the National Tournament, then let us agree on this: if Martial Master Li can earn a ranking, everyone in the Five Elements Sect will prepare a generous gift and wish Martial Master Li a future bright as brocade. Before Martial Master Li achieves anything in the National Tournament, once your agreement with Changfeng Martial Hall ends, how about coming to our Five Elements Sect?"

"Are you sure?"

Li Pin looked at him. "What if, after finishing the Jiangzhou Tournament, I immediately enter the National Tournament and obtain a ranking?"

"Hahaha, if that truly happens, the generous gift promised by the Five Elements Sect will be delivered at once without another word."

Zhao Yuan said with a laugh.

However...

He clearly did not believe Li Pin had that ability at all.

"How about this?"

Li Pin was indeed interested in the Five Qi Towards Origin Method.

But he did not want to cheat the Five Elements Sect too badly either. He immediately said, "During the National Tournament, I can compete as someone seconded from Changfeng Martial Hall to the Five Elements Sect..."

"That would be perfect."

Zhao Yuan immediately said.

He felt that if Li Pin truly competed in the National Tournament, it would be at least in the next edition three years from now.

Perhaps even six years later, or nine years later.

Such a long time would be enough for the Five Elements Sect to recover.

"Then let's sign the agreement."

Li Pin said no more.

"Let's sign it now."

Zhao Yuan said with a smile, "Martial Master Li was able to unleash Dan Jin in one breath. Even though you have yet to Embrace Dan, obtaining an Associate Senior Title is already no difficult matter. Master knows quite a few colleagues in the Martial World in Jiangzhou City, and some of them are responsible for martial arts certificate assessments. When the next assessment begins, would Martial Master Li like to make a trip there?"

"There's no rush."

Li Pin smiled faintly.

Once he made it into the top ten of the Jiangzhou Tournament, the Martial Arts Association would naturally deliver his Associate Senior Title certificate to him.

It would save him the trip.