The Urgency of Time

"Don't worry, my king! I'll work hard on my cultivation."

"My king, we understand what's important. We won't neglect either our studies or our martial arts training."

As Zhang Xianzhong finished speaking, Ai Nengqi and Li Dingguo's young faces were filled with solemnity as they respectfully agreed.

"Good!"

Zhang Xianzhong nodded with satisfaction, looking at the two mature, tall youths before him. He continued, "Sit down first."

"Just now, I imparted the main Cultivation Method to you two. Next, I will explain in detail my insights on cultivating the Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Star Scripture..."

Since he had put so much effort into cultivating truly trustworthy subordinates, he certainly wouldn't give up halfway.

To help Li Dingguo and Ai Nengqi avoid detours in the future, as someone who had been through it, he began to explain the points to note when cultivating this True Scripture Cultivation Method.

Only by thoroughly understanding the main Cultivation Method before cultivating it would they achieve twice the results with half the effort.

During this time, as beginners, Li Dingguo and Ai Nengqi naturally had many questions.

Zhang Xianzhong did his best to answer the questions they raised from time to time during the lecture.

He had been cultivating the Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Star Scripture for several years, so he was naturally very experienced and could perfectly answer their questions.

Although Li Dingguo's upgraded True Scripture Cultivation Method was completely different, his thorough understanding of the Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Star Scripture, which originated from the same source, allowed him to gain answers to many questions about cultivating the Circumstellar True Scripture from Zhang Xianzhong's explanations.

Unconsciously, it was already evening.

Just as Zhang Xianzhong was about to order the team to dismiss and end today's martial arts training, Liu Wenxiu and Zhang Huier, who were practicing the Tiger Roar Fist in the training ground, suddenly let out a loud shout. Their fist techniques changed, and every move and form produced explosive sounds!

This was the result of their desperate cultivation. They had almost simultaneously achieved initial mastery of the Tiger Roar Fist, successfully activated their Qi and Blood Power, and become Martial Artists at the early stage of Body Refinement Layer 1!

Unfortunately, they likely had a lower talent level compared to Li Dingguo and Ai Nengqi. They did not achieve Qi and Blood Limit Break and Marrow Cleansing and Tendon Transformation when they broke through to become Martial Artists.

"Good!"

A hint of disappointment clearly flashed in Zhang Xianzhong's eyes, but he still praised them loudly with joy.

Even though Liu Wenxiu and Zhang Huier's innate aptitude was not as good as that of Li Dingguo and Ai Nengqi, these two Peerless Prodigies, they could still be considered monstrous talents.

Based on how quickly they were able to break through, it was estimated that they could at least successfully undergo Qi and Blood Limit Break and Marrow Cleansing and Tendon Transformation twice within each major Body Refinement realm in the future.

"Liu Wenxiu, Zhang Huier!"

He beckoned to these two talented youths. When they ran up to him, both happy and a little disappointed, he nodded and said to them, "Don't be discouraged. Your current performance is already very good."

"To be able to become a Martial Artist at the early stage of Martial Arts Layer 1 in such a short time is already stronger than most geniuses."

"You shouldn't compare yourselves to Li Dingguo and Ai Nengqi. Their aptitude is extremely rare in the world, truly Peerless Prodigies seen once in a hundred years."

"Even I, Zhang Xianzhong, haven't seen many over the years."

"Moreover, if you work hard yourselves in the future and have enough luck, it's not impossible to surpass them later on!"

"Don't forget, this world is not as simple as you see or imagine it to be."

"From being orphaned beggars living hand-to-mouth and uncertain of survival, you have now become talented Martial Artists. You are already much stronger than most orphaned youths and should be content."

"In the future, striving for self-improvement and working hard is what you should do."

He saw Liu Wenxiu and Zhang Huier both nodding with solemn faces. He continued with satisfaction, "After three days, when my mental energy recovers, I will impart my own cultivated Divine Techniques and Marvelous Methods to you two."

"But you must remember, my subordinates, Zhang Xianzhong's subordinates, do not need those who are jealous of the capable!"

"Any internal strife will be severely punished. All of you must take this as a warning!"

"Otherwise, everything I can bestow upon you can also be taken back at any time!"

Having invested so much, Zhang Xianzhong certainly didn't want to see any unfavorable situations occur.

"Yes, my king!"

As Zhang Xianzhong's voice, which had suddenly risen at the end, fell, Liu Wenxiu, Zhang Huier, Li Dingguo, and Ai Nengqi were all inwardly shaken and responded in unison.

This was the combination of kindness and authority that Zhang Xianzhong wanted, and the effect was remarkable.

At night, the stars were brilliant.

Amidst the absolute silence, in the side rooms of the inner courtyard mansion, Li Dingguo and Ai Nengqi were different from before. They were both sitting cross-legged on separate large beds, adopting the Five Hearts Facing Heaven posture, and were performing their first cultivation of the main Cultivation Method according to the instructions of the inherited method.

This True Scripture type of Cultivation Method had a completely different cultivation method compared to those of the Jue, Shu, and Jing grades.

True Scripture type Cultivation Methods could be cultivated at night by visualizing the Cultivation Method runes, thereby replacing normal sleep.

This was the wonder of top-tier Cultivation Methods, fundamentally different in cultivation methods from those of the primary, intermediate, and advanced grades.

In this world, noble families, powerful clans, and imperial families guarded their inherited Cultivation Methods tightly; it was absolutely impossible for them to be passed down.

Ordinary commoners, generally speaking, could only obtain some basic primary Cultivation Methods by joining the army.

As for intermediate and advanced Cultivation Methods, they needed to be exchanged for military achievements.

Alternatively, if your ancestors were military households and their ancestral Cultivation Method inheritance had not been cut off, you would not be restricted by military achievements and could collect Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Spirit Grass, and Spirit Roots yourself, or hunt demonic beasts to gather the corresponding resources for cultivation.

However, collecting cultivation resources in the wilderness was very dangerous, so many Martial Artists with outstanding aptitude would pledge allegiance to wealthy merchants or military generals, choosing to become household retainers or guards, receiving cultivation resources provided by their masters to meet their cultivation needs.

In today's world, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is becoming increasingly thin, which naturally leads to a decrease in Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Spirit Grass, and Spirit Roots, making it less and less friendly for cultivators.

The continuous scarcity of cultivation resources has made the cultivation of Martial Artists increasingly difficult.

The unlimited demand for various cultivation resources by forces of all sizes naturally triggers various conflicts and struggles, also leading to the increasing preciousness of various cultivation resources.

Coupled with the endless natural disasters and man-made calamities today, the inaction of the imperial court, and the intensifying internal and external troubles of the Great Ming Dynasty, this has accelerated the rapid arrival of this era of the dynasty's demise.

To be valued by Zhang Xianzhong, who possesses a heaven-defying fortuitous encounter, and to receive his full cultivation efforts at the beginning of such a chaotic world, both Li Dingguo and Ai Nengqi are undoubtedly very fortunate.

At least at the start of this chaotic world, the circumstances of Li Dingguo and Ai Nengqi are already much better than those of most people, and by a significant margin!

Therefore, the two of them now deeply understand that all of this did not come easily, and they naturally cherish it greatly.

Under normal circumstances, from now on, cultivating through meditation at night to replace sleep will become their daily routine.

A quick start leads to a quick pace throughout, both of them firmly believe this.

They both know that Zhang Xianzhong's earlier warning was not a joke.

Soon, the two of them will face round after round of life-and-death crises!

For the sake of their own lives, they must break through to the third layer of Martial Artist cultivation before the official army comes to encircle and suppress them, with the help of the large amount of cultivation resources provided by Zhang Xianzhong!

Only by achieving this initial small goal can there be any talk of a future.