The Inner Sanctum Was Hard to Glimpse, Its Depths Difficult to Discern

As the Six Schools Martial Meet drew near, the streets of White Light City gradually grew livelier.

The Mountain Sea Guard also announced that any capable person who won a placing at the martial meet would receive not only the rewards granted by the meet itself, but an additional reward from the Superintendent's Office.

Most importantly, even those who failed to earn a placing in the arena would still receive a considerable sum of silver.

For martial artists seeking to advance further on the martial path, daily training already consumed most of their time. This silver was like timely rain, relieving hardship and rescuing the needy.

For a time, many throughout the Mountain Sea Guard were eager to try, rubbing their fists and palms in anticipation.

But He Linfeng's next words extinguished everyone's fantasies: all those participating in the martial meet were elites from the six martial schools, without exception experts who had passed the Three-Knock Blood Pass.

One had to know that after reaching the Three-Knock Blood Pass, the disparity in strength became extremely apparent.

One type began practicing boxing manuals, sword techniques, palm arts, and spear methods from the very start of their martial training, using them alongside stance work to lay a solid foundation for the martial path and invigorate their qi and blood.

The bodies of such Three-Knock Blood Pass martial artists were tougher than ordinary people could imagine. Not only could they carry thousand-pound boulders, their flesh was mighty enough that they could slaughter ten soldiers in succession on the battlefield without their qi and blood waning.

The other type was the usual state of most martial artists: no resources, no guidance from renowned masters, only groping through the martial path alone.

Most of their time was spent practicing basic stances, leaving them with no spare energy to train offensive killing arts such as boxing. Whether in the abundance of their qi and blood or their ability in one-on-one combat, the former far surpassed the latter.

Yet a mere gap in strength was not enough to frighten everyone away from their desire for silver.

The phrase "fists and feet have no eyes; life and death are no concern" made everyone abandon such thoughts entirely.

One might go up alive and come down dead. The six martial schools of the outer city and the Governor-General's Office were jointly hosting the event, and the rewards were so generous. How could martial artists hoping to use this opportunity to soar to the heavens in a single step possibly show mercy to their opponents?

It sounded good to say that even those without a high ranking could receive several dozen taels of silver, but not everyone could escape alive from the hands of that group of Three-Knock Blood Pass experts.

Besides, apart from squad leaders and deputy squad leaders, not a single person in the Mountain Sea Guard had reached the Three-Knock Blood Pass. Most were still at the Two-Knock Blood Pass, so how could they dare take the stage?

Yet for Wang Xuance, all this might well be an opportunity for a breakthrough.

"After the martial meet ends, I'll have to deal with Chen Linger's two invitations. If I don't seize this opportunity, whether my life remains mine to command will become increasingly uncertain!"

Having lived two lives, how could he not understand that weakness itself was a sin? He had formed a grudge with Chen Feng the moment he entered the military, and Chen Linger had happened to lay one trap after another for him.

The youth sat in the main hall of his courtyard, his fingers resting on the bamboo table.

Tap!

Tap!

"No. If I miss this opportunity, how could I possibly have a chance to survive those two invitations?"

"The entire Blue Orchid Continent is beginning to look like a storm is brewing. Leaving the city is far too dangerous, and besides..."

Wang Xuance suddenly raised his head, a nearly tangible killing intent spreading around him.

"That man's appearance has put me in an irreversible situation. When we parted, he was already close to breaking through the Central Court Acupoint. Half a year has passed without seeing him—his strength must have surged tremendously!"

His brows stood upright, cold light flashing in his eyes as his fingers clenched tightly.

"If he does not die, I will never know peace!"

With a flip of his hand, he took out a Fire-Core Jujube and tossed it into his mouth. Then he leaped out of the hall and began practicing the Crane Form Grand Stance in the courtyard.

[Crane Form Grand Stance +60!]

[Crane Form Grand Stance +60!]

[Crane Form Grand Stance +60!]

The berserk, potent medicinal power of the Fire-Core Jujube erupted completely within his body, continuously merging into his flesh and blood. The progress of his stance work rose at a pace visible to the naked eye.

With time pressing, refining this single Fire-Core Jujube was already his limit.

Otherwise, Wang Xuance believed that after refining it all, he would need only a few more days to bring the Crane Form Grand Stance to major accomplishment!

"With my current strength, I can already compare to someone who has passed the Three-Knock Blood Pass. But against those martial school disciples, I will surely still fall short. I can't devote everything to stance work!"

"Training the Vajra Fist is equally indispensable!"

"But compared to short-term gains, the Great Arm Scripture seems to offer greater value!"

At the same time he practiced his stance work, within a small courtyard near White Light City's northern gate.

The man who had filled Wang Xuance with dread that day sat in a secret chamber, slowly circulating his cultivation.

A cold, sinister aura radiated from his entire body. Blue-black mist coiled around him, stirring his luxurious brocade robe with hissing sounds.

Most eye-catching of all was the golden Vajra Jujube-Pit Mark between his brows. It emitted an orthodox, fierce aura, like a blazing sun melting snow as it ruthlessly suppressed the cold yin energy pouring from his body.

As he slowly breathed in and out, a sudden clanging sound of metal and stone came from his chest—half human, half demon, unpredictable and bizarre.

"Boy, this Vajra Relic is far beyond what you can refine now. Even if you were born with three ancient Vajra meridians, you still cannot!"

Bzzz! His eyes flew open, golden light flickering through his pupils. The instant his gaze opened, the secret chamber resounded with the joyous chants of ancient immortals and demons, waves of Buddhist hymns rolling through the air.

The cold, sinister energy throughout his body scattered as though it had encountered its natural enemy. Pfft! He spat out a mouthful of crimson blood.

The gloomy chill that had originally been driven into retreat counterattacked viciously like a demon in the water. In an instant, a yin wind rose through the secret chamber, as though it would scour away his flesh and blood. An incomparably foul stench drifted from his body.

Half an hour passed before the man, like a corpse, shifted his body a few times. When he slowly lifted his head—

What came into view was a ghastly face rotten to the bone. More than half of it was a sickly blue-black, and only the golden jujube-pit mark between his brows continued to resist desperately.

No matter how the yin energy corroded his face, it protected the final remnant of life in his head.

Bzzz—

The Vajra Jujube-Pit Mark suddenly gathered golden radiance. Whoosh! Countless crimson-gold Buddhist characters shot out and crawled over his body, forcing the yin energy that had eroded him for days back into his chest in an instant, where it transformed into a dark yin-dragon totem.

Roaaar—

A ring of golden light firmly locked down the endlessly writhing yin dragon. No matter how it surged and battered itself, it could never escape the golden ring.

Seizing the chance, he flipped his hand and produced a green pill. The instant it appeared, it gave off a glistening fragrance and radiated an incomparably abundant essence of life.

He hurriedly tossed it into his mouth. Green light flowed continuously across his body, and countless buds of flesh and membranes of sinew grew out within a few breaths.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, harsh breathing echoed from the secret chamber, followed by his muttered whisper.

"Heh heh heh..."

"I must obtain that martial art, otherwise I..."

Within the small courtyard, Wang Xuance's fist wind enveloped everything within ten feet of him. Any fallen leaf or drifting flower that touched even the slightest trace of it exploded into powder on the spot.

The power of his fist force had increased greatly. He could now break ironwood stakes and punch an inch-deep imprint into them with his bare fist.

"What a pity. Every word of the Great Arm Scripture contains profound mysteries. Like the Dragon Elephant Grand Stance, it cannot be cultivated directly. Under my current conditions, I need True Martial Qi to deduce it!"

"Otherwise, with the terrifying increase in strength described on the Great Arm Scripture's silk scroll, I could add another thirty percent to my chances at this Six Schools Martial Meet!"

Wang Xuance sighed inwardly, deeply regretful.