Competing for Protection

Sixty-one had reached Major Completion in Skin Refining, including sixteen Flesh Refining martial artists!

These people could basically achieve good results in the Grand Examination and become promising martial arts seedlings.

At the Grand Martial Arts Arena, after Wei Jinlin spoke, everyone was eager to make a move.

If they could obtain Demon Meat to aid their cultivation, they could pull far ahead of the others. They might even earn the favor of a martial arts sect and join it.

One had to know that even martial arts seedlings were not guaranteed to join a sect. Especially a recognized sect—even those ranked in the top fifty at the Military Service Bureau would find it difficult to enter one.

After all, every county had a Military Service Bureau. Though they ranked among the top fifty here, they might not necessarily surpass disciples from other Military Service Bureaus.

Wei Jinlin said, "Now, you may try freely and use any martial arts you possess. However, there are thirty rows of Iron Stakes in total. Every time you pass a row, you must strike the Iron Stake until it rings before you may proceed."

The moment he said this, many people immediately rushed forward.

Chen Jinyang was among them. Usually arrogant and composed, he now used his movement technique to charge ahead. As he looked at the Iron-Scaled Python Demon's corpse thirty zhang away, a trace of greed appeared in his eyes.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Each time he passed an Iron Stake, he struck it heavily until it rang. Before long, he had passed three stakes in succession.

But just as he passed the fifth stake and anxiously tried to continue, he suddenly discovered that his blood and qi had become chaotic. With one breath gone awry, a sharp pain burst from his chest, and he opened his mouth and spat out blood.

His expression changed drastically. He finally calmed down and belatedly realized that the oppressive aura emanating from the Iron-Scaled Python Demon not far away had already become more than he could bear.

His chest felt stifled, and even breathing had become somewhat sluggish.

He hurriedly retreated, his face filled with shock and unwillingness. He saw that a clansman of his own age, Chen Feng—one of the sixteen Flesh Refining martial artists—had already charged to the tenth stake.

He vaguely heard discussions from the crowd around him.

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

"What genius is he? He merely bears the name of a direct descendant of the Chen Family. Chen Feng is the true genius. They are both Chen Family descendants and are serving in the military this term, yet Chen Feng entered Flesh Refining long ago."

"That's right. I heard Chen Jinyang failed when attempting to break through to Flesh Refining some days ago. There's no chance of him breaking through again anytime soon!"

Chen Jinyang retreated beyond the Iron Stake Area. Listening to the discussions around him, his expression turned rather unpleasant.

Lu Ming's gaze flickered at the sight. He had not expected that Chen Jinyang, a direct descendant of a martial arts lineage, had also failed in his attempt to break through to Flesh Refining.

The transition from Skin Refining to Flesh Refining was a hurdle that stumped countless people.

At that moment, many people understood this. When they looked at the sixteen Flesh Refining martial artists charging at the forefront, their eyes were filled with longing.

Lu Ming did not remain standing 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 was, the closer he drew to the Iron-Scaled Python Demon's corpse—the stronger the oppressive aura he felt became.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

He used Nine Palaces Palm to strike the Iron Stakes, making them ring.

However, the farther he went, the stronger the Iron-Scaled Python Demon's pressure became. He had to devote a large portion of his strength to resisting it.

With his Major Completion Skin Refining cultivation, by the fifth stake, his remaining strength was only enough to barely make the Iron Stake ring. If he lost control even slightly, his breath would go awry and he would be injured!

Thinking of Chen Jinyang's fate, Lu Ming did not force his way forward. Instead, he remained around the fifth stake, continuously striking the Iron Stakes with Nine Palaces Palm while guessing at Wei Jinlin's intentions.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Iron Stakes rang out one after another. At the same time, messages came from the Divine Ability Panel.

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

[Currently evolving...]

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

His Palm Dao experience steadily rose. While others struggled bitterly to hold on, Lu Ming felt a trace of satisfaction each time he saw his Palm Dao experience increase by one point after a while. His entire body brimmed with fighting spirit.

Yet after less than half an hour, he was finally exhausted all over and faintly felt himself unable to withstand the Iron-Scaled Python Demon's pressure. Only then did he retreat and leave the Iron Stake Area.

"Why do I feel like my body has become stronger after cultivating in the Iron Stake Area?"

"Yeah, I feel so much more relaxed after coming out."

Hearing the whispers around him, Lu Ming secretly nodded.

He had noticed it as well. Cultivating under the Iron-Scaled Python Demon's pressure seemed to produce better results.

Its pressure alone could actually increase cultivation efficiency?

The terror of demons made Lu Ming secretly click his tongue. This was only a dead demon. How terrifying must the living one ravaging the city be?

At the same time, as he looked at the Iron Stake Area before him, a fiery gleam appeared in his eyes.

If he could cultivate here every day, perhaps he could reach Major Completion in Flesh Refining without even using Demon Meat!

By then, most of the disciples could no longer endure and had retreated.

Only four or five still struggled to hold on. They were also the ones who had gone the farthest, reaching around the fifteenth stake. They were truly formidable.

One of them was Chen Feng, that genius from the Chen Family.

There were also two women, each beautiful in her own way. One had cold, aloof features and held a weapon of emerald bamboo. She was none other than Feng Qingzhu.

The other had long legs and a tall, graceful figure. She excelled in leg techniques and was Liu Yiyi.

These people held on for a while longer, but in the end, they could not take another step forward. After taking the Red Tokens, they could only retreat.

"You must all have noticed that cultivating under the Iron-Scaled Python Demon's pressure can increase cultivation efficiency."

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

"My original purpose in setting up this special training was to allow you to resist the pressure of demons when facing them, increasing your chances of escape.

"The increased cultivation efficiency under that pressure is merely incidental. Moreover, this method carries a certain degree of danger. Just now, I saw some people get injured and spit blood.

"Therefore, this Grand Martial Arts Arena will only be open for three hours each day. Flesh Refining martial artists may cultivate for the entire duration.

"Martial artists below the Flesh Refining Realm may cultivate only once per day. Once you retreat because you can no longer endure, you may not enter the Iron Stake Area again.

"Unless a Flesh Refining martial artist is willing to provide you protection and rescue you when you are in danger and unable to retreat on your own, those at Major Completion in Skin Refining may also cultivate for the entire duration.

"Even so, each Flesh Refining martial artist may protect only one person."

Lu Ming's brows immediately furrowed slightly upon hearing this. Did that mean he could only cultivate here for half an hour each day?

Then the enhanced cultivation effect would not be very significant!

As for finding a Flesh Refining martial artist to protect him...

Lu Ming looked around and discovered that after Wei Jinlin finished speaking, many Major Completion Skin Refining martial artists had already begun seeking out the Flesh Refining experts. Respectful expressions on their faces, they started opening their purses!

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

"Senior Sister Liu, we are both from Flying Dragon Martial Hall. Could you look after me a little? I'll offer half a bottle of Qi-Enhancing Pills."

"Fifth Brother, we are both direct descendants of the Chen Family. I am willing to give up my next quarter's lineage allotment and transfer it to you. I only ask... only ask that you protect me a little."

Even Chen Jinyang had put aside his pride. Somewhat awkwardly, he approached his clansman Chen Feng to seek protection.

This concerned whether he could advance further. The difference between cultivating with the boost for half an hour each day and for three hours each day was enormous!

The results of the Grand Examination concerned everyone's future. Naturally, they had to fight for it!

Lu Ming observed the prices, and an idea stirred in his heart.

Now that the Li Family had left, his Sweet Dew Powder was available at a price but impossible to buy. As long as he had money, he could concoct it, so it should be quite popular!

If he took out a few packets of Sweet Dew Powder in exchange for an additional two and a half hours of cultivation time in the Iron Stake Area, he definitely would not lose out.

With that thought, he immediately walked toward those Flesh Refining martial artists.

Yet the moment he approached, every one of them frowned and turned to leave.

He heard whispers from the surrounding crowd.

"Lu Ming offended Shen Changfeng, and he still wants to trade with those Flesh Refining martial artists? I'm afraid he has no hope."

"Exactly. Senior Zhou of the Lingyun Sect returned to the city to open a bank, and the Shen Family contributed the most. I heard that after Senior Zhou returned, he met Shen Changfeng several times and praised his talent each time."

"If Lu Ming fails to achieve good results in the Grand Examination and cannot join a sect, he will probably struggle to escape death. But if he cannot obtain a Flesh Refining martial artist's protection, he will fall behind the others, making it difficult for him to rank among the top in the Grand Examination."

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

Hearing these words, Lu Ming abruptly stopped. He carefully observed those people's expressions, and indeed, every one of them wanted nothing to do with him.

He had not expected that he could not even spend his Sweet Dew Powder!

Lu Ming felt frustrated. He secretly thought, Has one Shen Changfeng frightened you all into this state? Where is your martial heart?

A pack of weak-willed fools—your future achievements will certainly be limited!

After silently grumbling a few times, his gaze suddenly shifted. Among the Flesh Refining martial artists, one person had not left. Moreover, she was walking toward him.

That was... a woman!