prynovel Chapter 42 [Martial Artist] Job Change
Chapter 42 [Martial Artist] Job Change
"The first is Lord Lu Baixiao, the inspector of the bandit army. Lord Lu studied martial arts at my martial arts school in his early years and has a high talent for swordsmanship."
"But if Lord Lu makes a move, that heart-eating old monster will have no chance of escaping."
"Secondly, there's Qin Lie, the leader of the Ironclad Gang's Gale Hall. He has immersed himself in swordsmanship for decades, and his Gale-Breaking Blade technique has been honed to perfection through his extensive practice of various sword techniques. However..."
A hint of doubt flashed in Lin Xuanfeng's eyes: "Qin Lie is a man of great cunning, and he is currently actively promoting a marriage alliance with the Blood Blade Hall of the Green Water Gang."
Even if he discovered that Yan Beifeng was possessed by an evil spirit, logically, he would be more likely to use this as leverage in negotiations with the Qingshui Gang, rather than...secretly killing him.
A brief silence fell over the room.
The flickering candlelight illuminated the three people's pensive faces.
As things stand, Lu Baixiao, the inspector of the Dang Kou army, can be directly ruled out, while Qin Lie is a possibility, but lacks sufficient motive.
In other words, the person who made the move last night was most likely someone else!
Just then.
"Cough cough!!"
Yang Zhao on the bed suddenly convulsed violently, then spat out a mouthful of black, foul-smelling blood. His eyes bulged out and stared fixedly upwards.
Immediately afterwards, his body stiffened, and he stopped breathing completely.
Lin Xuanfeng stepped forward, confirmed his death, and then waved his hand. Someone came in and carried Yang Zhao's body away.
Looking at the corpses that were dissipating their eerie aura, he sighed softly and said, "Those little guys outside, after investigation, all of them have been tainted with some eerie aura to varying degrees."
Among them, the auras emanating from Jiang Qi and Wu Yue were the most obvious.
"Lord Shen, this matter involves evil and unorthodox elements. How do you think my Zhenyuan Martial Arts School should cooperate?"
Shen Yi's expression remained unchanged. After a moment of contemplation, he said:
"The eerie aura on Jiang Qi's body is superficial and does not circulate smoothly. It does not emanate from the depths of his internal organs like that of the Blood Servant. It must be due to recent contact with someone or something that possesses strong eerie aura."
Upon hearing this, Coach Zhou Yong added, "Liu Ying, the cook at the martial arts school's dining hall, was one of the victims who died in that courtyard last night."
This person...before the incident, would send Jiang Qi so-called "nourishing" medicinal meals every day. The strange aura emanating from Jiang Qi most likely originated from this.
Shen Yi nodded: "Jiang Qi is quite wary. Judging from his solid qi and blood, his foundation is firm, and there are no signs of weakness or erosion. He probably didn't eat those medicinal meals at all."
Seeing Shen Yi's attitude, the curator's eyes flashed with surprise: "Judging from Lord Shen's tone, it seems you think highly of Jiang Qi?"
Shen Yi smiled, neither confirming nor denying, only saying, "He's a promising talent, with decent temperament and comprehension. As for his future, we'll have to wait and see."
Coach Zhou Yong shook his head and objectively commented, "This kid's comprehension is indeed quite good, and that Blood Nourishing Pill has helped him lay a foundation that surpasses that of his peers."
But his inherent talent was ultimately a weakness, and his humble origins limited his vision, knowledge, and resources, hindering his development. The road ahead will require much more trials and tribulations.
Lin Xuanfeng nodded and continued the conversation, saying, "The Martial Arts Division assessment next month is a good opportunity for training. Jiang Qinian is not yet twenty, but he has already reached the fourth level of Qi and Blood, so his overall potential is quite considerable."
Passing the assessment and obtaining the status of a "martial artist" would greatly benefit their future.
Zhou Yong shook his head again, bluntly stating, "It's difficult. His current cultivation level is mostly due to that precious Blood Nourishing Pill."
The martial arts examination not only tests one's qi and blood cultivation, but also emphasizes practical combat skills, martial arts techniques, adaptability, and even mentality.
To pass the exam, unless... he can truly master the Wind-Breaking Blade to a high level of proficiency in the next month or so, or his qi and blood can advance further.
Lin Xuanfeng smiled faintly and said nothing more.
As the owner of a martial arts school, he has seen too many people, some geniuses who died young, and some mediocre people who rose to power.
The path of martial arts emphasizes talent, but even more so, comprehension, resources, and perspective.
That little guy named Jiang Qi... well, he definitely needs to put in more effort than others to have any chance of going further.
"..."
......
In the inner courtyard, on the martial arts training ground.
Jiang found a corner, opened the booklet "Chasing the Wind Steps," and began to study it carefully.
"Sink your Qi to the Yongquan point, direct your intention to your toes, let your steps follow your body's movements, and let your body follow the sword's movements..." The book details the footwork techniques, the pathways for Qi and blood circulation, and how to respond to various changes.
With the bonus to martial arts comprehension from the [Martial Artist] profession, he quickly became immersed in it, tried as instructed, adjusted his breathing, circulated his qi and blood, and began to move awkwardly with his feet... shifting and dodging.
Before you know it, an hour has passed.
Suddenly, deep within my consciousness, the [Book of a Hundred Trades] shone brightly, and golden characters appeared:
[Occupation: Warrior]
【等级：2级（300/300）→3级（0/1000）】
[Upon reaching a higher job level, you can choose to change jobs:]
[One: The Shadow-Chasing Swordsman – A master of swordsmanship, pursuing ultimate attack speed and burst damage, adept at using offense as defense, defeating the enemy with a single blow.]
[Second type: Ironclad Warrior – Focuses on defense and endurance, possesses abundant vital energy and strong bones, excels at withstanding impacts, and steadily defends and counterattacks.]
"Martial artists can finally change jobs!"
Jiang Qi was overjoyed and focused his attention on the two professions.
The Shadow Blade Master is offensively inclined and seeks quick kills;
Ironclad warriors, inclined towards defense, steady and methodical.
Both look quite good.
but,
Considering his current situation, his agility is being improved, he has black armor for defense, but his offensive methods are lacking...
In martial arts competitions, victory or defeat often hinges on a single moment; powerful attacks are the key to breaking through all defenses and seizing the initiative.
"The Shadow-Chasing Swordsman!" Jiang Qi made his decision.
Offense is the best form of defense.
In an instant, the [Book of a Hundred Trades] shone with golden light, the words [Martial Artist] vanished, and were replaced by:
[Class: Shadow Blade Master]
[Level: 1 (1/1000)]
[Effects: Significantly improves the efficiency of swordsmanship training; enhances the speed, accuracy, and explosiveness of sword strikes; improves comprehension of "fast" and "swift" martial arts techniques; and shifts the focus of qi and blood circulation towards instantaneous mobilization and release.]
【Skill:
Instant Shadow Slash – Concentrates Qi and Blood into a single strike, unleashing a slashing speed and power far exceeding normal levels in an extremely short time. It consumes a significant amount of Qi and requires a brief recovery period.
Blood Condensation – Refines and forges Qi and Blood, doubling their purity. Can be actively activated to significantly boost burst damage.
In an instant, a sharp and agile power arose within Jiang Qi's body, and the circulation of his qi and blood seemed to be imbued with a sharp edge.
Jiang Qi was overjoyed. He swung his arms a few times and felt that his movements were lighter and faster. His understanding of some obscure parts of "Chasing the Wind Steps" also became clear.
"good!"
He immediately calmed his mind and, with the help of the [Shadow Chaser] skill, began practicing the "Wind Chaser Step" again.
As his Qi and blood circulated according to his new understanding, his steps gradually shed their initial stiffness and began to become smooth and fluid.
Although it is far from being fully developed, it has already taken initial shape.
Another hour passed, and after a successful series of changes of direction followed by a sudden reversal, new characters appeared on the [Book of a Hundred Trades]:
【Wind Chaser Step (Beginner): 1/100】
"It's done!" Jiang Qi's eyes gleamed.
It took most of a day to learn the "Breaking Wind Blade" back then. The "Chasing Wind Step" is of a higher grade, but with the powerful comprehension bonus after the job change, I successfully learned it in just two hours, which is amazingly efficient.
Just as he was about to continue consolidating his strength, a figure strode up in front of him.