It could be said that throughout Qinghe County, some people might not know who the county magistrate was, but almost no one had never heard of Chu Kuang, the master of the Blazing Sun Martial Hall.
After all, most people had grown up hearing stories about Chu Kuang, especially the young talents gathered here who had achieved some success in martial arts.
Every one of them regarded Chu Kuang as an idol. They had once vowed to follow his example: master martial arts, uphold justice, and rid the people of evil.
"Master Chu isn't just a genuine Grade-Ranked expert like Senior Xu Song. With the Blazing Sun Palm and Blazing Sun Sword Technique, those two supreme arts, he may only be at the Ninth Grade Skin Refining Realm, but his true strength is enough to rival an ordinary Eighth Grade Flesh Refining Realm expert."
Huang Hui gazed at Chu Kuang in amazement and couldn't help sighing.
"Master Huang, could you tell us more about the specifics of entering the ranks?"
Zhang Feng asked Huang Hui, full of curiosity.
The others immediately turned to look at Huang Hui as well. Clearly, they were all interested in the question.
"To enter the ranks, one must first open a dantian within the body. Once you have one, you can not only contain more qi and blood, but also continuously compress and refine it until it gives rise to inner strength."
Huang Hui smiled and nodded before continuing, "The birth of inner strength marks a martial artist's entry into the ranks. After that, you need only use your inner strength to temper the skin throughout your body. This is the Ninth Grade Skin Refining Realm. Once your skin is as tough as iron, you can advance to the next stage."
"But making your skin as tough as iron takes years of tempering, along with abundant resources. With Treasured Medicine to help, you can get twice the results with half the effort. Otherwise, even after entering the ranks, it may take years or even decades."
His words left everyone feeling helpless.
Resources were always the biggest obstacle on the path of martial arts.
"Master Huang, once the skin is as tough as iron, does that mean blades and swords can no longer pierce it?"
Wang Chao's eyes lit up as he asked.
"Indeed. An ordinary blade or sword can barely scratch a Ninth Grade Martial Artist who has cultivated Iron Skin. Only things like saber auras and sword auras, or genuine divine weapons, can easily injure them."
Huang Hui nodded, then sighed with a strange look in his eyes. "Unfortunately, forget cultivating Iron Skin—even opening a dantian and refining inner strength is as difficult as climbing to the heavens for ordinary martial artists. Without exceptional natural talent and sufficient resources, most people may never manage it in their entire lives."
At that, the crowd, who had been full of anticipation, fell silent once more.
They had neither exceptional natural talent nor abundant resources. Unless they stumbled upon some great fortune, they had no idea how many years of hardship it would take to truly enter the ranks.
"Cao Yang has nothing to worry about. You have exceptional natural talent, and the Zhou Family will spare no expense to pour resources into you. Your entry into the ranks is all but assured—it's only a matter of time!"
Master Huang looked at Cao Yang as he spoke.
"With that Century-Old Blood Ginseng to help me, I'm confident I can reach the Ninth Grade before the Martial Examination. I might even manage to cultivate Iron Skin!"
Cao Yang's expression remained grim as he spoke.
Clearly, he still couldn't let go of that Century-Old Blood Ginseng.
"Cao Yang, don't worry. The Zhou Family will find a way to get you another Treasured Medicine like a Century-Old Blood Ginseng!"
Zhou Wen could only smile at Cao Yang as he reassured him.
Treasured Medicine was rare and hard to come by; it wasn't something one could simply acquire at will.
After all the Zhou Family's years of accumulation, they had found only one Century-Old Blood Ginseng.
Though he very much wanted to give it to Cao Yang, he couldn't go back on his word.
Since he had promised from the beginning to give the Century-Old Blood Ginseng as thanks for rescuing Zhou Wu, he had to keep his word. Otherwise, he would lose his credibility.
And if he lost his credibility, all the effort he'd put in over the years would likely go to waste.
"Brother Lu, don't let it bother you. You earned that Century-Old Blood Ginseng through your own ability. If the Zhou Family's resources weren't limited, we'd spare no expense to support you and help you enter the ranks!"
Zhou Wu raised a hand and gave Lu Yuan a light pat on the shoulder, smiling as he spoke.
"The Zhou Family has already given me more than enough!"
Lu Yuan smiled and nodded.
In fact, aside from high-grade resources like Rejuvenation Pills and Blood-Qi Pills, the Zhou Family had already supplied him with meat, Qi-Replenishing Soup, and Essence-Replenishing Soup in seemingly unlimited quantities.
Although these had become much less effective since he broke through into the Transformation Realm, they could still just barely keep him on pace without forcing him to slow his training.
What's more, though he had already used up a little less than half of the Century-Old Blood Ginseng, there was still enough to help him truly reach the Ninth Grade Skin Refining Realm—and perhaps even cultivate Iron Skin.
"Everyone, the main reason the Blazing Sun Martial Hall is holding this Gathering of Heroes is to let the young talents from each family spar and exchange pointers before the Martial Examination, building up some practical combat experience."
At that moment, Chu Kuang smiled and waved to the crowd before speaking loudly. "The rules for sparring are simple: know when to stop, don't strike too hard, and never try to kill your opponent. And remember, underhanded tricks like hidden weapons and poison are forbidden here. Does anyone object?"
"No objection. Martial artists should spar openly and honorably. Naturally, we shouldn't use underhanded tricks like hidden weapons or poison!"
"Since this is a friendly exchange, not a fight to the death, we should know when to stop!"
Everyone voiced their agreement.
"Hidden weapons are nothing but unorthodox tactics. We don't mind them, but they make a big difference to certain people."
Cao Yang gave a cold laugh, his words pointed.
Everyone turned to look at Lu Yuan. They all knew that when he had killed Liu Chao, the third chief of Black Cloud Stronghold, he had relied on the power of a special hidden weapon.
"There's no such thing as an unorthodox tactic. If it can kill the enemy and win the fight, it's the right way!"
Lu Yuan remained composed and replied coolly.
"Well said. When dealing with enemies, no method is too much!"
Zhang Feng, Wang Chao, Chen Zheng, and the others all nodded in agreement.
"Those words aren't wrong."
Even Huang Hui smiled and nodded.
"I'll see if you can still rely on that hidden weapon to win at the Martial Examination!"
Cao Yang snorted and said no more.
Lu Yuan couldn't be bothered to respond. Whether now or at the Martial Examination, his real confidence had never come from the Flick Finger Technique or Iron Pellets.
Just then, Chu Jun walked into the center of the arena with his sword, a faint smile on his face. "Which of you would care to give me some pointers?"
"I'll do it!"
Cao Yang, apparently with a bellyful of pent-up anger, strode straight over.
"Please, instruct me."
Chu Jun cupped his hands slightly.
"Take my spear!"
Cao Yang didn't waste a word. He swung the long spear in his hand.
The first stance of the Angry Dragon Spear Technique: Dragon Raises Its Head!
A glint of cold light appeared first, then the spear shot forth like a dragon!
The crowd saw the spear tip's radiance flickering without cease, and some of them even seemed to hear the roar of a dragon.
"Though this guy's arrogant and looks down on everyone, he really is a first-rate genius!"
Zhang Feng couldn't help exclaiming.
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