Martial Progress!

So be it. In a month, I would most likely begin attempting the Three-Knock Blood Pass as well. Since I was here, I might as well make the best of it!

The items in the box were worth a full one hundred and ten taels of silver.

There were four whole Fire-Core Jujubes, each one worth an ordinary person's annual income.

But to those who cultivated martial arts, they were merely a single "breakthrough" on the martial path.

The scarcity of resources only strengthened Wang Xuance's resolve to become a soldier. So long as he became a martial artist and was willing to risk his life in the army, there would be no such thing as a lack of resources.

Fire-Core Jujubes were medicinal herbs that grew exclusively beneath the oases of the Western Desert, born with fiery poison.

Ordinary people who swallowed one would likely have the fire poison ignite throughout their bodies on the spot, reducing them to ashes.

Common folk avoided them as though they were plague-ridden, fearing contamination and death.

But for martial artists, Fire-Core Jujubes were medicinal herbs that improved cultivation.

A martial artist used abundant blood and qi to envelop them. During refinement, the fire poison followed the blood and qi through the sinews, membranes, flesh, and blood, gradually invading the body—but it could not endure the heat within the flesh, which far surpassed its own.

In an instant, the prey became the hunter. He refined it instead, extracting all the abundant vital essence within the jujube pit and allowing his flesh to absorb it completely.

For martial artists below the Fetal Breath Realm, Fire-Core Jujubes were among the few medicinal ingredients whose potency could be absorbed up to ninety percent.

Ordinary medicinal herbs, if not brewed into decoctions or refined into pills, would lose much of their potency when swallowed directly.

Medicinal power this efficient was usually bought up by noble families and martial halls the moment it appeared on the market.

Back then, Wang Xuance had wanted to buy one, but it had been such a hot commodity that several attempts had ended in failure.

Getting four at once actually made me feel uneasy!

He grabbed one and tossed it into his mouth.

Boom!!

A violent heat exploded in his mouth. Though it was only two inches in size, the instant it touched his tongue, it dissolved into a fishy, bitter liquid that slid down his throat and into his stomach.

Wang Xuance hurriedly sat cross-legged and circulated his blood and qi, wrapping it around the medicinal liquid and refining it fiercely.

Had anyone been standing beside him, they would have seen the skin across Wang Xuance's entire body writhe like earthworms turning soil, twisting like long serpents.

His body squirmed and shifted, waves of scorching crimson heat rising from it. The instant sweat flowed out, it evaporated into white vapor, and a faint phantom of dragon roars and elephant trumpets appeared behind him!

[Crane Form Grand Stance +10!]

[Crane Form Grand Stance +10!]

Refining this Fire-Core Jujube was far more difficult than Wang Xuance had imagined. The power of his blood and qi continuously scoured through the medicinal strength, nourishing his flesh, yet every time the medicinal liquid rolled through his meridians, it brought him unbearable pain.

A resonant buzz suddenly erupted within his body, like divine beings beating drums, shaking the heavens with radiant might.

Wang Xuance abruptly opened his eyes. A sharp gleam flashed through them as crackling sounds like fried beans burst from his bones. He looked toward the transparent panel.

[Wang Xuance]

[Dragon Elephant Grand Stance]: 100/3000 (Beginner)

[Tortoise-Snake Great Stance]: 0/6000 (Major Accomplishment)

[Crane Form Grand Stance]: 800/1000 (Beginner)

[Vajra Fist]: 430/4000 (Proficient)

[Great Arm Scripture]: 0/2000 (Beginner)

[True Martial Qi]: 0

Seeing the gilded words beside Crane Form Grand Stance, Wang Xuance could not help frowning. Refining a Fire-Core Jujube worth ten taels of silver took both effort and time, yet its progress toward deducing the Crane Form Grand Stance was so slow.

It truly cannot compare to True Martial Qi. It seems I have no choice but to leave the city!

But when he thought of the dangers outside the city, he could not help worrying.

Clang—

A newspaper was thrown over the courtyard wall, immediately drawing the young man's attention.

Every resident of White Light City spent half a copper coin each day to purchase the "Daily Gazette."

"Huh, this is..."

"The Six Halls Martial Meet will be held at the end of this month, jointly organized with the White Light Outer City Military Governor's Office!"

The White Light Outer City Military Governor's Office was the military camp commanded by General Li. The Mountain Sea Guard where Wang Xuance currently stayed was the reserve guard of the Eighteen Heavy Guards under the general's command.

Only upon becoming a martial artist—a Fetal Breath Realm expert—would one be assigned to the Eighteen Heavy Guards.

But that was not what occupied the young man's mind. What truly stirred his heart were the words "Six Halls Martial Meet" in the newspaper!

It was jointly organized by the six martial halls of White Light Outer City and the Military Governor's Office, intended to select those with outstanding talent in martial arts.

The Military Governor's Office would bestow official ranks upon the top three, indirectly strengthening the outer city's defensive capabilities.

Once one accepted an official rank, one ate the sovereign's salary; defending White Light City would then be an inescapable duty.

"Any martial arts practitioner may participate. Anyone who completes ten arena matches, whether they advance or not, will be rewarded with twenty taels of silver."

Wang Xuance's thoughts immediately came alive, and his eyes lit up.

"Beyond mountains and rivers, I had doubted there was a road; beneath dark willows and bright flowers, another village appeared."

"I was worrying that leaving the city was too dangerous. This martial meet is nothing less than charcoal in snow, a lamp in a dark room!"

But he also understood that the experts from the Six Schools would certainly participate. Those able to step onto the arena would be no ordinary people.

"And..."

His gaze swept over the newspaper. The eight words "Fists and feet have no eyes; life and death are not considered" filled him with a killing chill.

"The customs here are fierce. Borderlands are all like this!"

While the young man marveled at the Six Schools Martial Meet, inside the Military Governor's grand residence in the outer city, General Li sat at a rosewood table in black casual robes, conversing with an elderly man carrying a sword on his back.

"General, there is military intelligence from the frontier. The Western Barbarians appear to have been stirring recently. You have worked hard guarding White Light."

The sword-bearing old Daoist was lean and gaunt, but his eyes seemed to contain sharp Sword Force. An overpowering, murderous weight emanated from his entire body.

"Hahaha, Elder Xuan, I merely guard one important city. How could I compare to a busy man like you? Besides..."

General Li narrowed his eyes and looked at the starlight spilling beyond the room, his tone calm and even.

"Senior Brother Tie of the inner city is about to emerge from seclusion. With him here, who could possibly shake White Light City?"

"What! That man is about to emerge from seclusion!"

At the mere mention of those words, the sword-bearing old Daoist's expression changed dramatically, as though he had heard something unbelievable.

General Li could not help giving a bitter smile and nodded.

"Unless the hundred-thousand-strong army of those days once more presses against the border, with Senior Brother Tie here, White Light City cannot be shaken in the slightest, Sword Elder!"

"Very well. If that is the case, I am relieved. But the military order from above commands you to replenish the Eighteen Guards as quickly as possible. There must be no mistake!"

The moment he finished speaking, General Li's face turned iron-blue. With a sweep of his sleeve, his expression became utterly stern, unlike his usual self.

"Hmph, they only know how to press me! Every time we select valiant soldiers, they are either taken away by the noble families of the inner city or transferred to the Central Plains. What choices are left for me?"

"On top of that, the selection requirements are so harsh, demanding both time and effort. How can there be room for even the slightest mistake?"

"Back then, I had finally managed to establish the full guard. Who would have thought those dog barbarians would catch the scent? They launched several attacks on cities in Blue Orchid Continent, leaving me with no choice but to dispatch the Eighteen Guards!"

"And what was the result..."

As he spoke, General Li grew utterly enraged. Beneath his furrowed brows and blazing glare, the entire Military Governor's residence was shrouded in a heavy, sharp pressure, creaking as though unable to bear the burden.

Whoosh!

Sword Elder swept his sleeve, and a ring of white rainbow flashed into being and vanished just as quickly, forcibly suppressing the vast aura General Li had released.

"Enough, General Li. This is simply how things are. Aren't the other generals defending the border the same? No one can avoid such matters!"

General Li let out a soft sigh and could only nod.

Then he suddenly seemed to think of something and spoke.

"Sword Elder, what is the court doing? Why has the rebellion in the northern frontier still not been suppressed? Not only is there no sign of defeat, it is spreading like a spark setting the prairie ablaze, leaving more than half the northern territory ravaged by war!"

"Shh! Watch your words, General Li! Are matters of such importance to the court something you and I can discuss at will?"

"If those words of yours reached the Golden Chime Hall, you would surely be impeached!"

Sword Elder looked displeased as he gazed helplessly at the hot-blooded General Li.

"Alas... Who can fathom the court's actions? You and I need only guard the frontier in peace..."

General Li waved a hand, lifted a cup of tea, and drained it in one gulp.

"Sword Elder, have you discovered anything about the disturbances in several cities of Blue Orchid Continent?"

"Though they are merely small cities that cannot compare to White Light City, martial artists have violated the ban and refugees are rising everywhere. This is greatly shaking the stability of all Blue Orchid Continent!"

Sword Elder's expression grew grave at those words. He lightly rubbed the rim of his cup and slowly said, "General, I will not hide it from you. I believe this matter is connected to the Demon Sect, but I cannot yet grasp the full situation."

"We can only wait for my junior brother to arrive from the Central Plains before determining the cause of the illness!"

General Li could only nod at that, then let out a scornful laugh.

"Hmph, the Demon Sect? They are nothing more than a pack of clowns hopping about on a stage. If their sect master had not bowed his head and submitted to the court back then, I would have wiped out their entire sect in one stroke!"

"Now that they see turmoil beginning within our court, they want to make their move as well. Their hearts are as vicious as wolves and dogs; their crimes cannot be tolerated!"

"It seems they must be given a warning. A few days ago, they even dared send people to trespass into the military camp. Their courage has truly grown..."

General Li raised his brows slightly, revealing pale teeth. Beneath his broad black robes, an imposing and awe-inspiring killing intent radiated outward, making the entire hall feel bitingly cold and sinister.

Seeing this, Sword Elder could only smile helplessly. General Li's temper was still the same as before—fierce by nature, unable to tolerate even a grain of sand...