50, Stance and Jin

The Martial Guard headquarters was located in the east of the city, covering an area of several thousand mu. It was divided into two sections: one for the official administrative offices and the other for the Guard Academy.

The carriages carrying the group passed through bustling, lively streets, the sounds of vendors hawking their wares filling the air. After traveling for about half an hour, they pulled up in front of the Martial Guard headquarters.

Everyone stepped out of the carriages and looked up to see the vast expanse of the office complex. The main gate stood wide open, painted a deep vermilion. The plaque hanging high above the lintel bore the three large characters "Martial Guard," the brushstrokes sharp as blades, piercing to the eye. A pair of stone lions stood guard, baring their fangs and glaring with ferocious, menacing expressions.

The two rows of guards stationed outside immediately bowed respectfully upon seeing Xia Hong. Xia Hong waved a hand and pointed at Huang Rui, Huang Jian, and Huang Tian, saying, "Take these three to the Academy."

"Understood!"

One of the guards responded promptly, then signaled for the three to follow him.

As for Huang Qian, he naturally followed Xia Hong to the Merit Registry to take up his post.

Following behind the guard, they walked down a wide path along the side of the headquarters. After walking several hundred paces and making a turn, a sprawling complex of buildings appeared before them. With walls of bluestone and glazed tiles, the eaves curved upward like the wings of a bird of prey, exuding an air of great solemnity.

"This is the Academy."

A fleeting look of regret and nostalgia crossed the guard's eyes, though it vanished in an instant. He took the lead and walked through the gate, with the three following close behind.

Inside, they found a vast courtyard paved with bluestone, lined with various flowers and trees. Walking further in, they arrived at a room marked "Records Room," where a clerk dressed in black sat inside.

"These three are here to join the Academy," the guard said, pointing at Huang Tian and the others, adding, "Thousand-Household Xia ordered me to bring them."

The clerk had been somewhat indifferent, but upon hearing the name of Xia Hong, he immediately squeezed out a smile and said, "Of course, of course."

"Come, leave your names, places of origin, and cultivation realms here, and I will assign your quarters."

The three stepped forward one by one to write in the ledger.

Looking at the register, the black-clad clerk said, "Hmm, Huang Rui, Ninth Grade, you may enter the Upper Dorms, Room A-6.

Huang Jian, Strength Training, you may enter the Lower Dorms, Room B-15.

Huang Tian, none, you may enter the Lower Dorms, Room B-32."

With that, he took three wooden plaques from a drawer and handed them to the three.

Huang Tian looked down at the small wooden plaque in his hand, which bore the small characters "Huang Tian, B-32."

"Take these plaques to the Supply Bureau to collect your bedding, clothing, and other items," the clerk explained. "Once you have collected everything, you may head to your quarters."

The three were guided by the guard to the Supply Bureau to collect their belongings. Once finished, the guard cupped his hands, "Young masters, you may head directly to your quarters. This humble one takes his leave."

The three returned the gesture. After he left, Huang Rui and Huang Jian snorted coldly and carried their bedding to their respective quarters. Huang Tian, his heart as calm as still water, found his room using the plaque.

It was a room two zhang long and one and a half zhang wide, furnished with three beds. A sturdy, tall young man sat on the bed near the door, while a thin, tall youth with a few pimples on his face lay half-reclined on the bed by the window.

The thin youth jumped up the moment he saw Huang Tian enter, acting familiar immediately. "I'm Jiang Hou, sixteen this year. I'm well-connected, nicknamed 'The Informant.' That's He Xu, seventeen, strong as an ox! What about you?"

Huang Tian laid out his bedding. "Huang Tian, sixteen. Nothing particularly special."

Jiang Hou noticed his new roommate seemed to be a man of few words, but he didn't mind. He turned to He Xu and said, "We start martial training tomorrow. I wonder if I can develop 'strength' within two months. Once I develop strength, even if I don't reach a grade, I can become a guard and eat official rations!"

He Xu looked somewhat disdainful. "I don't want to just be a guard, being ordered around all day. At the very least, I must reach a grade and become a squad leader, with a dozen people following me wherever I go. That's what you call a real man!"

Jiang Hou shook his head repeatedly. "I wouldn't dare dream of such a fine thing. The time is too short. To reach a grade within half a year of developing strength—who can do that unless they're a genius?"

"Maybe we are geniuses..."

"..."

The two chatted enthusiastically for over half an hour until the sky grew dark. They pulled Huang Tian along to the Academy's canteen for a meal, and after washing up, the sky turned completely black.

Lying in bed, Jiang Hou felt little sleepiness, his face full of anticipation. "Tomorrow, we'll finally get to see the martial path..."

He Xu couldn't sleep either, his bell-sized eyes glowing in the dark. Huang Tian, meanwhile, was filled with curiosity, wondering what the cultivation methods of this world were truly like...

The next day.

A whistle blew from outside, signaling that formal instruction was about to begin.

The martial students filed out of their quarters one after another. Huang Tian and his two companions, already washed and ready, followed the crowd. Jiang Hou stood beside Huang Tian and whispered:

"The Academy recruited nearly three hundred people this time. About twenty are Ninth Grade martial students, sixty or seventy are in Strength Training, and there are about two hundred like us who have never practiced martial arts before.

These two hundred people share four small training grounds, with about fifty people in each. But I heard there's only one instructor for each, so I don't know if he'll be able to manage."

As they spoke, they arrived at the Xuan-3 Training Ground.

The training ground was filled with stone locks, wooden stakes, and various weapons. Dozens of youths were brimming with excitement. Huang Tian stood in the crowd, looking up at the broad-shouldered, thick-waisted middle-aged man standing on a small earthen platform in front of them.

"My surname is Xu. You may call me Instructor Xu. For the next few months, I will be the one teaching you how to develop strength, and how to use that strength to temper your skin, tendons, and bones to nourish your blood and qi."

There are three transformations of blood and qi, corresponding to the Ninth, Eighth, and Seventh Grades of the martial path.

Instructor Xu stood with his hands behind his back. "Strength is not mere force, nor is it the 'qi' that only mid-grade martial artists can develop. It is something that erupts when your tendons, bones, skin, and flesh are connected as one. It is alive, penetrating, and continuous."

"I know you won't understand just by me saying it. Next, I will teach you the Spirit Tiger Stance to guide your strength."

"Watch closely!"

With that, he stripped off his upper garments, revealing his solid, bulging muscles.

Immediately after, he lowered his center of gravity, his feet gripping the ground. His hands formed tiger claws placed at his waist, his five fingers like iron hooks, his wrists collapsed. He lowered his head slightly, tucking his chin in, while his eyes darted upward—like a fierce tiger hiding in the tall grass, stalking its prey. A murderous aura began to radiate from his body.

"This is the stance. Next is the breathing and the intent!"

Instructor Xu inhaled three times and exhaled once, spitting out a scorching stream of air. His body trembled with an extremely subtle amplitude. With every breath, the gripping power of his hands increased, as if he had truly transformed into a fierce tiger, ready to tear its prey apart.

After several dozen breaths, he gradually arched his back. Everyone could see terrifying "Angry Pythons" writhing and intertwining beneath the skin of his back, appearing exceptionally fearsome.

"This is strength!"