Fusion of Seven First-rate Internal Arts (Please Follow, Please Vote)

"Great Hero Duan, this Fire Worship Cult rebel had grasped a Seed of Artistic Conception and was a First-rate Martial Artist. Killing him earned twenty thousand Merit Points. What reward would you like to exchange them for?"

Deputy Commander Zhang asked.

For vicious criminals listed on the court's Wanted List, rewards were naturally issued according to the list. But there were too many Fire Worship Cult rebels for the court to place every Fire Worship Cult martial artist on the Wanted List.

Otherwise, the top hundred spots on the Wanted List would likely all be occupied by Fire Worship Cult rebels.

Therefore, killing Fire Worship Cult rebels earned corresponding Merit Points based on their strength, which could be exchanged for whatever was needed.

"Twenty thousand Merit Points?" Zhou Qing pondered for a moment, then said, "How many Merit Points are needed to exchange for a first-rate internal art?"

"Exchange for a first-rate internal art?"

Deputy Commander Zhang was taken aback upon hearing Zhou Qing's request.

"What, is that not allowed?"

Zhou Qing frowned slightly.

"Of course it is allowed. Since the Eagle Wolf Guard issues Merit Points, any resource can be exchanged for as long as one has enough Merit Points." Deputy Commander Zhang said, "However, I had thought Great Hero Duan would exchange them for an opportunity to study the Divine Intent Diagram. After all, Great Hero Duan, you killed a Fire Worship Cult rebel who had grasped a Seed of Artistic Conception with a single sword strike. You must have already transformed your Seed of Artistic Conception into an Embryo of Artistic Conception. Once you stabilize that Embryo of Artistic Conception, you can blast open the Gate of Heaven and Earth and step into the Xiantian Realm."

"Deputy Commander Zhang overpraises me." Zhou Qing smiled faintly, then asked, "How many Merit Points would an opportunity to study the Divine Intent Diagram cost?"

"Ten thousand Merit Points for one month of study."

Deputy Commander Zhang said.

"Does Qingyan Prefecture have a Divine Intent Diagram?"

Zhou Qing asked.

"No!" Deputy Commander Zhang shook his head. "Divine Intent Diagrams are incomparably precious. Most First-rate forces do not possess one. It would not be safe to keep one in a Prefecture City. If some Innate Grandmasters harbored evil intentions over it, we would not be able to stop them. Thus, if you wish to study a Divine Intent Diagram, you can only go to the Eagle Wolf Guard's Provincial Command Office in the provincial capital."

"So I can only go to the provincial capital!"

Hearing this, Zhou Qing dismissed the idea of studying the Divine Intent Diagram.

Eagle Wolf Guard members in the Acquired Realm could not see through his disguise technique, but Innate Grandmasters were different. Going to the Eagle Wolf Guard Office in the provincial capital would be no different from walking into a trap.

"Exchange two first-rate internal arts for me first!"

Zhou Qing said.

He then described his requirements for the first-rate internal arts.

Excluding metal, ice, earth, wood, and wind-element techniques.

The wind-element technique was the Howling Wind Sword Art he had obtained from the Li Family. Although its name contained the word sword, the inner force cultivated through it was wind-attributed.

"There are indeed several first-rate internal arts in the martial repository." Deputy Commander Zhang thought for a moment, then said, "There happen to be two internal arts that meet Great Hero Duan's requirements. One is called the Crimson Sun Breathing Technique, a fire-element first-rate internal art. The other is the Drip Stone Piercing Art, a water-element first-rate internal art."

"Fine, then I'll exchange for those two first-rate internal arts."

Zhou Qing nodded.

"Since Great Hero Duan has made his decision, I will have someone bring over handwritten copies of the Crimson Sun Breathing Technique and Drip Stone Piercing Art manuals."

After speaking, Deputy Commander Zhang gave a few instructions to the Profound Wolf Guard beside him. The Profound Wolf Guard martial artist accepted the order and departed.

Before long.

The Profound Wolf Guard returned carrying two manuals and respectfully handed them to Deputy Commander Zhang.

Deputy Commander Zhang passed the manuals to Zhou Qing. "Great Hero Duan, these two first-rate internal arts are treasured manuals of our Eagle Wolf Guard. You may cultivate them yourself or pass them down to your descendants as family martial arts, but trading them is forbidden."

"Understood!"

Zhou Qing nodded and accepted the manuals.

"Great Hero Duan, with your strength, you would surely shine brilliantly if you joined our Eagle Wolf Guard. What do you think?"

Deputy Commander Zhang probed.

Whether in the eyes of outsiders or Deputy Commander Zhang himself, Zhou Qing was believed to have grasped an Embryo of Artistic Conception and could break through to the Xiantian Realm at any time.

If he could invite such a person into the Eagle Wolf Guard, it would be a great merit.

Although most Eagle Wolf Guard members inherited their positions.

There were also disciples from martial sects who joined.

The Eagle Wolf Guard did not have a good reputation in the martial world, where many regarded them as the court's hawks and hounds. Yet it was undeniable that the Eagle Wolf Guard offered excellent treatment and abundant cultivation resources, which was why some martial sect disciples were drawn to join.

However, ordinary Second-rate Martial Artists, whether sect disciples or Rogue Cultivators, had to pass layer upon layer of assessments to join the Eagle Wolf Guard.

But for First-rate Martial Artists with hopes of stepping into the Xiantian Realm, the Eagle Wolf Guard threw open its doors. They could join without undergoing any assessment.

Even major criminals wanted by the court could be pardoned if their crimes were not too severe and they were willing to join the Eagle Wolf Guard.

Of course, someone like Zhou Qing, who had killed a court official and openly slain an Eagle Wolf Guard commander, had committed an unforgivable crime. Even if he broke through to the Xiantian Realm and became a grandmaster, he would still have to be executed to uphold the court's prestige.

At least, that was how it was on the surface.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Deputy Commander Zhang, but I have grown accustomed to drifting like an idle cloud and a wild crane. I fear I am not suited to the Eagle Wolf Guard's rules."

Zhou Qing declined tactfully.

A trace of disappointment flashed across Deputy Commander Zhang's face, but it soon returned to calm. He laughed heartily. "Since Great Hero Duan has no interest, I will not force you. But if you become interested someday, the Eagle Wolf Guard's doors will always be open to you."

"This is our Eagle Wolf Guard's Guest Token." Deputy Commander Zhang said. "Even among Blade Catchers who are Peak First-rate Martial Artists, only a few possess a Guest Token. Anyone holding this token enjoys certain privileges within Great Xuan and may mobilize the local government forces of county towns to assist them. I hope Great Hero Duan will not find it beneath you."

With that, Deputy Commander Zhang took a token from his robes and handed it to Zhou Qing.

"Then I thank Deputy Commander Zhang."

After considering it briefly, Zhou Qing accepted the token.

With the strength of his mind now, he could detect it if the token had truly been tampered with.

If there was really a problem, he could simply throw it away after leaving the city. If there was no problem, this Eagle Wolf Guard Guest Token might genuinely come in handy at certain times.

"Lord Zhang, then I shall take my leave."

Zhou Qing tucked the token into his robes and cupped his fists to bid Deputy Commander Zhang farewell.

Deputy Commander Zhang politely returned the gesture and personally saw Zhou Qing out of the office.

Howling Wind Sword Art / Not Initiated

Crimson Sun Breathing Technique / Not Initiated

Drip Stone Piercing Art / Not Initiated

As Zhou Qing walked, he leafed through the three first-rate internal arts he had acquired.

There were no problems with any of these three first-rate internal arts. All of them appeared on the panel.

The Howling Wind Sword Art was a wind-element technique. The inner force it cultivated could enhance perception and favored bursts of speed. It also included matching sword techniques and movement techniques.

The Crimson Sun Breathing Technique was a fire-element first-rate internal art. The inner force it cultivated was blazing hot like fire and enormously powerful.

The Drip Stone Piercing Art was a water-element first-rate internal art, focused on condensing the penetrating power and resilience of inner force. Once cultivated to perfection, it could easily pierce even iron and stone.

Upgrade the Howling Wind Sword Art!

Zhou Qing silently recited inwardly.

After two days of travel and three days of waiting.

He had accumulated five Dao Source Points. At this moment, he poured them into the Howling Wind Sword Art to raise its realm.

Buzz~~~

The familiar sensation appeared.

Zhou Qing entered "bitter cultivation."

Scenes of tireless training appeared one after another in his mind.

After five years of bitter cultivation, the Primordial Chaos True Art successfully fused with the Howling Wind Sword Art. Both his inner force and the Power of Momentum advanced further.

In an instant, Zhou Qing completed five years of bitter cultivation.

At this rate.

In another ten days, he would be able to integrate the Crimson Sun Breathing Technique and Drip Stone Piercing Art into the Primordial Chaos True Art. By then, he would have fused seven first-rate internal arts.

With seven first-rate internal arts fused, his chance of blasting open the Gate of Heaven and Earth would reach ninety percent.

Of course, it would naturally be best if he could fuse eight first-rate internal arts. Then he could blast open the Gate of Heaven and Earth with absolute certainty and step into the Xiantian Realm.