Talent Above All! Heaven and Earth Treasure Medicine! Exotic Beast Meat!

Xia Kingdom did not lack resources; what it lacked were talented martial artists!

Zheng Yanbo laid bare the truth. "Other than Jiang Shu, Principal Zhang, can your school find another martial arts student capable of Qi and Blood Circulation? Taking a step back, do you have even one martial arts student with Qi and Blood Sensing and a Horse Stance at minor mastery?"

It was like a dagger plunged into Zhang Taining's heart.

Zhang Taining gave an awkward laugh. As principal, he naturally kept track of the actual circumstances of the Martial Arts Students at his school. Just as Zheng Yanbo had expected, apart from Jiang Shu, there was not a single one—not even anyone with Qi and Blood Sensing!

Martial Dao truly was a track only those blessed with talent could enter.

How had he carelessly blurted out such nonsense back then? If he really had every student in the school take up martial arts, he would probably have to resign of his own accord next year.

He would be sending a batch of students who could originally have gotten into undergraduate programs off to junior colleges.

That would be far too huge a joke.

Jiang Shu was merely an exception!

Seeing that Zhang Taining had already recognized the flaw in his thinking, Zheng Yanbo said no more. He looked at Jiang Shu, his gaze carrying undisguised admiration. "Student Jiang Shu, your Horse Stance has now reached great mastery. You are only one step away from perfection. But taking that step may not be easy. That is why I only said that the Academy is within reach. Still, with your current talent, becoming a martial artist in the future is practically a sure thing."

"When that time comes, you will truly understand why we practice martial arts, and what martial arts are for."

Having said that, Zheng Yanbo raised his arm and glanced at the time on his watch. He continued, "After hearing me talk for so long, you must have quite a few questions yourself. Since we still have some time, feel free to ask them. I'll see which ones are convenient to answer."

"Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Zheng."

Jiang Shu rose to his feet and gave a deeply respectful bow.

What martial arts brought was pride in one's bones.

Not arrogance.

Zheng Yanbo's visit to Fifth High School for a Martial Dao lecture was part of his duty.

But explaining the changes in today's world and Martial Dao cultivation to him, even allowing him to ask questions alone—that was a kindness.

It had to be remembered.

"There's no need to be so formal. I'm much older than you. If you don't mind, little genius, you can call me Uncle Zheng." Seeing Jiang Shu show him such respect, Zheng Yanbo laughed heartily, delight filling his heart.

"Mm. Uncle Zheng, you said that above the Horse Stance is the Guidance Technique. Will this Guidance Technique be publicly released by Xia Kingdom, or must we specifically apply to learn it after reaching Horse Stance perfection?"

"Martial Arts Students entering university is essentially a selection based on talent. After that selection is complete, where exactly do the Martial Dao resources of ordinary universities, Key Universities, and Academies differ?"

Jiang Shu stood quietly, considered for a moment, then raised two questions.

Questions concerning Xia Kingdom's government decrees were certainly not convenient to ask.

What he could ask about were only the Guidance Technique and Martial Dao resources.

The former was the method of cultivation.

The latter was the wealth of cultivation.

To possess even one was like borrowing the strength of a favorable wind to send oneself soaring into the blue heavens.

To possess both was to rise ninety thousand li in a single sweep.

"According to the government decree, it should be released next year. But for this year's batch of Martial Arts Students, once they achieve Horse Stance perfection and a Whole Body Qi and Blood Great Circulation, they can also apply through their schools to directly learn the Guidance Technique."

"As for martial arts resources, the most important are Heaven and Earth Treasure Medicine and Exotic Beast Meat." At this point, Zheng Yanbo even lowered his voice slightly. "Exotic Beast Meat contains extremely high energy. Even the lowest-grade Exotic Beast Meat—a single jin of it is comparable to ten jin of pork belly."

"After taking up martial arts, martial artists develop enormous appetites. If they eat only ordinary meat, first, it does not satisfy their hunger; second, it easily produces all kinds of impurities, affecting their future path in Martial Dao. Therefore, as long as a student reaches a Whole Body Qi and Blood Great Circulation, the supply of exotic meat is actually steady and identical whether they attend an ordinary university or an Academy."

"The true difference lies in Heaven and Earth Treasure Medicine. It can be made into medicinal meals or medicinal baths, strengthening a martial artist's Blood Qi to the greatest extent possible. No matter how plentiful resources are, they cannot withstand too many people. Exotic beasts can still be crossbred and cultivated, but precious medicine requires time; every plant used means one less plant. One is limitless, while the other is finite."

Question after question, answer after answer.

Many of the doubts in his heart gradually faded. Before he knew it, noon was nearly upon them.

"Mr. Zheng, I've arranged a table..."

"Principal Zhang, you are too kind, but I have other matters to attend to at noon. My apologies."

After politely declining Zhang Taining's invitation, Zheng Yanbo looked to Jiang Shu. "You can note down my phone number. I may not be able to help you much with Martial Dao itself, but when it comes to related matters, as long as government decrees permit it, I can still tell you a thing or two."

"I hope that the next time we meet, Student Jiang Shu, you'll give me a great big surprise."

He stood up and waved farewell to Zhang Taining and Jiang Shu.

"Take care, Mr. Zheng."

"Take care, Uncle Zheng."

They escorted Zheng Yanbo to the school gate and watched the government car drive away.

"Principal Zhang, I'm going home to practice martial arts as well."

Jiang Shu spoke. He had no plans to return to the classroom.

He had learned too much insider information today and needed to digest it properly.

"Alright. When you have time, you can still come back to visit the school. As your principal, I wish you smooth sailing on your path of Martial Dao cultivation."

He had not kept Zheng Yanbo.

Nor had he kept Jiang Shu.

Zhang Taining could not help but sigh inwardly. He adjusted his state of mind and watched Jiang Shu leave.

Outside the campus at that moment.

White clouds, green mountains, a vast sky and broad earth.

A gentle breeze came slowly, rustling the leaves of the trees lining both sides of the street.

Jiang Shu walked down the street, imitating the gait of a prowling tiger.

He appeared lazy and limp, but in truth his mind was intensely focused. His body stored its momentum as he ran the Hungry Tiger Breathing Method, ready to unleash the strongest blow at any moment.

Zheng Yanbo lived in Shengjing and had seen far too many martial artists. He surely knew that Horse Stance cultivation went from fast to slow.

From entry to minor mastery, and from great mastery to perfection, both seemed to be merely crossing a small stage.

In truth, the difference between them was as great as clouds and mud.

Yet even so, Zheng Yanbo's words had been mostly encouraging. He had said the Academy was within reach.

Presumably, deep down, he also believed that entering an Academy was no easy matter.

However, Zheng Yanbo understood only the Martial Dao progress achieved through the Horse Stance.

Jiang Shu had never intended to reach a Whole Body Qi and Blood Great Circulation through the Horse Stance!

The Hungry Tiger Breathing Method.

The Hungry Tiger Sitting Cave Stance.

This was his path now!

A Key University was certainly not bad.

But how could it compare to the mere four Academies in all of Xia Kingdom?

If his earlier desire to enter an Academy had only been to give his parents a surprise.

Then now, from the depths of his heart, Jiang Shu truly harbored such wild ambition.

It grew like wild grass gone mad.

An Academy was absolutely not some symbol of ability and status.

An Academy was resources!

Heaven and Earth Treasure Medicine!

Exotic Beast Meat!

These were cultivation resources he had never even heard of in Pingling County.

Even if such resources did exist, they would surely be hidden deep within the County Government and the great households, never easily obtainable by him!

But on Xuanxing, in Xia Kingdom.

As long as he got into an Academy.

Resources like these would be within easy reach!

In Martial Dao, one step ahead meant every step ahead!

He, Jiang Shu, would enter an Academy!