"Master Wei! I wonder why Master Wei summoned me. What are your instructions?"
Lu Ming came before Wei Jinlin and bowed, speaking with a trace of respect.
Wei Jinlin sized Lu Ming up, then nodded slightly.
"I had long since noticed that you had broken through to Flesh Refining, but I was somewhat surprised that you managed to take third place in the minor test."
Lu Ming's heart stirred, and he hurriedly said, "It is all thanks to Master Wei's excellent teaching."
Wei Jinlin said, "I will speak plainly. You were able to reach this point because of your mastery over merging different martial arts.
"You were able to blend the Nine Palaces Palm and the Cloud-Stepping Technique so well. Even if you are only at the entry level, that is still quite rare."
Lu Ming was stunned upon hearing this. The Nine Palaces Stakes and the Cloud-Stepping Technique, used in combination?
He had not done that!
How had Wei Jinlin seen it?
After thinking it over, Lu Ming understood. The only time he had used the Nine Palaces Palm during the minor test was when he had put on a show of striking the Iron Stake, while secretly using the power of the Mountain-Pushing Divine Ability.
Wei Jinlin had certainly mistaken his Mountain-Pushing Divine Ability for some kind of fused application.
That was good too. With a reasonable explanation, it would be even easier to conceal the existence of his divine ability.
Lu Ming immediately smiled. "This disciple does have a tiny bit of talent. I never expected Master Wei's discerning eye to spot it. This disciple truly admires you!"
Wei Jinlin glanced at the smug Lu Ming and said flatly,
"Do not be so pleased with yourself. This bit of talent is like chicken ribs.
"Simply reaching the entry level amounts to nothing. If you can continuously cultivate several techniques to Minor Completion, or even mastery, only then can you be considered decent.
"I summoned you this time to give you an opportunity.
"If you can cultivate the Cloud-Piercing Finger to Minor Completion before the Grand Examination, I can teach you another martial art for free."
Lu Ming's eyes lit up. Learn another martial art for free?
If Wei Jinlin made a move, it would at least be a second-rate martial art!
Lu Ming's heart was greatly stirred. If he could learn one, there would be benefits and no harm.
However, this second-rate martial art, the Cloud-Piercing Finger, was even harder to enter than the first-rate lightness skill, the Cloud-Stepping Technique. Moreover, it was not the kind that was difficult at first and easy later—it only grew harder the farther one went.
It had taken him more than ten days just to reach the entry level. Under normal circumstances, he would need at least three months to reach the next realm, Minor Completion.
That was still with the help of major cultivation medicines such as Sweet Dew Powder, as well as his own slight talent for acupoints.
Martial arts were divided into blood and vitality cultivation, and martial technique realms.
Blood and vitality cultivation referred to the blood and vitality power gained through cultivation—the divisions of Skin Refining, Flesh Refining, and Tendon Refining.
Martial technique realms referred to what realm a particular martial art had reached. For any given martial art, there were the divisions of entry level, Minor Completion, mastery, and Major Completion.
If one's martial technique realm was profound, one could often unleash power beyond one's own blood and vitality cultivation.
The tales of killing enemies across realms in worldly storybooks sometimes happened because the protagonist's martial technique realm was deeper than the enemy's.
No matter what, agreeing would do him no harm.
Lu Ming said, "Yes! I will certainly do my utmost."
Wei Jinlin nodded slightly and turned to leave, though he did not hold much hope in his heart.
Lu Ming had practiced the Cloud-Piercing Finger for more than ten days before reaching the entry level. Reaching Minor Completion within the next month would be extremely difficult.
Yet without such talent, cultivating the Formless Divine Art would be like viewing flowers through fog—always separated by a veil, never destined for greatness.
His fate would decide it.
With that thought, Wei Jinlin cast Lu Ming's matter aside and began considering the impending relocation of the Red Cloud County Military Service Bureau.
They would arrive in four days.
Today's minor test at the Military Service Bureau concerned Demon Meat, so all the major powers had been secretly watching it.
The moment the results of the minor test were confirmed, word quietly spread throughout the city.
After the minor test ended, Chen Feng, Feng Qingzhu, and the others were taken back by their respective factions.
Shen Family.
Within a secluded little courtyard, Shen Changfeng was in seclusion, attempting to break through to Tendon Refining Grand Completion, when a sudden "knock, knock, knock" sounded at the door.
Veins bulged on his forehead. He opened his eyes, a trace of violence surfacing within them, then abruptly rose and flung open the door. His imposing aura made the face of his trusted subordinate change as the man staggered back again and again.
"Did I not say that unless it was a major matter, no one was to come looking for me while I was in seclusion?" Shen Changfeng's gloomy voice carried a chilling killing intent.
The trusted subordinate said cautiously, "Deacon, you said that any crucial intelligence concerning Lu Ming was to be delivered to you at once."
"Lu Ming?" Shen Changfeng's gaze sharpened, and he immediately withdrew his aura. "What happened?"
The trusted subordinate hurriedly replied, "In today's minor test at the Military Service Bureau, the top three received a portion of Demon Meat. Chen Feng took first place, Feng Qingzhu took second. Lu Ming surpassed Liu Yiyi and Zhao Zhiqiu to take third."
Shen Changfeng said, "What did you say?! What is Lu Ming's cultivation now?"
The trusted subordinate said, "He has just broken through to Flesh Refining."
He then added, "Liu Yiyi is also at Flesh Refining, while Zhao Zhiqiu has reached Flesh Refining Grand Completion."
"He actually has such talent!" Shen Changfeng's brows drew tightly together. "Though he cannot yet be called a genius, even the slightest chance of joining a sect makes him a threat."
He pondered for a long while before suddenly sneering. "Three days ago, Senior Zhou bestowed great medicine upon me. Before long, I will break through to Tendon Refining Grand Completion.
"Furthermore, Senior Zhou has already agreed to recommend the Sword Qi Sect to the Lingyun Sect as an affiliated sect.
"As long as the Sword Qi Sect can recruit and select disciples with excellent aptitude for the Lingyun Sect this year, this matter can be brought about.
"Now that this matter is entirely under my control, there are plenty of people to do my bidding.
"Go at once and secretly spread the word: among the disciples of the Military Service Bureau, whoever can lure Lu Ming out of the Military Service Bureau will be granted a position as a disciple of the Lingyun Sect!"
The trusted subordinate acknowledged the order and left.
Killing intent overflowed from Shen Changfeng's eyes. By the usual rules, if disciples of the Military Service Bureau died while traveling outside, it would only be considered that they had brought it upon themselves. Wei Jinlin would not pursue the matter.
As long as Lu Ming could be lured out, Shen Changfeng would make sure he never returned!
Military Service Bureau.
Chen Feng returned from the Chen Family residence, full of pride and satisfaction. Winning first place in this minor test had greatly raised his status within the Lineage.
The family head had finally passed down to him the mental cultivation formula for the Chen Family's secret inheritance, the Returning Wind and Willow-Sweeping Blade.
This meant he had been included on the list of those the Chen Family would focus on nurturing.
He had brought the manual with him, intending to study it carefully. If he could fully comprehend it, then before the Grand Examination, with the Demon Meat and the Lineage's rewards, he would surely break through to Tendon Refining.
He arrived at the courtyard district and was nearly at his own courtyard when he saw someone hurrying along in the distance. Upon seeing him, the man's eyes lit up, and he quickly approached.
It was Chen Jinyang.
Chen Feng smiled. "Brother Jinyang, did you need something?"
Chen Jinyang's eyes shone with excitement as he said,
"Fifth Brother, have you heard? Shen Changfeng has gained Senior Zhou's favor and now has the authority to recruit disciples for the Lingyun Sect!
"He has spread word that whoever can lure Lu Ming out of the Military Service Bureau can become a disciple of the Lingyun Sect!
"I know that even if I went to the Lingyun Sect, I would not be able to stay there securely. But Fifth Brother certainly could!"
Chen Feng's expression shifted upon hearing this. If he could obtain a guaranteed safeguard, things would be even more secure.
Chen Jinyang was about to continue, but Chen Feng raised a hand to stop him. He looked around and said,
"Let's talk inside."
He immediately led Chen Jinyang into his own courtyard.
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