Fourth Level

As the Head Escort announced the last person's Fist Force, the second Fist Force test finally came to an end.

First came the Top Five in Fist Force. Aside from Zhao Lusi, who had held fifth place, being replaced by Jiang Ping, the "Little White Face," the top four remained unchanged, though their rankings had shifted slightly.

Sun Qi remained the unparalleled first person in Fist Force.

The second-place contender, whose initial Fist Force had also reached a hundred and eighty pounds, had fallen to fourth, surpassed by Qian Dele and Liu Wensheng, who now ranked second and third respectively.

Then came the number of people who had reached Entry Level in the Nourishing Life Technique. There were astonishingly eight of them. If those on the brink of breaking through were included, the number would double.

This left quite a few people muttering to themselves. Was the Nourishing Life Technique really as difficult to cultivate as the rumors claimed?

Seeing everyone begin to discuss and exchange opinions, Head Escort Liang did not offer a direct explanation. He merely said:

"Train well. Those who have broken through must not grow complacent. The Nourishing Life Technique is easy to enter, but the later barriers are far from simple. Those who have not broken through should work even harder. Do not betray the Escort Agency's efforts in nurturing you. If you aspire to the Martial Dao, then place great importance on nutritious food."

After saying that, the Head Escort hurried away.

Escort Huang went to the dining hall to give a few instructions, then chose to leave as well.

Once the two escorts had gone, everyone became like wild horses freed from their reins, rushing toward the dining hall.

Jiang Ping was among them. Now ranked fifth in Fist Force, he had earned extra nutritious food and had long been unable to wait.

Of course, everyone entered the dining hall together, but the crowd divided as clearly as the waters of the Jing and Wei rivers. People like Sun Qi and Qian Dele were surrounded by admirers, flattering words pouring forth without end, with many followers trailing after them.

Luo Tiegen, who had just been calling Jiang Ping brother, now circled around Qian Dele, every inch a wagging lapdog.

As for Liu Wensheng, who ranked third, he disliked such occasions and waved away those who wanted to crowd around him.

Jiang Ping, this newly risen member of the Top Five, also received congratulations, but he only gave simple responses, neither distant nor warm.

Before long, Jiang Ping carefully carried two portions of beef and white rice to an empty table and began eating.

His appetite had never been small, and after practicing martial arts, it had grown even greater. Unfortunately, he had nothing of value to use for nutritious food. Now that he had an extra serving of beef, it could not only nourish his body and advance his Martial Dao, but also satisfy his stomach.

After the meal.

Jiang Ping arrived at the Training Ground.

He was curious whether eating double portions of nutritious food could make up for his lack of stamina and allow him to train longer each day.

"Hu~"

Without wasting time, Jiang Ping took a deep breath and began that day's cultivation, practicing the Nourishing Life Technique.

Several strands of Blood Qi within his body boiled and flowed along with his movements and breathing, faintly showing signs of growing stronger.

At a certain moment.

That Blood Qi abruptly doubled in density and boiled even more fiercely. A powerful sensation rose naturally within Jiang Ping's heart.

I've broken through to the third layer. Jiang Ping thought.

At the third layer, the Nourishing Life Technique could increase Fist Force by sixty pounds, bringing his total Fist Force to over two hundred and seventy pounds.

The undisputed first in the entire group!

Moreover, he was only one barrier away from meeting the Escort Agency's assessment requirements!

Yet Jiang Ping did not appear overly excited. Only after completing a full set of movements did he stop and glance at the Destiny in his mind:

[Nourishing Life Technique Fourth Level (5/100): Practice ten times daily, and it will be accomplished in a hundred days.]

Worthy of the Late Bloomer Destiny. Even the Fourth Level of a Nourishing Life Technique takes a hundred days to master. The time needed for later barriers will surely only increase. Once I learn profound techniques, won't the time they consume become even more outrageous?

Could it be that I'll have to wait until I'm seventy or eighty before reaching the strength of the Escort Agency's current Chief?

Then how could I indulge in song and sensual pleasures, amid wind and moon?

Luckily, I'm a genius!

Jiang Ping let out a long breath. He had talent, after all.

Afterward, he continued training.

As his movements slowly unfolded, the technique's proficiency on his Destiny gradually rose as well.

What was talent?

Every round of the Nourishing Life Technique brought growth. Every movement brought gains. Every moment and every breath placed him on the road of progress.

This was talent—the reality Jiang Ping was experiencing!

Time passed.

When Jiang Ping had completed six rounds, he was already panting heavily, sweat pouring down like rain. Yet he felt that his stamina had not run out and that he could continue training.

"Double portions of nutritious food really are different. I've broken my training record on the very first day of eating them!"

Jiang Ping was slightly delighted. The extra nutritious food was beginning to show its effect. Being able to train a little more each day meant a little more progress. No one would ever think he was short... lazy again.

"I broke through! I broke through!"

At that moment, a delighted cry rang out. Jiang Ping glanced over and found that the one who had broken through was none other than Sun Zheng, who loved asking others about their progress every day.

This roommate of his danced with joy, his face full of excitement as he told everyone around him.

But many people had already broken through the day before, making his breakthrough seem rather ordinary.

What was more, after the day's Fist Force test, Sun Zheng was not the only one to break through.

Jiang Ping gave him only a brief glance before withdrawing his gaze and paying no further attention.

He focused on his own cultivation, curious how many more rounds his remaining stamina could support after six rounds.

Yet reality was rather regrettable. Only one more round.

After completing the seventh round, Jiang Ping felt as though his body had been emptied. It was as if he had entered Sage Time, and all he wanted was to lie down.

Still, his progress was obvious. The Fourth Level's progress had already passed one-third.

A day passed in a hurry.

Jiang Ping had gained a clear understanding of the effects of double portions of nutritious food. They generally gave him enough energy to practice three more rounds. It was not much, but it greatly accelerated his cultivation progress, leaving him only a step away from the Fourth Level.

This was the result of double portions of nutritious food combined with his own talent. Jiang Ping seemed never to have encountered difficulty or a Bottleneck in the Nourishing Life Technique. His cultivation progress continued to rise at an absurd pace.

The next morning arrived.

Over a hundred bare-chested Pre-Escorts trained beneath the Blazing Sun at the Training Ground, beads of sweat appearing on each of their foreheads to varying degrees.

Jiang Ping was among them, though he was feeling somewhat expectant at the moment.

After breaking through in the Nourishing Life Technique yesterday, his cultivation progress had once again surged forward without resistance. By today, after only three rounds of practice, the technique would make further progress.

Bzz!

[Nourishing Life Technique Fourth Level (98→99/100)]

The information on his Destiny changed, and Jiang Ping raised an eyebrow slightly.

Only a sliver remained before the technique reached the Fourth Level.

He was neither nervous nor uneasy, and continued practicing the Nourishing Life Technique as usual.

A while later.

[Nourishing Life Technique Fourth Level (99→100/100)]

The Fourth Level of the Nourishing Life Technique had been achieved!

Boom!

At that instant, Jiang Ping felt a muffled sound arise from within his body. Immediately afterward, the Blood Qi throughout his body boiled violently like water brought to a rolling boil, and he felt burning hot all over.

Fortunately, this state vanished in an instant. Once he steadied his mind and carefully sensed his body, he could clearly feel that the Blood Qi within him had once again nearly doubled in density.

The Fourth Level of the Nourishing Life Technique increased strength by a hundred pounds!

That was Jiang Ping's current state. A powerful feeling surged over him once more.

According to the Head Escort, once the Nourishing Life Technique reaches the Fourth Level, one becomes different from ordinary people. Three to five people cannot get close so easily!

Jiang Ping thought, unable to suppress the excitement in his heart.

But he quickly pressed down that joy and pondered inwardly, The Nourishing Life Technique has nine levels. At the Seventh Layer, there will be a qualitative transformation, and one becomes a Martial Artist.

And upon reaching the Ninth Layer, one reaches the Great Accomplishment stage of a Ninth Grade Martial Artist. That is the limit of the Nourishing Life Technique. With my talent, it likely will not take long to cultivate this technique to its peak.

But if I want to advance from Blood Qi Great Accomplishment to perfection, I must seek out subsequent techniques—the Stance Techniques of the various Martial Arts Halls!