Time Waits for No One

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz...

On the open ground, gusts from his fists were fierce and powerful, making the air tremble faintly. Paired with Wang Sheng's long, steady breaths, movement and stillness seemed to fall into a certain rhythm, creating an unusual sense of comfort and beauty.

Though Wang Sheng had only practiced martial arts for a few months, thanks to Heaven Rewards Diligence, he had been making steady progress every day.

It might not have been obvious at first, but cultivation only grew harder the further one went. When most people reached a bottleneck, they could even regress instead of advancing. Yet Wang Sheng continued to improve without pause, and the gap was plain to see.

After a while,

"Wang Sheng, there's something to your technique! The wind from your punches is like that of an old master who's trained for over a decade!"

At some point, Luo Zhengwen had come to stand nearby with great interest, arms folded over his chest as he spoke in surprise.

"I've gained a little insight, but I'm far from being a match for Senior Brother."

Wang Sheng slowly withdrew his fists and replied with a faint smile.

"No, no, no! Though you haven't yet developed force, this Great Tablet Shattering Hand is truly impressive. You're already no weaker than me, your senior brother."

Luo Zhengwen affirmed Wang Sheng's cultivation, believing he had made tremendous progress.

Wang Sheng did not explain further.

In truth, if he had not deliberately concealed his force, then after executing that full set of techniques, there would certainly have been the roar of wind and thunder, carrying a soul-shaking, fearsome might.

The enhancement of force greatly multiplied his destructive power!

"Junior Brother Luo!"

Li Hu suddenly called out.

Luo Zhengwen glanced over, nodded to Wang Sheng, said a few more words, then quickly headed toward Li Hu.

Over there, Li Hu, Wei Yu, and the other Martial Artists who had achieved Bright Force were gathered together in conversation.

Those dozen or so Bright Force Martial Artists were clearly the core of the entire courtyard. Clustered together, they had invisibly formed a small clique. Without Bright Force cultivation, one was simply unqualified to step into it.

Whether they were initiated disciples or newcomers who had yet to be accepted, they would often look toward those dozen senior brothers chatting together, their eyes filled with envy and longing.

After all, once one reached Bright Force, one would not only gain the true recognition of Master Zhao, a great expert of Transforming Force, but could also boast of having dozens of Bright Force fellow disciples. Who wouldn't show such a person some respect?

"Hmph. Before long, I'll join them too—and I'll surpass them."

Seeing that he, a quasi-Bright Force Martial Artist, had not been invited into the group, Wu An's face darkened as he coldly snorted inwardly.

Wang Sheng did not pay much attention to that little clique and simply continued practicing his punches. He was already close to Dark Force, so he truly did not take a Bright Force clique seriously.

There was much to do today. If he could finish today's cultivation progress early, then he could free up time tonight to practice the second level of the Blood Stacking Technique—or kill someone.

At that moment,

Ge Xiaogu quietly approached, as though afraid someone might notice him.

"Senior Brother, Senior Brother Fang warned me to stay away from you. I might not be able to talk with you much from now on. But Senior Brother, you must believe me—I'll definitely be on your side in my heart!"

After saying that, Ge Xiaogu hurriedly lowered his head and quickly walked away.

Wang Sheng did not respond and continued practicing his punches.

Only when Master Zhao emerged from the inner courtyard with his son Zhao Feipeng did all the disciples fall silent and turn toward Master Zhao in unison.

Only then did Wang Sheng withdraw his fists, a thought rising in his heart: Tonight, he would slaughter Fang Mingguang.

Again and again, Fang Mingguang had come looking for trouble. Wang Sheng did not want him to live another night.

"Everyone, from this day onward, the Ershui City Martial Alliance has officially been established."

"The Martial Alliance consists of three martial halls and five martial academies. All disciples at Bright Force and above shall be Martial Alliance disciples. All may receive a Law Enforcement Token from the authorities and temporarily wield the power of law enforcement."

Can't find the book by its title? Try searching for the author instead—it may simply have been renamed!

"All official Martial Alliance disciples may receive twenty taels of silver each month, in addition to the benefits provided by their own sect."

"Later, I will have someone post the rules and duties of the Martial Alliance. You must study them carefully. Do not ruin matters and drag my name through the mud."

After Master Zhao finished speaking,

A stormy sea had already risen in the hearts of the many disciples.

Some were shocked that the Martial Alliance, originally of the martial world, was cooperating with the authorities. One could even say it had become part of the authorities.

Some were delighted by the generous treatment. An additional twenty taels of silver every month, exchanged for Blood Replenishing Pills, would be enough to ensure abundant cultivation resources every month.

Others wore grim expressions and did not care about those resources. They keenly sensed that establishing the Martial Alliance at such a time might mean they would be sent onto the battlefield once the rebel army arrived.

Trouble is coming.

Wang Sheng's heart sank.

The Martial Alliance had actually become entangled with the authorities. When either the rebel army or the northern barbarians came attacking, the Martial Alliance would likely be unable to stay out of it.

"Master, we are people of the martial world. Why must we act together with the authorities?"

Someone who looked down on the authorities boldly asked in dissatisfaction.

"Under an overturned nest, no egg remains unbroken!"

"I know what you are worried about. But this time is different from before. In ordinary times, if we stayed out of the court's great affairs, there was still a chance that the calamities of war would not reach us."

"But now, the rebel army has the Demonic Cult supporting it from behind. The northern barbarians are savage and inhumane, and they have committed countless massacres in the prefectures to the north."

"If people like us still do nothing, then the day the city falls will be the day of a citywide slaughter. By then, it will be too late to resist."

Zhao Jie soothed the disciples with a few words, then hurriedly left with several disciples.

These great experts of Transforming Force had families and fortunes. In the city, their word was law. If they left for another place, not only would they lose their reputations and businesses, they would also have to live by reading others' expressions. Who would be willing to live under another's roof?

Thus, they naturally had no desire to abandon their fortunes and flee far away. They were bound to take a gamble.

After Zhao Jie left, the courtyard immediately erupted like a pot blown apart. Discussions, rebuttals, and arguments rang out without end. Some disliked the authorities, while others hoped to attach themselves to the court.

Most people could no longer continue practicing martial arts. They either stood to one side and listened as others explained the pros and cons of the Martial Alliance's establishment, or joined in to offer their own opinions, hoping to gain approval.

This involved their own interests and even their lives. No one could remain calm and at ease.

Yet Wang Sheng seemed not to hear the surrounding clamor at all. He continued practicing his fists, determined to finish today's progress.

"Time waits for no one. I need to seize every moment!"

Seeing the Martial Alliance's establishment, Wang Sheng seemed to have already glimpsed the chaotic age of war that would soon descend upon Jiangling Prefecture, and his heart tightened.

Having crossed over from his previous life, having lived two lives, and having read so much in history books about the final years of dynasties, he naturally understood the terror of troubled times.

Therefore, after learning of the Martial Alliance's plans, Wang Sheng immediately made up his mind. He would find a way to obtain the subsequent cultivation methods for Dark Force and Transforming Force from Zhao Jie, then take his parents away from Ershui City and head south, somewhere more stable.

"Junior Brother truly is no ordinary person! Even amid such chaos, you can remain as though you heard nothing. I knew my eye for people was not wrong."

At that moment, Luo Zhengwen arrived with a smile.

Because Wang Sheng was practicing his punches, he could not spare his attention to answer aloud and could only signal with his eyes.

"Junior Brother, just focus on practicing your fists. I came for two reasons. First, I wished to hear Junior Brother's thoughts on the Martial Alliance. Second, I wish to invite Junior Brother to join Li Hu and Wei Yu's circle with me."

"Li Hu and the others have also said that, in order to strengthen our circle, they can invite some junior brothers with potential to join."

"I mentioned Junior Brother. But several of them want to see your potential and test you before allowing you in. So, if Junior Brother is willing, you will need to enter the mountains alone and hunt either a Da Chong or a mountain bear. That will count as passing the test."

"Will Junior Brother agree?"

Luo Zhengwen said.