Cheng'an Temple's Plan

For a moment, the scene fell silent.

Thinking of Chen Xu's status as an independent Martial Artist, Yan Feng said, "Master Chen has not joined any faction yet, correct? Would you be willing to lend your name to the Martial Pavilion and serve as an honorary deputy pavilion master?"

"Honorary deputy pavilion master?" Chen Xu did not refuse immediately. "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.

"Has Master Chen heard of Essence Paste?"

Seeing Chen Xu's confusion, Yan Feng understood. According to the intelligence, this Master Chen had never left Jinning Commandery since childhood. His breakthrough into a Martial Artist was likely half talent and half luck.

Such Martial Artists were not common in Great Abyss, but neither were they once-in-a-century rarities.

There was absolutely no information about Martial Artists online, and his clearance level on the black market was insufficient to unlock higher-level transactions.

It could be said that everything he knew about martial arts had been learned through groping his way forward.

Now that he had an opportunity to learn more about the martial world, Chen Xu immediately put on an attentive expression.

"The core of martial arts is actually essence.

The so-called forms of martial arts are the physical manifestation of essence.

Before becoming a Martial Artist, the essence pores throughout the body remain closed, limiting the development of the human body.

Only once one's physique reaches the level of a Martial Artist does one qualify to activate the ninety-nine essence pores across the body. Once all ninety-nine are fully activated, one's martial form undergoes another transformation.

Applying Essence Paste externally and consuming second-grade Refining Liquid can speed up the activation of essence pores."

"Why can't I sense the essence pores inside my body at all?" Chen Xu carefully examined his body but 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 out.

Turning his awareness inward, he saw faint light emanating from nine acupoints, while another ninety-nine dim essence pores were scattered throughout his body.

Chen Xu cautiously directed essence toward the first essence pore. Under the infusion of essence, in less than twenty seconds, a faint pop seemed to sound from within his body.

"Without Refining Liquid and Essence Paste, you cannot forcefully open essence pores using essence. Because of our physiques, essence pores are very 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 moments ago, he had successfully activated an essence pore. As for the improvement in strength, he felt that his attributes had increased by at most a few tenths. To his current self, it was barely worth mentioning.

But it had consumed quite a bit of essence. Chen Xu roughly estimated that it had cost him more than his fierce battle with Crane Elder. He likely could not activate another essence pore anytime soon.

Chen Xu guessed that this might be the difference between a perfect breakthrough through the Nine Acupoints and a forced breakthrough through the Heaven Gate Acupoint. Every step in martial arts had to be built on a solid foundation if one wished to go farther in the future.

"How about five boxes of Essence Paste and three bottles of second-grade Refining Liquid in exchange for Master Chen's assistance?

If you serve as an honorary deputy pavilion master, you will receive half a box of Essence Paste and five grams of second-grade Refining Liquid every month. What do you think, Master Chen?"

"Agreed." He only needed to take on a title to receive resources. Chen Xu had no reason to refuse.

"The preliminary rounds of the martial arts academy tournament are about to begin, so I will not delay you two any longer." A faint smile appeared on Yan Feng's aged face. "This old man and Deputy Pavilion Master Ling are not suited 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 they walked, Huijue suddenly said, "Master Chen, if you do not truly wish to join Great Abyss, then take advantage of the chaos and leave as soon as possible."

Chen Xu's thoughts raced, but his expression remained calm. "Master Huijue, what do you mean by that?"

After chanting a Buddhist invocation, Huijue's gaze seemed to pierce through heaven and earth. "Master Chen should already have the answer in his heart."

Under all heaven, is there any land that does not belong to the sovereign? Along every shore, is there anyone who is not the sovereign's subject?

Who would allow an unconstrained Martial Artist to wander freely across their own land?

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 fluttered in the breeze as he suddenly said, "Master Chen, you do not yet know the method for concealing essence, do you? This humble monk will recite it once. Please listen carefully."

After hearing Huijue's recitation of the method, Chen Xu gave him a long look.

Once he activated the method, his essence immediately stopped leaking out and was firmly locked within the small confines of his body.

"Cheng'an Temple." Chen Xu gave Huijue another long look, said nothing further on the matter, and quickened his pace back to the venue.

Fifth Arena.

"Good morning, everyone. This match is Chen Martial Arts Academy versus Tyrant Blade Martial Arts Academy. We have invited martial arts researcher Dr. Li to provide expert commentary." Kong Liang sat at the commentary desk, his voice carrying through the microphone.

"Master Chen of Chen Martial Arts Academy won all ten of his preliminary matches and has been unstoppable. Dr. Li, do you think Master Dong Yan of Tyrant Blade Martial Arts Academy can end his winning streak?"

Dr. Li gently pushed up his glasses. "Master Chen once defeated Great Abyss Women's Martial Arts Academy, one of the top ten, during the preliminary rounds. His strength should not be underestimated.

However, I specifically studied him, and he does not seem skilled in using weapons. That is a major weakness.

As everyone knows, weapons are like wings for martial artists. The preliminary rounds allow academy masters to use weapons, and the strength of most masters will make a tremendous leap. Master Dong Yan happens to be one of them."

"So, Dr. Chen, you favor Master Dong Yan?"

"If Master Chen does not have a weapon he excels with, then I do indeed favor Master Dong." Dr. Chen nodded seriously.

Hearing the exchange between the two commentators, the audience immediately became lively, buzzing with discussion.

Dong Yan sat cross-legged below the arena, a gleaming, polished saber laid across his knees. He showed no reaction to anything around him, neither seeing nor hearing it.

"Master, go!" Hearing that the commentators favored his master, the junior disciple danced with excitement. He thought the commentators were right: bare hands could not possibly defeat cold weapons, and cold weapons likewise could not defeat firearms.

How could Chen Xu, with his mere flesh and blood, possibly contend with the treasured saber his master had forged at great expense?

All the fame Chen Xu had gained before today would become the foundation for Tyrant Blade Martial Arts Academy's rise.

"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. Saber in hand, he rose to his feet and strode onto the arena.

He had finally mastered the final form of the Tyrant Blade Saber Technique half a month ago. At this year's martial arts academy tournament, he would make the name of Tyrant Blade Martial Arts Academy reach the ears of everyone in Jinning who followed the tournament.

One minute, two minutes, three minutes...

Time passed second by second, but Chen Xu did not appear. The audience began whispering among themselves. If he failed to take the stage within five minutes, he would lose his qualification to compete, and Tyrant Blade Martial Arts Academy would advance directly.

As the timer approached four minutes and fifty seconds, a figure in casual clothes emerged from backstage and stepped onto the arena.

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