"Brother Fang, Jiang Ping has broken through to the Fourth Level too."
On the Training Ground, Jiang Ping was surrounded like stars around the moon, becoming the focus of everyone present. Rarely, Luo Tiegen did not go over to join the excitement. Instead, he came to Fang Yong's side and whispered,
"I heard Liu Wensheng and Jiang Ping are very close, and the two of them are both greatly favored by Escort Huang."
Hearing this, Fang Yong snorted coldly and said disdainfully, "What does Escort Huang amount to? He isn't Master Liang."
"That's true. The Head Escort once said that every step after becoming a Martial Artist consumes immense resources and depends heavily on talent. Escort Huang will likely never reach the Head Escort's level in this life. And the Head Escort is extremely fond of Brother Fang. In terms of backing and patrons, those two definitely cannot compare to Brother Fang."
Luo Tiegen nodded, but then his tone shifted as he asked worriedly, "Still, the talent of those two truly cannot be underestimated. What if they suddenly speed up and catch up to Brother Fang?"
"Catch up to me?" Fang Yong laughed. Then he declared with absolute certainty, "Perhaps if they reincarnate and start over."
He continued, "If you have not entered the Fourth Stage, you do not know how difficult the Nourishing Life Technique is. This technique grows harder with every layer. It took me only four or five days to break through the Fourth Level, but breaking through the Fifth Layer took half a month. The time span directly tripled."
"And those two are less talented than I am. It took them half a month just to break through the Fourth Level. One can imagine how much time they would need to reach my realm. By then, do you think I will still be standing in place?"
"Brother Fang will naturally be Galloping Ahead." Luo Tiegen said firmly, inwardly letting out a breath of relief.
"Besides." Fang Yong's tone carried a trace of pride as he said, "My Blade Art is about to reach Entry Level, within the next few days."
"What?!" Luo Tiegen was both shocked and delighted. He then poured out all manner of flattering words, nearly coaxing Fang Yong back into the womb.
Afternoon.
Jiang Ping held a wooden blade and practiced the Flying Snow Saber Technique on the Training Ground. In order to become an escort as soon as possible, he had also "displayed" extraordinary talent in the Blade Art. His progress had long surpassed Sun Qi, once the first person, and was second only to Fang Yong.
He wielded this Fast Saber with consummate mastery. Even with a wooden blade, it carried immense pressure. No one dared stand within three zhang of him, afraid of being injured.
"This Jiang Ping truly is someone remarkable, not some embroidered pillow. In terms of strength alone, he is likely only beneath Fang Yong and three parts stronger than Liu Wensheng. Look, his Blade Art is gaining more and more of the Head Escort's shadow. Is he about to reach Entry Level?"
"Probably. I seriously suspect that his attainments in the Blade Art are no weaker than Fang Yong's. He may very well surpass him." Someone agreed strongly, saying solemnly.
"He truly is formidable." Luo Tiegen narrowed his eyes as he came over to watch for a while. Unfortunately, Fang Yong would not let him reveal the other man's progress in the Blade Art. Otherwise, why would he let this roommate steal all the limelight now?
The next moment, Jiang Ping, watched by so many people, suddenly sheathed his blade and calmly headed toward the dormitories.
"Hey, why is he leaving?" someone asked anxiously.
"Yeah, I've already grasped a few tricks. If I could watch a little longer, I would definitely make great progress." Some people showed regret.
They watched Jiang Ping practice the blade not merely for appreciation, but to learn and imitate.
Ever since the Head Escort had taught the Blade Art a few times, he had not given any further guidance. The progress in Blade Art of "dull people" like them all depended on masters such as Jiang Ping.
Among the hundred people, there were currently only three who were skilled with the blade: Fang Yong, Liu Wensheng, and Jiang Ping.
But the first two pursued speed to the utmost. They could learn from them, yet it was difficult to grasp the essence.
Only Jiang Ping was different. His Blade Art was fast too, but sometimes he did not pursue speed, as though he were breaking down the moves for them to observe.
Thus, among the three masters of the Blade Art, they could better discern the tricks from Jiang Ping's Blade Art and improve faster.
For that reason, whenever the three practiced the blade, Jiang Ping was the most popular. Even the genius Fang Yong fell somewhat short of him.
"What a pity. I wanted to watch a little longer too." Luo Tiegen clicked his tongue regretfully and murmured, "Although this person's progress in the Blade Art cannot compare to Brother Fang's, there are several unique aspects when he practices the blade. Even people of dull aptitude like us can understand it."
"His Blade Art seems to turn complexity into simplicity. What was that phrase? Returning... something true..."
"Re... what true?"
"Returning to simplicity and true nature!" Luo Tiegen brightened. He was not illiterate; he had remembered the phrase.
Elsewhere.
Jiang Ping returned to the dormitory. After making sure no one was around, he shut the door and windows.
"Hu..." He slowly exhaled a long breath of foul air, his eyes looking somewhat excited.
Just now, while practicing the blade, Jiang Ping had clearly felt a thread of mysterious aura rise from his chest.
Combined with the progress in his Destiny regarding the Blade Art,
he had immediately determined that Saber Qi was about to form!
Bzzz!
At that moment, a sound seemed to hum softly within his body as that thread of aura circulated through him again and again.
A full Thirty-Six Cycles.
This was Thirty-Six Cycles.
As he drew in fresh qi, Jiang Ping distinctly felt a slight heat beneath his feet. At that moment, he picked up the wooden blade he had placed on the bed.
Drip.
Jiang Ping made no movement. He merely stood motionless on the ground, yet sweat continuously seeped from his body and dripped down.
This was his unique way of practicing the blade: wielding it freely within his mind.
His breathing grew increasingly heavy, and his body felt ever more scorching hot. In the end, it became as hot as flames burning him.
Bzzz!
At a certain moment, Jiang Ping suddenly gave the wooden blade a light swing. A strand of incomparably pure and sharp White Qi pierced out through his body.
Bang!
Following his gaze, that strand of White Qi, which made the air seem to waver, arrived in an instant and tore the small wooden table that had long sat unused in the corner into pieces.
Saber Qi!
Jiang Ping's eyes shone brightly.
He had achieved the realm Head Escort Liang had failed to enter after thirty years of practice. He had mastered Flying Snow Saber Qi!
And in terms of time, it had taken less than a month.
Even Unrivaled heroes could be no more than this, could they?
"With this, I can barely be said to possess some ability to protect myself in all of Yang City. Even if I face Chen Weimin, I need not fear him." Jiang Ping chuckled, becoming increasingly composed.
Although he was soaked through and reeked of sweat, his eyes had never been clearer. This was the realm the Head Escort had yearned for beyond measure, the pinnacle countless saber wielders pursued throughout their lives. He had mastered it, personally entered this domain, and experienced such power.
"I wonder, with my realm in the Blade Art, can I strike upward against the current and cross blows with Head Escort Liang Sheng?"
After breaking through, Jiang Ping felt incomparably invigorated. Even his state of mind rose a little, comparing himself to this and that with the temperament of a youth.
But he quickly calmed down again and thought to himself, I'm getting carried away, getting carried away. Though I possess the substance of a genius, I should do fewer things that geniuses do. People of our generation ought to act cautiously. How can I commit acts that defy heaven?
He did not become complacent and cast restraint to the wind.
There were quite a few people in Yang City who had cultivated the Blade Qi Domain or reached the realm of Sword Qi. There were even several old fellows who oppressed others with their realms. Even relying solely on their physical body, they could tear Saber Qi apart by force. Those were the truly powerful fearsome people.
For example, the master of Jidao Martial Academy was at Sixth Grade Refining Viscera. His strength exceeded even the Chief of the Escort Agency by several degrees, and he was three major realms above Jiang Ping. Perhaps he even had a hand in Chen Weimin's fraud for money.
Facing such a fearsome person, even with Saber Qi protecting his body, Jiang Ping would absolutely not be a match for him.
Therefore, he still had to train. He still had to continue growing stronger.
Even with a body full of talent, he still needed suitable resources and time. Just like now, he still had to earn silver for his Stance Technique.
"Speaking of which, Fang Yong should reach Minor Accomplishment in the Blade Art within the next few days. Once he completes the assessment, I can follow after him and become an escort as well."
Jiang Ping pondered.
His realm in the Blade Art was very high. Although Fang Yong had not made a display of it, Jiang Ping had long observed that the other man was about to reach Entry Level in the Blade Art.
"Soon, soon. It will be within the next few days." Jiang Ping began looking forward to it.
Time to start earning silver.
With silver came resources, and cultivation could become even faster!
Before you continue