After the Pavilion Master showered him with reward after reward, Li Qiming was naturally delighted.
But hearing everyone talk about how rampant the demons in this world were, he found it hard to stay happy.
The more he learned about this martial world, the more terrifying it seemed.
He really wanted to learn more about the demon threat.
Usually, nobody talked to him about such things.
Li Qiming seized the opportunity to ask:
"So... what happens if there are no Artificers? Is there no way to keep the demons in check?"
This time, Shen Changsheng spoke up to answer:
"Normally, demons don't dare cause trouble in cities guarded by the Demon Suppression Division. Even when they do, they act in secret and don't dare show themselves openly. But lately, for some reason, powerful demons have suddenly appeared out of nowhere in several nearby mountains... and they've been attacking people again and again."
"As for ways to keep them in check..."
"An Artificer's Qi Gazing Technique is, of course, the most effective and convenient way to investigate."
"But there are also some rare treasure weapons that can be used against demons. For example, the Demon-Revealing Mirror from Kunlun Mountain, and certain treasured blades and swords..."
"Our True Martial Pagoda also restrains demons. Within five zhang of it, even a Great Demon wouldn't dare come close!"
Shen Changsheng spoke slowly.
Li Qiming's heart stirred. Standing on the arena, he glanced to the side. Not far away, an eight-story pagoda towered within the Martial Hall, impossible to miss.
He'd heard that only True Disciples were qualified to enter.
So this pagoda was called the True Martial Pagoda.
He couldn't help feeling curious. What exactly was inside?
Seeing him staring, Shen Changsheng nudged him with an elbow. "You'll find out once you become a True Disciple. There's definitely good stuff in there."
Shen Changsheng winked at him.
Just then,
Long Wuhui suddenly said, "Qiming, you truly have the potential to become a True Disciple. I have high hopes for you. Keep working hard, and when the time comes, there'll be a place for you among the True Disciples."
Although Li Qiming had opened his Human Body Secret Treasury and possessed tremendous strength, his combat performance was astonishing.
But to become a True Disciple, one first needed exceptional Root Bone and aptitude. On top of that, a True Disciple had to have the potential to become an Organ Refining martial artist!
Only by meeting both requirements could one qualify as a True Disciple.
And Li Qiming was still just a little short. He was far stronger than an ordinary Elite Disciple, but seemed to fall just short of a True Disciple.
No one could predict what his future held.
Even though Long Wuhui had great faith in him, he couldn't break the Martial Hall's rules.
"Thank you for believing in me, Master. I'll work hard."
Li Qiming put on an act.
Becoming a True Disciple, reaching Organ Refining—both sounded far beyond his reach.
At least, they weren't things he could consider right now.
"Mm." Long Wuhui nodded, then hurried away with Shen Changsheng and the others.
Li Qiming looked around, but couldn't find Wang Jie. He wondered where he'd gone to hide.
He could only shake his head and leave the arena.
Soon, he collected ten Essence Boosting Pills from the Medicinal Dining Hall.
Then, without stopping, Li Qiming went next door to the Scripture Pavilion and Weapon Hall to choose manuals and weapons. Since they were all free, he might as well claim them sooner rather than later. Once they were in his hands, they'd be his.
The moment he stepped into the Scripture Pavilion,
that familiar pressure came crashing down!
Li Qiming froze.
His body felt heavy, but this pressure didn't seem able to hold him in place.
Thinking this, he kept a calm expression and slowly lifted his foot.
Mm, he really could move.
It wasn't like last time, when he'd been completely powerless to resist.
"Hmm?"
Elder Huang, lying on his recliner, furrowed his brow slightly.
The next second,
Boom!
The pressure surged tenfold!
Li Qiming's mouth twisted. Now he couldn't move at all!
He could only steel himself and say, "Elder Huang, it's me."
"Hmph."
Elder Huang snorted, then finally lifted the pressure.
He'd known Li Qiming was there as soon as the boy appeared outside.
He remembered Li Qiming rather well, since the boy was one of the few who'd ignored his advice and stubbornly chosen One Blade Style.
Now, watching the youth in an Ink Robe come to a halt in front of him, Elder Huang's eyes flashed with surprise.
Unless he'd grown senile, the last time this kid came here, he'd only just reached Entry Level, right?
From gray robes to an Ink Robe? Chief Elite Disciple?
How much time had even passed?
"This junior pays his respects to Elder Huang."
"Mm."
Elder Huang pushed all his thoughts aside and replied indifferently.
"The Pavilion Master just let me choose a cultivation method for free. This time, I'm going to the second floor."
As he spoke, Li Qiming took the token Long Wuhui had just given him from inside his robe and handed it to Elder Huang.
Elder Huang took the token and examined it carefully. Mm, nothing wrong with it.
But why the second floor?
Second-rate martial arts were good, but also much more profound. If he couldn't even understand third-rate martial arts, why study second-rate ones?
Wasn't that wishful thinking?
And what was with the strange strength this kid had just displayed?
Though he was curious, what hadn't Elder Huang seen in his life?
On second thought, there was nothing all that surprising about this kid.
"See? You should've listened to your elders. You learned that the hard way. That last cultivation method stumped you, so now you have to choose another one, right?"
Every word was a reminder that the boy had ignored his warning last time.
"To answer you, Senior Elder Huang, I've already reached Entry Level in One Blade Style. I'm only here to look around the second floor and broaden my horizons. If I find a suitable manual, I'll decide what to do then."
"Oh..." Elder Huang rocked in his chair, looking half asleep. Then, all at once, his eyes flew wide open.
"What did you say?! You've reached Entry Level in One Blade Style?!"
Elder Huang could no longer maintain his unruffled air of a worldly master. His cloudy eyes locked onto Li Qiming as he asked in utter astonishment.
"Mm."
Li Qiming nodded.
Whoosh!
A layer of pitch-black space suddenly descended.
Li Qiming looked around. He was no longer in the Scripture Pavilion—or rather, the Scripture Pavilion had "disappeared."
Beyond a radius of five zhang, everything had turned pitch-black, so dark he couldn't see his hand in front of his face.
Even the ground beneath his feet was black.
It was as though he were standing in a starless universe.
Fortunately, Elder Huang was still in front of him. Otherwise, in a place like this, a person's mind might really have crumbled.
"Elder Huang..." Li Qiming was at a loss.
But he knew the change around him had to be the work of the mysterious Elder Huang standing before him.
"Don't be afraid. You've entered my Domain. It's a technique only available to those at Organ Refining or above. Nothing unusual about it."
Elder Huang spoke calmly.
Was it really nothing unusual? Li Qiming had a feeling the old man was fooling him.
"Now, use One Blade Style to cut me!" Elder Huang said gravely.
"All right." Li Qiming understood. The other man had released his Domain just to see his One Blade Style?
That seemed like making a mountain out of a molehill.
Still, since Elder Huang had asked, he couldn't be bothered to waste words. He drew his blade and struck.
Boom!
Thunder roared as Li Qiming circulated Thunder Breathing Method. Blade of Peerless Brilliance brought him into Unity of Man and Blade automatically.
He moved faster than ever!
A flash of purple light streaked past, and Li Qiming's blade struck the top of Elder Huang's head with a clang.
But it stopped an inch above Elder Huang's head, blocked by an invisible barrier.
"Gang Qi?" Li Qiming's eyes widened.
"That's right. It's nothing but ordinary Gang Qi. There's nothing to be surprised about," Elder Huang said calmly.
He looked unruffled on the surface, but was deeply shaken inside. The kid had actually performed One Blade Style—and it was even stronger than he'd imagined!
"You're joking, Elder. I've killed a few Bone Refining martial artists. Even a Bone Refining expert at the peak couldn't stop my blade with Gang Qi."
Li Qiming spoke honestly.
"As long as your Blood Qi is deep enough and you have enough essence, your Gang Qi will be hard enough. It's as simple as that," Elder Huang explained casually.
Li Qiming listened, deep in thought.
So if Gang Qi reached a certain level, it really could make someone impervious to blades and spears?
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