Human Martial Saint: Starting with Bajiquan

Chapter 25 Martial Arts Examination

After Liu Sheng removed the last bandage.

It was 10 days later...

I have indeed recovered.

Liu Sheng looked down and carefully examined himself. His body was like a newborn, his skin smooth and new. There were no scars, not even a dark mark.

I have to say, this fat guy is actually quite skilled in medicine.

During Liu Sheng's recovery period, Fatty Cao Dahuang also took some time to visit Aunt Song.

"Your neighbor has a kind of sleeping sickness. Recently, many people in Sabah have gotten it. It's a strange disease that I've never seen before."

"Can it be cured?" Liu Sheng only cared about the key point.

"I prescribed her some tonics, which should stabilize her condition, but I'll need to think about how to cure her completely."

Since the best doctor in the surrounding area had said so, Liu Sheng could only listen to him.

He offered money, but Cao Dahuang refused to accept it.

Before leaving, he kindly reminded Liu Sheng:

"I've been delayed for too long, so I have to go and meet up with your master. If you need the Mingsha Gang's cooperation in the future, just go to the market and find them. I've already given you advance notice."

After saying that, Cao Dahuang left the martial arts school.

Then there's the eldest senior brother Lu You, the second senior sister Yang Hongliu, and the third senior brother Lin Yi, who just returned to the martial arts school.

They all gathered around.

They looked Liu Sheng up and down as if he were examining some rare treasure.

It turned out that last time, in order to deliver a message and request the righteous army to send troops to Yejia'ao, Liu Sheng traversed more than 30 li in the desert, leaving himself covered in blood and gore.

He's only had a few days to recover.

He discovered that misfortune may be a blessing in disguise.

First, he visualized the Bagua diagram, then walked through the sand. His panel showed that his skin had gained an earth attribute bonus, making his skin-smoothing training speed faster than when it had no attribute.

And these days, he's been watching the parts of his skin that have recovered first, outside the gray membrane.

There was even a semi-transparent, yellowish-brown film on it, which was quite hard.

Even more amazing is...

The gray and yellow colors combined together closely resembled his skin tone before he was treated.

Without careful observation, most people would think that he is not yet a rank-1 martial artist.

The crowd watched for a while.

The eldest brother even took out a small knife from his pocket and gently scraped Liu Sheng's skin with it.

As you can see, the outer membrane was scraped to reveal a yellowish-brown powder.

It is like fine sand.

A light cut breaks the outer membrane first, then another cut breaks the inner membrane.

After being hit a few more times, Liu Sheng only felt the blows but did not feel any pain.

This is only the minor stage of skin smoothing, yet it has the effect of a ninth-grade martial artist achieving great success or even perfection.

Everyone was amazed:

"This junior brother is truly extraordinary!"

They had heard their master, Gao Huang, say that martial artists must cultivate to the fifth rank of the Five Organs Realm before they can come into contact with the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

Now, my junior brother is only at the ninth rank, yet he already has the earth element attribute.

More importantly, after hearing about it, Zhang Tianxing and Gao Huang both tried to think about it.

Even someone as strong as Zhang Tianxing.

No results have been found yet.

Therefore, this unique earth-based skin resurfacing method.

It has become Liu Sheng's exclusive technique.

In the past few days, he has been recalling the images of the Bagua visualization diagram. At the beginning, without touching the sand, his skin smoothing progress could even continue to increase.

But as time went by, the essence of the imagery in my mind gradually became blurred and indistinct.

The skin smoothing progress stopped increasing.

He consulted his senior brother, who also knew that the cultivation of the Five Elements required the use of visualization diagrams. However, the essence of the Earth Element was gradually fading from his mind. His senior brother, being of a lower rank and having never practiced it, was unaware of the details.

After sending a letter and asking his master, Liu Sheng learned that he had to concentrate on the visualization diagram for at least half an hour each time, and he had to look at it once every few days.

Otherwise, the essence in your mind will gradually dissipate over time.

So Liu Sheng asked if he could have a visualization diagram of the earth element to help him with his skin-refining stage of practice.

This request is not unreasonable.

There happened to be a suitable one in the dark room of the Bajiquan Martial Arts Hall. However, this visualization diagram of the martial arts hall was not an ordinary visualization diagram. It was quite valuable and could not be taken out casually.

So these days.

Despite his injuries, Liu Sheng insisted on coming to the martial arts school, even with the help of the fat man Cao Dahuang.

Stand in the Yin-Yang stance, or look at the visualization diagram.

In places where skin heals quickly, try skin resurfacing techniques.

And just like that, Liu Sheng actually managed to clear more than one minor realm:

Name: Liu Sheng

Age: 17

[External Training Method: Bajiquan (2618/5000 Minor Success)]

[Internal Training Method: Skin Polishing Realm - Earth (Minor Success 54%)]

[Spiritual Eyes: Green, white, yellow, and red; able to see through illusion and reality]

"Oh, so I'm already 17 years old. My dad isn't home, and I don't even remember my birthday."

Liu Sheng misses the days when his father was still alive.

It's a pity that my father has been away from home for some time.

original.

A few days ago, when my father saw his own miserable state, he was visibly heartbroken.

Then he heard that his actions had saved the mountain people of Yejia'ao.

He praised it repeatedly, feeling that Liu Zhutao's son should do the same!

When he learned that Liu Sheng had already become a rank-3 martial artist, he was very happy, as his son finally had the qualifications to take the martial arts exam!

After calming down, his father asked him about the expenses required for the daily training of a martial artist of the first rank.

I heard my master say before that true disciples do not pay tuition and are paid for missions, but they have to pay for special meats and medicines themselves.

But Liu Sheng didn't know the exact amount.

So he asked his senior brother, and that's when he found out.

While in the Mopi Realm, it's best to eat yak beef for both meals. Yak beef is considered half-demon in the Great Fan Kingdom, and it has to be brought over from the snowy mountains in the south.

According to normal consumption, Liu Sheng would eat 1 tael of silver worth of beef every day, which would amount to 30 taels a month.

The good thing is that this is the martial arts school's internal price; you just need to pay. It would be more expensive outside.

For subsequent skin resurfacing treatments, it's necessary to buy healing medicine to apply after the skin is abraded, in order to promote rapid recovery. Additionally, there's the essential martial artist's "Qi and Blood Powder," which must be consumed at least one bowl daily.

Liu Sheng looked at the prescription. Mi Congrong worked at Bajiquan, so they had access to the internal prices offered by Qianjin Medical Clinic. He calculated that the monthly cost of medicine would be approximately 20 taels of silver.

Excluding other expenses, that's 50 taels.

These are all internal prices.

If you factor in other basic expenses, the 50 taels I robbed from Lai San wouldn't last a month.

A ninth-rank martial artist must be raised according to similar standards in order to continue cultivating towards the eighth rank.

If dietary supplements and medicines are not used properly, at best, one's strength will decline and one's minor cultivation level will be damaged; at worst, one's body will easily become depleted, or even suffer injuries.

"Martial arts are truly made by burning money. No wonder so many formal disciples are unwilling to practice the Skin Polishing Technique. They're afraid of emptying their savings and ending up with nothing," Liu Sheng sighed.

When the old man heard that the expenses were so high, he was silent for a while, and then seemed to have thought of a new way.

I told Liu Sheng that I would wait for him to go out and earn more money before coming back, but now it has been many days and I haven't seen him at all.

No, I have to find a way to earn some money myself. After all, I'm a rank-one martial artist now; I can't just keep asking my dad for money whenever I need it.

Otherwise, wouldn't all this investment be for nothing?

So Liu Sheng asked, "Senior Brother, is there any news about the job I asked you to find?"

When asked the question, Lu You showed an awkward expression in front of his junior brothers and sisters.

He steeled himself and explained to Liu Sheng.

After listening to the senior brother's explanation.

Liu Sheng lamented:

"What do you mean that our grandmaster has wiped out all the bandits in Crescent Moon County... so now that there are no more bandits, the caravans no longer need martial arts masters as guards?"

Is it because I worked so hard to deliver a letter that I can't find a job now?

Liu Sheng always felt that this cause-and-effect relationship was correct.

Something's definitely wrong!

"Junior brother, you can't say that. It's just that short-distance caravans don't need it. You can still find long-distance caravans!" Lin Yi kindly reminded his junior brother.

That's impossible, of course, as long-distance caravans would take one or two months to travel.

The first round of the martial arts examination that followed.

Didn't that mean we missed out?

My senior brother signed me up.

At this point, taking advantage of the presence of his senior classmates, Liu Sheng couldn't hold back any longer and boldly asked the question that had been on his mind for a long time:

"Should I really take the martial arts examination, which is bestowed upon me by the demon race? Would that make me a lackey of the demon court?"

The three senior brothers and sisters laughed when they heard this.

Lu Youming said, "A scholar like Wu Xiucai doesn't kneel before officials, so do you really want to kneel before that demon magistrate?"

"Yes, and they are exempt from taxes. Scholars are exempt from half of their taxes, and those who pass the provincial examination are exempt from all taxes."

Yang Hongliu swallowed the raisins in her mouth and continued, "Your family's general store pays at least thirty or forty taels of tax a month. If you pass the exam, doesn't that mean you've helped your family earn that much money?"

Lin Yi added, "Becoming a martial arts graduate allows one to join the army and become a general. Aren't my fourth and fifth junior brothers currently serving as generals in the border army? It's better for the army to be under the control of the human race than to be commanded by the demon race, isn't it?"

The three of them, talking back and forth, had completely dispelled Liu Sheng's psychological burden:

"We have to take the exam! We absolutely must take it!"

In the Great Kingdom, men aged 25 and under.

Anyone can register through a martial arts school to participate in the local martial arts examination.

There are three rounds in total.

There is a 20-day interval between the first and second rounds, while the second and third rounds come consecutively.

Those who make it to the final round are martial arts scholars.

In the final round, those who make it to the top 4 will be martial arts champions.

Even if you miss the opportunity, once you reach the eighth rank after the age of 25, you will automatically obtain the status of a martial arts scholar.

Liu Sheng is only 17 years old; he can't wait that long.

He thought that if he could pass the martial arts exam and become a military scholar, he could help his father get his taxes waived.

With this new identity, I can earn more money and allow my father to move to the safer and more prosperous south of the city. Then, I won't have to worry about him anymore.

Liu Sheng was satisfied.

Then he could go and follow his master and grandmaster to join the righteous army with peace of mind.

This dreamlike experience made Liu Sheng realize that a real man should do something great, otherwise what's the point of staying in a small county town every day?

Of course, I'm stating this beforehand!

He wasn't trying to curry favor with the rebels, nor was he trying to get free mutton and elixirs from them. He genuinely wanted to do something for the human race!

After signing the true disciple contract, he pressed his fingerprint.

Liu Sheng thought of his master and grandmaster, and then of what happened 10 days ago. He had just heard that his third senior brother, Lin Yi, had just returned from the rebel army today.

Liu Sheng immediately asked:

"Senior Brother Lin, what happened after the battle at Yejia'ao?"

Then, the third senior brother, Lin Yi, began to recount the battle at Yejia'ao.

Ten days ago, Yejia'ao had already abandoned its gate after being besieged by bandits in three rounds.

The villagers retreated to a circular defensive line formed by the houses, with the eldest brother, Lu You, in the center providing support, continuing their fierce battle against the bandits who had been reinforced.

Finally, hope has arrived.

Under the command of their master Zhang Tianxing, the rebel army launched an attack.

Not only did all 200-plus armored cavalrymen from Mohai Cave go into battle, but they also recruited militias from other neighboring counties to encircle them from other directions.

Finally, more than 800 volunteer soldiers were assembled.

Divine soldiers descend from heaven!

With the help of Lu You, Ye Yong, and other martial artists, they surrounded and "annihilated" the bandits on the spot.

Then, after another three days, they swept up all the remaining bandits in the area of ​​Crescent Moon County before leaving for other counties in Shazhou. I don't know what they're busy with now.

Of course, this "total annihilation" is not a precise description.

I heard that one of the enemy's leaders, a goat-horned demon wearing a silver mask, escaped before the rebel army could surround them.

After hearing the story, Liu Sheng was filled with longing and wished he could be a member of the rebel army.

Unfortunately, he had used his spiritual eyes to observe the situation when the troops were dispatched that day.

The rebel soldiers and generals were surrounded by orange-yellow and red light.

This means...

He can't beat any of them.

"I'm still too bad at the game, no one wants to play with me," he muttered to himself.

Seeing that his third senior brother was describing the scene so vividly, as if he were actually there, Liu Sheng asked out of curiosity:

"Senior Brother Lin, how do you know so much? It's like you were there yourself, you described it in even more detail than Senior Brother!"

"I was actually there."

Lin Yi was secretly pleased with himself.

Then, as if remembering something, she said with a hint of disappointment, "Finally, I've avenged the villagers in that little mountain valley..."

It turns out that the third senior brother, Lin Yi, played the role of [Bronze Thirteen] in this battle.

At first, he witnessed the tragedy in that small mountain valley, but he was alone and had a mission to complete, so he was powerless to change the situation. He could only take advantage of the chaos to disguise himself and sneak in as an ordinary bandit. As a result, he inexplicably became the leader of a bandit group.

Fortunately, the process was good, and the result was good as well.

He deliberately made his band of bandits slack off.

After he took over, he also came into contact with the Silver Head because of his "Bronze Head" identity.

This allowed them to synchronize a lot of crucial intelligence with Zhang Tianxing and Gao Huang.

Unfortunately, Silver Head wore a mask the whole time and disguised his voice throughout.

It is impossible to identify who he is.

The only time he directly used a prayer wheel was when he did so, which shows that...

This silver-headed man must be a member of the royal family of the Great Tibetan Empire.

As for the ram's horns, it's really hard to say, since the ram race is also known as the year god race, and accounts for a quarter of the number of demon races in the Great Barbarian Lands.

This is especially common among royalty, making it difficult to deduce their identity based on this.

To be precise, the current magistrate of Crescent Moon County is from the Sheep Clan.

Wait a minute, isn't this county magistrate a member of the royal family?

Forget it...

We can't exactly have the group of fellow disciples kidnap the magistrate right now to confirm if he is him, can we?

Whether we can win or not is another matter.

Since neither the grandmaster nor the master has spoken, let's not cause any trouble.