Blade Qi Pierces the Body

"Brother Fang, Jiang Ping has also broken through to the Fourth Level."

On the Training Ground, Jiang Ping was surrounded like stars around the moon, becoming the center of attention. Luo Tiegen, rare as it was, did not go over to join the excitement. Instead, he came to Fang Yong's side and said quietly:

"I heard Liu Wensheng and Jiang Ping are very close, and the two of them are both deeply favored by Escort Huang."

Hearing this, Fang Yong gave a cold snort and said disdainfully, "What does Escort Huang amount to? He isn't Master Liang."

"That's true. Head Escort Liang once said that every step after becoming a Martial Artist consumes immense resources and also depends on talent. Escort Huang will likely never reach the head escort's level in this life. And the head escort greatly favors Brother Fang. When it comes to backing and support, those two definitely can't compare to Brother Fang."

Luo Tiegen nodded, then shifted the subject and asked worriedly, "Still, those two are indeed not to be underestimated in terms of talent. What if they suddenly speed up and catch up to Brother Fang?"

"Catch up to me?" Fang Yong laughed. Then he said with absolute certainty, "Perhaps if they reincarnate."

He continued, "If you haven't entered the Fourth Stage, you don't know how difficult the Nourishing Life Technique is. The characteristic of this technique is that every layer is harder than the last. Breaking through the Fourth Level took me only four or five days, but reaching the Fifth Layer took half a month. The time span directly tripled."

"And those two have less talent than me. It took them half a month just to break through the Fourth Level. You can imagine how much time they'd need to reach my realm. By then, do you think I'll still be standing in the same place?"

"Brother Fang will naturally be Galloping Ahead," Luo Tiegen said firmly, inwardly letting out a breath of relief.

"Besides," Fang Yong said with a hint of pride in his voice, "my Blade Art is about to reach the entry level. It'll happen within these next few days."

"What?!" Luo Tiegen was both shocked and delighted. He immediately poured out every compliment he could think of, nearly flattering Fang Yong into thinking himself the placenta.

That 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 quickly as possible, he had also "displayed" extraordinary talent in Blade Art. His progress had long surpassed that of Sun Qi, once The first person, and was second only to Fang Yong.

He wielded this Fast Saber technique with consummate mastery. Even with a Wooden Blade, it carried immense pressure. No one dared stand within Three Zhang of him, for fear of being accidentally injured.

"This Jiang Ping is truly someone remarkable, not some embroidered pillow. In terms of strength alone, he's probably only below Fang Yong and three parts stronger than Liu Wensheng. Look, his Blade Art is looking more and more like the head escort's. Could he be about to reach the entry level?"

"Probably. I seriously suspect that his achievements in Blade Art are no weaker than Fang Yong's. He might even surpass him," someone said in deep agreement.

"He really is formidable." Luo Tiegen narrowed his eyes and came over to watch for a while. Unfortunately, Fang Yong would not allow him to reveal Jiang Ping's Blade Art progress. Otherwise, how could this roommate have stolen all the limelight now?

The next moment, Jiang Ping, watched by so many people, abruptly sheathed his blade and calmly headed toward the dormitories.

"Hey, why are you leaving?" someone asked anxiously.

"Yeah, I've already grasped a few tricks. If I could watch a little longer, I'd definitely make huge progress." Some people looked regretful.

They watched Jiang Ping practice the blade not merely for appreciation, but to learn and imitate.

After the head escort had taught Blade Art a few times, he had stopped giving guidance. The progress of "dull people" like them in Blade Art depended entirely on experts like Jiang Ping.

Among the Hundred People, there were only three skilled blade users now: Fang Yong, Liu Wensheng, and Jiang Ping.

But the first two pursued ultimate speed. They could learn from them, but it was difficult to grasp the essence.

Only Jiang Ping's Blade Art was different. His blade was fast as well, yet sometimes he did not seek speed at all, as if he were breaking down the moves for them to observe.

Thus, among the three Blade Art experts, they could better understand the tricks from Jiang Ping's Blade Art and improve faster.

Because of this, whenever the three practiced their blades, Jiang Ping was the most popular. Even the genius Fang Yong could not compare.

"What a pity. I wanted to watch a while longer." Luo Tiegen also smacked his lips regretfully and whispered, "Although This person's progress in Blade Art can't compare to Brother Fang's, there are several unique aspects when he practices. Even those of us with dull aptitude can understand and grasp it."

"His Blade Art is like turning complexity into simplicity. What was that saying again? Returning... something, something true."

"Re... what true?"

"Returning to simplicity and truth!" Luo Tiegen said joyfully. He was not illiterate; he had remembered the phrase.

Elsewhere.

Jiang Ping returned to the dormitory. After confirming that no one was around, he shut the door and windows.

"Whew..." He let out a long breath of turbid air, his eyes seeming somewhat excited.

Just now, while practicing the blade, Jiang Ping had clearly felt a mysterious Aura rise from his chest.

Combined with the progress shown by his Destiny for Blade Art,

he had immediately determined that Saber Qi was about to form!

Buzz!

At this moment, it was as though a sound softly rang within his body. That strand of Aura circulated through him again and again.

A full Thirty-Six Cycles.

These were the Thirty-Six Cycles.

As he absorbed the new qi, Jiang Ping distinctly felt warmth under his feet. At that moment, he picked up the Wooden Blade he had placed on the bed again.

Drip, drip!

Jiang Ping made no movement at all. He merely stood rooted to the ground, yet sweat continuously poured from his body and dripped down.

This was his own unique way of practicing the blade—swinging it freely within his mind.

His breathing grew increasingly heavy, and his body felt ever more scorching. In the end, it became as searing as flames burning him.

Buzz!

At a certain moment, Jiang Ping abruptly gave the Wooden Blade a light swing. A strand of incomparably pure and sharp White Qi burst forth from his body.

Bang!

Following his gaze, that strand of White Qi, which made the space seem to blur, arrived in an instant and tore the small wooden table that had sat unused in the corner for ages into pieces.

Saber Qi!

Jiang Ping's eyes gleamed brightly.

He had accomplished what Head Escort Liang had failed to enter after thirty years of practice. He had mastered Flying Snow Saber Qi!

And he had done so in less than a month.

Even Unrivaled Heroes could be no more than this, right?

"With this, I've barely gained a little ability to protect myself throughout Yang City. Even against Chen Weimin, I have nothing to fear." Jiang Ping chuckled, becoming increasingly composed.

Though he was drenched through and reeked of sweat, his eyes had never been clearer. This was the realm the head escort yearned for beyond measure, the ultimate pursuit of countless saber wielders throughout their lives. He had mastered it, personally entered this domain, and experienced this strength.

"I wonder, with my realm in Blade Art, can I fight above my level and strike Head Escort Liang Sheng head-on?"

After breaking through, Jiang Ping felt incomparably exhilarated. His spirits rose several degrees as he compared himself to this and that, his temperament like that 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 talent of a genius, I should do fewer things that geniuses do. People of Our generation ought to act cautiously. How can I commit an act that defies heaven?

He did not grow smug and indulge himself without restraint.

There were also quite a few people in Yang City who had cultivated the Blade Qi Domain or reached the realm of Sword Qi. Several Old fellows used their realms to suppress others; even with only their Physical bodies, they could forcibly tear apart Saber Qi. Those were the truly powerful Fearsome People.

For example, the master of Jidao Martial Academy was at Sixth Grade Refining Viscera. His strength was several parts greater than even the Chief of the Escort Agency, three major realms above Jiang Ping. It was possible that he had a hand in Chen Weimin's scheme to swindle money as well.

Facing such a Fearsome Person, even with Saber Qi protecting his body, Jiang Ping would be no 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 as now, he still had to earn silver for his Stance Technique.

"Speaking of which, Fang Yong should reach Minor Accomplishment in Blade Art within a few days. Once he completes the assessment, I can naturally become an escort afterward as well."

Jiang Ping pondered.

His realm in Blade Art was very high. Although Fang Yong had not publicized it, he had long observed that the other man was about to enter the Blade Art threshold.

"Soon, soon. Within these next few days." Jiang Ping began to look forward to it.

Time to start earning silver.

With silver came resources, and his cultivation could become even faster!