Devouring the Starry Sky: Heaven-Defying Comprehension, Joining the Chat Group

"I heard the martial artist assessment involves actual combat—you have to be careful."

Ling Ling took a sip of wine, her little face flushed red.

"Haha, your husband is incredibly strong—a mere assessment is nothing!"

Jiang Li scooped Ling Ling up into his arms, grinning. "Wife, while the alcohol's still..."

The next moment, a swimming snake transformed into a soaring dragon.

Late night.

After Ling Ling fell asleep, Jiang Li went to the guest room again.

As usual, he practiced the Tai Chi Breathing Body-Tempering Art, drawing the wandering spiritual energy of heaven and earth to wash over his body.

It wasn't until the latter half of the night, just before dawn, that Jiang Li slowly opened his eyes.

"Too slow. The Tai Chi Breathing Body-Tempering Art is ultimately just a very basic technique. I need to comprehend a higher-level one as soon as possible!"

Still, even the tallest building rises from the ground. Comprehension requires a foundation—it can't be fabricated out of thin air.

Jiang Li thought to himself, "I bought a few techniques last time but haven't studied them properly. Let's give it a try."

[You continue comprehending Peach Island Basic Sword Art. You seem to have a different idea—an inspiration erupts!]

[Combining Taiji Health Fist, with the unity of yin and yang as the foundation and the pursuit of longevity as the goal, you create the Tai Chi Longevity Sword Art!]

"Tai Chi Longevity Sword Art? Let's see how many points it costs!"

Jiang Li's heart leaped with joy, and he immediately opened the chat group.

[Peach Blossom Island Little Chef: Woke up to a blessing from heaven—someone finally bought my Peach Island Basic Sword Art!]

[Zixia Gentleman Sword: Not me. I don't lack sword techniques.]

[Peach Blossom Island Little Chef: Chief Yue, you've got nothing better to do!]

[Wudang Centenarian: My Taiji Health Fist is just a basic boxing technique—no need to waste points buying it!]

[Zixia Gentleman Sword: Why hasn't anyone bought my Purple Mist Divine Art?]

[I Am Spider-Man: Where's the Devourer Lord? Why isn't he showing up!]

[Heaven and Earth Infinite Borrowing Method: A top expert like that three-star lord goes into seclusion for over ten days at a time—it's normal!]

[Ding!]

[Group member Devourer Lord has uploaded Tai Chi Longevity Sword Art. Please check it out!]

At that moment, a message appeared before everyone's eyes.

The Devourer Lord was online!

[Cheng Shifei: Speak of the devil, and he appears!]

[I Am Spider-Man: Tai Chi Longevity Sword Art? That's clearly a sword technique—not interested!]

[Zombie Taoist: Tai Chi Longevity Sword Art? Longevity, huh—sounds impressive. I'll check it out!]

[Heaven and Earth Infinite Borrowing Method: I'll take a look too!]

[Peach Blossom Island Little Chef: I'll go support the Devourer Lord!]

After uploading the Tai Chi Longevity Sword Art, Jiang Li quickly opened the chat interface and skimmed the conversation history. Nothing too important.

[Devourer Lord: Greetings, everyone. So free—don't you all need to cultivate?]

[Wudang Centenarian: The lord jokes. With our level of cultivation, we're hardly qualified to train day and night!]

[Zombie Taoist: @Devourer Lord, boss, what's up with this Tai Chi Longevity Sword Art? Why does a single sword technique cost thirteen thousand points? My talismans and Maoshan arts only sell for a few hundred.]

[Heaven and Earth Infinite Borrowing Method: Impressive—a sword technique this expensive is insane! This must be an immortal's sword art!]

[Peach Blossom Island Little Chef: @Devourer Lord, I wanted to support you, boss, but with these points, I can't afford it!]

[Inviting Moon: Same here—can't buy it.]

[Little Li Flying Dagger: +1]

Even Inviting Moon, Little Li Flying Dagger, and a few others who usually lurked all surfaced.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 5: Quasi-Martial Artist Assessment

Jiang Li chatted briefly, then left the chat group.

He opened the points shop.

Instantly, a dazzling array of items appeared before his eyes.

[Peach Island Sword Art, from Little Chef Huang Rong, 15 points]

[Maoshan Body Arts, from Zombie Taoist, 20 points]

[Bright Jade Art, from Inviting Moon, 500 points]

[Mystic Heart Marvelous Art, from Yan Chixia, worth 800 points!]

[...]

There were also countless other items, talismans, and the like, all uploaded by others in the group.

"Right now, my Tai Chi Breathing Body-Tempering Art is starting to fall short. The Tai Chi Longevity Sword Art is just a sword technique—even if I condense sword intent, it won't help my realm. Looks like I'll have to create a higher-level cultivation method!"

"But first, I need to get my hands on the Gene Original Energy Cultivation Method."

Early in the morning, after sharing a loving breakfast with Ling Ling, Jiang Li set off for the meeting point.

"Brother Jiang!"

Just as he arrived at the destination, a young man called out to him.

"Luo Feng? You're here for the assessment too?"

Jiang Li saw Luo Feng standing at the entrance of a residential area, staring in a daze.

This was the martial artist hub of Jiangnan Base City, 'Mingyue Residential Area'.

"Gentlemen, this is Mingyue Residential Area. Please do not approach."

At the entrance stood a row of soldiers carrying live ammunition.

One of them warned sternly, "Step back. If you cross this line, I have the authority to shoot you on the spot!"

"Just like the rumors say—only martial artists and their families live here. Even the police aren't allowed to barge in!"

Luo Feng sighed in admiration, then pulled out his student ID. "Everyone, I'm Luo Feng, senior student of the Limit Martial Arts Hall. This is senior student Jiang Li. We're here for the prospective martial artist assessment."

"Oh?"

Hearing Luo Feng's words, an old man emerged from the rest area, holding a tablet computer. "So young? Please show me your student IDs."

"Beep beep!"

The IDs swiped across the computer, instantly displaying their information.

"Jiang Li, twenty years old? Young and promising."

"Luo Feng, ten... eighteen years old?"

The old man was visibly surprised. "Impressive, young man. Your future is boundless! I hope you both pass smoothly today."

"I might not make it, but Brother Jiang definitely will!"

Luo Feng glanced at the calm and composed Jiang Li and said, "Thank you for your trouble, sir."

"Xiao Lin, take them inside."

The old man gave the order, and a fully armed soldier led the two into 'Mingyue Residential Area', patiently instructing as they walked, "Gentlemen, you only have permission to enter the Limit Hall. Do not wander off, especially into the martial artist family zones!"

"If you violate the rules, the patrolling soldiers will shoot you."

Hearing this.

Jiang Li nodded slightly and followed Xiao Lin straight to the Limit Hall.

Though martial artists were not part of the state apparatus, they were still a national asset. If even their families' safety couldn't be guaranteed, who would be willing to fight monsters to the death outside?

"Ha, Jiang Li!"

As soon as they reached the Limit Hall, Lu Fei, with a fierce scar across his face, walked over. "Luo Feng, you're here for the prospective martial artist assessment too?"

"I might not pass, but it's good training."

"Not bad. I took the test last month myself. Unfortunately, my speed was a bit off, though my strength met the standard."

Lu Fei looked helpless. "Jiang Li, how did you train your speed? Your strength is terrifying, yet you're this fast?"

"Haha, strength is easy; speed is the hard part!"

A loud voice came from the side. "Lu Fei, are these two from your Yi'an District Martial Arts Hall?"

Jiang Li looked over. The speaker was a burly man with a thick beard, his arms showing clear muscle definition. He asked curiously, "Even a big guy like you thinks his strength is terrifying? Kid, what's your punch force? 1000 KG? Or 1100 KG?"

"Old Tong..."

Lu Fei shot him a glare, then grinned. "Guess higher!"

Tong Guan stared at the unassuming Jiang Li in shock. "Could it be...?"

"Quiet down!"

Just then, a cold voice rang out from the center of the hall. Everyone saw a middle-aged man in loose training clothes sweep his gaze over them. "Follow me upstairs. The Chief Instructor's old friend is here today. Behave yourselves and don't cause trouble."

"The Chief Instructor's old friend?!"

Their expressions shifted slightly.

The heads of the twelve city martial arts halls were honored as 'Instructors', while the head of the main hall was honored as the 'Chief Instructor'.