Completion of the Assessment

"Within two days?" The three of them were instantly startled.

"I told you, my brother's Blade Art has reached such a level—if he still hadn't broken through, that would make no sense." Liu Wensheng was rather proud.

The other two were happy for Jiang Ping as well, but their expressions soon turned troubled. Sun Qi gave a bitter smile.

"Doesn't that mean I won't be able to watch Brother Jiang practice his saber in the days ahead?"

Jiang Ping had already reached the fourth layer of the Nourishing Life Technique. With his Blade Art on the verge of a breakthrough, he would soon formally become an escort and begin traveling far and wide to earn silver.

Escorts also had their own Single Houses. In the future, he certainly would not be acting alongside Pre-Escorts like them.

"Head Escort Liang went on a long journey and has yet to return. Fang Yong still hasn't officially registered either, so I'll have to wait for the Head Escort to come back. You can still watch for a few more days."

Jiang Ping smiled as he spoke.

Ever since he had learned the Flying Snow Saber, he had always practiced it in front of others.

First, it was to verify the deductions in his mind and let his body put them into practice.

Second, he wanted everyone to more directly perceive the progress in his Blade Art, so that he would not suddenly rise to fame with one astonishing feat and arouse suspicion.

However, as his Blade Art improved, although he had not displayed skill beyond the Entry Level while practicing, he had, just as everyone imagined, begun to simplify complexity and return to the true.

That was because Jiang Ping's Blade Art had reached too high a level—so high that even Head Escort Liang Sheng had never attained it.

Thus, his understanding of the Flying Snow Saber naturally differed from the Head Escort's. It was as though the founding patriarch who had created this Blade Art were performing it anew, recreating its principles, allowing everyone to gain even more from watching him.

Of course, he was not afraid that Head Escort Liang would grow suspicious. The other party's level was insufficient; even someone capable would find no grounds for suspicion, since he had never displayed skill beyond the Entry Level before others.

"A few days are still but a drop in the bucket. We do not possess talent like Brother Jiang's." Qian Dele also spoke, seeming somewhat wistful.

"You're all close to Entry Level already. There's no need to rush for the moment," Jiang Ping said. He had no intention of personally guiding these few into quickly reaching Entry Level; that would draw too much attention.

Two days passed in a hurry.

At the Training Ground, Fang Yong still attracted most of the spectators whenever he practiced his saber. Once Blade Light appeared, who would not be dazzled by it, who would not yearn for it?

Yet Jiang Ping's popularity had also begun to recover. Some people skilled in Blade Art had come to their senses and felt that this man's Blade Art pointed more directly to the essence.

Even Luo Tiegen shamelessly ran over to sneak a look, having completely forgotten that he had disparaged Jiang Ping just days earlier.

"Fang Yong's Blade Art is indeed highly accomplished, but our levels are far below his. It is difficult to grasp the knack by watching him practice. Jiang Ping's Blade Art is clearer to watch, after all, since it is closer to our own level," someone said with a smile. Though he admired Fang Yong more, Jiang Ping's Blade Art was the easiest to understand.

"Indeed." The people beside him all agreed.

At the very back, Luo Tiegen also nodded slightly, thinking to himself, Though I'm Brother Fang's man, if I want to catch up to Brother Fang's footsteps, I still need to watch Jiang Ping's Blade Art. If I watch him for a while longer, I'll be able to catch up to Brother Fang too.

Buzz!

Just as they were praising him, a sudden change occurred in the field. A fierce Wind Force swept forth.

Immediately afterward, everyone saw ten icy glints flickering in and out of sight at Jiang Ping's side, revealing a razor-sharp edge.

"Entry Level! Jiang Ping's Flying Snow Saber has reached Entry Level!" Someone immediately cried out, his face full of disbelief.

"This one has reached Entry Level too!"

"I told you, how could this one be any worse? Compared with Fang Yong, he is no less impressive."

The Training Ground was not large. News of Jiang Ping's Blade Art breakthrough quickly spread, causing quite a stir.

Jiang Ping was surrounded by people offering congratulations. Liu Wensheng, his good brother, was squeezed out several times before he could even get close.

Fang Yong was a genius, true, and everyone tried to get close to him. But Jiang Ping was no worse, and he was approachable as well. Now that he was about to become an escort, he was also someone worth befriending.

"After Fang Yong's Blade Art breakthrough, he demonstrated it for everyone and resolved their doubts. Brother Jiang, could you do the same and give everyone a little guidance?"

At that moment, a voice came from within the crowd. Upon hearing it, everyone voiced their agreement and began looking forward to it.

After all, they gained the most by watching this man practice his saber. If they could hear his insights from the time he reached Entry Level, they would surely gain even more.

"I really want to beat that thick-skinned bastard up." Liu Wensheng was furious. The one who had spoken was Luo Tiegen.

That fellow had belittled Jiang Ping before, yet now he wanted Jiang Ping to give him guidance. Truly shameless.

"Sure." Jiang Ping readily agreed.

It was not because his belly could hold a boat and he sincerely wished to guide those who had often trampled on him.

Rather, Fang Yong had done the same before, so he had to do likewise. Otherwise, he would seem too petty and might leave a poor impression on the higher-ups of the Escort Agency.

That was right—Jiang Ping did not actually care about these people's expectations. He only wanted a good reputation among the Head Escorts and escorts. After all, he had to make a living at the Four Seas Escort Agency, not cater to the people before him.

Afterward.

A much-watched "Sabre Dao Discussion" began, drawing everyone's attention.

Though Fang Yong was a genius, he still had no choice but to be miserably squeezed into a corner and experience a taste of being neglected.

Jiang Ping stood in the center of the Training Ground. Though he was doing this for the Escort Agency's higher-ups to see, he still answered every question he knew, even willing to answer Luo Tiegen's doubts.

Naturally, however, he still treated people differently. When people who usually respected him, such as Qian Dele or Sun Qi, asked questions, he explained in detail so they could thoroughly comprehend.

But when Luo Tiegen, Sun Zheng, and the others who had once trampled on him asked questions, he was rather perfunctory. He did not care whether they understood, and the more he spoke, the more abstruse and profound his words became.

Luo Tiegen naturally sensed it too. Asking had been no different from not asking, and he could not help feeling stifled, yet he did not dare question it.

This was Jiang Ping's righteous act, freely imparting Blade Art insights to everyone. If Luo Tiegen dared question him on the spot, he would surely provoke public outrage and be drowned in everyone's spit.

Time flowed on. Before long, the "Sabre Dao Convention" came to an end. Quite a few people had benefited greatly, and they felt that when it came to guiding others, Jiang Ping seemed to be at a higher level.

This made even more people change their hearts and become more willing to watch him practice his saber.

However, the next day, everyone discovered that Jiang Ping was no longer practicing his saber. He spent the entire day practicing the Nourishing Life Technique, which made some people anxious.

Even Luo Tiegen grew somewhat urgent. He had completely realized that Jiang Ping's Blade Art was easier for him to improve from, yet this man no longer displayed his Blade Art.

"Brother Jiang, why aren't you practicing your saber anymore?" someone could not help asking.

"Practice my ass."

Naturally, Jiang Ping would not say that. Smiling, he said, "After reaching Entry Level in Blade Art, I feel that making another breakthrough will require a great deal of time. I might as well give myself a few days off and let my mind relax."

In truth, he had already displayed Entry Level Blade Art and completed the assessment. There was no need to practice his saber before others anymore.

"I see." Hearing this, everyone felt regretful.

Luo Tiegen could not help saying, "Now that you've reached Entry Level, you should work even harder to practice your saber and break through to Minor Accomplishment."

However, he was ignored, leaving him extremely embarrassed.

Jiang Ping did not even spare him a glance. He simply continued practicing the Nourishing Life Technique, thinking to himself:

Now, I only need to wait for the Head Escort to return before I can officially register as an escort. But the Head Escort has been away on an Escort Mission for far too long—more than ten days already.

This time, Liang Sheng had gone far away to take on an Escort Mission. It was said to be extremely important. Not only had Escort Huang gone with him, but even the Chief Escort of the Escort Agency, a Martial Artist at the peak of the Seventh Rank, had personally gone to hold the line.