The scene fell silent for a moment.
Thinking of Chen Xu's identity as an independent Martial Artist, Yan Feng said, "Academy Master Chen, you haven't joined any faction yet, have you? Would you be willing to take a nominal position in the Martial Pavilion as an Honorary Deputy Pavilion Master?"
"Honorary Deputy Pavilion Master?" Chen Xu did not refuse outright. "What are the benefits?"
"Cough, cough..." Yan Feng had never seen anyone ask for benefits so openly, but on second thought, independent Martial Artists like this were easier to deal with.
"Academy Master Chen, have you heard of Essence Paste?"
Seeing Chen Xu's confusion, Yan Feng understood. According to the intelligence reports, this Academy Master Chen had never left Jinning Commandery since childhood. His breakthrough into a Martial Artist was probably half talent and half luck.
Such Martial Artists were uncommon in Great Abyss, but they were hardly once-in-a-century talents.
There was absolutely no information about Martial Artists online, and his access level on the Black Market was insufficient to unlock higher-level transactions.
It could be said that everything he knew about Martial Dao had come from feeling his way forward.
Now that he had a chance to learn more about the Martial Dao World, Chen Xu immediately put on an attentive expression.
"The core of Martial Dao is actually Essence.
"The so-called Form of Martial Arts is the materialization of Essence.
"Before becoming a Martial Artist, the Essence Apertures throughout the body are sealed, limiting the body's development.
"Only when one's constitution reaches the level of a Martial Artist does one qualify to activate the ninety-nine Essence Apertures across the body. Once all ninety-nine have been fully activated, the Form of Martial Arts will undergo another transformation.
"Applying Essence Paste externally and taking Rank-2 Refining Liquid internally can speed up the activation of the Essence Apertures."
"Why can't I sense the Essence Apertures inside my body at all?" Chen Xu carefully examined himself, yet detected nothing unusual.
"Mobilize your Essence and cover every inch of your body. Then try again."
At those words, Chen Xu's Heaven Gate Acupoint trembled slightly, and an invisible ripple spread outward.
Looking inward, he saw nine acupoints emitting a faint glow, while another ninety-nine dim Essence Apertures were scattered throughout his body.
Chen Xu cautiously mobilized his Essence to strike the first Essence Aperture. With Essence pouring into it, in less than twenty seconds, a faint "pop" seemed to sound from within his body.
"Without Refining Liquid and Essence Paste, you must not forcefully use Essence to open the Essence Apertures. Due to our Constitutions, the Essence Apertures are fragile and cannot withstand the scouring of large amounts of Essence."
Chen Xu silently raised his head and looked at Yan Feng, unsure whether he should tell him that just now, he had successfully activated an Essence Aperture. As for the transformation in strength, it felt like his attributes had increased by only a fraction of a point. At his current level, it was barely worth mentioning.
However, he had consumed quite a bit of Essence. Chen Xu roughly estimated that it was even more than he had used during his fierce battle with Crane Elder. It seemed unlikely that he could activate another Essence Aperture anytime soon.
Chen Xu guessed that this might be the difference between a perfect breakthrough through the Nine Apertures and forcibly breaking through the Heaven Gate Acupoint. Every step of Martial Dao required a solid foundation; only then could one go farther in the future.
"How about five boxes of Essence Paste and three bottles of Rank-2 Refining Liquid in exchange for Academy Master Chen's assistance?
"If you serve as an Honorary Deputy Pavilion Master, you'll receive half a box of Essence Paste and five grams of Rank-2 Refining Liquid every month from now on. What do you think, Academy Master Chen?"
"Agreed." He only needed to take a nominal post to obtain resources. Chen Xu had no reason to refuse.
"The preliminaries of the Martial Arts Academy Tournament are about to begin, so I won't keep you two any longer." A faint smile appeared on Yan Feng's aged face. "Deputy Pavilion Master Ling and I are not in a position to appear outside at the moment, so we cannot see you off. Please forgive us."
"Amitabha." Huijue bowed once more and left the building with Chen Xu.
As the two walked, Huijue suddenly said, "Academy Master Chen, if you do not sincerely wish to join Great Abyss, take advantage of the chaos and leave as soon as possible."
Chen Xu's thoughts raced, but his expression remained unchanged. "Master Huijue, what do you mean by that?"
After chanting a Buddhist invocation, Huijue's gaze seemed to pierce through heaven and earth. "Academy Master Chen, you should already have the answer in your heart."
Under the whole heaven, nothing is not the king's land; within the borders of the land, none are not the king's subjects.
Who would allow unrestrained Martial Artists to wander freely across their own territory?
Fundamentally, in Great Abyss's eyes, Chen Xu was not much different from the people of the Martial Alliance.
A corner of Huijue's gray monk's robe was lifted by the breeze as he suddenly said, "Academy Master Chen, you still do not know the method for concealing your Essence, do you? This humble monk will recite it once. Please listen carefully, benefactor."
After hearing Huijue recite the method, Chen Xu gave him a long, searching look.
Activating the method, his Essence immediately stopped leaking away and was firmly sealed within the confines of his body.
"Cheng'an Temple." Chen Xu gave Huijue another deep look, then dropped the subject and quickened his pace back to the venue.
Fifth Arena.
"Good morning, viewers. This match is Chen Martial Arts Academy versus Tyrant Blade Martial Arts Academy. We have specially invited Martial Arts researcher Dr. Li to provide expert commentary." Kong Liang sat at the commentary desk, his voice coming through the microphone.
"Chen Martial Arts Academy's master won all ten of his preliminary matches and has been unstoppable. Dr. Li, do you believe Academy Master Dong Yan of Tyrant Blade Martial Arts Academy can end his winning streak?"
Dr. Li gently pushed up his glasses. "Academy Master Chen defeated Great Abyss Women's Martial Arts Academy, one of the top ten, in the preliminaries. His strength cannot be underestimated.
"However, I specifically studied him, and he does not seem proficient with weapons. That is a major weakness.
"As everyone knows, weapons are like wings to a tiger for Martial Artists. The preliminaries permit academy masters to use weapons, and most academy masters will experience a major leap in strength. Academy Master Dong Yan happens to be one of them."
"So, Dr. Li, you favor Academy Master Dong Yan?"
"If Academy Master Chen does not have a weapon he excels with, then I do indeed favor Academy Master Dong." Dr. Li nodded seriously.
Hearing the exchange between the two commentators, the audience immediately became lively, with discussions breaking out everywhere.
Dong Yan sat cross-legged below the arena, a gleaming, polished saber laid across his knees. He showed no reaction to anything around him, hearing nothing and caring about nothing.
"Master, go!" Hearing that the commentators favored his master, the junior disciple danced with excitement. He felt that the commentators were right: unarmed people could never defeat those with cold weapons, and those with cold weapons could likewise never defeat those with firearms.
How could Chen Xu, with his mere flesh and blood, possibly stand against the treasured saber his master had forged at great expense?
All the fame Chen Xu had gained before would become the foundation for Tyrant Blade Martial Arts Academy's rise today.
"Will both academy masters please take their positions!"
On the arena, the referee's voice rang throughout the venue through the microphone.
Dong Yan's eyes snapped open. He picked up his saber, rose to his feet, and strode onto the arena.
He had finally mastered the final form of the Tyrant Blade Saber Technique he had painstakingly cultivated half a month ago. At this year's Martial Arts Academy Tournament, he would make the name of Tyrant Blade Martial Arts Academy ring in the ears of everyone in Jinning who followed the tournament.
One minute, two minutes, three minutes...
Second by second, time passed. Chen Xu did not appear for a long while, and the spectators began whispering among themselves. If he failed to take his position within five minutes, he would lose his qualification for the match, and Tyrant Blade Martial Arts Academy would advance directly.
Near the four-minute-fifty-second mark, a figure in casual clothes emerged from backstage and stepped onto the arena.
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