Storms, Black Cloud Stronghold

In the days that followed, Lu Yuan maintained his routine of practicing the Five Animals Fist three times a day.

The qi and blood within his body grew increasingly abundant, and the day for him to break through to the Transformation Realm drew ever closer.

Beyond that, his Gale Steps had also successfully reached the Great Accomplishment stage.

If pushed to the limit, although it would consume a significant amount of qi and blood, he could increase his speed by at least two or three times in an instant.

Whether chasing down enemies or fleeing to save his life, he could handle both with ease.

As for the Blazing Sun Sword Technique, although he had focused his practice on it these past few days, he had only just reached the entry level.

[Gale Steps: Great Accomplishment (123/10000)]
[Blazing Sun Sword Technique: Entry Level (321/1000)]

Practicing the Gale Steps once now grants over three hundred points of proficiency. At this rate, it will take at most another three to five days to reach Perfection, Lu Yuan mused to himself.

As for the Blazing Sun Sword Technique, although practicing it once now also granted over three hundred points of proficiency, reaching Perfection would likely take at least another month, even if he could practice it five or six times a day.

With nearly two months left until the Martial Examination, as long as he continued to maximize his efficiency in grinding proficiency, he should still be in time.

If he could cultivate this Blazing Sun Sword Technique to Perfection before the Martial Examination began and successfully condense Sword Qi, which was even more formidable than Sword Radiance, perhaps he would have a genuine hope of seizing the title of Martial Champion.

However, he could not be certain if he would encounter true geniuses from the aristocratic families during the Martial Examination.

If Master Huang's words were to be believed, those aristocratic geniuses not only possessed excellent innate bones but were also supported by their families, with enough resources piled upon them that, let alone the Transformation Realm, even reaching the Ranked Realm would be no difficulty at all.

Furthermore, the techniques they practiced were bound to be superior; how could their true strength be weak?

Without entering the Ranked Realm, my strength is ultimately insufficient!

A look of determination appeared in Lu Yuan's eyes; he needed to work even harder.

Even if he passed the Martial Examination, or even became the Martial Champion, it would still only be the beginning.

When the time came, if he went to the Martial Academy in the prefecture city, he would surely encounter even more geniuses.

Even if Ranked martial artists were not as common as dogs, they would certainly be everywhere.

In ten days, I should be able to perform my third qi and blood tempering and charge toward the Transformation Realm!

For Lu Yuan, the Transformation Realm was already within reach.

But if he wanted to continue breaking through and become a Ranked martial artist, he would still need to seek out subsequent internal cultivation techniques.

The Five Animals Fist was, after all, only a Yellow-grade technique; even if cultivated to Perfection, it could at most support him in breaking through to the Transformation Realm.

Perhaps after breaking its limits, he could truly enter the Ranked Realm, but for now, he had yet to achieve the conditions or the opportunity required for such a breakthrough.

Therefore, the best method now was to find a better, new internal cultivation technique.

However, internal cultivation techniques were even more precious than combat techniques, especially those above the Yellow-grade, which were extremely difficult to obtain.

He feared that even if he joined the Sanhe Martial Hall or the Blazing Sun Martial Hall, he might not have the opportunity to come into contact with them for a long time.

Perhaps he could only wait for the black market auction in a few days and try his luck then.

Time quickly arrived at the next morning.

As usual, Lu Yuan arrived at the backyard of the Guangchun Hall.

Because the Zhou Family's funding had increased significantly, everyone was not only practicing harder, but their progress had also accelerated considerably.

In the past few days, three more people had successfully broken through to the Dark Energy Realm.

Not only that, but Lu Yuan also saw a new face in the crowd.

"Brother Lu Yuan, do you see him? This one is named Cao Yang, a true genius recruited by the Zhou Family at a great cost. Master Huang has already examined his bones; he is a first-class genius with excellent innate bones. Although he has just turned eighteen, he is already at the Dark Energy Realm," Zhang Feng leaned into Lu Yuan's ear and whispered. "It is said that not only can he eat three portions of meat every day, but he can also go directly to Shopkeeper Yu to drink a dose of Qi-Replenishing Soup and Essence-Replenishing Soup daily. Tsk tsk tsk... they are going to use a massive amount of resources to quickly pile him up to the Transformation Realm!"

It was not hard to hear the bitterness and envy in his words.

Lu Yuan, however, appeared quite calm; the funding he currently received was basically enough to maximize his cultivation progress.

Moreover, he was about to break into the Transformation Realm, at which point he would also be able to eat three portions of meat every day, and he could basically have a dose of Qi-Replenishing Soup and Essence-Replenishing Soup daily as well.

"I thought the first one to reach the Transformation Realm would be among the three of us, but I didn't expect a first-class genius with excellent innate bones to arrive. It seems the first Transformation Realm expert will surely be him," Wang Chao also sighed with a grave expression.

Clearly, Cao Yang's arrival made him feel significant pressure.

"There is no help for it. Our innate bones are inferior, and our resources are inferior. Even if we work harder, we cannot compare to him!" Chen Zheng smiled nonchalantly and said, "Actually, we don't need to compare ourselves to him. As long as we can break into the Transformation Realm before the Martial Examination, we will have a chance to compete for the title of Martial Scholar."

As for the three older youths at the Dark Energy Realm, they were all standing there with smiles on their faces.

They were all nearing thirty; although their qi and blood had not yet begun to decline, they had basically reached the limit of their golden age. It was almost impossible for their cultivation progress to compare with such young geniuses, so there was no need to treat him as a target and impose unnecessary pressure on themselves.

Moreover, rather than envying others, it was better to work harder to improve oneself.

"Everyone, gather 'round!"

At this moment, Master Huang strode over, his expression suddenly grave.

Trailing behind him was Zhou Wen, whose face looked rather unsightly.

"Has something happened?"

After exchanging glances, the group quickly converged, fixing their gazes upon Master Huang and Zhou Wen.

"Everyone, although the Zhou Family supports us to build goodwill rather than seek repayment, now that they have encountered trouble, how could we stand by and watch?"

Master Huang swept his gaze across the crowd and said in a deep voice.

Hearing this, everyone nodded, clearly in agreement.

As the saying goes, those who take gifts are soft-handed, and those who eat others' food are soft-mouthed.

Every day, they did nothing but enjoy the meat and medicinal soups provided for free by the Zhou Family to improve their own cultivation and strength.

Now that the Zhou Family was in trouble and needed their help, they were naturally duty-bound.

However, for Master Huang and Zhou Wen to take this so seriously, it likely wasn't a minor issue; with their current cultivation levels, they might not be able to help much.

"Yesterday afternoon, three carts of medicinal herbs belonging to the Zhou Family were plundered by bandits from Black Cloud Stronghold, and the Second Master, Zhou Wu, was also abducted by them. What we must do is rescue Second Master Zhou Wu and bring back those three carts of herbs!"

Master Huang looked up at the crowd and continued, "I will lead the team this time, and you are all welcome to follow. However, Black Cloud Stronghold is a den of tigers and wolves; if you have not reached the Dark Jin realm, I fear you will not return alive, so do not go just to make up the numbers."

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

In Qinghe County, there was exploitation by gangs within the city and looting by bandits outside.

The two gangs and one stronghold were like three great mountains pressing down upon the heads of the common people.

The two gangs were the Axe Gang and the Jukun Gang, and the one stronghold was Black Cloud Stronghold.

As far as they knew, Black Cloud Stronghold not only gathered over a thousand bandits, but the number of those at the Ming Jin and Dark Jin realms was unknown.

In particular, the three stronghold masters were all formidable experts at the Hua Jin realm.

Even if they weren't planning to wipe out Black Cloud Stronghold, but merely to rescue Second Master Zhou Wu and retrieve the three carts of herbs, it would likely be extremely perilous, if not a near-death experience.

Swords and blades have no eyes; no one knew if they would be able to return unscathed from this mission.