Aiming for the Martial Examination

The return journey had been fairly smooth.

Jiang Ping encountered no petty villains along the way and returned safely to the Four Seas Escort Agency.

"With no techniques to practice for now, I can only focus on my Martial Dao cultivation."

He pondered in secret.

Techniques maximized one's strength, but the path of Martial Dao was the foundation.

Though Jiang Ping pursued the ultimate in technique, he had not dared forget his roots. In fact, he spent most of his usual time training his skin.

"Actually, if I exchanged the eight Silver Notes on me for superior nutritious food, I might not be unable to improve dramatically in a short time—even cultivate Golden Skin within half a month."

Lingxi Meat was highly effective. If Jiang Ping ate it in the optimal amounts, his cultivation could advance much faster than it was now.

However, even Eighth Grade Great Perfection could not contend against a prodigy like Song Yuanshan.

"If I want to crush Golden Bone in a short time, or even fight a Sixth Grade head-on, I'll still have to rely on Grandmaster Level techniques." Jiang Ping raised an eyebrow.

He was not trying to measure himself against Song Tianjiao. His sights were on Chen An.

Jiang Ping intended to take the Martial Examination, so he naturally had to reveal his talent and display his strength. That way, when he appeared three years later with Seventh Rank or even Sixth Grade cultivation, it would not seem abrupt.

However, to achieve that, his talent had to be at least among the First-rate Geniuses—perhaps even Super First-rate.

Jiang Ping had concealed his abilities before because he did not understand the situation in Yang City and was wary of the Jidao Martial Academy and Chen Weimin.

Now that the situation was clear, the person who posed the greatest threat to him was Chen An, one of the top ten on the Martial Examination Ranking.

Twelve Taels of Silver truly was not much, but it concerned Chen An's reputation.

Even if the other Victims understood that they had been cheated, they were insignificant and their words carried little weight. They would have no impact on Chen An.

But Jiang Ping was different. Once he began presenting himself as a First-rate Genius, his words would carry a different weight. If he deliberately brought up this matter, it would be magnified and would inevitably damage Chen An's reputation.

Therefore, if Chen An noticed him, he would face two choices.

First, offer silver to settle the matter.

Second, seek out Jiang Ping specifically and use absolute strength to make him shut up—or cripple him in secret.

Jiang Ping naturally preferred the former: for the other party to bring out several thousand taels of silver and settle.

This was not him opening his mouth like a lion. He had nearly ruined his life over that paltry sum of silver!

It had even caused Jiang Ping to fall out with his family, leaving them estranged until death.

If the Jiang family's Parents' actions were the fruit, then the Chen father and son had been a major cause!

No matter what, Jiang Ping could not swallow this anger. He had to let it out.

Thus, the sum was not much, yet it held different meanings for both sides.

Of course, that was Jiang Ping's own demand.

The key was whether Chen An would do as he wished.

Who was Chen An? One of the top ten on the Martial Examination Ranking, hailed as Yang City's most outstanding figure of the past twenty years.

Even if Jiang Ping displayed first-rate talent, would the other party willingly fork out several thousand taels?

After all, where was the last person to display first-rate talent?

Oh, working like a "beast of burden" at the Four Seas Escort Agency. With barely any resources, he still had to take Escort Missions to earn silver. The road ahead was practically set in stone.

So if Chen An was arrogant and unruly, cared nothing for Jiang Ping's talent or future, and only offered a little silver—or compensated him at the original price—to make peace, would that not be an insult? Would Jiang Ping agree?

Or what if the other party simply acted directly? How should he handle it then?

"Entering the Martial Academy through Martial Examination Merit is the best way to reach the more magnificent world of Martial Dao. That is why I must take the next Martial Examination."

"The Martial Examination concerns a higher level of the Martial Dao path. We must fight for it!"

"And for that reason, I must display first-rate or Super First-rate talent. I am bound to step into the spotlight and draw Chen An's attention."

However, before stepping into the spotlight, Jiang Ping had to maximize his strength.

And Grandmaster Level techniques were what he could rely on.

Techniques of that level could suppress Golden Bone and battle Sixth Grade opponents!

Jiang Ping did not believe that obtaining Grandmaster Level techniques would let him match Chen An. What he wanted was for Chen An to be unable to do anything to him.

Only then could he step into the spotlight with greater confidence and take the Martial Examination in peace!

"Once I cultivate Grandmaster Level techniques, I'll reveal part of my talent and strength. Let the Four Seas Escort Agency have a pair of 'beast-of-burden' Twin Stars and give our enemies a scare."

Jiang Ping's Train of thought churned.

In short, revealing his talent was so that he could lead Iron Escort Missions, or even silver escort missions, for the escort agency himself and earn more resources, then take the Martial Examination as a matter of course.

Cultivating Grandmaster techniques, meanwhile, was to ensure that he would not be placed in danger during this period—like adding another layer of insurance.

Time passed, and more than half a month went by.

During this time, Jiang Ping went to the Prefecture City twice more, but failed to get what he wished for.

The only thing that counted as good news was that his cultivation had reached the path toward Golden Skin completion:

[Eighth Rank Golden Skin (53/1200)]

Not only had Jiang Ping embarked on the path of Golden Skin, but unlike other geniuses, who found it arduous, he still felt everything progressing smoothly. In just two days, he had made considerable improvement.

Yet the progress bar was long indeed, showing just how difficult Golden Skin was.

Even with his talent, it would take more than a month.

Of course, that was only if Jiang Ping devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation. If he obtained the Grandmaster Swordplay next, the time would have to be pushed back.

That afternoon.

Jiang Ping arrived at another Single House nearby.

Qian Dele opened the door to welcome them. He had become an escort.

In truth, it had been a full four months since everyone had entered the Escort Agency. His talent was inferior to Liu Wensheng's, but still somewhat better than that of ordinary people, so he had completed the assessment ahead of time.

Jiang Ping was accompanied by Liu Wensheng, as well as Sun Qi, who had likewise become an escort.

"Why do you look so unhappy?" Sun Qi asked.

Qian Dele's expression was complicated. With a sigh, he said, "Sun Zheng is dead."

"How did he die?" Liu Wensheng asked, looking somewhat shocked.

"Didn't I mention it before? With Fang Yong backing him up, Sun Zheng often bullied Luo Da Niu and the others in the dormitory. That was why I fell out with him. Afterward, I simply stopped getting involved."

"The result was that Sun Zheng bullied them even more viciously, pushing his luck inch by inch. In the end, Luo Da Niu couldn't stand it anymore and strangled him to death with a rope last night."

Qian Dele was somewhat rueful. Sun Zheng had been an old friend of his, and he had actually had a chance to become an escort. Unfortunately, his character had been truly terrible, and in the end, it had come back to bite him.

"Don't dwell on it. It wasn't your fault. Today is the day you became an escort. We all brought you gifts, and Brother Jiang even brought you Lingxi Meat. Tonight, we won't go home until we're drunk," Sun Qi comforted him.

Qian Dele finally calmed down. Eating Lingxi Meat, he drank and made merry with the others.

The next morning.

Escort Huang came to Jiang Ping's room and asked, "Have you made any progress recently? When will you become a martial artist?"

"Almost there," Jiang Ping replied casually. Escort Huang nodded and did not press further.

Then Huang Youren said, "I came to tell you that the two escort agencies have reached an agreement. We can resume Escort Missions, and from now on, there's no need to worry about the other side stabbing us in the dark."

"Oh?" Jiang Ping raised a brow.

This time, the two escort agencies had nearly torn all pretenses apart. Neither side had taken on Escort Missions for over a month, and their losses had been substantial.

But then Escort Huang suddenly sighed. "Do you know what the condition of the agreement was?"

"What was it?"

"Fang Yong!"