Main World, British Continent, New Capital.
The training ground deep within the Imperial Palace.
It was a vast open-air space paved with solid slabs of bluestone, with densely packed wooden posts and metal targets standing all around. A raised platform stood at the edge of the grounds, bearing a huge parasol with several broad stone chairs beneath it.
Yutian sat in the seat of honor, his dark purple governor's robes stirring gently in the chilly early-winter wind. He held a cup of hot tea, its fragrance curling upward in a wisp of white mist in the cold air.
"Grand Duke, Clan Chief Shanbao has arrived."
An attendant bowed below the platform.
"Show him in."
A moment later, a lean, muscular, dark-skinned middle-aged man strode in.
He wore a modified version of the imperial military uniform-sleeveless, exposing two heavily muscled arms covered in leopard-pattern tattoos. His features were rugged, his gaze sharp, and an air of wildness radiated from his entire body.
Shanbao-a former native tribal chief and one of the first powerful fighters to submit to the Great British Empire. He had taken his own name as his surname and founded the Shanbao Clan, with a fief in the empire's southwest, near the mining region.
"Grand Duke."
Shanbao dropped to one knee and struck his chest with his right fist, his voice ringing out.
"Rise."
Yutian waved a hand.
"I hear you've recently developed a secret technique?"
"Yes!"
Shanbao rose, a gleam of excitement flashing in his eyes.
"Grand Duke, this is a secret technique developed by my clan-the Shanbao Method."
He paused, his voice carrying irrepressible pride.
"It is precisely thanks to this secret technique that I now possess Elite Jonin-level strength."
"Oh?"
Yutian raised an eyebrow.
"Demonstrate it."
"Yes!"
Shanbao stepped back a few paces and stood in