Verbal Clash

That afternoon, after Sun Qi brought his Nourishing Life Technique to Entry Level, another person sensed Blood Qi.

Everyone trained even harder, and not a single person stopped to rest until dinner.

The only exception was probably Jiang Ping.

Jiang Ping had actually wanted to blend into this diligent atmosphere too, but his training was too effective and consumed too much energy. He truly had no strength left.

After dinner, another two people brought their Nourishing Life Technique to Entry Level, making quite a few people green with envy.

Jiang Ping, however, noticed something.

Those who had brought the Nourishing Life Technique to Entry Level had all eaten two portions of beef these past few days.

Head Escort was right. Training in martial arts requires eating to nourish training; nutritious food is extremely important. Tomorrow's Fist Force test—I must enter the Top Five.

Jiang Ping silently made up his mind.

That night, after completing four rounds of the Nourishing Life Technique, Jiang Ping, exhausted beyond measure, stopped training right on time.

At that moment, someone else brought the Nourishing Life Technique to Entry Level. It was none other than Liu Wensheng, who had spoken to him that afternoon.

"Congratulations."

Jiang Ping offered his congratulations, then turned and left.

"You're not training anymore?" Liu Wensheng was feeling pleased with himself when he discovered that Jiang Ping, this Little Frog, was actually heading back to the dormitory. It had not even been an hour since dinner.

Did the other party not feel any pressure?

Jiang Ping did indeed feel some pressure. The Nourishing Life Technique did not seem as difficult to train as the rumors claimed. In only three days, several people had already reached Entry Level.

[Nourishing Life Technique third layer (98/100)]

But after glancing at his Destiny, the pressure he felt over others' breakthroughs immediately faded somewhat.

Good, good. I'm not bad either. I'll reach the third layer soon.

Once I eat two portions of beef tomorrow, my training progress should be even faster.

Not long after.

Jiang Ping returned to the dormitory, washed up briefly, then lay directly on his bed. The day's exhaustion slowly closed his eyes.

Yet a little over an hour later, Jiang Ping's closed eyes began to tremble faintly.

That was because the others in the dormitory had basically all returned and begun chatting.

"Didn't they say the Nourishing Life Technique was difficult? How come four or five people have reached Entry Level after only three days?" Luo Tiegen voiced his confusion. He had trained bitterly for three days, yet there had not been the slightest movement from him.

"Who knows? That's what the Escort Agency servants said. Or perhaps these people are simply very talented in martial arts." A hint of jealousy flashed through Sun Zheng's eyes. He had gotten off to a slow start and had been among the last group to memorize the movements.

"Not talent!"

At that moment, a voice came from outside. It was Qian Dele, the last to return to the dormitory.

"Brother Qian, where did you go after bathing? I was looking for you." Sun Zheng went over to greet him, somewhat puzzled.

"I went to the Outer Courtyard to pay a visit to Head Escort Liang." Qian Dele smiled mysteriously.

"Oh?" Luo Da Niu raised his brows. He glanced at Qian Dele. That Head Escort was an Eighth-Rank Martial Artist—was he someone Pre-Escorts like them, who had yet to enter the ranks, could visit?

Then Qian Dele said:

"Head Escort Liang told me that the Nourishing Life Technique is indeed difficult to train. There are two main reasons why several people have been able to reach Entry Level in just a few days."

"First, we were born into humble circumstances. Since childhood, we have worked, chopped firewood, and done hard labor. That was actually equivalent to a kind of physical training. Second, we nourish our training through food. Nutritious food is very important for martial arts. Haven't you noticed? Those who reached Entry Level all chose to eat two portions of beef from the very beginning."

"So that's how it is. Then they did not reach Entry Level so quickly because of talent?" Luo Tiegen heaved a sigh of relief.

"Not entirely. Head Escort Liang also told me that entering the Nourishing Life Technique is not actually difficult. The key is that only as one progresses further can the gap in talent be seen. Whether one has talent still requires long-term observation. Being ahead on the First level means nothing." Qian Dele relayed the Head Escort's words, then added, "Regardless of whether you have talent, nutritious food is important if you want to master the Nourishing Life Technique Fourth Level, or even become a Martial Artist. I suggest that all of you eat two portions of meat at every meal from now on, so you can reach Entry Level quickly."

Everyone nodded. From those who had reached Entry Level by eating two portions of meat, they could see the benefits nutritious food brought to the Martial Dao.

However.

"One portion of beef costs ten coins. That's thirty coins a day. Over time, how much silver would that cost?" Sun Zheng looked miserably at his old friend.

The others also revealed helpless expressions. It would be fine if they became escorts, but if they failed and were driven out of the Escort Agency, would that money not have been spent for nothing?

Qian Dele shrugged, neither confirming nor denying it. Still, his Fist Force was in the Top Five, so he did not need to worry about money for the time being.

Luo Da Niu seemed thoughtful as he asked, "Brother Qian, have you already reached Entry Level?"

At those words, everyone turned their gazes toward Qian Dele.

They saw him puff out his chest and nod solemnly.

"What! Brother Qian reached Entry Level?" Sun Zheng's delighted cry drowned everyone else out, and Jiang Ping's eyelids, lying on his bed, suddenly twitched.

Luo Da Niu was also surprised, but then understood. Qian Dele's visit to the Head Escort had certainly not been solely to ask about the difficulty of the Nourishing Life Technique. He had gone to tell the Head Escort of his breakthrough, using this "good news" to draw close to him.

But that person was an Eighth-Rank Martial Artist. Would he think highly of a farmer who had only just broken through the First level sucking up to him?

Of course, that was not something Luo Da Niu needed to consider. This man was basking in pride right now.

"No need to get excited. It was only natural, only natural. If they could reach Entry Level, how could I possibly fall behind others?" Qian Dele smiled.

"Of course. Brother Qian was the first among our hundred people to learn the Nourishing Life Technique. How could he fail to break through? In the future, he will definitely be the first to break through to the Second Level."

Luo Tiegen's voice rang out.

Though Jiang Ping was still in a dazed state, just from the voice, he could already imagine Luo Tiegen's fawning expression at this moment.

Afterward, several people asked Qian Dele about how he had sensed Blood Qi. Qian Dele answered them one by one, seemingly satisfying everyone's curiosity, though there was also a hint of showing off in it.

As the conversation neared its end, Sun Zheng once again asked everyone about their training progress one by one.

It seemed he intended to make this a dormitory "tradition."

Everyone spoke honestly. None showed any sign of a breakthrough.

"We're not Brother Qian. How could we be so fast? Let's sleep. Tomorrow is the second Fist Force test, and it will be Brother Qian's time to shine brilliantly again," Luo Tiegen said enviously.

"Sleep, sleep."

Luo Da Niu was about to extinguish the candle when Sun Zheng stopped him.

"Wait, there's still one person we haven't asked."

"Hm?" Luo Da Niu was somewhat puzzled, then his brows rose slightly.

Sun Zheng was standing on his own bed, stretching out his body, clearly about to make his next move.

"Why not ask tomorrow? Jiang is asleep. Isn't this improper?" Luo Da Niu urged helplessly.

Waking a dormmate merely to ask about his martial arts training progress was somewhat excessive.

But Sun Zheng did not stop. One hand shook Jiang Ping vigorously.

Jiang Ping, who had been half-asleep and half-awake, immediately became seventy percent alert, his eyes slowly opening.

Yet there was none of the confusion of someone who had just awakened in his gaze. His eyes were filled only with coldness.

In his haze, he had heard every word of their conversation, and he also understood why Sun Zheng had the nerve to wake him today.

Jiang Ping sat on the bed, twisting his body to loosen his muscles and bones.

At the bedside, Sun Zheng spoke without the slightest hint of apology. "Hey, you. How's your training going?"

Jiang Ping did not answer immediately, still moving his body.

Below, seeing that Jiang Ping showed no reaction, Luo Da Niu assumed he was easygoing and not angry, and inwardly breathed a small sigh of relief.

Then, the next moment.

Jiang Ping suddenly struck, cleanly and decisively swinging out a solid slap.

Slap!

The crisp sound of the slap rang out in an instant. Sun Zheng instinctively cried, "Ow!" and then staggered toward the floor.

Fortunately, he grabbed the bedframe and avoided falling. Still, his legs trembled uncontrollably as he stood on the ground, fear in his eyes.

If he had fallen, he would definitely have broken a bone. Leaving aside the injury itself, it would likely have delayed his martial arts training progress.

Especially since his left cheek was now burning with pain.

At that thought, Sun Zheng glared furiously at Jiang Ping and shrieked, "You dare hit me?"