Contention for Shelter

Sixty-one Skin Refining Grand Completion martial artists, including sixteen Flesh Refining martial artists!

These people could basically achieve good results in the great examination and become martial arts seedlings.

In the grand Martial Arts Arena, after Wei Jinlin spoke, everyone stirred with eagerness.

If they could obtain demonic meat to assist their cultivation, they could leave the others far behind, and might even gain the favor of a martial arts sect and join it.

After all, even among martial arts seedlings, not everyone could join a sect. Especially the established sects—even the top fifty of the Military Service Bureau would find it difficult to enter.

Because every county had its own Military Service Bureau. Although they ranked in the top fifty here, they might not necessarily outshine the disciples of other bureaus.

Wei Jinlin said, "Now, you may try freely. All martial arts are permitted. However, there are thirty rows of iron stakes in total. For each row you pass, you must strike the iron stake to make it sound before you can proceed."

As soon as these words were spoken, many people rushed forward immediately.

Among them was Chen Jinyang. Always proud and aloof, he now dashed forward with swift footwork, his eyes fixed on the Iron-Scaled Python Demon corpse thirty zhang away, a trace of greed flickering in them.

"Bam! Bam! Bam!"

Every time he passed an iron stake, he slapped it heavily, and in no time, he had cleared three stakes in succession.

But just as he passed the fifth stake and eagerly pressed onward, he suddenly felt his qi and blood in chaos. A misdirected breath sent a sharp pain through his chest, and he opened his mouth to spray blood.

His expression shifted dramatically. He finally calmed down and belatedly realized that the oppressive aura emanating from the Iron-Scaled Python Demon not far away had already become unbearable for him.

His chest felt tight, his breathing somewhat stifled.

He hurriedly retreated, his face filled with shock and unwillingness. He saw that a younger cousin from his own clan, Chen Feng—one of the sixteen Flesh Refining martial artists—had already reached the tenth stake.

He vaguely heard murmurs from the people around him:

"Chen Jinyang actually spat blood and retreated? Isn't he the genius of the Chen family?"

"What genius is he? He's just the eldest son of the Chen family. The real genius is that Chen Feng. Both are Chen family disciples, both serving in the military this term, but Chen Feng has already been in Flesh Refining for some time."

"Yeah, I heard Chen Jinyang failed his breakthrough to Flesh Refining a few days ago. He won't have a chance to break through anytime soon!"

Chen Jinyang retreated outside the Iron Stake Area, listening to the crowd's comments, his face darkening.

Lu Ming watched this, his eyes flickering. He hadn't expected that even Chen Jinyang, the eldest son of a martial arts family, had failed his breakthrough to Flesh Refining.

From Skin Refining to Flesh Refining was a bottleneck that stumped many people.

At this moment, many understood this point. As they looked at the sixteen Flesh Refining martial artists charging at the front, their eyes were filled with admiration.

Lu Ming didn't stand still. He also stepped into the Iron Stake Area and gave it a try.

He immediately discovered that the deeper he went into the Iron Stake Area—that is, the closer he got to the Iron-Scaled Python Demon's corpse—the stronger the oppressive aura he felt.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

He struck the iron stakes with the Nine Palaces Palm, producing sounds.

But the further he went, the stronger the demon's pressure became, forcing him to divert a large portion of his strength just to resist it.

With his Skin Refining Grand Completion cultivation, by the fifth stake, the remaining strength was barely enough to make the iron stake ring. If he lost control, he would misdirect his breath and get injured!

Thinking of Chen Jinyang's fate, Lu Ming didn't force his way forward. Instead, he stayed in the area of the fifth stake, pondering Wei Jinlin's intentions while continuously striking the iron stake with the Nine Palaces Palm.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The iron stake rang out repeatedly. At the same time, the Divine Ability Panel sent him a message.

[Evolving Palm Dao Divine Ability (21/100)...]

[Evolving...]

[Evolving Palm Dao Divine Ability (25/100)...]

His Palm Dao experience steadily increased. While others struggled to hold on, Lu Ming felt a sense of satisfaction every time he saw the experience rise by one point, his fighting spirit rekindled.

But after half an hour, he was finally exhausted, barely able to withstand the Iron-Scaled Python Demon's pressure. He then retreated, withdrawing from the Iron Stake Area.

"I feel like after training in the Iron Stake Area, my body has become stronger."

"Yeah, it feels so light after coming out."

Hearing the whispers around him, Lu Ming nodded to himself.

He had also noticed that training under the demon's pressure seemed to yield better results.

Just the pressure alone could improve training efficiency?

The terror of demons made Lu Ming inwardly gasp. This was a dead demon—how terrifying must the living one rampaging through the city be?

At the same time, he looked at the Iron Stake Area before him, a glint of fervor in his eyes.

If he could train here every day, maybe he could break through to Flesh Refining Grand Completion without even needing demonic meat!

At this point, most of the disciples could no longer endure and had retreated.

Only four or five were still holding on. They were also the ones who had gone the farthest, reaching around the fifteenth stake—truly impressive.

Among them was Chen Feng, the genius of the Chen family.

There were also two women, each beautiful in their own way. One had a cold expression and wielded a weapon made of green bamboo—it was none other than Feng Qingzhu.

The other one, with long legs, tall and graceful, skilled in leg techniques, was Liu Yiyi.

These few persisted a while longer but ultimately could not advance another step to claim the Red Token, so they had to retreat.

"You've all likely noticed that cultivating under the Iron-Scaled Python Demon's pressure can improve training efficiency."

On the left high platform, Wei Jinlin spoke after seeing all the disciples retreat.

"My original intention in setting up this special training was to let you resist pressure when facing demonic beasts, increasing your chances of escape.

"That it boosts cultivation efficiency under pressure is merely a side benefit. Moreover, this method carries some danger—I just saw a few people injured and spitting blood.

"Therefore, this Martial Arts Arena is only open for three hours each day. Meat Refining Realm martial artists can train the entire duration.

"Those below the Meat Refining Realm can only train once per day. Once you can't hold on and retreat, you may not re-enter the Iron Stake Area.

"Unless a Meat Refining martial artist is willing to provide you shelter, rescuing you when danger arises and you cannot withdraw on your own—then even Skin Refining Grand Completion practitioners can train the full duration.

"Even so, each Meat Refining martial artist can only shelter one person."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ming frowned slightly. That meant he could only train here for half an hour each day?

Then the bonus training effect wouldn't be significant!

As for seeking shelter from a Meat Refining martial artist...

Lu Ming looked around and found that after Wei Jinlin finished speaking, many Skin Refining Grand Completion practitioners had already approached those Meat Refining experts, putting on respectful expressions and starting to dig into their wallets!

"Senior Brother Zhao, would you be willing to shelter me? I offer ten packs of Qi-Nurturing Powder."

"Sister Liu, you and I are both from the Flying Dragon Martial Hall—could you look after me? I'll give half a bottle of Qi-Enhancing Pills."

"Fifth Brother, we're both direct descendants of the Chen family. I'll give up my next quarter's family share and transfer it to you, hoping only... hoping only for some shelter."

Even Chen Jinyang swallowed his pride and awkwardly approached his cousin Chen Feng to seek shelter.

All of this concerned whether he could advance further. Half an hour of training bonus each day versus three hours—the difference was enormous!

The exam results affected everyone's future, so naturally they had to compete!

Lu Ming observed the prices and had an idea.

With the Li family gone, his Sweet Dew Powder was in demand but unavailable on the market, while he could prepare it as long as he had money—it should be very popular!

He pulled out a few packs of Sweet Dew Powder to trade for an extra two and a half hours of training time in the Iron Stake Area—definitely not a loss.

Thinking this, he immediately walked toward those Meat Refining martial artists.

But as he approached, they all frowned one by one and turned away.

He overheard whispers around him:

"Lu Ming offended Shen Changfeng, and he still wants to trade with those Meat Refining martial artists? No hope."

"That's right. That Lingyun Sect senior Zhou came back to town to open a bank, and the Shen family contributed the most. Word is that Senior Zhou met with Shen Changfeng several times after returning, always praising his talent."

"If Lu Ming doesn't get good results in the exam and can't join a sect, he'll probably die. But if he can't get shelter from a Meat Refining martial artist, he'll fall behind others and won't rank high in the exam."

"Heh, isn't that good for us? One less competitor."

Hearing these words, Lu Ming stopped abruptly and carefully observed their expressions—indeed, none of them wanted anything to do with him.

He never thought he'd have Sweet Dew Powder but couldn't even spend it!

Lu Ming felt frustrated and muttered inwardly, one Shen Changfeng scares you all this much? Where is your martial heart?

A bunch of weak-willed people—they'd never achieve much in the future!

He grumbled a few curses in his heart, then his gaze suddenly shifted. Among those Meat Refining martial artists, one hadn't retreated and was actually walking toward him.

That was... a woman!